Apparatus for molding thin resin sheets

An apparatus for molding thin resin sheets of substantially constant thickness, comprising:

• a mold support;
• first and second mold plates oriented vertically and spaced apart on the mold support, the mold plates each having a planar surface opposing the other mold plate, the opposing surfaces being parallel to each other and narrowly spaced apart to form a narrow vertical mold cavity therebetween, the first mold plate being rigidly affixed to the mold support and the second mold plate being movably affixed to the mold support so as to be movable away from the first mold plate for providing access to a completed resin sheet in the mold cavity;
• a first spacer strip affixed to one of the mold plates and projecting from said surface of said one of the mold plates and extending continuously along lower and side edges thereof for abutting the opposing surface of the other mold plate, the first spacer strip serving to space the mold plates apart a predetermined distance and also serving to define a substantially closed vertical mold cavity between the plates and bounded by the spacer strip, and wherein the first spacer strip extends along an upper edge of said one of the plates and includes at least one gap at the upper edge defining a pour opening into the mold cavity for pouring a castable composition into the mold;
• a third mold plate, the first mold plate being disposed between the second and third mold plates, the first and third mold plates including respective planar surfaces which confront each other in parallel relationship to define a second narrow vertical mold cavity, wherein each of the second and third mold plates is pivotally attached to the mold support for pivotal movement with respect to the first mold plate, the second and third mold plates thereby being movable between closed positions parallel to the first mold plate and open positions permitting hardened resin sheets to be removed from the mold cavities.