Apparatus and method for manufacturing multi component plastic molded parts

A method of making multi-component plastic molded parts, using an apparatus which includes two outer platens with first half-molds, and a middle platen with second half-molds of different types interacting with the first half-molds such as to define cavities in two parting planes for injection of a plastic melt and/or a PUR mixture, the method comprising the steps of:

• in a first cycle
• a) closing and locking a first half-mold with a second half-mold of a first type facing the first half-mold to form first cavities in the two parting planes,
• b) injecting a first plastic melt or PUR mixture into the first cavities and producing preforms in the respective first cavities formed in the two parting planes,
• c) opening the respective first cavities formed by the first half-molds and the second half-molds of the first type,
• d) retaining the preforms in the respective first half-molds,
• in a subsequent cycle
• e) moving second half-molds of a second type different from the first type into the two parting planes so as to face the respective first half-molds with the retained preforms,
• f) closing and locking the first half-molds with the facing second half-mold of the second type to form second cavities in the two parting planes,
• g) injecting a second plastic melt or a PUR mixture into the second cavities and producing overmolded preforms,
• h) opening the respective second cavities formed by the first half-molds and the second half-molds of the second type,
• i) retaining the overmolded preforms in the respective first half-molds, and removing an overmolded preform from the respective first half-molds when the overmolded preform represents a finished multi-component plastic molded part.