In a molding die, movable die elements are respectively received in die element receiving holes formed in a frame plate. An end surface of the frame plate, which faces a cavity at a location that is other than locations of the die element receiving holes, forms a frame portion compression surface. An end surface of each movable die element, which faces the cavity, forms a split compression surface. Die element drive devices respectively drive the split compression surfaces of the movable die elements. A whole compression plate commonly supports an opposite end part of the frame plate and opposite end parts of the movable die elements, which are opposite from the cavity. When the whole compression plate is moved forward, the whole compression plate integrally drives the frame plate and the movable die elements forward. A whole drive device drives the whole compression plate.

In some embodiments, a tool includes, in an injection molding machine, a movable internal core configured to receive a molded plastic layer thereon, the molded plastic layer having a thickness. The tool also comprises an injection nozzle configured to inject plastic material over the movable internal core to form the molded plastic layer; an ejection plate connected to the movable internal core; and multiple, movable support plates each having a thickness. The multiple, movable support plates are located behind the ejection plate. A movable support plate of the multiple, movable support plates is configured to determine the thickness of the molded plastic layer.

A method of injection moulding an article, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an injection mould comprising a plurality of mould parts defining a mould cavity of the injection mould, the plurality of mould parts including first and second movable mould parts, the injection mould further comprising an injection inlet for injecting molten thermoplastic resin material into the mould cavity, wherein the injection inlet is located in the vicinity of the first movable mould part and the second movable mould part is remote from the injection inlet; (b) disposing the first and second movable mould parts in a first configuration so as to define a first intermediate moulding cavity, in which first configuration the first movable mould part is in a first rearward position and the second movable mould part is in a first forward position; (c) injecting molten thermoplastic resin material into the first intermediate moulding cavity through the injection inlet to fill the first intermediate moulding cavity with the molten material; (d) closing the injection inlet; (e) after commencement of the injecting step and at least partly after the closing step, moving the second movable mould part from the first forward position to a second rearward position; (f) moving the first movable mould part from the first rearward position to a second forward position; and (g) moving the second movable mould part from the second rearward position to a third forward position thereby to dispose the first and second movable mould parts in a final configuration so as to define a final moulding cavity of the injection mould filled with the molten material, the final moulding cavity defining a cavity outer surface which defines the outer shape of the article to be moulded.

In a molding die, movable die elements are respectively received in die element receiving holes formed in a frame plate. An end surface of the frame plate, which faces a cavity at a location that is other than locations of the die element receiving holes, forms a frame portion compression surface. An end surface of each movable die element, which faces the cavity, forms a split compression surface. Die element drive devices respectively drive the split compression surfaces of the movable die elements. A whole compression plate commonly supports an opposite end part of the frame plate and opposite end parts of the movable die elements, which are opposite from the cavity. When the whole compression plate is moved forward, the whole compression plate integrally drives the frame plate and the movable die elements forward. A whole drive device drives the whole compression plate.

Provided is a resin molding apparatus that can reduce a variation in a thickness of a resin to be molded. A resin molding apparatus includes: a molding mold having one mold and the other mold; one mold wedge mechanism; and one mold cavity block driving mechanism. In a state that one mold cavity block is moved to a preset height position using the one mold cavity block driving mechanism and a position in a direction away from the other mold in the one mold cavity block having been moved to the height position is fixed to be limited using the one mold wedge mechanism, a resin is injected into one mold cavity, and thereafter resin molding can be performed by changing a depth of the one mold cavity using the one mold wedge mechanism and the one mold cavity block driving mechanism.

Provided is a resin molding apparatus that can suppress a molding problem caused by a variation in a thickness of an object to be molded or suppress a variation in a thickness of a resin molded part, and can perform a mold releasing operation. A resin molding apparatus includes: a molding mold having one mold and the other mold; one mold wedge mechanism; and one mold cavity block driving mechanism. In a state that a height position of one mold cavity block is set using the one mold cavity block driving mechanism and a position in a direction away from the other mold in the one mold cavity block having been moved to the height position is fixed to be limited using the one mold wedge mechanism, a mold releasing operation can be performed using the one mold wedge mechanism and the one mold cavity block driving mechanism.

A method of injection moulding an article, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an injection mould comprising a plurality of mould parts defining a mould cavity of the injection mould, the plurality of mould parts including first and second movable mould parts, the injection mould further comprising an injection inlet for injecting molten thermoplastic resin material into the mould cavity, wherein the injection inlet is located in the vicinity of the first movable mould part and the second movable mould part is remote from the injection inlet; (b) disposing the first and second movable mould parts in a first configuration so as to define a first intermediate moulding cavity, in which first configuration the first movable mould part is in a first rearward position and the second movable mould part is in a first forward position; (c) injecting molten thermoplastic resin material into the first intermediate moulding cavity through the injection inlet to fill the first intermediate moulding cavity with the molten material; (d) closing the injection inlet; (e) after commencement of the injecting step and at least partly after the closing step, moving the second movable mould part from the first forward position to a second rearward position; (f) moving the first movable mould part from the first rearward position to a second forward position; and (g) moving the second movable mould part from the second rearward position to a third forward position thereby to dispose the first and second movable mould parts in a final configuration so as to define a final moulding cavity of the injection mould filled with the molten material, the final moulding cavity defining a cavity outer surface which defines the outer shape of the article to be moulded.