Quick-change mold assembly for injection-molding machines

In an injection-molding machine having a pair of mold-carrying plates at least one of which is adapted to be displaced toward and away from the other in a mold-opening and a mold-closing direction, a quick-change mold system which comprises:

• a mold having a pair of separable mold parts adapted to define an injection mold cavity;
• a respective adapter plate bolted to each of said parts and confronting the respective one of said mold-carrying plates;
• guide means on only one of said mold-carrying plates forming a linear guide path for the respective mold-adapter plate and the respective mold part affixed thereto whereby said mold between said adapter plates can be shifted along said path between said mold-carrying plates transversely to said direction;
• latch means for coupling said parts together in a closed position of said mold for introduction of said mold between said mold-carrying plates into and for withdrawal out of position in said machine;
• abutment means on said one of said mold-carrying plates transverse to said direction forming a stop for at least one of said adapter plates along said path thereby aligning said one of said adapter plates with the respective mold-carrying plate;
• and
• locking means on said mold-carrying plates for engagement with said adapter plates to retain said adapter plates against the respective mold-carrying plates during opening and closing of the mold, said locking means including a plurality of releasable clamps on the other of said mold-carrying plates shiftable to engage over the confronting adapter plate.