Device for the production of molded articles from a pourable substance

Device, for producing molded articles from a pourable substance, such as an oxide ceramic substance or a porcelain substance, comprising a pair of pressing mold parts disposed in facing relation and movable in the horizontal direction, each of said mold parts having an outer cylindrically shaped circumferential periphery, said mold parts being relatively movable between an open position and a closed position, in the closed position said mold parts are disposed in spaced relation forming a mold space therebetween with a laterally open gap between the outer circumferential peripheries of said mold parts and extending around the outer circumferential periphery of the mold space, an annular closure member having an inner cylindrical surface encircling the outer circumferential peripheries of said mold parts and forming a closure for the gap extending around the mold space, said closure member having a filling passage extending through said inner cylindrical surface and opening through said gap into said mold space, means forming a vacuum system openable through the gap into said mold space for establishing a vacuum within said mold space, and said closure member having an opening in the inner surface thereof connecting the vacuum system through said gap to said mold space, said opening extending in the circumferential direction around at least a major part of the circumference of said inner cylindrical surface of said closure member exclusive of the location of said filling passage, and said closure member is displaceable in the horizontal direction relative to the outer circumferential periphery of said mold parts from a filling position in which both said filling passage and said opening are in alignment with said gap opening into said mold space to a pressing position in which both said filling passage and said opening are disposed out of alignment with said gap opening into said mold space.