Machine component facilitating mold base movement
AssigneeAmcor Rigid Plastics USA, LLC
InventorsKirk Edward Maki, Theodore F. Eberle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blow molding machine assembly configured to be mounted to a blow molding machine to move a mold base configured to form a container base. The blow molding machine assembly includes an over-stroke cylinder and a counter-stretch rod. The over-stroke cylinder is configured to move the mold base between an extended base position and a retracted base position. The counter-stretch rod is movable between a retracted rod position in which the counter-stretch rod does not extend out from within the mold base, and an extended rod position in which the counter-stretch rod extends out from within the mold base.
Claims35
A blow molding machine assembly configured to be mounted to a blow molding machine to move a mold base configured to form a container base, the blow molding machine assembly comprising:
- an over-stroke cylinder configured to move the mold base between an extended base position and a retracted base position;
- and
- a counter-stretch rod movable between a retracted rod position in which the counter-stretch rod does not extend out from within the mold base, and an extended rod position in which the counter-stretch rod extends out from within the mold base;
- wherein the counter-stretch rod is slidably mounted within a counter-stretch cylinder;
- and
- wherein the counter-stretch cylinder terminates prior to reaching the over-stroke cylinder.
The assembly of 4, wherein the adaptor extends into the over-stroke cylinder.
A blow molding machine assembly configured to be mounted to a blow molding machine to move a mold base configured to form a container base, the blow molding machine assembly comprising:
- an over-stroke cylinder configured to move the mold base along a longitudinal axis of the assembly between an extended base position and a retracted base position;
- and
- a counter-stretch device movable along the longitudinal axis between a retracted counter-stretch position in which the counter-stretch device does not extend out from within the mold base, and an extended counter-stretch position in which the counter-stretch device extends out from within the mold base;
- wherein the mold base includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion is movable relative to the first portion to facilitate formation of a bottle base.
A method for blow molding a container comprising:
- inserting a preform into a mold suspended above an over-stroke/counter-stretch assembly coupled to a blow molding machine;
- closing the mold;
- blowing the preform into the mold when a mold base is positioned out from within the mold by an over-stroke cylinder of the assembly arranged at a retracted position, the mold base includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion is movable relative to the first portion to facilitate formation of a bottle base;
- guiding the preform into the mold with a counter-stretch rod as the preform is stretched into the mold;
- retracting the counter-stretch rod out from within the mold as the preform is stretched;
- after the preform has been stretched to a final position, moving the mold base into the mold with the over-stroke cylinder;
- after a base of the container has been formed, moving the mold base out from within the mold with the over-stroke cylinder;
- opening the mold;
- and
- removing the container from the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.