Cam operated compression molding apparatus

A molding apparatus comprising supporting means, a horizontal axis rotary cam plate on the supporting means, power drive means connected with said cam plate to rotate it at a predetermined speed of rotation, a pair of opposing simultaneously oppositely horizontally movable mold halves on the supporting means, cam follower means connected with the mold halves and said cam plate whereby the latter directly drives the mold halves, a vertical moldable stock magazine on the supporting means at the center of the apparatus in relation to an inward molding position of said mold halves, horizontal movement means on the supporting means including a knife to cut off pieces of stock in the magazine near the lower end thereof, mechanism on the supporting means for converting rotational movement of said cam plate into horizontal reciprocatory motion of said horizontal movement means and including a cam follower driven by said cam plate, a vertically movable carrier having guided engagement with the supporting means and including a cam follower driven by said cam plate, mold charging and stock advancing means on said carrier and being vertically movable therewith and also adapted to shift horizontally in opposite directions relative to said carrier, a horizontal movement connection between said mold charging and stock advancing means and said horizontal movement means whereby horizontal movements of the latter can cause corresponding movements of the former in the same directions of movement but at different speeds and for different distances, and said horizontal movement means including differential drive means for said mold charging and stock advancing means.