Encapsulation mold with removable cavity plates

Apparatus for encapsulating objects carried by a lead frame strip, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second mold bases,
• first and second opposed mold plates, said first mold plate being fixed to said first mold base and said second mold plate being fixed to said second mold base, said first and second opposed mold plates each having a generally planar mold surface thereon,
• cavity plate means removably positionable between said first and second mold plates for holding a lead frame and said objects carried thereby in position relative to said mold plates and with said lead frame and objects all being completely spaced away from said first mold plate when said cavity plate means is positioned between said mold plates and flush against said mold surface of said first mold plate, said cavity plate means having spaced apart and generally planar outer surfaces, one of which is spaced away from the lead frame strip held by said cavity plate means and flush with the mold surface of said first mold plate and the other of which faces towards said mold surface of said second mold plate when said cavity plate means is positioned between said mold plates and said lead frame strip is held by said cavity plate means, said cavity plate means having openings therethrough from one outer surface thereof to the other surface thereof, said openings being in registration with said objects carried by said lead frame strip and held by said cavity plate means,
• means forming an injection opening through said first mold plate to the mold surface thereof,
• means for injecting fluid plastic through said injection opening to the mold surface of said first mold plate,
• feed runner means formed into said mold surface of said first mold plate and gate means formed solely by and between said first mold plate and said cavity plate means for fluidly communicating said injection opening with all of said openings of said cavity plate means when said one outer surface of said cavity plate means is positioned against said mold surface of said first mold plate.