Patent ID: 7374710

Claim:
An insert molding apparatus for molding a product having an insert embedded therein, the insert molding apparatus comprising: a die drive means; a die arrangement that is driven by the die drive means to open and close the die arrangement and includes a plurality of die bodies, wherein: at least two of the plurality of die bodies are engageable with one another through a die closing drive operation of the die arrangement by the die drive means and are disengageable from one another through a die opening drive operation of the die arrangement by the die drive means; and the at least two of the plurality of die bodies cooperate together to define a die cavity for receiving the insert and for molding the product when the at least two of the plurality of die bodies are engaged with one another; and a supply means for supplying the insert into the die cavity in advance of injection of a molding material into the die cavity after initiation of the die closing drive operation of the die arrangement, wherein: the insert is a complex insert that includes: a first type insert element that has a hole; and a second type insert element that has a journal portion, which is inserted into the hole of the first type insert element; and the supply means includes: a straight hole, which is defined by one or more of the plurality of die bodies and is communicated with the die cavity; a first urging means for urging the first type insert element, which is fed to the straight hole in such a manner that the hole of the first type insert element is coaxial with the straight hole, so that the first type insert element is driven to the die cavity by the first urging means; and a second urging means for urging the second type insert element, which is fed to the straight hole in such a manner that the journal portion of the second type insert element is coaxial with the straight hole, so that the second type insert element is driven to the die cavity by the second urging means.