A molding die includes: a pair of dies, i.e., a first die and a second die respectively having abutting surfaces; a first die part and a second die part respectively having cavity forming portions inside which a cavity is formed, and thick portions provided at both ends of the cavity forming portions, the die parts being detachably fitted to die part attachment grooves provided in the abutting surfaces of the pair of dies; and induction heating coils for heating a surface of the cavity, wherein thicknesses of the cavity forming portions are smaller than thicknesses of the thick portions, and the distance between the induction heating coils and the cavity is smaller than the thicknesses of the thick portions.

A method and apparatus for forming a part having a cavity with a complex contour is presented. The molding apparatus comprises a mold cavity and a molding insert. The mold cavity is formed by a first mold portion and a second mold portion. The molding insert is within the mold cavity, wherein the molding insert has a forming surface, and wherein the molding insert is configured to move in more than one direction relative to the first mold portion

Methods and apparatus for exchanging tools and/or tool assemblies used to form different types of molds for in injection-molding machines, are described. The exchange of tools and/or tool assemblies is made using a robot. Contact lens mold halves and assemblies for molding contact lenses of different powers or types can be made with a single injection-molding apparatus.

Disclosed herein, amongst other things, are various conversion structures for use in a molding system (100, 200). A non-limiting embodiment of the conversion structure includes a standard mold receiver (140, 157) and a mold conversion module (151A, 151B, 151C, 251A, 251B, 251C, 251D, 251E, 251F, 152A, 152B, 152C, 170A, 170B, 170C). The standard mold receiver (140, 57) and the mold conversion module (151A, 151B, 151C, 251A, 251B, 251C, 251D, 251E, 251F, 152A, 152B, 152C, 170A, 170B, 170C) are configured to cooperate, wherein the mold conversion module (151A, 151B, 151C, 251A, 251B, 251C, 251D, 251E, 251F, 152A, 152B, 52C, 170A, 170B, 170C) is receivable in the standard mold receiver (140, 157) for converting a molding configuration of a mold (120).

Wings are provided on mold components and linear ways are provided below these wings. A pad rides on each linear way below each wing. A force generator, such as a spring, is disposed between each wing and underlying pad. In this way the weight of the mold components is borne, at least in part, by the linear ways so that the weight on components that might otherwise sag is lessened.

Molding assemblies and molding processes are disclosed. The molding assemblies are for producing a product and include a first subassembly and a second subassembly for the producing of the product. The first subassembly includes a cavity insert arrangement corresponding with the design of the product, a movable insert abutting the cavity insert arrangement, and rail members securing the movable insert with interlocking features at a specific location, the specific location being one of multiple movable insert positions. The molding process includes molding a first product with the movable insert and the additional movable insert being positioned at a first movable insert portion, removing the subassembly from the second subassembly, re-positioning the movable insert and the additional movable insert to a second movable insert position, and molding a second product with the movable insert and the additional movable insert being positioned at the second movable insert portion.

An injection-molding mold configured for being mounted in an injection-molding apparatus for automated molding of work pieces in plastics, said injection-molding mold comprising at least two separate mold parts that are separated by a mold separation face, and wherein at least one first mold part (1) is configured with an outer frame (2) in which is configured at least one space (14) which is open relative to the mold separation face, in which is mounted at least one exchangeable mold insert (3), and wherein the exchangeable mold insert (3) has a support plate (16) and the mold insert has a recess (20) into which the support plate (16) extends to the effect that the support plate (16) secures the mold insert (3) in the open space (14).

An injection-moulding mould configured for being mounted in an injection-moulding apparatus for automated moulding of work pieces in plastics, said injection-moulding mould comprising at least two separate mould parts that are separated by a mould separation face, and wherein at least one first mould part (1) is configured with an outer frame (2) in which is configured at least one space (14) which is open relative to the mould separation face, in which is mounted at least one exchangeable mould insert (3), and wherein the exchangeable mould insert (3) has a support plate (16) and the mould insert has a recess (20) into which the support plate (16) extends to the effect that the support plate (16) secures the mould insert (3) in the open space (14).

A method of making a shopping cart includes forming a frame capable of supporting a plurality of basket assembly types, selecting from the plurality of basket assembly types a first basket assembly defining a first basket assembly type; and connecting the first basket assembly to the frame.

Injection-moulding mould configured for being mounted in an injection-moulding apparatus for automated moulding of work pieces from plastics, said injection-moulding mould comprising at least two separate mould parts that are separated by a mould separation face, and wherein at least one mould part 1 is configured with an outer frame 2 in which one or more spaces is/are configured that are open relative to the mould separation face, in which is mounted at least one exchangeable mould insert 3, and wherein the exchangeable mould insert 3 has a mould cavity side that faces towards the mould separation face, which mould cavity side is provided with one or more mould cavities, and wherein, in the mould insert 3, a set of cooling channels 14 is provided and at least two pipe couplings to which there is, for each pipe coupling, configured a cooling pipe 4 being, with its first end, mounted to the pipe coupling and extending therefrom, in its longitudinal direction, from the pipe coupling and out through a channel 8 in the outer frame of the mould part and to its other end. The cooling pipe being secured in the channel in such a manner that it cannot be shifted in the longitudinal direction thereof, it is accomplished that the pipe coupling may be configured such as to occupy only very little space in the mould insert 3.