Preform post-mold cooling method and apparatus

A method for cooling a molded article comprising the steps of:

• removing a molded article from an injection mold while said article retains an amount of heat;
• said removing step comprising placing said molded article in a take-off device and withdrawing said take-off device with said molded article therein from between mold halves of said injection mold;
• inserting a cooling pin into said molded article after said take-off device and said molded article have been withdrawn from between said mold halves, said inserting step comprising placing a tip portion of said cooling pin toward a dome portion of said molded article;
• applying a flow of cooling fluid directly co said dome portion via the tip portion of said cooling pin;
• cooling exterior surfaces of said molded article;
• providing said take-off device with a holder for said molded article, said holder having a plurality of openings for exposing exterior portions of said molded article to a flow of cooling fluid;
• said removing step comprising loading said molded article into said holder in said take-off plate;
• and
• said exterior cooling step comprising providing a cooling platform with a plurality of nozzles connected to a source of cooling fluid, positioning said cooling platform adjacent said take-off plate, and blowing a cooling fluid through said nozzles and through said openings in said holder onto said outer surfaces of said molded article.

An apparatus for forming a molded article which comprises:

• an injection mold for forming a molded article;
• means for removing said molded article from said injection mold while said article retains an amount of heat;
• means for inserting a cooling pin having an outlet nozzle in a tip portion into the interior of said molded article after said molded article has been removed from said injection mold;
• said cooling pin directing a flow of cooling fluid toward a dome portion of said molded article where crystallization occurs so as to substantially prevent said crystallization in said dome portion and thereby form a molded article which is substantially free of any crystallized portion;
• and
• means for cooling exterior portions of said molded article after said molded article has been removed from said injection mold,
• wherein said removing means comprises a carrier plate and said exterior cooling means comprises means external to said carrier plate for blowing a cooling fluid onto said exterior portions of said molded article, and
• wherein said carrier plate has a receptacle for holding said molded article and said receptacle has openings in its side and bottom walls and wherein said external blowing means blows cooling fluid through said openings onto said exterior portions.

An apparatus for cooling a molded article, comprising:

• a take-off device for removing said molded article from an injection mold while said article retains an amount of heat;
• a cooling pin having a tip portion with a nozzle therein and an internal passageway for transmitting a cooling fluid to said nozzle;
• said cooling pin being inserted within said molded article while said molded article is in said take-off device so that said tip portion of said cooling pin is positioned toward a dome portion of said molded article, whereby cooling fluid is expelled through said nozzle directly onto said dome portion to prevent crystallization in said dome portion;
• means for cooling exterior surfaces of said molded article,
• wherein said take-off device comprises a carrier plate and said exterior cooling means comprises means external to said carrier plate for blowing a cooling fluid onto said exterior portions of said molded article, and
• wherein said carrier plate has a receptacle for holding said molded article and said receptacle has openings in its side and bottom walls and wherein said external blowing means blows cooling fluid through said openings onto said exterior portions.