US 7,572,123 B2
Apparatus for stretching and crystallizing the neck finish of a molded plastic article
Keith Barker, Bedford, N.H. (US); Brian Lynch, Merrimack, N.J. (US); Walter McDonald, Newton, N.J. (US); and Norbert Seitel, Gillette, N.J. (US)
Assigned to Graham Packaging Company, LP, York, Pa. (US)
Filed on Sep. 06, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/516,384.
Prior Publication US 2008/0054535 A1, Mar. 06, 2008
Int. Cl. B29C 49/64 (2006.01); B29C 67/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 425—392  [198/377.07; 198/473.1; 198/803.11; 425/384; 425/525; 425/526] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for treating a series of molded plastic articles, each article having a relatively wide and thin-walled blow-molded body portion and a relatively narrow and thick-walled unexpanded neck finish portion, the apparatus comprising:
a series of platforms carried by a conveying apparatus that transports the platforms along a predetermined path of travel through a finish widening station;
each platform having a top surface and a mating mechanism for engaging the body portion of one article, the top surface engaging a bottom surface and the mating mechanism engaging a sidewall surface of the body portion of the one article;
the finish widening station comprising a mandrel insertable within and removable from an open top aperture of the finish portion to widen the finish portion; and
the mating mechanism adjustably receiving and engaging against the sidewall portion to hold the one article in a steady position relative to the platform during insertion and removal of the mandrel from the aperture.