Apparatus and method for curing a rubber like article

An apparatus for forming an annular article, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer mold portion;
• a mold core positioned centrally within mold outer portion, the mold core including:
• an outer ring having an outer surface for engaging the annular article, the outer ring being formed of a material capable of expanding and contracting with changes in temperature, the outer ring also having a width extending between opposing lateral side surfaces, and a thickness extending between an outer molding surface and an inner surface;
• and
• a cooling station that has an exposed surface upon which the mold core is placed in at least a partially sliding manner so that as the outer ring contracts the outer ring remains concentric with the annular article creating a substantially uniform gap between the outer ring and the annular article.

A method of molding and/or curing an annular article from a mold, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a mold core centrally within a mold outer portion to form an annular mold cavity between the mold outer portion and the mold core, the mold core including an outer ring having an outer surface for engaging the annular article, the outer ring being formed of a material capable of expanding and contracting with changes in temperature;
• heating the outer ring;
• cooling the outer ring subsequent to the step of heating, whereby the outer ring contracts relative to the article;
• and,
• removing the article from the core outer ring.