Abstract: A process and an apparatus for forming a flange on the wall portion of a hollow body of thermoplastic material with an opening at one end provides that the end part of the wall portion which defines the opening is heated and contracted by means of a force acting on the end portion from the outside thereof over the periphery thereof, whereupon the contracted end part is subjected to a pressing operation to form a flange extending around the contracted end part.

Abstract: A process for producing hollow bodies from oriented thermoplastic material wherein a cylindrical portion of a heated hollow preform which has a bottom thereon is subjected to stretching at a starting temperature which is below the vitreous transition temperature of the thermoplastic material, with the wall thickness of the preform being reduced in the stretching operation. Prior to the stretching operation the preform is heated in the portion in which the stretching effect begins, to a temperature higher than in the portion adjoining same. Stretching is preferably effected along the axis of the preform at different rates such that in the portion of the preform at which stretching begins, stretching is effected at a lower rate than in the portion adjoining same in the stretching direction.

Abstract: In an apparatus for producing hollow bodies from thermoplastic material in large numbers a plurality of stations in which the blanks are successively subjected to various treatment steps are arranged at horizontal spacings around the peripheral surface of a vertical, substantially cylindrical housing of an operating unit of the apparatus. The blanks to be treated are passed downwardly through the operating unit and a first one of the treatment stations therein to the next station therein. Arranged within the operating unit is a cam drum which rotates about a vertical axis and which has cams adapted to actuate tools for treating the blanks in at least some of the treatment stations. Two or more such operating units may be connected in succession for carrying out successive treatment operations on the blanks.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating blanks of plastic material comprising a substantially cylindrical main frame structure, a central, coaxial cam drum which is mounted within same rotatably about its longitudinal axis and which is provided on its outside with working cams, and a plurality of treatment stations arranged in juxtaposed relationship around the periphery of the frame structure, with tools for processing the plastic blanks. The tools in a respective station are carried by vertically movable carriages, each of which is adapted to be moved up and down in the station by a cam follower guided by an associated cam on the cam drum. Each cam follower is carried by a drive carriage. The respectively associated tool carriages and drive carriages are each independently guided on the housing by vertical guide means and are interconnected by way of non-rigid connecting means.

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 blow mold structure for the blowing of containers, bottles or the like rein a coolant fluid is circulated through the mold. The blow mold includes a pair of openable and closable mold blocks, each carrying a mold insert. The changeable inserts cooperably define the mold cavity, and coolant fluid is circulated between each insert and the adjacent mold block to cool the cavity-defining inserts. A series of grooves is formed in the exterior surface of the mold insert, the insert is sealed to its mold block and coolant fluid is introduced into and removed from the grooves through supply passages in the mold block. A chamfered abutment at one end of each insert and a mounting flange at the other end insures quick changing of inserts while maintaining structural rigidity during use.

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.