Device for manufacturing information carriers by injection moulding

An auxiliary device intended to be added to an injection moulding device for manufacturing disc-like information carriers, wherein:

• A) the injection moulding device comprises:
• (i) a mould having at least two mould parts displaceable relative to each other, which in a first relative position bound a mould cavity, a form of which corresponds with the form of the information carriers for manufacture, into which mould cavity debouches a feed for heated plastic, which in a second relative position are located at a distance from each other such that the mould cavity is accessible, and
• (ii) holding means for holding an insert plate in a desired position on the mould cavity, wherein the plate contains information to be recorded onto the information carrier, such that an insert plate remains in position relative to the mould cavity when a formed information carrier is removed;
• and wherein:
• B) the auxiliary device comprises:
• (i) a supply holder in which can be received at least one insert plate,
• (ii) transporting means for transporting successive insert plates between the supply holder and the mould, which transporting means comprise two heads which are each adapted to displace successive insert plates in an axial direction to and from an end wall of the mould cavity, all of which plates are provided with a central continuous hole, and which two heads each comprise centering means for placing an insert plate in correct position relative to the end wall by making use of the continuous hole in the insert plate, wherein said centering means is comprised of an auxiliary head which includes an annular support surface for carrying an insert plate and a positioning cylinder received within the continuous hole of the insert plate, and a centering pin extending from each head within the positioning cylinder and through the continuous hole of the insert plate, the centering pin having a free end and narrowing from a diameter of the centering pin to form a continuous taper toward the free end, wherein the centering pin during positioning and/or removal of an insert plate extends into the mould cavity and which can co-act along a length of the taper for fully engaging a central positioning hole which extends through the mould wall against which an insert plate must be positioned;
• wherein the centering pin is spring-loaded and biased away from the auxiliary head which is axially movable by means of drive means for placing and removal of an insert plate, and
• (iii) control means connectable to the injection moulding device, which control means are adapted to release the transporting means only in the second relative position of the mould parts in order to transport an insert plate from or to the mould, which control means are adapted to control the holding means, and wherein the transporting means are controllable by the control means.