Blow molding machine and associated mechanisms

A mechanism for opening and closing a pair of mold portions, the mechanism comprising:

• a guide support;
• first and second platens mounted on the guide support, the platens being movable along the guide support toward and away from one another, one of the mold portions being mounted on each of the platens, movement of the platens moving the mold portions between an open and a closed configuration;
• a first actuator mounted on the guide support and engaging the first platen, the first actuator moving the first platen toward and away from the second platen for opening and closing the mold portions;
• a second actuator mounted on one of the platens between the one platen and the mold portion mounted on the one platen, the second actuator applying a force between the one platen and the mold portion mounted on the one platen to hold the mold portions in engagement with one another when in the closed configuration.

A method for blow molding a container from a tubular parison of molten resin, the method comprising:

• moving a mold beneath a flow head by rotating a horizontally-oriented turntable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, wherein the turntable comprises
• a plurality of inclined ramps mounted on the turntable and facing radially outwardly from the turntable;
• a plurality of carriages, one carriage mounted on each of the ramps and movable along the ramp between a first position and a second position above the first position;
• a first actuator mounted on the turntable and comprising a first piston engaged with one of the carriages for moving the carriage along the ramp;
• a second actuator comprising a second piston pivotably attached to a pivoting arm that is pivotably attached to a fixed arm mounted on the turntable;
• and
• a plurality of molds, one mold being mounted on each of the carriages, the molds including mold portions which are movable between an open configuration to receive the parison and a closed configuration to mold the parison, wherein the rotating causes a cam follower projecting from the pivoting arm to engage a cam track positioned adjacent to the turntable such that the pivoting arm moves inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the turntable thereby moving the second piston inwardly and causing the first piston to move outwardly, thereby actuating the first actuator and moving the carriage to which the first actuator is engaged up the ramp and to the second position;
• delivering a tubular parison of molten resin from the flow head to the mold mounted on carriage at the second position;
• blowing compressed air into the mold to expand the parison and form the container;
• and
• removing the container from the mold.