초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for forming thermoplastic containers having a male locking member. The apparatus includes a cavity defining a shape of the container, a stripper movable in a longitudinal direction relative to said cavity, and a retractable lock adjacent to an edge of the cavity. The retracta

An apparatus and method for forming thermoplastic containers having a male locking member. The apparatus includes a cavity defining a shape of the container, a stripper movable in a longitudinal direction relative to said cavity, and a retractable lock adjacent to an edge of the cavity. The retractable lock is movable in a transverse direction relative to the cavity between a retracted position and an unretracted position and movable in a longitudinal direction between a first position and a second position. The containers are formed through a process in which the apparatus is sequentially placed in a ready mode, lift mode, disengage mode, and back to the ready mode. In the ready mode, the retractable lock is placed in the unretracted position and first position in order to receive a sheet of plastic material and form a locking member thereon. In the lift mode, the retractable lock is moved in a longitudinal direction from the first position to the second position in order to lift the container from the cavity. In the disengage mode, the retractable lock is moved in a transverse direction from the unretracted position to the retracted position in order to disengage itself from the locking member.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for forming a thermoplastic container having a locking member thereon comprising:a cavity defined by a mold, the cavity defining a shape of said container;a stripper substantially surrounding the cavity and movable in a longitudinal direction relative to said

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for forming a thermoplastic container having a locking member thereon comprising:a cavity defined by a mold, the cavity defining a shape of said container;a stripper substantially surrounding the cavity and movable in a longitudinal direction relative to said cavity, the stripper having an inner wall facing toward an outer wall of the cavity; anda retractable lock adjacent to an outer edge of said cavity, said retractable lock having a top portion including a male projection and an undercut facing outwardly from said outer edge of said cavity, said retractable lock being movable in a transverse direction relative to said cavity between a retracted position and an unretracted position and movable in said longitudinal direction between a first position and a second position, the retractable lock being engaged between the inner wall of the stripper and the outer wall of the cavity.