Patent ID: 7614873

Claim:
A locking device for first and second mold plates of an injection molding machine, comprising: a base attached to the first mold plate, the base having first and second bores extending therethrough, the first and second bores having first and second bore centerlines, respectively, wherein the first bore centerline substantially intersects the second bore centerline; an actuator having an actuator first end, wherein the actuator is within the first bore; a member which at least partly covers the first bore; a biasing element between the actuator and the member; and a block attached to the second mold plate, the block having a projection with projection first and second ends and a projection longitudinal axis, wherein the projection first end is substantially rigidly connected to the block, wherein the projection second end fits within the second bore, the projection second end comprising a projection contact surface; the projection second end comprising an elongated groove having an elongated groove centerline, further wherein, after the projection is substantially fully inserted into the second bore and before a load is applied to the locking device due to the first and second mold plates moving together, the actuator first end contacts the elongated groove at a selected distance from the elongated groove centerline.