Abstract: An extruder assembly comprising a barrel, through which a conductor can travel; a first subassembly for extruding a first sleeve on the conductor; and a second subassembly for extruding a second sleeve onto the first sleeve, the second sleeve comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a cross-section comprising a first annulus sector and a second annulus sector, the first portion comprising the first annulus sector, the second portion comprising the second annulus sector, the first and second portions are in contact with the first sleeve.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus and hot runner system are disclosed. The injection molding apparatus includes a plurality of mold plates in which the hot runner system is received. A manifold receives molding material and has a manifold channel that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A nozzle delivers moldable material to a mold cavity. The nozzle has a nozzle channel in fluid communication between the manifold channel and the mold cavity. A valve pin seal is located at the upstream end of the nozzle, and a valve pin that is connected to an actuator extends through the manifold and nozzle is slidably received in the valve pin seal. The hot runner system further includes a thermal bridge that is in conductive thermal communication with the valve pin seal and a cooled one of the plurality of mold plates.

Abstract: A co-injection nozzle is disclosed that includes a combining means configured to reduce shear heating and create a more even shear heating profile in core and skin material flow streams. The combining means is configured to reduce shear heating peaks and valleys in core and skin material flow streams as the streams flow between annular channels of the combining means during a mold filling process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for co-injection molding multilayer articles having one or more molded apertures disposed between a gate region and a peripheral region of the article are disclosed. The articles include an interior layer disposed between an inner layer and an outer layer. An article has interior layer coverage over at least 98% of a perimeter of a cross-section of the article downstream of the one or more molded apertures. A method includes modifying fluid flowing past an aperture-forming region of a mold cavity to compensate for the drag of the aperture-forming region on the velocity of the fluid flowing proximal to the aperture-forming region.

Abstract: A container may comprise a spout, a base portion, and an ovular sidewall extending away from the base portion to the spout. The ovular sidewall comprises a vertical portion, a top transition region, and a top region extending from the top transition region to the spout. The top region comprises at least two discrete linear sections having different slopes between the top transition region and the spout. Moreover, the base portion of the container defines a support surface on which the container rests, a base channel extending across the diameter of the container, and an inset concave panel aligned with a center of the container. The container additionally comprises a handle portion defining a complex-curved face surface interrupting the top transition region and the top region, and a handle extending from a bottom portion of the face surface to a top portion of the face surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for co-extruding multiple polymeric material flow streams into a mold cavity to produce a molded plastic article having an injection-formed aperture in gate region of the article are disclosed herein. A method includes providing a valve pin having a distal portion with a first diameter and a mid-portion with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and providing a mold defining a cavity corresponding to a shape of a resulting molded plastic article. The mold has a recess aligned with a gate region of the mold, extending into the mold and configured to receive the distal portion of the valve pin when the distal portion of the valve pin extends beyond the gate region.

Abstract: Plastic container (110), including a side wall (120) and a flexible portion (132) of a base (130). The flexible portion of the base deflects when the sealed plastic container experiences a differential pressure. The deflection of the flexible portion of the base acts to change the internal volume of the container and thereby reduce the differential pressure. The container is a retortable container. The container may be injection-molded with inner and outer plastic layers (460,462) and a core layer (464) between the inner and outer plastic layers.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a container comprising: a spout, a base portion, and a plurality of alternating long sidewalls and short sidewalls extending away from the base portion to the spout. The plurality of alternating long sidewalls and short sidewalls collectively define a vertical portion extending away from the base portion, a downward sloping planar top portion extending away from the spout, and a gradually curved transition region extending between the vertical portion and the downward sloping planar top portion. The container comprises a strength protrusion surrounding the spout and defined within the downward sloping planar top portion and one or more vertical grooves defined within at least one of the long sidewalls or the short sidewalls.

Abstract: A container may comprise a spout, a base portion, and an ovular sidewall extending away from the base portion to the spout. The ovular sidewall comprises a vertical portion, a top transition region, and a top region extending from the top transition region to the spout. The top region comprises at least two discrete linear sections having different slopes between the top transition region and the spout. Moreover, the base portion of the container defines a support surface on which the container rests, a base channel extending across the diameter of the container, and an inset concave panel aligned with a center of the container. The container additionally comprises a handle portion defining a complex-curved face surface interrupting the top transition region and the top region, and a handle extending from a bottom portion of the face surface to a top portion of the face surface.