Apparatus for removing bodies from a molding machine and transporting the bodies

Claim 2

Apparatus for removing plastic bodies in combination with a blow molding machine having an ejector mechanism which ejects a finished body from molds in the machine and for placing such bodies on a conveyor, the apparatus comprising: a. a movable support and a series of gripping elements arranged on said support for movement therewith along a transport path going past a withdrawal point where each respective gripping element is in a position to remove a plastic body from a mold in the molding machine and thence past a release point where each respective gripping element is in a position to deposit the plastic body on the conveyor; and b. means for causing each respective gripping element, as it moves past said withdrawal point, to initially grip a plastic body partially displaced from its mold by the ejector mechanism and to then extract it from the molding machine and, as each respective gripping element moves past said release point, to release such body and to place it on the conveyor.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said gripping elements includes a suction cup to grip the body.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said gripping elements includes jaw members to grip the body.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said gripping elements includes elastically deformable means having an opening of a width slightly smaller than the portion of the body which is gripped.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable support is a rotatable plate.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein synchronizing means are disposed between said movable support and the machine so that the speed of rotation of said plate is dependent on the speed of rotation of the machine.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a second synchronizing means is disposed between said movable support and the conveyor so that the conveyor moves with a linear speed equal to that of said gripping elements moving past the release point.

Claim 9

Apparatus for removing molded bodies in combination with a rotary blow molding machine, having an ejector mechanism which ejects a finished body, from a mold, and individually depositing the bodies on a conveyor, the apparatus comprising: a. a rotatable support means synchronized for movement with the associated machine and conveyor; b. a plurality of gripping elements movably mounted on said support means, said gripping elements in a first limit position being adjacent the machine and in a second limit position overlying the conveyor; c. cam means spatially fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of said support means; d. a plurality of control systems coacting with said cam means, said control systems providing means for (i) controlling the movement of said gripping elements along a fixed path between limit positions, (ii) controlling the action of said gripping elements in the first limit position to initially grip a body, partially displaced from a mold by the ejection mechanism, before removing the body from the mold and to release the body in the second limit position, and (iii) controlling said gripping elements to rotate the body approximately 90* during the time of movement of the body between a first and second limit position, whereby the body is removed from the machine and deposited in an upright position on the conveyor prior to release.

Claim 10

Apparatus for removing molded bodies in combination with a rotary blow molding machine, having an ejector mechanism which ejects a finished body, from a mold, and individually depositing the bodies on a conveyor, the apparatus comprising: a. a rotatable support means synchronized for movement with the associated machine and conveyor; b. a plurality of gripping elements movably mounted on said support means, said gripping elements in a first limit position being adjacent the machine and in a second limit position overlying the conveyor; c. cam means spatially fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of said support means; d. a plurality of control systems coacting with said cam means, said control systems providing means for (i) controlling the movement of said gripping elements along a fixed path between limit positions, (ii) controlling the action of said gripping elements in the first limit position to initially grip a body, partially displaced from a mold by the ejection mechanism, before removing the body from the mold and to release the body in the second limit position, and (iii) controlling said gripping elements to rotate the body approximately 90* during the time of movement of the body between a first and second limit position, whereby the body is removed from the machine and deposited in an upright position on the conveyor prior to release.

Claim 11

Apparatus for removing individual hollow bodies from a rotary blow molding machine in which the bodies are molded, and then subsequently transporting the individual bodies to an associated conveyor means for deposit and release thereon, each of the molded bodies having a neck portion which is engageable by an ejector on the machine to expel the body from the machine, comprising in combination: a. a rotatable support means associated with the machine and conveyor means; b. means disposed between said support means and the machine for synchronizing the rotation of said support means and the machine; c. a plurality of arm members peripherally and pivotally mounted in spaced relationship on said support means; d. gripping means mounted at the end of each of said arm members adjacent the machine, each of said griPping means including means for releasably gripping the neck portion of a body; e. a plurality of cam means disposed in fixed spatial relationship with respect to the axis of rotation of said support means; f. a first mechanical linkage system associated with a first cam means, said first system controlling the path of movement of each of said members between first and second limit positions, each of said arm members in a first limit position extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said support means toward said machine and each of said arm members in a second limit position extending parallel to the axis of rotation, and toward the conveyor means; g. a second mechanical linkage system associated with a second cam means, said second system controlling said gripping means to grip said body expelled from the machine when an arm member is in a first limit position and to release said body when said arm member is in a second limit position; h. a third mechanical linkage system associated with a third cam means, said third system controlling said gripping means to rotate said gripping means approximately 90* along the path of travel of said arm member from the first to second limit positions, whereby said body is removed from the machine and deposited in an upright position on the conveyor means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for removing individual hollow bodies from a rotary blow molding machine in which the bodies are molded, and then subsequently transporting the individual bodies to an associated conveyor means for deposit and release thereon, each of the molded bodies having a neck portion which is engageable by an ejector on the machine to expel the body from the machine, comprising in combination: a. a rotatable support means associated with the machine and conveyor means; b. means disposed between said support means and the machine for synchronizing the rotation of said support means and the machine; c. a plurality of arm members peripherally and pivotally mounted in spaced relationship on said support means; d. gripping means mounted at the end of each of said arm members adjacent the machine, each of said griPping means including means for releasably gripping the neck portion of a body; e. a plurality of cam means disposed in fixed spatial relationship with respect to the axis of rotation of said support means; f. a first mechanical linkage system associated with a first cam means, said first system controlling the path of movement of each of said members between first and second limit positions, each of said arm members in a first limit position extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said support means toward said machine and each of said arm members in a second limit position extending parallel to the axis of rotation, and toward the conveyor means; g. a second mechanical linkage system associated with a second cam means, said second system controlling said gripping means to grip said body expelled from the machine when an arm member is in a first limit position and to release said body when said arm member is in a second limit position; h. a third mechanical linkage system associated with a third cam means, said third system controlling said gripping means to rotate said gripping means approximately 90* along the path of travel of said arm member from the first to second limit positions, whereby said body is removed from the machine and deposited in an upright position on the conveyor means.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said gripping means include spring biased movable jaw members.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said support means is a plate member.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein a second means is disposed between said support means and the conveyor means to syncrhonize the movement of said support and conveyor means so that the conveyor means moves with a linear speed equal to that of said gripping means when the body is deposited on the conveyor means.