Abstract: An adjustable platen assembly and method of assembly therefore. The platen assembly has a platen and a pressure plate attached to the platen. The pressure plate may be rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the rod according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The platen assembly may have at least one platen support mounted to the platen. The at least one platen support may be rotatably mounted to the mold clamp. The at least one platen support can be rotated according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The adjustable platen provides support to the mold half to reduce the amount of deformation to the mold half that is caused by the application of a closing force.

Abstract: A rotary trimmer for trimming flash and the blow dome from a plastic bottle forming a portion of a plastic blow molded log discharged from a blow mold includes flash punching, a neck support plate, and a guillotine blade. The neck support plate is movable by a plate drive to move adjacent the neck of the plastic log to support the neck during cutting of the blow dome and cooperates with a log holder to essentially support the entire outer periphery of the neck. The guillotine blade is movable by a blade drive to pass through the plastic log and sever the blow dome from the neck of the log.

Abstract: A device and method for moving a mold clamp assembly of a molding apparatus between and open and closed position when the molding apparatus is in a stationary position. The device includes a rotatable cam member. A first cam surface is provided on the rotatable cam member. The first cam surface cooperates with a cam follower of the mold clamp assembly to move the mold clamp assembly to the open position when the rotatable cam member is rotated. A second cam surface is also provided on the rotatable cam member. The second cam surface cooperates with the cam follower of the mold clamp assembly to move the mold clamp assembly from the open position to the closed position when the rotatable cam member is further rotated.

Abstract: An adjustable platen assembly and method of assembly therefore. The platen assembly has a platen and a pressure plate attached to the platen. The pressure plate may be rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the rod according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The platen assembly may have at least one platen support mounted to the platen. The at least one platen support may be rotatably mounted to the mold clamp. The at least one platen support can be rotated according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The adjustable platen provides support to the mold half to reduce the amount of deformation to the mold half that is caused by the application of a closing force.

Abstract: An adjustable platen assembly and method of assembly therefore. The platen assembly has a platen and a pressure plate attached to the platen. The pressure plate may be rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the rod according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The platen assembly may have at least one platen support mounted to the platen. The at least one platen support may be rotatably mounted to the mold clamp. The at least one platen support can be rotated according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The adjustable platen provides support to the mold half to reduce the amount of deformation to the mold half that is caused by the application of a closing force.

Abstract: A modular mold clamp assembly for use in a molding machine. The assembly has a frame with a base member and oppositely-facing end members, with the oppositely-facing end members having mounting areas provided thereon. First and second platens are movably mounted on the base member between an open and a closed position. The platens are mounted on the frame and are movable relative to the frame without transmitting forces to the frame. The frame, containing the platens, can be mounted or unmounted to the molding machine by the use of mounting hardware cooperating with the mounting area of the frame.

Abstract: A method and modular mold clamp assembly for use in a molding machine. The assembly has a frame with a base member. The base member has end members provided thereon. Radial adjustment mechanisms are mounted on the end members, with the radial adjustment members configured to cooperate with turntables of the molding machine. At least one support bracket extends from the frame. The support bracket is configured to cooperate with at least one support fixture of the molding machine. The radial adjustment mechanisms and the at least one support bracket allow the modular mold clamp assembly to be moved toward and away from the center of a wheel of the molding machine.

Abstract: A device and method for moving a mold clamp assembly of a molding apparatus between and open and closed position when the molding apparatus is in a stationary position. The device includes a rotatable cam member. A first cam surface is provided on the rotatable cam member. The first cam surface cooperates with a cam follower of the mold clamp assembly to move the mold clamp assembly to the open position when the rotatable cam member is rotated. A second cam surface is also provided on the rotatable cam member. The second cam surface cooperates with the cam follower of the mold clamp assembly to move the mold clamp assembly from the open position to the closed position when the rotatable cam member is further rotated.

Abstract: A multiple-piece cam unit for use in a molding machine. The cam unit has a cam track which engages cam followers of mold assemblies of the molding machine to move the cam followers between a first position and a second position. The cam unit includes a first cam section and a second cam section. The first cam section has an entrance portion which is dimensioned to receive the cam followers therein. The second cam section has an exit portion positioned to release the cam followers therefrom. The second cam section is moveably mounted to the molding machine to allow the exit portion of the second cam section to be moved relative to the entrance portion of the first cam section, to insure that the cam followers exiting the exit portion of the second cam section are properly aligned to enter the entrance portion of the first cam section.

Abstract: A rotary molding machine having a movable member mounted for rotation on a base about a rotational axis. The movable member has a first component and a second component which is parallel to the first component. The first and second components extend transversely to the rotational axis. A plurality of mold clamp assemblies are positioned on the movable member, with each mold clamp assembly being moveable between an open and a closed position. Each mold clamp assembly has mounting areas which are mounted with respective mounting locations of the first and second components. An array of mounting openings are provided in the mounting locations of the first and second components of the movable members. The mounting openings are configured to accommodate multiple mold clamp assembly configurations.

Abstract: A modular mold clamp assembly for use in a molding machine. The assembly has a frame with a base member and oppositely-facing end members, with the oppositely-facing end members having mounting areas provided thereon. First and second platens are movably mounted on the base member between an open and a closed position. The platens are mounted on the frame and are movable relative to the frame without transmitting forces to the frame. The frame, containing the platens, can be mounted or unmounted to the molding machine by the use of mounting hardware cooperating with the mounting area of the frame.

Abstract: The invention is directed a rotary molding machine having a wheel mounted for rotation on a pair of shafts positioned along the rotational axis of the wheel. A first shaft cooperates with a first turntable of the wheel and a second shaft cooperates with a second turntable. The first and second turntables extend transversely to the rotational axis. A plurality of modular mold clamp assemblies are positioned on the wheel, with each modular mold clamp assembly being moveable between an open and a closed position. Each modular mold clamp assembly has mounting areas which are mounted with respective mounting locations each turntable. The modular mold clamp assemblies provide the structure and rigidity between the turntables to help maintain the turntables in position relative to each other.

Abstract: A modular mold clamp assembly for use in a molding machine. The assembly has a frame with a base member and oppositely-facing end members, with the oppositely-facing end members having mounting areas provided thereon. First and second platens are movably mounted on the base member between an open and a closed position. The platens are mounted on the frame and are movable relative to the frame without transmitting forces to the frame. The frame, containing the platens, can be mounted or unmounted to the molding machine by the use of mounting hardware cooperating with the mounting area of the frame.

Abstract: A rotary trimmer for trimming flash and the blow dome from a plastic bottle forming a portion of a plastic blow molded log discharged from a blow mold includes flash punching, a neck support plate, and a guillotine blade. The neck support plate is movable by a plate drive to move adjacent the neck of the plastic log to support the neck during cutting of the blow dome and cooperates with a log holder to essentially support the entire outer periphery of the neck. The guillotine blade is movable by a blade drive to pass through the plastic log and sever the blow dome from the neck of the log.

Abstract: A multiple-piece cam unit for use in a molding machine. The cam unit has a cam track which engages cam followers of mold assemblies of the molding machine to move the cam followers between a first position and a second position. The cam unit includes a first cam section and a second cam section. The first cam section has an entrance portion which is dimensioned to receive the cam followers therein. The second cam section has an exit portion positioned to release the cam followers therefrom. The second cam section is moveably mounted to the molding machine to allow the exit portion of the second cam section to be moved relative to the entrance portion of the first cam section, to insure that the cam followers exiting the exit portion of the second cam section are properly aligned to enter the entrance portion of the first cam section.

Abstract: A method and modular mold clamp assembly for use in a molding machine. The assembly has a frame with a base member. The base member has end members provided thereon. Radial adjustment mechanisms are mounted on the end members, with the radial adjustment members configured to cooperate with turntables of the molding machine. At least one support bracket extends from the frame. The support bracket is configured to cooperate with at least one support fixture of the molding machine. The radial adjustment mechanisms and the at least one support bracket allow the modular mold clamp assembly to be moved toward and away from the center of a wheel of the molding machine.

Abstract: An adjustable platen assembly and method of assembly therefore. The platen assembly has a platen and a pressure plate attached to the platen. The pressure plate may be rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the rod according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The platen assembly may have at least one platen support mounted to the platen. The at least one platen support may be rotatably mounted to the mold clamp. The at least one platen support can be rotated according to the size of a mold half mounted to the platen. The adjustable platen provides support to the mold half to reduce the amount of deformation to the mold half that is caused by the application of a closing force.

Abstract: A modular mold clamp assembly for use in a molding machine. The assembly has a frame with a base member and oppositely-facing end members, with the oppositely-facing end members having mounting areas provided thereon. First and second platens are movably mounted on the base member between an open and a closed position. The platens are mounted on the frame and are movable relative to the frame without transmitting forces to the frame. The frame, containing the platens, can be mounted or unmounted to the molding machine by the use of mounting hardware cooperating with the mounting area of the frame.

Abstract: The invention is directed a rotary molding machine having a wheel mounted for rotation on a pair of shafts positioned along the rotational axis of the wheel. A first shaft cooperates with a first turntable of the wheel and a second shaft cooperates with a second turntable. The first and second turntables extend transversely to the rotational axis. A plurality of modular mold clamp assemblies are positioned on the wheel, with each modular mold clamp assembly being moveable between an open and a closed position. Each modular mold clamp assembly has mounting areas which are mounted with respective mounting locations each turntable. The modular mold clamp assemblies provide the structure and rigidity between the turntables to help maintain the turntables in position relative to each other.

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.