Mold assembly for blow molding plastic articles and method of use

A mold member for use in a mold assembly for blow molding a plastic article, said mold assembly having an upper mold member and a lower support member, the mold member comprising:

• a molding cavity for receiving a molten parison, said mold member being moveable beneath a parison extrusion head for receiving a parison in said molding cavity, said molding member being subsequently positionable in said lower support member, said mold member being shaped to allow said mold assembly to be closeable with said mold member positioned intermediate said upper mold member and said lower support member.

A molding system for blow molding plastic articles comprising a robotic arm, at least one extrusion head for extruding a parison of thermoplastic material suitable for use in blow molding, and a plurality of molding stations,

• each said molding station comprising an upper mold member having an upper molding cavity and a lower support member,
• said system further including at least one lower mold member having a lower molding cavity, said lower molding cavity being shaped to cooperate with said upper molding cavities, said lower mold member having means for being matably receivable in and supportable by said lower support member of each said molding station, said robotic arm being capable of moving said lower mold member between a position adjacent said extrusion head for receiving said parison in said lower molding cavity, to a position where said lower molding member is receivable in a lower support member of each said molding stations,
• and each said molding station is closable with said lower mold member positioned intermediate said upper mold member and said lower support member of said station, said molding station when closed, being capable of expanding said parison disposed within said mold assembly.