Flow molding apparatus with multiple layers of molds and electrodes

A flow molding apparatus, comprising:

• first and second outer electrodes and at least one intermediate electrode arranged such that said intermediate electrode is positioned between said first and second outer electrodes;
• at least first and second molds arranged such that said first mold is disposed between said first outer electrode and said intermediate electrode and said second mold is disposed between said second outer electrode and said intermediate electrode;
• at least one metallic locking fixture attached to said first and second outer electrodes to thereby secure said apparatus in a closed position;
• and
• an electromagnetic energy source operably connected to said first and second outer electrodes and said intermediate electrode in such a manner as to establish an alternating electric field across each of said first and second molds during a heating cycle.

A flow molding apparatus, comprising:

• first and second outer electrodes and at least one intermediate electrode arranged such that said intermediate electrode is positioned between said first and second outer electrodes;
• at least first and second molds arranged such that said first mold is disposed between said first outer electrode and said intermediate electrode and said second mold is disposed between said second outer electrode and said intermediate electrode;
• and
• an electromagnetic energy source operably connected to said first and second outer electrodes and said intermediate electrode such that said first and second outer electrodes carry a first potential and said intermediate electrode carries a second potential so as to establish an alternating electric field across each of said first and second molds during a heating cycle.

A method of making a plurality of molded articles in a flow molding apparatus, said flow molding apparatus comprising first and second outer electrodes and at least one intermediate electrode arranged such that said intermediate electrode is positioned between said first and second outer electrodes, said flow molding apparatus further comprising at least first and second molds arranged such that said first mold is disposed between said first outer electrode and said intermediate electrode and said second mold is disposed between said second outer electrode and said intermediate electrode, said method comprising the steps of:

• loading a moldable material into a plurality of cavities of said first and second molds;
• activating an electromagnetic energy source so as to establish an alternating electric field across each of said first and second molds to thereby form said molded articles;
• and
• unloading said molded articles from said cavities of said first and second molds.

A flow molding apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of electrodes;
• a plurality of molds arranged such that each of said molds is disposed between two of said electrodes;
• and
• an electromagnetic energy source operably connected to said electrodes in such a manner as to establish an alternating electric field across each of said molds during a heating cycle.