Molded Article Picker

Abstract

Disclosed are a molded article picker for a post-mold device and a related method for the use of the molded article picker for handling a molded article. The molded article picker includes a floating element being configured to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position and biased in the extended position. Furthermore, the molded article picker comprises a pressure structure extending through the floating element. The floating element is cooperable with the molded article to define a substantially enclosed volume including the pressure structure. The pressure structure is configured such that by evacuating the substantially enclosed volume the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into the retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article to the molded article picker.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molded article picker for transferring a molded article, the molded article picker comprising:
 a floating element, the floating element configured to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and   a pressure structure;   wherein the floating element is cooperable with the molded article to define a substantially enclosed volume including the pressure structure, at least in part;   wherein the pressure structure is configured such that by evacuating the substantially enclosed volume the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into the retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article to the molded article picker.   
     
     
         2 . The molded article picker of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure structure comprises a vacuum pin extending through the floating element. 
     
     
         3 . The molded article picker of  claim 2 , wherein the vacuum pin is integrally formed with the floating element. 
     
     
         4 . The molded article picker of  claim 1 , wherein the floating element includes a radial flange. 
     
     
         5 . The molded article picker of  claim 1 , further comprising a compliable sealing element disposed on a surface of the floating element, the sealing element configured to form a seal with the molded article. 
     
     
         6 . The molded article picker of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one compressible spring for biasing the floating element in the extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The molded article picker of  claim 6 , wherein the floating member includes a guiding pin for receiving the spring, and wherein the guiding pin is slidably received within a guiding recess disposed, at least in part, in a base element. 
     
     
         8 . The molded article picker of  claim 6 , wherein the floating member includes a spring seat for receiving the spring, and wherein the floating member includes a guide portion slidably arranged on the pressure structure provided by a vacuum pin. 
     
     
         9 . The molded article picker of  claim 4 , further comprising a cylinder element and wherein the enclosed volume is formed between, at least in part, a surface of the cylinder element, a member the radial flange. 
     
     
         10 . The molded article picker of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure structure further comprises an actuator pressure channel in fluid communication with the enclosed volume. 
     
     
         11 . The molded article picker of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure structure further comprises an actuator pressure channel provided through the vacuum pin, the actuator pressure channel in fluid communication with the enclosed volume. 
     
     
         12 . A post-mold device, comprising:
 a tooling plate; and   a molded article picker arranged on the tooling plate for transferring a molded article, the molded article picker comprising:
 a floating element, the floating element configured to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and 
 a pressure structure; 
 wherein the floating element is cooperable with the molded article to define a substantially enclosed volume including the pressure structure, at least in part, 
 wherein the pressure structure is configured such that by evacuating the substantially enclosed volume the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into the retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article to the molded article picker. 
   
     
     
         13 . The post-mold device of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure structure comprises a vacuum pin extending through the floating element. 
     
     
         14 . The post-mold device of  claim 13 , wherein the vacuum pin is integrally formed with the floating element. 
     
     
         15 . The post-mold device of  claim 12 , wherein the floating element includes a radial flange. 
     
     
         16 . The post-mold device of  claim 12 , wherein the molded article picker further comprises a compliable sealing element disposed on a surface of the floating element, the sealing element configured to form a seal with the molded article. 
     
     
         17 . The post-mold device of  claim 12 , wherein the floating element further comprises at least one compressible spring for biasing the floating element in the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The post-mold device of  claim 17 , wherein the floating member includes a guiding pin for receiving the spring, and wherein the guiding pin is slidably received within a guiding recess disposed, at least in part, in a base element. 
     
     
         19 . The post-mold device of  claim 17 , wherein the floating member includes a spring seat for receiving the spring, and wherein the floating member includes a guide portion slidably arranged on the pressure structure provided by a vacuum pin. 
     
     
         20 . The post-mold device of  claim 15 , wherein the molded article picker further comprises a cylinder element and wherein the enclosed volume is formed between, at least in part, a surface of the cylinder element, a member the radial flange. 
     
     
         21 . The post-mold device of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure structure further comprises an actuator pressure channel in fluid communication with the enclosed volume. 
     
     
         22 . The post-mold device of  claim 13 , wherein the pressure structure further comprises an actuator pressure channel provided through the vacuum pin, the actuator pressure channel in fluid communication with the enclosed volume. 
     
     
         23 . A molding system, comprising:
 a mold;   a post-mold device, having:
 a tooling plate; and 
 a molded article picker arranged on the tooling plate for transferring a molded article, the molded article picker comprising:
 a floating element, the floating element configured to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and 
 a pressure structure; 
 wherein the floating element is cooperable with the molded article to define a substantially enclosed volume including the pressure structure, at least in part, 
 wherein the pressure structure is configured such that by evacuating the substantially enclosed volume the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into the retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article to the molded article picker. 
 
   
     
     
         24 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the pressure structure comprises a vacuum pin extending through the floating element. 
     
     
         25 . The molding system of  claim 24 , wherein the vacuum pin is integrally formed with the floating element. 
     
     
         26 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the floating element includes a radial flange. 
     
     
         27 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the molded article picker further comprises a compliable sealing element disposed on a surface of the floating element, the sealing element configured to form a seal with the molded article. 
     
     
         28 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the floating element further comprises at least one compressible spring for biasing the floating element in the extended position. 
     
     
         29 . The molding system of  claim 28 , wherein the floating member includes a guiding pin for receiving the spring, and wherein the guiding pin is slidably received within a guiding recess disposed, at least in part, in a base element. 
     
     
         30 . The molding system of  claim 28 , wherein the floating member includes a spring seat for receiving the spring, and wherein the floating member includes a guide portion slidably arranged on the pressure structure provided by a vacuum pin. 
     
     
         31 . The molding system of  claim 26 , wherein the molded article picker further comprises a cylinder element and wherein the enclosed volume is formed between, at least in part, a surface of the cylinder element, a member the radial flange. 
     
     
         32 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the pressure structure further comprises an actuator pressure channel in fluid communication with the enclosed volume. 
     
     
         33 . The molding system of  claim 24 , wherein the pressure structure further comprises an actuator pressure channel provided through the vacuum pin, the actuator pressure channel in fluid communication with the enclosed volume. 
     
     
         34 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the mold includes a stack assembly defining a mold cavity, and wherein the stacks are replaceable by conversion. 
     
     
         35 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the molded article picker are configured to be replaced by conversion. 
     
     
         36 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the mold includes a stack assembly defining a mold cavity, and wherein the stacks are replaceable by refurbishment. 
     
     
         37 . The molding system of  claim 23 , wherein the molded article picker are configured to be replaced by refurbishment. 
     
     
         38 . A floating element of the molded article picker in accordance with any one of  claims 1  to  11 . 
     
     
         39 . A method for transferring a molded article, comprising:
 bringing a floating element of a molded article picker in an extended position, at least in part, into abutment with a surface of the molded article; and   evacuating an enclosed volume defined by the molded article and the floating element through a pressure structure of the molded article picker such that the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into a retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article.