Abstract: A closure (1) for sealingly closing a container neck (11) having a tubular body (2) with a top wall (4), an annular side wall (5), an intermediate wall (6) joining the side wall (5) to the top wall (4) and an annular tamper evidence band (3) frangibly connected to an open end (21) described by the side wall (5). The band (3) includes retaining cams (31) protruding from its inner surface (30). Each cam (31) has a lead-in ramp (32) for engaging, in use, the flange (12) of a container neck (11) as the neck (11) is introduced into the open end (21) of the body (2) and a stop (33) for engaging the flange (12) to separate the band (3) from the body (2) when the closure (1) is subsequently removed from the neck (11). Each lead-in ramp (32) has a central recess (34) therein.

Abstract: A method, system, and preform for liquid forming of the preform into a final-shaped container using the liquid to be contained in the final-shaped container. The preform undergoes a stretching step to a size less than the size of a base of the final-shaped container, before being relocated and stretched to the final shape by the liquid. A stretch rod sealably connects with an interior surface of the preform to partially isolate a gate portion of the preform. The isolation is effected by a portion of the inner surface of the preform extending inwardly, or by a deformable member on the stretch rod which can selectively extend outwardly to contact the interior surface of the preform. The stretch rod includes a selectively heatable tip to heat the gate portion of the preform. The gate portion of the preform includes inner, outer, and core layers which comprise a material configured to affect the thermal properties of the gate portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, are structure and steps for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. In particular, the structure and steps may include a positioner that is configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part across the mold mounting face.

Abstract: A preform suitable for subsequent blow-molding into a final-shaped container comprises: a neck portion; a base portion; and a body portion extending between the neck portion and the base portion; the body portion being defined between an inner surface having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape and an outer surface also having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape, the inner and outer surfaces being non-concentric, such that a wall thickness of the body portion varies circumferentially around the preform. A preform handling apparatus for retrieving a preform from a mold comprises a take-off device having a preform carrier and a take-off device alignment mechanism for maintaining the preform carrier in alignment with a contact surface of a body portion of the preform regardless of any offset between a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical outer surface of the body portion and a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical inner surface of the body portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adjusting a motion profile of a shooting pot plunger for use in a molding system, the shooting pot plunger slidably movable within a shooting pot cavity, the method comprising: sensing a characteristic at a predetermined location in an injection circuit of the molding system; determining that the sensed characteristic is outside of a threshold range; adjusting the motion profile of the shooting pot plunger to account for determining that the sensed characteristic is outside of the threshold range; and storing the adjusted motion profile in a memory.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle includes a nozzle body, an annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, a source channel upstream of the annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, and a flow transition channel in the nozzle body. The flow transition channel interconnects the source channel with a part-annular segment of the annular outlet channel. The flow transition channel widens in a downstream direction and has a non-uniform cross-sectional channel thickness in either or both of the longitudinal (downstream) and transverse directions. The geometry of the flow transition channel may promote at least one of a uniform velocity profile and a uniform temperature profile in a generated annular or part-annular melt flow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a gate and a related method of forming the gate, having structure and steps of providing a base of a first base material, the base having a gate area, adding a layer of a second material to the base in the gate area by an additive manufacturing process to form a metallurgical bond, wherein the second material has a characteristic that differentiates the second material from the first base material and modifying an inner surface in the gate area comprised of the second material to define the gate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a closure cap for a container comprising a lid and a shell, and a hinge region for pivotally connecting the lid to the shell and for locking the lid in an open position thereof. The lid comprises a top panel having a tongue adjacent the hinge region and a cylindrical wall suspended from a bottom face of the top panel and connected to the shell via a plurality of bridges which break upon a first opening of the lid. The hinge region comprises a pair of elongate hinge elements spaced apart from each other, and a ratchet-like member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydraulic system for a molding system, the molding system having a clamp actuator and an injection actuator, the hydraulic system comprising a clamp accumulator for storing hydraulic fluid for use in actuating the clamp actuator; an injection accumulator for storing hydraulic fluid for use in actuating the injection actuator; a pump for conveying hydraulic fluid to the clamp accumulator and the injection accumulator; and a selector valve for selectively fluidly connecting the pump to one of the clamp accumulator and the injection accumulator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method (400) of operating a molding system (100), the method (400) executable by a controller (140) of the molding system (100). The method comprises appreciating (402) a plurality of operational parameters associated with the molding system (100); based on at least a sub-set of the plurality of operational parameters, generating (404) a machine performance index, the machine performance index being a single value representative of the at least a sub-set of the plurality of operational parameters and being instrumental in enabling an operator of the molding system (100) to appreciate an economic productivity factor associated therewith; causing (406) the machine performance index to be displayed on an interface of the controller (140).

Abstract: An injection mold for molding a flip-top closure having a body portion and a lid attached to the body portion by a living hinge has first and second mold portions for defining first and second portions of the flip-top closure respectively, a lid closing tool for closing the lid of the flip-top closure on the body portion after a molding of the flip-top closure in the injection mold and before an ejection of the flip-top closure from the injection mold, and first and second linear actuators operatively connected to the lid closing tool for moving the lid closing tool about first and second axes respectively. The first and second linear actuators are controllable to move the lid closing tool along a lid closing path for closing the lid. An in-mold lid closing device and a method for making a flip-top closure are also disclosed.

Abstract: Thermocouples and their associated thermocouple junctions can be integrated via freeform fabrication into various parts of injection-molding apparatuses, including the nozzles. Unitary monolithic integration of thermocouples allows thermocouple junctions to be located highly proximate to the locations where temperature monitoring is desired, particularly, near the tips of injection-molding nozzles, which has conventionally been difficult or impossible to achieve. An injection-molding nozzle with one or more integrated thermocouples, a hot-runner manifold with injection-molding nozzles, having integrated thermocouples, monolithically integrated with the manifold as a single part using a freeform fabrication process, and a separately formed injection-molding nozzle having at least one integrated thermocouple and a robust electrical connection are presented according to various aspects of the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a valve stem between an open position and a closed position and for taking one or more valve gated nozzle out of service is disclosed. The hot runner includes a valve gated nozzle having a valve stem, the valve stem coupled to a piston that is held against an actuation plate via pressurized air. When a valve stem becomes stuck in a gate of the hot runner, the actuation plate can continue to move while the piston remains stationary. The valve stem may also be protected from an over force situation such as if the valve stem encounters an obstruction as the actuation plate is moving toward the closed position.

Abstract: A mold stack for a mold comprises a mold core configured for reception in a mold cavity plate with an outer molding surface. The mold core comprises an inner core with a first tapered guide surface and an outer core with a second tapered guide surface. The inner core is received through a passage in the outer core. A spacer slidably supports the outer core on the inner core. The outer core is movable relative to the inner core between a molding position in which the inner and outer cores define a mold cavity with the outer molding surface, and an open position in which the outer core is extended relative to the inner core. In the molding position, the first and second tapered guide surfaces engage one another to align the inner and outer cores.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an injection molding machine comprising, an injection nozzle (2) having a melt channel (6), an injection opening (5), and a filter (9) for filtering the molten resin within the injection nozzle (2). According to the invention, the melt filter (9) cooperates with the 5 melt channel (6) or a means (7) provided within the melt channel (6) in such a way, that during an injection phase of the injection molding machine, the molten resin is caused to pass through the filter (9), and during a decompression phase of the injection molding machine the molten resin is caused to bypass the filter (9).

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a molding system (100) comprising control structure that includes a mold (120) that is configured to mold a molded article (180), a controller (170) with which to control the operation of the molding structure, and a vision system (174) with which to appreciate a parameter of the molded article (180) for control of molding system (100).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gate insert includes an injection gate body having front and rear opposite sides and an aperture extending through the injection gate body between an injection gate outlet on the front side and an opening on the rear side. The injection gate body is connectable to and disconnectable from a gate pad in a cavity plate from a front side of the gate pad and from a front side of the cavity plate. In another embodiment, a cavity flange includes a molding body defining at least a portion of a molding cavity shaped to mold a shell of a closure for a container. The molding body is connectable to and disconnectable from a gate insert in a cavity plate from a front side of the gate insert and from a front side of the cavity plate. Other apparatuses are disclosed.

Abstract: Hot-runner manifolds that contain one or more types of non-melt channels in addition to melt channels, and injection-molding systems containing such hot-runner manifolds. The differing types of non-melt channels include: coolant channels for carrying a coolant for cooling the tips of hot-tip nozzles, for example, during hot latching operations; heating-fluid channels for carrying a heating fluid for heating melt within melt channels within the hot-runner manifolds; and actuation-fluid channels for carrying actuation fluid to valves of valve-actuated nozzles. In each case, nozzles can be formed unitarily monolithically with the hot-runner manifolds and one or more of the various types of non-melt channels can be continuously routed within such unitary monolithic nozzles. Freeform fabrication processes can be used to form hot-runner manifolds of the present disclosure, which often contain complex/intricate internal passageways that form the various types of melt and non-melt channels.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.