APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A STRETCHED AND OPTIONALLY CRYSTALLIZED NECK FINISH IN A MOLDED PLASTIC ARTICLE

摘要

An apparatus for treating a series of molded plastic articles is described which includes a series of platforms, each having a top surface and a mating mechanism for engaging the body portion of an article, carried by a conveying apparatus that transports the platforms along a predetermined path of travel through a finish widening station. The top surface engages a bottom surface and the mating mechanism engages a sidewall surface of the body portion of the article. A mandrel is insertable within and removable from an open top aperture of the finish portion to widen the finish portion, and includes a lower tapered body portion insertable into the open top aperture for widening the neck finish portion from a first neck size to an expanded second neck size. The mandrel includes a cooled upper body portion of the second expanded neck size for cooling the expanded neck finish portion.