Abstract: Squeezable plastic tubes which have a flip-top closure cap with a finger recess are provided by a method which aligns indicia on labeling of the tube with the finger recess, the labeling being either a wrap-around label or a label applied on the front and/or back wall of the tube. The indicia is centered on or opposite to a visually desired graphics portion of the label. The closure cap is applied to a collapsible plastic cylinder followed by applying a label such that the indicia is aligned with or opposite to an imaginary surface line which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and passes through the center of the finger recess of the closure cap. The open end of the plastic cylinder, after filling the cylinder with contents to be dispensed therefrom, is sealed in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the center of the finger recess and the longitudinal axis, by alignment of sealing means with the indicia, to form a filled squeezable plastic tube.

Abstract: The machine of the present invention is a means for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine is a single apparatus having an indexing table with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The manufacturing path of the machine of the present invention is a series of stations which are mechanical devices for carrying out the manufacturing steps necessary to produce tubes from thermoplastic blank sleeves. The stations of the manufacturing path are modular so that they may be removed, added or rearranged; may be optionally connected to a process logic controller and may optionally have sensors for information feedback to the PLC device.

Abstract: The machine of the present invention is a means for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine is a single apparatus having an indexing table with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The manufacturing path of the machine of the present invention is a series of stations which are mechanical devices for carrying out the manufacturing steps necessary to produce tubes from thermoplastic blank sleeves. The stations of the manufacturing path are modular so that they may be removed, added or rearranged; may be optionally connected to a process logic controller and may optionally have sensors for information feedback to the PLC device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine used in the method is a single apparatus having an indexing device with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The method involves advancing sleeves around the closed manufacturing path to form tubes from the sleeves.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine is a single apparatus having an indexing table with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The manufacturing path of the machine is a series of stations which are mechanical devices for carrying out the manufacturing steps necessary to produce tubes from thermoplastic blank sleeves. The stations of the manufacturing path are modular so that they may be removed, added or rearranged; may be optionally connected to a process logic controller and may optionally have sensors for information feedback to the PLC device.

Abstract: A headed thermoplastic tube is formed solely from a thermoplastic extruded, stretched, sleeve by positioning the sleeve over a forming mandrel so the sleeve has an exposed portion. While rotating the forming mandrel which holds the sleeve, the inner surface of the exposed portion of the sleeve is heated above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material to render the inner surface molten while the outer surface provides support for the exposed portion of the sleeve. The heated exposed portion is then shaped into a conical shape, such as by heating the outer surface, the rotation of the mandrel is stopped and pressure applied to the conical shaped exposed portion to form a headed thermoplastic tube. The headed tubes produced have a body portion, shoulder portion and neck portion, without any seams, all of which are formed from the starting thermoplastic extruded, stretched sleeve.

Abstract: A headed thermoplastic tube having a closure member is formed solely from a thermoplastic extruded, stretched sleeve by positioning the sleeve over a forming mandrel with an exposed portion and heating the exposed portion. The heated exposed portion is shaped into a head in a single step by contacting the exposed portion with a closure means which is later retained on the head after initial contact. The internal cavity of the closure means, which may have threads or grooves formed in the internal cavity, is made of an incompatible material to facilitate the forming of a head in said cavity. The closure means may also have tamper evident features.

Abstract: The plant for manufacturing and packing thermoplastic tubes of the present invention is an efficient arrangement of a plurality of single machines, each one producing the same finished thermoplastic tubes as from a conventional line. The machines are arranged into small groups or production cells. The manufacturing and packing plant of the present invention is at least one production cell associated with a common product transportation line. The method of operating the plant of the present invention involves marking each tube with an indicia and identifying, recording, and monitoring each tube with an indicia.