Multi-level stacked mold system

A drool prevention valve for use in a molding apparatus, said valve having a body portion and a nose portion extending from said body portion, said nose portion being movable relative to said body portion;

• said nose portion having a first, external annular seat and a second, internal annular seat, each seat forming a part of a stock flow path, said stock flow path extending internally of said valve from said second seat to an external feeder line connection;
• movement of said nose portion relative to said body portion producing a corresponding change in the volume of said stock flow path;
• valve head means within said body portion engageable in sealing relation with said second seat, and valve head control means, including a valve stem connecting with said valve head, to enable movement of said nose portion relative to said body portion while maintaining said valve head in sealing relation with said second seat, whereby said first seat may be displaced, relative to said valve body portion, to change said volume of said stock flow path while maintaining said second seat in a closed and sealed condition.

A drool prevention valve for use in a molding apparatus, said valve having a seat portion located within a passageway for the passage of fluid through said seat portion, a valve stem connected in controlling relation with a valve head said valve stem having axial loading means for applying force to said valve stem in displacement controlling relation therewith;

• said valve head being displaceable axially by said stem into sealing engagement with said seat portion;
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• guide passage means receiving said seat portion in axially displaceable relation therein, to permit displacement of said head and said seat in mutually engaged sealing relation along said guide passage means, whereby said passageway has the volume thereof effectively increased, in use to diminish the pressure of fluid contained therein.

A drool prevention valve for use in a molding apparatus, said valve having a seat portion located within a passageway for the passage of fluid through said seat portion, a valve steam connected in controlling relation with a valve head, loading means for applying axial force to said valve stem in displacement controlling relation therewith;

• said valve head having an axially outer valve end face, flow passage abutment means connecting with said valve end face, in sealing relation therewith, and movable axially in sealing relation with said valve end face, said valve head being displaceable axially by said valve stem into sealing engagement with said seat portion;
• guide passage means receiving said seat portion in axially displaceable relation therein, to permit displacement of said head and said seat in mutually engaged sealing relation along said guide passage means, whereby said passageway has the volume thereof effectively increased, in use to diminish the pressure of fluid contained therein.

A mold apparatus having a stacked injection mold containing at least four levels of mold cavities in a plurality of mold blocks, symmetrical flow path stock feed distribution means including a feed block located intermediately and centrally of said mold blocks to receive fluent feed stock from a stock injection head, first stock supply passage means connecting said feed block with said injection head and second stock supply passage means comprising a pair of mutually oppositely directed stock flow passages, of substantially equal length connecting said feed block with said mold blocks, in use to substantially simultaneously transfer stock to each of said mold cavities from said injection head;

• isolating valve means to isolate said feed block from feed transfer relation with said mold blocks and said injection head;
• said second stock supply passage means including a plurality of feed distribution axial segments axially expansible relative to respective ones of said blocks, the apparatus including axial loading means for selectively comprisively loading adjoining ones of said feed distribution axial segments together, in use to maintain sealing contact therebetween upon the application of injection pressure from stock injection head to the apparatus.