Method and apparatus for injection molding of selected parts

In a method of selectively molding one of a plurality of different parts in a reconfigurable mold apparatus, said apparatus having:

• (a) a first mold body having a first surface and a first mold cavity therein intersecting said first surface;
• (b) a second mold body having a second surface and a second mold cavity therein intersecting said second surface;
• (c) a third mold body having third and fourth opposite surfaces, said third surface arranged to engage said first surface and said fourth surface arranged to engage said second surface, and having a fourth mold cavity therein intersecting both said third and fourth surfaces, each of said second and third mold bodies being selectively movable with respect to the other and with respect to said first mold body to a first position for molding a first part wherein only said second mold cavity is in communication with said first mold cavity, and to a second position for molding a second part wherein only said second and fourth mold cavities are in communication with said first mold cavity;
• (d) an actuator for automatically effecting said movement of said second and third mold bodies;
• and (e) injection means associated with said molding apparatus for automatically injecting molding material into said first mold cavity, said method comprising the steps:
• (a) selecting one of said second and fourth mold cavities to be moved into communication with said first mold cavity;
• (b) automatically operating said actuator to move said selected mold cavity into communicating engagement with said first mold cavity;
• (c) only when said selected mold cavity is said fourth mold cavity then automatically operating said actuator to move said second mold cavity into communication with said fourth mold cavity;
• and
• (d) automatically operating said injection means to inject molding material into both said first cavity and said selected cavity.

Apparatus for selectively molding one of a plurality of different parts, comprising:

• (a) a first mold body having a first surface and a first mold cavity therein intersecting said first surface;
• (b) a second mold body having a second surface arranged for engagement with said first surface and second and third mold cavities therein intersecting said second surface, wherein the second mold cavity has a different configuration than the first mold cavity,
• one of said first and second mold bodies being selectably movable with respect to the other so that one of said second and third mold cavities is in communication with said first mold cavity;
• (c) an actuator for effecting said movement of said one mold body, said actuator being automatically controlled by a mold frame controller;
• and
• (d) injection means associated with said molding apparatus for injecting molding material into said first mold cavity.

Apparatus for selectively molding one of a plurality of different parts, comprising:

• (a) a first mold body having a first surface and a first mold cavity therein intersecting said first surface;
• (b) a second mold body having a second surface and a second mold cavity therein intersecting said second surface;
• (c) a third mold body having third and fourth opposite surfaces, said third surface arranged to engage said first surface and said fourth surface arranged to engage said second surface, and having a fourth mold cavity therein intersecting both said third and fourth surfaces,
• some of said first, second, and third mold bodies being selectively movable with respect to the others to a first position for molding a first part wherein only said second mold cavity is in communication with said first mold cavity, and to a second position for molding a second part wherein said second and fourth mold cavities are in communication with said first mold cavity;
• (d) an actuator for effecting said movement of said second and third mold bodies;
• and
• (e) injection means associated with said molding apparatus for injecting molding material into said first mold cavity.