Abstract:
Apparatus for compression molding plastic articles includes a plurality of molds mounted for travel around a first axis. Each mold includes an upper mold section and a lower mold section, with at least one of the upper and lower mold sections being moveable in a non-circular first endless path, and being moveable with respect to the other mold section to form a mold cavity. A mold charge delivery system delivers individual mold charges to the mold cavities and includes at least one delivery mechanism that travels in a second endless path around a second axis spaced from the first axis, wherein the second endless path overlies a portion of the first endless path.
Abstract:
A method of making a bottle whereby a polylactic acid preform is stretch blow molded into a biodegradable bioresin bottle. An injection molded polylactic acid or polylactide preform having a finish, a transition portion, a body portion, and a closed end cap portion for making a blow molded biodegradable bioresin bottle having a substantially circular cross-section and a substantially elliptical cross-section. A biodegradable bioresin bottle having both substantially circular and substantially elliptical cross-sectional shapes. Hoop stiffness and bottle geometry are utilized to control the bottle shape resulting from deformation caused by vacuum creation as water vapor permeates outwardly through the bottle walls.
Abstract:
Apparatus for compression molding plastic articles includes a plurality of molds mounted for travel around a first axis. Each mold includes an upper mold section and a lower mold section, with at least one of the upper and lower mold sections being moveable in a non-circular first endless path, and being moveable with respect to the other mold section to form a mold cavity. A mold charge delivery system delivers individual mold charges to the mold cavities and includes at least one delivery mechanism that travels in a second endless path around a second axis spaced from the first axis, wherein the second endless path overlies a portion of the first endless path.
Abstract:
A polymeric preform (10) that can be blow molded into a plastic article includes an open neck portion, a body portion (12) with a sidewall (14), and a closed end (16) opposite the neck portion with a thickness of not more than 70 percent of the thickness of the sidewall. The thickness of the closed end is preferably in the range of 30 percent to 70 percent of the thickness of the sidewall, and more preferably between 30 percent to 50 percent of the sidewall thickness. This reduces the volume or amount of material needed to form the preform without adversely impacting the structural integrity or physical properties of a container formed from the preform. According to one presently preferred aspect of the invention, the preform is compression molded. A method of making this preform and a method of making a stretch blow molded plastic container (11) are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A system and a method for controlling a container manufacturing machine include a thickness monitor (10) for determining an average wall thickness of containers produced by the machine. The system uses the average wall thickness to adjust machine control to change operation of the machine and adjust the quality of the containers being produced. The system also responds to feedback from pneumatic devices (104), heaters (103), mechanical devices and temperature sensors (108, 109) to determine corrections to be made to the machine operation.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an injection molded preform (910) comprising an open ended mouth forming portion (912), an intermediate body forming portion, and a closed base forming portion (922) wherein said preform comprises (1) a blend of (i) PEN copolymer and (ii) PET homopolymer or PET copolymer, such that when said PET and PEN components are physically mixed into a blend, said blend has about 5-70 wt.% PEN copolymer and 30 to 95 wt.% PET homopolymer or copolymer therein, (2) a PEN copolymer, or (3) PEN homopolymer, and said preform having a stretch ratio in the range of 18:1 to 25:1 in order to form a bottle having a volume in the range of 250 ml to 850 ml, wherein the stretch index is below 130 cm. Alternatively, said preform has a stretch ratio in the range of 18:1 to 20:1 in order to form a bottle having a volume in the range of 250 ml to 1000 ml. The invention further relates to an injection mold defining a cavity corresponding to an injection molded preform of the invention. In addition, the invention relates to a blow-molded container (52) produced from the injection molded plastic preform described above.
Abstract:
A method of making a bottle whereby a polylactic acid preform is stretch blow molded into a biodegradable bioresin bottle. An injection molded polylactic acid or polylactide preform having a finish, a transition portion, a body portion, and a closed end cap portion for making a blow molded biodegradable bioresin bottle having a substantially circular cross-section and a substantially elliptical cross-section. A biodegradable bioresin bottle having both substantially circular and substantially elliptical cross-sectional shapes. Hoop stiffness and bottle geometry are utilized to control the bottle shape resulting from deformation caused by vacuum creation as water vapor permeates outwardly through the bottle walls.
Abstract:
A method of making a bottle whereby a poly lactic acid preform is stretch blow molded into a biodegradable bioresin bottle. An injection molded polylactic acid or polylactide preform having a finish, a transition portion, a body portion, and a closed end cap portion for making a blow molded biodegradable bioresin bottle having a substantially circular cross-section and a substantially elliptical cross-section. A biodegradable bioresin bottle having both substantially circular and substantially elliptical cross-sectional shapes. Hoop stiffness and bottle geometry are utilized to control the bottle shape resulting from deformation caused by vacuum creation as water vapor permeates outwardly through the bottle walls.
Abstract:
A dual constituent container (16) includes a compartment (40) for liquids and an elongate inwardly directed recess (36) open to the container exterior and isolated from the compartment. The container is formed by blow molding, using a mold that incorporates a shaping feature projected longitudinally into the mold cavity. The shaping feature incorporates an arrangement of longitudinal channels having a channel width such that when a thermoplastic preform is expanded into contact with the mold cavity walls and the shaping feature, portions of the expanded preform span the channels and cooperate with the channels to provide passages that accommodate pressurized air to facilitate separation of the expanded preform from the shaping feature. The same portions of the expanded preform can partially protrude into the channels, thus to form longitudinal ribs (44) along the recess which aid in frictionally holding a secondary constituent.
Abstract:
A polymeric preform that can be blow molded into a plastic article includes an open neck portion, a body portion with a sidewall, and a closed end opposite the neck portion with a thickness of not more than 70 percent of the thickness of the sidewall. The thickness of the closed end is preferably in the range of 30 percent to 70 percent of the thickness of the sidewall, and more preferably between 30 percent to 50 percent of the sidewall thickness. This reduces the volume or amount of material needed to form the preform without adversely impacting the structural integrity or physical properties of a container formed from the preform. According to one presently preferred aspect of the invention, the preform is compression molded.