Apparatus for compression molding plastic closures

Apparatus for compression molding plastic closures having a base wall and a peripheral skirt with an internal thread, said apparatus comprising:

• a first mold assembly having a male mold core, a housing and a first shaft mechanism carried for rotation by said housing, with said male mold core being mounted on an end of said first shaft mechanism,
• a second mold assembly having a female mold cavity,
• means for moving at least one of said first and second mold assemblies relative to the other to bring said male mold core into said female mold cavity for compression molding a closure, and then moving said at least one mold assembly relative to the other to open said cavity such that the closure is retained on said male mold core, and
• means for rotating said male mold core relative to said first mold assembly to unthread said core from the closure, including means for rotating said first shaft mechanism relative to said housing,
• said means for moving at least one of said first and second mold assemblies including means for moving said first shaft mechanism axially with respect to said housing, and said means for rotating said first shaft mechanism moving axially with said first shaft mechanism relative to said housing,
• said means for rotating said first shaft mechanism comprising axially spaced brackets coupled to said first shaft mechanism a second shaft rotatably carried by said brackets parallel to said first shaft mechanism, drive means rotatable coupling said second shaft to said first shaft mechanism, and means for controlling rotation of said second shaft, rotation of said second shaft being imparted to said first shaft mechanism by said drive means.