Compression molding machine

A machine for compression molding plastic articles, which includes:

• a wheel mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis, including a circumferential array of angularly spaced radially extending spokes and a circumferential array of rods each slidably supported within one of said spokes,
• a plurality of angularly spaced molds, each including a radially outwardly oriented first mold segment carried by one of said spokes, and a radially inwardly oriented second mold segment carried by one of said rods and disposed in radially outward alignment with an associated first mold segment, and
• a cam disposed adjacent to said wheel to engage each of said second mold segments in sequence as said wheel rotates to move said second mold segment radially outwardly to an open position with respect to the associated first mold segment for removing a molded article and placing a mold charge into the mold, and a radially inward closed position with the first mold segment to compression mold an article between said mold segments.

A compression molding machine that includes:

• a wheel mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis, and
• a plurality of angularly spaced molds disposed on both sides of said wheel around a periphery of said wheel,
• each of said molds including a first mold segment and a second mold segment disposed radially outwardly of said first mold segment, at least one of said first and second mold segments of each said mold be movable radially with respect to the other of said first and second mold segments between an open position for removing a molded article from said mold and placing a mold charge into said mold and a closed position for compression molding the mold charge to form the molded article.

A compression mold for molding plastic closures or plastic liners within plastic closures, which includes:

• at least one male mold segment including a mold core and a stripper sleeve surrounding said mold core,
• at least one female mold segment aligned with said male mold segment, said female mold segment being movable with respect to said male mold segment between a closed position to form a mold cavity with said male mold segment and an open position spaced from said male mold segment for removing a molded part from said core and placing a mold charge into said cavity,
• said stripper sleeve being operatively coupled to said female mold segment to move over said mold core and strip a molded part from said core as said female mold segment is moved away from said male mold segment.