Pellet transfer apparatus and method
AssigneeGraham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
InventorsGregory A. Ritz, Thomas C. Truman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for transferring a mold charge pellet to a molding machine having a mold with a mold cavity includes a hub rotated about an axis, at least one arm extending generally radially from the hub to rotate with the hub around the axis, and a cam system extending at least partially around the axis and operably coupled to the arm for moving the arm along a predetermined path with respect to the axis as the hub and the arm rotate around the axis. In one presently preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the arm traveling along a plane that is parallel to the axis during a portion of said path.
Claims11
A method of delivering a mold charge pellet to a molding machine having a mold cavity, the method including the steps of:
- providing a stream of molten plastic;
- cutting said stream to form a pellet;
- carrying said pellets away from said stream on an arm;
- moving said arm about an axis toward the molding machine and aligning said pellet carried by said arm with said mold cavity by radially and angularly displacing said arm relative to said axis over a portion of the path of travel of the arm;
- and
- moving at least a portion of said arm axially to discharge said pellet from said arm and into said mold cavity.
A method of delivering a mold charge pellet to a molding machine having a mold cavity, the method including the steps of:
- providing a stream of molten plastic;
- cutting said stream to form a pellet;
- carrying said pellet away from said stream on an arm;
- moving said arm about an axis toward the molding machine and aligning said pellet carried by said arm with said mold cavity by radially and angularly displacing said arm relative to said axis over a portion of the path of travel of the arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.