Abstract: A method for post-mold attachment of a handle to a strain-oriented plastic container body. The method utilizes thermal shrinkage of the oriented container body to engage the handle; for example, a highly-oriented recess is molded in the container body and then shrunk to engage a complimentary-shaped lug on the handle. The method is useful for both hot-fillable and pasteurizable containers, and is particularly useful for making larger-sized containers, wherein the weight of the product and size of the container make handling and pouring difficult.

Abstract: An injection molded product including a plurality of internal cavities is produced by, after having injected a molten resin material into the molding cavity, injecting an inert gas with a gas pressure gradually increasing into the resin material through gas injection nozzles, which are in contact with the resin material to form the respective internal cavities inside the molten resin material. After removing the gas injection nozzles from the resin material for discharging of the inert gas directly from the resin material, any one of the gas injection nozzles, whose temperature during injection of the inert gas was lower than a predetermined temperature level, is judged to be clogged and the gas injection nozzle is cleaned by being blown out with high pressure gas.

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 of manufacturing a bobbin made essentially or partially of a curable resin comprises the steps of: a) providing a mold consisting of a male portion and of a female portion, the gap left between the said female and the male portions, in their operational mounted position, being of the shape and dimensions of the bobbin which it is desired to produce, the mold being provided with a resin inlet and vacuum port in communication with the gap; (b) laying on the surface of the male part of the mold, or winding thereon, any element or material which it is desired to embed within the resin; c) inserting the male part of the mold into the female part thereof and securely connecting the two parts, the two parts, when connected, being essentially sealed against pressure loss along their contact surfaces; d) causing a curable resin to flow into the gap through the resin inlet, while applying a vacuum at the vacuum port, until the empty space provided within the gap is substantially entirely filled with resin; e)

Abstract: A process for producing a polyester container having a higher strength than usual and a reduced wall thickness, whereby the polyester is present in a reduced amount contributing to resource savings, which includes preparing a polyester resin composition containing a polyester resin and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the polyester resin, of an additive compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## and compounds represented by the following formula (II): ##STR2## and subjecting the resin composition to stretch blow molding.

Abstract: A multilayer preform and container, and method of forming the same, having at least one layer including polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) to provide enhanced oxygen barrier performance and thermal stability. The PEN layer may be a homopolymer, copolymer, or blend of PEN. In a first high-PEN embodiment, the exterior layer contains on the order of 80-100% PEN and 0-20% PET by total weight of the layer, and a core layer of a non-strain hardenable polyester such as PETG. In a second low-PEN embodiment, the exterior layer includes a strain hardenable low-PEN copolymer or blend including on the order of 1-20% PEN and 80-99% PET, and the core layer is a strain-hardenable polyester such as a low-copolymer PET. In a third mid-range PEN embodiment, the exterior wall includes a substantially amorphous PEN copolymer or blend containing on the order of 20-80% PEN and 80-20% of another polyester such as PET, and a strain-hardened core layer of polyester such as a low-copolymer PET.

Abstract: An apparatus with pivoting blades and closable surfaces for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover having fins. In an embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, the apparatus includes a male mold and a plurality of plates arranged in pairs to define a forming opening. The male mold has a plurality of fingers which are laterally extendable from the outer periphery of the male mold. A pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder is provided to move the male mold between a storage position spaced from the forming opening and a forming position within the forming opening. Each pair of plates is movable between an open position and a closed position. In operation, the fingers are extended to push folded portions of a sheet of material between the pairs of plates, which are closed to press the folded portions into fins. In an alternate embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, pairs of movable plates are positioned between stationary segments.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integral one-piece needle, the method comprising feeding a polymeric resin into a mould cavity and injecting a fluid under pressure into at least a portion of the cavity to eject therefrom the central region of the polymeric resin. This creates an annulus of polymeric resin having an orifice therethrough, the annulus of polymeric resin forming the cannula of the needle, the mounting hub being provided by the remaining portion of the cavity.

Abstract: A method enabling stretch blow molding in a temperature range preferable for polyethylene and capable of releasing at a surface temperature suited to both releasing of a preform and subsequent stretch blow molding, by disconnecting the core die and the preform in advance by the use of pressure of gas. The injection molding of a predetermined preform involves filling an injection mold with molten polyethylene, releasing the preform from the cavity die and core die of the injection mold while a mouth portion of the preform is held by the lip die, and transferring the preform into a blow die to stretch blow mold into a hollow molded thin wall product. Gas forcibly enters into the boundary of the core die and the preform, before releasing the preform from the injection mold to isolate the inside wall of the preform from the core die.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a flexible, elongated member, an inflatable balloon carried on the elongated member to define an inflated chamber within the balloon, and an inflation conduit extending along the member and communicating with the inflation chamber. The inflatable balloon, in turn, defines a wall which comprises at least three bonded layers. A first pair of the layers comprises a flexible plastic material which is typically a condensation polymer. A second of the layers comprises a flexible polymer which is typically a vinylic polymer which is covalently bonded to the first layers and positioned between them.

Abstract: A four-station rotary thermoformer has a rotary carriage which transports a sheet of thermoplastic material clamped on a subframe through a load/unload station; a heating station; a forming station where the sheet is molded; and a cooling station removed from the mold where the part is cooled on the subframe. The molded sheet is cooled in a cavity which has a lower portion mounted on a lift which travels vertically to engage against an upper portion and enclose the sheet for cooling. A multiplicity of air vents discharge cooling air into the cavity. Cooling air leaves the cavity through recirculation duct. The supply of air within the cooling cavity results in a uniform current of air against the article's surface, thus providing uniform cooling. A programmable controller controls the supply of cooling air and receives input from an infrared sensor which detects the temperature of the thermoformed article and also receives information from a sensor of the cooling air temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blow molding hot-fill containers by a double blow process while utilizing a single blow molding wheel. The apparatus has multiple stations including preheat station for conditioning the preforms, a blow molding station having a single blow molding wheel, a heat treating station where intermediate containers are heat treated. The blow molding wheel is provided with two sets of molds, one set for forming the intermediate containers and another set for forming the final containers. Two transfer mechanism are used to achieve four different transfers of the various stages of the final container. Preforms and heat treated intermediate containers are being respectively transferred into the first and second molds by one transfer mechanism while untreated intermediate containers and final containers are respectively removed form the first and second molds by the second transfer station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a seal for a roller bearing, for instance a ball bearing. The seal according to the invention is formed from a thermoplastic polymer-containing material which is subsequently cross-linked under the influence of radiation, for example .beta.-radiation. This allows the use of seals manufactured according to the invention at near or even above the melting point of the non-cross-linked thermoplastic polymer being employed. Due to the invention a large number of cheap polymeric materials have become suitable for the manufacture of seals, and due to the cross-linking the swelling caused by lubricants can be reduced considerably.

Abstract: A label L is supplied to an inner surface of a fixed die 6 of an injection molding machine 5. The label is taken from a known label supply device 1 by air suction onto the outer periphery of a pseudo core 2. The pseudo core 2 is pivotally moved from the supply The label is then inserted into the opened fixed die 6 and is stopped at a label delivering position. At this position the label is supplied onto an inner peripheral surface (label retaining part 6a) of the fixed die 6 by air supplied from the air supply device 4B.

Abstract: The invention provides a light weight self-standing blow molded two liter carbonated beverage bottle having a unique petaloid base made from a monobase preform. The base comprises a petaloid design which has a plurality of at least three (preferably five) feet. The monobase preform has a thick reinforcing ring forming portion which remains unstretched during blowing. The reinforcing ring forming portion is thicker than both the sidewall forming portion and the gate area forming portion of the preform thereby resulting in increased stretching in both those areas. The reinforcing ring extends circumferentially around the base. By providing such a reinforcing ring, a bottle having a bigger foot radius and/or containing less material use can be realized. The resulting bottle has less stress whitening and greater stress crack resistance while at the same time using less material and/or having a larger radius than prior bottles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an article from a sheet of PET material of thickness greater than 1 mm comprises heating the PET sheet to a preforming temperature of approximately 110.degree. C. by heaters, and then forming the sheet onto a heated vacuum mold. The sheet is retained in the mold by the vacuum and the surface of the sheet are maintained at a temperature of approximately 160.degree. C. by the mold and the heater, respectively, until the degree of crystallization of the sheet is in the order of 35%.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a wire harness protector (2), which can reduce the manufacturing cost with excellent productivity. A resin material having a black or gray tone, or a resin material containing an additive absorbing a laser beam is employed as a molding resin material. A hollow compact (1) is molded by NC blow molding. Then, the as-formed hollow compact (1) is cut with a laser beam, to manufacture a solid wire harness protector (2).

Abstract: A process for producing biaxially drawn plastic bottles having excellent heat resistance and an apparatus therefor. The process comprises a step of biaxially drawing and free blow-molding the preformed article to obtain a secondary molded article thereof, a step of heating the secondary molded article by inserting it for 0.3 to 5 seconds in the infrared rays emitted from an infrared-ray radiation member that has a substantially planar radiation surface having a height larger than that of the secondary molded article in the direction of height and having a surface temperature of from 350.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C., in order to obtain a tertiary product thereof that is shrunk, and a step for blow-molding the tertiary product that is in a heated state in a metal mold to obtain a final molded article. A single metal mold is used for blow-molding to shorten the time occupied by the metal mold and to produce the bottles having excellent heat resistance maintaining high productivity.

Abstract: A preform (1), a method for blow molding a bottle, and a bottle (13) formed from the preform and by the method are disclosed for use with beverages and the like wherein the bottles usually contain such beverages under pressure. The preform is shaped so that the resultant bottle is provided with a product-containing portion having a preferred hemispherical end portion and an integral bottom portion including a void therein for defining a hollow base portion (4, 12) which, in one form, contains fluid under pressure for balancing pressures related to the pressurized product. The hollow base portion provides for efficient use of material, and a minimal number of manufacturing steps, for providing a stable base for the hemispherical end portion (11) of the product containing portion of the bottle.

Abstract: A method and system for injection molding plastic articles which utilize a spill cavity whose volume varies. In one embodiment, the volume varies during introduction of pressurized gas into a mold cavity flow coupled to the spill cavity. In another embodiment, the volume of the spill cavity varies during a plastic injection which fills the mold cavity. A piston reciprocally mounted within a cylinder defines the variable volume of the spill cavity. In one embodiment, a pneumatic control circuit controls the pressure on a lower surface of the piston to thereby control the position of the piston within the cylinder and therefore the volume of the spill cavity. In another embodiment, an air spring is utilized to control pressure on the piston which counters the pressure of the plastic on the piston. In one embodiment, a stop pin connected to the piston prevents the piston from leaving the cylinder when the mold is opened and solidified plastic in the spill cavity is to be ejected therefrom.