Abstract: Ways for controlling a level of a product in a container are provided that include engaging an exterior surface of the container containing the product at a first product level. A pulling force is applied to the exterior surface of the container to cause the container to change from a first volume to a second volume. Cessation of the force results in the container containing the product at a second product level. The second product level can provide an accurate and reproducible final product level in the container.

Abstract: Ways for controlling a level of a product in a container are provided that include engaging an exterior surface of the container containing the product at a first product level. A force is applied to the exterior surface of the container to cause the container to change from a first volume to a second volume. Cessation of the force results in the container containing the product at a second product level. The second product level can provide an accurate and reproducible final product level in the container.

Abstract: Ways to produce a container (315, 415, 515, 720, 815, 915) having a shaped tail (610, 910) are provided that include blow molding a precursor having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) and shaping the tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) to form the shaped tail (610, 910). Various types of blow molding can employ various types of precursors having tails (510). Injection blow molding can be used where a preform (105, 200, 305, 405, 505) having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) is optionally longitudinally stretched and is expanded with a gas or a liquid. Extrusion blow molding can be used where a parison (705) having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) is expanded. A tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) shaping means can be part of the blow molding process or can be employed after the container (315, 415, 515, 720, 815, 915) is produced from the precursor having the tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910).

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a reduced material container are provided that hold a preform adjacent to an open end of the preform, stretch the preform, close a mold about the stretched preform to form a truncated preform, and introduce a pressurized fluid into the truncated preform to expand the truncated preform and form the reduced material container. A stretch rod can be inserted into the preform to mechanically stretching the preform. The mold accepts the preform at a first end thereof, has an open state and a closed state, and the closed state forms a cavity defining an internal surface having a second end located remotely from the first end. A first length is defined by a distance between the first end and the second end, the stretch rod mechanically stretching the preform to a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a reduced material container are provided that hold a preform adjacent to an open end of the preform, stretch the preform, close a mold about the stretched preform to form a truncated preform, and introduce a pressurized fluid into the truncated preform to expand the truncated preform and form the reduced material container. A stretch rod can be inserted into the preform to mechanically stretching the preform. The mold accepts the preform at a first end thereof, has an open state and a closed state, and the closed state forms a cavity defining an internal surface having a second end located remotely from the first end. A first length is defined by a distance between the first end and the second end, the stretch rod mechanically stretching the preform to a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a reduced material container (105) are provided that hold a preform (130) adjacent to an open end (165) of the preform (130), stretch the preform (130), close a mold (110, 120) about the stretched preform (175) to form a truncated preform (185), and introduce a pressurized fluid (160) into the truncated preform (185) to expand the truncated preform (185) and form the reduced material container (105). A stretch rod (125) can be inserted into the preform (130) to mechanically stretching the preform (130). The mold (110, 120) accepts the preform (130) at a first end (135) thereof, has an open state and a closed state, and the closed state forms a cavity (140) defining an internal surface (145) having a second end (150) located remotely from the first end (135).

Abstract: Ways to produce a container (315, 415, 515, 720, 815, 915) having a shaped tail (610, 910) are provided that include blow molding a precursor having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) and shaping the tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) to form the shaped tail (610, 910). Various types of blow molding can employ various types of precursors having tails (510). Injection blow molding can be used where a preform (105, 200, 305, 405, 505) having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) is optionally longitudinally stretched and is expanded with a gas or a liquid. Extrusion blow molding can be used where a parison (705) having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) is expanded. A tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) shaping means can be part of the blow molding process or can be employed after the container (315, 415, 515, 720, 815, 915) is produced from the precursor having the tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910).

Abstract: Ways for controlling a level of a product in a container are provided that include engaging an exterior surface of the container containing the product at a first product level. A force is applied to the exterior surface of the container to cause the container to change from a first volume to a second volume. Cessation of the force results in the container containing the product at a second product level. The second product level can provide an accurate and reproducible final product level in the container.

Abstract: A method of making a container via a simultaneous filling and forming of the container with a liquid product is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of extruding a parison (12, 2), capturing a portion of the parison (12, 2) within a mold (15), and inflating the captured portion of the parison (12, 2) against the mold (15). The captured portion of the parison (12, 2) is inflated against the mold (15) by introducing the liquid product into an interior of the captured portion of the parison (12, 2), wherein the liquid product forms an end product to be sealed within the resultant container.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a reduced material container (105) are provided that hold a preform (130) adjacent to an open end (165) of the preform (130), stretch the preform (130), close a mold (110, 120) about the stretched preform (175) to form a truncated preform (185), and introduce a pressurized fluid (160) into the truncated preform (185) to expand the truncated preform (185) and form the reduced material container (105). A stretch rod (125) can be inserted into the preform (130) to mechanically stretching the preform (130). The mold (110, 120) accepts the preform (130) at a first end (135) thereof, has an open state and a closed state, and the closed state forms a cavity (140) defining an internal surface (145) having a second end (150) located remotely from the first end (135).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container without the use of a mold forming a mold cavity is includes a pressure source having an inlet and a piston-like device. The piston-like device is moveable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn into the pressure source through the inlet and in a second direction wherein the liquid is urged toward the preform. A blow nozzle may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at high pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to freely expand until an unopened end thereof contacts a platen. The platen forms a bottom in a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container without the use of a mold forming a mold cavity (116, 16) is provided. A pressure source (120, 20) includes an inlet (146, 150, 46, 50) and a piston-like device (140, 40). The piston-like device (140, 40) is moveable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn into the pressure source (120, 20) through the inlet (146, 150, 46, 50) and in a second direction wherein the liquid is urged toward the preform (112, 12). A blow nozzle (122, 22) may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source (120, 20) and transfer the liquid at high pressure (P2) into the preform (112, 12) thereby urging the preform (112, 12) to freely expand until an unopened end thereof contacts a platen (118). The platen (118) forms a bottom in a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.

Abstract: A method of making a container via a simultaneous filling and forming of the container with a liquid product is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of extruding a parison (12, 2), capturing a portion of the parison (12, 2) within a mold (15), and inflating the captured portion of the parison (12, 2) against the mold (15). The captured portion of the parison (12, 2) is inflated against the mold (15) by introducing the liquid product into an interior of the captured portion of the parison (12, 2), wherein the liquid product forms an end product to be sealed within the resultant container.