Abstract: In the method of making a hollow plastic articles wherein a label is positioned in each of a plurality of spaced partible molds in a predetermined array, a preform is positioned in each set of partible molds and the molds are closed and the preform is blown outwardly to the confines of the mold to apply the label to the resultant hollow plastic article, the method and apparatus which comprises providing labels on a roll of labels, successively engaging the free end of the web of the roll of labels by a first endless vacuum conveyor, tensioning the portion of the web between a point upstream and the free end by the first endless vacuum conveyor, successively cutting a label on the free end from the remaining tensioned portion, transferring each label successively by moving the first endless conveyor adjacent a second endless vacuum conveyor which is transverse to the the first conveyor, indexing the second endless conveyor to provide an array of labels on the second endless conveyor which corresponds in spacin

Abstract: In the forming of an article by blow molding parisons into conformity with cavities of an array of mold sections wherein parisons in the form of tubes are extruded from an extruder into an array of neck molds on a head, the head is moved axially away from the extruder to define the parisons, mold sections are closed about the parisons and the parisons are blown outwardly and a take out mechanism grasps and removes the containers after the mold sections are opened, the apparatus for application of labels to the hollow blown plastic articles which comprises a label carrier mounted for reciprocating movement between the open mold sections and supporting an array of spaced vacuum pick up devices.

Abstract: In the method of making hollow plastic articles wherein a label is positioned in each of a plurality of spaced partible molds in a predetermined array, preforms are positioned in each set of partible molds and the molds are closed and the preforms are blown outwardly to the confines of the molds to apply the label to the resultant hollow plastic article, the method which comprises providing labels on a roll of labels, successively die cutting the labels from the web of the roll and simultaneously delivering each label directly to an endless vacuum conveyor, indexing the endless vacuum conveyor to provide an array of labels on the conveyor which corresponds in spacing to the spacing of the array of molds, engaging the array of labels on the conveyor and removing them from the conveyor and depositing the array of labels in the array of molds.

Abstract: A method for making a partially crystalline, biaxially oriented heat set hollow plastic container from a hollow poly(ethylene) terephthalate parison having an open end and a closed end comprising engaging the open end of a plastic parison which is at a temperature within its molecular orientation temperature range, enclosing a hot mold about the hot parison, the mold being at heat setting temperature, expanding the plastic parison within the hot mold by internal pressurization to induce biaxial orientation of the plastic parison and force the plastic parison into intimate contact and conformance with the hot mold and to maintain contact by such internal pressurization between the mold and the biaxially oriented container for a time sufficient to induce partial crystallization in the biaxially oriented container, maintaining a lower internal pressurization of the container to prevent significant shrinkage, opening the hot mold while maintaining engagement of the open end of the blown hollow container, enclosin

Abstract: Apparatus for applying labels to containers including a label application station having a label dispensing magazine for holding a stack of labels and releasing the end label of the stack through an opening formed in the magazine to a container. Means are provided for rolling containers past the magazine so that when a leading edge of an end label on a stack is adhered to a side of a container the label is rolled onto the container and withdrawn from the magazine. A plurality of retaining fingers extend in front of the magazine opening to retain the stack of labels in the magazine. Control arms associated with the retaining fingers are adapted to retract the retaining fingers out of label retaining position in response to contact with a container rolling past the magazine.

Abstract: A method for making a partially crystalline, biaxially oriented heat set hollow plastic container from a hollow parison having an open end and a closed end comprising engaging the open end of a plastic parison which is at a temperature within its molecular orientation temperature range, positioning a mold base in axial alignment with said engaged hot parison, enclosing a hot mold about the mold base, the mold being at heat setting temperature, expanding the plastic parison within the hot mold and mold base by internal pressurization to induce biaxial orientation of the plastic parison and force the plastic parison into intimate contact and conformance with the hot mold and to maintain contact by such internal pressurization between the mold and the biaxially oriented container for a time sufficient to induce partial crystallization in the biaxially oriented container, lowering the internal pressure in the container, opening the hot mold while maintaining engagement of the open end and engagement of the mold b

Abstract: A method and apparatus 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 and the molds 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 which comprises successively die punching labels from a web directly onto vacuum cups and delivering the labels successively between the mold sections by moving the vacuum cups between the mold sections and thereafter moving the cups laterally into the cavities of the mold sections.

Abstract: A single-piece, reusable, wrap-type, multi-pack carrier for a plurality of beverage containers. The carrier is shaped to separate the containers carried thereby from contacting one another during transportation in such carerier, and comprises disengageable and re-engageable locking means to permit the locked carrier to be opened and reclosed. A preferred embodiment of such carrier is formed by vacuum forming or thermoforming a die-cut sheet of a thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A fitment inserter machine, such as a machine for inserting a spout into the top opening of a blow molded container is disclosed. A conveyor continually moves containers through the machine. A transfer arm and rotary placer removes the lowermost spout from a vertical dispenser and places the spout on a moving container. Jaws grasp the container finish while it is still moving and hold the finish while a pressing head mounted on a flying table moves downwardly to press the spout into correct alignment with the container.

Abstract: A can package comprising a plurality of cans, preferably twelve, including a flat carrier in the form of a sheet having openings stretched over the upper ends of the cans and a tubular banding strap of plastic material stretched about the periphery of the group of cans and bonded along one edge to the periphery of the carrier. The band includes an integral handle.

Abstract: In the forming of an article by blow molding parisons into conformity with cavities wherein parisons in the form of tubes are extruded from an extruder into a plurality of neck molds on a head, the head is moved axially away from the extruder to define the parisons and then an array of mold sections are closed about the parisons and the parisons are blown outwardly, the apparatus for applying labels to the hollow blown plastic articles which comprises a vacuum slide mounted for indexing movement adjacent a source of labels for successively removing labels from a source to provide an array of labels on the slide and label pick up and delivery devices on the head for simultaneously removing the array of labels from the vacuum slide and delivering the array of labels to the array of cavities of the mold sections when the head is moved between the mold sections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placement of labels within the blow molds of an injection blow molding machine. The injection blow molding machine comprising a turret having plurality of circumferentially spaced surfaces, each of which supports a plurality of spaced core rods, a plurality of injection molds at an injection molding station for forming a plurality of preforms, and a plurality of blow mold sections at a blow molding station which close about the preforms so that the preforms can be blown outwardly against the confines of the mold to form hollow plastic articles. The blow molds include movable bases exposing the interior of the blow molds when the blow molds are closed about preforms on the core rods.

Abstract: In the making of a hollow plastic articles wherein a label is positioned in each of a plurality of spaced partible molds in a predetermined array, a preform is positioned in each set of partible molds and the molds are closed and the preform is blown outwardly to the confines of the mold to apply the label to the resultant hollow plastic article, the apparatus for indexing an endless conveyor in precise increments for receiving longitudinally spaced labels providing an array of labels which are thereafter simultaneously removed from the endless conveyor and delivered between the open partible molds which comprises a fixed conveyor gripper in a first position, a second conveyor gripper mounted for movement longitudinally of the belt and means for individually controlling the gripping of the first gripper and second gripper such that the second gripper can be actuated to engage the conveyor while the first gripper is disengaged and the second gripper can be moved longitudinally to thereby move the conveyor a pr

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying labels to articles which are particularly useful for articles which are relatively flimsy and dimensionally unstable, such as plastic carriers for a plurality of filled containers wherein the carrier has a top panel and a skirt extending downwardly therefrom with surface areas on the skirt for receiving labels. In the embodiment shown a series of articles are indexed through a label receiving position. Labels are transferred from a label supply and are pressed against the label receiving surface area on the skirt of the article. The opposite side of the skirt is supported against substantial movement while the label is being pressed against the skirt. An adhesive is applied to the label receiving area on the skirt as the article is being indexed into the label receiving position.

Abstract: In the application of a solvent to a plastic label carried on the surface of a vacuum drum, the solvent for the plastic label is transferred from a gravure roll to the label at finite areas on the label so that the label can adhere to the bottle to be labeled and to itself to form a complete sleeve label. The gravure roll is supplied from a fountain block with a part cylindrical face that engages the gravure roll in face to face contact. The fountain block is retained in a holder with spaced adjustment devices for adjusting the position of the fountain block in the holder.The fountain block holder is pivotally attached to each of a pair of spaced apart plates about a first axis and the pair of spaced apart plates are pivotally attached to a second pair of spaced apart plates about a second axis which is spaced from and extends parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A multilayer biaxially oriented heatset article and method of making forming a preform comprising an outer layer and an inner layer of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), an intermediate layer of olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer, a layer of adhesive laminating the olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer layer and the outer layer and a layer of adhesive laminating the inner olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer layer and the inner layer. The preform is then heated to orientation temperature and blown against a heatset hot mold to produce an article such as a container that has high barrier properties, improved thermal stability, i.e., capable of being hot filled at elevated temperatures, have layer uniformity, good interlayer adhesion., good transparency and is light in weight.

Abstract: In the application of a solvent to a plastic label carried on the surface of a vacuum drum, the solvent for the plastic label is transferred from a gravure roll to the label at finite areas on the label so that the label can adhere to the bottle to be labeled and to itself to form a complete sleeve label. The gravure roll is supplied from a fountain block with a part cylindrical face that engages the gravure roll in face to face contact. The fountain block is retained in a holder with spaced adjustment devices for adjusting the position of the fountain block in the holder.

Abstract: A hollow plastic bottle comprising a bottom wall, a side wall about which a label is wrapped and a neck with a finish for receiving a closure. The bottom wall is shaped to withstand drop loads and comprises a central portion, a first annular portion extending outwardly and downwardly from the periphery of the central portion, a second curved portion extending from the periphery of the first annular portion and having a concave inner surface and a convex exterior surface, and a third annular portion extending from periphery of the curved portion upwardly and outwardly to an annular shoulder portion connected to the side wall of the bottle.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and stacking thin flexible objects or strips, which is particularly useful for labels and may also be used for tickets, cards, etc. In the preferred embodiment shown a supply of the strips is provided by withdrawing an elongated sheet from roll stock and cutting it into strips by coacting knife drum and strip support drum apparatus. A vacuum drum picks up the strips from the strip support drum and transfers the strips to a stacking apparatus. The transfer drum has grooves formed in its periphery to receive stripping fingers extending from the stacking apparatus. The stripping fingers divert the strips from the transfer drum to a stacking position at the stacking apparatus. A magazine and strip pusher are disposed on the opposite sides of the stacking position. Side and bottom wall extensions of the magazine define the stacking position and support the strip therein. The strip pusher includes a frame positioned across from the magazine opening.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for stacking articles which is used in the embodiment herein to stack plastic carriers for holding a plurality of filled containers, wherein each carrier has a top panel and a skirt extending downwardly therefrom. Articles are successively moved into a prestacking position and then elevated into a lifting rack. The rack is reciprocated up a guideway, for receiving a plurality of the articles and maintaining them in a stacked relationship, to a stack support means and then back down to receive more articles from the pre-stacking position. The guideway is preferably provided with an open side for removal of a stack of articles, and is tilted away from the open side to retain the articles therein by gravity. To enable smoother transfer of articles from the pre-stacking position to the lifting rack, the articles are inclined at the pre-stacking position to an angle which is perpendicular to the inclined guideway and elevated into the rack.