Rotary Injection Molding Apparatus and Method for Use

A method for manufacturing products containing elastomeric materials using an injection molding system, comprising the steps of:

• disassembling a multi-section single cavity mold at a disassembly station to reveal a mold cavity and inserting any inserts to be molded into a manufactured product into the mold cavity;
• reassembling the multi-section single cavity mold and providing the assembled mold to a clamping assembly supported on a rotating table having a plurality of positions along the periphery of the rotating table, said clamping assembly maintaining the single cavity mold under pressure;
• rotating the rotating table to move the single cavity mold into engagement with an injection molding operation station, the station including an injector assembly having a pressure sensitive nozzle assembly, the injector assembly engaged with an extruder assembly at a check valve assembly;
• positioning the nozzle assembly of the injector assembly against the single cavity mold and injecting elastomeric material from the extruder assembly;
• removing the nozzle assembly from engagement with the single cavity mold;
• rotating the single cavity mold supported within the clamping assembly out of engagement with the injection molding operation station and around the rotating table during curing of the product, to the disassembly station;
• and
• disassembling the single cavity mold at the disassembly station and removing the cured product from the single cavity mold.