Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for a container cap comprising a plurality of tamper evidence bridges configured to provide evidence that the container cap has been removed from a container by other than a manufacturer of the container. The tamper evidence bridges comprise a small tab of material that extends from a bottom-most edge of the container cap to a neck ring of the container. The tamper evidence bridges are configured to break, or snap, when the container cap is rotated relative to the neck ring. Broken tamper evidence bridges provide readily visible evidence to an end-user of the container that the container cap has been removed by other than the manufacturer of the container. The high visibility of the tamper evidence bridges serves to discourage vendors from attempting to refill and resale of the used containers.

Abstract: A nozzle is provided for engaging with lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle includes a seal configured to engage with a stepped interior of the finish portion and enables stretching and/or blow-molding the preform into a container. The seal tightly engages a smooth surface inside the finish portion without damaging the surface or a sidewall of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seal includes a profile shape that mates with a transitional surface comprising the stepped interior of the finish portion. The profile shape distributes the contact force of the seal over a maximal area of the transition surface so as to minimize the total pressure exerted onto the finish portion. The profile shape reduces potential cracking of a thin-walled region of the finish portion during stretching and/or blow-molding the preform to form the container.

Abstract: A container may have a base, a sidewall connected to the base, a bell connected to the sidewall, and a finish connected to the bell. The base may have strap ribs to resist deformation of the base. The sidewall may have recessed columns to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The strap ribs and recessed columns may vertically line up along a central axis of the container to communicate forces on the container vertically along the container to continuously resist.

Abstract: A preform is provided for blow-molding to form a container. The preform includes a finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure to seal contents within an interior of the container. The finish portion comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge. A mirror polished sealing surface inside the finish portion cooperates with a plug seal of the closure to seal the container. Threads outside the finish portion engage with similar threads inside the closure. Thread starts of the threads reduce potential damage to the threads during installation of the closure. The thread starts may include a start pitch that is greater than a thread pitch of the threads. A handling valley disposed between the threads and the tamper evidence ledge facilitates air-conveying the container along a manufacturing assembly line.

Abstract: Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for a perforated top panel disposed in a shrink-wrapped bottle pack for containing water bottles. The perforated top panel includes an easy-open panel and a semi-circular portion disposed at a terminal end of the easy-open panel. The easy-open panel is partially bordered by an alternating series of cuts and lands that are configured to allow the easy-open panel to tear away from the top panel upon being pulled by a practitioner. The easy-open panel includes a parallel portion that extends to one or more tapered portions that terminate at the semi-circular portion. The semi-circular portion is configured to be grasped and pulled to separate the tapered portion and the parallel portion from the top panel and thus expose the water bottles.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

Abstract: A graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition is provided for forming graphene-PET containers. The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate composition includes a continuous matrix comprising polyethylene terephthalate and a dispersed reinforcement phase comprising graphene nanoplatelets. The graphene nanoplatelets range in diameter between 5 ?m and 10 ?m with surface areas ranging from about 15 m2/g to about 150 m2/g. In some embodiments, the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate comprises a concentration of graphene nanoplatelets being substantially 3% weight fraction of the graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate. The graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate is configured to be injection molded into a graphene-PET preform suitable for forming a container. The graphene-PET preform is configured to be reheated above its glass transition temperature and blown into a mold so as to shape the graphene-PET preform into the container.

Abstract: A nozzle for a blow-molding process includes a first sealing portion and a second seating portion. A transition portion is positioned between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The nozzle is configured such that upon engagement with a container preform having a longitudinal axis, the second sealing portion is positioned along the longitudinal axis at a different location than the first sealing portion.

Abstract: A composition and a method are provided for graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Graphene nanoplatelets comprising a suitable initial surface area are added to a solvent for producing PET. In some embodiments, the solvent comprises ethylene glycol. The solvent and graphene nanoplatelets are sonicated to disperse the nanoplatelets within the solvent. The solvent and graphene nanoplatelets are centrifuged to remove nanoplatelet agglomerates within the solvent. A supernatant solution of dispersed graphene nanoplatelets and solvent is decanted and then used for in-situ polymerization of the graphene reinforced PET comprising a continuous matrix of PET with a dispersed graphene reinforcement phase. The graphene reinforcements comprise a minimal number of layers of two-dimensional mono-atomic carbon sheets. In some embodiments, the number of layers ranges between 1 layer and 7 layers.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for a direct to store supply chain to bring high volume, bulk space products directly from suppliers, manufacturers, and vendors to retail locations, thereby bypassing retailer distribution centers. The system comprises an order management and invoicing system configured to facilitate demand signals from retail locations to manufacturers and vendors of desired products. A routing optimization system is configured to continually optimize an aggregate of orders so as to produce lowest-cost shipping solutions. A tracking and notification system is configured to provide manufacturers with clear tracking visibility of en-route deliveries once they leave manufacturing facilities.

Abstract: A preform is provided for blow-molding to form a container. The preform includes a finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure to seal contents within an interior of the container. The finish portion comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge. A mirror polished sealing surface inside the finish portion cooperates with a plug seal of the closure to seal the container. Threads outside the finish portion engage with similar threads inside the closure. Thread starts of the threads reduce potential damage to the threads during installation of the closure. The thread starts may include a start pitch that is greater than a thread pitch of the threads. A handling valley disposed between the threads and the tamper evidence ledge facilitates air-conveying the container along a manufacturing assembly line.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a container closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container. The container closure comprises a closure portion that is coupled to a tamper evidence band by a first anchor and a second anchor. The first and second anchors keep the tamper evidence band coupled with the closure portion. The closure portion threadably engages with a finish portion of the container and seals contents in the interior of the container. Multiple thin connections between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. The thin connections may be arranged on opposite sides of the tamper evidence band and between the first and second anchors. The first and second anchors remain unbroken and cause the tamper evidence band to remain attached to the closure portion upon being removed from the finish portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a container closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container. The container closure comprises a closure portion coupled to a tamper evidence band by a plurality of anchors. The closure portion threadably engages a finish portion of the container and seals contents in the interior of the container. The anchors keep the tamper evidence band coupled with the closure portion. Multiple thin connections are arranged at various intervals around the circumference of the tamper evidence band and between adjacent anchors. The thin connections break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion, providing an observational indication that the container closure has been unsealed from the finish portion after having been installed by a manufacturer. The anchors remain unbroken and cause the tamper evidence band to remain attached to the closure portion upon being removed from the finish portion.