Salflex Polymers Limited

Abc Group Inc.

Roger Elgner

Changize Sadr

Tim Chapman

A mold assembly for blow molding plastic articles is provided having an upper mold member, a lower mold member and a lower support member. The lower mold member is preferably a relatively lightweight plate having a generally centrally located molding cavity matingly matched with an upper molding cavity in the upper mold member. The lower mold member is moved horizontally and optionally vertically beneath an extrusion head as a molten parison is extruded. The lower mold member is then transported to, and positioned within, the lower support member. The upper mold member is then closed over the lower mold member and lower support to close the mold assembly. The molten parison is then expanded in the mold cavity. After the molding operation, the plastic part may be removed and the lower mold member may be cooled by immersion in a cooling fluid. The apparatus to move the lower mold member during extrusion of the parison and to the molding station may be a robotic arm. The lower mold member is relatively lightweight so that it may be efficiently moved by the robot arm while the necessary structural support is provided by the lower support member.

Mold assembly for blow molding plastic articles and method of use

A blow molding mold has first and second fixtures. The first fixture includes drive means, typically in the form of pins, while the second mold fixture has drive receiving means, typically in the form of holes. When the second mold fixture is in registration with the first mold fixture, the drive means are extended to lock and locate the two fixtures together to enable blow molding without a blow molding press. The method of blow molding uses a robotic arm to move a lightweight second mold fixture to accept a parison as it is extruded. After extrusion the arm moves the second fixture toward the first fixture so that the fixtures can be located and locked together. A single robot using a single extrusion head can serve several mold stations depending upon cycle times.

Pressless blow molding

Combined air intake manifold and filter

In a blow molding process the mold halves are independently controlled and moved so that a parison may be extruded from an extrusion head and then one of two mold halves may be moved toward the parison. The parison may be grasped by a manipulator to manipulate a portion of the parison so as to overlie a second portion of the mold cavity. The mold is then closed and a standard blow molding procedure performed. The process enables production of reduced flash.

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Woodbridge, Canada

Roger Elgner