Method of removing molded natural resins from molds utilizing lifter bars

1. A method of molding natural resins comprising:

supplying a mold with a mold cavity, wherein said mold cavity includes two mold sides which can be open and closed and wherein said mold cavity further defines a mold surface for a part to be molded;

providing a natural resin having a moisture content of about 1–40% by weight, wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of casein, starch, vegetable matter, comminuted rawhide, collagen, and mixtures thereof;

introducing and heating said natural resin to a heated injection molding machine and injecting said resin into said mold cavity and cooling said resin, thereby forming a molded part including a surface area that remains in contact with a portion of said mold surface when said mold is open;

providing an ejector plate in communication with said mold cavity, the ejector plate including a lifter bar with a contacting area mounted on said ejector plate, wherein said lifter bar contacting area forms a portion of said mold cavity surface and said lifter bar contacting area is 5.0–50.0% of the surface area of the molded part that remains in contact with said mold surface when said mold is open;

ejecting said molded part from said mold cavity including applying an ejecting force to said molded part with said lifter bars by contacting said contacting area of said lifter bar with said surface area of said molded part that remains in contact with said mold surface when open, and ejecting said molded part from said mold.

2. A method of molding an animal chew according to claim 1 wherein a moisture content of said resin after ejection is in the range of between about 5–20% wt.

3. A method of molding an animal chew according to claim 1 , wherein providing said natural resin having a moisture content in the range of about 1.0–40% wt. comprises combining said natural resin and water to form a mixture wherein the water content is in the range of between about 1.0–40% wt. with respect to that of said natural resin.

4. A method of molding an animal chew according to claim 3 , wherein providing said natural resin further comprises introducing and heating said mixture in an extruder to form extruded beads wherein the water content of said beads upon discharge from said extruder is less than the water content of said mixture introduced to said extruder.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said injection molding machine includes a hopper feed section, a barrel, and an output nozzle, including a plurality of heating zones on the barrel extending from the hopper section to said nozzle, the heating zones comprising:

zone 1 at or below 70° F.;

zone 2 =at or below 150° F.;

zone 3 =at or below about 300° F.;

zone 4 =at or below 375° F.