# US 2017/0282437 A1 · Blow mold assembly

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- Number: US 2017/0282437 A1
- Document ID: US20170282437A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/631,578
- Filed: 2017-06-23
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-05
- Assignees: Milacron LLC
- Applicants: Milacron LLC
- Inventors: Robert Anthony SPAGNOLI; Robert L. PADLEY; Christopher Brian ISAAC
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282437A1

## CPC

- B29C 49/4802: {with means for locally compressing part(s) of the parison in the main blowing cavity}
- B29C 49/04102: {extruding the material continuously}
- B29C 49/48: Moulds
- B29C 49/4817: {with means for closing off parison ends}
- B29C 49/482: {with means for moulding parts of the parisons in an auxiliary cavity, e.g. moulding a handle}
- B29C 2049/4805: {by closing the mould halves}
- B29C 2049/4861: {Neck portions of bottle producing moulds}
- B29C 2049/563: {Clamping means}
- B29L 2031/712: {Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages (closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418)}
- B29L 2031/7158: {Bottles}
- B29L 2031/7172: {Fuel tanks, jerry cans}
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A blow mold assembly is disclosed having removable neck insert mold components for forming features of a container for engaging a removable container closure and manually operable retention devices for releasably retaining the neck insert mold components with mating mold components of the mold assembly. Advantageously, each manually operable retention device includes a clamp mechanism movable between a release position and a clamp position by manual operation and the clamp mechanism is effective to resist forces acting on the clamp to move the clamp to a release position when the clamp is in the clamp position. Each manually operable retention device is retained with an associated mating mold component when a neck insert mold component is removed from or installed to the mold assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A blow mold assembly having opposed mating mold components that form a mold cavity there between, each mating mold component comprising:
a removable neck insert mold component; and
a clamp mechanism for retaining the neck insert mold component on the mating mold component during a blow-molding process,
wherein the clamp mechanism is forwardly translatable relative to the mold cavity to a clamping position and rearwardly translatable relative to the mold cavity to a release position, and
wherein the clamp mechanism remains fixed to the mating mold component when the neck insert mold component is removed from or installed in the mold assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The blow mold assembly of claim 1, wherein each mating mold component further comprises a neck insert block attached to the mating mold component, and the removable neck insert mold component is retained in the neck insert block by the clamp mechanism when the clamp mechanism is in the clamping position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The blow mold assembly of claim 2, wherein the clamp mechanism has a forwardly-extending arm that engages with the removable neck insert mold component when the clamp mechanism is in the clamping position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The blow mold assembly of claim 2, wherein the clamp mechanism is forwardly and rearwardly translatable within a keyway of the neck insert block.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The blow mold assembly of claim 4, wherein the clamp mechanism has an elongate cutout and the keyway has a bore aligned with the elongate cutout, and
wherein a length of the elongate cutout aligned with the bore determines forward and rearward translation distances of the clamp mechanism along the keyway when a fastener is inserted through the elongate cutout and within the bore to secure the clamp mechanism to the neck insert block.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The blow mold assembly of claim 4, wherein the clamp mechanism is a pair of clamp mechanisms and wherein the neck insert block comprises a pair of keyways such that each clamp mechanism is forwardly and rearwardly translatable within a respective keyway of the pair of keyways.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The blow mold assembly of claim 4, wherein the keyway comprises a pair of angled keyways recessed within the neck insert block with each keyway of the pair of angled keyways having a respective clamp mechanism securable therein.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The blow mold assembly according to claim 3, wherein the forwardly-extending arm is a pair of forwardly-extending arms.

### Claim 9

A blow mold assembly having a neck insert block, each neck insert block comprising:
a keyway recessed within the neck insert block;
a neck insert mold component removably coupled to the neck insert block and disposed forward of the keyway; and
a clamp mechanism securable within the keyway,
wherein the clamp mechanism is forwardly translatable relative to the keyway to a clamping position for retaining the neck insert mold component on the neck insert block during a blow-molding process and is rearwardly translatable relative to the keyway to a release position to permit removal of the neck insert mold component.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The blow mold assembly of claim 9, wherein the clamp mechanism has a clamp body with a forwardly-extending arm and an elongate cutout rearward of the forwardly-extending arm, and
wherein when the clamp mechanism is in the clamping position the forwardly-extending arm is in a position for retaining the neck insert mold component on the neck insert block by engaging the neck insert mold component, and when the clamp mechanism is in the release position the forwardly-extending arm is clear of the neck insert mold component.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The blow mold assembly of claim 10, wherein the keyway includes a bore that is aligned with the elongate cutout of the clamp body, and
wherein a fastener inserted into the elongate cutout and the bore retains the clamp mechanism within the keyway.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The blow mold assembly of claim 11, wherein a length of the elongate cutout determines forward and rearward translation distances of the clamp mechanism within the keyway when the fastener is inserted through the elongate cutout and the bore of the keyway.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The blow mold assembly according to claim 10, wherein the clamp body has a width that substantially matches a width of the keyway and a thickness that is slightly greater than a depth of the keyway, and
wherein the clamp mechanism is configured to be slidable within the keyway when the clamp mechanism is not secured in one of the clamping position and the release position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The blow mold assembly according to claim 9, wherein the clamp mechanism is a pair of clamp mechanisms and wherein the neck insert block comprises a pair of keyways such that each clamp mechanism is forwardly and rearwardly translatable within a respective keyway of the pair of keyways.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The blow mold assembly according to claim 14, wherein the keyway comprises a pair of angled keyways recessed within the neck insert block with each keyway of the pair of angled keyways having a respective clamp mechanism securable therein.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The blow mold assembly according to claim 10, wherein the forwardly-extending arm is a pair of forwardly-extending arms.