Apparatus for delivering labels to blow molds of a plastic container blowing machine and removing the blown containers with the labels thereon

An apparatus for applying labels in a blow molding apparatus which comprises a mold having mold halves that are moved between an open position and a closed position defining a mold cavity against which a plastic parison is blown to define a hollow plastic container wherein the apparatus precludes access to the upper or lower ends of the mold halves, said apparatus further comprising

• a carriage,
• means for supporting said carriage for reciprocating movement along an axis,
• means for horizontally reciprocating said carriage between a first position externally of the blow mold halves and a second position between the blow mold halves when the blow mold halves are open,
• a first magazine positioned at said first position,
• a first label pick-up device,
• means for supporting said first label pick-up device on said carriage for movement transversely of the direction of movement of the carriage,
• means on said carriage for moving said first label pick-up device transversely outwardly to pick up a label when the carriage is at said first position adjacent said label magazine and for moving said first label pick-up device with a label thereon transversely outwardly when the carriage is at the second position for delivering a label to the cavity of the open mold
• a first container removal device including gripping elements for engaging a first blown container formed in the mold,
• means for supporting said first container removal device on said carriage for movement transversely of the direction of movement of the carriage toward and away from the axis of movement of the carriage,
• means on said carriage for moving said gripping elements of said first container removal device outwardly and inwardly such that when the carriage is at said second position, said gripping elements of said first removal device can be moved inwardly toward one another to grip the first blown container prior to delivery of a label to the open mold such that upon movement of said carriage toward the first position, the first blown container is removed from the open mold after which the open mold may be closed about another parison delivery to the open mold having a label thereon for subsequent blowing of said another container when the mold is closed.