Abstract: A machine for high rate production of molecularly oriented thermoplastic bottles is disclosed. The machine is of the reheat-and-blow type. A blow molding station simultaneously blow molds article preforms arranged in matrices by modular article carriers for conveying the preforms and articles through the machine. The carriers are designed to retain the preforms throughout all operations of the machine from a preform load station through a thermal conditioning section, a blow molding station, and to a bottle eject station, thereby eliminating the need for other preform transferring apparatus. The article carriers together with the associated conveying apparatus comprise a sufficiently flexible structure that minor misalignments of the carriers with the blow molding mechanism do not adversely affect bottle production. Both loading of preforms and ejection of finished bottles are accomplished by operation upon matrices of preforms and bottles as defined by the carriers and conveyor lanes.

Abstract: A machine for high rate production of molecularly oriented thermoplastic bottles is disclosed. The machine is of the reheat-and-blow type. A blow molding station simultaneously blow molds article preforms arranged in matrices by modular article carriers for conveying the preforms and articles through the machine. The carriers are designed to retain the performs throughout all operations of the machine from a preform load station through a thermal conditioning section, a blow molding station, and to a bottle eject station, thereby eliminating the need for other preform transferring apparatus. The article carriers together with the associated conveying apparatus comprise a sufficiently flexible structure that minor misalignments of the carriers with the blow molding mechanism do not adversely affect bottle production. Both loading of preforms and ejection of finished bottles are accomplished by operation upon matrices of preforms and bottles as defined by the carriers and conveyor lanes.

Abstract: An improvement in the ejection means or ejection station of the machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,625. The improved structure employs a finger with a resilient (e.g. rubber) face or a similar striking instrument to strike the inside of the cup, tub or other hollow object being made and knock it loose and into a predetermined trajectory so that the product can be recovered with no damage to its finish. In accomplishing this, the finger is mounted on a vertically moving yoke that engages the carrier plate-tip ring assembly to which the product is temporarily adhered. With this construction, the finger strikes the product and knocks it loose during motion of the frame.

Abstract: In reaction injection molding facilities of the recirculation type, a closed loop system controls the addition of a gas to a mixture of liquid and gas. The system takes a sample volume of the liquid and forces a plunger into the sample volume. The distance travelled by the plunger between two preset pressures of the sample is measured and compared to a reference distance to get a control signal that is used to operate a valve that controls gas admission to the mixture.

Abstract: A self-centering blow mold for a rotary indexing blow molding machine has at the blow station a system for obtaining and keeping alignment among the chordally arranged blowing pins, neck rings, and blow molds. This self-centering system includes a toggle system which moves one set of the blow molds radially past alignment with the blowing pins to an overcenter position and a fluid operated drive means that thereafter moves the other of the set of blow molds radially in the opposite direction until it is in alignment with the first mentioned blow mold at the overcenter position and then continues moving to force both blow molds together, compress the toggle system, and to where the blow molds, neck rings and blowing pins are all aligned. There is also provided means for engaging the neck rings by the toggle system molds and fluid driven molds, respectively, so that alignment is achieved and maintained. The means for engaging includes biasing means consisting of a resilient member such as a spring.

Abstract: A stuffing box as applied to the sliding joint between the piston (ram) and cylinder of a hydraulic ram assembly in a hydraulic injection molding machine has a packing retainer assembly with a retainer ring with a protruding gland that extends into the stuffing box thereby to act as a pilot means to insure concentricity between the stuffing box, gland, and ram. In addition, the inside diameter of the gland has a support bushing groove in which is mounted a support bushing that has an inside diameter less than the inside diameter of the gland and which is fitted in sliding bearing relationship to the outside diameter of the ram and held there by the gland. The support bushing is preferably manufactured in two pieces from a fiber reinforced low friction resin selected from the class consisting of thermosetting resin and thermoplastic resin more preferably phenol formaldehyde and polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A slide valve has a spool valve element that is moved unidirectionally to a sequence of three positions during its operating cycle. The valve structure and unidirectional motion of the spool provide a precompression of the fluid being handled. The valve structure also permits relief of excess downstream pressure. Preferably hydraulic liquid is used to drive, position, and reset the spool valve. The spool valve itself has a hollow body with one groove on its outside surface and a valve body with a port at one end that is always in communication with the hollow portion of the spool valve. The slide valve is especially designed for and preferably used in a liquid reaction molding system to direct a reagent between a source (e.g. reservoir) and a destination (e.g. a mixing head). When applied to such a reaction molding system each slide valve replaces three conventional ball valves and one check valve and yet provides the additional features of precompression and relief of excess pressure.

Abstract: A pallet assembly is disclosed for use in simultaneous transfer of four preheated plastic preforms from an oven, through a blow mold where they are blown into bottles to a location where the bottles are discharged. The pallet has a base (shuttle) on which is mounted a plurality of pilot bushings for locating the pallet relative to the blow mold and other locations; four (one for each preform) preform registering means (stop rings), each to vertically locate and horizontally center each preform; a sliding pair of opposed V-jaws mounted adjacent each stop ring to hold the preform thereagainst; and V-jaw actuating means (in the form of cranks secured on shafts) to open and close the jaws in timed relation to the other loading, blowing, and discharge operations. The shuttle has guides and latches for coaction with adjacent equipment to guide it through the cycle of events.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for precision placement of a workpiece onto a transport member. A plurality of workpieces are aligned in a predetermined spacial relationship upon an infeed conveyor. The workpieces are then moved transversely off the conveyor and dropped through a pair of counter-rotating lubricating rollers. An arcuate chute directs the workpieces from the lubricating rollers to a horizontally disposed planar surface where they are realigned by a cooperating scraper positioned intimately above. Relative movement between the scraper and the planar surface causes to workpieces to be discharged from the surface and precisely deposited upon the transport member.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for carrying workpieces on flat trays has two parallel chains with tray supports connected at equal intervals between the two chains. Each tray support has a clamping device for clamping and releasing flat silicone rubber covered trays against itself. Cams are located between the chains to operate the clamping device to release the tray (for travel through a separate path) at one point in travel and later (when the tray returns from its separate path) to clamp it again. The conveyor is shown as combined with up-and-down elevator means in an oven to give a boustrophedontic path to a plurality of workpieces being heated on trays in the oven: the trays are released and clamped at the entrance to and exit from the oven to allow movement of the trays by the elevators through up and down paths at the release and clamping stations.

Abstract: A nozzle shut-off valve for injection molding machine for plastic material, especially thermoplastic material, has two pneumatic cylinder-and-plunger units. One such unit has its plunger mounted to reciprocate so as to block the passageway of the plastics through the nozzle. The first such plunger and cylinder unit is provided with a pilot passage in the valve nozzle so that the pressure of molten plastic can be used to open it. The second such unit is much smaller diameter and has its plunger mounted to block the pilot passage so that the second unit in effect becomes a pilot valve and controls the application of fluid pressure through the pilot passage to the first unit plunger or blocking plunger.

Abstract: The track of the loading chute 105 of FIGS. 6 and 7 in U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,685 is provided with a stop mounted on a leaf spring so that the stop moves aside readily if a workpiece (thermoplastic preform 2B) is misaligned during feeding by the lifter assembly 106, thus reducing malfunctions.

Abstract: A machine for automatically forging and thermoforming of hollow thermoplastic biaxially oriented articles has a carrier assembly to carry, lock and unlock forging dies, indexing means to move the carrier assembly and dies past a series of work stations, and an article unloading means. Three work stations are in the automatic machine: forging where the die parts are locked together and the workpiece is forged into engagement with the die; thermoforming to which the die with the workpiece (now called a preform) gripped therein is moved into register with thermoforming mold means; and article ejecting means which include mechanical means for unlocking the die and removing the hollow article therefrom. The carrier assembly is so supported that the strains of forging and thermoforming are taken up by frame tie rods rather than the die mounting means.

Abstract: A coupling includes an outer cup-shaped member which acts as a support for other portions of the coupling and which itself is revolvably supported on a conveyor that moves the coupling between workpiece loading and unloading stations. The outer cup-shaped member acts as a shield against ambient conditions which may include heating, coating or other processing means. One embodiment of the invention has a plurality of fingers mounted to move radially inward of the coupling to grasp the workpiece, which fingers are mounted to form a part of the outer shield or wall at the time that they are grasping a workpiece. Another embodiment of the invention involves an internal chuck sort of coupling using an expandable elastomeric member which can expand outwardly into a grasping relationship with a hollow portion of the workpiece. The coupling and conveyor are suited for use in handling soft or easily marked materials such as plastic, soft metals and the like.

Abstract: An injection molding machine base has a generally rectangular form having as an integral part thereof a hydraulic return line formed within the base. The return line is straight, has clean-out openings at each end, and no obstructions therein whereby removal of closures at each end exposes the entire cross-section for cleaning. Hydraulic equipment on the machine exhausts directly into this maze. One end of the base has a connection to the hydraulic reservoir for the machine.

Abstract: A nozzle shut-off valve for placing between the injection apparatus and the mold cavity uses two pins of different lengths for the valve elements and switches air pressure back and forth between pistons on opposite (outer) ends of the pins. The pistons have no fixed connection to the pins. Each pin is actuated either by force from the piston on its outer end or pressure by the plastic melt on its innermost other end. The longer pin has a length sufficient to extend completely across the injection passage and block it to prevent any flow. The shorter pin is deliberately made short enough that it cannot block the passage. The valve is actuated by air pressure on the two pistons in timed relation to injection molding events. Pressure on the piston engaging the longer pin compels blocking of the injection passage during plastication. Switching of pressure to the other pin during injection permits the pressure of molten plastic to spread the pins apart whereupon injection proceeds in the ususal manner.

Abstract: A mechanism to transfer small flat workpieces (chips) between locations has a pair of interlinked four bar mechanisms one of which mechanisms carries a chip spreading means operated by two cams so that the chip pickup and release means moves in substantially vertical and horizontal timed relation to pickup a number of chips, move through a shallow horizontal arc, simultaneously spread the chips further apart, drop the chip; and repeat. Mechanism is disclosed for moving a plurality of chips of biaxially orientable polystyrene between a heating means and a forming means while laterally increasing the spacing between the chips.

Abstract: A clamp for holding together the portions of a mold used in molding solid objects from a reacting liquid such as polyurethane has a C-shaped frame which is pivotally mounted on a pedestal to swing through an arc. The C-shaped frame of the clamp consists of an integral structure having an upper jaw connected by a column to a lower jaw. The frame supports a bed, crown and platen. The bed and crown are each a plate-like member that is mounted to pivot relative to one of the jaws. The platen is mounted preferably on the bed or lower one of such members. The mold portions are mounted on the crown and platen with the parts being arranged to move so that the mold portion engage and disengage. The invention also includes a method of molding wherein the mold portions are engaged and disengaged by a process that involves pivoting at least one and preferably both of the portions relative to the C-shaped frame.

Abstract: In an injection molding apparatus, wherein a plasticizing chamber has a nozzle attached to one end thereof, with the nozzle having a passageway therein and being in communication with the sprue of a mold, the improvement which constitutes a compact, pneumatically-powered, reciprocable spool-type device having a passageway therein, operated by alternately actuated opposed pistons, interposed between the nozzle and the plasticizing chamber, in one position blocking the communication between the plasticizing chamber and the nozzle and in the other position allowing molten material to enter the nozzle.