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 bottle may have varying depth ribs to achieve a balance of strength and rigidity while maintaining hoop strength. The varying depth ribs may smoothly transition around the circumference of the bottle from a flattened and/or shallow depth rib portion to a deep rib portion. A collection of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs act as recessed columns in the body of the bottle to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The deep rib portions provide hoop strength and make the bottle body more rigid and/or stiffer when gripped by a user. A balance may be achieved between of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs and deep ribs to attain a desired resistance to bending, leaning, and/or stretching while maintaining stiffness in a lightweight bottle.

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: 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: 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: 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 is provided for a container comprising a base, a bell, a sidewall between the base and the bell, a neck and a finish which define an opening to an interior of the container, and a shoulder between the sidewall and the bell. Strap ribs extend from a central portion of the base and terminate at the sidewall. The strap ribs cooperate with vertically aligned recessed columns of the sidewall to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, or stretching along the sidewall and the base. An inwardly offset portion of the sidewall is disposed between each pair of adjacent recessed columns. The inwardly offset portions of the sidewall are configured to resist outward bowing of the sidewall due to internal pressure of contents within the container.

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: An apparatus is provided for a container comprising a base, a bell, a sidewall between the base and the bell, a neck and a finish which define an opening to an interior of the container, and a shoulder between the sidewall and the bell. Strap ribs extend from a central portion of the base and terminate at the sidewall. The strap ribs cooperate with vertically aligned recessed columns of the sidewall to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, or stretching along the sidewall and the base. An inwardly offset portion of the sidewall is disposed between each pair of adjacent recessed columns. The inwardly offset portions of the sidewall are configured to resist outward bowing of the sidewall due to internal pressure of contents within the container.

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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: An apparatus and method are provided for a label drum which may be simply calibrated with respect to label placing machinery, the label drum comprising: a drum; a first bushing including a cavity defined by an interior wall, wherein the first bushing is configured to couple with a second bushing including a cavity; and a shaft having a proximal portion defined by the shape of the interior wall of the cavity, such that the shaft may be received through the first and second bushing and will limit rotational positioning requirements therefore removing the time required for set up post installation.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning one or more components of a bottle labeling assembly, the apparatus comprising a pneumatic motor; a cleaning component coupled to the pneumatic motor; the cleaning component including a plurality of bristles and configured to rotate according to operation of the pneumatic motor; a guide rail and bearing coupled to at least one of the cleaning component or the pneumatic motor; and a pneumatic cylinder coupled to the guide rail and bearing and at least one of the cleaning component or the pneumatic motor, the pneumatic cylinder operative to move the cleaning component and the pneumatic motor along the guide rail and bearing is shown.