Molding and slide apparatus system

A mold and slide apparatus system comprising:

• at least a first mold member and a second mold member that together define an internal cavitation;
• and
• a slide apparatus mounted on the first mold member for moving the insertable portion of an insert member into and out of an internal cavitation in the first mold member;
• wherein the slide apparatus comprises:
• a main body having a drive cylinder defining a drive-cylinder axis and a carrier cylinder defining a carrier-cylinder axis;
• a drive piston disposed in sealed sliding relation in the drive cylinder for movement along the drive-cylinder axis between a start position and a fluid displacement position;
• a carrier piston disposed in sealed sliding relation in the carrier cylinder for movement along the carrier-cylinder axis between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the insert member is connected to the carrier piston for movement therewith for engaging the internal cavitation when the carrier piston is in the extended position;
• a fluid communication passage interconnecting the drive cylinder and the carrier cylinder in fluid communication one with the other, with the fluid communication passage filled with hydraulic fluid;
• wherein movement of the drive piston from its start position to its fluid displacement position causes, via the hydraulic fluid, the carrier piston to move from its retracted position to its extended position;
• wherein movement of the carrier piston from its extended position to its retracted position causes, via the hydraulic fluid, the drive piston to move from its fluid displacement position to its start position;
• an actuator movable between a non-actuating position and an actuating position, wherein the actuator comprises an actuating portion of the second mold member;
• wherein, movement of the actuator from its non-actuating position to its actuating position causes the drive piston to move from its start position to its fluid displacement position, thereby causing the carrier piston to move from its retracted position and its extended position to correspondingly move the insertable portion of the insert member into the internal cavitation during a molding operation;
• a biasing mechanism operable to return the carrier piston to the retracted position;
• and
• a drive-piston shaft securely connected to the drive piston, wherein the drive-piston shaft extends outwardly from the main body, wherein when the actuator is in the non-actuating position, the actuator is displaced in separated relation away from drive-piston shaft, and when the actuator is in the actuating position the actuating the actuator operatively engages the drive-piston shaft, and wherein the drive-piston shaft has an actuator receiving surface.