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 pressurized 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 bevel at a beginning of the opening receives a plug seal of the closure. Multiple mirror polished surfaces beyond the bevel are configured to cooperate with the plug seal to seal the container. Mirror polished transition surfaces are disposed between diameter changes within the finish portion. In some embodiments, wherein the plug seal includes a sidewall profile that mates with the transition surfaces, an interior surface of the preform has a diameter that tightly compresses an end of the plug seal to contain pressurized contents within 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: A composition and a method are provided for graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) comprising multi-layer graphene are used to reinforce PET, thereby improving the properties of PET for various new applications. Master-batches comprising polyethylene terephthalate with dispersed graphene nanoplatelets are obtained by way of compounding. The master-batches are used to form PET-GNP nanocomposites at weight fractions ranging between 0.5% and 15%. In some embodiments, PET and GNPs are melt compounded by way of twin-screw extrusion. In some embodiments, ultrasound is coupled with a twin-screw extruder so as to assist with melt compounding. In some embodiments, the PET-GNP nanocomposites are prepared by way of high-speed injection molding. The PET-GNP nanocomposites are compared by way of their mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties so as to contrast different compounding processes.

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 container filling and sealing production line to produce a target final pressure of liquid contents within containers during variable production line speeds. The container filling and sealing production line comprises a bottle filler that receives containers fabricated by manufacturing equipment and fills the containers with liquid contents. A cryogen dosing system adds a volume of a cryogen to the liquid contents. A bottle sealer seals the containers and entraps the cryogen and liquid contents, such that vaporization of the cryogen imparts the target final pressure of liquid contents within the containers. A communication line enables the bottle filler to pass information to the cryogen dosing system about upcoming changes in production speed such that the cryogen dosing system accordingly adjusts the volume of the cryogen.

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 comprises 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 comprises 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 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 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 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 nozzle is provided for engaging lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle includes a cylindrical portion to be advanced longitudinally inside the finish portion of a preform. The cylindrical portion engages an interior seal with a shelf comprising a stepped interior of the finish portion or includes a tapered tip to tightly engage a transition surface of the stepped interior of the finish portion. An exterior cylinder extends over an exterior of the finish portion and engages an exterior seal with a tamper evidence ledge of the finish portion to eliminate pressure across a thin-walled region of the finish portion during forming the preform into a container. In some embodiments, the exterior cylinder comprises a shroud that counteracts outward forces on the finish portion to reduce instances of cracking of the finish portion during forming plastic containers.

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: An apparatus for 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 comprises a first cylindrical portion including a first seal, a second cylindrical portion including a second seal, and a tapered portion between the first and second cylindrical portions. The first and second cylindrical portions include diameters that are less than respective diameters of interior surfaces within the finish portion. The first and second seals are disposed around respective circumferences of the first and second cylindrical portions and configured to tightly engage with the interior surfaces of the preform while maintaining clearance between the nozzle and the interior of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seals are configured to stabilize an orientation of the preform after being pressed onto the nozzle and facilitate conveying the preform along a manufacturing 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: Systems and methods are provided for determining a thickness of a material or an article of manufacture thereof such as a wall thickness of a plastic container or plastic bottle during manufacturing. In some embodiments, for example, a measurement system can include a light source disposed adjacent to a production line for plastic bottles. The light source can be configured to transmit light of a known frequency through the plastic bottles. A camera can be disposed opposite the light source. The camera can be configured to receive the light transmitted through the plastic bottles. An optional trigger, when present, can be configured to coordinate timing of the camera and the light source. A computer can be configured to determine wall thicknesses for the plastic bottles by an experimentally determined correlation between the light received by the camera and a known absorbance spectrum of the material forming the plastic bottles.

Abstract: A composition and a method are provided for graphene reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) comprising multi-layer graphene are used to reinforce PET, thereby improving the properties of PET for various new applications. Master-batches comprising polyethylene terephthalate with dispersed graphene nanoplatelets are obtained by way of compounding. The master-batches are used to form PET-GNP nanocomposites at weight fractions ranging between 0.5% and 15%. In some embodiments, PET and GNPs are melt compounded by way of twin-screw extrusion. In some embodiments, ultrasound is coupled with a twin-screw extruder so as to assist with melt compounding. In some embodiments, the PET-GNP nanocomposites are prepared by way of high-speed injection molding. The PET-GNP nanocomposites are compared by way of their mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties so as to contrast different compounding processes.

Abstract: A tamper evidence container is provided for sealing contents within an interior of a container formed by blow-molding a container preform. The container includes threads disposed around a neck portion to threadably engage a cap with the finish of the container. The threads advantageously engage with similar threads within the cap for sealing contents within the container. Between the threads is a valley that extends inwardly to form an inner edge on the outside wall of the container finish. The inner edge of the valley has a diameter that is equal and/or greater than the diameter of the handling valley immediately above the tamper evidence ledge. In an exemplary embodiment, the valley has a diameter that is equal to the diameter of the handling valley. In another exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the valley is greater than the handling valley between the tamper evidence ledge and the threads.

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 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 deformation in the base and the sidewall.