METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING GATE REMOVAL FROM A MOLD

摘要

The present invention provides an apparatus for molding articles wherein the apparatus includes a mold having at least two mold halves (8) defining therebetween a mold cavity, a plurality of gates (12A, 12B, 12C) for communicating molten plastic to the mold cavity from a source, and a recess formed in the mold for forming a tie strap (14) which connects at least two of the gates (12A, 12B, 12C) together to cause dependent movement of the at least two gates (12A, 12B, 12C) when at least one of the two gates (12A, 12B, 12C) is removed from the mold. The gates may be formed as cashew gates (12A, 12B, 12C). In addition, the invention provides a process for molding articles, wherein the process includes the steps of: a) providing a mold having a mold cavity and a plurality of passages for conveying molten plastic from a source to the mold cavity, the mold further including at least one tie strap recess (14) communicating between at least two of the passages; b) molding an article in the mold cavity, thereby forming a plurality of gates (12A, 12B, 12C) in the passages, at least two of the gates (12A, 12B, 12C) being connected by at least one tie strap formed in the tie strap recess (14); and c) removing at least one of the gates (12A, 12B, 12C) of the mold. The step of forming the gates (12A, 12B, 12C) may include the step of forming cashew gates (12A, 12B, 12C).