JPS6316496Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for blow molding containers with handles.

Traditionally, a class of blow molding machines known as "injection, extrusion and blow" machines have been applied to blow molding large size handle containers. In these machines, the neck or finish of the container is injection molded in an injection mold overlying an annular orifice. After the mold is filled from the orifice, the mold is moved away from the orifice as a tube with the material filling the mold is extruded through the orifice. The blow mold is then closed between the tube and the neck mold of the orifice, sandwiching the closed tube close to the orifice. Blow air is then injected into the tube through the neck mold and the tube simply expands into the shape of the blow mold. The injection for the production of containers with handles,
In early attempts to apply extrusion and blowing machines,
A tube having both an integral injection finish and a sufficient diameter is pressed to give the material a proper position within the parison which is closed and clamped in the blow mold to form an integral handle during blowing. It turned out to be almost impossible to get it out. This early attempt at forming handle articles resulted in the production of considerable wasted material, ie, flash, which was found primarily on the interior and exterior of the handle. Other problems were also observed, such as uneven material distribution and pinholes in the handle.

Other improvements have been made to injection, extrusion and blowing processes that are claimed to reduce the amount of flash produced and provide containers with even material distribution. By reducing the amount of flash that must be cut and removed from the container, container leakage is said to be eliminated. A preferred example of these new machines is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,642 to Jurich, filed March 16, 1976.

In this new and different form, the tubular parison is integral with the injection molded finishing part of the container.March 1976
It is formed in a conventional manner as described in U.S. Pat. The preform is then pre-blow molded in an intermediate blow mold having a shape similar to but smaller than the final blow mold. The previously blow-molded preform has a portion shaped such that the portion of the preform forming the handle is enclosed within the handle-limiting portion of the final blow mold. The previously blow-molded preform is blow-molded to its final shape when placed in the final blow mold. This machine and method produces a container with a handle without an external flash, but still produces a flash inside the handle, ie in the space enclosed between the handle and the container.

Handle articles can be manufactured without the simultaneous formation of a flash by the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,471 to Adams et al., filed April 17, 1962. This device injection molds the handle and then forms an extruded tube that is integral to the handle. The tube is extruded to a length sufficient to fill the axial length of an adjacent split blow mold. The split blow mold is closed to capture the extruded tube section below the injection molded handle, thus
The section of tube is expandable to form a container. Because the device delivers molten plastic material through a single orifice for both the injection and extrusion stages, extremely complex timing and mechanical equipment must be used. On top of that,
Temperature control of the injection finishing part for extruded tubes is
Difficult to handle properly.

The structure of the present invention will be described with reference numerals used in the description of the embodiments to be described below. From a preform P having an attached injection molded handle H, a body 36 and a neck 3 extending upwardly from the upper end of the body.
4 and an opening 40 at the upper end of the neck, the apparatus comprising: (a) a main portion, a tapered neck, and an open upper end corresponding to the shape of the container 30; (b) split blow molds 408, 410 defining a blow molding cavity C having a shape such as When supported within the upper end of the molding cavity, an inner blow molding cavity wall surface defining the tapered neck of the blow molding cavity is spaced outwardly from and inclined relative to the preform; , the dimensions and shape of the blow molding cavity C are determined such that the attachment point of the handle H to the preformed product is located within the split blow shapes 408, 410; The chamber HC has a shape that surrounds the handle H, and responds to the movement of the wall of the preform expanding during blow molding of the preform and coming into close contact with the tapered neck of the blow molding cavity C. The handle H is dimensioned to allow the handle H to move outward.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus of the present invention, generally designated 10, comprising an injection molding station, generally designated 12, and a first heating station, generally designated 14. , a second heating station, generally designated 16, a blow molding station, generally designated 18, and an ejection station, generally designated 20. These various stations are located around a mobile device, generally designated 22, and are arranged around a mobile device 22.
includes a rotary table 600 and a mounting mechanism, generally designated 11, that holds the injection molded preform as it moves through the various stations. The use of first and second heating stations 14, 16 is optional. In some cases, instead of two heating stations, it may be desired to use a heating station and a cooling station in combination. Depending on the particular thermoplastic material being processed and the requirements necessary for blow molding that material, it may be desirable not to utilize any heat treatment station that uses active addition or removal of heat. In these cases, the preform is exposed only to ambient air.
The particular combination of heat treatment stations, or lack thereof, is entirely within the discretion of the user of the apparatus, and the addition or subtraction of the stations does not significantly affect the operation of the apparatus.

The blow molding station 18 of the apparatus shown is comprised of two
Can be used to form axially oriented containers.
As shown in Figures 14 to 16, the push rod is
It may be used to guide the preform as it is blown so as to achieve simultaneous axial and radial stretching. It is recognized that the blow molding station may be equipped with a conventional blow mold without the use of stretch bars.

Injection molding station 12 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Injection molding station 12 is shown in FIGS. As can be seen from these figures, injection molding station 12 includes a frame having a floor plate 110 and injection molding side plates 108,106. A horizontal bonding plate 130 joins the injection molded side plates 108, 106 near their mid-height. A pair of upper bonding plates 118 are at the upper ends of the injection molded side plates 108, 106 and
6 integral bonding is performed at this location.

The split injection mold has two injection split mold halves 111, 111
It is limited by the complementary space of a. The illustrated embodiment includes:
It has an injection split mold that defines two preform cavities. However, single void operations or two
Operations with more than one cavity are possible with the device described above. The split injection mold has a cavity defining a body portion, a preform cavity, and a handle portion as shown in FIG. 6A. Preform pin 124 fits into the preform cavity to produce a closed-ended hollow preform. The empty space for the handle is marked H in the diagram.
The thermoplastic material is injection filled to yield the handle shown in FIG.

The injection mold halves 111, 111a are mounted on platens 114, 117, respectively. Platen 11
4 is a non-moving platen, platen 117
is movable horizontally. Movement is accomplished through the use of a bank of hydraulic cylinders 150, 151, 152 shown in FIG. These hydraulic cylinders are mounted on a horizontal coupling plate 130. A plurality of guide rods are provided to ensure coordinated movement of platen 117 in the horizontal direction. One of these guide rods is shown in FIG.
It is expressed as Guide rod 160 is representative of other guide rods that may be used, and the description thereof applies to other guide rods that may be used. Guide rod 160 is secured at one end to platen 114 and at its other end to a stud 169 which is attached to the underside of horizontal coupling plate 130. Note that, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide rod 160 passes through a hole in the platen 117.
The fit of guide rod 160 through this hole must, of course, be precise so as to ensure accuracy of platen 117 movement. Two injection nozzles, one for each cavity, are installed in the injection split mold halves 111,1
11a and in the center of the two preform cavities. Although only one of these nozzles is illustrated, the description of that nozzle is equally applicable to the other nozzle. The injection nozzle 161 is positioned to be inserted into an injection nozzle cavity provided in the injection mold halves 111, 111a. Injection nozzle 1
The vertical movement of 61 is such that the nozzle 161 is movable upwardly into the injection nozzle cavity and downwardly away from the cavity. An injection nozzle 161 is attached to the combined beam 112.
It should be noted that in FIG. 1, the injection device used to inject the resin through the injection nozzle is located adjacent to the injection molding station 12 and is indicated at . The location and construction of the apparatus is at the discretion of the user of the apparatus and may be any suitable material capable of injecting hot thermoplastic material under pressure through an injection nozzle into the injection mold preform cavity described below. The device is found to be suitable for the purpose. a pair of preformed pins 124,
124a is located directly above the injection mold halves 111, 111a. Preformed pins 124, 12
4a is firmly attached to preform mounting stud 129. Preform mounting stud 129 may be bolted to block 128, thus
Easy replacement of preform pins 124, 124a can be accomplished by simply unbolting stud 129 from block 128. Three double acting hydraulic cylinders 116 are mounted on the upper side of block 128. These cylinders have pin 1
24, 124a so that the pins 124, 124a are inserted into and removed from the split injection mold when desired. Injection molded side plate 1
A pair of gear rails 120, 120a coupled to the preformed pins 12 in the split injection mold during the movement provided by the hydraulic cylinder 116, respectively.
4, 124a to ensure perfect alignment. These gear rails provide positive movement and thus ensure accurate alignment of the circular gears 12.
Collaborate with 2,121. Circular gears 122, 121
is a gear shaft 122 supported by a block 128.
a, 121a so as to be rotatable.

Two mechanisms for cutting the injection tail from each preform formed in the two preform cavities are located adjacent to the bottom of the injection mold half 111. These mechanisms are optional and may not be used if downward movement of the injection nozzle would break the tail from the preform. The cutting mechanism is the same, part 1
One explanation is equally applicable to the others.
In FIGS. 6, 7, and 7A, the entire reference numeral 18 is shown.
A cutting mechanism, designated 0, is shown. As can be seen, this mechanism fits into a recess cut into the bottom of the split injection mold 111. The cutting mechanism 180
A block portion 166 having 66a and 166b is provided.

The push rods 165, 164 are the arms 166a, 166b.
are attached to the outer surface of each. Spring 167, 168
are located on the back surfaces of arms 166a and 166b, respectively. The knife 162 is mounted on the front side of the block 166 and has a cup-shaped surface 163 contoured to form part of the mold cavity of the split mold half 111, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A. ing.
The distal edge of the cup-shaped surface 163 is a knife blade 190 that is sharpened to cut the injection tail. In FIG. 7A, cutting mechanism 180 is shown in a retracted position with cup-shaped surface 163 forming part of the cavity of injection mold half 111. In FIG. 7, cutting mechanism 180 is shown in an extended position.
As can be seen, the knife blade 190 is traveling through a path that allows it to cut the tail formed within the injection nozzle cavity. This cutting action is illustrated in FIG. 5, in which the cutting mechanism 180 is in an extended position.

As mentioned above, the injection molding station 12 is located around the transfer device 22. Mobile device 2
2 is a rotary table 600;
and a plurality of attachment mechanisms 11 equally angularly spaced around the . For the illustrated embodiment, table 600 rotates counterclockwise. Rotation is an intermittent movement in which the table stops rotating when the preform or bottle is aligned in front of the station. Intermittent rotation is provided by any one of a number of well-known and commercially available conventional devices.

The attachment mechanism is attached to the injection molded preform as it is formed at injection molding station 12. The mechanism then transports the preform to the next station until the final blown article is removed from the mechanism 11 at an ejection or removal station 20. The attachment mechanism 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 19 is specifically constructed for use in the illustrated embodiment. It should be noted that other attachment mechanisms may be used to suit the characteristics of other devices. Also, although a rotary table may have the advantage of saving floor space, it is clear that other moving devices with different geometries can be used. For example, the movement device may provide linear movement of the attachment mechanism with various stations positioned linearly adjacent thereto.

Referring to FIG. 19, a detailed enlarged view of one attachment mechanism is shown. All attachment mechanisms are substantially the same, so a description of any one mechanism is equally applicable to all.

As shown in FIG. 19, the attachment mechanism 11 includes left attachment devices 602a, 602b and right attachment device 6.
02, 602c and is movably mounted on the table 600. Mounting mechanism rods 604, 60
4a is movably held by these mounting devices.
Rod stops (not shown) are provided at the proximal ends of these rods to limit outward movement of the rods. A plate 608 is attached to the distal ends of rods 604a, 604. Spring 606a,
606 is a plate 608 and mounting devices 602b, 602
a plate 6 provided around the rod between the table 600 and the table 600
Activate the rod with 08.

Plate 608 has a pair of open end pockets that accommodate a pair of mandrels 24, 24a that hold the preform as it moves from the injection molding station to the remaining station. In FIG. 19 one of two identical pockets is shown and the description is equally applicable to the other pocket. The exposed pocket in FIG. 19 is shown to have a circular through hole defined by an annular sidewall 616. Flange portion 61 of mandrel 24
A capture area 61 dimensioned to accommodate 2
0 is just above the annular sidewall 616. To further ensure that there is no excessive movement of the mandrel 24 within the pocket, an annular mandrel wall 614 is provided that is sized to be received within the aperture defined by the annular side wall 616. Annular mandrel wall 6
14, a pair of intersecting inclined surfaces 618, 6
20 are provided. These surfaces resemble two truncated cones intersecting at their bases and are housed in complementary slanted cavities found in injection split molds and blow split molds, as explained below. Inclined surface 61
8,620, the accuracy of the internal positioning of the injection mold cavity and the blow mold cavity is such that the injection mold cavity and the blow mold cavity are closed around a portion of the mandrel 24. sometimes achieved. When the mandrels are captured in a split injection mold as shown in FIG. It has an annular surface 621. Mandrel end piece 622
is immediately below surface 621 and holds the injection molded preform by its neck after the injection molding operation. Another action performed by surface 621 is to form the inner limit of the injection mold cavity in conjunction with the preform pin.

The mandrel described above has been found to be eminently suitable. It has also been found that the mandrel is highly suitable for transporting injection molded preforms by their necks as they move from station to station. However, other mandrels with different constructions that achieve a similar function to the mandrel described above can of course be used. Additionally, in some cases it may be desirable to transport the preform at a location other than adjacent the neck. For example, a mandrel may be used that transports the preform near its center. Moreover, although the above-mentioned mandrel conveys the preformed product by contacting its inner surface, a mandrel that conveys the preformed product by contacting its outer surface may also be used. In the illustrated embodiment,
The preform is held to the mandrel by the preform contacting around the mandrel end piece 621 as the preform cools. If the mandrel captures the preform at the outer surface of the preform, it is desirable to utilize an interference fit to hold the preform to the mandrel.

Operation of the injection molding station 12 begins with the injection mold in the open position, as shown in FIG. The table 600 is rotated and stopped so that the mandrels 24, 24a are positioned to be received by the injection mold when the injection mold is closed as shown in FIG. When the injection split mold half 111a is moved to close the split mold, the mandrel 24,
24a to urge the attachment mechanism 11 toward the center of the table 600. In addition, when the mold half 111a is closed, the push rod 1
64, 165, thereby cutting mechanism 1
Reverse 80. Cutting mechanism 18 in the retracted position
The 0 position is shown in Figure 7A. After the injection mold half 111a has completed its movement, the preform pins 124, 124a are lowered through the mandrels 24, 24a, and the injection mold half and the cup-shaped surface 16
3 and a downwardly facing annular surface 621. Note that the sloped surface of mandrel 24a is accommodated in complementary sloped cavities 80, 80a, labeled in FIG.
This accommodation is to ensure precise alignment of the mandrel with the mold cavity formed by the mold halves, as described above. FIG. 4 shows the injection split mold in the closed position, with the preform pin located within the cavity and the injection nozzle cavity 196 (FIG. 5) surrounding the nozzle 161. The resin has an injection mold cavity,
It is injected via an injection nozzle into the cavity formed by the cup-shaped surface 163, the preform pin and the downwardly facing annular surface 621. The resin also enters the injection mold handle cavity 198, which is shown filled with resin in FIG. 6A. From FIG. 6A, it can be seen that resin flows out of the handle cavity 198, filling it. Following injection of the high temperature thermoplastic material into the cavity and the handle cavity, the cooling fluid flows through the cooling passages 11 to cool the mold and thus the resin.
5,115a. After the resin is sufficiently cooled, the preformed pins 124, 124a are
removed from the preform. To maintain cycle time, the preform pin is withdrawn from the preform when the preform reaches a temperature that is sufficiently rigid to prevent deformation when the pin is removed. Also, energy savings are achieved by pulling out the pin without waiting for further cooling.
In some cases, this is achieved without the need for reheating to the blow molding temperature or the biaxial temperature. After the preform pin is removed, the injection mold half 111a is retracted. Fluoroalloyd 16
4,165 is a fluoroalloy spring 168,16
7, the mold half 111a follows the mold half 111a when it opens. This is a knife blade 190
will move across the injection mold tail so as to cut it from the preform P. This cutting operation is illustrated in FIG. Injection split mold half 111a
As the mold half moves, the attachment mechanism 11 follows part of the entire movement of the mold half. Figure 5 shows this movement. The advantage of having an outwardly moving attachment mechanism 11 is that the preform is spaced sufficiently far from the split mold halves so that it can be rotated from the injection molding station 12 without encountering interference. It is. The distance from the split mold half 111a is obtained when the movement of the attachment mechanism 11 is stopped at the rod stop, while the split mold half 111a continues to move. As the preform P is moved from station to station, it is held firmly by the mandrel 24a, so that every part of the preform P can be easily defined at the next station. By having the ability to precisely locate every point on a preform, it is possible to perform very precise thermal programming techniques on the preform, which will cause the preform to move relative to the moving device. This is not possible if it is moved.

Depending on the temperature of the preform as it leaves the injection molding station, the preform can either be sent directly to the blow molding station or it can be sent to a heat conditioning station for processing before reaching the blow molding station. sent to. If the preform is at a temperature above the desired temperature of the blow molding procedure, the preform may first be sent to a thermal conditioning station where it is cooled to the appropriate temperature. The opposite is true if the preform is to be cooled. The preform may also be thermally programmed with a thermal conditioning station. When a thermal program is utilized, portions of the preform are heated or cooled to different degrees than other portions of the preform. By having heat capacity differences throughout the preform, it is possible to control the extent and rate of stretching at the blow molding station. As mentioned above, since the preform is firmly held by the mandrels 24, 24a, it is possible to apply heat or cool to any desired location of the preform at the heat treatment station. You have complete assurance that a particular spot will be perfectly oriented when it reaches the blow molding station.

Figures 8 to 10 are designated by reference numeral 14 in their entirety.
A heating station represented by is shown. The heating station 14 has side plates 204, 214 joined together at its bottom by a joining bar 202. Further, the mounting plate 206 is attached to the side plate 20
Combine 4,214. Mounting plate 206 mounts on its front face a double acting hydraulic cylinder 208 that is coupled to heating element pedestal 210. Hydraulic cylinder 208 provides power to raise and lower heating element pedestal 210. Guide rods 216, 216a are provided that are attached to the underside of pedestal 210 to help ensure that pedestal 210 moves in a direction perpendicular to horizontal.

The guide rods 216, 216a are attached to the mounting plate 206.
The guide collars 218 and 218a are respectively attached to the guide collars 218 and 218a. Heating elements 212, 212a are connected to bolts 234, 234a and plates 254, 250, 254 in the manner shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.
a, 250a are attached to the heating element pedestal 210.

The heating elements 212, 212a may be any type of heating element capable of supplying heat to the preform P. Preferably the heating elements 212, 212a are arrays of electrical heating coils. As mentioned above, it may be desirable to cool the preform P prior to arrival at the blow molding station. In this case, the heating elements 212, 212a are replaced by cooling elements, which may have a hollow collar through which pressurized air is blown onto the preform.

In operation, the heating station 14 is curved for simplicity. A preform P is brought from an injection molding station 12 to a position above a first heating station 14 . When the preforms reach a complete stop, the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 208 moves the heating elements 21 such that each heating element surrounds the respective preform P.
2,212a. The heating element is held in this position for as long as necessary to obtain the desired degree of heating.

After the preform P reaches the desired heat level, the double acting hydraulic cylinder 208 lowers the heating element from around the preform. The lowered position is shown in FIG. 8, while the fully raised position is shown in FIG. After the heating elements have been brought into the lowered position, the preform is free to continue its movement towards the second heating station 16 upon rotation of the table 600.

In FIG. 11, a second heating station 16 is shown. This heating station is typical of those that can be used to thermally program preforms. Note that the heating elements 330, 330a surround only the upper part of the preform P so as to provide electrical heating.
These heating elements may be of the same type used in station 14, ie, electric heating coils. The second heating station 16 includes a coupling bar 30
two side plates 30 joined at their bottoms at 2;
4,314. In addition, the mounting plate 306 is
The side plates 304 and 314 are joined together. A double acting hydraulic cylinder 308 coupled to the heating element pedestal 310 is mounted to the mounting plate 306. Guide rods 316, 316a attached to the underside of heating element pedestal 310 pass through guide collars 318, 318a attached to mounting plate 306. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder 308 is used to raise and lower the heating element pedestal 310, while guide rods 316, 316a are used to raise and lower the heating element pedestal 310.
8,318a, heating element plate 332,3
32a, these plates are secured with bolts 334, 334a. 1st
As in the case of the heating station 14, the preform P
is brought into position above heating elements 330, 330a and heating element pedestal 310 is in a lowered position. When the preform P is in place, the double acting air cylinder 308 is connected to the heating elements 330, 33
Raise the heating element pedestal 310 so that Oa is in the proper position around the preform P. After the necessary heating has taken place, the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 308
As the heating element pedestal 310 descends,
The heating elements 330, 330a are then operated to remove them from around the preforms P, so that these preforms can be passed to the next station without interfering with the heating elements.

As in the case of station 14, station 16 may be used to cool the preform P; alternatively, station 16 may be used to apply heat longitudinally to two sides of the preform with a strip heater. The thermal program of the preform may also be carried out in such a way that the preform is blow-molded into a container of elliptical cross-section and thus has an improved uniformity of wall thickness.

As shown in FIG.
and the blow molding station 18 there is space for an additional station. Additional heating or cooling stations can be used at this location if the need arises.

After the preform has been heat treated, it is ready to be received at blow molding station 18. As mentioned above, the blow molding station 18 may be one in which a heat-treated preform is blow molded without or with biaxial orientation. 1st
The station shown in Figures 2 through 16 is capable of blow molding both types of containers.

The blow molding station 18 includes a frame having side plates 412, 412a connected at their lower ends to a floor plate 414. Also installed stud 4
18, the upper mounting plate 420, and the lower mounting plate 416 integrally couple the side plates 412, 412a. Lower mounting plate 416 has a front platen 422 at its end closest to table 600 that is rigidly attached thereto. Lower mounting plate 416 has a bracket 434 at its other end that is rigidly attached thereto. Blow molding guide rod 424,
424a connects the front platen 422 to the bracket 4.
34. These rods pass through a guide sleeve that forms part of rear platen 430. One guide sleeve 432 of the guide sleeves
The blow molding guide rod 4 is shown in FIG.
The guide sleeve around 24 is identical. Split blow mold half 410 is coupled to the inner surface of front platen 422. Other split blow mold halves 408
is coupled to the inner surface of rear platen 430.
Each of these halves has a pair of cavities cut therein which together form a pair of blow mold cavities for blow molding the preform to produce the final volume. The number of cavities found in the blow molding must correspond to the number of preforms arriving at the blow molding station. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the blow mold cavity C defines the shape of the bottle into which the preform is blow molded. Furthermore, each cavity has a handle cavity HC adjacent to it. The handle cavity HC is larger than the handle H so that the handle H has room to move when the preform P is blown. This movement is the first
They are shown in sequence from FIG. 4 to FIG. 16. In FIG. 14, the handle H is located closest to the central axis of the preform P. As the preform P expands, the handle H moves outward as shown in FIG.
The handle cavity HC has dimensions that allow the handle H to move without interference throughout the blow cycle as shown in FIG.
is moving to its farthest distance.

The horizontal movement of the split half 408 is caused by the upper mounting plate 4
20 and the outer surface of the rear platen 430. By having the rear platen 430 slidably mounted on the blow mold guide rods 424, 424a, true horizontal movement of the split blow mold half 408 is accomplished to perfectly match the split blow mold half 410.

Above the two cavities defined by the split blow mold halves 408, 410 are blow pins 428, 428.
There is a. These blow pins are attached to the mounting mechanism 1.
1 is given a vertical movement so that it can enter the hollow part of the mandrel that is part of the mandrel. This vertical movement is made possible by double acting hydraulic cylinders 426, 426a. In addition, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 42
6,426a provides the power necessary to raise and lower the extension rod 429 shown in FIGS. 14-16.

14 to 16 show blow molding of a bottle B from a preform P. During operation, the table rotates and the preform is divided into two blow mold halves 40
It stops at a position between 8 and 410. The split blow mold half 408 moves forward toward the table to close the split blow mold, and during this movement,
Inclined surfaces 618, 620 in blow type carrier cavity
, thereby pressing the attachment mechanism 11 until the split blow mold halves 410, 408 completely surround the ramps 618, 620. The handle preform is then centered within the cavity formed by the split blow mold halves.
Blow pin 428 is then inserted through the open end of mandrel 24 and seats within the mandrel. Once blow pin 428 is seated, extension rod 429 is lowered until it contacts the bottom of the preform. Once contact is made, blowing fluid is introduced through blow pin 428 to begin expanding the preform P. At the same time, the extension rod 42
9 is a split blow mold half 4 as shown in FIG.
10,408 towards the bottom of the cavity. Simultaneous axial and radial stretching is
The biaxial orientation results in a container that is blown to conform to the blow mold cavity, as shown in FIG.

The action of the blow pin 428a is similar to that of the blow pin 42
8, and therefore the explanation of the action of the latter blow pin is equally applicable to the blow pin described above.

Once the preform is blown to form bottle B, cooling fluid is passed through cooling passages 431, 431a to cool the blown container.
Once sufficient cooling has occurred to ensure that the container is sufficiently rigid that support by the blow mold cavity is no longer necessary, the rod 429 is retracted and the blow pin 428 leaves the mandrel 24. be raised. Double acting hydraulic cylinder 436 is actuated to pull split blow mold half 408 away from split blow mold half 410 . mandrel 2
The blown container still attached to the blown mold half 408 is moved over a short distance by the action of the fluoroalloy springs 606, 606a into the split blown mold half 408.
Follow. When the mounting device 11 has moved its entire distance, the split blow mold half 408 has moved onto the table 6
When 00 rotates to the next station, container B
Movement continues away from the split blow mold halves 410 until a gap of sufficient size is obtained between the two split blow mold halves to allow free movement.

In addition, the directionality of the two axes is such that after the preformed product P is stretched by the stretching rod 429 so as to be stretched in the axial direction, the preformed product P is stretched so as to fit into the cavity formed by the split blow mold halves 410 and 408. It can also be obtained by using blow air to inflate the product.

As with biaxial non-directional blow molding, the procedure described above is followed except that the extension rod 429 is left in the retracted position and is not actuated at all. Accordingly, blow fluid is introduced through blow pin 428 without the advantage of axial extension provided by extension rod 429.

Removal of bottle B from mandrels 24, 24a is as follows:
This is done automatically using the ejection station 20 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. As can be seen, the ejection station 20 has a pair of upstanding legs 520, 520a. Studs 522, 5 bolted together as shown in FIG.
22a joins these legs together near its bottom. Double-acting hydraulic cylinder 524 is mounted on studs 522, 522a. Double acting hydraulic cylinder 524 has a rod end connected to block 528. Support member 5 which may be connected to a reinforced concrete bulkhead etc.
26 provides further support to legs 520, 520a. As mentioned above, the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 524 is
Attached to block 528. block 528
is slidably attached to the legs 520, 520a,
It moves up and down along these legs in response to the action of double acting hydraulic cylinder 524. A recess is provided in block 528 for holding a double acting second hydraulic cylinder 530. Double-acting second hydraulic cylinder 5
30 is attached to a bracket 547 that is attached to slide 532. The double-acting second hydraulic cylinder 530 moves the slide 532 back and forth along the horizontal plane. The slide 532 has a trapezoidal cross section and fits into a trapezoidal cut in the guide block 534. Therefore, the guide block 534
32 and assists in supporting the slide 532 through its movement. The knock-off plate 536 is attached to the slide 53
It is attached to the top of 2. Knock-off board 536
has two semi-circular cuts 542, 542a formed therein which allow the knock-off plate 536 to move around the neck of bottle B, thus eliminating interference between the knock-off plate 536 and bottle B. occurs when the knock-off plate 536 is moved vertically downward. Knockoff plate 536 to slide 532
is held by the mounting plate 5 on the knock-off plate 536.
37 to the slide 532 with bolts.

Support rollers 540, 540a are provided to provide support for the attachment mechanism 11. Support roller 5
40a is rotatably supported by a roller mounting device 538a, while the support roller 540 is supported by a roller mounting device 538. As seen in FIGS. 17 and 18, support rollers 540a, 540
In this case, the knock-off plate 536 is connected to the mandrels 24, 2.
As bottle B is removed from 4a, plate 608 is contacted to provide resistance to deflection of attachment member 11 as it is lowered into contact with bottle B.

During operation, bottle B is placed in blow molding station 1.
8 to a position in front of the ejection station 20. Knock-off plate 536 is retracted to the uppermost position. After bottle B is properly aligned with discharge station 20, double-acting second hydraulic cylinder 530
is actuated and the slide 532 moves to the table 600.
is moved away from the bottle B, thus bringing the knock-off plate 536 into a position such that the semi-circular cuts 542a, 542 are around the neck of bottle B. Double-acting hydraulic cylinder 524 is therefore actuated, bringing block 528 downwardly and knocking off knock-off plate 5.
36 is similarly moved downwardly to engage bottle B and knock it off the mandrels 24, 24a. Bottle B
is thus removed, the hydraulic cylinder 524
is actuated, which causes the knock-off plate 536 to
bring it to its top position. Additionally, the double-acting second hydraulic cylinder 530 is operated to retract the knock-off plate 536.

When the ejection station 20 is in this position,
Table 600 is rotated to the next station, which is injection molding station 12, so the process can be repeated again.

The timing of rotation of table 600 and actuation of the various stations is accomplished using well-known techniques known in the art. Most devices use a combination of electrical switches and photoelectric detectors as the activation and detection hardware. The dwell time consumed at any one station by the attachment mechanism 11 is determined by the time required at the slowest station.
Generally, the slowest station is the injection station 12, but any other station may require more time depending on the particular requirements of the user of the device of the present invention. If injection molding station 12 requires the longest dwell time, the other stations simply accomplish their intended purpose and wait for table 600 to rotate as injection molding occurs.

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the container;
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the container shown in Figure 20;
22 is an elevational view of the right side of the container shown in FIG. 20, FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the container shown in FIG. 20, and FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 24-24 in FIG. It is a diagram.

The container, indicated generally at 30, has an injection molded handle 44 as described above. The handle is attached at a single point to the top of the neck 34 and is integral with the container 30. Immediately above there is a helical screw 42 which cooperates with a lid screw, not shown.
The body 36 is closed at its lower end with a bottom wall 32. The annular overhanging wall segment 38 provides an attractive appearance.

As shown, the handle 44 has the shape of an I-beam, as further shown in cross-section in FIG. Other shapes may be used, provided the handle has adequate strength for the required function. In the cross-sectional shape of the I-beam, parallel walls 46, 48
are joined at web portion 50.

It will be recognized in the art that a variety of well-known thermoplastic polymers can be used to make the handle containers disclosed herein using the disclosed methods and apparatus. Preferred examples of the known materials include polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene,
Polyvinyl chloride and other known polymeric materials.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the container manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the injection molding station shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2. 4 to 6 are partial side sectional views passing through the center line of the split injection mold shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6A is a cutaway view of the split injection mold shown in FIG. 2. 6B is a side view of the split injection mold shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7A is a sectional view taken along line 7a-7a in FIG. 4. 8 is a front elevational view in the lowered position of one of the heating stations shown in FIG. 1;
Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the heating station in the raised position, and Figure 10 is 10-10 of Figure 8.
11 is a front elevational view of another heating station shown in FIG. 11; FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the blow molding station shown in FIG. 1; FIG. is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 in Fig. 12, and Figs.
FIG. 2 is a partial front sectional view along the central axis of the split blow mold shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the ejection device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of the moving device and the mounting mechanism shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
Figures 0 to 24 show the resulting containers with handles. 12... Injection molding station, 18... Blow molding station, 30... Container, 34... Neck, 44... Handle, 111, 111a... Injection split mold half, 408, 410... Split blow mold half.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A body made from a preformed product P having a closed lower end and a substantially vertical sidewall and an injection-molded handle H integrally attached to the sidewall at one point. 36, a neck 34 extending upward from the upper end of the body, and an opening 40 at the upper end of the neck, the apparatus comprising: (a) main part, tapered neck; and split blow molds 408 and 410 defining a blow molding cavity C having an open upper end and having a shape corresponding to the shape of the container 30, and a handle cavity HC communicating with the blow molding cavity, (b) When the upper end of the preform P is supported within the upper end of the blow molding cavity, the inner wall surface of the blow molding cavity defining the tapered neck of the blow molding cavity is connected to the preform. spaced outwardly from and inclined relative to the article, and the point of attachment of the handle H to the preform is located at the split blow shape 408, 410.
said blow molding cavity C to be located within
(c) The handle cavity HC has a shape that surrounds the handle H, and the wall portion of the preform is expanded during blow molding of the preform. Blow molding of a container with a handle, characterized in that the handle H is sized to allow the handle H to move outward in response to the movement of the handle H into close contact with the tapered neck of the blow molding cavity C. Device. (2) The utility model registration claim (1) is characterized in that the handle hollow space HC is shaped to enclose the handle H which is attached at only one point to the preformed product. Blow molding equipment for containers with handles. (3) The handle cavity HC has a shape having a substantially horizontal portion continuous with the blow molding cavity C and a substantially vertical portion. A blow molding device for a container with a handle as described in item 1).