Parison transfer means

A transfer apparatus for transferring an open ended tubular parison from an oven to a blow mold comprising:

• a gripper means for gripping the upper edge of a tubular parison, said gripper means including
• at least three jaws which, in the closed position, form essentially a circle closely surrounding the parison, said jaws being movable essentially horizontally and radially outwardly from the closed position a distance sufficient to receive between them the upper end of a tilted parison and for closing onto said tilted parison to center it to a proper upright position as the jaws move to the closed position;
• said jaws being mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis located thereabove;
• a vertically movable ring member having operative surfaces positioned to engage the jaws upon vertical movement relative to the jaws to open and close the jaws;
• a push piece having a tapered lower end;
• means for positioning the push piece for vertical movement into the opened upper end of the centered parison to firmly secure the parison between the jaws and the push piece including a vertical rod, said push piece forming the lower end of said rod and said ring member being cylindrical and having an upper support surface and surrounding the rod and being movable vertically relative to the rod;
• means associated with said ring member limiting both the downward and the upward movement of the ring member relative to the push piece;
• resilient means acting between the rod on the push piece and the ring support surface urging the ring to its lowermost position relative to the push piece, at which lowermost position the jaws are opened, and from which position upward movement of the ring relative to the push piece opposes the resilient means and causes the jaws to close.