High speed locking clamp

A securing/clamping system for use with platens of a molding machine, which comprises:

• a stationary platen having a first mold half affixed thereto;
• a movable platen having a second mold half affixed thereto, said movable platen travelling along a plurality of tiebars;
• means for reciprocatingly moving said movable platen between a mold open and a mold closed position;
• means for applying a clamping force to said movable platen in the mold closed position comprising at least two columns, each having a first end affixed to the movable platen and a second end spaced from the movable platen, with a plurality of spaced teeth on said second end, a clamp piston adjacent the second end of the columns, and lock means engaging the clamp piston operative to engage and disengage the spaced teeth, wherein in the clamped position the clamp piston presses against the lock means which in turn presses against said columns,
• including a clamp block connected to the stationary platen on said tiebars, with the moving platen positioned between the stationary plate and clamp block, wherein said clamp piston is housed in said clamp block, and wherein each of said columns pass through corresponding holes in the clamp piston.