Patent ID: 7632089

Claim:
A system for removing molded articles from a molding machine and cooling the molded articles, the system including: a takeout apparatus having a plurality of arms adapted to receive molded articles from the molding machine and to convey molded articles from the molding machine, the arms being driven in an endless path to transfer molded articles from the molding machine; an intermediate conveyor having an infeed section adjacent to at least a portion of the takeout apparatus to receive molded articles from the takeout apparatus and convey molded articles away from the takeout apparatus and an outfeed section from which molded articles leave the intermediate conveyor; a cooling station through which the molded articles pass and including at least one fluid outlet through which a fluid is directed toward the molded articles to cool them; a cooling conveyor having an infeed section adjacent to the outfeed section of the intermediate conveyor to receive molded articles from the intermediate conveyor and an outfeed section from which molded articles are removed from the cooling station; and wherein the cooling conveyor advances molded articles at a slower rate than does the intermediate conveyor to reduce the spacing between adjacent molded articles and increase the time that the molded articles are in the cooling station.