Patent ID: 7854876

Claim:
A modular preform mold system comprising: a core side clamp plate adapted to be connected to a moving platen of an injection mold machine; a manifold and valve gate assembly adapted to be connected to a stationary platen of an injection mold machine and in fluid communication with an injector of the injection mold machine; and a plurality of preform mold stack-up modules, wherein each of the plurality of preform mold stack-up modules comprises a core side module having a plurality of preform mold cores, and a respective cavity side module having a plurality of preform mold cavities disposed therein, said respective cavity side module removably engaging the core side module such that each of the plurality of preform mold cores insert into respective ones of the plurality of preform mold cavities to form a plurality of preform molds, wherein a first one of the plurality of preform mold stack-up modules comprises a plurality of preform molds having a first preform design, and a second one of the plurality of preform mold stack-up modules comprises a plurality of preform molds having a second preform design, wherein the core sides of the plurality of preform mold stack-up modules are removably connected to the core side clamp plate, wherein the respective cavity side modules of the plurality of preform mold stack-up modules are removably connected to the manifold and valve gate assembly, placing the plurality of preform molds in fluid communication with the manifold and valve gate assembly, and wherein the manifold and valve gate assembly is adapted to uniformly distribute fluidized plastic into the plurality of preform molds in fluid communication with the manifold and valve gate assembly.