Molding apparatus including insert feeding means

In combination with a molding apparatus having first and second cavity mold plates, a back-up plate to support said first cavity mold plate, a top clamp plate adapted to drive the second cavity mold plate with respect to said first cavity mold plate, the mold plates together defining therebetween a plurality of mold cavities and including channels for flow of molding material from a central discharge point to each mold cavity, means to feed individual inserts into the mold cavities to be molded therein, said means comprising a plurality of feed tubes in said second cavity mold plate each opening into a respective one of said cavities at a position for an insert, a feed hopper at one end of said second cavity mold plate, a like plurality of feed tracks extending normal to the axis of a respective one of said feed tubes providing gravity feed communication between said feed hopper said feed tube, means in each said feed track allowing a single insert to be dispensed from the feed track into the feed tube with each closure of said mold apparatus, and a like plurality of transfer pins secured to said top clamp plate each aligned to extend into a respective feed tube whereby relative closure motion of said top clamp plate and said second mold plate causes said transfer pins to move through said feed tubes driving said inserts into the correct location in the respective mold cavities.