A method of operating an injection molding machine includes translating a movable platen from a closed position to a part transfer position by overshooting the transfer position in an opening direction away from a stationary platen to an over-travel position, and then translating the moving platen back to the transfer position in a closing direction, opposite the opening direction. Movement of a take-out device towards an advanced position, in which the take-out device reaches between mold halves carried by the stationary and movable platens, occurs while the movable platen is moving between the over-travel and transfer positions, prior to coming to rest in the transfer position. When resting in the transfer position, the method includes transferring molded articles from a first mold section mounted to the movable platen to retained engagement on the take-out device reaching between the platens.

A method of operating an injection molding machine includes translating a movable platen from a closed position to a part transfer position by overshooting the transfer position in an opening direction away from a stationary platen to an over-travel position, and then translating the moving platen back to the transfer position in a closing direction, opposite the opening direction. Movement of a take-out device towards an advanced position, in which the take-out device reaches between mold halves carried by the stationary and movable platens, occurs while the movable platen is moving between the over-travel and transfer positions, prior to coming to rest in the transfer position. When resting in the transfer position, the method includes transferring molded articles from a first mold section mounted to the movable platen to retained engagement on the take-out device reaching between the platens.

A transfer system which can be used in a flexible manner for transporting or processing, respectively, profiles, in which the injection device comprises a mold for receiving the profile during the injection, wherein the mold has at least two contour parts and the injection device has a closing unit for opening/closing the contour parts, wherein the closing unit is configured for keeping the contour parts open until the profile is enclosed by the contour parts, and wherein the transportation device is configured for moving, preferably not rotating, the profile exclusively parallel to the transportation path, wherein the closing unit and the injection device are assembled so as to be displaceable conjointly with the first feed table, and the first feed table in the direction of the transportation path is displaceable so far until the contour parts enclose the profile.

A mold clamping device includes a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base and supporting a stationary mold, a movable platen movable on the base and supporting a movable mold, and a mold clamping mechanism for clamping the movable mold against the stationary mold. Tie bars extend from the stationary platen completely through both the movable platen and the mold clamping mechanism. A shaft supporting plate is fixed to the ends of the tie bars and terminates at its lower end portion in two spaced-apart shoes that have flat bottom surfaces in direct sliding contact with the base. The flat bottom surface of each shoe has a larger area than the cross-sectional area of the shaft supporting plate situated vertically above the shoe.

A mold clamping device includes a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base and supporting a stationary mold, a movable platen movable on the base and supporting a movable mold, and a mold clamping mechanism for clamping the movable mold against the stationary mold. Tie bars extend from the stationary platen completely through both the movable platen and the mold clamping mechanism. A shaft supporting plate is fixed to the ends of the tie bars and terminates at its lower end portion in two spaced-apart shoes that have flat bottom surfaces in direct sliding contact with the base. The flat bottom surface of each shoe has a larger area than the cross-sectional area of the shaft supporting plate situated vertically above the shoe.

Provided herein is a cell macroencapsulation device composed of hydrogel in a 3D conformation that optimizes encapsulated cell viability and function when transplanted into a vascularized tissue space. The hydrogel macroencapsulation device is intended to reduce or eliminate immune response to the cell graft, while allowing exchange of encapsulated cell-secreted products, such as insulin. Also described herein is an injection-mold and fabrication process to generate the hydrogel macroencapsulation devices for use in the clinic.

A self-lubricating alignment mold or bar lock assembly which has male and female lock halves with slidably contacting engagement surfaces formed with lubricant-retaining recesses deep enough to hold lubricant that re-lubricates the engagement surfaces during slidable contact therebetween shallow enough to be self-cleaning by shedding debris that ordinarily would cause abrasive wear. The recesses are uniformly spaced and arranged into an array of uniformly spaced rows and columns of recesses that define a lubricant-film retaining region of the engagement surface. Recesses form at least 40% of the total area of the engagement surface and overlap adjacent recesses in adjacent rows and columns providing uniform re-lubrication and lubricant distribution. Each recess has a depth no greater than 25 microns deep enough to hold lubricant but shallow enough to shed debris into an adjacent deeper debris well. Each debris well serves as a gravity feed lubricant reservoir that returns lubricant to recesses.

A self-lubricating alignment mold or bar lock assembly which has male and female lock halves with slidably contacting engagement surfaces formed with lubricant-retaining recesses deep enough to hold lubricant that re-lubricates the engagement surfaces during slidable contact therebetween shallow enough to be self-cleaning by shedding debris that ordinarily would cause abrasive wear. The recesses are uniformly spaced and arranged into an array of uniformly spaced rows and columns of recesses that define a lubricant-film retaining region of the engagement surface. Recesses form at least 40% of the total area of the engagement surface and overlap adjacent recesses in adjacent rows and columns providing uniform re-lubrication and lubricant distribution. Each recess has a depth no greater than 25 microns deep enough to hold lubricant but shallow enough to shed debris into an adjacent deeper debris well. Each debris well serves as a gravity feed lubricant reservoir that returns lubricant to recesses.

A mold closing unit for an injection molding machine for processing plastics and other compounds that can be plasticized, including at least one machine bed, at least one stationary platen, and at least one platen that can be moved relative to the stationary platen by a drive mechanism, where the movable platen can be moved on a slide having guide shoes along at least one guide attached to the machine bed, and the drive mechanism has at least one gear rack drive driven by at least one drive motor, whereby, because at least two gear racks are fixedly connected to the machine bed and because the drive motor is fixedly connected to the slide and, in the event of a movement of the movable platen, the occurrence of tilting torques are reduced and safe operation of the mold closing unit is ensured.

A mold clamping device includes a base, a stationary platen, a movable platen, a mold clamping mechanism, a tie bar, and a half nut. This mold clamping device further includes a shaft supporting plate supporting a tip of the tie bar. This shaft supporting plate is fixed to the tip of the tie bar, and is mounted on the base so as to be freely movable.