Lock Ring Mounting Arrangement For Blow Heads

A blow head mounting arrangement for use with a blow head arm onto which multiple blow heads will be installed, the blow head mounting arrangement comprising:

• a blow head having a blow head mounting element connected thereto on top of the blow head, the blow head mounting element having a pair of locking flanges extending from opposite sides thereof;
• a lock ring member located at a bottom of the blow head arm, the lock ring member having a hollow interior portion and a pair of opposed engagement flanges located at a bottom of the lock ring member which define an opening therebetween;
• a pair of detent recesses respectively located in the opposed engagement flanges in the lock ring member;
• wherein the blow head mounting element with its locking flanges and the opening between the engagement flanges of the lock ring member are respectively arranged and configured to allow the blow head mounting element to be raised and admitted to or lowered and withdrawn from the lock ring member when the blow head is in a first rotational position with respect to the lock ring member;
• and
• wherein the locking flanges of the blow head mounting element and the engagement flanges of the lock ring member are respectively arranged and configured to allow the blow head mounting element to be locked in the locking ring member when the blow head is rotated from the first rotational position with respect to the second engagement member to a second rotational position with respect to the locking ring member while the locking flanges of the blow head mounting element are admitted to the hollow interior portion of the lock ring member;
• and
• a spring-loaded detent mechanism for releasably arresting or resisting rotation of the blow head in the second rotational position with respect to the lock ring member, the detent recesses being configured to engage the locking flanges when the blow head is in the second rotational position with respect to the second engagement member.

A method of mounting a blow head onto a blow head arm, comprising:

• providing a first engagement member located on a top of the blow head, wherein the first engagement member comprises a blow head mounting element connected to the blow head by a blow head neck;
• providing a second engagement member located under the blow head arm wherein the second engagement member comprises a lock ring member having a hollow interior portion with a pair of opposed engagement flanges located at a bottom of the lock ring member and defining an opening therebetween;
• inserting the first engagement member of the blow head into the second engagement member with the blow head in a first rotational position with respect to the second engagement member;
• rotating the blow head from the first rotational position with respect to the second engagement member to a second rotational position with respect to the second engagement member while the first engagement member of the blow head is admitted to the second engagement member;
• removably retaining the blow head in the second rotational position with respect to the second engagement member with a spring-loaded retaining mechanism comprising a first retaining mechanism located in the blow head mounting element and a second retaining mechanism located in the lock ring member;
• selectively disengaging the retaining mechanism and rotating the blow head from the second rotational position with respect to the second engagement member to the first rotational position with respect to the second engagement member;
• and
• withdrawing the first engagement member of the blow head from the second engagement member with the blow head in the first rotational position with respect to the second engagement member to disengage the blow head from the second engagement member.