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: An in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including a first cam mechanism (58) and a second cam mechanism (64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling.

Abstract: An in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including a first cam mechanism (58) and a second cam mechanism (64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling.

Abstract: The invention concerns a blow moulding machine comprising at least a blow mould (12), wherein is introduced a preform (14) previously produced by injection moulding, and a blow nozzle (22) for injecting pressurised air into the preform (14). The invention is characterised in that it is equipped with a device for orienting the preform in the mould, said device comprising a grip member (30) adapted to grip the preform (14) by its neck (18) when it is engaged in the mould (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 control means to cause the grip member to rotate until the detecting device detects the reference angular position of the preform.

Abstract: A separate parison separation assembly for each parison in a multiple parison blow molding apparatus. Each assembly has a shear plate secured in a recess machined into the mold in order to provide a positive and repeatable location of the shear plate. The shear plate is square and provides eight cutting edges; each of the four sides of the shear plate by rotating the shear plate as an edge wears, and by turning it over. The shear plate has a useful life up to eight times that of the prior art designs. The cut-off knife for each assembly is secured to the other half of the mold, directly on its surface, with a compression pocket cut into the face of this half of the mold to contain and to compress the parison between the mold halves. The design eliminates open space at the edge where the flash forms, reducing the mass of polymer at the edge and thus the temperature of the flash edge.

Abstract: At least one blow-molded plastic container and one compression molded lid are simultaneously produced in a blow mold. Preferably, the method and apparatus utilize a mold capable of simultaneously receiving a pair of extruded parisons. One of the parisons is utilized to produce a pair of aligned container bodies and the other of the parisons is utilized to form a pair of aligned closures. In this manner, a container and closure combination can be manufactured having perfect color matching and can be readily recycled in its entirety. In addition, the method and apparatus according to the present invention significantly reduces tooling costs and required machine capitol.

Abstract: A plastic blow molding system (20) and a method for blow molding utilize an in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including first and second cam mechanisms (58, 64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling. Label transfer apparatus (160) provides high speed labeling of the dispensing assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and rejecting defective blow molded containers is provided. The invention includes a sound detector system for sensing the sound level from a mold during the blowing process, and outputting a sound level signal. If the sound level signal exceeds a predetermined set point, thereby indicating a discontinuous container, a kick mechanism rejects the defective container. The kick mechanism is sequenced with the sound detector system. A proximity switch may be employed to indicate the mold being in position in front of the sound detector.

Abstract: A blow pin assembly for a mold of a rotary blow molding machine includes a base, a carriage supported by and movable relative to the base, a sub-base supported by and movable relative to the carriage, and a blow pin mounted to the sub-base for movement between a home position and a mold-engaging position. The blow pin is constructed with a low profile to clear an extruder head above the mold. This permits a method of forming a blow molded product to be used wherein the blow pin is inserted into the mold (and a parison in the mold), while the mold is at the extrusion workstation of the blow molding machine or very nearly so.

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: The vertically reciprocable eject head at the finished article eject station of a molding machine has a row of cylindrical eject cores that project downwardly from the head during operation. From time-to-time, the eject cores must be replaced with a different set of cores having a different spacing and number. A universal mounting plate forming part of the quick change apparatus of the eject head has an elongated through slot extending longitudinally along the length of the universal plate that receives the eject cores but does not establish their position. One or more adaptor plates detachably fastened to the bottom side of the universal plate has a row of holes therein that register with the receiving slot of the mounting plate so as to establish the number and location of eject cores that can be carried by the eject head.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method whereby in an installation (1, 2, 3) for making containers (200, 300) by blowing blanks (400), for example thermoplastic preforms, the high pressure fluid derived from degassing a container is re-used and injected (14) into a container previously degassed, for example for cooling it or for thoroughly spraying the inside thereof to solidify the material.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and rejecting defective blow molded containers is provided. The invention includes a sound detector system for sensing the sound level from a mold during the blowing process, and outputting a sound level signal. If the sound level signal exceeds a predetermined set point, thereby indicating a discontinuous container, a kick mechanism rejects the defective container. The kick mechanism is sequenced with the sound detector system. A proximity switch may be employed to indicate the mold being in position in front of the sound detector.

Abstract: A multi-station rotary blow molding machine suitable for molding hollow articles from a thermoplastic parison is described. Plural, indexable dials present blow mold assemblies for parison insertion at a common, shared parison insertion station. The parisons can be extruded parisons or injection molded preforms.

Abstract: Apparatus for blow molding hollow plastic bodies (7) comprising a plurality of pairs of mutually joinable half-molds (2, 4) capable of being opened and closed, associated to an appropriate rotary apparatus (10) carrying said half-molds (2, 4), a retrieval device adapted to remove the finished container (7) from the respective pair of half-molds (2) after the opening thereof, an opening and closing mechanism adapted to close the half-molds (2, 4) after the passage thereof through the position of the preform feeding mechanism, and to open them before the passage thereof through the position of the finished-container removal mechanism, in which said pairs of half-molds (2, 4) are constituted by a fixed half-mold (2) and a moving half-mold (4) that is capable of being opened from and closed against said fixed half-mold (2).

Abstract: A rotary blow molding machine comprising a rotatable wheel, a plurality of mold assemblies mounted on the wheel in circumferentially spaced apart relation, each of said mold assemblies being openable to expose a finished workpiece as the mold assembly moves through a workpiece discharge station. A take-out assembly removes a finished workpiece from a mold assembly as the mold assembly moves through said discharge station, the take-out assembly including a first transfer mechanism mounted adjacent said discharge station and including a first pick-up unit for grasping a finished workpiece and moving it in a substantially linear direction upwardly away from said wheel to a transfer station. A second rotary transfer mechanism is mounted at the transfer station for receiving a workpiece from the first pick-up unit and moving the workpiece to an exit station as the first pick-up unit returns to the discharge station to pick up another finished workpiece from the wheel.

Abstract: A rotary machine for making PET vessels or bottles starting from a molded preform comprises a rotary table driven by motor-reducer unit and supporting a plurality of molds, transmission and gripping wheels for gripping the preforms from an oven, a driving chain for driving the preforms through the oven and variable pitch star elements for supplying the preforms to the molds and withdrawing from the molds the formed bottles, a central control unit being moreover provided for independently controlling the above mentioned devices.

Abstract: A blow molding machine comprising a base, a wheel mounted rotationally on the base, a controller to control operation of a pin within a die, and a position detector for detecting a short run mold on the wheel wherein the wheel comprises a plurality of identical molds and the short run mold which differs in size and/or shape from each of the plurality of identical molds. The position detector, upon detecting the short run mold, switches a relay to switch from a first pin control program causing the extrusion of a parison having appropriate parameters for the plurality of identical molds, to a second pin control program causing the extrusion of a parison having appropriate parameters for the short run mold.

Abstract: The process and device are intended for controlling the molding of a container during the manufacture of containers from a thermoplastic material. At least two previously injection-molded preforms are temperature-treated and delivered in succession to at least one blow station for blow molding of the preforms into containers. In order to compensate for nonuniform temperature distribution in the material of the preforms relative to one another, at least one blow parameter during molding of the preforms into containers is specified in a fashion that differs from one to the next. The differing specification is made in such a manner as to compensate for the nonuniform temperature distribution so that containers with approximately identical spatial distribution of wall material, orientation properties, and crystallization characteristics exist when the blow-molding process is finished.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a rotary cooling station to be used in conjunction with a high output injection molding machine and a robot having a take-out plate. More particularly, the present invention teaches a high speed robot that transfers warm preforms onto a separate rotary cooling station where they are retained and internally cooled by specialized cores. The preforms may also be simultaneously cooled from the outside to speed up the cooling rate and thus avoid the formation of crystallinity zones. Solutions for the retention and ejection of the cooled preforms are described. The rotary cooling station of the present invention may be used to cool molded articles made of a single material or multiple materials.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for inserting labels into blow-molded hollow articles. The blow-molding apparatus includes a carrousel mounted to rotate within a support frame. The carrousel carries four multi-cavity molds around a circular mold path. Two blow-molding workstations are disposed next to the mold path in fixed positions relative to the frame. The carrousel is indexed to cause each mold to pause by each workstation, and at a label-insertion station, one time during each carrousel revolution. An in-mold labeler inserts a label into each mold at the label-insertion station. The in-mold labeler includes four picker heads supported on a carriage that shuttles the heads between label dispensing magazines and the mold station path. Each magazine includes a label stack receptacle in which labels rest edgewise, by gravitational force on a pair of label guide surfaces.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a stretch blow mold machine includes devices for monitoring the position of a stretch rod with respect to a mold, an air pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure introduced through the stretch rod, and a sensor for monitoring temperature of fluid within a fluid cavity for chilling the mold. The system includes a display for monitoring position data, pressure data, and temperature data generated by the respective sensors.

Abstract: A dispensing head (36) for an in-mold labeling system includes a lever assembly (106) rotatively driven by a rotary drive member (74) and having a pair of levers (108) that are adjustable with respect to the rotary drive member independently of each other. Each lever (108) has a cam and follower connection (112) to an associated label carrier (38) such that rotation of the rotary drive member (74) provides movement of the label carriers (38) between retracted and label transfer positions.

Abstract: An in-mold labeling system for use with a rotary blow molding machine (10) includes first and second electrical servomotors (46, 64) and first and second cam mechanisms (48, 66) respectively driven by the servomotors to move a dispensing head (36) between supply and delivery locations and to move a label carrier (38) on the dispensing head between retracted and label transfer positions independently of each other. A sensor (92) of the system senses rotation of a rotary wheel (12) of the machine to operate first and second electrical controllers (84,86) that respectively operate the first and second electrical servomotors (46,64) in coordination with the machine operation but independently of each other.

Abstract: Wheel molding apparatus for molding thermoplastic containers or other articles, the apparatus having a multiplicity of sets (10) of opposed, separable radially aligned mold halves (12, 14) that travel in a circular path about a horizontal axis. The inner of the mold halves (14) is separated from the outer of the mold halves (12) at the 12:00 o'clock position of the mold set that includes such mold halves to permit the molded article to be ejected from the mold set. However, the ejection of the molded article should not take place until after the separation of the mold halves, and this requires that the molded article be positively retained within the outer mold half until it is desired to eject the article therefrom.

Abstract: A blow moulding machine comprising a heating wheel provided with a plurality of reception means for preforms and having a substantially vertical axis of rotation, and a blow wheel provided with a plurality of blow stations for hollow bodies such as for bottles, and having a substantially vertical axis of rotation. The heating wheel and the blow wheel are arranged on different levels and overlap each other at least partially. The preforms are moved from the level of the heating wheel to the level of the blow wheel by means of a transfer device. A substantial reduction of the floor space and of the production costs for the blow moulding machine is achieved in this way.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for thermally profiling preforms prior to blow molding. The system includes a pallet for holding a plurality of preforms and a station, such as a heating oven, for thermally conditioning the preforms. In a first embodiment, the pallet comprises a self aligning pallet which is movable towards and away from the heating oven. In a second embodiment, the pallet holding the preforms is fixed in position and the heating oven is movable towards and away from the preforms. The pallet further includes rotatable mandrels for supporting the preforms and a programmable motor for rotating the preforms a desired amount and at a desired speed.

Abstract: A rotary take-out apparatus for removing blow-molded articles from rotary blow-molding machine molds. The apparatus includes a rotary take-out carrousel and a take-out carrousel drive configured to rotate the take-out carrousel. Pick-up stations on the take-out carrousel rotate along a circular pick-up station path. Each station includes a pick-up head array comprising at least one pick-up head. Fluid cylinders are supported on the take-out carrousel and are each operatively connected to one of the pick-up head arrays. Each cylinder is configured to move a pick-up head array between extended and retracted positions when differential fluid pressure is directed to respective first and second chambers in the cylinder. Each pick-up head is configured to releasably grasp a blow-molded article. Cylinder valves are supported on the take-out carrousel and are connected between each cylinder and a source of differential fluid pressure.

Abstract: A blow molding machine comprising a base, a wheel mounted rotationally on the base, a controller to control operation of a pin within a die, and a position detector for detecting a short run mold on the wheel wherein the wheel comprises a plurality of identical molds and the short run mold which differs in size and/or shape from each of the plurality of identical molds. The position detector, upon detecting the short run mold, switches a relay to switch from a first pin control program causing the extrusion of a parison having appropriate parameters for the plurality of identical molds, to a second pin control program causing the extrusion of a parison having appropriate parameters for the short run mold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blow molding plastic articles which utilizes one or more fixed needles and one or more micro vents associated with a blow mold cavity. Each needle has a first passage associated therewith through which vacuum is supplied to pull the molten plastic about the needle and a second passage therein through which air under pressure is introduced to tear the plastic and blow the article to the confines of the mold which has been closed about the plastic parison. Micro vents facilitate exhausting air which is about the parison. Preferably the second passage for compressed air is provided by a central bore and the first passage for the vacuum is provided by an annular space about the fixed needle. In a modified form, the fixed needle comprises dual air passages. Provision is made for utilizing plural molds with controls for supplying air and vacuum.

Abstract: A blow pin assembly for a rotary blow molding machine having a carrousel that supports a number of molds located about the circumference of the carrousel. Each mold includes a separate blow pin assembly mounted on the mold clamp. The blow pin assemblies each includes a base, a carriage supported by the base, a sub-base supported by the carriage, and a blow pin mounted to the sub-base for movement therewith. The carriage moves the sub-base and blow pin linearly along a first path from a home position, in which the blow pin is retracted away from the mold opening, to an alignment position, in which the blow pin is located directly above the mold opening. The sub-base then moves the blow pin in a direction perpendicular to the first path from the alignment position into a mold-engaging position, in which the blow pin is inserted into the mold opening.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for inserting labels into blow-molded hollow articles. The blow-molding apparatus includes a carrousel mounted to rotate within a support frame. The carrousel carries four multi-cavity molds around a circular mold path. Two blow-molding workstations are disposed next to the mold path in fixed positions relative to the frame. The carrousel is indexed to cause each mold to pause by each workstation, and at a label-insertion station, one time during each carrousel revolution. An in-mold labeler inserts a label into each mold at the label-insertion station. The in-mold labeler includes four picker heads supported on a carriage that shuttles the heads between label dispensing magazines and the mold station path. Each magazine includes a label stack receptacle in which labels rest edgewise, by gravitational force on a pair of label guide surfaces.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a stretch blow molding machine includes devices for monitoring the position of a stretch rod with respect to a mold, an air pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure introduced through the stretch rod, and a sensor for monitoring temperature of fluid within a fluid cavity for chilling the mold. The system includes a display for monitoring position data, pressure data, and temperature data generated by the respective sensors.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for blow-molding hollow articles. The blow-molding apparatus includes a carrousel mounted to rotate within a support frame. The carrousel carries four molds around a circular mold path. Two blow-molding work stations are disposed next to the mold path in fixed positions relative to the frame. The carrousel is indexed to cause each mold to pause by each work station one time during each carrousel revolution. The molds pause by each work station to allow blow-molding operations to be performed in conjunction with each mold at each work station. At one blow-molding work station, located at the 12:00 position of the mold path, an extruder injects parison into each mold. At the other work station, located in the 9:00 position of the mold path, a take-out mechanism extracts blow molded articles from the molds. The carrousel is additionally indexed, i.e.

Abstract: A rotary blow molding machine includes a horizontal main shaft with a plurality of molds spaced around the shaft and mounted on the shaft by linear bearings for movement along the shaft. A shaft drive rotates the shaft and molds around the axis of the shaft in the steps and dwells the shaft and molds between steps. Open molds are rotated from a lower container eject position up to a parison capture position and then close on a parison. The closed molds are shifted axially along the main shaft and the parison is blown. Further rotation of the shaft returns the molds to the mold eject position where the molds open and molded containers are ejected downwardly with gravity assist.

Abstract: In order to stretch an injection-molded preform by a stretching rod in the axis direction and to blow mold it into a hollow product such as a vessel with a predetermined shape in a blow mold, some of the blow air after used is collected in a low-pressure working-air tank set separately from a high-pressure blow-air tank and operating selector valves in a circuit and the collected air is used for some of the working air for an air cylinder for operating units related to stretch-blow molding by air cylinders. To decrease the availability factor of a compressor by collecting used blow air and thereby, make it possible to cut the cost required for compressed air and decrease exhaust noises.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for blow-molding hollow articles. The blow-molding apparatus includes a carrousel mounted to rotate within a support frame. The carrousel carries four molds around a circular mold path. Two blow-molding work stations are disposed next to the mold path in fixed positions relative to the frame. The carrousel is indexed to cause each mold to pause by each work station one time during each carrousel revolution. The molds pause by each work station to allow blow-molding operations to be performed in conjunction with each mold at each work station. At one blow-molding work station, located at the 12:00 position of the mold path, an extruder injects parison into each mold. At the other work station, located in the 9:00 position of the mold path, a take-out mechanism extracts blow molded articles from the molds and places them upright on a conveyor.

Abstract: A rotary plastic blow molding machine (10) includes a rotary wheel (14) mounted on a base (12) and having a plurality of mold stations (30) with mold supports (34) that are mounted by inner and outer slide supports (32a,32b) and moved by an operating cam mechanism (56) in association with a lock mechanism (62) and an unlocking cam mechanism (64) to provide blow molding of an extruded parison. The inner and outer slide supports (32a,32b) are preferably aligned radially with respect to the rotational axis of the wheel (14) and the operating cam mechanism preferably includes a pair of gas springs (98) for providing uniform pressure in the closing of the mold supported by the mold supports (34). A mold recompression mechanism (128) removes mold closing pressure from the lock mechanism (62) prior to operation of the unlocking cam mechanism (64) in preparation for mold opening after completion of the blow molding cycle.

Abstract: A vacuum conveyor made up of a plenum and a moving plastic chain with attached buckets shaped to guide and accept and emerging molded article which travelling at zero relative velocity operates as a picker device for a blow molding machine of the type having a rotating mold wheel.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus including a clamp for clamping two molds in back-to-back relationship, the clamp having first and second movable, inner platens supporting interior sections of two molds; first and second movable outer platens supporting exterior mold sections facing the interior sections; a positioner to move the inner and outer platens between opened and closed positions; an extrusion means to extrude parisons between mold sections, injectors to inject air into the interior of the parisons; and a platen retainer to resiliently position the inner platens between the outer platens to equalize pressure in the two molds.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for blow-molding hollow articles. The blow-molding apparatus includes a carrousel mounted to rotate within a support frame. The carrousel carries four molds around a circular mold path. Two blow-molding work stations are disposed next to the mold path in fixed positions relative to the frame. The carrousel is indexed to cause each mold to pause by each work station one time during each carrousel revolution. The molds pause by each work station to allow blow-molding operations to be performed in conjunction with each mold at each work station. At one blow-molding work station, located at the 12:00 position of the mold path, an extruder injects parison into each mold. At the other work station, located in the 9:00 position of the mold path, a take-out mechanism extracts blow molded articles from the molds. The carrousel is additionally indexed, i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming plastic hollow articles such as containers which includes a turret that includes an upper head and a lower head, each of which supports circumferentially spaced sets of core rods. The heads are rotated about a vertical axis and also are moved upwardly and downwardly about the vertical axis for positioning the core rods within the cavities of upper injection mold and upper blow mold and a lower set of injection and a lower set of blow molds. Each mold has an upper half and a lower half. The lower half of the upper mold is mounted in fixed position and the upper half of the lower mold is mounted in fixed position. The upper half of the upper mold and the lower half of the lower mold are movable axially vertically toward and away from their respective fixed mold halves to close about parisons on the core rods.

Abstract: A rotary plastic blow mold machine including a cylindrical hub rotatably mounted about an axis. A plurality of mold assemblies including an upper mold and a lower mold movable axially toward one another are removably mounted on the machine with each lower mold on the periphery of the hub. Mounting construction is interposed between the lower mold and the hub. Each mounting arrangement has an arcuate surface engaging a portion of the periphery of the cylindrical hub such that the lower mold can be removed and replaced on the hub by different size molds.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blow molding hot-fill containers by a double blow process while utilizing a single blow molding wheel. The apparatus has multiple stations including preheat station for conditioning the preforms, a blow molding station having a single blow molding wheel, a heat treating station where intermediate containers are heat treated. The blow molding wheel is provided with two sets of molds, one set for forming the intermediate containers and another set for forming the final containers. Two transfer mechanism are used to achieve four different transfers of the various stages of the final container. Preforms and heat treated intermediate containers are being respectively transferred into the first and second molds by one transfer mechanism while untreated intermediate containers and final containers are respectively removed form the first and second molds by the second transfer station.

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 including a clamp for clamping two molds in fixed, back-to-back relationship, the clamp having a central platen supporting interior sections of two molds in a fixed, back-to-back relationship, and first and second movable platens supporting exterior mold sections facing the interior sections. The apparatus also includes a clamp positioner to move the movable platens between opened and closed positions, an extruder to extrude parisons between mold sections, injectors to inject air into the interior of the parisons, and a central platen retainer to resiliently position the central platen between the movable platens.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus in which a hot-runner mold is moved with respect to the injection nozzle of an injection unit is disclosed. In a position in which the injection nozzle comes into contact is provided a first fixed link with a runner formed therein. A second fixed link with a runner formed therein is fixed to the hot-runner mold, and moves integrally with the hot-runner mold. Between these links is provided an intermediate runner block system, with runners formed therein. The intermediate runner block system is constructed from a first intermediate link supported rotatably by the first fixed link and a second intermediate link supported rotatably by the second fixed link, and these two intermediate links are also rotatably coupled together. This plurality of links forms a link construction, so that regardless of the movement of the hot-runner mold the resin path between the injection nozzle and the hot-runner mold is maintained.

Abstract: A multi-station injection blow molding apparatus for producing hollow plastic articles, including vertically stacked preform injection molds at a first station, vertically stacked blow molds at a second station and an indexing head assembly having upper and lower core bearing indexing heads which are rotatable in a horizontal plane when the molds are open and also are movable vertically relative to and in correspondence with movement of the molds during opening and closing of the molds. In one embodiment, the movable supports which support the mating mold portions of the upper and lower injection and blow molds are coupled to the mold clamping mechanism of the apparatus through mechanical linkage which causes the upper and lower molds to be opened and closed simultaneously. In another embodiment, the movable supports are coupled together, causing the upper and lower molds to be opened and closed sequentially.

Abstract: An injection stretch blow molding method blow molds a preform into a hollow member while maintaining the preform at a temperature provided by an injection molding step. The method circulatively conveys neck mold support plates each for supporting and conveying a neck mold holding the neck portion of the hollow member or preform through working stations of M in number (M.gtoreq.3) including at least injection molding and blow molding stations. The total number N of neck mold support plates is set to be 2.ltoreq.N<M. The neck mold support plates are conveyed among the working stations other than the injection molding station within an injection molding time T for which an injection molding step is carried out using a neck mold support plate placed in the injection molding station. Before elapse of the injection molding time T, a neck mold support plate, which has ejected the molded hollow member, is caused to wait at a station before the injection molding step.

Abstract: A two station machine forms a parison from a plastic resin and then stretch blowing into a hollow-molded product. The machine has a preform station for forming a parison and a blow mold station for stretching and inflating the parison into the hollow molded object and then ejecting the hollow-molded product from the machine. The preform station and the blow mold station are disposed at diametrically opposite locations on a circumference of a circle. A transfer portion has a transfer head rotatable about an axis extending through the center of the circle and having a pair of identical transfer stations located at diametrically opposite locations with respect to the axis. An indexer rotates the transfer head between two aligned positions in which one of the transfer stations is in registry with the preform station and the other transfer station is in registry with the blow mold station.