Stack mold carrier

A stack mold carrier comprising:

• a carrier base for releasably coupling with a center mold section for an injection mold, wherein the carrier base is configured for disposition on a machine guideway of a platen assembly of an injection molding machine and for releasable coupling to the platen assembly, such that the carrier base is configured for displacement, relative to the platen assembly, along the machine guideway;
• a linkage assembly pivotally connected to the carrier base and configured for pivotally connecting to a first platen and to a second platen of the platen assembly, wherein the linkage assembly defines:
• a first condition, wherein the linkage assembly is fixed relative to the carrier base such that pivotal movement of the linkage assembly relative to the carrier base is prevented;
• and
• a second condition wherein the linkage assembly is disposed for pivotal movement relative to the carrier base and is operably coupled to the first and second platens and disposed for pivotal movement relative to the first and second platens;
• and
• a tilt-impeding member coupled to the carrier base, the tilt-impeding member including an upper tie-bar engaging portion configured for disposition in opposition to at least a portion of an upper tie bar of the platen assembly;
• wherein:
• while the stack mold carrier is disposed on the machine guideway on one side of the platen assembly of the injection mold proximal corresponding upper and lower tie bars on the one side of the platen assembly, the tilt-impeding member is disposed generally parallel to and spaced apart from the corresponding upper tie bar of the platen assembly such that the upper tie-bar engaging portion is disposed in proximal to but spaced apart from the portion of the upper tie bar such that:
• the tilt-impeding member impedes displacement of the stack mold carrier about an axis that extends generally transverse to the vertical axis of the stack mold carrier such that displacement of the carrier base away from and out of engagement with the machine guideway is prevented.