SHUTTLE-TYPE BLOW MOLDING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

Shuttle blow molding apparatus having an extruder for substantially continuously extruding a thermoplastic material in tubular form at a moldabl e temperature downwardly along a vertical axis. A first finite length of the thermoplastic material is grasped by a first mold set, which then moves outwardly and downwardly with respect to the extruder to provide clearance for a secon d mold set to move to a position to grasp a second finite length of the extruded thermoplastic tube. The first mold set is then moved horizontally away to permit the finite length of thermoplastic tube therein to be blown into a hollow articl e, and thereafter removed from the first mold set at a second position of the first mold set. The second mold set, after grasping a second finite length of the extrud ed thermoplastic tube, moves outwardly in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of the first mold set away from the extruder and downwardly to perm it the extruded length of thermoplastic tube therein to be blown into a hollow article, and thereafter removed from the second mold set at the position where the hollow articles are removed from the first mold set.