초록 ▼

Clam shell-type blow mold apparatus has a pair of opposed upper mold halves that cooperate to define a partial blow cavity. A one-piece bottom mold portion that completes the blow cavity is locked up against the top mold portion by a locking assembly to prevent separation of the bottom mold portion

Clam shell-type blow mold apparatus has a pair of opposed upper mold halves that cooperate to define a partial blow cavity. A one-piece bottom mold portion that completes the blow cavity is locked up against the top mold portion by a locking assembly to prevent separation of the bottom mold portion from the top mold portion during the high pressure blow cycle. The locking assembly includes a support ring for the bottom mold portion that has a number of radially outwardly projecting male lugs adapted to fit into female receiving notches on opposed halves of a lock ring on the upper mold portion. Individual ledges at the bottoms of the notches underlie the lugs of the support ring when the mold halves are fully closed so as to preclude separation of the support ring, and thus the bottom mold portion, from the lock ring and the upper mold portion. The notches in the support ring are interposed between pairs of bolt holes in the lock ring.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. Blow mold apparatus comprising: an upper mold portion having an open bottom defined by a bottom annular edge of the upper mold portion, said upper mold portion comprising a pair of opposed mold halves cooperating and configured to partially define an internal blow cavit

The invention claimed is: 1. Blow mold apparatus comprising: an upper mold portion having an open bottom defined by a bottom annular edge of the upper mold portion, said upper mold portion comprising a pair of opposed mold halves cooperating and configured to partially define an internal blow cavity therebetween; a bottom mold portion received within said open bottom of the upper mold portion and cooperating with said mold halves to complete the blow cavity; a lock ring secured to said bottom edge of the upper mold portion and surrounding said bottom mold portion, said lock ring comprising a pair of opposed lock ring halves secured to respective ones of said mold halves, each of said lock ring halves having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolt holes therein; a plurality of bolts received within said holes and releasably securing the lock ring halves to their respective mold halves, each of said lock ring halves being provided with at least one upwardly facing support ledge positioned between a pair of said bolt holes; and a support ring supporting said bottom mold portion against separation from the upper mold portion, said support ring including at least a pair of radially outwardly projecting lugs disposed between respective pairs of bolt holes in the lock ring halves and received upon corresponding ledges of the lock ring halves. 2. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 1, each ledge forming the bottom of a notch in the lock ring half, said notch having an open side formed in an interior surface of the lock ring half, said notch further having a pair of opposite sidewalls projecting upwardly from opposite extremities of the ledge, said notch further having a back wall that is recessed with respect to said interior surface and interconnects said sidewalls. 3. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said notch further having an open top formed in a top surface of the lock ring half. 4. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 2, there being three notches and three corresponding ledges on each lock ring half. 5. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said support ring having two sets of diametrically opposed lugs, each set of lugs included a pair of opposite end lugs and an intermediate lug. 6. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 5, each opposite end lug having an outer peripheral edge and a pair of opposite side edges joined with said outer edge. 7. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 6, the side edges that are the most circumferentially spaced from one another in each set of lugs having relief bevels that facilitate placement of the lugs onto corresponding ledges of the lock ring halves. 8. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 7, each ledge forming the bottom of a notch in the lock ring half, said notch having an open side formed in an interior surface of the lock ring half, said notch further having a pair of opposite sidewalls projecting upwardly from opposite extremities of the ledge, said notch further having a back wall that is recessed with respect to said interior surface and interconnects said sidewalls. 9. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said notch further having an open top formed in a top surface of the lock ring half. 10. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 8, there being three notches and three corresponding ledges on each lock ring half. 11. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said support ring having an upper end surface and an upright exterior surface intersecting said upper end surface, said lugs projecting outwardly beyond said upright exterior surface. 12. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 11, each of said lugs having a top surface that is flush with said upper end surface of the support ring. 13. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 12, each of said lugs having a bottom surface that is spaced below said top surface and projects outwardly from said upright exterior surface. 14. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 13, said upper end surface comprising at least a portion of said support surface. 15. Blow mold apparatus as claimed in claim 14, said support ring having an upright, stepped internal bore therethrough presenting an upwardly facing annular seat that is recessed below said top surface, said annular seat comprising another portion of said support surface. 16. A locking assembly for use in holding the bottom mold portion of a blow mold against separation from the top mold portion of the mold during formation of a hollow article within the mold, said assembly comprising: a lock ring comprising a pair of opposed lock ring halves each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolt holes therein for use in attaching the lock ring to the top mold portion, each of said lock ring halves being provided with at least one upwardly facing support ledge positioned between a pair of said bolt holes; and a support ring for the bottom mold portion, said support ring including a support surface disposed for underlying the bottom mold portion and at least a pair of radially outwardly projecting lugs adapted to project between respective pairs of bolt holes and to overlie corresponding ledges of the lock ring halves. 17. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 16, each ledge forming the bottom of a notch in the lock ring half, said notch having an open side formed in an interior surface of the lock ring half, said notch further having a pair of opposite sidewalls projecting upwardly from opposite extremities of the ledge, said notch further having a back wall that is recessed with respect to said interior surface and interconnects said sidewalls. 18. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 17, said notch having an open top formed in a top surface of the lock ring half. 19. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 17, there being three notches and three corresponding ledges on each lock ring half. 20. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 16, said support ring having two sets of diametrically opposed lugs, each set of lugs included a pair of opposite end lugs and an intermediate lug. 21. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 20, each opposite end lug having an outer peripheral edge and a pair of opposite side edges joined with said outer edge. 22. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 21, the side edges that are the most circumferentially spaced from one another in each set of lugs having relief bevels that facilitate placement of the lugs onto corresponding ledges of the lock ring halves. 23. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 22, each ledge forming the bottom of a notch in the lock ring half, said notch having an open side formed in an interior surface of the lock ring half, said notch further having a pair of opposite sidewalls projecting upwardly from opposite extremities of the ledge, said notch further having a back wall that is recessed with respect to said interior surface and interconnects said sidewalls. 24. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 23, said notch further having an open top formed in a top surface of the lock ring half. 25. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 23, there being three notches and three corresponding ledges on each lock ring half. 26. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 16, said support ring having an upper end surface and an upright exterior surface intersecting said upper end surface, said lugs projecting outwardly beyond said upright exterior surface. 27. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 26, each of said lugs having a top surface that is flush with said upper end surface of the support ring. 28. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 27, each of said lugs having a bottom surface that is spaced below said top surface and projects outwardly from said upright exterior surface. 29. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 28, said upper end surface comprising at least a portion of said support surface. 30. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 29, said support ring having an upright, stepped internal bore therethrough presenting an upwardly facing annular seat that is recessed below said top surface, said annular seat comprising another portion of said support surface. 31. A lock ring for use in holding the bottom mold portion of a blow mold against separation from the top mold portion of the mold during formation of a hollow article within the mold, said lock ring comprising: a pair of opposite lock ring halves each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolt holes therein for use in attaching the lock ring to the top mold portion, each of said lock ring halves being provided with at least one upwardly facing support ledge positioned between a pair of said bolt holes. 32. A lock ring as claimed in claim 31, each ledge forming the bottom of a notch in the lock ring half, said notch having an open side formed in an interior surface of the lock ring half, said notch further having a pair of opposite sidewalls projecting upwardly from opposite extremities of the ledge, said notch further having a back wall that is recessed with respect to said interior surface and interconnects said sidewalls. 33. A lock ring as claimed in claim 32, said notch further having an open top formed in a top surface of the lock ring half. 34. A lock ring as claimed in claim 32, there being three notches and three corresponding ledges on each lock ring half. 35. A lock ring as claimed in claim 31, there being three notches and three corresponding ledges on each lock ring half. 36. A support ring for use with a lock ring in holding the bottom mold portion of a blow mold against separation from the top mold portion of the mold during formation of a hollow article within the mold, said support ring comprising: an annular body for supporting the bottom mold portion having an upper end surface and an upright exterior surface intersecting at least a portion of said upper end surface, said body further having a lower end surface that is spaced axially below said upper end surface said body further having at least a pair of radially outwardly projecting lugs, each of said lugs having a bottom surface that is spaced axially above said lower end surface, at least a portion of said upright exterior surface being spaced axially below each of said lugs, such that each of said lugs overhangs at least a portion of said upright exterior surface. 37. A support ring as claimed in claim 36, said support ring having two sets of diametrically opposed lugs, each set of lugs included a pair of opposite end lugs and an intermediate lug. 38. A support ring as claimed in claim 37, each opposite end lug having an outer peripheral edge and a pair of opposite side edges joined with said outer edge. 39. A support ring as claimed in claim 38, the side edges that are the most circumferentially spaced from one another in each set of lugs having relief bevels.