Patent ID: 7381044

Claim:
A molding apparatus comprising: a first mold part comprising a first mold base and a first mold core, the first mold base defining a first receiving cavity, the first mold core being received in the first receiving cavity, a first surface defined at the first mold base; a second mold part comprising a second mold base and a second mold core, the second mold base defining a second receiving cavity, the second mold core being received in the second receiving cavity, second surface defined at the second mold base and facing toward the first surface, at least one of the first and second mold parts having an alignment axis, the first and second mold cores being configured for mating with each other to define at least one molding cavity; and at least one alignment assembly associated with the first and second mold parts, each alignment assembly comprising: a light emitting member operatively associated with the first mold base, the light emitting member being configured for emitting light at a first location of the first surface at a predetermined distance from the alignment axis and at a given angular position relative thereto, the light emitting member comprising: a first light transmission cable optically linked to the first location of the first surface; a first orifice defined at the first location; and a first channel defined in the first mold base and extending inwardly from a bottom of the first orifice to an outside of the first mold base, the first channel being configured for directing the first light transmission cable to the first orifice; and a light receiving member operatively associated with the second mold base, the light receiving member being configured for receiving the light emitted at a second location of the second surface, the second location being oriented at a same distance from the alignment axis and at a same angular position relative thereto as the first location, the light receiving member comprising: a second light transmission cable optically linked to the second location of second surface; a second orifice defined at the second location; and a second channel defined in the second mold base and extending inwardly from a bottom of the second orifice to an outside of the second mold base, the second channel being configured for directing the second light transmission cable to the second orifice.