Mold assembly with modular mold shells

A mold assembly for forming a container from a preform having a neck, the mold assembly comprising:

• (a) a pair of modular mold half shells each comprising:
• (i) a pair of upper body mold sections having upper inner walls defining an upper cavity whose shape corresponds to an upper body portion of the container to be formed;
• and,
• (ii) at least one pair of lower body mold sections each releasably secured with a corresponding one of the pair of upper body mold sections, the at least one pair of lower body mold sections having lower body inner walls defining a lower cavity whose shape corresponds to a lower body portion of the container to be formed, the lower body mold sections each comprising:
• a main lower body mold section having an upper wall, a lower wall, and a main body inner wall defining a main body portion of the container to be formed, and,
• a second shim mold section having second shim inner walls defining a second minor body portion of the container and the second shim mold section butting against the lower wall of the main lower body mold section;
• and,
• (b) two mold half carriers surrounding the upper and lower body mold sections and being moveable between an open position allowing access to the two modular mold half shells and a closed position for formation of the container, and each of the two mold half carriers releasably securing in vertical registry therewith one of the upper body mold sections.

A mold assembly for forming a container from a preform having a neck, the mold assembly comprising:

• (a) a pair of modular mold half shells each comprising:
• (i) a pair of upper body mold sections having upper inner walls defining an upper cavity whose shape corresponds to an upper body portion of the container to be formed;
• (ii) at least one pair of lower body mold sections each releasably secured with a corresponding one of the pair of upper body mold sections, the at least one pair of lower body mold sections having lower body inner walls defining a lower cavity whose shape corresponds to a lower body portion of the container to be formed;
• and,
• (iii) the upper body mold section and the lower body mold sections each having respectively first and second outer walls and at least one of the first and second outer walls includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart recessed cut out slots extending axially there around to reduce heat transfer contact surface area between the mold half shells and the mold half carriers;
• and,
• (b) two mold half carriers surrounding the upper and lower body mold sections and being moveable between an open position allowing access to the two modular mold half shells and a closed position for formation of the container, and each of the two mold half carriers releasably securing in vertical registry therewith one of the upper body mold sections.

A mold assembly for forming a container from a preform having a neck, the mold assembly comprising:

• (a) a pair of modular mold half shells each comprising:
• (i) a pair of upper body mold sections having upper inner walls defining an upper cavity whose shape corresponds to an upper body portion of the container to be formed, the upper body mold sections having first outer walls;
• (ii) at least one pair of lower body mold sections each releasably secured with a corresponding one of the pair of upper body mold sections, the lower mold sections having second body outer walls, and the lower mold sections having lower inner walls defining a lower cavity whose shape corresponds to a lower body portion of the container to be formed;
• (iii) at least two top cavity inserts releasably secured with corresponding upper body mold sections, the top cavity inserts having third outer walls, the top cavity inserts having an aperture through which the preform passes at least into the upper cavity, and the top cavity inserts having a seating face against which the neck of the preform is positioned;
• and,
• (iv) passageways extend in sealing relation through the top cavity inserts, the upper body mold sections and the at least one lower body mold sections;
• and,
• (b) two mold half carriers having carrier inner walls surrounding the first, second and third outer walls, the two mold half carriers being moveable between an open position allowing access to the two modular mold half shells and a closed position for formation of the container, and the two mold half carriers releasably securing in vertical registry relative thereto the upper body mold sections so as to maintain the seating face of the top cavity inserts in a fixed position relative to the mold half carriers whereby adjustments to length and shape of the upper inner walls of the upper body mold sections and to the lower inner walls of the lower body mold sections may be made to vary length and shape of the container without effecting the fixed position between the seating face and the mold half carriers.