Method and apparatus for positioning a top block assembly and neck finish components of a blow molding machine

A top block assembly comprising:

• a top block half having a front face, a cavity adjoining said front face, a support extending into said cavity, a top surface, and a recess within said top block half and facing said cavity;
• a neck finish component positioned within said cavity such that a rear surface of said neck finish component adjoins said recess to define a substantially vertical slot;
• and
• a spacer removably positioned within said slot such that said spacer engages said rear surface of said neck finish component and a surface of said top block half bounding said recess.

A top block half for a blow molding apparatus comprising:

• a top surface;
• a front face adjoining said top surface and including a generally semi-cylindrical front face portion and a pair of generally planar front face portions bordering said semi-cylindrical front face portion;
• a shelf extending from said semi-cylindrical front face portion and having an upper surface for supporting a neck finish component;
• and
• a recess extending within said semi-cylindrical front face portion, said recess running substantially perpendicular to said top surface and adjoining said top surface.

A top block assembly comprising:

• a top block half having a front face, a top surface, a cavity extending within said front face, and a tail face;
• a heel movably attached to said top block half and having a front surface in opposing relation to said tail face of said top block half;
• and
• a cam rotatably positioned between said top block half and said heel, said cam including an outer circumference comprised of a plurality of flat surfaces for engagement with said front surface of said heel.

An assembly for use in blow molding containers, comprising:

• a back plate;
• a main mold half secured to said back plate, said main mold half including a parting face and a first cavity;
• a top block half affixed to said main mold half, said top block half including a front face and a second cavity that communicates with said first cavity;
• a heel positioned between said back plate and said top block half, said heel engaging said back plate;
• and
• a shim positioned between and engaging said heel and said top block half.