Patent ID: 8002532

Claim:
An apparatus for actuating an ejection device of a molding machine for performing a cycle of operation to mold articles, the ejection device comprising at least one ejector element for contacting a molded article within a mold cavity defined by mating mold members and at least one movable ejector member coupled to the ejector elements for moving the ejector elements, the apparatus comprising: a) a first actuator comprising an electrically operated device and coupled to the movable ejector members for moving the movable ejector members to advance the ejector elements into the cavity and retract the ejector elements from the cavity; b) at least one second actuator comprising a fluid operated device for supplementing force applied to the ejector elements to separate molded articles from the mating mold members; and c) a selector for controlling operation of the second actuators in response to intervention of a machine operator to selectably operate the second actuators to supplement force exerted by the first actuator as the ejector elements are moved in the direction to contact a molded article within the mold cavity.