Patent ID: 7815837

Claim:
A method for compression molding plastic articles, comprising the steps of: (a) actuating an apparatus having a plurality of molds mounted for travel around a vertical first axis along a first endless path, each of the molds including a pair of mold sections, at least one of the mold sections being moveable with respect to the other in a first direction parallel to the first axis and at least one of the mold sections having a cam follower attached directly thereto and being movable in a second direction orthogonal to the first axis; (b) delivering mold charges from a source to a mold charge delivery system that travels in a second endless path around a second axis parallel to the first axis, the second endless path overlying a portion of the first endless path; wherein the cam follower engages a first cam surface having a generally convex outer surface to move the at least one mold section radially outward from and orthogonal to the first axis and engages a second cam surface having a generally concave inner surface to move the at least one mold section radially inward toward and orthogonal to the first axis, and wherein the first cam surface and second cam surface are located within a portion of the first endless path where the mold charges are placed in the molds and direct the molds over a generally linear path of travel along the portion where the second endless path overlies the first endless path; and, (c) removing molded plastic articles from the apparatus.