Molding machine

In a molding machine, a combination comprising feed screw means having an input shaft having a splined end portion and mounted for rotation about an axis;

• drive means for rotating said screw means;
• coupling means for disengageably connecting said drive means with said screw means, including an output shaft adapted to be driven into rotation by said drive means and having a central recess adapted to matingly receive said splined end portion;
• means for mounting said screw means for pivoting about a pivot axis substantially normal to said axis when said coupling means is disengaged, including a support;
• an auxiliary support for said drive means and said output shaft;
• and means for mounting said auxiliary support for displacement in axial direction of said output shaft relative to said support between an extended position in which said splined portion is received in said central recess, and a retracted position in which said splined end portion is disengaged from said central recess.

In a molding machine, a combination comprising feed screw means mounted for rotation about an axis and including a housing and a feed screw having an input shaft mounted in said housing for rotation about said axis and for axial displacement relative to said housing, said input shaft having a splined end portion extending outwardly of said housing;

• drive means for rotating said screw means;
• coupling means for disengageably connecting said drive means with said screw means and including an output shaft adapted to be driven into rotation by said drive means and having a central recess adapted to matingly receive said splined end portion of said input shaft;
• means for mounting said screw means for pivoting about a axis substantially normal to said axis when said coupling means is disengaged, including a support for mounting said housing of said screw means for pivoting into and out of a position in which said splined end portion is axially aligned with said central recess;
• and an auxiliary support for mounting said drive means and said output shaft for axial displacement relative to said support between an extended position in which said splined end portion is matingly received in said central recess, and a retracted position in which said splined end portion is disengaged from said output shaft.

In a molding machine, a combination comprising a stationary frame including a stationary plate, a stationary platen, and a plurality of tubular beams distributed about and parallel to an axis and interconnecting said stationary plate and platen to surround a space therewith;

• a movable frame including a plurality of beams mounted in said tubular beams for axial movement and having ends which extend out of said tubular beams, a movable plate connected to those of said ends which extend beyond said stationary plate, and a movable platen connected to the remaining ends which extend beyond said stationary platen;
• a split mold having two mold parts each of which is interchangeably mounted on one of said platens in axial alignment with the other mold part and together defining a molding cavity;
• means arranged between and acting on said plates and operative for moving said movable frame axially of said stationary frame to thereby open and close said mold;
• and means for introducing molding material into said cavity of said closed mold, including a passage through said stationary platen and the mold part mounted thereon and having an inlet port coaxially communicating with said space and an outlet port communicating with said cavity, feed screw means arranged in said space and having a rotary axis, means for mounting said screw means on said stationary frame for pivoting about a pivot axis substantially normal to said rotary axis between an operating position in which said rotary axis coincides with said axis and said screw means communicates with said inlet port and at least one servicing position in which said rotary axis encloses an angle with said axis, drive means for rotating said screw means about said rotary axis and mounted on said stationary frame, and coupling means for disengageably connecting said drive means with said screw means in said operating position and for releasing said screw means for said pivoting between said positions only upon disengagement.