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 dispensing package includes a container whose finish has an opposed pair of slots extending vertically from a free end thereof. A nozzle element with a dispensing passage extending therethrough is positioned within the finish and has an opposed pair of pins which extend into and through the slots of the finish to permit the nozzle element to translate, but not rotate, with respect to the finish, the translation being between a sealed, non-dispensing position and an unsealed, dispensing position. A cap element is rotatably affixed to the finish and has an opening in a top central panel which is aligned with the dispensing passage of the nozzle element. A skirt of the cap element has part helical grooves on its inside surface, and these grooves receive the free ends of the pins of the nozzle element. Thus, rotation of the cap element results in translation of the nozzle element.

Abstract: A self-draining container is disclosed. The container includes a body and a neck, wall and dispensing spout extending upwardly from a body opening. The dispensing spout has a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the neck. The wall surrounds the dispensing spout which extends above the top of the wall. A web joins the wall and the dispensing spout to form a drain channel. A drain opening through the spout is defined adjacent the channel for draining fluid from the channel into the container body. A cap having a depending skirt defining threads mates with threads on the container wall to close the container.

Abstract: For use in an apparatus wherein a container is supported for decorating, wherein the container has a neck and a finish with an opening formed at an angle to the axis of the container, a chuck for engaging the finish. The chuck includes a body having an axis of rotation. The body includes an annular axially facing surface having the same axis as the axis of the body. The annular surface is frustoconical and forms an angle with the axis of the body such that the finish is engaged by the surface for holding the end of the container with the neck and finish in position for decoration. The body is mounted for rotation about its axis.

Abstract: A face block (10) for an injection blow molding machine of the type used in producing thermoplastic containers. The face block has a lateral series of openings (14) extending axially therethrough, and each opening receives an end portion of an elongate tubular core rod (16). The core rod has an annular bushing (18) secured to the end portion that is received in the opening, and the opening is sized to permit radial movement of the annular bushing therein to permit the core rod to move relative to the face block. The annular bushing has an annular recess (18a) in an end surface thereof and the recess carries an elastomeric O-ring (20) which sealingly engages an inturned annular flange (14a) at the rear of the opening. The core rod is axially positioned relative to the annular flange to maintain the O-ring in sealing engagement therewith by a U-shaped retainer (22) which is secured to the front of the face block. The retainer has legs (22a, 22b) which engage a recess (16a) in the outside of the core rod.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a lightweight plastic bottle having a body and an integral handle includes pre-blowing a tubular parison positioned between partible blow mold sections, closing the blow mold sections to compression mold the handle and blowing the parison to form the body integral with the handle and a line of juncture between the body and the handle.

Abstract: The multi-layer plastic bottle with a handle for holding liquids and the like which includes molds enclosing a hollow parison of molten plastic which is at a blow molding temperature, pinching a portion of the hollow parison as the mold closes to form a hollow moil portion and neck portion, simultaneously pinching a portion of the hollow parison to form a hollow handle portion while leaving a portion of the parison to provide a passage from the moil portion to the handle portion and thereafter expanding the parison through the moil portion to form the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying labels to containers wherein the web on which the labels are provided is moved from a feed reel over a metering mechanism into position for transfer to containers on a turret. The web is thereafter stored on a reel. The turret has a plurality of circumferentially spaced replaceable container holders which can be readily removed to accommodate containers having a wide range of label panel radii.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a lightweight plastic bottle having a body and an integral handle includes pre-blowing a tubular parison positioned between partible blow mold sections, closing the blow mold sections to compression mold the handle and blowing the parison to form the body integral with the handle and a line of juncture between the body and the handle.

Abstract: A squeeze package such as a toilet bowl cleaner bottle comprising a plastic container having an open neck defining a first opening, a second laterally extended opening on the neck defining a second opening and a closure mounted on the neck and movable from a first position and includes a portion extending into said first opening and providing a seal isolating the second opening from the contents of the container to a second position wherein the seal moves out of position so that the contents can be dispensed through the second opening by inverting the container and squeezing the container. In one form, the closure comprises a child resistant closure that is associated with portion of the neck so that the closure must to oriented circumferentially to permit the closure to be moved axially outwardly to expose the second opening.

Abstract: A plastic system for extruding injection molding and extruding a hollow tube from plastic containing heat sensitive material for thereafter forming into a plastic container by blowing including an extruder for melting the plastic and delivering it to an injection system for injecting the plastic into a manifold that delivers the plastic to the tubular cavities of an injection head including providing a static mixer adjacent each of the cavities. By such an arrangement, the plastic flow in each flow channel provides a uniform homogeneous plastic material such that streaks which may be caused by degraded plastic material or by different color material from a previous run are eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying heat sensitive labels and pressure sensitive labels wherein the apparatus can be readily changed to apply heat sensitive labels or pressure sensitive labels from a web along which the labels are positioned. In one mode for applying heat sensitive labels, the web is moved from a feed reel over a shuttle mechanism, a metering mechanism and adjacent a preheater and to a platen where successive labels are contact transferred from the web and applied to successive containers on a turret and thereafter the web is stored on a take-up reel.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying heat sensitive labels and pressure sensitive labels wherein the apparatus can be readily changed to apply heat sensitive labels or pressure sensitive labels from a web along which the labels are positioned. In one mode for applying heat sensitive labels, the web is moved from a feed reel adjacent a preheater and a platen where successive labels are peeled from the web and applied to successive containers on a turret and thereafter the web is stored on a take-up reel. In a second mode, the preheater and platen are removed, a peel bar assembly is positioned in place of the platen, and the web with the labels thereon is moved about the peel bar assembly to peel a label from the web and apply the pressure sensitive label to an article on the turret and the web is thereafter redirected to the take-up reel.

Abstract: The multi-layer plastic bottle with a handle for holding liquids and the like which includes molds enclosing a hollow parison of molten plastic which is at a blow molding temperature, pinching a portion of the hollow parison as the mold closes to form a hollow moil portion and neck portion, simultaneously pinching a portion of the hollow parison to form a hollow handle portion while leaving a portion of the parison to provide a passage from the moil portion to the handle portion and thereafter expanding the parison through the moil portion to form the container.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying labels in the molds of a plastic blow molding machine of the type wherein a plurality of sets of molds are mounted on a wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis. Mold sections are moved toward and away from one another to enclose a parison, and the parison is then blown to the confines of the cavity between the mold sections. The apparatus removes labels successively from one or more magazines, and deposits labels on an endless conveyor that transports the labels to a position adjacent an open mold. The apparatus laterally transfers the labels successively from the conveyor to a position within the mold sections, such that when a mold closes about a plastic parison and the parison is blown, the labels become adhered to the blown plastic article.

Abstract: A carrier and carrier stock comprising a plurality of severable interconnected carriers formed from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material such as low density polyethylene for machine application to substantially identical containers. Each carrier has container receiving apertures which are defined by band segments that include outer segments formed with tear tabs. Each tab has a pair of diverging slits extending from the sides thereof toward the outer segments, each slot terminating short of the outer segment. In this manner, the tab can be grasped either with a right hand or left hand and pulled to sever the outer segment releasing a container in the associated aperture.

Abstract: A self-draining container includes a body, an integral wall extending upwardly from said body and encircling an integral dispensing spout which communicates with said body and extends above the top of the wall. An integral web joins the wall and the dispensing spout to form a drain channel. A drain opening is defined adjacent the channel for draining fluid from the channel into the container body. A cap having a depending skirt defining a thread which mates with an internal thread on the container wall to close the container.

Abstract: A method of shrinking a foamed sleeve onto a tapered wall container which includes moving containers through a predetermined path, subjecting the containers to infrared heat applied by directing air past infrared heaters against the containers as they are moved in the predetermined path and progressively applying additional heat to the containers as they are moved in the predetermined path by first directing heat at the maximum container diameter and progressively applying the heat toward the minimum container diameter. In a preferred form, the heat is applied by directing heated air against the containers. In one form, the containers are rotated progressively in the predetermined path while the additional heat is applied. In another form, the containers are moved without rotation in a predetermined path while the additional heat is applied along the sides of the path.

Abstract: A device for forming a rolled rim at the unrimmed mouth of the body of a container having a body which is fabricated from a sheet of an expanded thermoplastic material, the device including a first member with a first annular rim-forming surface, and a second member which is reciprocable relative to the first member. The second member has a second annular rim-forming surface which forms a generally closed rim-forming chamber with the first annular rim-forming surface when the second member is in a first position relative to the first member, the second member being reciprocable to a second position in which the first annular surface and the second annular surface are separated to permit the withdrawal of a container with a rolled rim at the mouth from the first member.