Method and apparatus for blow molding

Abstract

A method and apparatus for blow molding an article wherein a parison is positioned between three or more mold closures, the mold closures are advanced along a first axis and an axis generally transverse to the first axis, a gas is injected within the interior of the parison to form a molded article, the mold closures are retracted along their respective axes, and the molded article is removed.

1 . A method of blow molding comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a parison between at least three mold closures; and    advancing said at least three mold closures along at least two generally transverse axes to close said mold closures around said parison.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing a carrier assembly within an interior of said parison.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the steps of: 
 mounting said carrier assembly to a blow pin;    extending said blow pin with said carrier assembly mounted thereto into the interior of said parison.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of injecting a pressurized gas within the interior of said parison to expand said parison outwardly within said mold closures.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said advancing step comprises the steps of: 
 advancing substantially opposed mold segments toward one another along a first axis; and    advancing other substantially opposed mold segments toward one another along a second axis.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said step of advancing other substantially opposed mold segments comprises the steps of: 
 slidably mounting a first pair of mold segments to one of said substantially opposed mold segments; and    slidably mounting a second pair of mold segments to another of said substantially opposed mold segments.    
     
     
         7 . An article produced by the method as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . A method of blow molding comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a parison between a plurality of mold closures;    advancing at least one of said plurality of mold closures along a first axis and at least one other of said plurality of mold closures along at least one other axis that is generally transverse to said first axis;    injecting a pressurized gas within the interior of said parison;    retracting said at least one of said plurality of mold closures along said first axis and said at least one other of said plurality of mold closures along said at least one other axis; and    removing a molded article formed from said parison.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of providing a carrier assembly within an interior of said parison.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of: 
 mounting said carrier assembly to a blow pin;    extending said blow pin with said carrier assembly mounted thereto into the interior of said parison.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said advancing step comprises the steps of: 
 advancing a pair of substantially opposed mold segments toward one another along said first axis; and    advancing at least one other pair of substantially opposed mold segments toward one another along said at least one other axis.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said step of advancing at least one other pair of substantially opposed mold segments comprises the steps of: 
 slidably mounting a first pair of mold segments to one of said substantially opposed mold segments; and    slidably mounting a second pair of mold segments to another of said substantially opposed mold segments.    
     
     
         13 . An article produced by the method as claimed in  claim 8 .  
     
     
         14 . A method of blow molding comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a parison between at least three mold closures;    advancing at least one of said at least three mold closures along a first axis, and at least one other of said at least three mold closures along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to said first axis, until at least one mating surface of said at least three mold closures mates with at least one other mating surface of said at least three mold closures;    injecting a pressurized gas into the interior of said parison;    retracting said at least one of said plurality of mold closures along said first axis and said at least one other of said plurality of mold closures along said second axis; and    removing a molded article formed from said parison.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of providing a carrier assembly within an interior of said parison.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the steps of: 
 mounting said carrier assembly to a blow pin;    extending said blow pin with said carrier assembly mounted thereto into the interior of said parison.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said advancing step comprises the steps of: 
 advancing a left side mold segment toward a right side mold segment along a first axis;    advancing a rear left mold segment toward a front left mold segment another along a second axis; and    advancing a rear right mold segment toward a front right mold segment along said second axis.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said advancing steps further comprise the steps of: 
 slidably mounting said left rear and left front mold segments to said left side mold segment; and    slidably mounting said right rear and right front mold segments to said right side mold segment.    
     
     
         19 . A fuel tank produced by the method as claimed in  claim 14 .  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for blow molding a finished article from a preformed parison, said apparatus comprising: 
 first and second opposed mold closures, said first and second opposed mold closures being retractable between open and closed positions along a first axis; and    at least one other mold closure being translatably mounted to at least one of said first and second opposed mold closures, said at least one other mold closure being retractable between open and closed positions along a second axis which is not parallel to said first axis.