Apparatus for handling injection molded preforms
AssigneeHusky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
InventorsZbigniew Romanski, Josef Graetz, Michael E. Nicholas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A simplified perform handling device including an end-effector arranged to substantially conform, in use, to an end portion of a preform and to seal therewith. The device also includes an aligning jig to align the preform with the end-effector. The device provides improved preform thermal and angular orientation characteristics when used in a transfer apparatus of an injection blow molding system, or simplified end-of-arm tool for two-stage preform production. The device may also be operated to condition a preform retained on the injection mold core plate assembly of an injection mold.
Claims71
An end-of-arm tool for handling at least one preform, the end-of-arm tool comprising:
- a tooling base;
- and
- at least one aligning coupler retained on the tooling base and configured to releasably retain the at least one preform;
- each of the at least one aligning coupler including:
- coupling means configured to substantially conform to an end portion of a preform and to couple therewith when retaining the preform, the coupling means being configured to return to a neutral configuration when the preform is released;
- and
- alignment means configured to engage a body portion of one of the at least one preform for aligning the preform with the coupling means;
- the at least one aligning coupler being configured to substantially avoid directly influencing a heat distribution of the at least one preform retained therein.
An aligning coupler for an end-of-arm tool for handling a preform, the aligning coupler comprising:
- coupling means configured to substantially conform to an end portion of a preform and to couple therewith when retaining the preform, the coupling means being configured to return to a neutral configuration when the preform is released;
- and
- alignment means configured to engage, in use, a body portion of the preform for aligning the preform with the coupling means;
- the aligning coupler being configured to substantially avoid directly influencing a heat distribution of the preform retained therein.
An integrated injection molding and blow molding system for the production of hollow plastic articles, the system comprising:
- an injection molding machine including:
- an injection unit configured arranged to provide a controlled flow of pressurized molten plastic;
- and
- an injection mold clamp unit configured to operate an injection mold between a mold open position and a mold clamped position, the injection unit being connected to the injection mold clamp unit and configured to direct the flow of molten plastic into the injection mold for forming the at least one preform;
- and
- a robotic actuator including an end-of-arm tool configured to handle the at least one preform formed in the injection mold;
- the end-of-arm tool including:
- a tooling base;
- and
- at least one aligning coupler retained on the tooling base and configured to releaseably retain the at least one preform;
- each of the at least one aligning coupler including:
- coupling means configured arranged to substantially conform to an end portion of a preform and to couple therewith when retaining the preform, the coupling means being configured to return to a neutral configuration when the preform is released;
- and
- alignment means configured to engage a body portion of one of the at least one preform for aligning the preform with the coupling means;
- the at least one aligning coupler being configured to substantially avoid directly influencing a heat distribution of the at least one preform retained therein;
- and
- a blow molding machine including a blow clamp configured to operate a blow mold between a mold open position and a mold clamped position, the blow mold being configured to receive at least one of the at least one preform, and being configured to blow the preform into the hollow plastic articles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.