Blow moulding

Claim 1

A blow moulding machine comprising: at least one sectional mould, first and second stations comprising means for producing a tubular extruded parison of thermoplastics material for enclosure within said mould at said first station, and means for applying fluid pressure through one end of said mould to expand said parison therein and produce a moulded article conforming to the internal shape of the mould and having a depending flash at said second station, a mould carrier for reciprocating said mould in a substantially horizontal plane between said first and second stations, said carrier comprising means for opening said mould while at said second station to release said article, a stational supporting surface beneath said second station and vertically spaced therefrom, said surface having a slot therein dimensioned to receive said flash, guide means connected to said mould carrier so as to be moved relative to said supporting surface as said carrier reciprocates, and positioned, when said carrier means has said mould at said second station, to guide a moulded article released at said second station downwardly until it rests on said stationary plate with said flash projecting into the slot in said plate, and a stationary knife forming one end of said slot which cuts off said flash when said carrier means moves said mould from said second station to said first station, and thereby produces relative movement between said guide means and supporting surface.