Abstract: A blow molding apparatus is provided including a blow mold, an extrusion apparatus, a locator mechanism, and a blow pin. The blow mold has first and second blow mold halves which are engageable and disengageable with one another. The first and second blow mold halves define first and second inner cavities when the mold halves are engaged. The first cavity has a first shape and the second cavity has a second shape which differs from the first shape. The extrusion apparatus has a die head through which a parison is extruded. The locator mechanism is associated with one of the blow mold and the extrusion apparatus for changing the positioning between the blow mold and the die head to allow capture of an extruded parison by the first and second mold halves within a desired one of the first and second inner cavities such that the extruded parison can be formed into an article having substantially the same shape as the desired cavity.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus is provided including a blow mold, an extrusion apparatus, a locator mechanism, and a blow pin. The blow mold has first and second blow mold halves which are engageable and disengageable with one another. The first and second blow mold halves define first and second inner cavities when the mold halves are engaged. The first cavity has a first shape and the second cavity has a second shape which differs from the first shape. The extrusion apparatus has a die head through which a parison is extruded. The locator mechanism is associated with one of the blow mold and the extrusion apparatus for changing the positioning between the blow mold and the die head to allow capture of an extruded parison by the first and second mold halves within a desired one of the first and second inner cavities such that the extruded parison can be formed into an article having substantially the same shape as the desired cavity.

Abstract: A carrier puck is provided for receiving and supporting an article to be moved along a predetermined path. The carrier puck is made of a main body having an inner cavity for receiving the article. The puck also includes at least one gripper element extending from an inner side wall of the main body into the first cavity for engaging with a protruding ridge on the article to releasably hold and stabilize the article in the puck. The carrier puck may also include a second cavity having a size which differs from the size of the first cavity.

Abstract: A puck is provided for releasably gripping a closure element to be moved along a predetermined path and mated to a container. The puck includes a main body and a gripper assembly associated with the main body for releasably gripping the closure element. The gripper assembly comprises first and second opposing arms connected to the main body. The first arm has two first gripper members mounted thereto and the second arm has two second gripper members mounted thereto. The first and second arms are movable between a retracted position and a gripping position. The first gripper members are rotatable for effecting rotation of the closure element to permit the closure element to be mated to the container. The gripper assembly further includes first and second spring-biased support members connected to the first and second arms for movement between first and second positions.

Abstract: A method for blow molding first and second articles, each having a different shape, includes the step of changing the positioning between an extruder head and a mold set after forming the first article from a first parison. The mold set has first and second mold halves which define first and second cavities having different shapes. The step of changing the positioning between an extruder head and a mold set may include changing the position of the mold set or changing the position of the extruder head.