Combined mold carrier and linkage apparatus

In an injection molding machine including a first stationary platen assembly and a second platen assembly movable relative to said first platen assembly, a mold arrangement comprising a plurality movable plates defining a plurality of mold halves between cooperating sets of mold plates wherein said sets of mold plates are disposed axially to define a plurality of axially arranged mold stations operable to open and close simultaneously during cyclic molding machine operation,

• the improvement comprising:
• said plurality of sets of movable plates including at least one first plate and a first set of opposed mold halves mounted thereon,
• primary motion means operative to move said first set of opposed mold halves,
• said plurality of sets of movable plates including at least a second set of opposed mold halves on one side of the first set of opposed mold halves and at least a third set of opposed mold halves on the opposite side of the first set of opposed mold halves, wherein said first plate is spaced between said second and third sets of opposed mold halves,
• a first secondary motion means operative to move said second set of opposed mold halves, and a second secondary motion means operative to move said third set of opposed mold halves, wherein said first secondary motion means is on one side of the at least one first plate and the second secondary motion means is on the opposed side of the at least one first plate,
• said primary motion means being further directly connected to said stationary and movable platen assemblies,
• said first secondary motion means, and said second secondary motion means being further connected so that movement of the primary motion means is operative to move said first and second secondary motion means, and wherein said first and second secondary motion means are operative to move said second and third sets of opposed mold halves, respectively, and wherein the combined action of said motion means is operative to open and close all of said axially arranged mold stations simultaneously.