Patent ID: 8899962

Claim:
A stripper assembly ( 212 ) for use in a mold stack ( 202 ) for forming a preform ( 210 ) suitable for blow-molding into a final-shaped container, the stripper assembly ( 212 ) comprising: a stripper plate ( 214 ) connectable, in use, to a stripper plate actuator; neck rings ( 220 ) configured to cooperate to define a portion a neck region ( 226 ) of the preform ( 210 ); a stripper ring ( 230 ) configured to define at least a portion of a top sealing surface of the neck region ( 226 ) of the preform ( 210 ); the stripper plate ( 214 ) being configured to actuate the neck rings ( 220 ) and the stripper ring ( 230 ), in unison, along substantially the whole length of a complete ejection path, which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mold stack ( 202 ); and wherein the neck rings ( 220 ) are configured for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mold stack, over at a portion of the complete ejection path, the stripper ring ( 230 ) having an air channel ( 236 ) configured to direct a flow of fluid towards the preform.