Molding machine

A molding machine, comprising:

• first and second die supports adapted to mount mating die halves thereon;
• a base movably supporting said die supports thereon for convergence and divergence along said base;
• means for translating said die supports between open and closed positions;
• clamping frame means supported by said base, and including a closed border with opposite ends receiving said die supports therein;
• means extending between at least one of the ends of said clamping frame means and the nearest of said die supports, and positively blocking said die supports in the closed position between the ends of said clamping frame means, whereby die separation forces developed during injection of the die halves are resisted substantially solely by said clamping frame means.

A molding machine comprising:

• first and second die supports adapted to mount mating die halves thereon;
• a base having opposite sides, and movably supporting said die supports thereon for longitudinal translation along said base;
• a platen movably mounted on said base for longitudinal translation therealong;
• a ram connected between said second die support and said platen for diverging and converging the same;
• clamping frames having first ends pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said base at one end thereof, and including means defining closed borders with opposite ends sized to receive said die supports and said platen therein;
• said clamping frames having second ends disposed opposite said first ends;
• and
• means for pivoting said clamping frames between a fanned-apart position, wherein the second ends of said clamping frames are spaced outwardly from the sides of said base a distance sufficient to permit the die halves to be freely lifted off of said base, and a folded position, wherein the second ends of said clamping frames are converged adjacent to the sides of said base, and said clamping frames are received over and surround said die supports and said platen, whereby extension of said ram abuttingly engages said platen and said first die support with the opposite ends of said borders and resists further divergence between said platen and said first die support, such that further ram extension closes the die halves and securely presses the die halves together in a closed position.