Abstract: A plastic container having a base portion adapted for vacuum pressure absorption. The base portion including a contact ring upon which the container is supported, an upstanding wall and a central portion. The upstanding wall being adjacent to and generally circumscribing the contact ring. The central portion being defined in at least part by a central pushup and an inversion ring which generally circumscribes the central pushup. The central pushup and the inversion ring being moveable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container.

Abstract: A plastic container having a base portion adapted for vacuum pressure absorption. The base portion including a contact ring upon which the container is supported, an upstanding wall and a central portion. The upstanding wall being adjacent to and generally circumscribing the contact ring. The central portion being defined in at least part by a central pushup and an inversion ring which generally circumscribes the central pushup. The central pushup and the inversion ring being moveable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container.

Abstract: A blow molding machine for producing a biaxially oriented, heat set plastic container, including a blow mold; a high-pressure gas source; a high-temperature gas source; a fluid source; a mixer coupled to the high-temperature gas source and to the fluid source; a blow core assembly having an exhaust; and a controller coupled to the high-pressure gas source, to the, high-temperature gas source, and to the fluid source. The PET containers produced by the machine have an average sidewall crystallinity greater than about 30%, which allows the PET container to maintain its material integrity during any subsequent pasteurization or retort process of the contents in the PET container, and during shipment of the PET container.

Abstract: A plastic container for receiving a commodity and retaining the commodity during high-temperature pasteurization and subsequent cooling that includes an upper portion, a sidewall portion, and a base portion. The upper portion defines an aperture and is sealable with a closure. The sidewall portion, which defines a sidewall diameter, is connected to and extends generally downward from the upper portion. The base portion has a chime section connected to and extending generally downward and inward from the sidewall portion, and a push-up section connected to and extending generally upward and inward from the chime section to close the plastic container. The push-up section defines a push-up diameter, and the ratio of the sidewall diameter to the push-up diameter is at least 1.3:1.0.

Abstract: A method for providing a thermally stable finish in a plastic container. A finish section is reformed, which in part requires crystallizing a portion of the finish. The finish section has a finish dimension that shrinks to an intermediate finish dimension. Thereafter, the crystallized finish is annealed such that the intermediate finish dimension conforms to a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method for providing a thermally processed commodity in a plastic container. The container is exposed to elevated temperatures to form an -intermediate finish section. A commodity is dispensed within the plastic container. A closure engages the intermediate finish section. The container and the commodity are thermally processed. The finish section being within a predetermined range whereby the finish section and the closure result in retaining a hermetic seal.

Abstract: A method for providing a thermally processed commodity in a plastic container. The container is exposed to elevated temperatures to form an intermediate finish section. A commodity is dispensed within the plastic container. A closure engages the intermediate finish section. The container and the commodity are thermally processed. The finish section being within a predetermined range whereby the finish section and the closure result in retaining a hermetic seal.

Abstract: A plastic container having a base portion adapted for vacuum absorption. The base portion including a ring upon which the container is supported, an upstanding wall and a recessed portion. The upstanding wall being adjacent to and generally circumscribing the contact ring. The recessed portion being defined in at least part by a flat base region and a central base region. The flat base region extending from the upstanding wall toward a longitudinal axis of the container. The flat base region defining a projected surface area of at least 45% of a total projected surface area of the container. The flat base region being moveable to accommodate vacuum forces within said container.

Abstract: A plastic container for retaining a commodity during a high temperature pasteurization or retort process. The container includes a finish defining an aperture for receiving the commodity, a body portion generally extending downward from the finish portion, and a base portion generally extending inward from the body portion and closing off the bottom of the container. The body portion itself includes a sidewall having a crystallinity of greater than 30% and a shoulder portion flaring outward, from a generally transverse plane defined by the mouth of the container, at an angle of about 15° or less.

Abstract: A method for providing a thermally processed commodity in a plastic container. The container is exposed to elevated temperatures to form an—intermediate finish section. A commodity is dispensed within the plastic container. A closure engages the intermediate finish section. The container and the commodity are thermally processed. The finish section being within a predetermined range whereby the finish section and the closure result in retaining a hermetic seal.

Abstract: A method for producing a heat set plastic container including: providing a mold cavity having sidewall surfaces and base surfaces; providing a plastic preform within the mold cavity; expanding and stretching the preform into conformity with the sidewall surfaces and the base surfaces to form a plastic container having a sidewall and a base; and inducing crystallinity in the base of the plastic container by applying heat from the base surfaces of the mold cavity to the base of the plastic container and by applying heat from an interior portion of the plastic container to an interior surface of the base of the plastic container.

Abstract: A method for producing a biaxially oriented, heat set plastic container, including the steps of providing a plastic preform within a mold cavity; expanding and stretching the plastic preform into conformity with the surfaces defining the mold cavity to form a biaxially oriented plastic container; inducing crystallinity in the plastic container by using convection heat transfer to heat a surface of the plastic container to a temperature of at least 120° C.; and removing the plastic container from the mold cavity. The PET containers produced by the method have an average sidewall crystallinity greater than about 30%, which allows the PET container to maintain its material integrity during any subsequent pasteurization or retort process of the contents in the PET container, and during shipment of the PET container.

Abstract: A sidewall portion for a plastic container used to receive a commodity and to retain the commodity during high temperature pasteurization and after cooling. The plastic container has an upper portion defining an aperture sealed by a closure, a lower portion forming a base, and a sidewall portion unitarily connected with and extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The sidewall portion includes panels having a vacuum panel portion unitarily formed in and inwardly recessed from the sidewall, and a pressure panel portion unitarily formed with the vacuum panel portion. The pressure panel portion is movable from a first position to a second position during pasteurization thereby increasing the volume of the container and avoiding any significant deformation of the sidewall portion.