Abstract: An assembly including units for molding polymer materials, the units being arranged successively in a mobile line, each of the molding units including a mold, the mold including two parts mutually mobile about a pivot pin, the movement of the two parts relative to each other being produced upon opening and closing of the mold. The assembly includes rollers co-operating with a track, each of the rollers being connected by link rods to the two pivot pins of adjacent molding units, the path described by the rollers against the track and the path described by the pivot pins being urged to be brought closer together on a predetermined travel of the molding units, such that the distance between the pivot pins of the adjacent molding units is increased during the travel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating machine such as a carrousel comprising a rotating frame driven in rotation about an axis of rotation, several working stations supported by the rotating frame, a fluid supplying rotating column, coaxial to the axis column element (50, 250) provided with two assemblies (52, 252, 53) mobile in rotation relative to each other, about said axis of rotation, a first assembly (52, 252) including an axial tubular body (80, 280) provided with at least two tiers of radial through holes (81-86, 281-286), the axial conduits of the first assembly (52, 252) extending over different lengths in the space delimited by said tubular body (80, 280), each conduit (65a, 70-73, 75) emerging perpendicularly to one specific tier of radial through holes (81-86, 281-286), the column element (50, 250) thereby defining a rotating connection dispensing at least two fluids towards the working stations of the machine, and in that a sleeve C is interposed between said tubular body (80, 280) of the second ass

Abstract: A rotary machine for producing recipients made of a thermoplastic material by drawing and blowing performs by a molding device which is provided with an openable mold and a movable drawing rod, a device for supporting and driving the drawing rod, which is embodied in such a way that it is mechanical and includes a power take-off device for generating, on the basis of a monodirectional rotary rotation, two rotary motions of given angular amplitudes of a rocker in two predetermined angular places of a merry-go-round path and a device for converting the two rotary movements of the rocker into two opposite linear alternately descending and ascending displacements of a drive unit connected to the drawing rod.

Abstract: A production device for performing a blow molding, charging, and sealing process for plastic containers has a first type of molding device (10) into which a tube of plasticized plastic material may be introduced. The molding device (10) of the first type may be rotated to individual spatially separate stations (22, 24, 26) about an axis (20). One station (24) performs the function of blow molding of the container. Another station (26) charges and seals the blow molded container. Simultaneously a tube of plasticized plastic material can be blow molded for production of the plastic container and a corresponding container produced in this manner at the other station can be charged with the medium, in particular one in the form of a fluid, and to seal it. The cycle times may be reduced in comparison to cycle times of production devices of the state of the art so that the rates of output of charged containers sealed under sterile conditions to be produced may be significantly increased.

Abstract: A parison pinching and separating system for attaching to first and second mold halves is disclosed. Each mold half has first and second cavities. The system includes a first pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the first mold half, a first pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the first mold half, a second pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the second mold half, and a second pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the second mold half. Each pinch bar has a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface. The protrusions of the pinch bars associated with first cavity are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close. The protrusion associated with the second cavity are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close.

Abstract: A molding device for blow molding recipients made of a thermoplastic material, including a mold having two mold halves which are movable with respect to each other and provided with a locking device extending along the total height of the mold halves and including two respective hooks, which are oriented toward each other, two respective recesses adjacent to the hooks and a rotatable gib adjacent to the hook and interacting with the other hook in such a way that the two mold-halves are locked in the closed position thereof or are released from each other, the gib being inserted into the recess.

Abstract: A mold opening/closing mechanism of a blow molding apparatus in which a plurality of blow-molding molds are transported along a circular transportation passage with a fixed feed pitch, and each blow-molding mold has a pair of molding dies capable of opening and closing in a lateral direction, including a turntable on which a plurality of blow-molding molds are mounted at intervals of a fixed angle; a vertical moving shaft that rises and falls as the turntable rotates; a slider that slides in a direction perpendicular to an opening/closing direction of the blow-molding molds as the vertical moving shaft rises and falls; and a pair of operation arms that convert sliding movement of the slider to opening/closing movement of the blow-molding molds.

Abstract: A moulding device for the production of containers in thermoplastic material, by blowing or blow-drawing, including a mould with two mould halves mutually mobile and provided with a locking device with two lock elements extending over the total height of the respective mould halves and provided with a number of projecting fingers in catches spaced at intervals, one lock element being fixed on one mould half and the other lock element sliding on the other mould half under the action of an actuator device.

Abstract: A blow molding machine having a revolving blow mold holder and at least one blow mold held thereon, having at least two blow mold parts, whereby to open the blow mold at least one of the blow mold parts is stationary in comparison with the position of a finished blow molded article and the other blow mold part can be moved in a lateral movement.

Abstract: A molding device for the production of containers in thermoplastic material by blowing or blow-drawing, including a mold with two mold halves mutually mobile and provided with a locking device with first and second lock elements, in the form of catches, extending over the whole height of the respective mold halves and a projecting wing on one mold half, including a rotation surface on which a mobile piece is applied over the whole height thereof which includes the second lock element, such that, on blowing, the forces are taken by said mobile piece over the height of the mold by means of the rotation surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a cooling system for cooling a rotary mount (2) comprising two rings (4, 7) capable of rotating relative to each other, each ring having a raceway, the mount further comprising a bearing device constituted by rolling bodies interposed between the two raceways, the cooling system being characterized in that it comprises at least one circuit for passing a cooling fluid, which circuit is pressed against one of the two rings (4, 7) of said mount. It also provides a rotary mount including such a system, and a machine, in particular a blow-molding machine, including such a mount.

Abstract: A device for the moulding of thermoplastic containers by blowing comprises a mould (1) with two half-moulds (2, 3), each having a support (5, 6) and a mould block (7, 8) between which, in one half-mould, a compensating chamber (20) is defined, with elastic return means (26) and abutment means (27) being interposed, which are combined in unitary assemblies (35) each comprising: a bore (36) passing through the support and receiving a pin (38) having one end (39) fastened to the mould block and a first radial shoulder (40) against which bears the end (E) of a sleeve (46) screwed in the bore and having an outer head (47) capped by an axially displacaeable housing (49), with the elastic return means being interposed, which are preloaded by a nut (53) screwed on the free end of the pin against a second radial shoulder (54) of the pin, at the same time pushing the housing.

Abstract: A system is provided for use with a container molding machine having a mold wheel, the mold wheel having a plurality of molds for molding the containers, each of the molds having an opening direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the mold wheel. The system has a mold opening controller and a receiving device for receiving the containers dropped from the mold wheel and transferring the containers to a container conveyor. The receiving device has a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the opening direction of the molds and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container when released from the mold. The longitudinal direction of the receiving device is non-horizontal.

Abstract: A mold mounting system is provided for use with a wheel-type blow mold machine. The system has a first platen; a first mold half having at least one mold cavity for forming a container; a first magnet mounted on the first platen or the first mold half, the first magnet being for releasably magnetically attaching the first mold half to the first platen; a second platen; a second mold half having at least one mold cavity for forming the container; and a second magnet mounted on the second platen or the second mold half, the second magnet being for releasably magnetically attaching the second mold half to the second platen. The first and second mold halves are adapted to interface with each other during a molding process.

Abstract: A molding device moves at least one molding tool (10), especially for generating head geometries in plastic containers, by a link motion (22). The link motion brings the respective molding tool (10) into the closed position at least for closing the tool. This motion (22) is actuated by a drive (24), allowing for a novel drive and kinematic concept for the respective molding tool to completely avoid hydraulic drive means. The drive is preferably an electric drive, especially a step motor.

Abstract: A mold assembly for blow molding plastic articles is provided having an upper mold member, a lower mold member and a lower support member. The lower mold member is preferably a relatively lightweight plate having a generally centrally located molding cavity matingly matched with an upper molding cavity in the upper mold member. The lower mold member is moved horizontally and optionally vertically beneath an extrusion head as a molten parison is extruded. The lower mold member is then transported to, and positioned within, the lower support member. The upper mold member is then closed over the lower mold member and lower support to close the mold assembly. The molten parison is then expanded in the mold cavity. After the molding operation, the plastic part may be removed and the lower mold member may be cooled by immersion in a cooling fluid. The apparatus to move the lower mold member during extrusion of the parison and to the molding station may be a robotic arm.

Abstract: A device for blow molding or blow drawing of containers made of thermoplastic performs. The molding device is movable, mainly rotatable and includes at least one wallet-type mold provided with two mold-halves rotatable with respect to each other around an axis; two links which are connected to each other by one of the extremities thereof with the aid of a first pivot pin and pivotally connected to two mold-halves by the other extremities thereof on both sides of the common pivoting axis thereof; actuation devices which are connected to the first pivot pin and provided with at least one cam follower interacting with at least one respective fixed cam so that the first pivot pin is moved in a direction toward the mold or away therefrom, thereby opening or closing the mold. A compensating device acts so that at least one cam follower permanently contacts the respective cam.

Abstract: A mold system for blow molding hollow plastic containers includes an extruder for providing a hollow tube of plastic material having a longitudinal axis. Three mold segments include at least two mold segments that are movable against the third mold segment, in directions perpendicular to the tube axis, between a closed position in which the mold segments form a hollow mold cavity in which the tube is captured and an open position spaced from the tube axis. A blow pin is disposed on one of the mold segments to pierce the tube in the closed position of the mold segments. One of the mold segments may be a mold core movably mounted on a second of the mold segments, and cylinders are mounted on the second mold segment for moving the mold core between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the second mold segment. The blow pin may be movably mounted on the mold core.

Abstract: A star construction having variable pitch arms for a rotary molding machine for making plastic vessels and bottles, comprises a plurality of arms including gripper elements and a system including two levers which engages with the grippers, while cooperating with respective cam contours, the lever and cam system being reciprocatedly driven for providing a pitch variation and controlling the positions of the gripper elements. With respect to prior solutions, the variable pitch arm star construction according to the invention allows to quickly and simply perform the operations necessary for modifying the arm pitch.

Abstract: A cam-operated guiding device for controlling a related movement of a member which is moreover continuously displaced, the device including two mutually transversely offset parallel cams with which co-operate respectively two coaxial rollers for bilaterally guiding said member. One of the cams is mounted via elastically deformable members designed to allow an elastic displacement of the cam relative to the other cam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blow molding machine comprising a plurality of pillars 5 set up facing on a seat 4 above a base 3 located above a blow mold 2; a stationary platen 6 provided bridging on the top portions of the pillars 5; a moving cylinder 7 set on both side of the stationary platen 6; and a holding plate 9 of blow-core members, which is connected with a piston rod 7a of the moving cylinder 7, and in which the pillars 5 are inserted vertically movable; and a clamp plate 15 projecting at both ends from the holding plate 9 outwardly, and a clamp block 16, which includes internally a pair of hydraulic cylinders 18 to clamp the clamp plate 15 from both sides with rams when the holding plate 9 is in the lower limit position, which is provided on both sides of the seat 4.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an Integrated Injection-Stretch-Blow Mold suitable for producing bi-orientated thermoplastics containers, which can be installed in an injection molding machine, occupying the space normally destined for injection molds. It consists of a central chassis (8) having in its interior a central block mechanism (30), with the injection cores (6cores (12) and the mechanisms for stretch and blow (9, 13, 23) and for release of the finish containers (18, 20); a motorized system (31), connected to the central block mechanism (30), by a rotating plate shaft (11), for the transport of the performs at least an injection mold (1) and a blow mold (14) placed around the central chassis (8).

Abstract: A blow mold system take-out device includes a plurality of transfer heads positioned around a hub, and a plurality of arms associated with a plurality of the transfer heads. The arms receive and clamp a molded product. Each transfer head with arms moves around the hub to a position where the arms release the molded product onto a takeaway device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transferring hollow blow molded articles from a vertically disposed wheel blow molding machine to a horizontally-disposed takeaway conveyor. Each mold on the wheel releases multiple blown articles at the six o'clock position on the wheel such that the articles fall freely from the wheel. An inclined end of a takeaway conveyor is located directly underneath the six o'clock position in order to receive the free falling blown articles and transport them to a horizontal transporting section of the takeaway conveyor. Flanges which extend upwardly from the conveying surface of the takeaway conveyor in combination with a powered endless positioning belt which extends a spaced distance along the inclined receiving end are utilized to confine the blown articles on the receiving end and uniformly position the blown articles on the takeaway conveyor.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a preform conveying device of high production efficiency under the technical theme of aligning the plurality of preforms in single rows at high speed, while eliminating contact of individual preforms with other preforms and minimizing the chances of contact with device parts.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus comprises a base, a blow molding extruder, a carriage, and first and second molding stations. The carriage is movably mounted to the base in a manner such that the carriage is movable along a non-linear path between first and second positions relative to the extruder and in a manner such that the carriage maintains a constant rotational orientation relative to the base as the carriage moves along the non-linear path. Each of the first and second molding stations is mounted to the carriage in a manner such that the first and second molding stations move with the carriage relative to the base as the carriage moves along the non-linear path.

Abstract: A machine for making thermoplastic containers by stretching and blowing a preform including at least a stretch rod which is slidably controlled along its axis by an actuator from a retracted position to a stretching position to stretch the preform during the blowing process. When the stretch rod returns toward its retracted position, the actuator is idle, such that the stretch rod is returned by a blowing pressure prevailing inside the container being produced so as to act on a working end of the stretch rod.

Abstract: A vertical rotary blow molding machine with dual cavity molds includes two coextrusion flow heads for extruding multi-layer parisons for capture and blowing in the dual cavity molds.

Abstract: A blow mold (1) for a stretching machine or a glass blowing machine, comprising two mold halves (3, 4) which are pivotably connected by at least one connecting pin (2), and a shutting device and locking device in the form of a closing clamp (7) which can be slid directly onto the mold halves (3, 4) from the side of the connecting pin (2). The mold halves (3, 4) are closed around the connecting pin (2) by the sliding, pressing contact of the closing clamp (7) and in the closed position, are pressed against each other without a gap, resulting in a mechanically simple, space-saving blow mold (1).

Abstract: To realize direct and intermittent rotation of a transfer member by directly coupling the rotary part of a servo motor with a rotary shaft. A supporting board is arranged side by side with working space 3 made vacant above a machine base. The center part of a transfer member arranged on the undersurface of a supporting board 4 is coupled with a rotary shaft 7 of a relatively large diameter inserted through the center of the supporting board and mounted on a bearing. The servo motor 8 provided with the fixing part 8b inside of the rotary part 8a of the large diameter in the center of the supporting board 4 is attached to a supporting base 15 erected on the supporting board 4 via a joint 18 on the side of the fixing part 8b. The rotary part 8a is mounted on the top of the rotary shaft 7, and thereby the transfer member 6 is constructed so as to be directly rotated with the rotary shaft 7 by the servo motor 8.

Abstract: A take-out device for removing blow molded products from molds in a high speed rotary blow molding machine includes a plurality of transfer heads which are moved into and out of an ejection station to clamp logs or bottles stripped from the molds and move the logs or bottles away from the station toward a takeaway conveyor. The bottles or logs are turned ninety degrees before placement on a takeaway conveyor.

Abstract: A mold is provided for use with a wheel-type blow mold machine, the mold being one of a plurality of molds for locating in a circular pattern on a wheel of the blow-mold machine and having a longitudinal direction for aligning tangentially with a circumferential direction of the mold wheel and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The mold has a first part and a second part. The first part has a first molding portion with a longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction of the mold and a first end portion adjoining the first molding portion at the longitudinal end of the first molding portion and having a free edge opposite the first molding portion, the free edge being non-parallel to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. The first part also has an outer cooling circuit located in the first end portion, and an inner cooling circuit located in the first end portion at a different location in the transverse direction than the outer cooling circuit.

Abstract: A system is provided for use with a container molding machine having a mold wheel, the mold wheel having a plurality of molds for molding the containers, each of the molds having an opening direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the mold wheel. The system has a mold opening controller and a receiving device for receiving the containers from the mold wheel and transferring the containers to a container conveyor. The receiving device has a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the opening direction of the molds and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container when released from the mold. The longitudinal direction of the receiving device is non-horizontal.

Abstract: Apparatus for blow moulding plastic containers, comprising a plurality of pairs of half-moulds (1, 2) capable of being coupled with each other, separated from each other and clamped together, said pairs (1, 2) being associated to an appropriate central structure and constituted by a stationary half-mould (1), which is substantially attached to said structure, and a respective moving half-mould (2) capable of being opened and clamped with a rotary motion, in which there are provided means adapted (3, 4) to arrange a respective preform (7) in a pre-defined position adapted for blow moulding, and to hold this preform (7) in this position regardless of the position of the respective half-moulds (1, 2), these means being in particular constituted by: a fork means (3) firmly joined to a respective stationary half-mould (1), a pincer-like gripper (5) adapted to transfer a respective preform (7) from an external position and fit it on to the respective fork means (3), and a small-tube (4) assembly adapted to be inser

Abstract: A mold is provided for use with a wheel-type blow mold machine, the mold being one of a plurality of molds for locating in a circular pattern on a wheel of the blow-mold machine and having a longitudinal direction for aligning tangentially with a circumferential direction of the mold wheel and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The mold has a first part and a second part. The first part has a first molding portion with a longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction of the mold and a first end portion adjoining the first molding portion at the longitudinal end of the first molding portion and having a free edge opposite the first molding portion, the free edge being non-parallel to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. The first part also has an outer cooling circuit located in the first end portion, and an inner cooling circuit located in the first end portion at a different location in the transverse direction than the outer cooling circuit.

Abstract: A system is provided for use with a container molding machine having a mold wheel, the mold wheel having a plurality of molds for molding the containers, each of the molds having an opening direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the mold wheel. The system has a mold opening controller and a receiving device for receiving the containers from the mold wheel and transferring the containers to a container conveyor. The receiving device has a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the opening direction of the molds and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container when released from the mold. The longitudinal direction of the receiving device is non-horizontal.

Abstract: An extrusion blow-molding machine, including several molding units borne by a carrousel rotating about a substantially vertical axis (A1), wherein each molding unit is mounted on the carrousel such that it can be tilted about a substantially horizontal axis (An).

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for blow-molding thermoplastic products. This type of machine has a molding unit comprising two mobile supports (12), which are hinged in relation to each other and which are controlled by a mechanism comprising a traveling slide (16), between an open position and a closed position. Each support (12) is connected to the slide (12) by at least one associated connecting link (36). The inventive blow-molding machine is characterized in that in its closed position, the main axes of the connecting links (36) are oriented in the same direction, perpendicular to the hinge axis (A1), in such a way that the control mechanism can cause the molding unit to be locked in this closed position.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an Integrated Injection-Stretch-Blow Mold suitable for producing bi-orientated thermoplastics containers, which can be installed in an injection molding machine, occupying the space normally destined for injection molds. It consists of a central chassis (8) having in its interior a central block mechanism (30), with the injection cores (6), blow cores (12) and the mechanisms for stretch and blow (9, 13, 23) and for release of the finish containers (18, 20); a motorized rotating system (31), connected to the central block mechanism (30), by a rotating plate shaft (11), for the transport of the performs between at least an injection mold (1) and a blow mold (14) placed around the central chassis (8).

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus comprising a wheel mounted rotationally on a base for rotating a plurality of molds past an extrusion die. The wheel is comprised of a hub mounted to a rotational shaft and a plurality of disk segments mounted about the hub to carry the plurality of molds. The disk segments may be individually selectively secured to the hub to facilitate simple replacement of disk segments.

Abstract: A blow molding machine including at least a blow mold (12), wherein is introduced a preform (14) previously produced by injection molding, and a blow nozzle (22) for injecting pressurized air into the preform (14). It is equipped with a device for orienting the preform in the mold, the device including a grip member (30) adapted to grip the preform (14) by its neck (18) when it is engaged in the mold (12); a device (66) for driving in rotation the grip member (30); a device for detecting (70) at least a reference angular position of the preform (14); and a control device to cause the grip member to rotate until the detecting device detects the reference angular position of the preform.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus having a mold clamping apparatus of the clam shell type, and having a linkage controlling the opening and closing of the mold, the linkage being comprised of two links pivotally connected to each other and driven by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. The links are configured to provide the cylinder with mechanical advantage so that little mold separation force is recognized at the cylinder.

Abstract: A rotary machine for blowing thermoplastic containers starting with a previously injected preform, comprising several blowing stations (10) each of which can bear a double cavity mould (16), wherein each station includes a blowing unit (26) which is fixed on a mount frame element (22) and provided with two blow nozzles (24). The machine can be transposed into a single cavity configuration wherein each station bears a single cavity mould (36), and the blowing unit (26) includes a second position for being fixed on the mount frame element wherein one of the nozzels (24) is arranged to correspond with the main axis (A4) of the single moulding cavity (38) of the single cavity mound (36).

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for transferring parisons from an injection-molding machine to a blow-mold machine on an indexed table. The injection-molding machine creates multiple groups of parisons during an injection cycle. The groups from each cycle are transferred to the table and the blow-mold machine at the end of one interval and the beginning of a next interval so that the groups from a single injection-cycle are treated in a substantially like manner. The intervals may be of equal or unequal duration and total the length of an injection cycle.

Abstract: A clamping device for an injection blow molding machine incorporates separate clamp movement actuators for joining or separating opposing mold parts and clamping actuators for applying a clamping force to closed mold parts. Opposing locking columns and locking collars are locked together and a clamping force is applied to opposing locked columns and collars. A stroke movement of the locking collars can optionally be provided to allow maximum clamp area clearance for a preform or blow-molded product entering or leaving the clamp area. The distance of stroke movement can be adjusted to accommodate molds of varying sizes.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus comprising a wheel mounted rotationally on a base for rotating a plurality of molds past an extrusion die. The wheel is comprised of a hub mounted to a rotational shaft and a plurality of disk segments mounted about the hub to carry the plurality of molds. The disk segments may be individually selectively secured to the hub to facilitate simple replacement of disk segments.

Abstract: In blow molding, each mold has two or more cavities, each respectively fed by two or more parisons. Each cavity fed by a separate parison may itself include two or more article cavities aligned with its parison.

Abstract: To blow plastic hollow bodies, each mold (7) has its respective compression chamber (21) connected to it, constituted by a cylinder (20)-piston (19) assembly; pressure is initialized in the chamber; the fluid is compressed in the chamber; the chamber is connected (22, 24, 25) with the blank (9) when the piston position attains a predetermined position and chamber volume continues to be reduced to complete the blowing. The invention can be applied in particular to the blowing of small-volume hollow bodies.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a sterile packaging container from a thermoplastic blank or preform which, during stepwise displacement between different processing stations (A-H), is subjected to a first heating to a temperature suitable for a subsequent sterilization with the aid of a chemical sterilization agent in gas form. A subsequent, additional heating stage imparts to the blank the desired moulding temperature, whereafter the blank, after displacement to a blow moulding station, is blow moulded to the desired configuration with the aid of mould halves (9) surrounding the blank. Hereafter, the blank is displaced to a filling station (E) in which it is filled with the desired contents in order thereafter finally to be sealed with the aid of a wafer (17) and discharged out of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transferring hollow blow molded articles from a vertically disposed wheel blow molding machine to a horizontally-disposed takeaway conveyor. Each mold on the wheel releases multiple blown articles at the six o'clock position on the wheel such that the articles fall freely from the wheel. An inclined end of a takeaway conveyor is located directly underneath the six o'clock position in order to receive the free falling blown articles and transport them to a horizontal transporting section of the takeaway conveyor. Flanges which extend upwardly from the conveying surface of the takeaway conveyor in combination with a powered endless positioning belt which extends a spaced distance along the inclined receiving end are utilized to confine the blown articles on the receiving end and uniformly position the blown articles on the takeaway conveyor.