Molding apparatus

Molding apparatus comprising:

• an injection side having a main injection side frame with an "A" plate having at least one exposed face and a cavity insert-receiving hole extending through said "A" plate opening to its said exposed face, said injection side further having a cavity insert adapted to fit within said cavity insert-receiving hole, and cavity insert retainer and lifter means manipulable from said exposed face for clamping said cavity insert to said "A" plate and for lifting said cavity insert partly out of said cavity insert-receiving hole without disassembly of said injection side.

Molding apparatus comprising:

• an ejection side having a main ejection side frame with a support plate and a "B" plate having at least one exposed face and a core insert-receiving hole extending through said "B" plate opening to its said exposed face, said ejection side further having a core insert adapted to fit within said core insert-receiving hole, and core insert retainer and lifter means manipulable from said exposed face for clamping said core insert to said "B" plate and for lifting said core insert partly out of said core insert-receiving hole without disassembly of said ejection side.

Molding apparatus comprising:

• an injection side having a main injection side frame with a top clamp plate, a locating ring connected to the rear of said top clamp plate, a sprue bushing plate connected to said locating ring, and an "A" plate having at least one exposed face and a cavity insert-receiving hole extending through said "A" plate opening to its said exposed face and connected to said top clamp plate, said injection side further having a cavity insert adapted to fit within said cavity insert-receiving hole, and cavity insert retainer and lifter means manipulable from said exposed face for clamping said cavity insert to said "A" plate and for lifting said cavity insert partly out of said cavity insert-receiving hole without disassembly of said injection side, said sprue bushing plate being removable through said cavity insert-receiving hole following removal of said cavity insert.

For use with a cavity or core insert for an injection molding machine, said insert having a locking groove, an insert retaining and lifting assembly comprising:

• a threaded clamp screw, a generally cylindrical retaining and lifting element having a through bore, said through bore having a counterbore at one end thereof, means holding said screw and said element in mutually assembled relation so that said body is rotatable about the axis of said clamp screw and substantially confined for axial movement therewith, said retaining and lifting element having a slot extending part way around said counterbore defining an arcuately extending clamping tongue at one end of said retaining and lifting element, said end of said element being notched, said end of said element having a cut away portion terminating at a shoulder which is coplanar with the base of said slot and arcuately spaced from said slot so that one may, by engaging said notch by a simple tool, rotate said element so as to cause said tongue to move into and out of said locking groove.