IP Library Granted Patent US 7,384,260
Granted Patent B2
US 7,384,260 · App. 10/705,501 · Granted Jun 10, 2008

Pinch bar and parison separation method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,384,260
App. No.
10/705,501
Granted
Jun 10, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A parison pinching and separating system for attaching to first and second mold halves is disclosed. Each mold half has first and second cavities. The system includes a first pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the first mold half, a first pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the first mold half, a second pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the second mold half, and a second pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the second mold half. Each pinch bar has a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface. The protrusions of the pinch bars associated with first cavity are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close. The protrusion associated with the second cavity are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close.

Claims (93)

1. A parison pinching system for attaching to first and second mold halves, each mold half having first and second cavities, the system comprising:

a first pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the second mold half, the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the second mold half, the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and

the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces

wherein each flat surface is substantially parallel to an inner mold face of each pinch bar's respective mold half.

2. A parison pinching system for attaching to first and second mold halves, each mold half having first and second cavities, the system comprising:

a first pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the second mold half, the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and

the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces, and

wherein each flat surface is substantially coplanar to or extends beyond an inner mold face of each pinch bar's respective mold half.

3. A parison pinching system for attaching to first and second mold halves, each mold half having first and second cavities, the system comprising:

a first pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and

the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces, and

wherein a cross-section of each of the protrusions is a truncated triangle.

4. A parison pinching system for attaching to first and second mold halves, each mold half having first and second cavities, the system comprising:

a first pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the second mold half, the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and

the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

wherein the system is a component of a dual parison pinching system.

5. A parison pinching system for attaching to first and second mold halves, each mold half having first and second cavities, the system comprising:

a first pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar for attaching to the first cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar for attaching to the second cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and

the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and the piotrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces, and wherein the flat surface has a width of about 0.008-0.010 inches.

6. The parison pinching system of claim 5 , wherein the flat surface has a width of about 0.009 inches.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a mold having first and second halves;

a first pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the second mold half, the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half arc positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close,

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces; and

wherein each flat surface is substantially parallel to an inner mold face of each pinch bar's respective mold half.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a mold having first and second halves;

a first pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close,

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces; and

wherein each flat surface is substantially coplanar to or extends beyond an inner mold face of each pinch bars respective mold half.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a mold having first and second halves;

a first pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the first mold half the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the second mold half, the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close,

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces, and

wherein a cross-section of each of the protrusions is a truncated triangle.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a mold having first and second halves;

a first pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close; and

wherein the mold is a dual-parison mold.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a mold having first and second halves;

a first pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a first pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the first mold half, the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface;

a second pinch bar attached to the first cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface; and

a second pinch bar attached to the second cavity of the second mold half the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half having a surface and a protrusion that extends from the surface,

wherein the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the first cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the first cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close, and the protrusion of the first pinch bar of the second cavity of the first mold half and the protrusion of the second pinch bar of the second cavity of the second mold half are positioned for pinching a parison when the first and second mold halves close,

wherein each of the protrusions further comprises: a first side surface; a second side surface; and a flat surface that intersects the first and second side surfaces; and

wherein the flat surface has a width of about 0.008-0.010 inches.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flat surface has a width of about 0.009 inches.

Assignments (12)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074479/0809 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PLASTIC PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 074480/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Aug 5, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND GRANTEE
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 053414/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND TRUSTEE
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 053396/0531 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PLASTIC PRODUCTS LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053398/0381 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 22, 2012
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
Reel/Frame 027910/0609 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 20, 2012
From: REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 027895/0738 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 26, 2011
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 026970/0699 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Sep 8, 2011
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG, GAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 027011/0572 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2005
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH AS SECOND-LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 015552/0299 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2005
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 015980/0213 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2003
From: HUMPHREYS, DAVE; ELLIS, EARLE; RICHER, WILLIAM; STOOLMAKER, ROBERT
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 014696/0802 →