Bottle trimmer and method
AssigneeGraham Engineering Corporation
InventorsDavid N. Fiorani, John M. Mathy, Jr., Rolf E. Weingardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of cutting or trimming a plastic log ejected from a blow mold to form multiple open-mouthed bottles, the log having respective bottle portions on opposite ends of the log with each bottle portion having an offset neck and the bottle portions connected in neck-to-neck relationship by a neck ring having a central neck axis, that is especially suitable for high-output production lines. A log conveyor is continuously moved along a path. The body to be trimmed is placed between holders carried by the conveyor and trimmed by rotating the holders about the offset neck axis as the conveyor moves past a trim knife extending along the path.
Claims19
A method of trimming a plastic log ejected from a blow mold, the log having opposite end portions and an offset neck extending along an axis, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving each end portion of the log in a respective holder to capture a log between the holders;
- (b) capturing the log in the holders with the log at a predetermined axial orientation with respect to the neck axis;
- (c) rotating the holders and captured log about the neck axis of the captured log;
- and
- (d) relatively moving the rotating log past a trim knife, the trim knife configured to engage the rotating log to trim the log, rotating the holders and captured log in a first direction of rotation and in an opposite second direction of rotation while the log is engaged against the trim knife;
- and
- (e) discharging the log from the holders with the log at a predetermined axial orientation with respect to the neck axis.
A method of trimming a neck ring from a plastic log ejected from a blow mold to form multiple open-mouthed bottles, the log having respective bottle portions on opposite ends of the log with each bottle portion having an offset neck and the bottle portions connected in neck-to-neck relationship by a neck ring having a central neck axis, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) continuously moving a log conveyor along a path between an intake location and a discharge location, the log conveyor having a conveyor body and first and second holders movable and rotatable with respect to the conveyor body and configured to receive respective bottle portions of the log;
- (b) receiving the log on the log conveyor between the first and second holders at the intake location along the path, the continuous movement of the log conveyor moving the holders and the log away from the intake location in a downstream direction along the path;
- (c) moving each holder towards the log while maintaining the log stationary with respect to the log conveyor body and receiving each bottle portion of the log in a respective first and second holder;
- (d) rotating the holders about the neck ring axis and thereby rotating the log in the holders about the neck ring axis;
- (e) moving the log conveyor carrying the rotating log past a stationary trim knife extending a distance along the path, the trim knife engaging the neck ring between the holders and thereby cutting through the neck ring to sever the plastic log and form open-mouth bottles as the log conveyor moves along the path;
- (f) moving each holder away from the cut log to release the cut plastic log from the holders while maintaining the cut log in a stationary position with respect to the log conveyor body;
- and
- (g) discharging the plastic bottle portions from the log conveyor at the discharge location along the path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.