Abstract: A preform transfer and coating apparatus and method is provided which utilizes a carrier plate to receive a newly-molded batch of preforms from the molding apparatus preform handling plate. A transfer apparatus automatically moves the carrier plate from a preform-receiving position to a preform-coating position where the preforms are dipped into a coating liquid, after which the coated preforms are moved transversely back towards a starting position where they are discharged into a gaylord or onto a conveyor which feeds a standard gaylord packaging system. There is also a sample-taking apparatus which removes preforms prior to coating.

Abstract: An in-mold labelling system for automatically applying labels to the interior of blow mold halves prior to the placement of preforms within such blow mold halves; the preforms are blown to form containers with a label attached thereto. The labelling system is mounted on a rotating drum having a plurality of blow mold sets. A label magazine is also mounted on the drum and preferably carries two stacks of labels. Associated with each label stack is a support shaft having at one end a transverse arm which, in turn, carries a suction cup for pick-up and deposit of the label. The other end of the support shaft extends through a drive mechanism for rotating the support shaft so as to swing the transverse arm to a first position for label pick-up from the magazine and then to a second position for label deposit in the blow mold.

Abstract: This relates to an apparatus for injection molding preforms for beverage bottles wherein a minimum cycle time is involved. Cores over which thermoplastic material is injection molded to form preforms for use in the blow molding of bottles are provided in sets and carried by a rotary turret so that as soon as the injection molded thermoplastic material has sufficiently set to permit its transfer with its associated core out of an injection mold cavity, the apparatus may be actuated to remove first injection molded preforms and thereafter immediately present a new set of cores to the injection mold cavities. This provides ample time for the cooling of the preforms so that when removed from the cores they will not be unduly deformed. In accordance with the feasible use of the apparatus, plural preforms, on the order of twenty-four and greater, may be formed with a cycle time on the order of 10-12 seconds.

Abstract: This relates to a method of forming a thermal/collapse-resistant highly oriented polyester container for use in hot fill applications. In accordance with the method of a polyester preform is reheated and then placed in a blow mold cavity whereat the preform is distended to match the blow mold cavity to form an intermediate article including a container having an oriented end unit receiving finish of a diameter materially greater than the diameter of the preform. The method is characterized in that in providing the preform the composition of the polyester, the draw ratio during distending of the preform and reheat conditions are all controlled to provide a container with a sidewall and finish density in the range of 1.350 to substantially but less than 1.370 grams/cubic centimeter.

Abstract: A method for blow molding from preforms hollow articles, particularly beverage bottles, at a high production rate. The method incorporates a clamp assembly which receives therein carriers containing a number of preforms arranged in a line and wherein there are two mold units, one on each side of a central longitudinally elongated clamp member which is mounted for transverse reciprocatory movement. When the clamp member is positioned to close one mold unit, it operates to open the other mold unit so that while preforms in the closed mold unit are being blow molded, the other mold unit is open and may have the carrier supporting previously blow molded articles displaced therefrom and replaced by a carrier containing a new set of preforms whereby, when the blow molding operation of the one mold unit is completed, the other mold unit is ready for closing and a blow molding operation.

Abstract: This relates to the cutting or trimming of a blow molded polyester resin article utilizing a CO.sub.2 laser. The article is axially positioned and rotated while the laser beam is focused and concentrated on a preselected portion of the article. The laser beam beneficially vaporizes the polyester resin in the cutting thereof as opposed to forming a dust. Further, the action of the laser is one wherein a certain melting occurs so that the resultant cut edge of the retained part of the article is rounded and sealed.

Abstract: A plastic jar is formed by blow molding a combination adapter and jar and thereafter the jar is cut from the adapter utilizing a laser beam. The jar may be blow molded from a preform which is of an injection molded laminated construction so that the wall of the jar is formed of plural layers. The head generated by the laser beam will melt and bond together these layers as opposed to permitting delamination as would occur should the jar be cut from the adapter by a knife or the like. The cut surface of the jar forms the mouth defining surface of the jar and it is preferred that the cut be inclined at a slight angle to a plane normal to the axis of the jar. Damage to the diametrically opposite surface of the jar by portions of the laser beam being utilized for cut off passing through the jar is prevented by a pressurized gas supply tube which is in the path of the laser beam and serves as an absorber for stray rays. This abstract is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to a pallet for carrying and simultaneously presenting to a plurality of blow molds preforms. The pallet includes an elongated bar which has rotatably journalled therein a number of collets and the bar is provided with support and guide rollers which are engageable with opposed channel-shaped track members to guidingly support the pallet for movement along a predetermined path and into the space between one set of blow mold halves. The pallet is provided with drive means for effecting the feeding thereof together with a holding pin to permit the retention thereof in a selected position. Each collet is rotatably journalled within the bar so that it may be rotated to facilitate the even heating of the preforms. The lower end of each collet is provided with ball detent devices which are so associated with a retaining surface on each preform so as to effect a tight, but releasable, holding of the preform within the collet in alignment with the collet.

Abstract: This relates to a loader for loading preforms into collets of pallets in a blow molding machine wherein a plurality of preforms are simultaneously loaded into the blow molding molds during each operation of the machine. The loader includes a preform supply wherein there is a preform receptacle having a number of preform pockets corresponding to the number of preforms to be loaded in a pallet. A preform carrier is moved between a position underlying the preform receptable for receiving preforms therefrom to a position underlying a pallet presented to the loading station. The preform positioning device then engages the bottoms of preforms and moves the preforms up through the preform carrier into the lower end of the collets of pallets where they are automatically retained in place by spring loaded detents. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to an unloading mechanism for unloading blow molded articles from collects carried by a pallet. At an unloading station there is provided a plurality of vertically disposed, guided plungers or ejectors which are carried by a common support and which are spaced along the path of a pallet in accordance with the spacing of collects caried by the pallet. A single actuator carries the support for the movement of the support and the plungers in unison, whereby all blow molded articles carried by collets of a pallet are simultaneously unloaded or discharged. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to a blow molding apparatus wherein in lieu of the mold halves closing on a preform and thereafter the blowing operation initiated, the preform is shifted into one of the mold halves and thereafter advance of the stretch rod into the preform and movement of the blow head to a position closely adjacent the preform is effected before the closing of the mold is completed. Such arrangement permits a reduction in cycle time. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to the forming of containers and like hollow articles from sheets or webs of thermoplastic material. Two webs or sheets are simultaneously acted upon by way of a forming apparatus which includes a reciprocating clamp first cooperable with one outer platen and then the other in sequence wherein, while a first web or sheet is being formed within a plurality of mold cavities to define a plurality of hollow articles such as containers, the other sheet or web may be stripped from its respective mold set and a new sheet or a new portion of a sheet or web may be advanced into position for molding. The forming apparatus may be constructed in a manner wherein the web portions which are to be formed may be billowed away from the mold cavities as an initial step in the stretching and orientation of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: This relates to the forming of containers and like hollow articles from sheets or webs of thermoplastic material. Two webs or sheets are simultaneously acted upon by way of a forming apparatus which includes a reciprocating clamp first cooperable with one outer platen and then the other in sequence wherein, while a first web or sheet is being formed within a plurality of mold cavities to define a plurality of hollow articles such as containers, the other sheet or web may be stripped from its respective mold set and a new sheet or a new portion of a sheet or web may be advanced into position for molding. The forming apparatus may be constructed in a manner wherein the web portions which are to be formed may be billowed away from the mold cavities as an initial step in the stretching and orientation of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: This relates to a blow molding apparatus wherein plural preforms are directed to plural cavity blow molds by way of a pallet which supports the preforms by neck portions thereof. The pallets are positioned relative to blow molds of a set by way of a track. The track is transversely shiftable to present preforms transversely of the blow mold halves prior to the closing of the blow molds and there is associated with supports for the track wedge members which automatically lower the track relative to the blow molds more closely to position a supporting flange of each preform with respect to the upper surface of the blow molds. The track is finally further moved downwardly to engage the support flanges of the preforms with the top surfaces of the blow molds under controlled pressure conditions by means of fluid cylinders. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to a blow molding apparatus wherein in lieu of the mold halves closing on a preform and thereafter the blowing operation initiated, the preform is shifted into one of the mold halves and thereafter advance of the stretch rod into the preform and movement of the blow head to a position closely adjacent the preform is effected before the closing of the mold is completed. Such arrangement permits a reduction in cycle time. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to the increasing of the intrinsic viscosity of resins, particularly PET, by effecting a solid state polymerization of the resin. More particularly, the solid stating is effected in conjunction with an injection or extrusion unit wherein after having the IV of the resin increased, the heated resin may be fed dry into an injection unit thereby utilizing the heat of the heated resin to reduce heating cost. The solid state polymerization is effected by heating the resin in the presence of either a vacuum or an inert gas such as nitrogen.

Abstract: This relates to an apparatus for blow molding from preforms hollow articles, particularly beverage bottles, at a high production rate. The apparatus incorporates a clamp assembly which receives therein carriers containing a number of preforms arranged in a line and wherein there are two mold units, one on each side of a central longitudinally elongated clamp member which is mounted for transverse reciprocatory movement. When the clamp member is positioned to close one mold unit, it operates to open the other mold unit so that while preforms in the closed mold unit are being blow molded, the other mold unit is open and may have the carrier supporting previously blow molded articles displaced therefrom and replaced by a carrier containing a new set of preforms whereby, when the blow molding operation of the one mold unit is completed, the other mold unit is ready for closing and a blow molding operation.

Abstract: This relates to a blow molding system wherein a plurality of preforms are simultaneously blow molded within a mold set with the preforms being carried by one or more carriers which move first to a loading station to receive preforms, then through an oven to heat the preforms, then into a mold set wherein the plural preforms are simultaneously blow molded, then to an ejection station where the blow molded articles are discharged, and finally back to the loading station. There are two mold sets which are part of a clamp which operates sequentially to open and close each mold set with one mold set being closed as the other mold set is being opened. The carriers may travel either in a single continuous path for sequentially positioning at first one mold set and then the other, or there may be two continuous circuits for the carriers in which event the two mold sets of the clamp may be different.

Abstract: Injection blow molding equipment for the production of hollow articles wherein cores are axially inserted in blow molds and blank molds is disclosed. Compact core assemblies and fluid supply systems integral with the platens allow the mold parts to be mounted on the surfaces of opposed, relatively movable platens. Partible neck rings associated with each core open divergently outwardly as the blow mold and core separate, to shorten machine cycle time. A manifold, supplied with cooling fluid from the periphery of a core mounting plate, distributes heat transfer fluid to the core assemblies for cooling the neck rings. In one embodiment, mounting blow mold sections are mounted on contra-oscillatable mounting members and are opened and closed by arcuate movement of the mounting members.

Abstract: Injection blow molding equipment for the production of hollow articles wherein cores are axially inserted in blow molds and blank molds is disclosed. Compact core assemblies and fluid supply systems integral with the platens allow the mold parts to be mounted on the surfaces of opposed, relatively movable platens. Partible neck rings associated with each core open divergently outwardly as the blow mold and core separate, to shorten machine cycle time. A manifold, supplied with cooling fluid from the periphery of a core mounting plate, distributes heat transfer fluid to the core assemblies for cooling the neck rings. In one embodiment, mating blow mold sections are mounted on contra-oscillatable mounting members and are opened and closed by arcuate movement of the mounting members.