Abstract: Improvements in an unloader unit for an automatic system for unloading articles, such as plastic milk bottles, from a truck trailer and depositing them onto a conveyor system includes a synchronization control system and means for stably positioning the articles during the unloading operation.

Abstract: A lightweight plastic container having improved strength and rigidity characteristics for a given amount of plastic material is provided. The container is of one-piece thin-walled construction having four generally flat sidewalls interconnected by curved corner portions and having a bottom portion interconnected to the flat sidewalls by curved base portions and further having an integral handle formed within the bottle profile. The container incorporates a pair of longitudinally extending ribbing structures in a pair of opposed curved corner portions and other inventive constructional features enabling the lightweight container to withstand hydrostatic forces without buckling or dimpling as well as heavier conventionally constructed plastic containers.

Abstract: In a seal removal station positioned along a bottle conveyor line upstream of a filling operation, oversized adhesive seals covering the mouths of plastic bottles are lifted off each bottle and transferred to a collector bin. Vacuum pressure generated in a plenum chamber formed in a stator member is transmitted to the non-adhesive upper surface of each seal through a perforated rotor surface rotating beneath the stator. Air jet means directing fluid pressure upward against overlapping marginal portions of each seal and guide surfaces to flatten out curled portions of the seal are utilized to assure seal lift off by virtue of fluid pressure differentials. A removed seal is kept adhered to the moving rotor surface by the maintenance of vacuum pressure above the seal. Adjacent to the collector bin, a further plenum having pressure air therein communicates through the rotor perforations with the adhered seal to propel the seal into the bin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding and curing liners in cap closures includes a molding head having a plurality of molding stations, a feeding mechanism for feeding unlined caps with charges of lined material to the molding head and a take-off mechanism for removing the completed liner. The feeding mechanism consists of a dispensing unit which is capable of dispensing more than one-thousand charges of material per minute and includes a gun having a lining compound receiving chamber with a needle reciprocated therein. The needle is normally biased to a closed position and is electrically moved to an open position through a solenoid and a photosensing mechanism which accurately senses the position of a rotating wheel of the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A method of producing stock material wherein a steel base is provided with a layer of tin thereon, the tin-layered steel is then cold rolled and thereafter heated to a temperature above 250.degree. F. but below the melting point of tin; in a second method of producing stock material, the stock is heated above the melting point of tin; also included are methods of producing containers utilizing stock produced by each of said stock producing methods; further included is another method of producing containers wherein a steel base is provided with a layer of tin thereon, heated to a temperature between 250.degree. F. to below the melting point of tin, and thereafter formed into a seamless container.

Abstract: A process for thermoforming laminated hollow articles including a plurality of processing steps wherein a thermoplastic material heated to a plastic state is selectively deposited area-wise on a sheet of thermoplastic material and such resulting laminate of thermoplastic materials is positioned proximate to a female mold of a thermoforming apparatus including preferably a plug assist for a subsequent forming of laminated hollow articles.

Abstract: A drawing and ironing assembly consists of a redraw assembly, at least one ironing assembly and a stripper assembly that cooperate with a punch to redraw a cup and then iron the sidewall thereof. The redraw assembly includes a support and a redraw ring which are also biased to a centered position and a floating air bearing is defined between the support and the frame surface to reduce friction while a nesting ring is located adjacent the redraw ring. Lubricating means are provided for creating a generally circumferential flow into the opening in the nesting ring. The stripper assembly includes a support which carries the stripper elements and the support is biased to a centered position with respect to a predetermined axis or path for the punch and fluid is supplied to relatively movable surfaces to assist in reducing friction.

Abstract: A process for forming a hollow multilayered thermoplastic article utilizing a liner and a core rod formed at least in part of a porous metal and having a blow slot. A vacuum is applied to the liner through the porous metal part of the core rod and optionally the blow slot and blowing pressure is applied through the blow slot.

Abstract: A blow slot equipped core rod assembly which incorporates a porous metal wall portion. Internal conduit means in the assembly permit a fluid (such as air, or the like) to be supplied to said blow slot (when open) and to such porous metal wall portion under superatmospheric or under subatmospheric pressure. The core rod is particularly useful in the manufacture of multilayered thermoplastic containers by injection blow molding procedures.

Abstract: A tool pack assembly includes three modular units that are aligned with the path for a punch to redraw and iron a cup into a container shell. The first modular unit has a redraw ring assembly, a lubricating ring and an ironing ring serially supported in a support member while the second modular unit has a lubricating ring and an ironing ring in a support member. The third modular unit has a unique lubricant removal ring, a lubricating ring, an ironing ring and a stripper assembly arranged in series in a support member.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for forming multilayered thermoplastic articles employing a blow slot equipped, porous metal section equipped core rod. In addition to control means, the apparatus employs means for opening and closing the blow slot of the core rod, detachable connection means for connecting an internal fluid passageway in said core rod with a vacuum source, and other detachable connection means for connecting such internal fluid passageway with a pressurized fluid source. In addition, check valve means is provided for closing said internal fluid passageway when the internal fluid passageway is detached from the detachable connection means joining such with a vacuum source. The vacuum source is connectable with the core rod at the time of liner loading and the pressurized fluid source is connected with the core rod at the time of blow molding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding and curing liners in cap closures includes a molding head having a plurality of molding stations, a feeding mechanism for feeding unlined caps with charges of lined material to the molding head and a take-off mechanism for removing the completed liner. The feeding mechanism consists of a dispensing unit which is capable of dispensing more than one-thousand charges of material per minute and includes a gun having a lining compound receiving chamber with a needle reciprocated therein. The needle is normally biased to a closed position and is electrically moved to an open position through a solenoid and a photosensing mechanism which accurately senses the position of a rotating wheel of the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A domer assembly for use with a punch reciprocable along a path on a frame of an ironing machine to reform an end wall of a container includes a center domer element surrounded by an annular element that projects beyond the surface of the center element with separate support means for the respective elements. The support means consists of a first support member carrying the center domer element with resilient compressible members interposed between the support member and the frame and a second support member supporting the annular element and also having a resilient member between the frame and the support. The respective resilient compressible members are identical in construction and are exposed so that they can readily be inspected, with independent separately pressurizable means for the respective compressible members.

Abstract: A stock material for producing seamless containers from a black plate base includes applying a layer of insoluble crystalline phosphate to each surface of the black plate and subsequently producing a thin film of organic lubricating material on the exposed surfaces of the phosphate layers so that a drawn and ironed container can be produced from a flat blank without the use of any additional lubricants during fabrication. The weight of the phosphate layer for each surface of the black plate base is preferably less than 100 milligrams per square foot, while the weight of lubricating film is on the order of 70 to 360 milligrams per square foot. In the preferred embodiment, the phosphate layer is preferably in the range of 20 to 35 milligrams per square foot, and the lubricant layer is on the order of 70 to 180 milligrams per square foot.

Abstract: In the manufacture of extra thin walled plastic containers the tail flash formed during the molding operation is spaced from the container proper by molding one or more standoff projections into the flash. This maintains the tail flash in an appropriate relationship relative to the container until it can be severed by a shearing mechanism. The projections are formed in the tail flash by providing male and female projection elements in the mold. In the absence of such standoffs, the tail flash will come in contact with the container while still sufficiently hot enough to adhere thereto.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a laminated plastic article, especially a container. In one formation sequence, a flattened preform of desired perimeter configuration is formed, which preferably is multilayered, directly from thermoplastic materials. In another formation sequence, a preform is positioned in a thermoforming apparatus wherein, with edge portions of the preform is clamped and the midportions are mandrel-formed into a body having continuous integral side and bottom wall portions. This body is then trimmed and blow-molded to produce a desired product article. Residual portions of the starting preform can be trimmed away from the lip portions of the product article if desired.

Abstract: A drawing and ironing assembly consists of a redraw assembly, at least one ironing assembly and a stripper assembly that cooperate with a punch to redraw a cup and then iron the sidewall thereof. The redraw assembly includes a support and a redraw ring which are also biased to a centered position and a floating air bearing is defined between the support and the frame surface to reduce friction while a nesting ring is located adjacent the redraw ring. Lubricating means are provided for creating a generally circumferential flow into the opening in the nesting ring. The stripper assembly includes a support which carries the stripper elements and the support is biased to a centered position with respect to a predetermined axis or path for the punch and fluid is supplied to relatively movable surfaces to assist in reducing friction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for draw molding elongated hollow articles from thermoplastic material which is desirably stretch moldable plastic sheet or film. The material is draw molded on an elongated mandrel. Draw ring means are operated cooperatively with the mandrel for drawing the thermoplastic material into an elongated hollow article. Gaseous jet stream doctoring means are operated during drawing for controlling the article wall thickness. The material may be drawn through a wiper ring through which the mandrel is moved with the thermoplastic material during draw molding in combination with subjecting the outer surface of the article being drawn to the action of the doctoring jet stream from an annular orifice. Internal fluid conditioning of the mandrel, as well as alternate negative pressure within the article during molding and stripping pressure from the mandrel into the article at conclusion of molding cycle are provided for. The draw molding is effected without clamping the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: An ironing die for use with a punch to reduce the wall thickness of the sidewall of the metal cup includes a body which has a circular opening therein extending from the leading surface to a trailing surface that are parallel to each other and the opening has a land spaced from both surfaces which defines a minimum diameter for the opening. The opening also has a cylindrical portion between the land and the trailing surface which has a diameter slightly larger than the minimum diameter to guide the cup after the free edge moves past the land. The opening is also flared outwardly between the land and the leading surface to produce an entry portion which guides the cup to a centered position with respect to the ironing land. In one embodiment, the wall which defines the opening also has a cut out portion between the land and the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A container end formed from metal having an approximate thickness of 0.0120 inches which is capable of withstanding at least 90 psi buckle pressure and at least 60 psi rock pressure is disclosed herein. A container end panel includes a peripheral curl surrounding a substantially flat center panel with a countersink therebetween. The countersink has inner and outer substantially flat walls that are interconnected by an arcuate portion that has a radius of approximately 0.030 inches and the inner wall is connected to the periphery of the center panel through an arcuate portion that has a radius of approximately 0.025 inches. The outer flat wall has a length which is greater than the length of the inner flat wall and the outer flat wall defines an angle of less than five degrees with respect to a plane that extends perpendicular through the center flat panel. The inner flat wall has a length to locate the lower edge of the countersink about 0.