Abstract: A housing is mounted to a slide that transports a series of preforms downward under the influence of gravity through a pre-heating apparatus toward a reheat blow molding machine. The housing is coupled to the slide so that a selected portion of each of the series of preforms is shielded from the general enviroment, and heating elements and directing elements are fixed within the housing so that heat from the heating elements is directed toward the selected portion of each series of preforms as the preforms desend down the slide to achieve a persistent thermal gradient in the preforms prior to the re-heating and blow-molding of the preform.

Abstract: Pre-heating apparatus for pre-heating a selected portion of each of a series of preforms to achieve a persistent thermal gradient prior to re-heating and blow-molding the preform. The pre-heating apparatus is adjustably mounted to a gravitational slide that transports the series of preforms downward under the influence of gravity through the preheating apparatus toward a reheat blow molding machine. The pre-heating apparatus includes a housing coupled to the slide so that the selected portion of each of the series of preforms is shielded from the general environment, and heating elements fixed within the housing so that heat from the heating elements is directed toward the selected portion of each of the series of preforms as the preforms descend down the gravitational slide.

Abstract: Improved processes for making plastic articles, such as carbonated beverage bottles made from PET, are disclosed. The process includes the step of molding a preform which comprises thermoplastic resin and glass pellets that are substantially uniformly dispersed in the resin. By including the glass pellets, the preform can be more easily and efficiently reheated, if necessary during production. Because the glass pellets are retained in a substantially uniform dispersion in the blown article, the article is not subject to electrostatic adhesion to other articles following release from the blow mold.