Method and apparatus for producing stretch blow molded articles

摘要

A non-destructive, direct method and apparatus for producing stretch blow molded articles having at least one physical dimension within a preselected range. The apparatus includes an injection mold defining an injection mold interior surface having a first differentially dimensioned portion disposed at a preselected location thereon and capable of producing a parison having a parison exterior surface including a first marker formed by contact with the first differentially dimensioned portion, and a stretch blow mold defining a stretch blow mold interior surface having a second differentially dimensioned portion disposed at a predetermined location thereon and capable of producing the article from the parison including a second marker formed by contact with the second differentially dimensioned portion. Relative position of the first marker with respect to the second marker indicates whether a dimension is within a preselected range. The method includes injection molding a parison so that a parison exterior surface includes a first marker disposed at a preselected position thereon and formed by contact with a first differentially dimensioned portion disposed at a preselected location on an injection mold interior surface, and stretch blow molding an article from the parison so that an article exterior surface includes a second marker disposed at a predetermined position thereon and formed by contact with a second differentially dimensioned portion disposed at a predetermined location on a stretch blow mold interior surface.