Abstract: In an apparatus wherein a plastic blow molding machine is operated to make hollow containers which are discharged and fall by gravity out of the machine wherein an endless moving conveyor which includes closely spaced vacuum cups is provided and positioned such that a reach of the conveyor is positioned horizontally and such that the vacuum cups face upwardly to grab and hold the plastic containers as they are discharged such that containers are held in axial alignment and circumferential orientation to one another.

Abstract: A flexible plastic tube and a method of forming a flexible plastic tube includes injection molding a finish having an opening, extruding a tube integrally with the finish by relevant movement of the finish with respect to an extruder, moving the finish axially away from the extruder while continuing continuously extruding the tube, closing a blow mold about the extruded tube, blowing the tube into an integral container body having a closed bottom, opening the molds to provide an integral flexible tube with a finish thereon. Thereafter the method includes decorating the body with indicia, cutting the closed end of the tube leaving an open-ended tube of the end opposite the finish, and applying a closure to the finish. Subsequently, the tube is filled through the open end and the open end is closed. The decorating includes rotating the tube about the longitudinal axis of the tube while engaging the finish and bottom.

Abstract: The method of making polystyrene foam for foam products which comprises utilizing atmospheric gases as the blowing agents or preferably mixing one or more of these gases and a blending agent which is non-volatile at the extrusion temperatures, introducing the mixture to a molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin containing nucleating agents such as sodium bicarbonate and citric acid and extruding the thermoplastic in the form of a foam. The resultant foam has substantially no residual blowing agent, is dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures and when used with a non-volatile blending agent can be made with small amounts of blowing agent permitting cooling of the melt without high loading on the extruder. The foam may be coextruded with one or more layers of thermoplastic film so that the resultant product is adapted for use for plates, cups, food containers or packaging and for labels for containers such as glass and plastic containers and for labels that are shrunk in place on a container.

Abstract: A lightweight plastic container is provided which has stress crack resistance and comprises at least one layer comprising post consumer plastic film resin; a fusion blend of post consumer plastic film resin and post consumer plastic milk resin; or a fusion blend of post consumer plastic film resin, post consumer plastic milk resin and virgin high density ethylene copolymer plastic material. The container may be a single layer container or a multilayer container.

Abstract: A plastic container made from a fusion blend of a post consumer plastic and ethylene polymers and comprising post consumer resin of homopolymer high density polyethylene resin and a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. In another form, the container is made from a blend of post consumer homopolymer high density polyethylene resin, virgin high density polyethylene resin with a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. The physical properties of the container including stress crack resistance are maintained as contrasted to the loss of such physical properties that have been heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.

Abstract: A coextruded multilayer plastic container utilizing post consumer plastic resin comprising an appearance enhancing thin outer layer of ethylene polymers, which enhances the appearance of the container, an intermediate layer comprising a fusion blend of post consumer resin with or without colorant and a third layer comprising a fusion blend of post consumer resin which may have mixed colors. In a modified and preferred form, a fourth inner layer of virgin ethylene polymer is provided.

Abstract: A plastic container made from a fusion blend of a post consumer resin and a high density polyethylene copolymer resin. The post consumer resin is primarily a high density homopolymer and may contain small amounts of colored plastic containers and propylene resin. The physical properties of the container including stress crack resistance are maintained as contrasted to the loss of such physical properties that have been heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.

Abstract: The method of making polystyrene foam for foam products which includes utilizing atmospheric gases as the blowing agents or preferably mixing one or more of these gases and a blending agent which is non-volatile at the extrusion temperatures, introducing the mixture to a molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin containing nucleating agents such as sodium bicarbonate and citric acid and extruding the thermoplastic in the form of a foam. The resultant foam has substantially no residual blowing agent, is dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures and when used with a non-volatile blending agent can be made with small amounts of blowing agent permitting cooling of the melt without high loading on the extruder. The foam may be coextruded with one or more layers of thermoplastic film so that the resultant product is adapted for use for plates, cups, food containers or packaging and for labels for containers such as glass and plastic containers and for labels that are shrunk in place on a container.

Abstract: A liquid containing and dispensing package comprising a plastic container having a finish defining an opening. The finish has an outer surface and an inner surface. At least two annular rows of circumferentially spaced lugs are provided on the outer surface of the finish. The lugs in one row are staggered circumferentially with respect to the lugs of an adjacent row. A spout is provided and has an annular outer wall, an annular inner wall and an integral portion connecting the annular walls. The outer wall of the insert has an inner surface with two rows of spaced recesses for receiving the lugs on the finish. The inner wall of the spout has an inner surface formed with a spiral thread receiving groove. The insert includes an axially extending spout connected to the lower edge of said inner wall and extending above the inner wall. A combined measuring cup and closure is provided and has an annular axial wall and a base wall and a radial flange intermediate the base wall and lower end of the axial wall.

Abstract: A flexible plastic tube and a method of forming a flexible plastic tube includes injection molding a finish having an opening, extruding a tube integrally with the finish by relevant movement of the finish with respect to an extruder, moving the finish axially away from the extruder while continuing continuously extruding the tube, closing a blow mold about the extruded tube, blowing the tube into an integral container body having a closed bottom, opening the molds to provide an integral flexible tube with a finish thereon. Thereafter the method includes decorating the body with indicia, cutting the closed end of the tube leaving an open-ended tube of the end opposite the finish, and applying a closure to the finish. Subsequently, the tube is filled through the open end and the open end is closed. The decorating includes rotating the tube about the longitudinal axis of the tube while engaging the finish and bottom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which provides for holding a closure that has threads stationary and rotating the container about its longitudinal axis to apply the closure on the container. Preferably the closure and container are in inverted position. The method of cutting provides for holding the container and closure in inverted positioned, gripping the container and moving a knife transversely of the longitudinal axis of the container to sever the bottom from the container.

Abstract: In a method for applying pressure sensitive labels to products such as hollow articles by moving the label carried on a label web and providing for an acute bend of the label web to transfer the label to a hollow article, the improvement comprises heating said label directly to elevate the temperature above ambient temperature before the acute bend to warm the label sufficiently to permit the pressure sensitive adhesive on the label to flow sufficiently to enter the microscopic surfaces of the hollow article. In one form, the heating comprises directing warm air directly against the label while it is on the label web. In another form, heating said label comprises providing a heating plate in direct contact with the label web on the surface of the label web opposite to that on which said label is carried.

Abstract: A plastic container made from a fusion blend of a post consumer resin and a high density polyethylene copolymer resin. The post consumer is primarily a high density homopolymer and may contain small amounts of colored plastic containers and propylene resin. The physical properties of the container including stress crack resistance are maintained as contrasted to the loss of such physical properties that have been heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.

Abstract: A plastic container made from a fusion blend of a post consumer plastic and ethylene polymers and comprising post consumer resin of homopolymer high density polyethylene resin and a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. In another form, the container is made from a blend of post consumer homopolymer high density polyethylene resin, virgin high density polyethylene resin with a small amount of linear low density polyethylene resin. The physical properties of the container including stress crack resistance are maintained as contrasted to the loss of such physical properties that have been heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming and inspecting hollow plastic containers having a neck which has an opening that forms an angle with the vertical axis of the hollow container wherein as the hollow container is moved by a conveyor intermittently past a succession of stations of a trimming and inspection apparatus, the neck of the container is clamped and oriented so that the axis of the opening is vertical and the trimming or inspecting tooling is moved downwardly to engage and perform the trimming or inspecting. In one form two containers are simultaneously clamped and oriented.

Abstract: A thumb actuated flexible tube and closure system comprising a flexible plastic tube having a finish for dispensing a product when the tube is in an inverted position. The finish has an integral transverse wall, an integral post extending upwardly from the transverse wall and an integral cylindrical wall extending upwardly from said transverse wall. The transverse wall has at least one opening therethrough. An inner closure is provided and has a base wall and integral spaced inner and outer walls defining an annular space for receiving the finish of the plastic tube. At least one of the walls has threads thereon for rotatably engaging the finish. The base wall of the inner closure has a portion sealingly engaging the post on the finish such that rotation of the inner closure moves said sealing portion into and out of engagement with said post. An overcap closure is provided and has a base wall with an opening aligned with the sealing portion of said closure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decorating containers by printing wherein the containers are moved successively past screen decorating stations or passes. The apparatus includes an entrance end and a discharge end. Reciprocating conveyors are associated with each pass and provision is made for engaging and lifting a container for printing at each pass. A discharge assembly is provided between each pass. Multiple infeed conveyors are provided at the entrance end of the apparatus and at the exit end.

Abstract: A stackable plastic container including a body having a generally rectangular cross section including a base wall, sidewalls and end walls, the width of the sidewalls being greater than the width of the end walls. The body has a top wall with an integral neck defining a dispensing opening. The bottom wall has spaced longitudinally extending integral portions defining a longitudinal recess extending lengthwise of the bottom wall and generally parallel to the sidewall. The top wall of the body includes a centrally located longitudinally extending projection extending upwardly and defining spaced longitudinally extending generally horizontal portions lengthwise of the sidewalls such that when one container is stacked on another, the longitudinally extending portions of the top wall are engaged by the longitudinally extending spaced projections on the bottom wall of a container stacked thereon.

Abstract: A molded plastic container (10, 110, 310) having an open neck portion (12, 112, 212), the container being adapted to have a collapsible bladder (B) inserted therein. The bladder has a metallic ferrule (F) at an open end thereof, and the ferrule is adapted to be supported at a location adjacent a rim (14, 114, 214) of the neck portion. To provide for venting from the container during the filling of the bladder, and later during the dispensing of product therefrom, the rim is provided with a plurality of spaced apart upstanding bosses (16, 116, 216) which define slots (18, 118, 218) between adjacent ends of adjacent bosses. The ferrule, thus, rests on the bosses, and air can vent beneath the ferrule and the container through the slots. The container can also vent during dispensing, even with a closure C affixed thereto, by providing a radial bead (22, 122, 222) in the container with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots (24, 124, 224) in the exterior thereof.

Abstract: A hollow plastic container including a coextruded translucent plastic outer layer, an opaque plastic inner layer, and a viewing stripe of translucent or clear plastic material extending longitudinally in the inner layer. In one form the container viewing stripe is in the inner layer made of clear plastic material placed behind a thin translucent layer. In another form, the stripe is made of the same translucent plastic material as the outer layer. In a further form an additional inner layer is provided of translucent or clear plastic material. The hollow plastic container is made by coextruding a parison of at least two plastic layers to form an outer translucent plastic layer and an inner opaque plastic layer, and simultaneously coextruding a viewing stripe in the inner layer and extending longitudinally of the parison. This method allows production of a distinct viewing stripe of the same nominal outside color of an otherwide opaque plastic container.