With Means To Sever Product Patents (Class 425/527)
  • Patent number: 9205591
    Abstract: A mold tool and cutting system are described for in-mold cutting of a molded article. The cutting system comprises a blade assembly for incorporation into the mold tool, defining at least in part a cavity for forming a molded article, the blade assembly including an extendable cutting blade and a wedge slide. The wedge slide is capable of rearward displacement to expose the cutting blade. During a molding process, the wedge slide is displaced fully forward so as to present a continuous molding profile with adjacent molding surfaces. Following the molding process, the wedge slide is displaced rearwardly so as to expose the cutting blade. The cutting blade is then extended into the cavity to cut a molded article contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Salflex Polymers Limited
    Inventor: Ted Szczucki
  • Publication number: 20150056323
    Abstract: A mold tool and cutting system are described for in-mold cutting of a molded article. The cutting system comprises a blade assembly for incorporation into the mold tool, defining at least in part a cavity for forming a molded article, the blade assembly including an extendable cutting blade and a wedge slide. The wedge slide is capable of rearward displacement to expose the cutting blade. During a molding process, the wedge slide is displaced fully forward so as to present a continuous molding profile with adjacent molding surfaces. Following the molding process, the wedge slide is displaced rearwardly so as to expose the cutting blade. The cutting blade is then extended into the cavity to cut a molded article contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Salflex Polymers Limited
    Inventor: Ted Szczucki
  • Patent number: 8936459
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a blow molded article is provided, including a mold having first and second mold portions that, when located adjacent each other along a seam, at least partially enclose a mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity at least partially defines a molding surface against which a wall of the blow molded article is blown during blow molding, a first cutting device moveably disposed in the first mold portion, and a second cutting device moveably disposed in the second mold portion, wherein the first and second cutting devices, when in an activated position, each have a cutting surface that extends into the mold cavity by an amount substantially equal to a desired wall thickness of the blow molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Custom-Pak, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Zimmer, John Ahlers
  • Patent number: 8881629
    Abstract: A continuous motion de-flash machine for removing flash from molded plastic articles. An in-feed section is supported by a frame and adapted to transport articles. A de-flash section is supported by the frame, receives articles from the in-feed section, and includes (a) a de-flash turret with a plurality of cam-actuated punch stations each having a punch adapted to remove flash from an article, the punch stations traveling along an oval track with a pair of long straight portions connecting two curved portions, and (b) a nest turret with a plurality of cam-actuated nest stations, the nest stations traveling along an oval track parallel to the oval track of the punch stations. An out-feed section receives an article from the de-flash section and removes the article from the machine. A method of using the machine to de-flash articles having unwanted flash is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Garrett R. Pennington
  • Publication number: 20140239557
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a blow molding process provides that portions of the parison are engaged by one or more clamping devices disposed on or adjacent to the blow mold parts, and that the blow mold is opened whereby the parison is torn apart between the clamping devices, into two or more pieces of the parison. In other implementations, the clamping devices may be moved relative to the blow mold to tear the parison, or the parison may be torn by a combined movement of the blow mold parts and clamping devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Albert J. Boecker, Andreas W. Dobmaier, Alex Ehler, Patrick Gmuend, Peter Grauer, Gerrit A. Michaelis, Matthias B. Olbrich
  • Publication number: 20140034658
    Abstract: Extrusion blow mold assemblies, extrusion blow molded articles exhibiting increased strength and enhanced processability, and processes for making said articles. In some aspects, the articles produced herein can include relatively rigid bottles and other containers that exhibit high drop impact performance, while still being relatively easy to deflash. Such containers can be efficiently produced on a commercial scale and are widely usable in a variety of applications, including those in the food, beverage, cosmetic, and medical industries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Mark Allan Treece, William Joseph Burgess, Harold Eugene Dobbs, Michael Wandell Cradic
  • Publication number: 20130256954
    Abstract: A method for forming a film of plastic material includes urging molten resin through a die head opening to form a stalk having an extrusion profiled rail of resin material extending radially outward from a tubular wall, the die head opening including an annular orifice that defines a thickness of the tubular wall and a cross-sectional shape of the rail; cutting the rail to form discrete elements while leaving the tubular wall un-punctured; and inflating the stalk with a gas bubble maintained within an interior space of the tubular wall to form a thin film tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Libby, Christopher M. Gallant, William P. Clune
  • Patent number: 8496467
    Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for the production of hollow bodies, especially plastic bottles, wherein a section of a plastic flexible hose is placed in a cavity of a blow mold by an extruder head according to a predefined clocked pulse. The plastic flexible hose is inflated inside the blow mold by a blow mandrel by overpressure according to the blow mold cavity. The manufactured inflated hollow body is subsequently removed from the mold. The plastic hose can be continually held on opposite sides of the blow mold arrangement during the entire extrusion and blow cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Soplar SA
    Inventors: Markus Dueringer, Martin Hammerle
  • Publication number: 20130175739
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a blow molded article is provided, including a mold having first and second mold portions that, when located adjacent each other along a seam, at least partially enclose a mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity at least partially defines a molding surface against which a wall of the blow molded article is blown during blow molding, a first cutting device moveably disposed in the first mold portion, and a second cutting device moveably disposed in the second mold portion, wherein the first and second cutting devices, when in an activated position, each have a cutting surface that extends into the mold cavity by an amount substantially equal to a desired wall thickness of the blow molded article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Ronald A. Zimmer, John Ahlers
  • Patent number: 8475154
    Abstract: The present patent application provides a flower pot mold for blow molding. The mold can reduce the number of the sliding blocks that need to be moved, and utilize the motion of a single sliding block to mold a flower pot so as to improve the manufacturing efficiency and the product quality. The mold includes a flower pot cavity template; a container opening pulling mold; a plurality of opening flanged pulling plates, a blowing tube being disposed in the container opening pulling mold; a fixing plate configured for fixing the mold onto a clamping set; a guiding block configured for guiding the opening flanged pulling plate and a blocking plate; and the blocking plate configured for blocking the plastics. A sliding track is formed on the flower pot cavity template and configured for allowing the blocking plate to move back and forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nadfinlo Plastics Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sun Tat Ng
  • Patent number: 8449280
    Abstract: A machine (10) for blow molding containers (100). The machine (10) has a stationary flow head (26) located proximate a turntable (12) on which molds (16) are mounted. A dwell cam mechanism (110, 120, 132) on the turntable causes the molds to accelerate ahead of the turntable, stop under the flow head to receive a parison (31), then accelerate to catch up with the turntable. This sequence allows the turntable to rotate continuously. Blow pins (30) mounted on the turntable inject gas into the molds to blow mold the parison while traveling a first path (144). Paddles (142) grip the molded containers and travel a second path (146) radially outward from the first path. The containers blow-molded from the parisons at a first station (18) are retained on the turntable after the turntable completes one full revolution and again passes the first station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Waldemar Boleslaw Kwasniewski, Andrzej Tomasz Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 8431068
    Abstract: A process for producing thermoplastic containers (13) extrudes a plastic tube into opened movable mold parts (5, 7, 9). The main mold parts (7) form the container main part (18). The bottom parts are closed to close and weld the tube bottom end. The tube (3) is widened by a pressure gradient acting on it, forcing the tube against the wall of the mold parts (7, 9) to form the container. The mold parts are then moved into the position to open the mold for removal of the formed container (13). The container bottom is made in the form of a cup-like bottom part (19) axially extending into the container main part (18) by the bottom part being everted into the interior of the container (13) to form a bottom elevation (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Bernd Hansen
  • Patent number: 8366435
    Abstract: A mold unit has first and second parts, each with a plurality of cooperating cavity portions. The mold unit further has similarly interconnected third and fourth mold parts. An operating system moves the mold parts to change the mold unit between first and second states. The first and third mold parts meet at a fixed, first parting line to define a first plurality of mold cavities, and the second and third mold parts meet at a fixed, second parting line to define a second plurality of cavities with the mold unit in the first state. In the second state, molded products formed from the parisons can be released from their cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: James Vassar
  • Patent number: 8197742
    Abstract: A method is provided for a ablating dilation beads on a balloon with a laser. The laser removes integral dilation beads from the neck regions and/or the tapered regions of a blow molded balloon. Part of the neck portions of the dilation beads may remain on the body of the balloon after the dilation beads have been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Eric R. Hennessy
  • Publication number: 20120040037
    Abstract: A machine (10) for blow molding containers (100). The machine (10) has a stationary flow head (26) located proximate a turntable (12) on which molds (16) are mounted. A dwell cam mechanism (110, 120, 132) on the turntable causes the molds to accelerate ahead of the turntable, stop under the flow head to receive a parison (31), then accelerate to catch up with the turntable. This sequence allows the turntable to rotate continuously. Blow pins (30) mounted on the turntable inject gas into the molds to blow mold the parison while traveling a first path (144). Paddles (142) grip the molded containers and travel a second path (146) radially outward from the first path. The containers blow-molded from the parisons at a first station (18) are retained on the turntable after the turntable completes one full revolution and again passes the first station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Waldemar Boleslaw Kwasniewski, Andrzej Tomasz Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 7931464
    Abstract: An extrusion blow mold for forming a plastic bottle having a radial flange suitable for roll-form attachment to a metal can end. The mold has a pair of confronting mold halves, each mold half including a body forming portion, a bottom pinch-off portion located below the body forming portion, a top block portion including a blow chamber located above the body forming portion, and a spin-ring forming portion located between the body forming portion and the top block portion. The spin-ring forming portion includes a thread ring insert and a cutter ring insert. The thread ring insert has an inside upper edge including an outwardly extending surface terminating in a step defining a lower surface and a outer edge of a radial flange. The cutter ring insert is positioned immediately above the thread ring insert. The cutter ring insert has a lower surface adjacent an inside edge defining an upper surface of the radial flange including a tapered inner edge extending upward and inward from the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Thierjung, Michael D. Richardson, Jason M. Kaanta
  • Patent number: 7766648
    Abstract: A molding apparatus includes a mold (12,14) defining a plurality of mold cavities (34,36). Fluidly connected to the mold cavities (34,36) are one or more first composition injectors (30) and one or more second composition injectors (32) for delivery of, respectively, the molten material from which the molded article is to be formed and a composition to coat the article so formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: OMNOVA Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas McBain, John Thompson, Elliott Straus
  • Patent number: 7752947
    Abstract: A method of cutting or trimming a plastic log ejected from a blow mold to form multiple open-mouthed bottles, the log having respective bottle portions on opposite ends of the log with each bottle portion having an offset neck and the bottle portions connected in neck-to-neck relationship by a neck ring having a central neck axis, that is especially suitable for high-output production lines. A log conveyor is continuously moved along a path. The body to be trimmed is placed between holders carried by the conveyor and trimmed by rotating the holders about the offset neck axis as the conveyor moves past a trim knife extending along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Fiorani, John M. Mathy, Jr., Rolf E. Weingardt
  • Patent number: 7739933
    Abstract: A method of cutting or trimming a plastic body ejected from a blow mold that is especially suitable for high-output production lines. A log conveyor is continuously moved along a path. The body to be trimmed is placed between holders carried by the conveyor and trimmed by rotating the holders as the conveyor moves past a trim knife extending along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Fiorani, John M. Mathy, Jr., Rolf E. Weingardt
  • Patent number: 7727455
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the creation of holes in a blow molded container is disclosed generally comprising first and second mold portions mounted adjacent each other along a seam and a mechanism for creating holes at the seam. In some embodiments, first and second punches are used to create one hole underneath the container's handle. In some embodiments, a third mold portion is used to create a rose surface and create a plurality of holes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Custom-Pak, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Anderson, Pamela Jo Naeve
  • Patent number: 7717020
    Abstract: A method of removing flash extending in a plane from a plastic bottle forming a portion of a plastic one-bottle or multi-bottle blow molded log includes continuously moving a log holder and a punch assembly along a path. The untrimmed log is placed on the log holder. The punch assembly carries a punch that moves in a direction perpendicular to the flash to impact and remove the flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Fiorani, John M. Mathy, Jr., Rolf E. Weingardt
  • Patent number: 7578959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blow molding a case for housing an object, such as a tool, is disclosed generally comprising first and second mold portions located adjacent each other to create separate cavities for forming base and lid portions of a case and a punch for each portion corresponding to the outline of an object. In certain embodiments, the punch protrudes into the cavity during blow molding to create a sidewall to facilitate a press fit. In some embodiments, additional punches and/or recesses are provided to produce additional apertures or flanges in the walls of the tool case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Custom-Pak, Inc.
    Inventors: Clay Bahnsen, Michael L. Grinnall, Daniel E. Koranda, James W. Wiese
  • Publication number: 20090181197
    Abstract: A process for producing containers (13) of thermoplastic in which an extruded plastic tube is inserted into a mold whose movable mold parts (5, 7, 9) are moved into a position which opens the mold, at least the mold parts (7) which form the transition from the main part (18) of the container and the bottom of the container being closed, the container bottom being welded, the tube (3) being widened by a pressure gradient acting on it and the tube being placed against the wall of the mold parts (5, 7, 9) to form the container mold and the mold parts being moved into the position which opens the mold for removal of the formed container (13) from the mold, is characterized in that the container bottom is made in the form of a cup-like bottom part (19) which axially extends the main part (18) of the container and that the bottom part is everted into the interior of the container (13) to form a bottom elevation (31) which extends into the main part (18) of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Bernd Hansen
  • Patent number: 7556489
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for partitioning the plastic parisons to give at least one semifinished open-surface product (6), where the device encompasses at least one means of partitioning (3) the plastic parison and one means of drive (2). The means of drive may be composed of one, but preferably of two, driven rolls. It has been found that use of the device of the invention can reduce or prevent the production of creasing and irregularity at the margins, i.e. at the cut edges, of the partitioned parisons, i.e. of the resultant semifinished sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rohde, Jörg Meyer, Rainer Sattel, Jörg Schnorr, Bernhard Springholz, Roger Weinlein, Andreas Wüst
  • Publication number: 20090096128
    Abstract: A cutting machine is configured for cutting a injection molded original product. The injection molded original product has a component and stub bar connected to the component. The cutting machine includes a base portion, a supporting arm attached to the base portion, and a cutting device coupled to the supporting arm. The cutting device includes an electrothermal cutting line for cutting the component off the stub bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHIEN-FENG HUANG
  • Patent number: 7455513
    Abstract: A blow molded case is disclosed generally comprising a double wall, blow molded base portion having inner and outer case walls, and a lid portion connected to the base portion such that the lid, when in a closed position, at least partly covers the inner case wall of the base portion, which accommodates a first object. The outer wall of the base portion has a hole for receiving a second object, such as a drawer or other receptacle. In certain embodiments, the hole is a punched hole, created by extending a punch through a sidewall of the base portion substantially perpendicular to the parting line thereof. In certain embodiments, the sidewall is non-planar, and in some embodiments, the sidewall includes a recess adjacent the hole for easily gripping the second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Custom-Pak, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L Grinnall, David W. Cozzens, Clay Bahnsen, Steven P. Guidebeck, James M. Wiese
  • Patent number: 7441486
    Abstract: Apparatus for trimming plastic from blow molded one-bottle or two-bottle logs during movement of the logs on log holders moving along a conveyor path extending from an inlet end to an outlet end. The apparatus includes a frame and, connected to the frame, a log conveyor, a punch assembly, and a trim assembly. The punch assembly is located at a first portion of the conveyor path and the trim assembly is located at a different, second portion of the conveyor path. The apparatus trims neck flash and neck rings from logs moving along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Graham Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: David N. Fiorani, John M. Mathy, Jr., Rolf E. Weingardt
  • Patent number: 7367795
    Abstract: Disclosed is a preferred mold design for producing plastic, injection molded preforms, which may be blow-molded into a container of a final, desired shape. A preferred mold includes a combination of hardened material components and high heat transfer material components to provide a mold having good wear characteristics, for a sufficiently long useful life, and to enable rapid cooling of the injected preform, in order to reduce the cycle time of an injection and cooling cycle. In some arrangements, the hardened materials may form a portion of the preform cavity thereby slowing the rate of cooling in those areas and inducing a semi-crystalline or crystalline structure in the cooled preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Plastics Technologies Luxembourg S.A.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Patent number: 7270529
    Abstract: A mold assembly for blow molding comprises first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded from a tubular parison and at least one replaceable element being attached thereto by retaining means accessible from the mating face thereof whereby the replaceable elements may be installed and removed while the mating mold component is mounted in a press of a blow molding machine. The replaceable elements comprise any of inserts comprising molding surfaces defining a neck portion of an article to be molded, a blow needle to pierce the wall of and pressurize the parison and heat pipes for transferring heat from the molding surfaces. A blow molding machine comprises a press mechanism for operating a mold assembly and a mold assembly according to the invention mounted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Uniloy Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: Christian S. Boden, A. Dale Maddox, Robert L. Padley
  • Patent number: 7244388
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for producing hollow bodies of thermoplastic material by means of extrusion blow molding. A tubular preform of plasticised material is expanded beyond parts of a blow molding mold enclosing it, by means of increased external pressure, wherein the preform, prior to closure of the mold halves, is spread transversely with respect to the extrusion direction and in a separation plane of the blow molding mold, in such a way that it extends between the lateral edges of the mold cavity of the blow molding mold. Prior to removal of the article from the blow molding mold, the bulge portion produced after closure of the blow molding mold is cut open along its length at each of the two sides of the mold at the respective edges extending in the extrusion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kummer
  • Patent number: 7229587
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the creation of holes in a blow molded container is disclosed generally comprising first and second mold portions mounted adjacent each other along a seam and a mechanism for creating holes at the seam. In some embodiments, first and second punches are used to create one hole underneath the container's handle. In some embodiments, a third mold portion is used to create a rose surface and create a plurality of holes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Custom - Pak, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Anderson, Pamela Jo Naeve
  • Patent number: 7178562
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a mold charge pellet to a molding machine having a mold with a mold cavity includes a hub rotated about an axis, at least one arm extending generally radially from the hub to rotate with the hub around the axis, and a cam system extending at least partially around the axis and operably coupled to the arm for moving the arm along a predetermined path with respect to the axis as the hub and the arm rotate around the axis. In one presently preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the arm traveling along a plane that is parallel to the axis during a portion of said path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ritz, Thomas C. Truman
  • Patent number: 7150625
    Abstract: A blow molding system for forming a hole through a blow molded article includes a mold that houses an outer core pin and a pin support. During the blow molding process, a compression area is created in the mold. After the compression area is formed, the outer core pin and the pin support cooperatively cut out a portion of the compression area during the blow molding process. After the mold is opened, the cut-out portion of the compression area can be removed to expose the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Erik L. Skov
  • Patent number: 7124673
    Abstract: A horizontal cutter of double-bodied bottles attached to each other at a neck which comprises means (2) for advancing the bottles (3) and a cutting device (1) of the neck of the bottles. The cutting device (1) comprises a pair of blades (7), a pair of rotating plates (4) for drawing the bottles (3) along and a plurality of drive pulleys (9) in contact with the bottles (3), in such a way that as the rotating plates (4) move so do the bottles, at the same time rotating about their axes and in contact with the blades. The horizontal cutter ensures fast and effective cutting of the bottles, while occupying little space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Construcciones Mecanicas Maer, S.A.
    Inventors: Jordi Vidal Caupena, Juan Mach Guirado
  • Patent number: 7097445
    Abstract: A fuel tank is formed by a blow molding apparatus and method wherein a blow pin provides pressurized gas into an interior of a parison received in a blow mold so the parison may be blown to shape within the mold cavity. When the blow pin is no longer needed, it is retracted from the mold and a pinch plate assembly is used to close off the opening in the molded part created by the blow pin. Thereafter, the mold may be opened and the molded part removed, the pinch plate assembly and moved back to its retracted position, and the blow mold pin may be advanced into the open mold for use with a subsequent parison so that the subsequent parison can be blow molded in the same manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Keith D. Kersey, Harald Knueppel, Christopher K. Quick
  • Patent number: 6966764
    Abstract: A top block assembly for a container blow mold system is provided together with a method of positioning the neck finish components of the assembly with respect to the front face of a top block half. A method and assembly for positioning a top block half with respect to a main mold half is further provided. The assembly for positioning the neck finish components includes a feeler gauge or spacer that is removably positioned between the top block half and the rear surfaces of the neck finish components. The positions of the neck finish components with respect to the front face of the top block half are adjusted by positioning a feeler gauge between the top block half and neck finish components. A heel is movably mounted to the top block half. A cam having flat surfaces is rotatably mounted to the top block half and engageable with the heel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ultraseal Technologies, Corporation
    Inventor: Emanuel E. Wohlgemuth
  • Patent number: 6916167
    Abstract: A method of extrusion blow molding is disclosed; the method allows the finished part to have consistent and even wall thickness within a broad range of local mold radii. This result is achieved without resorting to injection blow molding or other common techniques of deforming the parison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: David Johnson
  • Patent number: 6896507
    Abstract: A mold is provided for use with a wheel-type blow mold machine, the mold being one of a plurality of molds for locating in a circular pattern on a wheel of the blow-mold machine and having a longitudinal direction for aligning tangentially with a circumferential direction of the mold wheel and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The mold has a first part and a second part. The first part has a first molding portion with a longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction of the mold and a first end portion adjoining the first molding portion at the longitudinal end of the first molding portion and having a free edge opposite the first molding portion, the free edge being non-parallel to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. The first part also has an outer cooling circuit located in the first end portion, and an inner cooling circuit located in the first end portion at a different location in the transverse direction than the outer cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matt Crider, Mike Kelly
  • Patent number: 6824732
    Abstract: A blow pin assembly is provided for inflating a parison and forming the neck portion of a plastic container in a blow molding apparatus. The blow pin assembly is mountable to a blow rod. It includes a blow pin body including an exterior surface having a tapered portion and a cutting edge beneath the tapered portion. The tapered portion cooperates with the master seal of the mold to automatically center the assembly before the cutting edge engages the shear steels to sever the blow molded article from the mold. The cutting edge adjoins a rim extending substantially perpendicularly from the blow pin body, and can be resharpened one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ultraseal Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Cobiski, Emanuel E. Wohlgemuth
  • Publication number: 20040197436
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the creation of holes in a blow molded container is disclosed generally comprising first and second mold portions mounted adjacent each other along a seam and a mechanism for creating holes at the seam. In some embodiments, first and second punches are used to create one hole underneath the container's handle. In some embodiments, a third mold portion is used to create a rose surface and create a plurality of holes therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Anderson, Pamela Jo Naeve
  • Patent number: 6730261
    Abstract: The blow-molded articles having an open end is produced by the steps of; setting a resin parison in cavity formed by a pair of metal mold members, blowing a pressurized gas into the resin parison to form an intermediate molded article, and cutting a predetermined part of the intermediate molded article with forward or backward movement of a cutting means. The cutting means is attached to the one member of the metal mold members and movable reciprocally in a cross direction relative to the longitudinal or axial direction of the metal mold members. The cutting means may be guided movably along a groove or slit formed in the metal mold members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Tigers Polymer Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6719554
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves together to form a cavity and enclose a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by applying a vacuum to those portions adjacent to a cutter and by then moving the cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom. The apparatus for achieving this method includes a cutter slidably disposed in a first slot and having a slot plugging member slidably exposed in a second slot wherein the cutter and slot plugging member will prevent plastic from entering the first and second slots when the plastic product is being formed. After the plastic is formed, a vacuum is applied to portions of the product adjacent to the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Progressive Components International Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 6685873
    Abstract: A production method is disclosed for separating integrally attached gutter flash from a blow-molded thermoplastic resin product utilizing tensile forces applied to the gutter flash while the product is fully restrained within the closed co-operating product mold in which the product is formed, as well as different embodiments of apparatus suitable for accomplishing the production method in a conventional industrial blow-molding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Bruce V. Weeks
  • Patent number: 6660217
    Abstract: A blow molding method for forming a hollow resin product comprises a parison extruding step, a protrusion abutting step and a confronting rod abutting step. In the extruding step, a parison is extruded from a die head towards a position interposed between a pair of molding portions. Each molding portion has a mating surface and a parison-cutting-protrusion erected from the mating surface. In the protrusion abutting step, the protrusions are abutted from each other. In the confronting rod abutting step, the spherical surfaces formed at tip ends of the rods protruded from the mating surfaces of the molding portions are abutted from each other. These steps are simultaneously executed, to thereby remove a flash from a product when the molding portions are closed. In addition to this, the rods mounted on one of molding portions are mounted on the same so as to be adjustable in its protruding length from the mating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Tigers Polymer Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20030146551
    Abstract: A blow-mold assembly for use with a conventional production blow-molding machine is provided with co-operating and separable cap and base blow-mold sub-assemblies, the base blow-mold sub-assembly having elongate and pivoted gutter plate segments that together surround the product mold cavity of the assembly, that each may each be moved in directions toward and away from the cap blow-mold sub-assembly to control certain wall thickness and configuration characteristics of the blow-molded product formed in the product mold cavity, and that may each be pivoted in a plane at right angles relative to the direction of gutter plate segment movement for wall thickness characteristic control to thereby progressively separate gutter flash from around the blow-molded product while the product is retained in the apparatus product mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Bruce V. Weeks
  • Publication number: 20030122287
    Abstract: This method of manufacturing packaging articles each having a hollow body provided with a neck-forming open end comprises the steps of applying a flat piece of thermoplastic material over the open end of a mold recess, of heating said material, of punching the material by inserting a piston into the mold cavity through its opening so as to form a blank, of blowing the resulting blank against the wall of the mold, and opening the mold. The mold is constituted by an assembly of elements each constituting a matrix for molding a segment of an article, and the mold is opened by separating the elements of each pair. While the mold is being opened, the article is sucked against a bottom element of the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Michel Marcel, Christophe Marcel
  • Publication number: 20030090024
    Abstract: A method of making molded components including supplying a plastic material to a mold to form a molded article and actuating a separating apparatus to at least partially separate the molded article into at least two components. An apparatus for making molded components including a cavity, a separating apparatus coupled to the cavity and configured to at least partially separate a molded article into at least two components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: Erik L. Skov, Gregory S. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20030082261
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the “vertical” position of a blow mandrel (10) of a blow molding machine provided to be moveable up and down on a blow mandrel carrier (11) associated with the machine frame of the blow molding machine, upon which at least two blow mandrels are provided, adapted to simultaneously blow into die cavities of a blow molds (16, 16′) provided below the blow mandrel carrier, wherein the blow mandrel during entry into the blow mold both defines the gauge or calibration of a neck region of the mold hollow body as well causes separation of excess plastic material protruding outwards from the neck, wherein the separation occurs by pinching the protruding material (23) via a ring shaped cutting edge (18) of the respective blow mandrel, which during penetration into the blow mold lies against a conical counter surface (22) of the blow mold and by this contact along a circular line of the conical surface causes the cutting off of the projecting plastic material and, wherein the blow
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Alfred Effenberger
  • Patent number: 6551544
    Abstract: Extrusion blow molding apparatus (10) having a body mold (12) for forming a body portion (B) of a blow molded container (C) from a blowable, extruded thermoplastic parison (P). The blow molding apparatus also has a neck mold (14) for forming an annular finish portion (15) of the container from the parison, the neck mold being removable from the body mold at the conclusion of the blowing step. A blow pin (16), which is reciprocable relative to the body mold, introduces blowing air into the parison during the blowing cycle, and an outside diameter of the blow pin provides a surface against which an internal diameter of the finish is formed. The process also forms a moil portion (M) that extends upwardly and outwardly from a rim (R) at the top of the finish portion of the container, and an anvil (18) with a moil retention element (18a) with an inwardly projecting flange (18b) is provided in contact with an exterior of the neck mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daryl K. Singleton
  • Patent number: 6536616
    Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim (excess plastic) of the neck is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18 degree to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. Other forms of seal surfaces are disclosed In another form of the invention, above the seal surface the neck extends outward and then upward and then inward in a flange which is trimmed along a line which has a circumference no less than the circumference of the seal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Laszlo G. Sandor, Daniel Luch, Richard E. Repp