A method for molding a molded article, the method comprising:
- providing mold apparatus forming a portion of a mold cavity, the mold apparatus including:
- a first arm, the first arm having a first pivot end, a first driven cam surface located distal from the first pivot end, and a first mold surface located between the first pivot end and the first driven cam surface, the first mold surface of the first arm forming a portion of the mold cavity;
- a second arm, the second arm having a second pivot end, a second driven cam surface located distal from the second pivot end, and a second mold surface located between the second pivot end and the second driven cam surface, the second mold surface of the second arm opposing the first mold surface of the first arm, the second mold surface of the second arm forming a portion of the mold cavity;
- and
- a driving cam member, the driving cam member having a first driving cam surface configured to engage the first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm about the first pivot end of the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface configured to engage the second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm about the second pivot end of the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction, the driving cam member being configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein
- in the first position of the driving cam member, the first driving cam surface locates the first driven cam surface of the first arm at a first cam position of the first driving cam surface and the first driven cam surface, and the second driving cam surface locates the second driven cam surface of the second arm at a first cam position of the second driving cam surface and the second driven cam surface, such that the first driven cam surface of the first arm and the second driven cam surface of the second arm are located adjacent one another and the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface;
- and
- in the second position of the driving cam member, the first driving cam surface locates the first driven cam surface of the first arm at a second cam position of the first driving cam surface and the first driven cam surface, and the second driving cam surface locates the second driven cam surface of the second arm at a second cam position of the second driving cam surface and the second driven cam surface, such that the first driven cam surface of the first arm is located remote from the second driven cam surface of the second arm and the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm do not form a continuous mold surface;
- locating the driving cam member in the first position;
- charging the mold cavity with a mold material to form a molded article;
- and
- locating the driving cam member in the second position to release the molded article from the mold apparatus.