A compression molding machine includes a wheel mounted for rotation around
a horizontal axis and a plurality of angularly spaced molds disposed
around the wheel. Each of the molds includes a first mold segment and a
second mold segment disposed radially outwardly of the first mold
segment. Each of the second mold segments is movable radially with
respect to the associated first mold segment between a radially inner
closed position with the first mold segment for compression molding a
plastic article, and a radially outer open position spaced from the
associated first mold segment for removing a molded article from the mold
and placing a mold charge into the mold.