Machine for compression molding closure shells

A machine for compression molding plastic closures, which includes:

• a support for rotation around a horizontal axis,
• a plurality of compression molds on said support at angularly spaced positions around said axis,
• each of said molds including a male mold section and a female mold section aligned along an axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis,
• a cam disposed adjacent to said support to move at least one of said mold sections of each mold with respect to the other mold section between a closed position forming a compression mold cavity and an open position spaced from each other,
• said male mold section including a mold core and stripper sleeve surrounding said mold core for movement both rotationally and axially of said mold core,
• a first screw drive coupling said female mold section to said stripper sleeve for rotating said stripper sleeve around said mold core as said at least one mold section is moved between said open and closed positions, and
• a second screw drive coupling said stripper sleeve to said support to move said stripper sleeve axially over said mold core as said stripper sleeve is rotated around said core,
• so that said stripper sleeve rotationally and axially removes a closure molded around said male mold core as said at least one mold section is moved with respect to the other mold section toward said open position.