Patent ID: 7739933

Claim:
A method of cutting a plastic body ejected from a blow mold, the body having opposite end portions, the method comprising the steps of: (a) continuously moving a log conveyor along a path between an intake location and a discharge location, the log conveyor having first and second holders configured to receive respective end portions of the log; (b) receiving the body on the log conveyor between the first and second holders at the intake location along the path, the body received on an axis with respect to the first and second holders, the continuous movement of the log conveyor moving the holders and the body away from the intake location in a downstream direction along the path; (c) moving each holder with respect to the axis along the axis towards the body and receiving each end portion of the body in a respective first and second holder while maintaining the body in a stationary position with respect to the axis as the holders are moving along the axis; (d) rotating the holders about the axis and thereby rotating the body in the holders about the axis; (e) moving the log conveyor carrying the rotating body past a stationary trim knife extending a distance along the path, the trim knife engaging the rotating body between the holders and thereby cutting the body as the log conveyor moves along the path; (f) moving each holder along the axis away from the cut body to release the cut plastic body from the holders while maintaining the cut plastic body in a stationary position with respect to the axis as the holders are moving away from the body; and (g) discharging the cut plastic body from the log conveyor at the discharge location along the path.