A mold clamping device (20) includes a traction platen (29) disposed below a pressure-receiving platen (22), a movable platen (28) disposed above the pressure-receiving platen (22) and configured to be moved up and down by a mold opening and closing mechanism (27), and tie bars (31) extending downward from the movable platen (28) and penetrating the pressure-receiving platen (22) and the traction platen (29). The mold clamping device (20) is configured to clamp molds (12) disposed between the pressure-receiving platen (22) and the movable platen (28). A saw tooth portion (36) is formed at a lower end of each of the tie bars (31), and a half nut (26) that engages with the saw tooth portion (36) is provided under the traction platen (29).

A movable platen according to the present invention includes: a mold clamping platen 42 having a projecting portion 62 in a mold closing direction-side surface; a mold mounting platen 44 mounted to the projecting portion 62 of the mold clamping platen 42; and a guide mechanism 50 fixed to the mold clamping platen 42 and supporting the mold mounting platen 44. Only the mold clamping platen 42 is fixed to the guide mechanism 50, while the mold mounting platen 44 is not fixed but placed on platen surface support portions 52.

An injection molding apparatus comprises a support base and a mold carrier removably mounted to the support base. The mold carrier includes a mounting plate with attachment features for engaging the support base. A mold with two mold plates is slidably mounted to the mounting 5 plate. A clamp is operable to move the plates between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the plates abut one another. In the open position, the plates are spaced apart for removing molded articles.

A melt dispenser for plastic molding comprises a barrel unit removably mountable to a drive unit. A feed screw is received within a barrel of the barrel unit and is rotated by the drive unit to dispense molten molding material through an outlet of the barrel. A coupling mechanism can be engaged to hold the barrel unit against the drive unit and on to connect the screw to the drive. The coupling mechanism is operable by an actuator.

An injection molding apparatus comprises a support base and a mold carrier removably mounted to the support base. The mold carrier includes a mounting plate with attachment features for engaging the support base. A mold with two mold plates is slidably mounted to the mounting plate. A clamp is operable to move the plates between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the plates abut one another. In the open position, the plates are spaced apart for removing molded articles.

A movable platen according to the present invention includes: a mold clamping platen having a projecting portion in a mold closing direction-side surface; a mold mounting platen mounted to the projecting portion of the mold clamping paten; and a guide mechanism fixed to the mold clamping paten and supporting the mold mounting platen. Only the mold clamping paten is fixed to the guide mechanism, while the mold mounting platen is not fixed but placed on platen surface support portions.

A mold clamping device includes a fixed platen, a movable platen, a mold clamping housing, a plurality of tie bars, and a toggle mechanism provided between the mold clamping housing and the movable platen, in which when link pins connecting the mold clamping housing and two mold clamping housing side links, link pins connecting the movable platen and two movable platen side links, and link pins respectively connecting the two mold clamping housing side links and the two movable platen side links are defined as mold clamping force receiving link pins, at least one of the multiple mold clamping force receiving link pins is defined as a main lubrication target link pin, and the main lubrication target link pin is configured to be greased with a larger amount than each of other mold clamping force receiving link pins.

A plastic molding system comprises: dispensing, pre-shaping and shaping cells and a transport subsystem. The dispensing cell has a station for dispensing a dose of plastic feedstock. The pre-shaping and shaping cells each comprise a plurality of stations for shaping the workpiece into a preform shape and into a final shape, respectively. The transport subsystem advances a workpiece along a selected one of a plurality of process paths to form a molded article. Each of the plurality of process paths is defined by a combination of stations of the dispensing cell, the pre-shaping cell and the shaping cell.