Abstract: An apparatus to make articles, in particular bottles, from parisons in a blow mold operation. The parisons are carried on transfer mandrels throughout the operation. The parisons riding on the transfer mandrels are heated while travelling around on a first wheel and are transferred into blow mold units mounted on a second wheel. Each blow mold unit is provided with an expanding mandrel which is extended through the transfer mandrel into the parisons. Two different blowing pressures are used in the blowing step which is controlled by cam controlled valves. From the second wheel the mandrels carrying the blown articles are transferred to an output wheel where the articles are removed from the transfer mandrels which are returned to the first wheel.

Abstract: A method for blow molding articles, particularly bottles wherein a central, horizontal shaft carries a plurality of radial arms positionable at an equivalent number of work stations arranged in a common vertical plane. The work stations are grouped around the central shaft and are at varying distances from the shaft, and the arms are extensible to reach the stations furthest spaced from the shaft. Fixed actuating means are located adjacent the remote stations and the extensible arms are coupled to the actuating means located at these remote stations. In this way, the extensible actuating means is provided only where needed, the mass and complexity of the rotary arms is reduced and a simple, efficient structure is obtained. The method of the present invention includes the rotation of the shaft in stepwise fashion to align the arms in succession with the work stations and coupling the arm to the fixed actuating means for extension and retraction of the arms at the remote work stations.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus having a pair of blow mold sections cooperably defining a blow mold cavity in which a parison is inflated to a final blown article. The mold sections are activated to open and closed positions by a linkage including a pivot plate and a link to each mold section. The parison is inserted into blowing position and the blown article is removed by passing between the mold sections. The linkage is such that the links are moved relatively vertically when the sections are open thereby increasing the clearance for parison insertion and article removal, and the links are horizontally aligned when the sections are closed to increase the mold closing force during blowing.

Abstract: A method for blow molding containers and the like articles from thermoplastic parisons. The parisons are heated in two stages, i.e., in a pre-heating oven to a uniform temperature less than the blow molding temperature and by infra red radiation to a final blow molding temperature which, preferably, is non-uniform along the length of the parison. The non-uniform heating is accomplished by moving the parison axially through an annular infra red radiator at varying rates of speed. Since the degree of heating is directly proportional to the time of exposure to the radiation, a variable temperature profile can be imparted to the parison by means of a simple speed program. Such a variable temperature profile results in controlled wall thickness distribution during blow molding, and the final container is of enhanced strength and of lower weight.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating and transferring parisons during a blow molding operation. Unheated parisons are heated during their travel through a heating oven, the parisons being freely suspended from an overhead conveyor which intermittently advances the heated parisons into alignment with an overhead discharge opening. A transfer arm rotatable about a horizontal axis above the oven is extended through the discharge opening to engage that heated parison aligned with the opening. Retraction of the arm vertically upwardly removes the parison for later transfer toward a blow molding station. Novel parison suspension means and a drive correlating the movement of the transfer arm and the intermittent parison advancement are disclosed.

Abstract: A machine for blow molding articles, particularly bottles wherein a central, horizontal shaft carries a plurality of radial arms positionable at an equivalent number of work stations arranged in a common vertical plane. The work stations are grouped around the central shaft and are at varying distances from the shaft, and the arms are extensible to reach the stations furthest spaced from the shaft. Fixed actuating means are located adjacent the remote stations and the extensible arms are coupled to the actuating means located at these remote stations. In this way, the extensible actuating means is provided only where needed, the mass and complexity of the rotary arms is reduced and a simple, efficient structure is obtained. The method of the present invention includes the rotation of the shaft in stepwise fashion to align the arms in succession with the work stations and coupling the arm to the fixed actuating means for extension and retraction of the arms at the remote work stations.