Abstract: The novel blow molding unit has mold sections movable toward and away from each other between open and closed positions. A motion-imparting arrangement is coupled with the mold sections for moving them between these positions. A clamping arrangement is located upwardly of the points where the motion-imparting arrangement is coupled with the mold sections and serves to bias the mold sections towards one another either when they are in the closed position or just before they reach the same.

Abstract: Annular surplus material which is separated from a parison section in the cavity of a blow mold in response to penetration of a blowing mandrel into the neck mold of the blow mold in a blow molding apparatus is stripped off the mandrel during the last stage of movement of the mandrel to an upper end position and subsequent to complete opening of the blow mold so as to allow a freshly formed plastic container to descend by gravity and to move sideways out of alignment with the mandrel. The mandrel has a cylindrical calibrating portion which cooperates with the neck mold to press mold the neck portion of the container prior to blowing, and a smaller-diameter lower end portion which guides the container during the initial stage of gravitational descent onto a conveyor or into a receptacle.