Injection mold with insert transfer means and method

An injection mold for forming a plastic product having an insert comprising:

• a first mold section;
• first means mounted to said first mold section;
• a second mold section mounted with said first mold section to cooperatively close from an open position to a closed position and matable with said first mold section when in said closed position together creating a cavity therebetween forming said product, said second mold section having receiving means aligned with said first means when said first mold section and said second mold section are in said closed position;
• second means mounted to said second mold section and aligned with said first means with said second means positioned by said receiving means when said first mold section and said second mold section are apart to initially hold an insert on said second means and operable to allow said first means to be positioned closer to said receiving means when said first mold section and said second mold section are closed together and to transfer said insert from said second means to said first means;
• wherein,
• said first means includes a first pin with a tapered main body with a first proximal end fixedly mounted to said first mold section and a first distal end, said tapered main body decreases in cross-sectional size from said proximal end to said distal end;
• and
• said second means includes a second pin slidably mounted to said second mold section and is positioned in said receiving means, said second pin includes a second distal end contactable against said first distal end as said first mold section and said second mold section are closed together sliding said second pin into said receiving means transferring said insert on said second pin onto said first pin.

A method of producing products having inserts with a mold having a first mold section and a mating second mold section comprising the steps of:

• mounting an insert within said mold;
• closing said mold by moving said first mold section and said second mold section together;
• forming a product within said mold;
• opening said mold:
• extending an arm carrying an insert into said mold:
• moving said arm in a first direction against said first mold section to secure said product to said arm;
• moving said arm laterally away from said first mold section in a direction opposite of said first direction carrying said product away therefrom toward said second mold section to reload said mold with another insert by moving said insert against and mounting said insert onto said second mold section;
• removing said arm from said mold while carrying said product;
• and,
• closing said mold to form another product.

A method of producing products having inserts with a mold having a first mold section and a mating second mold section comprising the steps of:

• mounting an insert within said mold;
• closing said mold by moving said first mold section and said second mold section together;
• forming a product within said mold;
• opening said mold;
• extending an arm carrying an insert into said mold;
• moving said arm in a first direction against said first mold section to secure said product to said arm;
• moving said arm laterally away from said first mold section in a direction opposite of said first direction carrying said product away therefrom toward said second mold section to reload said mold with another insert by moving said insert against and mounting said insert onto said second mold section;
• removing said arm from said mold while carrying said product;
• and,
• closing said mold by moving said first mold section and said second mold section together while transferring said insert from said second mold section to said first mold section.

A method of producing products having inserts with a mold having a first mold section and a mating second mold section comprising the steps of:

• mounting an insert onto said second mold section;
• closing said mold by moving together said first mold section and said second mold section while transferring said insert from said second mold section to said first mold section;
• forming a product having said insert affixed thereto within said mold:
• opening said mold:
• and,
• removing said product with insert from said mold.

A mold for forming a product incorporating a separate insert comprising:

• a first mold section;
• a first pin cantileveredly mounted to said first mold section and extending therefrom;
• a second mold section mounted with said first mold section to cooperatively close from an open position to a closed position and matable with said first mold section when in said closed position together creating a cavity therebetween forming said product, said second mold section having a hole aligned with said first pin when said first mold section and said second mold section are in said closed position;
• and,
• a second pin aligned with said first pin and movably mounted to said second mold section so that said second pin is cyclically movable between a first position extending out of said hole when said first mold section and said second mold section are apart to initially hold said insert on said second pin, and a second position retracted into said hole allowing said first pin to be positioned closer to said hole when said first mold section and said second mold section are closed together thereby transferring said insert from said second pin to said first pin.