Abstract: Plastics articles, such as plates, bowls, cups and the like which are for containing foodstuffs and are useable in freezers, and microwave and conventional cooking ovens, are of crystalline polyethylene terephthalate rendering them suitable for such purposes, and the articles are decoratively printed using inks containing thermoplastic resin binders and pigments, and the pigment is keyed firmly to the articles to prevent ready removal therefrom by abrading by heating the applied ink by means of a naked flame quickly to bring the resin binder up to its melting point so that the binder and article become bonded together keying the pigment to the article.

Abstract: A non cylindrical tubular container is formed from a blank creased to delineate contiguous hexagonal cells. The blank is provided with tabs at one edge which engage in slots in a mandrel having a pair of hexagonal ends between which extends a contoured surface that initiates folding of the blank about its creases. The blank is first partially wrapped around the stationary mandrel and glue is applied to the free end of the blank. Wrapping is completed by rotating the mandrel so that the ends of the blank overlap. The overlapped ends are pinched together by a presser bar that pushes the ends against the mandrel. The completed tubular container is then pulled off the mandrel by gripping one edge of the container and pulling it endwise away from the mandrel.

Abstract: A thin-walled nestable plastic container of the type having a tapering cylindrical wall is provided with an expansible bottom employing a central conical portion projecting upwardly into the container. The central conical portion is arranged to invert under pressure so that the cone decreases in height as it turns inside out. The base of the cone remains circular as the cone inverts and thereby provides a stable base on which the container can rest. The cone is not intended to invert completely and consequently, the apex of the cone is preferably stiffened by thickening of the wall.