METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STACKING PREFORMS FOR BLOW MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINERS

摘要

A method and apparatus for stacking preforms for blow molded containers (10) wherein the preforms are generally tubular in shape having a closed end (22) and a threaded end (16). The preforms are arranged so that they are in an array of predetermined size and shape. The preforms in the array are arranged in a plurality of side-by-side horizontally extending rows in which the preforms are upright and in a "threads down" orientation. The remaining rows are then picked up and positioned in an alternating relationship with the "threads down" rows of preforms, so that multiple layers of preforms can be stacked in a container so as to fully use all of the space in the container for storage and transfer of the preforms.