Patent ID: 7128564

Claim:
An in-mold article handling system configured for mounting to a first mold section, the first mold section including at least one plate assembly provided on a first side thereof, the at least one plate assembly including at least one molding cavity portion disposed therein that has an opening arranged through a front face thereof, the in-mold article handling system comprising: at least one slide provided by an elongate rail with a plurality of article retention devices configured on a front face thereof, in use, for engaging articles for transport; a first and a second transmission connected at generally opposite ends of the at least one slide, the transmissions cooperating, in use, to translate the at least one slide across a front face of the at least one plate assembly between: an inboard position, that is adjacent said at least one molding cavity portion, to perform a first operation; and an outboard position, that is laterally spaced from the front face of the at least one plate assembly, to perform a second operation; a motive means for driving the first and second transmission; the first and second transmissions each including: a frame plate; at least one flexible linking means contained therein that is configured along a path; a plurality of guides mounted to a top face of the frame plate that defines the path; the path including a plurality of path segments defined between the guides; a driving member that couples the motive means with the at least one flexible linking means for operating same, in use, along the path between a first and a second position; and wherein the at least one slide attaches to the at least one flexible linking means along one of the path segments to be driven therewith and as such, in use, when the at least one flexible linking means is operated along the path between the first and the second position the at least one slide is correspondingly operated between the inboard and the outboard positions respectively.