Molding accelerated stripper-ejector system

A mold assembly that includes a cavity plate having a cavity for forming areas of a molded part, first and second ejectors that are vertically moveable independent of each other, with said first ejector lying generally above said second ejector, a first ejector pin supported on said first ejector, a second ejector pin supported on said second ejector, a knockout piston which moves up to move up the ejectors and pins, and a mechanism for coupling said knockout piston to said ejectors, comprising:

• a force member, said second ejector having walls forming a generally vertical throughhole and said force member being moveable generally vertically in said hole, said force member having a lower end positioned over said knockout piston and said force member having an upper end lying under said first ejector to move thereagainst, so when said knockout piston is moved up it moves said force member generally upward against said first ejector to move up said first ejector and said first ejector pin;
• said force member and said throughhole, each have a lower portion that is narrower than said knockout piston, so after said knockout piston has moved up said force member to raise said first ejector pin, said knockout piston pushes against said second ejector at a location around said hole to raise said second ejector and said second ejector pin.

A method for operating a mold assembly to first raise a first ejector and a first ejector pin mounted thereon, and to then raise a lower second ejector and a second ejector pin mounted thereon, by the use of a knockout piston that moves upward, comprising:

• forming a hole in said second ejector;
• mounting a force member in said hole with an upper force member portion that can project up above said hole and a lower force member portion that can project below said hole when said upper portion projects above said hole;
• moving up said knockout piston against said force member lower portion and continuing to move up said knockout piston to move up said force member to push up said first ejector and to lift said first ejector pin, and so as said knockout piston continues to move up it then moves up said second ejector to lift said second pin.