Compression molding machine

A machine for compression molding plastic articles, which includes:

• a wheel mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis,
• a plurality of angularly spaced molds, each including a radially outwardly oriented first mold segment and a radially inwardly oriented second mold segment disposed in radially outward alignment with an associated first mold segment,
• a cam disposed adjacent to said wheel to engage each of said second mold segments in sequence as said wheel rotates to move said second mold segment radially outwardly to an open position with respect to the associated first mold segment for removing a molded article and placing a mold charge into the mold, and a radially inward closed position with the first mold segment to compression mold an article between said mold segment, and
• an apparatus for placing mold charges into said molds in sequence, which includes:
• a circular plate for rotation around a first axis and having a periphery adjacent to a path of travel of compression molds in sequence,
• a pair of mold charge placement mechanisms angularly spaced from each other around said periphery of said plate, and
• a cutter blade for severing mold charges from a nozzle as said cutter blade passes across the nozzle,
• each of said mold charge placement mechanisms including a driven shaft for rotation around a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, an arm extending from said driven shaft at an angle to said second axis and a cup at an end of said arm,
• said cup receiving mold charges severed by said blade, transporting the mold charges and placing the mold charges into molds as the molds pass in sequence adjacent to the periphery of said plate.

Apparatus for placing mold charges into compression molds in sequence, which includes:

• a circular plate for rotation around a first axis and having a periphery adjacent to a path of travel of compression molds in sequence,
• a plurality of mold charge placement mechanisms angularly spaced from each other around said periphery of said plate, and
• a cutter blade for severing mold charges from a nozzle as said cutter blade passes across the nozzle,
• each of said mold charge placement mechanisms including a driven shaft for rotation around a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, an arm extending from said driven shaft at an angle to said second axis and a cup at an end of said arm,
• said cup receiving mold charges severed by said blade, transporting the mold charges and placing the mold charges into molds as the molds pass in sequence adjacent to the periphery of said plate.

A machine for compression molding plastic articles, which includes:

• a first array of compression molds and a second array of compression molds different from said first array, both of said arrays being mounted on a support for movement through respective first and second differing mold paths,
• each of said molds including mold segments, at least one of which is movable between a closed position and an open position for removing a molded article from said mold and placing a mold charge into said mold,
• a first mold charge placement mechanism disposed adjacent to said first path for placing mold charges into molds of said first array in sequence, and
• a second mold charge placement mechanism disposed adjacent to said second path for placing mold charges into molds of said second array in sequence independently of said first mechanism.