Abstract: A carrier assembly for injection molding a parison with internal threads. The carrier assembly may be used with an injection stretch blow molding machine that includes a core rod. The carrier assembly comprises a carrier insert surrounding a portion of the core rod. The carrier insert includes a thread-forming portion presenting an interior radial surface and an exterior radial surface. The interior radial surface is configured to be positioned adjacent to the core rod, and the exterior radial surface includes a threaded protrusion configured to extend away from the core rod. The carrier assembly also includes a pinion insert surrounding at least a portion of the threaded protrusion of the thread-forming portion of the carrier insert. The pinion insert is spaced apart from the thread-forming portion of the carrier insert so as to present a thread-forming cavity between the pinion insert and the carrier insert.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes at least one upper body mold half and one lower body mold half, with the upper and lower body mold halves cooperatively presenting a body cavity and being configured to define an exterior shape of a body of the parison. The tooling additionally comprises at least one upper neck mold half and one lower neck mold half, with the upper and lower neck mold halves cooperatively presenting a neck cavity and being configured to define an exterior shape of a neck of the parison. The tooling further comprises an upper thermal barrier plate positioned between the upper body mold half and the upper neck mold half and a lower thermal barrier plate positioned between the upper body mold half and the upper neck mold half.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having upper and lower die sets and a plurality of upper and lower mold half blocks each attached to a respective die set. Each of the upper mold half blocks has a corresponding lower mold half block with which it cooperatively defines one or more cavities for forming the exterior shape of the body of one or more of the parisons. The individual, independent attachment of the mold half blocks to the die sets allows easy individual replacement of faulty or worn mold blocks. Further, such an independent attachment configuration also permits the mold half blocks of each die set to be spaced from one another, so as to reduce thermal expansion problems and ease dimensional tolerances required for the width of the mold half blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a frozen liquid product into a predetermined shape, such as a spherical or ball-shape, includes a body (or “housing”) comprising first and second sections relatively disposable into an open or closed orientation, through connection by an attachment assembly. A securing structure is associated with the attachment assembly and operative to maintain the first and second sections in the closed orientation concurrently to the securing structure being disposed in fluid sealing disposition to a hollow interior of the body. A single use connector removably connects the securing structure into the fluid sealing relation as it maintains the first and second sections in the closed orientation.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes at least one upper body mold half and one lower body mold half, with the upper and lower body mold halves cooperatively presenting a body cavity and being configured to define an exterior shape of a body of the parison. The tooling additionally comprises at least one upper neck mold half and one lower neck mold half, with the upper and lower neck mold halves cooperatively presenting a neck cavity and being configured to define an exterior shape of a neck of the parison. The tooling further comprises an upper thermal barrier plate positioned between the upper body mold half and the upper neck mold half and a lower thermal barrier plate positioned between the upper body mold half and the upper neck mold half.

Abstract: A carrier assembly for injection molding a parison with internal threads. The carrier assembly may be used with an injection stretch blow molding machine that includes a core rod. The carrier assembly comprises a carrier insert surrounding a portion of the core rod. The carrier insert includes a thread-forming portion presenting an interior radial surface and an exterior radial surface. The interior radial surface is configured to be positioned adjacent to the core rod, and the exterior radial surface includes a threaded protrusion configured to extend away from the core rod. The carrier assembly also includes a pinion insert surrounding at least a portion of the threaded protrusion of the thread-forming portion of the carrier insert. The pinion insert is spaced apart from the thread-forming portion of the carrier insert so as to present a thread-forming cavity between the pinion insert and the carrier insert.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having upper and lower die sets and a plurality of upper and lower mold half blocks each attached to a respective die set. Each of the upper mold half blocks has a corresponding lower mold half block with which it cooperatively defines one or more cavities for forming the exterior shape of the body of one or more of the parisons. The individual, independent attachment of the mold half blocks to the die sets allows easy individual replacement of faulty or worn mold blocks. Further, such an independent attachment configuration also permits the mold half blocks of each die set to be spaced from one another, so as to reduce thermal expansion problems and ease dimensional tolerances required for the width of the mold half blocks.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having upper and lower die sets and a plurality of upper and lower mold half blocks each attached to a respective die set. Each of the upper mold half blocks has a corresponding lower mold half block with which it cooperatively defines one or more cavities for forming the exterior shape of the body of one or more of the parisons. The individual, independent attachment of the mold half blocks to the die sets allows easy individual replacement of faulty or worn mold blocks. Further, such an independent attachment configuration also permits the mold half blocks of each die set to be spaced from one another, so as to reduce thermal expansion problems and ease dimensional tolerances required for the width of the mold half blocks.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for consistently maintaining the surface temperature of the parison molds within a desired range. Implementation of this system/method can result in more consistent production of higher quality parisons and molded articles. Additionally, this system/method reduces the discretion required by the IBM operator and shifts the burden of consistently making high-quality parisons and molded articles onto the designer of the IBM tooling.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a frozen liquid product into a predetermined shape, such as a spherical or ball-shape, includes a body (or “housing”) comprising first and second sections relatively disposable into an open or closed orientation, through connection by an attachment assembly. A securing structure is associated with the attachment assembly and operative to maintain the first and second sections in the closed orientation concurrently to the securing structure being disposed in fluid sealing disposition to a hollow interior of the body. A single use connector removably connects the securing structure into the fluid sealing relation as it maintains the first and second sections in the closed orientation.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having upper and lower die sets and a plurality of upper and lower mold half blocks each attached to a respective die set. Each of the upper mold half blocks has a corresponding lower mold half block with which it cooperatively defines one or more cavities for forming the exterior shape of the body of one or more of the parisons. The individual, independent attachment of the mold half blocks to the die sets allows easy individual replacement of faulty or worn mold blocks. Further, such an independent attachment configuration also permits the mold half blocks of each die set to be spaced from one another, so as to reduce thermal expansion problems and ease dimensional tolerances required for the width of the mold half blocks.

Abstract: A multi-container system having an outer container and an inner container. The outer container may at least partly define a hole extending entirely though the outer container, with the outer container at least partly surrounds the hole. The inner container may fit into and be received by the hole. The multi-container system may be shiftable between an assembled configuration, where the inner container is received and held within the hole, and a disassembled configuration, where the inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having two die sets, two body mold halves, and two neck mold halves. Each of the neck mold halves is attached directly to one of the die sets. The neck mold halves are configured to cooperatively form the exterior shape of the necks of one or more parisons. This type of neck mold attachment configuration can allow for better temperature control of the neck portion of the parison being molded therein. Further, such a neck mold configuration can reduce the cost of fabricating, installing, and/or replacing the neck molds.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having two die sets and a plurality of first and second body mold halves each attached to a respective die set. Each of the first body mold halves has a corresponding second body mold half with which it cooperatively defines a cavity for forming the exterior shape of the body of one of the parisons. The individual, independent attachment of the body mold halves to the die sets allows easy individual replacement of faulty or worn molds. Further, such an attachment configuration also permits the body mold halves connected to a common die set to be spaced from one another, so as to reduce thermal expansion problems and ease dimensional tolerances required for the width of the body mold halves.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having two die sets and two mold half assemblies. Each of the mold assemblies is attached to one of the die sets. The mold half assemblies are configured to cooperatively form the exterior shape of the necks of a plurality of parisons. Heat transfer channels formed in both the die sets and the mold half assemblies are fluidly connected with each other, such that a heat transfer fluid can be routed to the mold half assemblies via the die sets.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for controlling the surface temperature of the parison molds by passing heat transfer fluid through a plurality of fluidly-coupled heat transfer channels. The heat transfer channels can be formed primarily in die sets to which the parison molds are attached. The placement and distribution of the heat transfer channels relative to the parison-forming surfaces helps control the temperatures of the bodies and necks of the parisons being formed, instead of relying on various adjustments by an IBM operator. This system/method reduces the discretion required by the IBM operator and shifts the burden of consistently making high-quality parisons and molded articles onto the designer of the IBM tooling.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having two die sets, two body mold halves, and two neck mold halves. Each of the neck mold halves is attached directly to one of the die sets. The neck mold halves are configured to cooperatively form the exterior shape of the necks of one or more parisons. This type of neck mold attachment configuration can allow for better temperature control of the neck portion of the parison being molded therein. Further, such a neck mold configuration can reduce the cost of fabricating, installing, and/or replacing the neck molds.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having two die sets and two mold half assemblies. Each of the mold assemblies is attached to one of the die sets. The mold half assemblies are configured to cooperatively form the exterior shape of the necks of a plurality of parisons. Heat transfer channels formed in both the die sets and the mold half assemblies are fluidly connected with each other, such that a heat transfer fluid can be routed to the mold half assemblies via the die sets.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for forming a plurality of parisons and molded articles. The IBM system includes an injection station having two die sets and a plurality of first and second body mold halves each attached to a respective die set. Each of the first body mold halves has a corresponding second body mold half with which it cooperatively defines a cavity for forming the exterior shape of the body of one of the parisons. The individual, independent attachment of the body mold halves to the die sets allows easy individual replacement of faulty or worn molds. Further, such an attachment configuration also permits the body mold halves connected to a common die set to be spaced from one another, so as to reduce thermal expansion problems and ease dimensional tolerances required for the width of the body mold halves.

Abstract: An injection blow molding (IBM) system and method for consistently maintaining the surface temperature of the parison molds within a desired range. Implementation of this system/method can result in more consistent production of higher quality parisons and molded articles. Additionally, this system/method reduces the discretion required by the IBM operator and shifts the burden of consistently making high-quality parisons and molded articles onto the designer of the IBM tooling.