WO2013026144A1

WO2013026144A1 - Post-mold cooling injection molded articles

Info

Publication number: WO2013026144A1
Application number: PCT/CA2012/000787
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert D. Schad; Daniel Jung; Tanveer KAUR
Original assignee: Athena Automation Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-08-24
Filing date: 2012-08-24
Publication date: 2013-02-28
Also published as: WO2013026145A1

Abstract

A part handling apparatus for handling preforms molded in an injection molded machine includes a transfer shell having at least one shell side and a plurality of transfer pins mounted to the at least one shell side for insertion into the preforms. Each pin includes a base for mounting to a transfer shell side and a tip spaced apart from the base; an interior pin channel extending between the base and the tip; and a base journal having a journal outer surface sized smaller than the neck region inner surface of the preform to provide a generally annular flow gate between the journal outer surface and the neck region inner surface. The annular flow gate forms a flow restriction when air is drawn through the preform, maintaining a vacuum force on the preform and convectively cooling the preform.

Description

TITLE: POST-MOLD COOLING INJECTION MOLDED ARTICLES

FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to injection molding machines, and methods and apparatuses for post-mold cooling injection molded articles

BACKGROUND

[0002] U S Pat No 4,836,767 (Schad) relates to an apparatus for producing molded plastic articles which Is capable of simultaneously producing and cooling the plastic articles. The apparatus has a stationary mold half having at least one cavity, at least two mating mold portions, each having at least one core element, mounted to a movable carrier plate which aligns a first one of the mating mold portions with the stationary mold half and positions a second of the mating mold portions in a cooling position, a device for cooling the molded plastic article(s) when in the cooling position, and a device for moving the carrier plate along a first axis so that the aligned mold portion abuts the stationary mold half and the second mating mold portion simultaneously brings each plastic article(s) thereon into contact with the cooling device. The carrier plate is also rotatable about an axis parallel to the first axis to permit different ones of the mating mold portions to assume the aligned position during different molding cycles.

[0003] U.S. Pat, No. 6,299,431 (Neter) discloses a rotary cooling Station to be used in conjunction with a high output injection molding machine and a robot having a take-out plate. A high speed robot transfers warm preforms onto a separate rotary cooling station where they are retained and internally cooled by specialized cores. The preforms may also be Simultaneously cooled from the outside to speed up the cooling rate and thus avoid the formation of crystallinity zones. Solutions for the retention and ejection of the cooled preforms are described. The rotary cooling station of the present invention may be used to cool molded articles made of a single material or multiple materials.

[0004] U S Pat No 6,391 ,244 (Chen) discloses a take-out device for use with a machine for injection molding plastic articles such as PET preforms The take-out device has a plurality of cooling tubes that receive hot preforms from the molding machine, carry them to a position remote from the molds of the machine for cooling, and then eject the cooled preforms onto a conveyor or other handling apparatus The preforms are retained within the cooling tubes by vacuum pressure, but are then ejected by positive air pressure. A retaining plate spaced slightly outwardly beyond the outer ends of the cooling tubes is shtftable into a closed position in which it momentarily blocks ejection of the preforms during the application positive air pressure, yet allows them to be dislodged slightly axially outwardly from the tubes. Such slight dislodging movement is inadequate to vent the air system to atmosphere such that sufficient dislodging air pressure remains in tubes where the preforms might otherwise tend to stick and resist ejection. After the momentary delay, the plate is shifted to an open position in which all of the dislodged preforms are freed to be pushed out of the tubes by the air pressure. Preferably, the retaining plate is provided with specially shaped holes having pass-through portions that become aligned with the tubes when the plate is in its open position, and smaller diameter blocking portions that become aligned with the tubes when the plate is in its closed position. The smaller diameter blocking portions exceed the diameter of the neck of the preforms but are smaller in diameter than the flanges of the preforms such that surface areas around the blocking portions overlie the flanges to block ejection of the preforms as they undergo their dislodging movement.

(0005] EP Pat. No. 1515829 (Unterlander) relates to a method and apparatus for cooling molded plastic articles after molding is finished. In particular, the disclosed invention relates to method and apparatus for a post mold cooling ("PMC^") device having at least two opposed faces, The method and apparatus are, according to the inventors, particularly well suited for cooling injection molded thermoplastic polyester polymer materials such as polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") preforms

SUMMARY

[0006] The following summary is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the applicant's teaching, but not to define any invention. In general, disclosed herein are one or more methods or apparatuses related to injection molding, and to cooling injection molded articles outside the mold area of an injection molding machine.

According to some aspects of the teaching disclosed herein, a part handling apparatus for handling preforms molded in an injection molded machine is disclosed, in which the preforms having a neck region at an open end of the preform and the neck region having a neck region inner surface, the apparatus comprising: a transfer shell having at least one shell side; and a plurality of transfer pins mounted to the at least one shell side for insertion into the preforms. Each transfer pin comprises a base for mounting to a transfer shell side and a tip spaced apart from the base; an interior pin channel extending between the base and the tip; a base journal having a journal outer surface sized smaller than the neck region inner surface to provide a generally annular flow gate between the journal outer surface and the neck region inner surface, the annular flow gate forming a flow restriction when air is drawn into the preform through the flow gate and evacuated from the preform through the pin channel, thereby maintaining a vacuum force on the preform and convectively cooling the preform as a result of said airflow.

[0007] In some examples, the neck region has a neck inner diameter and the pin journal has a journal outer diameter that is in the range from about 90 percent to about 99 percent of the neck outer diameter. The journal outer diameter may be about 98 percent of the neck inner diameter. [0008] The pin channel has a channel cross-sectional area and the annular flow gate may has a gate cross-sectional area that may be in the range†rom about 70 percent to about 100% of the channel cross-sectional area. The gate cross-sectional area may be about 85 percent of the channel cross-sectional area.

[0009] In some examples a contact member may be provided to hold the open end of the preform away from the shell side, thereby maintaining fluid communication between the flow gate and an ambient environment of the transfer shell. The contact member may comprise the tip of the pin, the tip of the pin abutting an inner surface of a closed end of the preform.

[0010] The pin channel and flow gate may be configured to accommodate an air flow rate from about 0.5 liters/sec to about 5 liters/sec. In some examples, the pin channel and flow gate are configured to accommodate an air flow rate of about 1.5 liters/sec.

[001 1] The apparatus may include a shell side chamber inside the transfer shell, the interior pin channel of the transfer pins in fluid communication with the shell side chamber. The shell side chamber may have a chamber port for fluid communication with at least one of a positive pressure fluid supply and a negative pressure fluid supply, and a fluid flow path for the air flow may extend between the flow gate and the chamber port, the fluid flow path free of openable/closeable flow blocking members.

According to some aspects a method of handling preforms molded in an injection molding machine includes; inserting a transfer pin into an open end of a preform, the preform having an inner neck surface at the open end of the preform and the transfer pin having in interior channel and an outer journal surface adjacent the inner neck surface and forming a flow gate therebetween, and urging an airflow into the preform through the flow gate and out of the preform through the pin channel, the airflow simultaneously providing a vacuum inside the preform for holding the preform on the pin and providing convective cooling of inner surfaces of the preform. [0012] The air flow may be maintained at a rate in a range from about

0.5 liters/sec to about 5 liters/sec. In some examples, the air flow may be maintained at a rate in a range from about 0 5 liters/sec to about 2.5 liters/sec, and may be about 1.5 liters/sec

[0013] In some examples, the vacuum may be in a range from about

0.5 to about 3 inches Hg. The vacuum may be in a range from about 1.5 to about 2 inches Hg.

[0014] In some examples, the airflow may be provided during said inserting the transfer pin into the open end of the preform. The transfer pin may be mounted to a shell side of a rotary transfer shell, and said inserting the transfer pin into the open end of the preform may be performed while the shell side is in a load position for receiving the preform from a take-out plate The airflow may be maintained during rotation of the rotary transfer shell moving the shell side out of the load position.

According to some aspects, a take-out plate for an injection molding machine includes: a plate portion having a front face, a back face spaced apart from the front face, and a thickness bounded by the front and back faces; a plurality of take-out tubes secured to the plate portion, each take-out tube including a generally cylindrical tube body having a tube base portion secured to the plate portion and an open free end projecting away from the front face, each take-out tube including an interior nest sized and shaped to receive through the open free end a preform molded in the injection molding machine, the tube base portion of each take-out tube embedded into the thickness of the plate portion

[0015] In some examples, the interior nest may include a closed bottom end configured to engage the outer surface of the closed convex end of the preform, the closed bottom end set back of the front face of the take-out plate by a countersink The closed bottom end of the interior nest may be positioned at about midway between the front face and the back face of the plate portion. [0016] The plate portion may be made of aluminum. The plate portion may be provided with internal cooling fluid conduits extending generally parallel to the back face and within the thickness of the plate portion.

[0017] The front face of the plate portion may be provided with a plurality of counterbores, and a take-out tube may be mounted in each counterbore, with each counterbore optionally having a generally cylindrical inner wall surface that bears against an outer surface of the tube base portion of the respective take-out tube mounted therein.

[0018] Each counterbore has a bore endface, the cylindrical inner wall surface extending between the bore and face and the front face of the plate portion, and wherein the base portion of the tube body has a base endface that bears against the bore endface. The tube body of each take-out tube may be made of aluminum.

According to some aspects, a method of conductively cooling exterior surfaces of an injection molded preform includes, loading a preform into an interior nest of a cooling tube, the cooling tube mounted to a plate, the interior nest having a nest surface for engaging the exterior surface of the preform and drawing heat away from the preform; and withdrawing heat from the cooling tube by circulating cooling fluid through internal fluid conduits in the plate, the cooling tube having a base end face and an outer sidewall extending away from the base end face, the base end face and at least a portion of the sidewall bearing in intimate engagement with the plate.

[0019] According to some aspects of the teaching disclosed herein, a method of producing cooled injection molded preforms includes conductively cooing exterior surfaces of the preforms during two machine cycles, and during the same two cycles simultaneously cooling interior surfaces of the preforms In some examples, the exterior surface conductive cooling comprises holding the preforms in take-out tubes. The preforms can be continuously retained in the same take-out tubes during the two machine cycles. In some examples, the exterior surface conductive cooling can include cooling the take-out tubes with a flow of cooling fluid, and the cooling fluid can be chilled water flowing through interna! ducts in one or both of the take-out tubes and ta e-out plate.

[0020] In some examples, the interior surface cooling can comprise inserting a cooling pin in the preform while the preform is held in the take-out tube. The interior surface cooling can comprise urging cooling fluid to flow through an intermediate space between the pin and the preform. In some examples, the flow of cooling fluid can comprise blowing air through the pin from a pressure source, outward against the inner surface of the preform, and in some examples the air can thereafter vent to atmosphere In some examples, the flow of cooling fluid can comprise drawing air (for example, from atmosphere external the pin) into the intermediate space and then into the pin, and the pin can be in fluid communication with a vacuum source

[0021] In some examples, the interior surface cooling can comprise inserting a first pin (e.g. a load station cooling pin) into the preform during a first machine cycle, and inserting a second pin (e g a retaining cooling pin) into the preform during a second subsequent machine cycle. The first pin can exit the preform with the preform remaining in the take-out tube when the first pin is moved away from the take-out plate. The second pin can remove the preform from take-out tube and hold the preform on the second pin when the second pin is moved away from the take-out plate. In some examples, the rate of air flow into the intermediate space [e_Tig. from atmosphere] relative to the rate at which air is drawn out of the intermediate space [e.g through the second pin] can be controlled to maintain vacuum in the intermediate space for holding the preform on the second pin. In some examples, the method includes continued interior cooling of the preform white the preform is loaded onto the second pins, until the preform is unloaded from the second pins

[0022] According to some aspects, a method of producing cooled injection molded preforms, comprises, a) injecting resin into the mold cavities of a mold in repeated injection cycles to provide successive sets of molded preforms; b) after each injection cycle, transferring a respective set of preforms from the mold cavities to take-out tubes, successive sets of preforms transferred alternately to a first set of take-out tubes and a second set of takeout tubes, the first and second sots of take-out tubes mounted to a take-out plate; and c) at least partially during each injection cycle, providing a cooling cycle for cooling previous sets of preforms transferred out of the mold after previous injection cycles, the previous sets of preforms including a first previous set, a second previous set, and a third previous set. the first previous set being transferred from the mold most recently and the second and third previous sets being transferred from the mold, respectively, one and two cycles prior to the first previous set; d) each cooling cycle comprising a first interior cooling cycle for cooling interior surfaces of the first previous set, a second interior cooling cycle for cooling interior surfaces of the second previous set, and a third interior cooling cycle for cooling interior surfaces of the third previous set.

[0023] In some examples, the cooling cycle may comprise advancing a pin side of a cooling shell relatively towards the take-out plate, the pin side of the cooling shell comprising an initially unloaded set of retaining cooling pins, an initially loaded set of retaining cooling pins, and a plurality of load station cooling pins The first interior cooling cycle may comprise inserting the load station cooling pins into the first previous set of preforms. The second interior cooling cycle may comprise inserting the initially unloaded set of retaining cooling pins into the second previous set of preforms. The third interior cooling cycle may comprise retaining the third previous set of preforms on the initially loaded set of retaining cooling pins as the pin side of the cooling shell is advanced relatively towards the take-out plate.

[0024] In some examples, the cooling cycle may comprise withdrawing the pin side of the cooling shell relatively away from the take-out plate after the pin side has been advanced relatively towards the take-out plate The load station cooling pins may be withdrawn from the first previous set of

a preforms as the pin side of the cooling shell is withdrawn relatively away from the take-out plate. The second interior cooling cycle may comprise retaining the second previous set of performs on the initially unloaded set of retaining cooling pins as the pin side of the cooling shell is withdrawn relatively away from the take-out plate After the cooling shell has been withdrawn relative to the take-out plate, the pin side of the cooling shell may be moved to an unload position and the third set of previous preforms may be unloaded from the initially loaded set of retaining cooling pins.

[0025] In some examples, each of the first, second, and third interior cooling cycles may comprise urging fluid flow through respective first, second, and third pin channels provided, respectively, in the load station cooling pins, the initially unloaded set of retaining cooling pins, and the initially loaded set of retaining cooling pins, respectively

[0026] In some examples, the first interior cooling cycle may comprise contacting a first inner dome portion of the first previous set of preforms with a first tip portion of the load station cooling pins when the pin side of the cooling shell is advanced relative to the take-out plate.

[0027] Other aspects and features of the present specification will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of the specific examples of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any wa In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 is a back perspective view of an injection molding machine in accordance with or more aspects of the teaching disclosed herein;

[0030] Figure 2 is a front view o† an exemplary article formed by the machine of Figure 1 ; [0031 ] Figure 2A is a top view of the article of Figure 2,

[0032] Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the article of Figure 2A, taken along the lines 2B-2B;

[0033] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine of Figure 1 , from the reverse side, showing part handling features in greater detail;

[0034] Figure 4 is a back (non-operator side) elevation view of a portion of the machine of Figure 3;

[0035] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the machine of Figure 3, taken along the lines 5-5;

[0036] Figure 6 is an enlarged portion of the structure of Figure 5,

[0037] Figure 7 is another perspective view of a portion of the machine of Figure 1 , from generally the same angle as Figure 1 , showing part handling features in greater detail including interior features of the cooling shell;

[0038] Figure 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure of Figure 7, taken along the lines 8-8, with diagonal dividing walls removed for clarity,

[0039] Figure 9 is an elevation view of another portion of the part handling apparatus of Figure 1 , including a take-out plate; perspective views of the portion of the machine similar to that of Figure 3, showing the machine at different points in an operating sequence;

[0040] Figure 10 is a schematic view of a portion of the machine of Figure 3 taken along the lines 10-10; showing a take-out plate partially advanced towards the shell along axis 168;

[0041] Figure 10A is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure of Figure 10;

[0042] Figure 11 is a perspective view of another portion of the part handling apparatus of Figure 1 ; [0043] Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the structure of Figure 11 ;

[0044] Figure 13 is a front view of a portion of the structure of Figure 11 , showing a rotary mount in four positions;

[0045] Figure 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing air flow through a pin and a preform retained on the pin;

[0046] Figure 14A is an enlarged vie of a portion of Figure 14;

[0047] Figure 14B is sectional view of the structure of Figure 1 , taken along the lines 14B-14B,

[0048] Figure 14C is side sectional view showing alternate pins mounted to a transfer shell side;

[0049] Figure 15 is perspective view of portions of an alternate part handling apparatus;

[0050] Figure 16 is an elevation view of the structure of Figure 15, [0051] Figure 17 is a perspective view from the non-operator side of another injection molding machine, the machine having a cooling shell with a single pin side oriented in the unload position;

[0052] Figure 18 is a perspective view of the machine of Figure 17, the pin side oriented in the load position;

[0053] Figure 19 is a section view of a portion of the machine of Figure 18, taken along the lines 18-18,

[0054] Figure 20 is an end perspective view of a portion of the machine of Figure 18 including the cooling shell;

[0055] Figure 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine of Figure 20, with the shell removed and a rotary mount for the shell oriented in a position corresponding to the unload position of the pin side of the shell; [0056] Figure 22 is a section view of the portion of the machine of

Figure 21 , taken along the lines 22-22;

[0057] Figure 23 is an elevation view of a cooling pin of the machine of Figure 17;

[0058] Figure 24 is a sectional view of the cooling pin of Figure 23, taken along the lines 24-24;

[0059] Figure 25 is a sectional view of the cooling pin of Figure 23, shown in a retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of an embodiment of each claimed invention No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention Any invention disclosed in an apparatus or process described below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.

[0061] Referring to Figure 1 , an example of an injection molding machine 100 includes a base 102, with a stationary platen 104 and a moving platen 106 mounted to the base 102 and coupled together via tie bars 108. The moving platen 106 can translate towards and away from the stationary platen 104 along a machine axis 105. A mold 107 is formed between the platens 104, 106, the mold 107 defined at least in part by a first mold half 104a mounted to the stationary platen 104, and a second mold half 106a mounted to the moving platen 106. An injection unit 110 is mounted to the base 102 for injecting resin or other mold material into the mold 107 to form a molded article

[0062] In the example illustrated, the injection molding machine 100 is shown set up for molding preforms that can be used as input material for subsequent processing, for example, a blow molding operation to produce beverage containers. With reference to Figure 2, an exemplary preform 112 comprises a generally elongate tubular article extending along a preform axis 114, and having opposing open and closed ends 116, 1 8 A threaded portion 120 for receiving a closure may be provided adjacent the open end 116. A radially outwardly extending annular flange 122 may be disposed adjacent the threaded portion 120, with the threaded portion 120 disposed axially between the open end 1 16 and the flange 122.. The preforms have an inner surface 124 that can include a generally cylindrical inner wall portion 124a along the axial extent of the preform (between the open and closed ends), and a generally concave inner end portion 124b at the closed end. The preforms 112 have an outer surface 126 spaced apart from the inner surface 124 that can include a generally cylindrical outer wall portion 126a along the axial extent of the preform and a convex outer end portion 126b at the closed end. The spacing between the inner and outer surfaces 124, 126 generally defines a preform wall thickness 128.

[0063] With reference again to Figure 1 , in the example illustrated for producing the preforms, the first mold half 104a (attached to the stationary platen 104) can comprise a cavity side of the mold 107 having recesses (or mold cavities) 130 for forming the outer surface 126 of the preforms 112. The second mold half 106a can comprise a core side of the mold 107 having mold core pins 132 for insertion into the mold cavities 130 and forming the inner surface 124 of the preforms 112. In the example illustrated, the machine 100 has an equal quantity of mold cavities 130 and mold pins 132, this quantity defining the cavitation number of the mold 107. Typical mold cavitation numbers include 16, 32, 48, 96 or more. In the example illustrated, the mold cavitation number is 16, and the mold has 16 mold cavities 130 and 16 mold pins 132.

[0064] Referring also to Figure 3, the injection molding machine 100 is, in the example illustrated, provided with a part-handling apparatus 140 for moving and/or treating articles formed in the mold 107 of the machine. The part-handling apparatus 140 comprises a rotary transfer shell 142 having one or more shell sides 144, each shell side 144 rotatable together with the cooling shell 142 about a shell axis 146. In the example illustrated, the shell axis 146 is generally horizontal and perpendicular to the machine axis 105. The transfer shell 142 has (in the example illustrated) four generally planar sides 144a, 144b, 144c, and I44d (first to fourth sides, respectively), adjacent sides arranged generally perpendicular to each other and joined along shell joint edges 148, The shell joint edges 148 are, in the example illustrated, parallel to the shell axis 146.

[0065] With reference to Figure 4, the shell 142 has a plurality of interior shell side chambers 149 associated with respective ones of the sides 144 of the shell 142. In the example illustrated, the shell side chambers 149 include a first shell side chamber 149a adjacent (and/or bounded at least in part by) an inner surface of the first side 144a. The shell 142 further includes second, third and fourth shell side chambers 149b, 149c, and 149d, respectively, each adjacent (and/or bounded at least partially by) an inner surface of the second side 144b, third side 144c, and fourth side 144d, respectively. The shell includes interior diagonal walls 151 generally separating the interior of the shell into the four shell side chambers 149.

[0066] Rotation of the cooling shell 142 about the shell axis 146 can move the sides 144 between various stations 150. In the example illustrated, the stations 150 comprise four stations, namely, 150a-150d (Fig 4) spaced apart by 90 degree increments about the shell axis 146. One of the stations (e.g. first station 150a) can comprise a load station for loading articles onto the shell 142, and another station (e.g. fourth station 150d) can comprise an unload station 150d for unloading articles from the shell 142. At least one optional supplemental treatment station can be provided between the load and unload stations 150a, 150d.

[0067] In the example illustrated, a side of the shell 142 is in the load station 150a when it is in a vertical orientation and nearest (along the machine axis) to the mold 07. In Figure 4, the first side 144a of the shell is in the load station 150a. A side of the shell 142 is, in the example illustrated, in the unload station 150d when it is oriented in a generally horizontal plane beneath the shell axis 146. In Figure 4, the second side 144b of the shell is in the unload station 150d At least one of the second and third stations 150b, 150c can comprise an optional supplemental treatment station. In the example illustrated, the second station 150b comprises a first supplemental treatment station, opposite the unload station 150d, and the third station 15Qc comprises an optional second supplemental treatment station provided opposite the load station 150a. The supplemental cooling stations may repeat a portion or all of the same cooling treatment as provided at the load and/or unload station. Optionally, the supplemental cooling stations may provide additional cooling treatment, such as. for example, cooling fluid along exterior surfaces of the preforms.

[0068] In the example illustrated, the shell rotates in a clock-wise direction about the shell axis when viewed from the front of the shell (i.e. when facing the non-operator side of the machine 00) as shown in Figure 4 Indexing the shell (i.e. rotating the shell 90 degrees) moves a side (e.g. first side 144a) from the load station 150a to the first supplemental treatment station 150b, and simultaneously moves another side (e g the second side 144b) from the unload station 150d to the load station 150a, Indexing the cooling shell another 90 degrees moves the first side 144a (in the example illustrated) to the second supplemental treatment station 150c, positioned opposite the load station 150a. A further 90 degree index (i e a total of 270 degrees from the load station 150a) moves the first side 144a to the unload station 150d In alternate examples, the shell can rotate cloc wise, or can alternate between clockwise and counter clockwise rotation during various points of the machine cycle.

[0069] With reference to Figures 3, 5, and 6, in the example illustrated, the part-handling apparatus 140 further comprises a plurality of shell receivers in the form of transfer pins 154 configured to have preforms 112 loaded on the pins 154 and to help retain the preforms 112 on the transfer shell 142 as the shell indexes the sides among the stations 150, The transfer shell 142 can optionally provide cooling to the preforms 112 loaded on the shell. For example, the transfer pins 154 are, in the example illustrated, configured to provide cooling to interior surfaces of the preforms, and to have preforms retained on the pins as the cooling shell indexes the sides 144 among the various stations 150. The transfer pins 154 of the illustrated example may also be referred to as retaining cooling pins, and the transfer shell 142 of the illustrated example may also be referred to as a cooling shell.

[0070] Each one of the receiver sets may have an equal quantity of individual receivers (e.g. individual retaining cooling pins 154), and the quantity of retaining cooling pins 154 in each set may be equal to the cavitation number of the mold 107. In the example illustrated, each receiver set has 16 receivers (first receiver set has 16 first retaining cooling pins 154a, and second receiver set has 16 second retaining cooling pins 154b-see Fig 3). There are two receiver sets per side 144 providing a total of 32 receivers (i.e. 32 retaining cooling pins 154) per side of the cooling shell 142 and a total of eight receiver sets on the shell 142 (a total of 128 retaining cooling pins154 on the shell).

[0071 ] The pins 154a of the first pin set are spaced apart from each other in a pin pattern In the example illustrated, the pin pattern is defined by four columns spaced apart from each other horizontally by a column spacing, that is, in the example illustrated, equal between each pair of adjacent columns The pin pattern further includes four rows spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction that, in the example illustrated, Is not equal between each pair of adjacent rows The second set pins 154b are arranged relative to each other in the same pin pattern as the first set pins 154a.

[0072] With reference to Figures 5 and 6, in the example illustrated, each one of the retaining cooling pins 154 extends lengthwise along a first pin axis 55 and comprises a first pin base 158 fixed to the respective side of the shell, and a first pin tip 160 spaced away from the base 158 (along the receiver axis 155), with a first pin sidewall 159 extending between the base 158 and the tip 160. A first pin fluid channel 162 can be provided through each cooling pin 154, each fluid channel 162 having one or more proximal openings 162a adjacent the base 158 for fluid communication between the channel 162 and a respective one of the side shell chambers 149 to which the retaining cooling pin 154 is attached, and one or more distal openings 62b through the pin sidewall 159 for fluid communication between the fluid channel 162 and an intermediary space between the external surface of the retaining cooling pin 154 and the internal surface of a preform 112 in which the pin has been inserted.

[0073] Referring again to Figure 3, the part handling apparatus 140 may comprise a fluid pres$uri_.ation device 401 for urging a flow of fluid through the fluid channels 162. The fluid pressurization device can be a blower in fluid communication with one or more of the shell side chambers 149 In the example illustrated, the fluid pressurization device 401 is an air blower that has an inlet 403 for drawing air into the device 401 , and an outlet 405 for expelling air from the device 401 , and provides a pressure differential between the inlet 403 and the outlet 405. The fluid pressure at the outlet 405 is greater than the fluid pressure at the inlet 403, and in the example illustrated, the fluid pressure at the outlet 405 is greater than atmospheric pressure and the fluid pressure at the inlet 403 is less than atmospheric pressure. The fluid pressurization device 401 can positively pressurize or negatively pressurize a space by connection to the outlet 405 or inlet 403, respectivel

[0074] Referring to Figures 3, 6, and 7, the cooling shell 142 may further be provided with a plurality of load station cooling pins 354 on each side 144 of the shell 142. The load station cooling pins are, in the example illustrated, similar to the retaining cooling pins 154, and like features are identified by the reference numerals, incremented by 200. In the example illustrated, each side 144 of the shell 142 has a group of load station cooling pins comprising a set of pins arranged in the same pin pattern as the retaining cooling pins 154 (16 pins arranged in four rows and four columns, in the example illustrated), plus one additional column of load station cooling pins (a fifth column of four pins). This provides a total of 20 load station cooling pins per side 144, and a total of 80 load station cooling pins 354 on the shell 142 (in the example illustrated).

[0075] The load station cooling pins in the fifth column are arranged in the same pin pattern relative to the adjacent three columns of load station cooling pins 354. Referring to the side 144a shown in Figure 3, this configuration of the group of 20 load station cooling pins 354 provides a first "set" of 16 load station cooling pins 354 using the left-most column of load station cooling pins (identified at 354a), and a second "set" of 16 load station cooling pins 354 using the right-most column of load station cooling pins (354b), with the three columns of pins 354 (i.e. a central subgroup of 12 pins 354) between the left and right columns included in both sets.

[0076] Each load station cooling pin 354 may have a second pin internal fluid channel 362 with a second pin proximal opening 362a adjacent the base and one or more second pin distal openings 362b spaced apart from the base 358 for fluid communication between the second pin channel 362 and an intermediate space external the load station cooling pin and a preform 1 into which the load station cooling pin has been inserted [0077] With reference tu Figures 7 and 8, each side 144 may have a respective load station cooling pin manifold 370, the manifold 370 isolating the second pin proximal openings 362a from the respective shell side chamber 149, and providing fluid communication between a manifold port 376 and the second pin channels 362 via the second pin proximal openings 362a. Each side manifold 370 has a trunk conduit 374 that, in the example illustrated, is oriented parallel to the shell axis and extends the length (axially) of the shell. The trunk conduit 374 is open at one axial end, the opening defining the manifold port 376. The trunk conduit 374 is closed at the opposing axial end 378. A plurality of branch conduits 380 extend generally orthogonally from the trunk conduit, the branch conduits spaced apart to be in alignment with respective columns of load station cooling pins 354. The proximal openings 362a of the channels 362 of each load station cooling pin open to a branch conduit (see also Figure 6) for fluid communication with the trunk conduit 374 and manifold port 376.

[0078] Referring to Figures 1 and 9, a take-out plate 164 is reciprocally movable between the mold 107 and the cooling shell 142 for transferring articles therebetween. The take-out plate generally transfers articles from the mold to a position outside the mold tor engagement by the pins 154, 354 of a side 144 of the cooling shell positioned in the load station When the first side 144a is in the load station 150a, articles are transferred to one of the first and at least second set retaining cooling pins 154a, 154b of the first side 144a of the cooling shell 142 during one (a first) injection cycle, and articles are transferred trom the mold to the retaining cooling pins 154a, 154b of another one of the first and at least second sets of the first side 144a during another (a second) injection cycle. In the example, illustrated, while one set of retaining cooling pins 154a or 154b engages one set of performs 112 in the take-out plate, a second set of preforms 112 in the take-out plate is engaged by one set of the load station cooling pins 354 (i.e. engaged by the central subgroup of load station cooling pins 354 in the central three columns, plus the pins 354 of one of the columns on either side thereof) In this specification, numbering of injection cycles is used to identify distinct injection cycles, and incremental numbering does not necessarily define a particular order or succession of cycles (incremental numbering may define a particular order in some parts of the discussion where such ordering is expressly specified)

[0079] In the example illustrated, the take-out plate 164 is joined to a linear robot 165 that can translate the take-out plate 164 along a first robot axis 166 between at least one advanced position in which the take-out plate is disposed between the mold halves 104a, 106a, and at least one retracted position in which the take-out plate 164 is clear of the mold 107 (Figure 3). In the example illustrated, the first robot axis 166 is parallel to the shell axis 146. Furthermore, the take-out plate 164 is, in the example illustrated, optionally translatable along a second robot axis 168 that is parallel to the machine axis 105.

[0080] The take-out plate 164 has a quantity of take-out tubes 170 for receiving molded articles from the mold core pins 32 The quantity of takeout tubes 170 can be equal to or greater than the cavitation number of the mold 107 and can be equal to or greater than the quantity of individual retaining cooling pins 154 in each receiver set. In the example illustrated, the quantity of take-out tubes 170 provided on the take-out plate 164 comprises a first set of 16 tubes 170a and a second set of 16 tubes 70b, for a total of 32 take-out tubes. The first set take-out tubes 170a of the take-out plate 164 are, in the example illustrated, spaced apart from each other in a tube pattern of four rows and four columns that matches the pin pattern. The second set take-out tubes 170b are similarly spaced apart from each other in the same tube pattern of four rows and four columns, and in the example illustrated, are interlaced with first set tubes 170a.

[0081] In the example illustrated, the take-out plate 164 can be moved to a first advanced position (along the first robot axis 166) in which the first set tubes 170a are aligned with the mold core pins 132 to receive preforms 2 therefrom, and a second advanced position (along the first robot axis 166) in which the second set tubes 170b are aligned with the mold core pins 132.

[0082] The take-out plate 164 can also be moved to at least one retracted position (along the first robot axis 166) for selectively aligning the take-out tubes 170 with pins 154, 354 on the side 144 of side of the shell in the load station 150a In the example illustrated, the take-out plate 164 is movable relative to the cooling shell for selectively aligning one set of the tubes 170a or 170b with the retaining cooling pins 154a or 154b of one of the at least two receiver sets, while simultaneously aligning the tubes 170a or 170b of the other tube set with a corresponding set of the load station cooling pins 354

[0083] More particularly, in the example illustrated, the take-out plate 164 can be moved to a first retracted position (along the first robot axis 166) in which the first set tubes 170a are aligned with the first set retaining cooling pins 154a, and a second retracted position (along the first robot axis 166) in which the second set tubes 170b are aligned with the second set retaining cooling pins 154 In Figure 10, the take-out plate first retracted position is shown in phantom, and the second retracted position is shown in solid line. In the example illustrated, when in the first retracted position, the second set tubes 170b are aligned with respective ones of the load station cooling pins 354 forming a first set of 16 pins 354, including left-most pins 354a When in the second retracted position, the first set tubes 170a are aligned with respective ones of the load station cooling pins 354 forming a second set of pins, including the right-most pins 354

[0084] At the cooling shell 142, a period of prolonged cooling can be applied by holding multiple sets of preforms on the shell In the example illustrated, the cooling shell holds a total of eight sets of preforms, and at least seven Injection cycles elapse between the time that a particular set of preforms is loaded onto a set of retaining cooling pins of the cooling shell and the time that such particular set of preforms is unloaded from the cooling shell Cooling is provided to interior surfaces of the preforms during the entire time that the preforms are loaded on the cooling shell, by, for example, continuously urging a flow of cooling fluid along the inner surface of the preforms either into or out from the second openings 162b of the channels 162.

[0085] The sequence can, in some examples, comprise indexing the cooling shell only once for every two successive injection cycles. For example, with the first side 144a at the unload station 150d, both sets 152a, 52b of pins can be emptied immediately prior to indexing the cooling shell to move the first side to the load station. When at the load station 150a, articles from one injection cycle can be loaded onto one set of empty pins (e.g. the first set 152a of pins), the shell 142 can hold its orientation, and articles from the next injection cycle can be loaded onto the second set 152b of empty pins. After the second set 152b of pins has been loaded with articles (e.g. preforms 112), the cooling shell 142 can be indexed to move the second side 144b of the cooling shell from the unload station 150d (at which both sets of pins have been emptied) to the load station 150a.

[0086] In the example illustrated, after a first set of articles from one injection cycle has been transferred onto the first set of pins 154a of one side of the cooling shell, a second set of articles from a subsequent injection cycle is transferred to the second set of pins 154b on that same side of the cooling shell while the first set of articles remain on the first set of pins. At least one set of articles is removed from each side of the shell when at the unload station 150d.

[0087] Referring again to Figure 3, the fluid pressurization device 401 may be spaced apart from the cooling shell 142 and is, in the example illustrated, disposed adjacent the support column (or upright) 462 to which the cooling shell 142 is mounted. The blower can be fixed to and supported by the support column 462 The support column 462 is, in the example illustrated, adjustably supported by a rail 407 fixed to the machine base 102 and oriented parallel to the machine axis 105. The rail 407 can be engaged by bearing shoes 409 fixed to the support column 462. This can facilitate adjusting the axial position of the cooling shell in response to the axial length of a particular preform being produced. For example, when producing shorter preforms, the cooling shell can be moved along the rail towards the stationary platen 104 (and then locked in place), which can reduce the length of x-axis travel that the take-out plate must traverse when moving parts from the mold to the shell Furthermore, in the example illustrated, the rail 407 used to support the support column 462 is the same rail used to support the robot to which the take-out plate is attached This can facilitate providing correct and accurate relative alignment between the take-out plate and the cooling shell.

[0088] Referring also to Figures 11 and 12, the support column 462 includes a header 41 1 having a header housing 412 and a header interior for fluid communication with the fluid pressurization device 401. In the example illustrated, the cooling shell 142 is joined to the support column 462 by a rotary mount 413 (see also Fig. 13), permitting rotation of the cooling shell 142 relative to the support column 462. The rotary mount 413 has bolt holes 415 to receive bolts attaching the shell thereto. The rotary mount 413 comprises at least one mount aperture 417 that provides fluid communication between the header of the support column 462 and the cooling shell 142 when mounted to the support column 462. In the example illustrated, the rotary mount 413 has four apertures 417a, 417b, 417c, and 417d, each of which provides fluid communication between the header 4 1 and the shell side chambers 149a, 149b, 149c, and 149d, respectively (see also Figure 4). Each aperture 4 7 is, in the example illustrated, generally kidney shaped.

[0089] In the example illustrated, the header 41 1 has a first header chamber 421 in the housing 412, in fluid communication with the shell side chamber 149 of the respective side in the load station 150a The header 4 1 can have an optional second header chamber 423 separate from the first chamber 421 and in fluid communication with the shell side chamber 149 of the side 144 in the unload station 150d

[0090] In the example illustrated, the housing 412 of the header 41 1 has a generally cylindrical outer housing wall with an inner housing wall surface 425 defining a header interior. A dividing wall 427 having opposed first and second side surfaces (427a, 427b) extends across a portion of the header interior. The first header chamber 421 is bounded at least partially by a first portion of the inner housing wall surface and the first side surface 427a of the dividing wall 427. The second header chamber 423 is bounded at least partially by a second portion of the inner housing wall surface and the second surface 427b of the dividing wall 427 The volumes of the first and second header chambers may be, but need not be, equal to each other, The relative volumes can be sized to correspond to the number of pins being serviced by the chambers. In the example illustrated, the volume first header chamber 421 is about three times the volume of the second header chamber 423

[0091] The first header chamber 421 may also be in fluid communication with the shell side chamber 149 of a side 144 in at least one supplemental cooling station intermediate the load and unload stations In the example illustrated, the first header chamber 421 is in fluid communication with the first and second stations 150b, 150c.

[0092] The first header chamber 421 has a first header port 431 in fluid communication with the fluid pressurization device 401, The fluid communication can be provided via a first conduit 433 having a first conduit first end 433a connected to first header port, and a first conduit second end 433b connected to the fluid pressurization device 401 The first conduit 433 is, in the example illustrated, free of valves or other flow blocking element, and provides continuous fluid communication between the fluid pressurization device 401 and the first header chamber 421. In the example illustrated, the first conduit second end 433b is connected to the inlet 403 of fluid pressurization device 401 , generating a vacuum in the first header chamber 421.

[0093] The second header chamber 423 has a second header port 437 in fluid communication with the fluid pressurization device 401. In the example illustrated, this fluid communication is provided via a second conduit 439. The, second conduit 439 has second conduit first end 439a connected to second header opening, and a second conduit second end 439b connected to the fluid pressurization device 401. In the example illustrated, the second conduit second end 439b is connected to the inlet 403 of the fluid pressurization device 401 , and a control valve 441 is disposed in flow path of the second conduit.

[0094] The control valve 4 1 is movable to a first position, in which fluid communication between the first and second ends of the second conduit is open and a vacuum is provided in the second header chamber. The control valve 441 is movable to a second position in which fluid communication between the first and second ends of the second conduit is blocked, and instead fluid communication is provided between the first end of the second conduit and a release port on the valve. The release port may vent to atmosphere, so that when the control valve is in the second position, the second header chamber is in fluid communication with air at neutral pressure (i.e. atmosphere). Alternatively, the release port may be in fluid communication with a source of pressurized air, so that when the control valve is in the second position, the second header chamber is in fluid communication with air at a positive pressure. The source of pressurized air may be an additional fluid pressurization device (e.g. a compressor or another blower). Alternatively, the release port of the control valve may be connected to the outlet of the blower (for example, by a release conduit), so that the same blower providing vacuum in the first header chamber provides a source of pressurized air for selective communication with the second header chamber. [0095] The part-handling apparatus 140 may further include a third fluid conduit 471 in fluid communication with at least some of the load station cooling pins 354 for at least a portion of each cycle of the machine 100. In the example illustrated, the third fluid conduit 471 is generally external to the cooling shell and has a first end 471a adjacent the shell and a second end 471b for connection to a fluid pressunzation device.

[0096] In the example illustrated, the second end 471 b of the third conduit 471 is connected to the inlet 403 of the blower 401. The second end 471a of the third conduit presents an opening that aligns with the manifold port 376 of the manifold 370 of the side 144 of the shell 142 positioned at the load station 150a When the shell indexes, for example, the first side 144a into the load station, the manifold port 376 oF the first side manifold 370a aligns with the first end 471a of the conduit 471 , providing, in the example illustrated, a continuous suction through the load station cooling pins 374 on the first side 144a for the time that the first side 144a is in the load station. When not in the load station, the corresponding manifold ports 376 are generally open to atmosphere. When the Shell is between indexed positions, the first end 471 a of the conduit 471 is generally closed off by a back surface of the shell 142

[0097] Referring to Figure 14, a retaining force may be exerted on the preforms after (and optionally before and/or during) transfer of the preforms from the respective set ot tubes 170 or 170b of the ta e-out plate to the respective set of transfer pins 154 of the cooling shell. The retaining force can help hold the preforms 112 on the retaining cooling pins 154. In the example illustrated, the retaining force is at least partially generated by a negative pressure (vacuum) provided in an intermediate space 501 between an outer surface of the retaining cooling pins 54 and an inner surface of the preforms, the negative pressure resulting in a suction force holding the preform on the pin. The proximal opening 162a of the internal channel 162 of the retaining cooling pin 54 is in fluid communication with the respective shell side chamber 149 to which the pin 154 is affixed. When the respective side 144 is in the load station (e.g. side 144a at load station 150a), fluid communication is, in the example illustrated, provided between the respective shell side chamber 149 (e.g. 149a) and the inlet 403 of the blower 401 , via first conduit 433, first chamber 421 (of header 411). and the respective aperture 417 (e.g. aperture 417a) in the rotary mount 413 (as described previously). The respective aperture 417 (e.g. aperture 417a) remains exposed to the first chamber 421 during rotation from the load station 150a to the first and second supplemental treatment stations 50b and 150c (see Fig 13)

[0098] Upon indexing the side 144a to the unload station 150d, the aperture 417a moves into registration with the second chamber 423 In use, when the first side 144a advances (rotationally) towards the unload station, the second chamber can be maintained at about the same negative pressure as the first, chamber 421 , thus maintaining the retaining force on the preforms entering the load station Before advancing the first side 144a once more to the load station, the pressure in the chamber 423 can be increased to neutral or positive pressure to facilitate unloading the preforms 12 onto, for example, conveyor 188.

[0099] Referring to Figure 4, each transfer pin 154 can be configured to provide flow gates 506 near its base 158, to provide a restriction for airflow into the open end of the preform. In the example illustrated, the preform 112 has a neck region 121 adjacent its open end 116, the threaded portion 20 being generally in the same vicinity of the neck region 121. The neck region has a nec region inner surface 123 generally opposite the threads.

[00100] Each pin has a base 158, portions of which can be used to help mount the pin to the shell side of the transfer shell 142. Each pin has a tip 160 spaced apart from the base, and an interior pin channel 162 extending between the base and the tip. [00101] The base portion can be of an enlarged diameter relative to the tip In the example illustrated, the base portion includes a base journal 159 having a journal outer surface 161 sized smaller than the neck region inner surface 123 to provide a generally annular flow gate 506 between the journal outer surface and the 161 and the neck region inner surface 123.

[00102] The annular flow gate 506 generally forms forming a flow restriction when air is drawn into the preform through the flow gate 506 and evacuated from the preform through the pin channel 162, thereby maintaining a vacuum force on the preform and convectively cooling the preform as a result of said airflow.

[00103] The neck region inner surface can be generally cylindrical or can have a more complex profile The journal outer surface can optionally match the profile of the neck region inner surface. The flow gate 506 is, in the example illustrated, position at inlet portion of the air flow, downstream of the opening of the preform, and upstream of the intermediate space 501.

[00104] Along the flow gate 506, the neck region has a neck inner diameter 548 and the pin journal may have a journal outer diameter 550 that is in the range from about 90 percent to about 99 percent of the neck inner diameter 548. In the example illustrated, the journal outer diameter 550 is about 98 percent of the neck inner diameter 548 The difference between the neck inner diameter and the journal outer diameter generally defines the gate cross-sectional area of the annular flow gate 506.

[00105] The pin channel 162 can be used for evacuation of air from the intermediate space 501 between the preform and pin. The pin channel has a pin channel diameter 552 that effectively determines the pin channel cross- sectional area The gate cross-sectional area can be in the range from about 70 percent to about 100% of the channel cross-sectional area In the example illustrated, the gate cross-sectional area is about 85 percent of the channel cross-sectional area. [00106] With reference to Figure 14c, an optional contact member 560 may be provided to hold the open end of the preform away from the shell side, providing a clearance gap 503 outwardly of the open end of the pin 112' and thereby maintaining fluid communication between the upstream side of the flow gate 506 and an ambient environment. In the example illustrated, the contact member 560 comprises the tip 160' of an alternate (but similar) transfer pin 154', the contact member 560 of the tip 160' of the pin 1 2' abutting an inner surface of a closed end of the preform. The tip 160' can include a domed cap to match the inner contour of the inner dome surface of the preform, and allow fluid communication between the pin channel 162 and the intermediate space 501 .

[00107] The pin channel and flow gate may generally be configured to accommodate an air flow rate from about 0.5 liters/sec to about 5 liters/sec. In the example illustrated, the pin channel and flow gate are configured to accommodate an air flow rate of about 1.5 liters/sec. The interior pin channel of the transfer pins are in fluid communication with the shell side chamber 149. The shell side chamber has a chamber port for fluid communication with at least one of a positive pressure fluid supply and a negative pressure fluid supply, and the fluid flow path for the retaining/cooling air flow extends between the flow gate and the chamber port, the fluid flow path free of openable/closeable flow blocking members.

[00108] The retaining/cooling airflow can be configured to provide a vacuum in a range from about 1 .5 to about 2 inches Hg. The airflow can be provided during inserting the transfer pin into the open end of the preform. Inserting the transfer pin into the preform can be performed while the shell side is in a load position tor receiving the preform from a take-out plate. The airflow can be maintained during rotation of the rotary transfer shell moving the shell side out of the load position

[00109] Accordingly, fluid flow (identified at arrows 505) providing convective cooling is maintained while simultaneously providing negative pressure in the intermediate space 501 for holding the preform 112 on the pin 154. A similar second intermediate space 502 is provided between the inner surface of the preforms 1 2 and the exterior of the load station cooling pins 354, but in the example illustrated, no flow gates are providedr to balance the rate of air flow with the pressure differential between the intermediate space 502 and ambient. This can facilitate providing a more vigorous flow of cooling fluid in the intermediate space 502, where the pin is not used to retain and transfer any preforms.

[001 0] In the example illustrated, continuous vacuum/cooling fluid flow 505 is provided from at least the time the respective shell side chamber is in the load station to at least the time the respective shell side chamber arrives at the unload station. In example illustrated, the fluid flow 505 is also provided at least until the preforms at the unload station are ejected The duration of the fluid flow 505 while at the unload station prior to ejection can be at least 50 percent, and in some examples more than 75 percent of the total time that the respective side of the shell is at the unload station. In the example illustrated, the fluid flow 505 is provided for more than about 90 percent of the total time that the respective side is at the unload station

[001 1 1 ] Referring again to Figure 10, the take-out plate 164 generally includes a carrier body to which a plurality of take-out receivers can be secured, the take-out receivers shaped and arranged to interact with molded articles in one half of the mold (i.e. core half or cavity half). In the example illustrated the carrier body is in the form of a plate portion 511 and the takeout receivers correspond to the take-out tubes 170 configured to interact with preforms presented on the mold pins of the mold core half,

[00 12] More particularly, in the example illustrated, the plate portion 51 1 has a front face 513, a back face 515 spaced apart from the front face, and a thickness 517 (extending horizontally when oriented as in-use) bounded by the front and back faces 515 The take-out tubes 170 project from the front face 513 of the plate portion 51 1 Each lube has an interior nest 519 for accommodating a preform, the nest 519 having an open outer end 521 and a generally closed bottom end 523 The closed bottom end 523 is configured to engage the outer surface 126b of the closed convex end (dome portion) of the preform In the example illustrated, each take-out tube 170 has a generally cylindrical tube body 541 with a base portion 543 having a generally cylindrical outer surface 545 and a bore endface 547.

[00113] In the example illustrated, each take-out tube 170 is at least partially embedded within the thickness 517 o† the plate portion 511 of the take-out plate 164. The front face of the plate portion is provide a plurality of counter bores 549, each counterbore 549 having a generally cylindrical inner wall surface 551 that bears against an outer surface 545 of the tube base portion of the respective take-out tube 170. Each counterbore can also have a bore endface 553, the cylindrical inner wall surface extending between the bore endface 553 and the front face of the plate portion, and wherein the base portion of the tube body has a base endface 547 that bears against the bore endface 553.

[00114] The closed bottom end 523 of the nest is set back of the front face 513 of the take-out plate 164 by a countersink 525. In the example illustrated, the closed bottom end 523 is positioned (horizontally) at about midway between the front face 5 3 and the back face 515 of the plate portion 51 1.

[001 15] Positioning the take-out tubes 170 so that the nests 519 extend into the thickness of the plate portion can facilitate conductive cooling of the take-out tubes via the plate portion. In the example illustrated, the plate portion is made of aluminum to facilitate thermal conduction, and is provided with cooling fluid tubes through which a cooled fluid (such as, for example, chilled water) can flow to draw heat away from the plate portion. The take-out tubes are, in the example illustrated, also constructed generally of aluminum. Embedding the base portions 541 of the take-out tubes 170 in the plate portion can increase the contact surface area between the tubes and the plate portion. This can reduce or eliminate the need for separate fluid cooling channels in the sidewalls of the take-out tubes.

[00116] Embedding the tubes in the thickness of the takeout plate can also help to provide other efficiencies, such as, for example, reducing the axial extent 529 of the takeout plate (generally defined by the distance from the back surface of the plate portion to the front edge of the take-out tubes) This can help to reduce the amount of axial space required between mold halves (when open) for the takeout plate to enter between the molds and extract a set of preforms.

[00117] The takeout plale 164 is, in the example, further provided with clearance pockets 531 that open to the front face of the plate portion. The clearance pockets 531 are generally arranged in columns that are positioned between spaced-apart columns of first and second take-out tubes 170a, 170b (see Figure 9). When transferring preforms from one set of tubes 170a or 170b to corresponding pins 154a or 154b, the pockets align with the other (non-transferring) set of retaining cooling pins 154a or 154b. This provides clearance for the non-transferring pins (and preform loaded thereon, if any) to invade the thickness 5 7 of the plate portion 51 1 of the takeout plate 164. In the example illustrated, the pockets 531 are in the form of slots extending through the thickness of the plale portion Each slot has a vertical extent encompassing a pair of vertically adjacent pins 154.

[00118] in use, a first set of preforms 1 12 is loaded onto the first set of take-out tubes of the take-out plate. The take-out plate shuttles out of the mold area so a second set of molded articles can be produced in the mold.

[00119] Upon removal from the mold area, the take-out plate is moved towards the cooling shell, with the load station cooling pins of the first side entering into the first set of preforms held in the first set take-out tubes 70a, In the example illustrated, vacuum through each load station cooling pin 354 draws ambient air into the open end of the preform, in the intermediate space 502 between the inner surface of the preform and the outer surface of the pin. In other examples, pressurized air can be blown through the load station cooling pin towards an inner surface of the preform, and the air can thereafter vent to atmosphere through the gap between the inner surface of the preform and the outer surface of the load station cooling pin 354.

[00120] Prior to completion of molding the second set of preforms, the take-out plate is moved away from the cooling shell, and when the mold opens, the take-out plate enters the mold area and the second set of molded articles is loaded onto the second set of take-out tubes 170b. The take-out plate then shuttles out of the mold area, so a third set of molded articles can be produced in the mold.

[00121] Upon removal from the mold area, the take-out plate is moved towards the cooling shell, with the load station cooling pins of the first side entering into the (just-molded) second set of preforms, and with the first set of retainer cooling pins 154a simultaneously entering into the first set of preforms in the take-out plate. In the examples illustrated, the retainer cooling pins cooi the second set by vacuum. In other examples, pressurized air can be blown through the retainer cooling pins as described above in regard to the load station cooling pins.

[00122] Prior to completion of molding the third set, the first set of preforms are ejected from the first set of take-out tubes 170a (by pins, stripper plate, air pressure, or other means) to effect transfer of the first set of preforms from the first set of take-out tubes 170a onto the first set of retainer cooling pins 154a, where they are held in place and also further cooled by the continued application of, in the example illustrated, vacuum through the retainer cooling pins.

[00123] After transfer, the take-out plate is moved away from the cooling shell, and when the mold opens, the take-out plate enters the mold area and the third set of molded articles is loaded onto the just-emptied first set of takeout tubes 170a. The take-out plate can then shuttle out of the mold area, so a fourth set of molded articles can be produced in the mold [00124] Upon removal from the mold area, the take-out plate is moved towards the cooling shell, with the load station cooling pins 354 of the first side 144a entering into the third set of preforms, and with the second set of retainer cooling pins 154b simultaneously entering into the second set of preforms in the take-out plate. Pockets or openings in the take-out plate 164 can accommodate the advancing first set of preforms (already transferred onto the first set of retainer cooling pins) to avoid interferenc The load station cooling pins can cool the third set by vacuum or pressurized air, as described previously. The second set of retainer cooling pins 154b cool the second set of preforms by vacuum.

[00125] Prior to completion of molding the fourth set, the second set of preforms are transferred to the second set of retainer cooling pins 54b from the second set of take-out tubes 170b, where they are held in place and also further cooled by the continued application of vacuum through the transfer pins. After transfer, the take-out plate is moved away from the cooling shell, and when the mold opens, the take-out plate enters the mold area and the fourth set of molded articles is loaded into the just-emptied first set of take-out tubes.

[00126] At this point, both sets of retainer cooling pins 154 on the first side of the cooling shell are loaded with preforms, and the cooling shell indexes 90 degrees The above steps are repeated for the next (second) side.

[00 27] When the first side 144a ultimately is indexed to the unload station 150d, the fourth side 44d will be at the load station 150a. After both sets of retainer cooling pins on the fourth side 144d are loaded with preforms, and before the fourth side is ready to index out of the load station, the vacuum to both of sets of retainer cooling pins on the first side can be switched to neutral pressure or to positive pressure, helping the first and second sets of preforms to be ejected from the cooling shell. [00128] Referring to Figures 5 and 16, another embodiment of a part handling apparatus 1 140 is shown. The part handling apparatus 1140 is similar in many respects to the part handling apparatus 140, and liKe features are identified by like reference characters incremented by 1000.

[00129] The part handling apparatus 1 140 includes a cooling shell 1142 having two sides, 1144a and 1 144b In Figure 15, side 1144a is shown in a load station 1 150a, for interaction with a take-out plate 1164. Each side has first and second sets of retaining cooling pins 1154a and 1154b (a total of 32 retaining cooling pins 1 154 per side, and a total of 64 retaining cooling pins 1154 on the shell 1142) The shell 1142 has corresponding shell side chambers 1149a and 1 149b internal to the shell for fluid communication between the retaining cooling pins 1 154 and a fluid pressurization device (not shown) The shell 1 142 also has one group of 20 load station cooling pins 1354 on each side 1144a and 1 144b, a total of 40 load station cooling pins 1354 on the shell 1 142.

[00130] The two-sided shell 1 142 can facilitate efficiency for some applications, such as, for example, smaller volume part production.

[00131] Referring now to Figure 17, another example of an injection molding machine 2100 has similarities to the injection molding machine 100, and like features are identified by like reference characters, incremented by 2000.

[00132] The injection molding machine 2100 includes a stationary platen 210 and a moving platen 2106 supported on a machine base 2102. The platens 2104 and 2106 support respective mold halves 2104a, 2106a forming mold cavities (when closed) to produce, in the example illustrated, preforms 1 12. In the example illustrated, the cavitation number of the mold is 16, so that a set of 16 preforms are injection molded in each injection cycle. The mold cavities are formed in part by 16 mold core pins 2132 arranged in a four- by-four matrix of four rows and four columns. [00133] The machine 2100 further includes a part handling apparatus 2140 including a cooling shell 2142. The cooling shell 2142 may have one or more sides 2144 with pins mounted thereto for cooling and/or holding preforms made in the mold 2104a, 2106a of the machine 2100. In the example illustrated, the cooling shell has a single side 2144 with a plurality of pins mounted thereto The side 2144 of the shell is also referred to as the pin side 2144 of the shell 2142. The shell 2144 has, in the example illustrated, a single shell side chamber (also called a pin side chamber) 2149 inside the shell 2144, adjacent the pin side 2144.

[00134] The shell 2142 is rotatable about a shell axis 2146 for moving the pin side 2144 between an unload station (Figure 17} and a load station (Figure 18) In the example illustrated, the pin side is generally vertical when in the load station, and generally horizontal when in the unload station, rotating back and forth through 90 degrees of rotation to move between the two stations.

[00 35] The plurality of pins includes at least a plurality of load station cooling pins 2354 and a plurality of retaining cooling pins 2154 The load station cooling pins 2354 may be configured to interact with preforms only when the preforms are in the load station. The retaining cooling pins 2154 may be configured to interact with preforms that are positioned in the load station, the unload station, and/or preforms that are moving between the load station and unload station.

[00136] The number of retaining cooling pins 2154 may be equal to or greater than the cavitation number of the mold. In the example illustrated, the number of retaining cooling pins 2154 is twice the cavitation number of the mold, the pins 2154 arranged in a first set of retaining cooling pins 2154a and a second set of retaining cooling pins 2154b The plurality of load station cooling pins 2354 comprises a group of pins equal to one set of pins plus one additional column of pins (i.e. twenty load tation cooling pins in the example illustrated) [00137] Referring now to Figures 19 and 20, in the example illustrated, the shell 2142 is provided with a first pin manifold 2370a, and a second pin manifold 2370b. The first pin manifold 2370a isolates the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a from fluid communication with the pin side chamber 2149, and provides fluid communication between a first manifold port 2376a and the first pin channels 2162 via the first pin proximal openings 2162a of the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a. The first pin manifold 2370a has a plurality of branch conduits 2380a (four branch conduits 2380a in the example illustrated) that are aligned with respective rows of the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a The proximal openings 2162a of the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a are in fluid communication with the first manifold port 2376a via the branch conduits 2380a and a trunk conduit 2374a extending between the first manifold port 2376a and the branch conduits 2380a.

[00138] Similarly, in the exam le illustrated, the proximal openings 2162a of the second set of retaining cooling pins 2154b are in fluid communication with the second manifold port 2376b via the branch conduits 2380b and a trunK conduit 2374b extending between the second manifold port 2376b and the branch conduits 2380b.

[00139] Referring to Figure 19, the shell 2142 is mounted to the machine 2100 via a support column 2462. The support column 2462 includes a header 24 1 having a header housing 2412 and a header interior (with at least one header chamber 2421) for fluid communication with the fluid pressurization device 2401 In the example illustrated, a portion of the header interior is bounded by a rotary mount 24 3 that is rotatably supported by the header housing 2412, for example, by bearings 2414.

[00140] The rotary mount 2413 may be provided with bolt holes 2415 for receiving fasteners to fix the shell 2142 to the rotary mount 2413 The rotary mount 2413 may be provided with one or more mount apertures 2417 to provide fluid communication between the pins 2154, 2354 and the header chamber 2421. In the example illustrated, the rotary mount 2413 has a first, second, third, and fourth mount aperture 2417a, 2417b, 2417c, and 2417d, respectively. The shell is fixed to the rotary mount such that the first mount aperture 2417a is aligned with the first manifold port 2376a, and the second mount aperture 2417b is aligned with the second manifold port 2376b (see Figure 19) The lemaiiiing two mount apertures 2417c and 24 7d, in the example illustrated, generally open to the pin side chamber 2149. In some examples the fourth mount aperture 2417d can be optional, with only the third mount aperture 2417c opening to the pin side chamber 2149 for fluid communication between the header chamber 2421 and the pin side chamber 2149 One or more locating dowels 2418 can extend from the rotary mount for engaging the shell to facilitate obtaining the desired relative orientation between the shell and the rotary mount when fixing the shell thereto.

[00141] In the example illustrated, when the cooling shell 2142 is oriented with the pin side 2144 in the load station (Figures 19 and 20), the rotary mount is oriented with the third and fourth mount apertures 2417c and 2417d at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions, respectively, and the first and second mount apertures 2417a and 2417b at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, respectively (when viewed from the non-operator side of the machine, and as shown in phantom in Figure 21). When the cooling shell is in oriented with the pin side 2144 in the unload position, the rotary mount is oriented with the first and second mount apertures 2417a and 2417b in the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions, respectively (see Figures 21 and 22).

[00142] At least one valve member 2441 may be provided to selectively block fluid communication between the header chamber and the retaining cooling pins 2154 when the pin side is in the unload position, In the example illustrated, a first valve member 2441a is provided in the header chamber aligned with the mount aperture 2417 in the 6 o'clock position, and a second valve member 2441 b is provided in the header chamber aligned with the mount aperture 2417 in the 12 o'clock position. [00143] In the example illustrated, each valve member 2441a, 2441 b comprises a valve head 2445 attached to the end of a stem 2447. A piston member 2449 is, in the example illustrated, affixed to the stem 2447, the piston member providing at least one shoulder surface protruding outwardly from an outer surface of the stem. The piston member 2449 is, in the example illustrated, slidably retained within a valve cylinder 2451 for moving the valve member 2441 between open and closed positions When in the closed position, the valve head is in sealed engagement with a valve seat that generally extends around the periphery of an inner end (relative to the header housing 2412) of the corresponding mount aperture 2417, blocking fluid communication across the valve seat, i.e. between the header chamber 2421 and the respective mount aperture 2417 When in the open position, fluid communication is provided across the valve seat, i e between the header chamber 2421 and the respective mount aperture 2417

[00144] in _USC) a first set of preforms 112 can be formed in a first injection cycle by closing the mold, injecting resin into the mold, holding the mold closed for geometry stabilization of the preforms, and then opening the mold. One or both of the mold halves 2104a, 2106a can be cooled internally to enhance removal of heat from the preforms for geometry stabilization 100145] Upon opening the mold, the take out plate can enter the mold area and the preforms can be transferred from the mold cores of the moving platen to the take-out tubes of the take-out plate. The take-out plate can then retract to clear the mold area, at which point a second injection cycle can commence, for injection molding a second set of preforms.

f001 6] A post-mold cooling cycle generally begins after the first set of preforms 12 have been removed from the mold and transferred to the takeout tubes 2170 of the take-out plate 2164. In the example illustrated, the takeout tubes 2170 have an inner surface that contacts at least a portion of the outer surface of the preforms to provide conductive cooling of said contacted portion of the outer surface of the preforms. The portion of the outer surface of the preforms contacted (and conductively cooled by) the inner surface of the take-out tubes 2170 can include the dome portion 126b of the preform.

[00147] With the take-out plate 2164 withdrawn from the mold area, the preforms can be engaged by one or more sets of the pins 2154, 2354. In the example illustrated, the take-out plate 2164 has two sets of take-out tubes 2170 arranged in alternating columns of first and second set take-out tubes 2170a, 2170b for receiving preforms from the mold cavities in successive alternating first and second injection cycles. The take-out plate 2164 may be positioned in a respective one of a first and second z-axis advanced position in the mold area for loading the first and second set take-out tubes 2170a, 2170b, respectively. The take-out plate 2164 may be withdrawn to one of a first and second z-axis retracted position for engagement between the preforms in the first and second set take-out tubes 2170a, 2170b and corresponding combinations of sets of the retaining cooling pins 2154 and the load station cooling pins 2354.

[00148] In the example illustrated, after the first injection cycle, the first set of preforms are engaged by a first set of the load station cooling pins. The load station cooling pins 2354 are configured to provide interior cooling to the preforms as described previously. The interior cooling may include conductive cooling and or convective cooling of at least some portions of the inner surface of the preforms.

[00149] In case where the machine was empty of preforms prior to the first injection cycle, no other preforms would be engaged by pins of the cooling shell prior to completion of the second injection cycle. Before the second injection cycle commences, the load station cooling pins can be withdrawn from the interiors of the first set of preforms, for example, by axially retracting the take-out plate away from the cooling shell along the x-axis The first set of performs remain in the first set take-out tubes 2170a.

[00150] After the second injection cycle, the take-out plate moves to the second z-axis advanced position to transfer preforms into the (still empty) second set take-out tubes, with the first set take-out tubes 2170a still loaded with the first set preforms. The take-out plate is, in the example illustrated, then retracted to the second z-axis retracted position, after which the third injection cycle is generally commenced. In the second z-axis retracted position, the second set oi lake-out tubes is aligned with a second set of the load station cooling pins (only one column of which is distinct from the first set of load station cooling pins), and the first set of take-out tubes 2170a is aligned with the first set of retaining cooling pins 2154a. The respective pins engage the corresponding preforms by, for example, axially advancing the take-out plate towards the cooling shell.

[00151] Prior to completion of the third injection cycle, the take-out plate can be retracted to its x-axis retracted position, ready for z-axis entry into the mold area. Before the take-out plate withdraws away from the cooling shell, the preforms from the first set take-out tubes 2170a are transferred to the first set of retaining cooling pins 2154a, thereby emptying the first set take-out tubes 2170a. The transfer can be facilitated by generating a retaining force via the vacuum airflow through the retaining pin as described previously.

[00152] After the third injection cycle, the take-out plate may be advanced to the first z-axis advanced position to align the emptied first set take-out tubes 2170a with the mold core pins and receive the third set preforms therefrom. The second set take-out tubes are still loaded with the second set of preforms from the second injection cycle. Once the first set of take-out tubes has been loaded with the third set of preforms, the take-out plate can be retracted from the mold area (to the first z-axis retracted position) and the fourth injection cycle may commence.

[00153] After retraction of the take-out plate, with the first and second set take-out tubes 2170a, 2170b loaded with the third and second set preforms, respectively, the take-out plate 2164 may be advanced towards the cooling shell (of which the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a are still loaded with the first set of preforms) With the take-out plate at full depth relative to the cooling shell, the first set load station cooling pins engage the third set of preforms just transferred from the mold to the first set take-out tubes The second set of retaining cooling pins can engage the second set preforms in the second set take-out tubes 2170b. The first set of retaining cooling pins 2154a are still loaded with the first set of preforms, and can invade gaps or slots provided in the take-out plate.

[00154] Prior to completion of the fourth injection cycle, the take-out plate can be retracted to its x-axis retracted position, ready for z-axis entry into the mold area. Before the take-out plate withdraws away from the cooling shell, the preforms from the second set take-out tubes 2170b are transferred to the second set of retaining cooling pins 2154b, thereby emptying the second set take-out tubes 2170b. The pin side of the cooling shell is, at this point, loaded with the first set of preforms on the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a and the second set of preforms on the second set retaining cooling pins 2154b

[0Q155] After this point, and prior to advancing the take-out plate along the x-axis towards the cooling shell following the fourth injection cycle, one set of retaining cooling pins may be emptied. In the example illustrated, the cooing shell is rotated by about 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed along the shell axis from the non-operator side of the machine) to move the pin side of the shell from the load position to the unload position. At the unload position, the first set of preforms can be released from the first set retaining cooling pins and can drop, for example, onto a conveyor to transport the cooled preforms away from the machine. Further details of the part release functionality are provided elsewhere herein.

[00156] Once the first set preforms have been unloaded from the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a, the cooling shell may rotate in the reverse direction back from the unload position back to the load position, at which point the cooling shell is ready for engagement with the take-out plate. After the fourth injection cycle, the take-out plate will have the fourth set of preforms loaded in the second set take-out tubes 2170b for engagement by the second set load station cooling pins, and will have the third set of preforms still loaded in the first set take-out tubes 2170a, for engagement by the just emptied first set of retaining cooling pins 2154a.

[00157] At this point, the machine is loaded and in a steady-state, normal operating mode. Subsequent cycles (e g. fifth, sixth, etc. injection and post-mold cooling cycles) each involve the same basic steps of transferring one set of preforms from the mold to a set of take-out tubes, engaging one set of preforms with one set of load station cooling pins and another set of preforms with one set of retaining cooling pins while the preforms are still in the take-out tubes, transferring one set of preforms from the take-out tubes to said set of retaining cooling pins, retaining another set of preforms on another set of retaining cooling pins until near the end of the current injection cycle, at which point said another set of preforms is released from the other set of retaining cooling pins.

[00158] further details of the release function for releasing one set of preforms from the cooling shell when the pins side is oriented in the unload station will now be provided. The blower may be operated generally continuously to draw air from the pin side chamber into the inlet of the blower, to provide a vacuum (or negative pressure) in the header chamber 2421.

[00159] When the pin side is in the load position (Fig. 19), the first manifold port 2376a is in fluid communication with the header chamber 2421 via the first mount aperture 2417a. The second manifold port 2376a is in fluid communication with the header chamber 2421 via the second mount aperture 2417b. This can facilitate providing a vacuum flow through the channels of the first and second retaining cooling pins. In the example illustrated, when in the load station, the fluid flow path between the first header port 2431 (connected to the inlet of the vacuum blower, in the example illustrated) and the distal openings of the fluid channels of the cooling retaining pins is free of openable/closeable members [00160] The third and fourth mount apertures 2417c and 2417d are, when the pin side is in the load position, oriented at the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions, respectively. Fluid communication is provided between the first header port 2431 and the pin side chamber 2149 through the manifold valve members 2441a, 2441 b which are, in the example illustrated, continuously in the open position when the pin side is in the load position

[00161] When the pin side is in the unload position (Fig 17 and 22), the first mount aperture 2417a is oriented in the 6 o'clock position, and the second mount aperture 2417b is oriented in the 12 o'clock position The first and second manifold valve members 2441a, 2441 may be closed to block the flow of fluid between the inlet 2403 of the blower 2401 and the channels of the first and second retaining cooling set pins 2154a, 2154b, respectively. When the pin side is in the unload station, the first manifold valve member 2445a may be moved to the closed position to stop the vacuum flow through the channels of the first set retaining cooling pins 2154a, thereby reducing or eliminating the retention force generated by the vacuum flow and allowing the preforms loaded on the first set of retaining cooling pins to drop off of the pins by force of gravity. The second manifold valve member 2441b can remain open so that the preforms on the second set cooling retaining pins remain loaded on the respective pins.

[00162] In the example illustrated, a blow-off conduit is further provided to assist in releasing the preforms from the respective cooling retaining pins of the pin side in the unload position. In the example illustrated, the blow-off conduit extends through the stem of the manifold valve member, between an inlet at the header housing 2412 and an outlet at the valve head, facing the respective mount aperture 2417. When the manifold valve member is in the closed position, a flow of positive pressure fluid can be supplied to the intermediate space between the preforms and respective pins via the blow-off conduit to positively pressurize the intermediate space and urge the preforms off of the pins, [00163] The load station cooling pins may also be provided with optional pin valve members 2571 for selectively blocking or opening fluid communication between the pin side chamber 2149 and the proximal openings 2362a of the fluid channels 2362 load station cooling pins 2354. With reference to Figures 23 and 24, in the example illustrated, each load station cooling pin 2354 comprises a pin base 2358 secured to the pin side of the shell and an elongate body 2159 protruding from the base. The body 2159 is moveable relative to the base 2358 between advanced and retracted positions A biasing member 2575 urges the body 2159 to the advanced position. In the example illustrated, the biasing member 2575 comprises a compression spring axially retained between a lock ring 2577 and an upper surface 2579 of the base

[00164] A fluid channel 2362 extends through the body, between a proximal opening 2362a adjacent the base, and a distal opening 2362b spaced away from the base. The proximal opening 2362a is blocked by the base 2358 when the body 2159 is in the advanced position (Fig. 24), and is opened for fluid communication with channel 2362 when the body 2159 is in the retracted position (Fig. 25)

[00165] In the example illustrated, the fluid channel 2362 comprises an interior of a tubular member forming the body of the pin. A lower end of the tubular member is closed off by a cap 2581 The cap 2581 has a blind socket for snugly receiving a lower end of the tubular member, and a cotter 2583 may pass through the cap and the pin body to fix the two pieces together. The proximal opening 2362a of the fluid channel 2362 may comprise a lower hole in the sidewall of the tubular member, spaced axially apart from the cap 2581 When in the advanced position, an upper surface 2585 of the cap 2581 may abut a lower end face 2587 of the base. When in the retracted position, the upper surface of the cap may be spaced apart from the lower surface of the base by a retraction gap 2589, and the proximal opening 2362a may be in fluid communication with the retraction gap 2589. [00166] In the example illustrated, the base has a central bore with a generally cylindrical inner bore wall, and an outer surface of the pin is in sliding engagement with the inner bore wall. The pin tip may comprise a contact pad for engaging an inner dome surface of the preform upon insertion of the pin in the preform. Engagement of the pin tip with the inner dome surface pushes the pin from the advanced to the retracted position (i.e. when the take-out plate 2164 is moved to Ml-depth x-axis engagement relative to the cooling shell). The contact pad may comprise a convex surface coaxial with the pin axis. The distal opening 2362b of the channel may comprise a radial opening on a side surface of the tip, below the dome.

[00167] While the above description provides examples of one or more processes or apparatuses, it will be appreciated that other processes or apparatuses may be within the scope of the accompanying claims

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A part handling apparatus for handling preforms molded in an injection molded machine, the preforms having a neck region at an open end of the preform and the neck region having a neck region inner surface, the apparatus comprising- a) a transfer shell having at least one shell side;

b) a plurality of transfer pins mounted to the at least one shell side for insertion into the preforms, each transfer pin comprising;

i) a base for mounting to a transfer shell side and a tip spaced apart from the base;

ii) an interior pin channel extending between the base and the tip;

iii) a base journal having a journal outer surface sized smaller than the neck region inner surface to provide a generally annular flow gate between the journal outer surface and the nec region inner surface, the annular flow gate forming a flow restriction when air is drawn into the preform through the flow gate and evacuated from the preform through the pin channel, thereby maintaining a vacuum force on the preform and convectively cooling the preform as a result of said airflow.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the neck region has a neck inner diameter and the pin journal has a journal outer diameter that is in the range from about 90 percent to about 99 percent of the neck outer diameter 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the journal outer diameter is about 98 percent of the neck inner diameter.

4 The apparatus of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the pin channel has a channel cross-sectional area and the annular flow gate has a gate cross- sectional area that is in the range from about 70 percent to about 100% of the channel cross-sectional area.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gate cross-sectional area is about 85 percent of the channel cross-sectional area. 6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising a contact member to hold the open end of the preform away from the shell side, thereby maintaining fluid communication between the flow gate and an ambient environment of the transfer shell

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the contact member comprises the tip of the pin, the tip of the pin abutting an inner surface of a closed end of the preform.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the pin channel and flow gate are configured to accommodate an air flow rate from about 0.5 liters/sec to about 5 liters/sec. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pin channel and flow gate are configured to accommodate an air flow rate of about 1.5 liters/sec

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 -9, further comprising a shell side chamber inside the transfer shell, the interior pin channel of the transfer pins in fluid communication with the shell side chamber 1 . The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shell side chamber has a chamber port for fluid communication with at least one of a positive pressure fluid supply and a negative pressure fluid supply, and wherein a fluid flow path for the air flow extends between the flow gate and the chamber port, the fluid flow path free of openable/closeable flow blocking members 12 A method of handling preforms molded in an injection molding machine, comprising: a) inserting a transfer pin into an open end of a preform, the preform having an inner neck surface at the open end of the preform and the transfer pin having in interior channel and an outer journal surface adjacent the inner neck surface and forming a flow gate there between,

b) urging an airflow into the preform through the flow gate and out of the preform through the pin channel, the airflow simultaneously providing a vacuum inside the preform for holding the preform on the pin and providing convective cooling of inner surfaces of the preform.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the air flow is maintained at a rate in a range from about 0.5 liters/sec to about 5 liters/sec

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the air flow is maintained at a rate in a range from about 0 5 liters/sec to about 2.5 liters/sec.

15 The method Of claim 12, wherein the air flow is maintained at a rate of about 1.5 liters/sec. 16. The method of any one of claims 12-15, wherein the vacuum is in a range from about 0.5 to about 3 inches Hg

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vacuum is in a range from about 1.5 to about 2 inches Hg.

18. The method of any one of claims 12-17, wherein the airflow is provided during said inserting the transfer pin into the open end of the preform.

19. The method of any one of claims 12-18, wherein the transfer pin is mounted to a shell side of a rotary transfer shell, wherein said inserting the transfer pin into the open end of the preform is performed while the shell side is in a load position for receiving the preform from a take-out plate. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the airflow is maintained during rotation of the rotary transfer shell moving the shell side out of the load position.

21. A take-out plate tor an injection molding machine, comprising:

a) a plate portion having a front face, a back face spaced apart from the front face, and a thickness bounded by the front and back faces;

b) a plurality of take-out tubes secured to the plate portion, each take-out tube including a generally cylindrical tube body having a tube base portion secured to the plate portion and an open free end projecting away from the front face, each take-out tube including an interior nest sized and shaped to receive through the open Tree end a preform molded in the injection molding machine, the tube base portion of each take-out tube embedded into the thickness of the plate portion

22. The take-out plate of claim 21 , wherein the interior nest includes a closed bottom end configured to engage the outer surface of the closed convex end of the preform, the closed bottom end set back of the front face of the take-out plate by a countersink. 23. The take-out plate of claim 22, wherein the closed bottom end of the interior nest is positioned at about midway between the front face and the back face of the plate portion.

24. The take-out plate of any one of claims 21-23, wherein the plate portion is made of aluminum 25 The take-out plate of any one of claims 21-24, wherein the plate portion is provided with internal cooling fluid conduits extending generally parallel to the back face and within the thickness of the plate portion.

26. The take-out plate of any one of claims 21 -25, wherein the front face of the plate portion is provided with a plurality of counterbores, a take-out tube mounted in each counterbore, each counterbore having a generally cylindrical inner wall surface that bears against an outer surface of the tube base portion of the respective take-out tube mounted therein

27. The take-out plate of claim 26, wherein each counterbore has a bore endface, the cylindrical inner wall surface extending between the bore and face and the front face of the plate portion, and wherein the base portion of the tube body has a base endface that bears against the bore endface. 28, The take-out plate of any one of claims 21-27, wherein the tube body of each take-out tube is made of aluminum,

29. A method of conductively cooling exterior surfaces of an injection molded preform, comprising

a) loading a preform into an interior nest of a cooling tube, the cooling tube mounted to a plate, the interior nest having a nest surface for engaging the exterior surface of the preform and drawing heat away from the preform; and

b) withdrawing heat from the cooling tube by circulating cooling fluid through internal fluid conduits in the plate, the cooling tube having a base end face and an outer sidewall extending away from the base end face, the base end face and at least a portion of the sidewal! bearing in intimate engagement with the plate.