Abstract: A method of inspecting wall thickness of blow-molded plastic containers includes providing a blow-molder having a plurality of molds and a plurality of associated spindles. The containers are inspected by impinging infrared light thereon and detecting the portion of the infrared light that passes through the container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a microprocessor. The microprocessor compares the electrical signals with stored information regarding desired wall thickness of the container and emits output thickness information. The microprocessor receives signals from sensors associated with the blow-molder relating to the position of the molds, the identity of the molds and the identity of the spindles in order that the wall thickness information that is determined by inspection can be associated with specific molds and spindles. The wall thickness information may be averaged over a period of time or a number of containers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing plastic containers. The method may comprise the steps of (1) forming a plastic container from a preform in a blow-molder, where the blow-molder comprises a plurality of molds and spindles; and (2) inspecting the plastic container after formation in the blow-molder. The containers are inspected by impinging infrared light thereon and detecting the portion of the infrared light that passes through the container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a microprocessor. The microprocessor receives signals from sensors associated with the blow-molder relating to the position of the molds, the identity of the molds and the identity of the spindles in order that the information that is determined by inspection can be associated with specific molds and spindles. The information may be visually displayed so as to provide feedback regarding the inspection process.

Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves together to form a cavity and enclose a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by applying a vacuum to those portions adjacent to a cutter and by then moving the cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom. The apparatus for achieving this method includes a cutter slidably disposed in a first slot and having a slot plugging member slidably exposed in a second slot wherein the cutter and slot plugging member will prevent plastic from entering the first and second slots when the plastic product is being formed. After the plastic is formed, a vacuum is applied to portions of the product adjacent to the cutter.

Abstract: In a method for the production and filling of containers (12), at least one tube (3) of plasticized plastic material is extruded into an open mold (6). The tube (3) is bonded at its advancing end on closing the mold (6) to form the container base. The tube (3) is severed above the mold, by a separating element (21) to form a filling opening. The mold (6) having the tube (3) with a filling opening is moved to a filling position in which the container is filled after the tube (3) formed in the mold by generating an expanding pressure gradient acting on the tube (3). During the movement of the mold (6) into the filling position, the filling opening of the tube (3) is covered by a sterile barrier (23).

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: A preform for a multi-layered hollow vessel has excellent moldability and productivity and is free from the deterioration of the characteristic properties of the vessel even when a recycled material is filled in large quantities. A molded product is produced by filling a first material and a second material into the cavity of an injection mold in a single molding step including (i) the substep of injecting the first material, (ii) the substep of injecting the first material and the second material at the same time and (iii) the substep of injecting the first material which are carried out continuously in this order.

Abstract: A process for making a molded running board assembly for installation on a vehicle includes blow molding the body of the running board and incorporating one or more additional components such as a step plate or a trim strip. The process involves placing the insert into the blow mold cavity in a subcavity, holding the insert by vacuum pressure and then extruding and blow molding a parison to simultaneously mold the running board and integrate the insert.

Abstract: A method and system for forming an injection molded plastic part. After the injection of plastic material has started, a volume of gas from a fixed volume reservoir is introduced into the plastic material at a low pressure forming a hollow cavity. The gas is introduced into the mold by a gas pin having a temperature sensing device, such as a thermocouple, positioned on it. The introduction of this volume of gas is initiated when the temperature of the plastic material in the mold has reached a predetermined value. After the mold is filled and packed with plastic, pressurized gas is introduced into the hollow cavity forming the completed plastic part.

Abstract: The double blow molding process comprises a primary blow molding step of biaxially drawing and blow molding the preform into a primary intermediate product, a step of heating the primary intermediate product to shrink-mold it into the secondary intermediate product, and a secondary blow molding step of molding the secondary intermediate product into a bottle. This double blow molding process is characterized in that, just before the secondary blow molding step, the secondary intermediate product on standby is maintained at a temperature at least 40° C. or 50° C. higher than the mold temperature used in said secondary blow molding step. From such a temperature, it is possible to determine the double blow molding conditions, which can correspond to the levels of heat resistance required for the bottles, and to provide, with high productivity, the bottles having necessary levels of heat resistance.

Abstract: A method of ejecting a container from a blow mold comprises the steps of: opening a blow mold containing a container, the blow mold comprising a pair of pistons having a head and a heel, an end cap disposed behind the heel, and a pair of ejector rods, each ejector rod coupled to a different one of the pair of pistons; forcing a fluid against each head of each of the pair of pistons, extending each of the ejector rods to maintain contact with an opposite side of a center portion of the container in the blow mold and pushing the container from the blow mold; and forcing a fluid against the heel of each of the pair of pistons operative to retract the pair of ejector rods away from the container when the container is separated from the blow mold.

Abstract: A synthetic resin container according to the invention has a craze pattern on the outer surface of its body. The container comprises an inner layer that comes into direct contact with content during its storage, an outer layer laid over the inner layer, and a translucent protective layer laid over the outer layer. The outer layer carries a craze pattern that has been obtained by applying a solvent to a preform or parison of the container after blow molding thereof. The protective layer covers and protects that portion of the outer layer, which carries the craze pattern, and preserves its visibility from outside.

Abstract: A plastic resin extrusion line for the production of blown film includes an external thickness control device that provides a controllable amount of air from an inlet side through an annular region to one or two sets of lips. Barriers that can be manually or automatically controlled are provided in the annular region for localized control of air flow and thus for localized thickness control. The pressure drop across the barriers is significant relative to that in the lips.

Abstract: A method for producing a glass-like carbon pipe is provided. The method comprises the steps of producing a plurality of thermosetting resin molded articles by centrifugal molding, said molded articles each having the shape of the sections of a pipe divided in the longitudinal direction and each provided with threaded or fitting portions; integrating these molded articles by joining at the threaded or fitting portions; and carbonizing the joined pipe to thereby produce a glass-like carbon pipe. This method is capable of producing a straight or bent pipe with excellent mechanical strength and gas sealability at the joint, and this method enables production of a pipe at a low cost since no machining is required for providing the threaded or fitting portions.

Abstract: A fluid container and method for inhibiting the growth of microbes in liquid nutrient in a container, the container having an interior surface having a metal-ion sequestering agent for removing a designated metal ion from the liquid nutrient for inhibiting growth of microbes in the liquid nutrient.

Abstract: A moulding method, in particular a blowing or vacuum moulding method produces a dispensing container filled with a medium for dispensing. A moulding method for production of a dispensing container (1), filled with a medium for dispensing, involves introduction of an extruded plastic tube (6) into an open mould with moving main mould sections (8) and mould sections (10), cutting the plastic tube (6), spreading the plastic tube (6) into contact with the mould walls of the main mould sections (8), filling the container (1) in the mould with the medium for dispensing, introduction of a sealing unit (3), closure of the secondary mould sections (10) and subsequent moulding of the section of plastic tube (6) running through the secondary mould sections (10) to form a protective sleeve (5) which encloses a cannula (11) in the sealing unit (3) as second component of the securing device (5, 17).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite sandwich structure, the method comprising a preform assembly method. The method comprises providing a preform (8) comprising at least two sheets (12, 14) connected by a plurality of extensible threads (16), and affixing to the outer face of each sheet (12, 14), a face sheet (18, 22). The adhesion is by a film adhesive (20, 24) placed over the respective sheets (12, 14), and the preform (8) is subjected to pressure or heat to set the film adhesive (20, 24). The method further comprises a method of molding a composite sandwich structure, the method comprising placing a preform (8) in a mold (30), creating pressure differentials between respective chambers (40, 42) within the mold (30), feeding a resinous compound into the mold (30), and allowing the resinous compound to set and cure. The invention also provides composite sandwich structures made in accordance with the methods.

Abstract: A plastic container having a body portion and a handle portion which extends from the body portion is formed using a pair of mold halves placed into engagement. During the molding process, a surface of the handle portion is provided with a recess in at least one area where the mold halves are in placed into engagement.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a synthetic resin hollow molded body includes a first injection molding process, a positioning process and a second injection molding process in which each of the contact portions of the first split assembly member, second split assembly member, and the third split assembly member is made to contact the corresponding contact portion and each of the contact portions is joined with the corresponding contact portion by a second injection between the first die and the second die.

Abstract: A blow molded structure comprising a body made out of a first polymeric material and an integrally molded, coextruded living hinge made out of a second, more flexible polymeric material. A method of making a blow molded article having a coextruded living hinge.

Abstract: A method of imaging a woven textile fabric comprises the steps of providing a woven textile fabric having a plurality of interwoven warp and weft yarns comprising aesthetically contrasting fibrous components. A three-dimensional image transfer device is provided with the woven textile fabric positioned thereon, and subjected to hydraulic imaging by application of pressurized liquid streams. The liquid streams are applied to a surface of the fabric facing away from the image transfer device, to thereby impart the pattern of the image-forming surface of the three-dimensional transfer device to the fabric. The resultant fabric can find application as an apparel article, a home fashion article, or an upholstery backing.