Abstract: A die pin for forming a hollow plastic parison is provided, the die pin having a base member with a proximal mounting portion, a body portion, and a distal frustoconical portion, wherein the base member comprises a first material, and a tip member mounted on the distal frustoconical portion, wherein the tip member comprises a second material, the second material being different than the first material. An extrusion apparatus and method for forming a hollow plastic parison using the die pin are also provided.

Abstract: An extrusion blow molded plastic container includes a main body portion, a finish portion, and a continuous ledge. The finish portion defines an opening, and includes an upper surface and an outer surface that defines a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed in transverse cross-section. The shape of the finish portion when viewed in transverse cross-section is smaller than the shape of the main body portion. The continuous ledge is defined between the outer surface of the main body portion and the outer surface of the finish portion. The ledge has a first width, adjacent to one of the rounded corners of the finish portion, that is greater than a second width that is not adjacent to one of the rounded corners of the finish portion.

Abstract: A method for purging a molten thermoplastic material from a blow molding system. The method includes the steps of feeding the molten thermoplastic material into a flow head operably connected to a purge diverter valve including a channel and a closing member; opening the closing member, wherein the opening step diverts the thermoplastic material from the flow head into the channel and causes the thermoplastic material to flow through the channel; and collecting the thermoplastic material flowing through the channel. The method can be used to purge molten thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate especially from an upward extruding blow mold system.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container includes a main body portion having an upper surface and a finish portion that extends from the upper surface. A reinforcing strut is provided on the upper surface of the main body portion adjacent to the finish portion for providing increased structural rigidity and top load strength to the container. The reinforcing strut may be fabricated in a manner that promotes drainage of fluid from the container, such as by defining a downwardly sloping inner channel that leads to the finish portion when the container is inverted.

Abstract: Ceramic die pin for molten thermoplastic extrusion, apparatus for molten thermoplastic extrusion including a ceramic die pin, and methods of molten thermoplastic extrusion with a ceramic die pin. The ceramic head member can have a mounting cavity formed therein. The ceramic head member can be made of high purity aluminum oxide, and have an outer surface finish of between about 4 RMS and about 275 RMS.

Abstract: A pivot casting component used in an apparatus for extrusion blow molding polyethylene teraphthalate (“PET”) is disclosed. The pivot casting is designed to provide increased strength and increased reliability over prior components with the blow mold clamping linkage system. Prior art pivot elements were designed and fabricated from separate elements such that weak points, and stress concentration points were created. Such weak points resulted in the pivot element being a weak component in the blow mold clamping linkage system. The inventive pivot casting is cast as a single component from higher strength materials, with an improved geometry to increase component strength, durability and overall system reliability. In a preferred embodiment, the air side pivot casting is formed from 80-55-06 ductile iron resulting in a 40% increase in tensile strength over prior pivot components.

Abstract: A cam follower slide component used in an apparatus for extrusion blow molding polyethylene teraphthalate is disclosed. The cam follower slide component is designed to include disc springs positioned about a spindle that is in turn located along the slide direction of the cam follower. With the inclusion of disc springs, the cam follower slide is capable of absorbing certain excessive forces within the blow mold clamping linkage system that may develop during irregular blow mold process conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the cam follower slide component includes the ability to adjust the spring force of the disc springs to allow for a variation in allowable excess system linkage forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hollow blow needle for introducing a pressurized fluid into an extruded parison enclosed by two mold halves, the needle comprising: a body portion having an inner first diameter; a neck portion having an inner second diameter, wherein the inner second diameter is less than the inner first diameter; and a tip portion comprising a first angled portion, a second angled portion that is a different angle relative to the first angled portion, and an orifice.

Abstract: A system for purging molten thermoplastic material from a molding apparatus. The purge system includes a blow mold apparatus, a purge diverter valve operably connected to the blow mold apparatus and including a channel, a closing member, a spacer having a conduit in communication with the channel, and a melt pipe. The system can be used to purge molten thermoplastic materials out from an upward extruding blow mold apparatus.

Abstract: A bracket for linking guide rods to a wheel of a vertical blow molding machine and a system for blow molding containers and a mechanism for opening and closing a pair of mold halves linked to the wheel of the vertical blow molding machine using the bracket, comprising a first portion and a second portion made of iron, a plurality of pivot apertures, and a plurality of guide rod apertures for receiving the guide rods.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container includes a main body portion having an upper surface and a finish portion that extends from the upper surface. A reinforcing strut is provided on the upper surface of the main body portion adjacent to the finish portion for providing increased structural rigidity and top load strength to the container. The reinforcing strut may be fabricated in a manner that promotes drainage of fluid from the container, such as by defining a downwardly sloping inner channel that leads to the finish portion when the container is inverted.

Abstract: An extrusion blow molded plastic container includes a main body portion and a finish portion that defines an opening. The finish portion has an upper surface and an outer surface on which a snap bead is defined. In order to prevent saddling of the upper surface, a plurality of grooves is defined in the outer surface, each of the grooves passing through the snap bead. In addition, the main body portion has an outer surface that defines a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed in transverse cross-section. The outer surface of the finish portion also has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed in transverse cross-section. The shape of the finish portion when viewed in transverse cross-section is smaller than the shape of the main body portion. A ledge is defined between the outer surface of the main body portion and the outer surface of the finish portion.

Abstract: A pivot casting component used in an apparatus for extrusion blow molding polyethylene teraphthalate (“PET”) is disclosed. The pivot casting is designed to provide increased strength and increased reliability over prior components with the blow mold clamping linkage system. Prior art pivot elements were designed and fabricated from separate elements such that weak points, and stress concentration points were created. Such weak points resulted in the pivot element being a weak component in the blow mold clamping linkage system. The inventive pivot casting is cast as a single component from higher strength materials, with an improved geometry to increase component strength, durability and overall system reliability. In a preferred embodiment, the air side pivot casting is formed from 80-55-06 ductile iron resulting in a 40% increase in tensile strength over prior pivot components.

Abstract: A system for purging molten thermoplastic material from a molding apparatus. The purge system includes a blow mold apparatus, a purge diverter valve operably connected to the blow mold apparatus and including a channel, a closing member, a spacer having a conduit in communication with the channel, and a melt pipe. The system can be used to purge molten thermoplastic materials out from an upward extruding blow mold apparatus.