Device for transporting hollow plastic blow moldings

Claim 1

A device for removing hollow plastic blow moldings which have at least one opening thereinto from the cavities of blow molds, comprising: a plurality of gripper units each of which is supported for at least axial movement toward and away from a blow mold, said units each including gripping means insertable within the opening of a hollow molding disposed in said blow mold, said gripping means being movable between a normal, retracted position and an expanded position, in the latter position of which said gripper means expands outwardly so that, when said gripping means are inserted into said opening of said molding said gripping means may be moved to said expanded position to thereby engage and grip the interior walls of said molding, said gripping means of each of said gripper units comprising at least one lever pivotably mounted on the associated gripper unit, said lever including an upper lever arm having a free outer end portion and a lower lever arm having a free outer end which serves as a gripping end, said lever being pivotably mounted such that the radial distance between said outer gripping end of said lever and an axis extending in the direction of gripper unit movement toward and away from said blow mold is variable; a plurality of actuating links each of which coact with one of said levers of said gripping units which are displaceable relative to said gripper units to effect movement of said levers between said normal and expanded positions thereof, said links having a terminal position in which position said levers assume their expanded position, said actuating links being axially displaceably mounted in said gripper units for movement in the direction of the gripper unit axes; means for positively controlling movement of said gripper means from said normal to said expanded position, said means including a plurality of guide curves each of which is associated with said gripping means of one of said gripping units, said guide curves each including a conical chamber formed in said gripping unit associated therewith and disposed concentrically with said axis thereof, said outer end portion of said upper lever arm of said levers being in sliding engagement with the surface of said chamber; a common drive means for actuating said actuating links and, in turn, for moving said gripping means; and means for adjusting the degree of expansion of said gripping means which is mounted adjacent to said drive means, said means for adjusting being operable to adjust the terminal position of said levers.

Claim 2

A device for removing hollow plastic blow moldings which have at least one opening thereinto from the cavities of blow molds, comprising: a plurality of gripper units each of which is supported for at least axial movement toward and away from a blow mold, said units each including gripping means insertable within the opening of a hollow molding disposed in said blow mold, said gripping means being movable between a normal, retracted position and an expanded position, in the latter position of which said gripper means expands outwardly so that, when said gripping means are inserted into said opening of said molding said gripping means may be moved to said expanded position to thereby engage and grip the interior walls of said molding, said gripping means of each of said gripper units comprising at least one lever pivotably mounted on the associated gripper unit, said lever including an upper lever arm having a free outer end portion and a lower lever arm having a free outer end which serves as a gripping end, said lever being pivotably mounted such that the radial distance between said outer gripping end of said lever and an axis extending in the direction of gripper unit movement toward and away from said blow mold is variable; a plurality of actuating links each of which coact with one of said levers of said gripping units which are displaceable relative to said gripper units to effect movement of said levers between said normal and expanded positions thereof, said links having a terminal position in which position said levers assume their expanded position, said actuating links being axially displaceably mounted in said gripper units for movement in the direction of the gripper unit axes; means for positively controlling movement of said gripper means from said normal to said expanded position, said means including a plurality of guide curves each of which is associated with said gripping means of one of said gripping units, said guide curves each including a conical chamber formed in said gripping unit associated therewith and disposed concentrically with said axis thereof, said outer end portion of said upper lever arm of said levers being in sliding engagement with the surface of said chamber; a common drive means for actuating said actuating links and, in turn, for moving said gripping means; and means for adjusting the degree of expansion of said gripping means which is mounted adjacent to said drive means, said means for adjusting being operable to adjust the terminal position of said levers.