Abstract: A nozzle retaining clip for retaining a nozzle assembly with a material distributing manifold comprises an attachment portion for attaching the clip to the manifold and an engagement portion for engaging a nozzle assembly abutted to the manifold. Two clips located to engage opposite sides of a nozzle assembly abutted to the manifold member are effective to retain the nozzle assembly and to allow the manifold and nozzle assembly to move relative to one another while the clips and nozzle assembly remain engaged. A first alternative clip achieves only surface contact and a second alternative clip allows protrusion of a segment of a nozzle assembly periphery through the clip. Advantageously, the clip comprises at least one locating tap to restrain movement of the clip relative to a manifold. An apparatus for injection molding comprises a manifold and nozzle assembly construction comprising clips in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: An adaptor bushing for an injection molding apparatus comprising a manifold, a nozzle assembly and a nozzle retention device, comprises: (i) a bushing passage for fluid communication between a passage of the manifold and a nozzle passage; (ii) at least one transition region joining portions of the bushing passage; and, (iii) at least one alignment surface effective to (a) align longitudinal centerlines of the bushing passage, manifold passage and nozzle passage and (b) eliminate or reduce relative tilt of the adaptor bushing, nozzle assembly and manifold so that with the adaptor bushing clamped between the manifold and nozzle assembly, leakage of material at the interfaces of the bushing passage with the manifold passage and nozzle passage is eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level under normal operating conditions. A manifold and nozzle assembly construction comprises an adaptor bushing interposed between a manifold passage and a nozzle passage.

Abstract: Force from an electrically operated ejector mechanism of a molding machine is selectably supplemented by operation of second actuators. Second actuators are advantageously fluid (hydraulic or pneumatic) operated to supplement force provided by an electrically operated primary actuator when the ejector mechanism is driven to advance ejector members into cavities of a mold assembly. The second actuators may be enabled to be operated during automatically controlled execution of a machine cycle of operation and may be operated in response to operator selections when machine operation is controlled manually.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for selectably conveying material in a flowable condition to a cavity of a mold assembly comprises a nozzle body, a removable nozzle tip, a valve pin member extending through the nozzle body and having a tip end for selectably forming a seal with a valve seat to selectably prevent passage of material into the mold cavity and a pin guide for guiding the valve pin member, the pin guide being partially received within the nozzle tip and partially received within the nozzle body and having at least one alignment surface on the exterior thereof and cooperating with an aligning surface of the nozzle body to align the pin guide relative to the nozzle body and with an aligning surface of the nozzle tip to align the nozzle tip relative to the pin guide whereby the nozzle tip is aligned relative to the nozzle body.

Abstract: An apparatus for injection molding using a stack mold comprising first and second mold assemblies interposed between a movable platen and a stationary platen comprises at least one centering device for coupling movement of the movable platen to intermediate mold members of the mold assemblies, the centering device comprising first and second helical gear mechanisms and a transmission coupling rotation of helical gear segments of the first and second helical gear mechanisms. Effective pitch of the helical gear mechanisms and the ratio of rotation coupled by the transmission are chosen to maintain the intermediate mold members centered in or offset from center in the separation between the movable platen and stationary platen.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus wherein an extruded tubular parison is pressurized to form a molded article, comprises a blow pin for introducing pressurized fluid into the parison, an actuator for advancing and retracting the blow pin and adjusting means for determining the orientation of the actuator to achieve substantial parallelism of a blow pin shaft to which the blow pin is attached and a centerline of the opening through a forming die through which the blow pin shaft passes and to achieve substantial parallelism of a sealing element of the blow pin with a plane transverse to the opening of the parison.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blow molding and sealing an aseptic container. A pair of mold halves, including inner surfaces that when closed define a mold cavity, clamp about an extruded parison. The parison is inflated by high pressure blow air into conformity with the shape of the mold cavity. An evacuation device applies a force to an exterior portion of the blow molded container causing the portion to deform or flex inwardly, thereby reducing the internal volume and evacuating air from the blow molded container. A sealing tool thereafter causes the blow molded container to be sealed while the container is in the reduced volume condition. Upon removal from the mold assembly and cooling, the container returns to the desired shape.

Abstract: A blow molded container comprises a transfer ring open to the container body and characterized by a plurality of arcuate recesses in the sidewall thereof disposed to reduce deformation at the junction of the top transfer ring surface and container neck resulting from compressive forces acting on the neck along the longitudinal axis of the container. Advantageously an elongated dome protrudes outwardly from each sidewall recess, each dome being open to the interior of the container. A blow mold assembly for extrusion blow molding of a container according to the invention comprises first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component. Advantageously each mating mold component comprises a removable insert comprising the molding surfaces defining the neck and transfer ring of the container.

Abstract: A rack and pinion centering device for stack molding has at least one attachment device comprising a base attached to a mold member and at least one releasable clamp member, an end of a rack of a centering device being interposed between the base and the releasable clamp member and being held in a longitudinal location relative to the base within a range of adjustment by the releasable clamp members, whereby the longitudinal location of the rack relative to the mold member is determined within the range of adjustment. The attachment device permitting machining of mold members for attachment of centering devices while a mold assembly is removed from the clamp unit of a molding machine.

Abstract: An extrusion head (1) for blow moulding of hollow bodies comprises: a body (2) and a force plug (3) set within the body so as to define a cylindrical gap (4), through which the molten plastic material fed by an extruder can flow; a die opening (6) set at the bottom end of the body (2); a bottom part (30) of the force plug (3), set within the die opening (6) so as to define an annular gap (10) communicating with the cylindrical gap (4) for exit of the tubular parison; and a plunger (20) supporting at the bottom an ovalizing insert (40), slidably mounted within a chamber (32) formed in the bottom part (30) of the force plug. The plunger can pass from a retracted, resting, position, in which the bottom edge (48) of the ovalizing insert is located within the chamber (32), to an extracted, working, position, in which the bottom edge (48) of the ovalizing insert projects at the bottom with respect to the bottom edge (38) of the bottom part of the force plug.

Abstract: A mold for blow molding has a base component for forming at least one portion of a concave base of a container and comprising a mounting plate having connections for supply and return of a heat transfer fluid, a body having a molding surface thereon and having a substantially cylindrical recess having a roof spaced from the molding surface, a substantially cylindrical insert comprising a diverting surface, an inlet passage therethrough and open to the diverting surface and an outlet passage therethrough, the diverting surface spaced from the roof and side of the recess so as to define a cavity and a drain therefrom open to the outlet passage. In a method of blow molding turbulent flow is induced in heat transfer fluid conducted through the base component from impact with the roof and the turbulent flow is dispersed within the cavity over the diverting surface whereby heat transfer from the molding surface is enhanced.

Abstract: A sprue bar nozzle assembly for controlling flow of melt through conduits of a mold assembly for injection molding comprises a sprue bar extension and nozzle, the sprue bar extension comprising means for adjusting the overall length of the sprue bar nozzle assembly and the nozzle comprising a nose comprising a seating surface for mating engagement with a mating surface of a mating segment of a melt conveying conduit and a slide valve, an open position of the slide valve permitting melt to flow through the sprue bar nozzle assembly and a closed position preventing melt from flowing through the sprue bar nozzle assembly, the slide valve being biased to a closed position by a biasing means and being driven to the open position by forces applied to the nose of the nozzle as a result of closure of an associated mold assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for conducting melt in stack mold arrangements comprises at least one tubular body having a passage there through for conveying melt, an interface member mounted to at least one tubular body at a terminus of the passage for conducting melt between the tubular body and a mating mold member engaged by the interface member, and a length adjusting device interposed between the interface member and the tubular body and having a wedge member and means for setting the transverse position of the wedge member relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body whereby the overall length of the combined tubular body and interface member is established. A sprue bar assembly comprises a sprue bar segment, a nozzle and a length adjusting device interposed between the nozzle and the sprue bar segment having an adjustable wedge member for establishing the overall length of the sprue bar assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for injection molding wherein melt is conveyed to a gate in fluid communication with at least one mold cavity comprises a nozzle for conveying melt, the nozzle having an inlet for admitting melt, at least one outlet for directing melt to mold cavities and received within a recess of the gate, a nozzle body having a passage therethrough for conveying melt from the inlet to the outlet, and at least one split ring seal received in a groove in the exterior of the nozzle body so as to be displaceable relative to the associated groove, the split ring seal having an outside perimeter for contacting the surface of the recess of a gate, the split ring seals maintaining separation of the periphery of the nozzle body from the surface of the recess with the outlet positioned within the recess. Each split ring seal advantageously comprises overlapping end segments abuttingly engaged with the outlet positioned within the recess.

Abstract: An apparatus for injection molding comprises an injection unit comprising a plunger, the plunger being translated with accumulation of plasticized material in preparation for injection and being advanced to inject the accumulated plasticized material into mold cavities. At least one electric motor is engaged with the plunger to resist translation as melt is accumulated and to inject plasticized material into the mold cavities. At least one hydraulic actuator selectably operates the plunger during a pack and hold interval to supply supplemental force when force supplied by the electric motors is limited to maintain the operation of the motors within the applicable continuous duty rating thereof. The electric motors are advantageously selectably operatively engaged with the plunger to inject plasticized material into the mold cavities and the hydraulic actuators are operated to inject plasticized material into the mold cavities when the motors are not engaged therefore.

Abstract: A mold assembly for blow molding comprises first, second and third mating mold components, molding surfaces of each of the first and second mold components being open to a mating face of the mold component and defining a portion of the exterior of an article to be molded, molding surfaces of the third mold component defining a portion of a closed end of the article to be molded, the mold assembly accepting at least one height insert selected according to a desired longitudinal extension of the molded article, and indexable adjusting means for altering the position of the molding surfaces of the third mold component to accommodate the effective longitudinal extension of the article to be molded. A blow molding machine comprises a press mechanism for operating a mold assembly and a mold assembly according to the invention, each mold component being mounted to a movable member of the press.

Abstract: An expansion nozzle for conducting melt from a floating manifold to a mold assembly comprises a bushing having a bushing flange and spigot having a passage therethrough joining a nozzle inlet and an outlet, a head having a seating surface and a bore through the head slidably receiving the spigot so that the spigot is movable relative to the head over a range from abutting contact of opposing surfaces of the head and bushing flange to a limit of axial separation of the opposing surfaces, axial separation of opposing surfaces of the head and bushing flange being maintained throughout an operating temperature range. Springs maintain sealing contact of a seating surface of the head with a mating surface of the mold assembly. Advantageously, a locating ring provides a reaction surface for the springs and supports the head to resist moments arising from axial misalignment of the expansion nozzle and mold assembly.

Abstract: A cover for an opening of an ejector housing of a mold assembly comprises a cover portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion is attached to a member defining the ejector housing at a side thereof comprising an interior wall of the ejector housing and the cover portion covering the opening defined by the ends of the members surrounding the ejector housing. The cover is attached to a side of the member by at least one fastener located so as not to be accessible for removing the housing cover as the mold assembly is mounted in a machine. A mold assembly comprises a cover in accordance with the invention. The cover advantageously comprising at least one opening therethrough to permit guarded examination of components of an ejector device within the ejector housing and viewable from the end of the ejector housing at which the cover is attached.

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.

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 height insert, the height and number of height inserts selected according to a desired longitudinal extension of the article to be molded, each height insert being retained in the mating mold component by retaining means retained with the mold component during insertion and removal of the height insert. A blow molding machine comprises a press mechanism for operating a mold assembly and a mold assembly according to the invention mounted thereto.