CA1156009A - Apparatus for production of handled containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Containers made of thermoplastic polymers are provided having a handle attached at a point on the container nect, said handle being formed concurrently with the injection molding of a parison or preform shape which is blow molded to a final configuration. Improved production machinery comprises apparatus of generally known type including an injection molding station, a blow molding station and article transport means, improved in that a split injection mold set and a split blow mold set at said stations are each provided with a handle forming and receiving cavity whereby a handle contour is formed concurrently with injection molding of a preform or parison and given its final configuration and orientation to the container body at the blow molding station.

Description

~ 3lS61D0~

~ rhis is ~ clivision of Car~adian Patent Applica-tion Serial No. 370,610 filed February 11, 1981, of common assignee.
Field of the Invention .
This invention is in the field of containers fabri-cated of thermoplas-tic polymeric materials by the general technique of forming a parison or preform and thereafter en-larging the preform by internally applied gas pressure, or blow molding, while said preform is within a further mold providing the final desired configuration. More paxticularly improved apparatus is provided for achie~ing a new variety of container having a handle portion, or handleware.
Background and Prior Art .
The popularity of blow molded handlewar~ of thermo-plastic polymer has grown in recent years as consumers begin to appreciate the ease of use and the non-breakable character-istics of such containers. Handled containers are especially popular in the larger sizes, i.e. containers having a capacity of one ~uart or greater. Exemplary of products which are of-ten packaged in handleware are starch, bleach, detergen-t, milk, distilled water, etc.
In the past a class of blow molding machines known as the "inject, extrude and blow'l machines have been adapted to blow mald handled containers o~ large size. In these rnachines thq n~ck, or finish, of the container i5 injection molded ln an injeakion mold superimposecl c~n an annular or~Plce. ~t~r -the molcl is filled from the orifice, -the mold is mov~cl ~way ~rom the orificq ~s -~he -tubq integral wlt.h -the mat~-ri~:l P'J/~

filling the mold is extruded througtl the vrifice. The blow mvld is then closed between the tu~)e and the neck mold of the orifice pinchin~ the tuhe shut near the bri~ice. Blow air is then injected through the nec~
mold into the tube, and the tube is simpl~ inflated to the configura-tion of the blow mold. In early attempts to adopt such injection, extrude and blow machines for the manuEacture of handled containers, it was found nearly impossible to extrude a tube ha~ing both an integral injection finish and a diameter suficient to provide material properly located in the parison to be pinched shut by the blow mold to form an inte~ral handle upon blowing. This early attempt at fonming handleware resulted in the production of much waste material, i.e.
flash, which was principally found on the interior and ; exterior of the handle. Other problems were also recog-nized, such as uneven material distribution and pin-holes in the handle.
Further refinements were made on the inject, extrude and blow process which were claimed to reduce`
the amount of flash produced and to also provide a con-tainer having uniform material distribution. By reducing the amount vf flash which must be trimmed from the container, leaks in the container are said ~5 to be avoided. Exemplary of t'nese newer machines is ~he one disclosed in Uhl:ig - ~S, patent 3,9~642, is~u~d 16 Marc~, ~976, In the newer version the tubula~ parison integral with the Lnjection molded ~inish porkion o:E ~he con~ainer is fo~ned in a conventional Tnanner as set ~orth -.in ~hli~ - U.S. paten~ 3,983,1~9, issued 26 March, 1976. The preform is then preblown in an in~ermedia~e blow mold which has a similar bu~ smaLler shape ~han the final blow mold. The preblow preform has a portion 1 15~3~0~

which is Qf a configuration such that the preform portion which will form the handle will be encompassed within the handle defining portions of the final blow mold. Once the preblown preform is positioned within the final blow mold the preform is blo~n to its final shape. Even though'this machine and process produces a han'dled container which is free of external ~lash, there is still produced flash which is in the interiox o the handle, i.e. in the space'encompassed between the handle and the conta~ner~
Handleware may be'produced w~thout concurrent production of flash by the apparatus disclosed in Adams et al --U.S. patent 3,029,471, issued'17 April, 1962. This apparatus injection forms the'handle follow-ed by ormation of an extruded tube'which'is integ~al~ith the handle-. The'tube is extrud~d to a sufficient length to fill the axial length of an adjacent split blow mold. The split blow mold is closed to capture that portion of the extruded tube beneath the injection molded handle so that that portion of the tube may be inflated to form the container.' Since ~he apparatus passes the molten thermoplastic material through a singlè orifice for both the injection and extrusion steps, a highly complex timing and mechanical system ' must be u5ed. Furthermore, temperature control of the injec~ion finish with respect to the extruded tube will be di~lcult to h~ndLe a~ best.
Hereto~ore, no process and apparatus has been' pro~ided whereby ~'he disadvan~ages and co~plexi~ies of the prlor art are avoided. Th~ present invention meets th~.se needs. The process o~ t~e invention ~omprises injection molding of a t~ermoplastic pre~orm or parison includin~ an injection formed handle portion, followed by a unitary blow molcli.ng formation oE said parison, ~ 1560Vg which opercltion may :include a final crientation con~iguration of the hk~ndle porkion as c~ ancillary function Oe the hlc~ mold~ng operation and as is more particularly described herein. ~he apparatus of the invention includes an injec-tion molding station and blow molding station and power and -transport ~ec~ns generally as already knc~n, viz., as in commonly assigned Canadian patent number 1,105,216 issued June 21, 1981.
The injection molding station is characterized in that a split mold is used. The ld portions of the present inVention include a cavlty f.or receiving and forming a h.mdle portion generated in the injection ~olding operation. After forma-tion o~ a handled parison in said split injection mold se-t, .it is then positioned between the halyes of a split blow mold at a blow molding station, the said blow mold pairs being characterized in that a hc~ndle cavity is provided to receive the injection molded handle portion. Moreover, as is more particularly illustrated hereinafter, said cavity in preferred embodiments is larger than the actual injection blow molded handle configuration and acccmmLdates and forms a final orientation thereof as a concurrent incident of t~e blow molding step.
Describing the improved apparatus more fully, it includes:.an injection moldin~ station, for forminy a plastic preform having an .
inteyral handle thereon, the molding station including, ti) a split injection mold defining a preform cavity with a contiguous injec-tion m~lcled handl~ cavity, an injection mold carrier caviky, c~ld c~n in-jec-~ion nozæle cavi~y, the preform cavi-ty b~iny between the injec~ion m~ld cavity ~Icl-the nozzle cavit~, (ii) power means engaged with the ~plit inj~c~iQn mold ~J/'j~

1 156~09 for opening and closing the split inje~tion mold, (iii) a movable preorm pin, (iv) an injection nozzle which nests into the injection no~zle cavity when the split injection mold is closed, and (v) injection power means for in~ecting, under pressure, thermoplastic material through the înjection nozzle to a preform recess formed at least partially ~y said injection mold h~ndle cavity and by the preform pin being positionecl within the pre-form cavity; a blow molding station having, ~i) a split blow mold defining a blow mold cavi~y with a contiguous blvw mold handle cavity and a blow mold carrier cavity, (ii) power means engaged with the split blow mo~d for opening and closing the split hlow mold, and (iii) a movable blow pin, the blow ?in supplying pressurized ga5 to inflate the preform; mcving means ~or.moving a - preform carrier from station to stat;on, the preform carrier having a portion to achie~e attachment of the preform to the preform carrier when the preform is formed by the injection o thermoplastic materi-al in the pre~orm.recess and having another portion wh~ch is in mounted relationship with the moving means at the time the attachment is achieved, and the preform carrier being (i) receivable into the injection mold carrier cavity and the blow mold carrier cavity, and (ii) hollow to allow passage through the preform carrier o~ the pre-~orm pin and to allow nesting o~ ~he blow pin in ~he pre~ol~ carrier.
- Op-~ionally there m~y be provided heat ~r~a~in$
s~ations betwee~ t~e injec~i~n m~lding s~a~ion and ~he.
blow moldlng s~atlon, These heat trea~ing s~ations would be utilized to ei~her ralse, lower or main~ain ~he ~em~rature o~ th~ pre~orm as it movas f~om ~he injec~lon molding station to the. blow moldin~ s~Rtion.
The h~a~ ~rea~ing s~a~ions can al50 be ut:il.i~ed ~o ~ 1$~09 selectively heat or cool a specific portion of the pre-form to provide a heat pro~rammed preform -to the blow molding 5 tation.
Since the preform is rigidly held by the moving appar-atus as it is moved from the injection molding station through the heat treatment stations to the blow mold station, the exac-t location of any point on the preform is known.
Locating the injection formed handle within the b:Low mold handle cavity is therefore easily achieved.
The apparatus is also highly advan-tageous in that it is readily adaptable for producing biaxially oriented con-tainers. When hiaxial orientati-on is desired the optional heat treating stations are used to maintain or bring the in-jection molded preform to its biaxial orientation temperature and the blow molding station is provided with a means for biaxially orien-ting the container with longitudinal and radial stretch.
An ejection system is desirably provided for removing the formed container from the moving apparatus. Suchia system would be located subsequent to the blow molding step and prior to the injection molding step.
llhe~e and other fea-tures of this invention contributing sati~faction in u~e and economy in manufacture will he more Eully under~ood from ~he fo:Llowing description of a preferred emhodimen-~. oE this invqntion w~en taken in oonnection wi-th -~he accompanyiny drawinys wherein identical numerals re~er to ident:ical parts and in which:
~ IGU~E 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodiment;
FIGU~E 2 is a ~ront elevational view o -the :injection moldiny skakion shown in Fiyure l;

P ~

1 1 $6009 FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through section lines 3-3 o Figure 2;
FIGURES 4-6 are side pa~tial sectional vie~Js taken through the center line of the split injection mold shown in Figure 2;
FIGVRE 6~ is a broken away front view of the spli~ injection mold shown in Figtlre 2;
EI&URE ~B is a side view of the split injection mold shown in Figure ~;
FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through section lines 7-7 of Figure 6;
FIGURE 7A is a sectiona~ ~iew taken through section lines 7a-7a of Fi~ure 4;
FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of one of the heating stations shown in Figure 1 with the heating station in the do~n position, FIGURE 9 is a ront elevational view of the heating station sl~own in Figure 8 i~ the up position;
FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken through section lines 10-10 of Figure 8;
~5 FIGURE 11 is a ~ront elevational view of ano~her hea~in~ sta~on shown in Flgure l;
FIGURE 12 is a ~ron~ eleYa~ional ~iew o~
the blow moldlng stativn sh~n 3n in Figur~ l;
FIGI~E 13 is a ~sectional view kal~n ~hrou~h section lines 13-13 o~ Figur~ 12;

FIGURES 1~-16 are front partial sectional views taken through the center axis of split blow mold shown in Figure 12;
FIG~RE 17 is a side ele~ational view of the ejection system shown in Figure l;
FIGURE 18 is a ront elevat;onal vie~
oE the ejection system shown lO . in Figure 17;
FIGU~E l9 is a perspective view o a portion of the moving means shown in F~gure 1 and the attaching mechanism shown in Figure 1; and . FIGURES 20-23 are views o~ an embodiment of ! . - a novel handled container as - provided by the apparatus and method.
Referring now to Figure l, there i~ shown an .
apparatus of this invention generally designated by the numeral lO which apparatus includes an injection mold-.ing station, generally designated by the numeral 12, a first heating station, generally designated by the numeral 14, a second heating station, generally desig-na~ecl by the numeral 16, a blow molding station generally designated by the numeral 1~/ and an injection o~ ~emoval s~ation, generally designated by the numeral 20. The!se varlous s~a~ions are positioned around a moving apparatus generally desi~n~ked by t~e nu~eral 22 wh~ch includes a rotating table 600 and an at-tach:ing mechanism, generally designated by t~e numeral ll ~or holdlng the injection Eormed pre:Eorm as i~ moves t~lrou~h the va~ious stations. The utiliza~ion o~ the firsk and ~econd heating stations 14 and 16 are optional~ Xn some ~5~aos instances it may be desired that instead of two heating s~ations, a heating and cooling station be utilized in combination. Depending upon the particular thermo-plastic material being worked and upon the requirements needed for the blow molding of this material, it may be desirable not to utili~e any heat treatment stations which use pos:iti~e heat addition or removal In these instances ~he pre~orm would be subject only to amb;ent air. The particular com~ination of heat treatment ætations, or ~he lack of them, is ~ully within tlle discretion of the user of the apparatus of this inven-tion and ~he addition or deletion of such stations would not materially affect the operation of this apParatus.
Blow molding station 18, for t~e apparatus in ~he drawings, ran be used for the formation of biaxi-ally oriented containers. As shown in Figures 14-16, a push rod may be utilized to guide the preform as ~t is blown to achieve simultaneous a~ial and radial stretch.
It is to be understood that the blow molding station may also provide conventional blow moldlng without t~e utilization of a stretch rod.
The injection molding station 12 is s~own in Figures 2 and 3~ As can be seen ~rom these figures, injection station 12 has a frame which includes a floor plate 110 and injection molding side plates 108 and 106.
Connecting injection molding sl.de platés 108 and ~06 at poin~ near their mid heigh-t :is horizon-~al tying plate 130. At -the upper encl Qf lnjection molding side plates 108 and lQ6 there are a pair o~ upper tying pla~es 118 which p~ovide ~ying o~ plates l08 and 106 together at ~ha~ poin~.
T~e spli~ injection mold is de~ined by comple-mentary cavities in ~he injec~i.on split mold halves lll and :llla. The emboclimen~ illus~ra~ed has an injection 1 ~ 56009 split mo:ld which de~ines two preform cavities. It is to be understood however, that single caVity operations or operations involving more ~han t~o caviti~s are'poss;ble with the apparatus of this invention. To produce the handleware o* this invention the split injection molds have a cavity defining a main body portion, i.e. pre-~orm cavit~, and a handle portion as seen in Figure 6~.
Preform pin 12~ fits within the preform cavity to pro~
duce a closed end hollow preforrn, The handle cavity is injection filled w;th thermoplastic material to produce the handle which is designated "Fl" in the drawings~
~ njection split mold halves 111 and llla are mounted, respectively, on platens 114 and 117, Platen 114 is a non-moving platen w~th platen 117 being movable in a horizontal direction. Movement is ach~eved by the utilizat~on of a bank of hydraulic' cylinders 150, 151, and 152 which are shown in Figure'l. These hydraul~c cylinders are mounted to horizontal ty~ng plate''l30.
To insure aligned movement of platen 117 in the hori-zontal direction there'is provided a plurality of guide 'rods, One'of these'guide'rods is shown in Figure'3 and is labeled with the number 1&0. ¢uide rod 160 is~
typical of the'other guide rods utilized and the de-scription of it would apply to the'other guide rods

2~ utilized. Guide rod 160 is rigidly attached to platen 11~ at one of its encls and to stud 169 at its o~her end with stud 169 in turn heing at~ached to ~he under~ide of horiæontal kying pl~te 130, Note, as i9 shown in Figure 3/ ~uide rod 160 pa~ses through an ap~rture in pl~ken 117. The fi-t o~ ~uide rod :L60 throu~h th-is aper-~ure must be, of course, exact ~o insure ~idelity o~ movement o~ platen 117~
Pvsitioned imrnediately below injec~:lc)n 8plit mold halves lll and ll'la and centered to the two pre~orm 1 15~009 cavities are two injection nozzles, one for each cavity.
Only one of these nozzles is shown in the drawings, how-ever a description of it is equally applicable to the other. Injection nozæle 161 is positloned so that it enters into an injection nozzle cavity provided in in-jection split mold halves 111 and llla. Upward and downward movement of i.njection nozzle 161 is provided so that it may move upward into the iniection nozzle . cavity and may move downward away from th~ ca~ity. Xn-`jection nozzle 161 is mounted to typing beam 112. Note that in Figure 1 the injection apparatus utllized to inject the plastic through the injectio~ nozzle is posi-tioned adjacent to injection molding station 1~2 and is labeled "I". The position and construction of apparatus "I" is discretionary with the user of the apparatus of this invention, it being unders~ood that any apparatus which is capable of injecting hot thermoplastic material under pressure through the injection nozzles into the injection mold preform recesses, hereinafter described, will be suitable for the purposes of this invention.
Immediately above injection split mold halves ll:L and llla there is positioned a pair of preform pins 124 and 124a. Preform pins 124 and 124a are mounted rig:idly to preform mounting stud 129. Preform mounting stud 129 can be bolted to block 128 ~o that easy replacement of pre~orm pins 124 and 124a can be achieved by the mere unbol~ing o~ stud 129 from block 128. On the upper ~ur~ace v~ block 12~ ther~ are a~ached three doubl~.
ac-tln~ hydraulic cylinders 116. These Gylinders will provide upwclrd and downward motion to pins 124 and 124a ~o ~h~ they may enter ~he spl~t injec~ion n~old and be r~mo~ed ~hererom when deslre.d. To ~nsure per:Eect alignmen~ of pre~orm pins 12~ and 12~a within splik inj~ion molds during ~he movement provided ~y hy~
draulic cylinders 116 there is prov~ded a pair o gear ~ 15~009 tracks 120 and 120a which are connected to iniection molding side plates 108 and 106, respectively. These gear tracks cooperate with circular gears 122 and 1~1 to provide positive movement and thus assure correct align-ment. Circular gears 122 and 121 are rotatively mountedto gear axles 122a and 121a, which are in turn carried by bloc~ 1~8.
Located adjacent the bottom of the injection split mold half 111 are two mechanisms ~or severing the injection tails ~rom each of the preforms formed in the two preform cavities. These mechanisms are optional and may not be used in those cases where t~e downward move-ment of the injection nozzle breaks the tail from the prefonns. The severing mechanisms are identical and the description of one is equally applicable to the other.
In Figures 6, 7 and 7A there is shown a`severing mech-anism generally designated by the numeral 180. ~s can' be seen, this mechanism fits within a recess cut into the bottom o~ split injection mold lll. Severing mech-anism 180 has a block portion 166 with arms 166a'-and 166b. Mounted on the outside suraceæ of arms 166a and, 166b are push rods 165 and 164, respectively,' Po'si~'' tioned on the rear surface of arms 166a and 1~6b are springs 167 and 168, respectively. Knife 162 is mounted on th~ front side o~ block 166 and as ~an be seen in Figur~s'6 and 7A? knife 162 has ~ cupped surEace 163 whi~h i9 'contoured 80 that i~ ~orms a portion of ~he ~n~ec~ion mold cavi~y in injection spli~ mold hal:E 111.
The ~eading edge o~ cupped surface 163 is a kni~e edge l~Q ~hich i$ sharpened to achiçve the severing o~ the ln3ectiorl ~ail. In Figure 7~ severing mechanlsm 180 ls shown ~n ~he re~r~ctecl position with cupped sur~ace 163 orm1ng a portion o~ t'he c'avi-~y in inj~c~ion spli~ mo'ld hal~ 111. In ~igure 7 severance me~hanism 180 is shown 1 :1S6009 in the extended position. As can be appreciated, knife edge l90 has travellec1 a path which will enable it to sever a tail formed in the injection nozzle cavity.
This severing action is depicted in Figure 5 wherein severing mechanism l80 is in the extended position.
As mentioned previously, injection molding station 12 is positioned around mo~ing apparatus 22.
Moving apparatus 22 includes a rotating table 600 and a plurality of attaching mechanisms ll which are spaced equiangularly about table 600. For the embodiment shown, table 600 rotates'in a counter-clockwise direction.
Rotation is an interrupted movement with the table stop-ping rotation when the pre~orm or bottle is registered before a station. Interrupted rotation is provided by any one of the m~ny well-kno~n commercial conventional systems.
The attaching mechanism is attached to the in-jection molded pre~orm as ît is ormed at the injection molding station 12. The'mechanism then carried same to subsequent sta~ions until the final blown artic~le is re-moved from mechanism l~ at the ejection or ~emoval sta-tion 20. The attaching mechanisms ll shown in F:igures l and l9 are especially adapted ~or utilization with the illustrated embodiment of this invention. It is to be 25 understood that other attaching mechanisms may b~ uti-lized to accommodate the peculiarities'of other systems o~ ~hls invent~on. I~ 19 also obvious ~hat while a rot:atin~ ~able may have advantages wit~ respec-t lo con~
servin~ or space, o~her mo~lng apparatus~s may be 30 used having di:~:eeren~ conigurations~ For example, the m~ving apparatus may provide linear mo~e~en-k o~ ~he a~aching mechanisms wit~ ~he various stc~ians posi~
tioned ad~acent there~o in a line.
Re-Eerence i~ directed to Figurc 19 w'hereln a detail blow~lp o~ one of the attaching mechanisms is de-picted. Since all o~ the attaching mechanisms are essen-tially identical, a description o:E any one mechanism is equally applicable to all.
. As is shown in Figure 19, at:taching mechanism 11 is movably mounted to table 600 by means of left mounts 602a and 602b and right mounts 602 and 602c.
Movably held by these mounts are att:aching mechanism rods 604 and 604a. ~t the proximate ends o~ these rocls there are rod stops (not sho~n) to limit the ou-tward travel of the rods. At the distal end of rods 604a and 604 thexe is attached thereto plate 608. ~etween plate 608 and mounts 602b and 602c there is provided, around the rods, springs 606a and 606 which urge the rods, with attached plate 608, in a direction outward from the center.of table 600.
Plate 608 has a pair of open-ended pockets or receipt of a pair of mandrels 24 and 24a to which the preforms are held as they travel rom the injection mold-ing station to the remaining stations. .In ~igure ~9 one of the two identical pockets is shown and a descr:iption of it is equally applicable to the other pocket. The exposed pocket in Figure 19 is shown to have a circular aperture therethrough de~ined-by annular sidewall 616.
Immediately above annular sidewall 616 is landing area 61Q whlc~ i.s dimensioned to rece:ive ~lange partion 612 of mand~el 24. Assuri~g fur~her that ~here is no excess wobble o~ mandrel 24 within its poclcet there is provided annular mandrel wall 61~ which is dimensioned t~ nest ~0 wi~hin ~he aper~ure deflned by annular sidewall 616.
Below annular manclrel wal.l 61~ ~herc is provided a pair o~ in~ersec~lng beveled sur~aces 618 and 620, These sur~aces resemble ~wo ~runcated cones wh~ch intersect at their bases and are received in complemen~ary be~eled 1 1 5BOOg cavi-ties fo~md in the injection spli-t mold and the ~low split mold as hereinafter described. By utilizing beveled surfaces 618 and 620, fidelity o~ position:Lng within the injection and blow mold cavities is achieved when the injectio~ split molds and the blow split molds .
close around a portion of mandrel 24, With the mandrels captured in the injec-tion split mold, a8 shown in Figure 4, each mandrel has an annu'lar downward acing surface 621 which will form the uppermost boundary of the recess înto which the thermoplastic materia'l is to be injected when the preform pins are in place. ~mmediately below surface 621 is a mandrel end piece 622 which will hold the injection formed preform at its ne k subsequent to the injection molding operation. Another function served by surface 621 is that it, in combination with 'the preform pin, forms the inside'boundary of the in-jection mold recess.
The mandreIs described above'are ones which have been found to be highly preferred.- They also reflect the finding that it i8 highIy preferential to carry the in-jection ~ormed preform by its neck as ~t moves from station to station. However, other mandrels having different designs which accomplish the same func~ion as the above-described mandreIs may, of course, be utilized.
Furthermore~ it may be desîrable,' in some cases, for the p~eform to be carried at a poi~t cther ~han at a point ad~acent to the nec'lc por~ion. For example, a mandrel could be used where~y the pre~orm ls carriecl at a point near ~s midsec~ion~ A'lso i~ ~h~uld be realiæed that while the mandrels clescribed above earry ~he pre~orm by maki~g CQn~aCt w~th it on i~s inside sur~aces, i~ is ~ully within the scope'o~ this ~nvention t.o u~iliæe mandrel~ ~7hich carry t'he pre~orm by malcing con~ac~ on the pre~orm outside sur~aces, For ~he embodiment sho~n, l l SBOO9 the preform is held to the mandrcl due to the pre~orm contracting around the mandrel end piece 621 as the pre-~orm cools. In those cases where the mandrel would capture the preform at a point on the preform's outer-side surfaces, it would be desirahle to utilize aninter~erence fit to hold the preform to the mandrel.
The operat~on o~ the injection molding station 12 is initiated with the injection split mold in the open position as is shown in Figure 3. Table 6bo rotates and stops so that the mandrels 24 and 24a are positioned for receipt by the injection split mold when it closes, as is shown in Figure 4. As iniection split mold half llla moves to close the split mold it will press against a portion of the beveled surface of mandrel 24 and 24a urging attaching mechanism 11 towards thP'center of table 600. Also as mold half ll'~a closes, it presses against push rods 164 and 165 threby retracting severing mech-anism 180. The position of severing mechanism 180 in the retracted position is shown in Figure 7A. ~fter in-jection split mold half ll'la has completed its travelthen the preform pins 124 and 124a are'l'owered through mandrels 24 and 24a and down into the preform cavity formed by the injection split molds, cupped sur~ace 161 and annular downward facing surface.621. Note that the beveled surfaces of mandreIs 24a are nested into the complementary be~eled cavities 80 and 8'0a which are so labeled in ~i~ure'6. This nes~ing, as noted be~ore, is to lnsure correG~ regls~ration o~ ~e m~ndrel w~th rc~
~pec~ ~o ~he injec~lon spli~ mo'ld ~aviky ~rmed by the inj~cti.on split mold halve~. Figure 4 sho~s khe injec-tion spll~ molds in the'c'l.osed position wi-~h'~he pre~orm plns positioned ln the cavi~y and thc injection noææle cavity 1~6 (Figure 5) encl~sing nozzle 161. Plastic i~
in~ected ~hrough khe injec~ion noææle in-~o ~he recess formed by the injection mold cavîties, cupped surface 163, the pre~orm pîn and the annw'lar downwa~d facing surface 621. Plastic will also enter injection molcl handle cavity 198 shown filled with plastîc in Figure 6A. From Figure ~A it is seen that the plastic flows from the recess to fill handle cavity 198. Subsequent to the'injection of the hot thermop'lastic material into the recess and handle cavity, cooling ~luid is passed through cooling traces 115 and 11'5a to cool the mold and thus chiLl the plastic. After the pla~tic has chilled sufficiently the pre~orm pins 124 and 124a are removed from the preform. To conserve'cycle time; the pre~orm pins are withdrawn from the preform when the preform has reached a temperature that renders the pre~orm rigid lS enough to prevent deformation as the pins are removed.
- Also by pulling the'pins without waiting for further cooling, an energy saving is realized as the preform does not have to be heated back up to its blow molding or biaxial orientation temperature as the case~may be.
After the preform ~ins have been removed injection split mold hal~ llla is retracted. Follower rods 164 and 165, due to the urging of follower rod springs 168 ancl 167, follow mold half llla as it opens. This results in kni~e edge 1~0 moving'acrQss the'injection mold tail to sever it from preform "P". This severing operation is depicted in Figure 5. As injection split mold half llla moves, attaching mechanism 111 will follow for a part of the total travel o~ the mold hal~. 'Figure 5 shows this movement. The ad~antage gained b~ having attaching mechanis~ 11 move ou~wardl~ is that the pre~orm wlll be spaced su~ficien~ly :Ear enough :Exom the split mold h~lve~ s~ L~ can be rota~ed ~Erom the injection molding station 12 without .-Lnterference being encoun-tered.
D;Ls~ance f~om spli-t mold hal~ l'l'la is ~chi~v~d as ~he OOg travel of a~taching mechanism 11 is stopped by rod stops while split mold half llla cvntinues to travel. Since preform "P" is rig:idly held by mandrel 24a as it mo~es from station to st~tion every point on preform "P" is easily determined at the subsequent stations~ By ha~ing the ability to determine the exaet location of every point on the pre~orm it will be possible to perform very exact heat programming techniques on the preform which - techniques would not be pcssible i~ the preform moved with respect to the moving apparatus.
Depending upon the temperature of the pre~orm as it leaves the injection molding station, the preorm may either be sent immediately to the blow molding station or to heat conditioning stations for treatment prior to reaching the blow molding station. If the pre~orm is at a temperature above the desired temperature ~or the blow-ing procedure then the preform can first be sent to a heat conditioning station in which the pre~orm is cooled to the proper temperature. The converse is true if the preform is to cool. Also the preform can be heat pro grammed at the heat conditioning station. When heat programming is utilized, one portion o~ the preform will be heated or cooled to a dif~erent extent than other portions of the preform. ~y having differences in hea~.
content throughout the pre~orm it is possible to control the extent and rate o~ stretch at the blow molding sta-tion. As before mentioned, since the preforms are held rigidly by the mandrels 24 and 24a it is possible, at the heat treating s~ations, to ~pply heat or apply cooling to an~ desired pO~ on the pre~orm with complq~ assur~
anc~ ~hat ~hLs part:icular poin~ will be in per~ect orienta-t:Lon when ~t reaches the blow ~old station.
In Figures 8-10 the~e is shown a ~atin~ s~
tion o~ -thi~ inven~ion, generally de~signa~ed hy t~e 1 ~6~09 1~ .

numeral 14. ~leating station 1~ has s;de p'lates 204 and 214 which are tied toge~her at their bottom by tying bar 202. Also connectin~ side plates 2U4 and 21~ is mount~
ing plate 206. Moun~ing plate 206 has attached to its front face double acting hydraulic cylinder 208 which is connected to heating element pedestal 210. Hydraulic cylinder 208 wil'l provide the power for raising and lowering heating element pedestal 210. To aid in assur-lng that pedestal 210 travels in a perpendicular ~irec-tion to the horizon there are provided guide rods 216and 216a which are attached to the underside of pedestal 210. Guide rods 216 and 21'6a pass through guide collars 218 and 218a, respectively, which collars are attached to mounting plate 206, Heating elements 212 and 212a are attached to heating element pedestal 210 by means ! of bolt~ 234 and 23h~a and plates 254, 250, 254a and 250a in the manner shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.
Heating eIements 212 and 21'2a can be an~ type of heating element capable'of supplying heat to preforms 20 "P". 'Preferentially heating elements 212 and 21'2a will be banks o~ eIectrical heating coils. ~s mentioned pre-viously, it may be'desirable'to coo~ preforms "P" prior to their arrival at the blow'molding station. If this is the'case, then heating elements 212 and 212a would be replaced with cooling elements ~7hich mig~t comprise hol-low collars with ~orced air being blown therethrotlgh onto t~e preform. ~ ~
In opera~ion hea-ting s~ation 14 is -the paragan ~ slmp:liclty. Preforms "P" are brought into position above Eirst heating station 14 from the injec~ion mold-ing 8ta~0n 12. Once the pre:~orms have com~ ~0 a ~ull stop double act:ing hydrauIic 'cylinder 208 is a~iva~ed to r<a.i.se'heating el~ments ~12 and 212a so tha~ they each surround ~heir respective'prefo~m "P". The heating elements are held in this position as long as needed to achieve the degree of heating desired. After preforms "P" ha~e reached the desired heat level double acting hydraulic cylinder 208 lowers the heating elements from around the preforms. The lowered position is shown in Figure 8 while the ~ully raised posi.tion is shown in Figure 9. After the heating element:s ha~e been brought to the lowered positi.on, the prefor~is are free to con-tinue their movement towards second heatin~ station 16 upon rotation of ta~le 600.
In Figure 11 there is depicted a second heating station 16. This heating station is typical of one which may be utilized to heat program the preform. Note that the heating elements 330 and 330a only surround the upper portion o the preforms tlpll to provide selective heating. These heating elements may be of the sc~me type used at station 14, i.e., electrical heating coils.
Second heating station 16 has two side plates 304 and 314 which are tied at their bottom by tying bar 302.
Also connecting side plates 304 and 314 toge~her is mounting plate 306. Attached to mountîng plate 306 is double acting hydraulic cylinder 308 which is connected to heating element pedestal 310. Guide rods 316 and 316a which are attached to the underside of heating ped-estal 310 pass through guide collars 318 and 318a which collars are attached to mo~mting plate 3Q6. Double act-l~g hydraullc cylinder 308 is utiliæed to raise and lower hea~ing element pedestal 310 while guicle rods 31 c~ncl ~16a, in conjunction wi~h guide collars 318 and 31~a, as.sure perpendicular moti~n o~ heating element pla~s 332 and 332a, respectiv~ly, with ~hese plates being secured by ~oltB 334 and 334a. As is ~he ca~e wi~h ~irs~ heating sta~ion 14, ~he pre~orms "P" are brouc~h~ in~o position abo~e hea-~ing elemen~s 330 and 1 1 5B0~9 330a with the hea~ing element pedestal 310 in'the lowered position. Once preforms "P" are in position, double actlng pneumatic cylinder 308 ra:Lses heating element pedestal 310 so that hea~ing elements 330 and 330a are in proper position around preforms "P". A~ter the necessary heating has been accomp'Lished double act-ing hydraulic cylinder 308 ~s activ2ted to lower heatin~
pedestal 310 thus removing heating elements 330 and 330a from around preforms "P'~ so that these preforms may ~e sent to the next station without interference with the heating elements.' As is the case with station 14, statio~ 1.6 can be used to cool the preforms "P" or alternatively, it may be used to app'ly heat longitudin~ to two sides of the preform with strip heaters thereby heat program-ming the preform so that it may be ~lowrl to a container which is elliptical in cross section and so that the container has improved uniformity o~ wall thickness.
As can be seen in Figure'l, there is provided spac~ for an additional station between second heating station 16 and blow molding station 18. An additional heating or cooling station may be utilized at this point as the need arises.
~ter the pre~orms have been heat treated they are in condition ~or receipt by the ~low molding station 18, As mentioned previously, blow mold~n~ station '18 may be one in which the heat treated preforms are blown wLthout biax:Lal orientation or with,biaxial orien~ation.
The ~ation depicted in FLgures 1?-16 is one :in which elther type o~ bl~w ~orming o:E t~e con~ainer can be praetLce~.
Blow mold:ing s~tion 18 has a rame whi~h in~
cludes side p'lates ~-~12 and ~12a w~lcl~ are conn~ck~d ~o ~loor plat~ at the-Lr lower encls, Als~ tyin~ s-lde ~ lS13~0~

plates 412 and ~12a together are moun~ing stud 418, upper mounting plate 420 and :Lower mount:ing p'late 416.
Lower mounting plate 416'has, at its end closest ~o table 600, front platen 422 which is rigidly a~tached thereto. At its other end, lower mounting plate 416 has rigidly attached thereto bracket 434. Connecting front platen 422 with bracket 434 are blow molding guide rods 424 and 424a. These rods pass throug~ guide sleeves which are made a part of rear platen 430~ One of the guide sleeves, guide sleeve'~32, is shown in Figure 13 and is identical to the guide sleeve around blow molding guide rod ~24~ Connected to t~e inside ~ace of front platen l~22 is a split blow mold 'half 410.
Connected to the inside ~ace of back platen 430 is the other split blow mold hal~ 408. ~ach of these halves has a pair of cavities cut therein which cavities to-gëther ~orm a pair of blow mold,cavities for blow forming the preform to yield the final container. The n~mber o~ cavities found in the blow split molds should correspond to the number of preforms which will arriye '' at the blow molding station. As shown in Figure 14 and 15, the blow mold cavities, "C",'define the shape of the bottle to which the preform is blown. In ~dditionJ each cavity has contiguous therewith a handle cavi~y "IIC".
Handle cavity "HC" is larger than handle "H'l so that handle "~I" has room to move as pre~orm "P",is blown.
This movement is illustrated sequentially in Figures 14-16. In Figure 14 handle "H'l is at its nearest point to ~he center axis of pre~orm "P"~ As pre~orm "P" ex-pands, handle "~1l' moves outwardly as seen in F:igure 15.Handle cavl~y "I~C" is o~ a size to le~ handle "~1l' move wl~hout inter~er~n~ throu~ou~ the"blow cycle as is shown in Fi~ure 16 wllereln handle "~1" has moved ~o it.s ~ar~heres~ ex~enk, ~landl~'cavi~y l'HCI' does not need ~o 1 ~S~)O~

be larger than handle l'H" if, due to in~lation, handle ~a~ does no~ move. This latter case would arise, for example, if the bottle neck was the same diameter as the preform.
Horizontal movement oE split mold half 408 is accomplished by the utilization of double acting hy-draulic cylinder 436 which is mounted to upper mounting plate 420 and the ou-tside face of rear platen 430. By having rear platen 430 slidably mounted to blow mold guide rods ~2~ and 424a true horizontal movement o~
split blow mold hal~ 408 is achieved for perfect:match~
ing with split blow mold hal~ 410.
Above the two cavities defined by split blow mold halves 408 and 410 are blow pins 428 and ~28a.
These blow pins are provided with ve~tical movement so that they may enter into the hollow portion o~ the-mandrels which are.a part of atta~hing mechanism 11.
This vertical motion is made possible by way of double acting hydraulic cylinders 426 and ~26a. Double acting hydraulic cylinders 426 and 426a also provide the power '' required to raise and lower stretch rod 429 which is shown in Figures 14-16.
' Figures 14-16 depict blowing of bottle "B" from pre~orm "P". In operation, the table rotates and stops with the pre~onms being positioned between split blow mold halves 408 and ~10. Split blow mold hal~ 1~08 is moved forward towards the'table to close the split blow molds and, in this travel, engages a portion o~ beveled ~ur~aces 618 ~nd 620 withln the hlow mo:ld car~ier cavity ther~by pushing a~taching mechanism 11 until spli~ blow ~old h~lves ~10 and 408 comp~ ely encirc'le ~eveled ~u~Eace~ 61~ and 620, ~he'hand'lecl pre~orms are now cen~er~d and posl~ioned wi.~in ~h~ cavity ~ormecl by the spli~ blow mold halves. Next, hlow pin 428 is 2~

introduced through the opening end of mandrel 24 and seated therein. Once blow pin 428 has been seated, stretch rod ~29 is lowerecl un~il it makes contact with the bottom of the preform. Once contact has been made, blow fluid is introduced through blow pin ~28 to begin inflation of preEorm "P". Simultaneously skxetch rod ~29 moves towards the bottom of the cavity formed by split blow mold halves ~10 and 408 as is shown in ~igure 15. Simultaneous axial and radial stretch re sults in the container being biaxially oriented and blown to conform to the blow mold cavity as is shown in Figure 16.
The operation oE blow pin 42-8a is identical to the opexation oE blow pin 428 and thus the descr~ption lS of the latter blow pin operation ~s equally applicable to the, former blow pin.
,- Once the preform has been blown to ~orm bottle "B" cooling fluid is passed through'cooling traces 431 and 431a to cool the blown container. Once su~icient cooling has been ac~ieved to insure that the container is rigid enough so that support from the blow moid cavity is no longer required, rod 429 îs retracted and .blow pin 428 is raised c'lear of mandrel 24. Double act-ing hydraulic cylinder 436 is activated pulling split ~low mold half 408 away rom'split blow mold hal~ 410.
The blown container which is still mounted to mandrel 24 will ~ollow split blow mold hal~ 408 for a s~ort.
distanc~ due T o the action of fo:llower rod sp~ings 606 and ~06a. Once a~tachlng appar~tus 11 has tra-vel~d .its ~ull e~ten~, spllt blow mold hal~ 408 continues to t~avel away from sp'lit blQw molcl halE ~10 nn-til a gap of suP~,icient di~ension is achieved between the two split blow mold halves to permit :Eree mov~ment o~ con-tai.ners "B'l when -table 6~0 rotates to the nex~ station.

1 1 5~9 It is to be understood that biaxial orientation can also be achie~ed by stretching of preform "P" with ~tretch rod 429 to achieve an axial stretch and then sub-sequently utili.zing blow air to in~latc ~he preform to con~orm to the cavity formed by split l~:Low m~ld haJ~es ~10 and 408.
To achieve blow molding withou~ biaxial orien-tation the procedure described above is :Followed except that stretch rocl ~29 is left in the retracted pos:Ltion and is not activated at all. Thus blow fluid is intro-duced through blow pin 428 without bene~it o~ the axial stretch provided by stretch rod 429.
Removal of bottles "B'T from mandrels 24 and 24a is automatically achieved by t~e utilization of éjection station 20 which is shown in Figures 17 and 18. As can be see~ ejection station 20 has a pair o upstanding Iegs 520 and 520a. Joining these legs together at a point near their bottom are studs 522 and 522a which are bolted together as shown in Figure 17. Mounted on studs-522 and 522a is double acting hydrauIic cylinder 524. Double acting hydraulic cylinder 524 has its rod end connected to bIock 528. Providing more support ~or legs 520 and 520a is support me~ber 52~ which may be tied into a reinforced concre~e bulkhead or the like.
As mentioned above, double acting hydraulic cylinder 52~ ls attached to block 5~. Block 528 is slidably mounted on legæ 520 and 520a and will move upward and downward along these le~s in response ~o ~he actic~n of double acting ~Iydraullc cylinder 524~ ~ recess is pro-vided ln block 528 ~r holding a second doubl~ actinghydrauli cyl:Lnder 530. Second double ac~in~ hydraulic cylinder 530 ls attached to bracket 547 whl.ch in ~urn is a~ached to sl:ide 532, Second double actin~ ~y-draulic cyllnder 53~ will ~ove slicle 532 back and fort~

~ ~5~009 along a horizontal plane. Slide 532 is trapezoidal in cross-section and fits within a trapezoidal cut in guide blocl; 534. Guide block 53~ therefore assures proper horizontal motion o:E slide 532 and helps support slide 5 532 throughout its travel, ~ttached to the top of -, slide 532 is knocko~ plate 536. Knockoff plate 536 has two semicircular cuts made therein~ 5~2 and 542a, which allow knockoff plate 536 to move aro~md thc necks of bott'les "B" so that interEerence between knockof.~
plate S36 and the bottles "B" will occur when knocko~f plate 536 is moved downward in a ~ertical direction~
Holding knocko~f plate 536 to slide 532 is accomplished by bolting attaching plate 537 over knoc~off plate 536 ,and to slide S32.
To provide support for attaching mechanism 11 there are provide'd support rollers 540 and S~Oa.
Support roller 540a is rotatably carried by roller mount 53~a while support roller 540 is carried by roller mount 538. As can be seen in Figures 17 and 18, support rollers 54'0a and 540 contact plate 608 to pro-vide resistance to de~lection of attaching member 11 when knockoff plate 536 is lowered and brought into con-tact with bottles "B" to remove them ~rom mandre'Ls 24 and 2~a.
In operation, bottles "B" are,brought from blow molding station 18 to a position in front o~ ejec~ion sta~ion ~0. Knockoff plate 536 is in a retrac~ed and upper~os~ position. A~ter bo-ttle6 "~" are in proper registra~i~n ~ith ejection s~ation 20, secolld dQuble 3n acting h~draulic cylind~r 530 ls activated causing slide 532 ~n move away ~ro~ table 600 and ~U5 bring knocko~.~ plate 536 into positlon so tha~ se~icircular cu~s S~2a and 5~2 are abou't the neck por~ion n~ bottles "Bl'. Consequelitly, double ac~lng hydrau'lic cy~inder ' 115BOOg 52~ is ac~ivated bringing block 528 downward causing knocko~f plate 536 ~o likewise move downward and en-gage bottles "B" and knock theTn from mandrels ~4 and 24a. After bottles "B" have been so removed, hydraulic cylinder 524 is activated ~hereby bringing knockoff plate 536 to its uppermost position. Also second double acting hydraulic cylinder 530 is activated to cause knocko~f plate 536 to be retrac~ed.
With the ejection station 20 in this pos.ition, table 600 is rotated to the next station which is in-jection molding station 12 so that the process can again be repeated.
Timing of the rotation of table 600 and the activation of the various stations is accomplished by utilizing well kno~m techniques which are ~amiliar to ! those skilled in the art. Most systems will utilize a combination of electrical switches and photoelectric sensors as activating and sensing hardware. The res-idence time spent at any one station by attaching mechanism 11 will be determined by the time required by the slowest station. Generally speaicing, the slowest station is injection station 12, however, any of the other stations may re~uire more time depending upon the particular requirements of the user of the apparatus of this invention~ If injection molding s~ati~n 1~ requires ~he lon~e~t residence time, then ~he o~her s~atlons will simply achiev~ th~ix desi~
na~d purpose and will be wai.~ing ~or ro~a~lon o~ table 600 w~en ~h~ inJec~ion ~ormin~ is accompllshed.
Havin~ described the contribution in i.~s pro-~ess and apparcltus expression, at~ention is directed ~o ~igures 20~ , inclusive L:llus-~ratin~ in more detai.l ~h¢ novel container as can be genqrated usin~ ~he appara~us and me~hod, said con-tainer being ~lsv .. 1 15B009 2~

inclicated in part in Figures 16-:L8, inelusive.
FIGURE 20 is a ~ront elevational view of such a conta:iner;
' FIGURE 21 is a top plan v:iew of the container shown in Figure 20;
FIGUR~ 22 is a ri~ght side elevational view of the container shown ' in Figure 20;
FIC~UP~E 23 is a bottom plan view of the ; lO container ,shown in Figure 20; and FIGURE 24 is a sectional view taken throilgh section lines 20-20 in Figure 1.
This container, generally designated as 30 in-cludes the handle 44, injection formed as already described. It is integral with the'container 30 being attached at a sin'gle locus to the upper part of t~e neck 34. ImmTediately above are helical threads 42 to cooper-ate with threads in a elosure, not shown. A body portion 36 is closed at its lower.end by bottom ~all 32. An annular step-out wall seO~nent 38 provide's an' attractive appearance.
The handle 44 as shown has an I-beam con~igu-ration as urther shown in cro~s-s'ectlon by Figure 24.
Other conEiguration can be'utllized provided that a handle has adequate strength ~or the functi.on needed.
With the I-beam sectional con~iguration, parallel walls 46 and 48 are joined by a web port~on 50.
I~ will be reco~nized ~y tho~e-skilled in the ar~ that various well kn4wn th~rmoplastic poly~ler~ can b~ eTnploy~d in abricating ~he hand'led con-ta-lner~
dls~os~d herein and usin~ ~he Tnethod and apparatus cl~ losed. Exemplary of ~uch Icnown ma~erials are poly-ekhylen~ -~ereph~hala-~, polypropylen~, polyvinyl c~lorlde and okher known polym~r ma~e~ials.

Claims (8)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A multistation apparatus for injection blow molding a thermoplastic material to form a slow molded container having an integral injection molded handle, said apparatus comprising:
a. an injection molding station for forming a thermoplastic preform having an integral handle thereon, said molding station including, i. a split injection mold defining a preform cavity with a continuous injection mold handle cavity, an injection mold carrier cavity, and an injection nozzle cavity, said preform cavity being between said injection mold cavity and said nozzle cavity, ii. power means engaged with said split injection mold for opening and closing said split injection mold, iii. a movable preform pin, iv. an injection nozzle which nests into said injection nozzle cavity when said split injection mold is closed, and v. injection power means for injecting, under pressure, molten thermoplastic material through said injection nozzle to a preform recess formed at least partially by said injection mold handle cavity and by said preform pin being positioned within said preform cavity;

b. a blow molding station having, i. a split blow mold defining a blow mold cavity with a contiguous blow mold handle cavity and a blow mold carrier cavity, said blow mold handle cavity being larger than said injection molded handle so that said injection molded handle is free to move as said thermoplastic preform is blown into the shape of said blow molded cavity.
ii. power means engaged with said split blow mold for opening and closing said split blow mold, and iii. a movable blow pin, said blow pin supplying pressurized gas to inflate said preform;
c. moving means for moving a preform carrier from station to station, said preform carrier having a portion to achieve attachment of said preform to said preform carrier when said preform is formed by said injection of thermo-plastic material in said preform recess and having another portion which is in mounted relationship with said moving means at the time said attachment is achieved, and said preform carrier being i. receivable into said injection mold carrier cavity and said blow mold carrier cavity, and ii. hollow to allow passage through said preform carrier of said preform pin and to allow nesting of said blow pin in said preform carrier.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said inejction mold handle cavity provides a handle integrally attached to said preform at only one point.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said injection mold cavity provides a handle attached to said preform adjacent said preform upper end.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said injection mold cavity provides a handle attached at only one point to said preform adjacent the preform upper end.

5. A multistation apparatus for injection blow molding a thermoplastic material to form a blow molded container having an integral injection molded handle, said apparatus comprising:
a. an injection molding station for forming a thermoplastic preform having an integral handle thereon, said molding station including, i. a split injection mold defining a preform cavity with a continuous injection mold handle cavity, an injection mold carrier cavity, and an injection nozzle cavity, said preform cavity being between said injection mold cavity and said nozzle cavity and said injection mold handle cavity being continuous at only a single point with said preform cavity, ii. power means engaged with said split injection mold for opening and closing said split injection mold, iii. a movable preform pin.
iv. an injection nozzle which nests into said injection nozzle cavity when said split injection mold is closed, and v. injection power means for injecting, under pressure, molten thermoplastic material through said injection nozzle to a preform recess formed at least partially by said injection mold handle cavity and by said preform pin being positioned within said preform cavity;
b. a blow molding station having, i. a split blow mold defining a blow mold cavity with a continuous blow mold handle cavity and a blow mold carrier cavity, said blow mold cavity and said blow mold handle cavity having but a single conti-guous point whereby said injection molded handle is prevented from achieving a second point of attachment to said blow molded container as said preform is blown in said blow mold cavity, ii. power means engaged with said split blow mold for opening and closing said split blow mold, and iii. a movable blow pin, said blow pin supplying pressurized gas to inflate said preform;
c. moving means for moving a preform carrier from station to station, said preform carrier having a portion to achieve attachment of said preform to said preform carrier when said preform is formed by said injection of thermoplastic material in said preform recess and having another portion which is in mounted relationship with said moving means at the time said attachment is achieved, and said preform carrier being i. receivable into said injection mold carrier cavity and said blow mold carrier cavity, and ii. hollow to allow passage through said preform carrier of said preform pin and to allow nesting of said blow pin in said preform carrier.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said blow mold handle cavity is larger than said injection mold handle cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said injection mold cavity provides a handle attached to said preform adjacent said preform upper end.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said injection mold cavity provides that the handle be attached adjacent said preform upper end.