Apparatus improvements in temperature-conditioning parts

Abstract

Apparatus for temperature-conditioning workpieces comprises a series of bar assemblies for supporting a number of elongated molded parts in side-by-side relationship, heat transfer assemblies including horizontally spaced panels extending along a chamber, means for conveying the parts supported in the bar assemblies through the chamber between the panels and rotating means operatively interconnected with the conveying means and bar assemblies for turning the parts. Infeed means sequentially release loaded bar assemblies at regular intervals to the chamber while metering means preferably driven through downstream equipment continuously release bar assemblies to the discharge end of the chamber. Reciprocable gate means allow temperature-conditioned parts to drop out of the bar assemblies to collection equipment. Process improvements include a.) varying parts conditioning time by varying the number of bar assemblies in the fixed chamber; b.) maintaining a temperature gradient between circumferentially uneven thick and thin sections of a preform wall to be reshaped into a molecularly oriented article in order to even out wall thickness reductions occurring during stretching in the article forming step.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: a. wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber;   b. heat transfer assemblies .Iadd.within and extending along at least about two thirds of the length of said chamber to form a heat transfer zone therein, said heat transfer assemblies being .Iaddend.spaced from each other .[.and extending along said chamber defining  .Iadd.in the horizontal direction to define .Iaddend.generally parallel paths for said parts, .Iadd.the height of said heat transfer assemblies in a direction substantially perpendicular to their lengthwise dimensions being adequate to oppose a substantial portion of the length of said elongated parts when positioned in such paths; .Iaddend.   c. a plurality of bar assemblies .Iadd.above said heat transfer assemblies .Iaddend.having means to hold said parts in said paths .Iadd.in suspended position .Iaddend.with their lengthwise dimensions substantially normal to the .Iadd.lengthwise .Iaddend.direction of extension of said heat transfer assemblies;   d. means for advancing said bar assemblies through said chamber; and   e. rotating means operatively interconnected with the advancing means and the bar assemblies for turning the parts about their lengthwise dimensions during travel along said paths.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber has a feed and a discharge end and including gate means at the discharge end for releasing the parts from the bar assemblies. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sections include a floor member on which said assemblies are mounted, said floor member dividing said chamber into an upper and a lower course, said lower course being open to the surroundings along its length. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sections include removable cover members. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat transfer assemblies comprise panels containing flow channels and means for circulating a heat transfer medium through said channels. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 2 including hopper means beneath the gate means for accepting the released parts. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: a. wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber;   b. a plurality of heat transfer panels spaced from each other and extending along said chamber defining generally parallel paths for said parts;   c. means for circulating a heat transfer medium through said panels;   d. a plurality of bar assemblies mounted for movement along the chamber above the heat transfer panels, each bar assembly comprising: i. a housing having a series of horizontally spaced openings formed therein vertically aligned with said paths;   ii. an annular pinion seated in each opening;   iii. a part-support insert secured to said pinion;     e. means for advancing said bar assemblies through said chamber; and   f. rotating means operatively interconnected with the advancing means and the pinion of each bar assembly for turning the part-support inserts as the bar assemblies are moved through the chamber by the advancing means.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 including: i. members forming opposing guideways in said wall sections on either side of said chamber; and   ii. means at opposite ends of each housing for bar assembly-supportive movement in said guideways during travel of each bar assembly through the chamber.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of one of said members is detachably mounted with respect to an immediately adjacent portion for opening said guideway. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said housing, pinion and part-support insert are formed of a low heat conductive material. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said low heat conductive material is phenolic plastic. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: a. wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber;   b. a plurality of heat transfer panels spaced from each other and extending along said chamber defining generally parallel paths for said parts;   c. means for circulating a heat transfer medium through said panels;   d. a plurality of bar assemblies mounted for movement along the chamber above the heat transfer panels, each bar assembly including annular parts-supporting and rotating mechanisms;   e. means for advancing said bar assemblies through said chamber; and   f. rotating means for turning said part-supporting and rotating mechanisms during movement of the bar assemblies through the chamber, said rotating means comprising: i. a shaft extending through each bar assembly;   ii. worm sections on said shaft in meshing engagement with the parts-supporting and rotating mechanisms; and   iii. sprockets on the opposite ends of the shaft rotatably engaging the advancing means.     
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each bar assembly includes a brake mechanism acting on a portion of the shaft. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said advancing means comprises dual, endless double stranded chains extending horizontally through and situated on opposite sides of said chamber and dual double sprockets for said chains at opposite ends of the chamber. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said brake mechanism includes a shoe in forced surface contact with said shaft portion and including regulating means for adjustably urging the shoe against the shaft portion. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: A. wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber having a feed end and a discharge end, said sections including a floor member dividing said chamber into an upper and a lower course;   B. heat transfer assemblies spaced from each other and extending along said chamber defining generally parallel paths for said parts;   C. a plurality of bar assemblies for supporting said parts in vertical position between said heat transfer assemblies;   D. means for advancing said bar assemblies through said chamber; and   E. metering means for sequentially releasing bar assemblies to the discharge end of the chamber.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said metering means comprises: a. upper and lower metering wheels having radially extending slots therein;   b. a boss at opposite ends of each bar assembly for engagement in said slots; and   c. drive means for rotating said metering wheels.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for advancing the bar assemblies comprises: a. endless chains horizontally opposite each other extending along said chamber;   b. sprockets for said chains mounted for rotary movement on shafts at the feed and discharge ends of said chamber; and said metering means includes:     c. a pair of upper metering wheels at the discharge end of the upper course mounted on one of the shafts of the bar assembly advancing means and spaced from the sprockets thereon, said wheels having radially extending slots formed therein;   d. a pair of rotatably mounted lower metering wheels at the discharge end of the lower course, said lower metering wheels having radially extending slots formed therein;   e. a boss at each end of each bar assembly for successively engaging the slots in the upper and lower metering wheels;   f. a curved, parts-guide member between the upper and lower courses outwardly of the sprockets and extending across said chamber; and   g. means for rotating said metering wheels in synchronism with each other.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 17 including movable hopper means for the parts beneath the discharge end of the chamber. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for advancing the bar assemblies includes: i. members forming opposing guideways in said wall sections on either side of said chamber;   ii. rotary followers at opposite ends of each housing for bar assembly-supportive movement in said guideways;   iii. friction wheels at the end of the upper course at the discharge end of the chamber associated with said sprockets for contacting each bar assembly as it moves from the upper to the lower course to urge said followers outwardly against surface portions of said guideway-forming members.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said movable hopper means and drive means for rotating the metering wheels are synchronized. 
     
     
       22. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: A. wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber having a feed end and a discharge end, said sections including a floor member dividing said chamber into an upper and a lower course;   B. heat transfer assemblies spaced from each other and extending along said chamber defining generally parallel paths for said parts;   C. a plurality of bar assemblies adjacent said heat transfer assemblies for supporting said parts in vertical position between said heat transfer assemblies;   D. means for advancing said bar assemblies through said chamber; and   E. infeed means for sequentially releasing bar assemblies at regular intervals to the upper course of the chamber.   
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said infeed means comprises: a. a pair of rotatably mounted escapement wheels at the feed end of the chamber having circumferentially spaced, radially extending slots;   b. a boss at each end of each bar assembly for engagement in said slots; and   c. power means for cyclically rotating said escapement wheels.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means for advancing the bar assemblies comprises: a. endless chains horizontally opposite each other extending along said chamber;   b. sprockets for said chains on shafts mounted for rotary movement at the feed and discharge ends of said chamber; and said infeed means includes:     c. a pair of excapement wheels at one end of the upper course at the feed end of the chamber and mounted on the shaft at the feed end of the means for advancing the bar assemblies, said wheels having radially extending slots formed therein;   d. a boss at each end of each bar assembly for engaging the slots in the escapement wheels; and   e. power means for cyclically rotating said escapement wheels.   
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said power means includes an intermitter. 
     
     
       26. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: a. wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber, said chamber having a feed and a discharge end;   b. heat transfer assemblies spaced from each other and extending along said chamber defining generally parallel paths for said parts;   c. a plurality of bar assemblies adjacent said heat transfer assemblies for supporting said parts in vertical position between said heat transfer assemblies;   d. means for advancing said bar assemblies through said chamber;   e. gate means at the discharge end for releasing the parts from the bar assemblies;   f. movable hopper means beneath the gate means for accepting the released parts;   g. metering means for sequentially releasing bar assemblies to the discharge end of the chamber;   h. auxiliary drive means for turning the metering means when the movable hopper means stops; and   i. parts collection means beneath the discharge end and adjacent the movable hopper means.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26 including infeed means for admitting each bar assembly to the chamber at regular intervals. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the metering means comprises: i. drive means for turning a pair of metering wheels; and including:   ii. a clutch assembly in operative cooperation with the drive means for the metering wheels and the auxiliary drive means.   
     
     
       29. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: A. wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber having a feed end and a discharge end, said sections including a floor member dividing said chamber into an upper and a lower course;   B. a plurality of heat transfer panels spaced from each other and extending along said chamber defining generally parallel paths for said parts;   C. means for circulating a heat transfer medium through said panels;   D. a plurality of bar assemblies mounted for movement along the chamber above the heat transfer panels, each bar assembly comprising: i. a housing having a series of horizontally spaced openings therein in vertical alignment with said paths;   ii. an annular pinion seated in each opening;   iii. a part-support insert secured to said pinion;     E. means for advancing said bar assemblies through said chamber comprising: i. dual endless double stranded chains extending horizontally through and situated on opposite sides of said chamber, and   ii. dual double sprockets for said chains at opposite ends of the chamber;     F. rotating means for turning each pinion comprising: i. a shaft through each bar assembly;   ii. worm sections on said shaft in meshing engagement with the annular pinions; and   iii. sprockets on opposite ends of each shaft for engaging one of the strands of the double stranded chains;     G. members forming opposing guideways in said wall sections on either side of said chamber;   H. means at opposite ends of each housing for bar assembly-supportive movement in said guideways during travel of each bar assembly through the chamber;   I. metering means for sequentially releasing bar assemblies to the discharge end of the chamber, said metering means comprising: i. upper and lower metering wheels having radially extending slots therein;   ii. a boss at each end of the shaft of each bar assembly for engagement in said slots; and   iii. drive means for rotating said metering wheels;     J. movable hopper means for the parts beneath the discharge end of the chamber;   K. gate means between the lower metering wheel and the movable hopper means for releasing the parts from the bar assemblies;   L. infeed means for releasing each bar assembly at regular intervals to the upper course of the chamber, said infeed means comprising: i. a pair of rotatably mounted escapement wheels at the feed end of the chamber having circumferentially spaced, forwardly directed, radially extending slots for said bosses; and   ii. power means for cyclically rotating said escapement wheels;     M. auxiliary drive means for turning the metering wheels when the movable hopper means stops; and   N. parts collection means beneath the discharge end adjacent the movable hopper means. .Iadd.   
     
     
       30.  The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spacing in such horizontal direction between immediately adjacent assemblies is only slightly greater than the maximum width of a part in a direction substantially perpendicular to its lengthwise dimension. .Iaddend..Iadd. 31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each path is circumscribed in the vertical direction by at least three of said assemblies. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for holding such parts in each bar assembly includes plural annular part supporting and rotating mechanisms, each of which is vertically aligned above a path and engaging a part adjacent one end. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said part supporting mechanism includes a socket having collar means for frictionally engaging the end of said part. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 34. Apparatus for temperature-conditioning elongated molded parts which comprises: a) wall sections defining a horizontally extending chamber;   b) upright heat transfer assemblies within and extending along at least about two thirds of the length of said chamber to form a heat transfer zone therein, said heat transfer assemblies being spaced from each other in the horizontal direction to define generally parallel paths for said parts, said heat transfer assemblies in the vertical direction opposing a substantial portion of the length of said parts when positioned in such paths with their lengthwise dimensions substantially normal to the direction of extension of said heat transfer assemblies;   c) a plurality of bar assemblies above said heat transfer assemblies having means to hold said parts in said paths in said paths in suspended position;   d) means for advancing said bar assemblies from a loading station in a forward direction through said chamber and for returning them to such loading station in the opposite direction substantially parallel to said forward direction; and   e) rotating means operatively interconnected with the bar assemblies for turning the parts about their lengthwise dimensions during travel along said paths. .Iaddend..Iadd. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the means for holding such parts in each bar assembly includes plural annular part supporting and rotating mechanisms, each of which is vertically above a path and engaging a part adjacent one end. .Iaddend..Iadd. 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein each said part supporting mechanism includes a socket having collar means for engaging said part adjacent one end.