Abstract: A plastic container includes a shoulder portion having an annular rib defined therein and a generally cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis. At least one gripping recess is defined in the main body portion that has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation and that is defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in side elevation. The gripping recess includes a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of which is sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.

Abstract: A plastic container that may be used in hot fill applications includes a finish portion having an opening, a main body portion and a bottom portion. The main body portion includes a vacuum panel area and a circumferentially extending reinforcement groove that has reinforcement structure provided therein positioned substantially adjacent to the vacuum panel area. The bottom portion includes a standing ring, a central interior substantially flat portion that has a plurality of alternating parallel ribs and grooves defined therein and a transitional surface between the standing ring and the substantially flat portion. The parallel ribs and grooves define a complex structure with respect to the transitional surface that provides a stiffening effect, particularly in containers that are fabricated from polypropylene.

Abstract: Ceramic die pin for molten thermoplastic extrusion, apparatus for molten thermoplastic extrusion including a ceramic die pin, and methods of molten thermoplastic extrusion with a ceramic die pin. The ceramic head member can have a mounting cavity formed therein. The ceramic head member can be made of high purity aluminum oxide, and have an outer surface finish of between about 4 RMS and about 275 RMS.

Abstract: A compression molded preform for forming an invertible base hot-fill container, and systems and methods thereof. The preform includes a body with a first open end, a second closed end or end cap of hemispherical shape, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end. At least a portion of the second end is thinner than any portion of the sidewall. Further, the second end is gateless and has an inner surface that is substantially smooth along its entire area. The compression molded preform is blow molded to form a plastic container with an invertible or movable base. The invertible or movable base is responsive to, or can be moved based on, internal forces or pressure associated with processing the container with a filled product.

Abstract: A plastic aerosol container includes a main body portion that is constructed and arranged to withstand aerosol pressurization within a range that is about 50-300 psig. The plastic aerosol container also includes a finish portion that is unitary with the main body portion. The finish portion may be threaded or unthreaded. The finish portion has a side wall, an upper sealing surface, at least one helical thread and a support ledge beneath the helical thread. Reinforcement structure is positioned beneath the support ledge for reinforcing the finish portion against deformation due to the pressurization. A method of stabilizing a plastic aerosol container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure-motion compensating diaphragm for air and liquid tight sealing, in combination with a cap, of a container. The diaphragm has (1) an edge engaging at least one of the cap and the container, and positioning the diaphragm horizontally in the container proximate the neck of the container and under the cap; (2) a center deflector button; and (3) a plurality of silfon tori segments extending from the edge to the center deflector button. The dimensions and geometries of the edge, center deflector button, and tori segments are predetermined to compensate uniquely for forces applied to the diaphragm and created by pressure changes inside and outside the container that occur as the container is filled with a product and processed through filling, pasteurization, or cooling steps. Also provided is an apparatus including the cap, the container, and the diaphragm for releasably storing the product.

Abstract: A plastic container, sidewall portions, and method of same are described. The sidewall portion can accommodate a vacuum in a filled and sealed container and includes a plurality of columns extending between upper and lower ends of the sidewall portion, and a plurality of vacuum panels oriented vertically between respective adjacent ones of the columns, each vacuum panel including an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, a first hinge connecting the upper and middle sections, and a second hinge connecting the middle and lower sections. The vacuum panels can move radially inward toward a container central axis such that the container vacuum is accommodated. As the vacuum panel moves radially inward, the middle section can maintain a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the central axis, and the upper and lower sections rotate about first and second hinges, respectively, and incline away from the central axis.

Abstract: A pivot casting component used in an apparatus for extrusion blow molding polyethylene teraphthalate (“PET”) is disclosed. The pivot casting is designed to provide increased strength and increased reliability over prior components with the blow mold clamping linkage system. Prior art pivot elements were designed and fabricated from separate elements such that weak points, and stress concentration points were created. Such weak points resulted in the pivot element being a weak component in the blow mold clamping linkage system. The inventive pivot casting is cast as a single component from higher strength materials, with an improved geometry to increase component strength, durability and overall system reliability. In a preferred embodiment, the air side pivot casting is formed from 80-55-06 ductile iron resulting in a 40% increase in tensile strength over prior pivot components.

Abstract: A hot fill type plastic container includes a finish portion that defines an opening and a main body portion having a sidewall that defines a plurality of vacuum panels and a plurality of creased wall portions. Each of the creased wall portions is positioned between two adjacent vacuum panels. At least one of the creased wall portions has an axis of longitudinal orientation when viewed in side elevation that has a vertical component and a circumferential component. The creased wall portions further preferably are substantially non-curved when viewed in side elevation and also preferably have a compound curvature to increase stiffness.

Abstract: A continuous motion de-flash machine for removing flash from molded plastic articles. An in-feed section is supported by a frame and adapted to transport articles. A de-flash section is supported by the frame, receives articles from the in-feed section, and includes (a) a de-flash turret with a plurality of cam-actuated punch stations each having a punch adapted to remove flash from an article, the punch stations traveling along an oval track with a pair of long straight portions connecting two curved portions, and (b) a nest turret with a plurality of cam-actuated nest stations, the nest stations traveling along an oval track parallel to the oval track of the punch stations. An out-feed section receives an article from the de-flash section and removes the article from the machine. A method of using the machine to de-flash articles having unwanted flash is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plastic container includes a finish portion defining an opening and a main body portion having a shape that is substantially polygonal in transverse cross-section. The main body portion has a maximum lateral dimension. At least one of the side panels includes a substantially flat portion for receiving a label and a concave portion having an average radius. A ratio of the average radius to the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 1.0 to about 2.0. The side panel having the concave portion further has an inwardmost portion and an outwardmost portion, with a first maximum lateral distance being defined between the inwardmost portion and the outwardmost portion. A second maximum lateral distance is defined between the inwardmost portion and one of the substantially flat portions. A ratio of the first distance to the second distance is substantially within a range of about 0.8 to about 1.2.

Abstract: A container can have a body with an integrally formed base attached to the body. The base includes a concave annular wall extending from the container sidewall to a standing surface, and an inner wall extending from the standing surface to a substantially flat inner annular wall. The inner annular wall is recessed in the base and is substantially perpendicular to the container sidewall. The inner annular wall includes a centrally located dimple. The dimple includes a plurality of spaced apart and radially extending indented ribs. One or more of the ribs extend radially into a brace that tapers to meet the inner annular wall.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mold for forming a deep grip container, the mold having drive mechanisms opposably to drive moveable inserts into the mold. The drive mechanisms may be located entirely within the mold and may include a slotted cam. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip comprising: providing a mold hanger having an outer envelope and providing within the outer envelope a drive mechanism to drive moveable inserts into the mold after blowing molten plastic into contact with the mold. Further disclosed is a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip manufactured according to the disclosed methods.

Abstract: Base for a container, the base being made of polymeric material, including a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed at an angle to the major axis. An inner wall is coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter. A dome projects upwardly from the inner wall and has an initial depth with respect to the support surface, the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 8 percent to approximately 15 percent of the first dimension. The dome includes a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis. The dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base without permanent deformation of the base.

Abstract: A triple parison flowhead apparatus for producing three multi-layer parisons simultaneously. The triple parison flowhead includes a first parison flowhead, a second parison flowhead, and a third parison flowhead substantially abutted to one another. Each flowhead includes a plurality of rings having flow passages, defining a center axis, and having an annular flow conduit in fluid communication with the flow passages and a plurality of ports. A set of mold plattens having a width is located adjacent to the first, second, and third parison flowheads. The flow passages in each ring are defined by a height and a diameter of each ring, and a combination of the width of the mold plattens and the flow passages minimizes the center-to-center distances between the three parison flowheads.

Abstract: A multifunctional detabber apparatus and method for producing bottles having a bottom surface with a hook projection integrally molded with and extending from the bottom surface in a deployed position. The bottom surface also includes at least one locking channel in order to receive and releasably secure the hook projection in a non-deployed position. The multifunctional detabber apparatus includes at least a grabber, a trimmer, and a hook closer. The grabber includes first and second jaws which surround the bottle and prevent movement. The trimmer includes first and second strikers for creating an outer periphery of the hook projection and an opening in the hook projection. The hook closer includes a mandrel that extends to bend and secure the hook projection in the locking channel in the bottom surface of the bottle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mold hanger for supporting a bottle mold in a blow molding station, the mold hanger comprising a piston and piston sleeve fully contained within the mold hanger configured to push a moveable insert into the mold. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting an original rotatable blow molding module having multiple existing blow molding stations, each existing mold hanger defining an existing outer envelope. The disclosed method may include providing an improved mold hanger substantially contained within the respective existing outer envelope and including low-profile drive mechanisms configured opposably to drive moveable inserts into the mold. Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip, the method including providing within a mold hanger a drive mechanism to drive a moveable insert into the mold. A bottle made by such methods is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multilayer plastic bottle comprising layers of PET and a polyamide such as, for example, MXD6, that is free from occurrence of delamination upon dropping or upon exposure to impact. The present inventors have found that when forming a barrier layer containing an adhesion promoting agent according to the present invention, an impact energy applied to the barrier layer is well reduced and the resultant multilayer bottle is improved in interlaminar bonding strength and prevented from suffering from delamination upon dropping, etc.

Abstract: An automatic rotary transfer apparatus and method for conveying a plurality of lightweight articles, such as empty bottles, at a high speed and, optionally, providing at least one additional function, such as de-flashing, trimming, or inspecting, in a single rotation of the rotary transfer apparatus. The apparatus includes a carriage ring having an outer perimeter defining a plurality of cavities spaced along the outer perimeter. Each cavity is adapted to receive a single article. A drive assembly indexes and rotates the carriage ring about a central axis of rotation and is synchronized to a continuous stream of the plurality of articles from an upstream operation, such as blow molding. The apparatus may further include a modification device, such as a de-flasher or trimmer, and an inspection station with a sensor for discharging damaged or imperfect articles, which performs the functions in a single rotation of the carriage ring.