Pellet transfer apparatus and method
AssigneeGraham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
InventorsGregory Ritz, Thomas Truman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for transferring a mold charge pellet to a molding machine having a mold with a mold cavity includes a hub rotated about an axis, at least one arm extending generally radially from the hub to rotate with the hub around the axis, and a cam system extending at least partially around the axis and operably coupled to the arm for moving the arm along a predetermined path with respect to the axis as the hub and the arm rotate around the axis. In one presently preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the arm traveling along a plane that is parallel to the axis during a portion of said path.
Claims75
Apparatus for compression molded plastic articles, which includes:
- a plurality of molds mounted for endless motion around a first axis, each of said molds including a first section and a second section, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other in a direction parallel to said first axis to form a mold cavity, and a pellet cutter and transfer apparatus for forming individual mold charge pellets from a source of plastic material and delivering the individual mold charge pellets to said mold cavities, said apparatus including:
- a hub rotational around a second axis parallel to said first axis, at least one arm extending generally radially from said hub to rotate with said hub around said second axis, and a cam system extending at least partially around said second axis and operatively coupled to said arm for moving said arm in at least one predetermined direction with respect to said second axis as said hub and said arm rotate around said second axis.
-48. (canceled)
Apparatus for transferring a mold charge pellet to a molding machine having a mold with a mold cavity, including:
- a hub rotated about an axis, at least one arm extending generally radially from said hub to rotate with said hub around said axis, and a cam system extending at least partially around said axis and operably coupled to said arm for moving said arm along a predetermined path with respect to said axis as said hub and said arm rotate around said axis, at least a portion of said arm traveling along a plane that is parallel to said axis during a portion of said path.
-77. (canceled)
Apparatus for delivering mold charges, including:
- a hub rotational around an axis, at least one arm extending generally radially from said hub to rotate with said hub around said axis, and a cam system extending at least partially around said axis and operatively associated with said arm for moving said arm in a predetermined direction with respect to said axis as said hub and said arm rotate around said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.