Claims
- 1. An apparatus for high rate production of hollow blow molded biaxially oriented articles from thermoplastic article preforms having a formable portion and a neck portion, the apparatus having a machine frame defining a path along which are means for blow molding by biaxially expanding the formable portion when its temperature is at or near the molecular orientation temperature of the thermoplastic by injection therein of a pressurized fluid, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) said machine frame; and
- (b) article carrier means suspended by the machine frame for conveying said preforms along said path while supporting each preform with its neck portion uppermost and the formable portion at said temperature for said injection and further comprising
- (1) a body,
- (2) a cylindrical chuck rotatably supported by the body and having a passage therethrough to admit at one end thereof the pressurized fluid,
- (3) an article gripping means disposed at the other end of the chuck for releasably retaining a preform by the neck portion which further comprises:
- (a) a plurality of levers rotatably supported upon the chuck and being spaced around the longitudinal centerline of the chuck, the levers each having an end for engaging the neck portion of the article;
- (b) lever biasing means connected between the levers and the chuck for holding the levers in an article retention position; and
- (c) a release ring for engaging the other ends of the levers, the release ring being slidably supported by the chuck to permit movement parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the chuck sufficient to rotate the levers to an article releasing position, and
- (4) resilient sealing means attached to the chuck at the gripping end thereof for forming a compression seal between the surface of the free end of the neck portion and the chuck, the compression seal being sufficient to contain the forces of the aforesaid injection.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 257,468, filed Apr. 24, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,760.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4116325 |
McDonald |
Sep 1978 |
|
4214860 |
Kleimenhagen et al. |
Jul 1980 |
|
4354813 |
Collombin |
Oct 1982 |
|
4365950 |
Harry et al. |
Dec 1982 |
|
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
257468 |
Apr 1981 |
|