Method for molding elongated workpieces

Abstract

A mold for molding elongated workpieces is comprised of three vertically oriented quadrants and a fourth quadrant pivotally mounted relative to the three quadrants between a mold open position and a generally vertically oriented mold closed position. A workpiece core is loaded into the mold by positioning end plates on the workpiece core and locating the combination on the fourth quadrant by positioning of the end plates on locating pins projecting from a frame member or tilt beam associated with the fourth quadrant. Slide assemblies are then moved into core-engaging positions on each end of the workpiece core to accurately locate the workpiece core relative to the fourth quadrant. The fourth quadrant with the workpiece core locked thereon is then moved into a mold closed position for molding. Following the molding cycle the fourth quadrant is then lowered to a mold open position and an ejection mechanism is used to elevate the molded workpiece and end plates above the locating pins for easy removal of the workpiece and end plates from the fourth quadrant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.