Abstract: This relates to the formation of a preform for a container which is formed primarily of PET and like saturated polyesters which are to be utilized in the packaging of a hot fill liquid and like product, particularly a container wherein a metal closure is to be utilized. The preform is of a laminated construction with the body of the preform being of a five layer construction and the neck finish portion being primarily of a three layer construction including outer layers of PET or like saturated polyester and a core formed of a high Tg polymer. The same high Tg polymer would be in the form of thin layers in the body of the preform between inner and outer layers and a core.

Abstract: This relates to the base configuration of a biaxially oriented blow molded thermoplastic resin container. It has been found that by assigning more space to the ribs between adjacent legs and feet, during the blow molding of a preform, there is proportionally less thinning of the material of the preform in accordance with the greater width of rib, thereby providing greater strength in the high stress area of the base structure with a resultant lesser failure due to stress cracking.

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 laminated preforms, the method of forming such preforms and products which may be beneficially formed utilizing such preforms. Most particularly, this relates to a preform which has formed as part of the injection molding thereof two layers of barrier material which are disposed within two layers of thermoplastic resin and having received therebetween a solid core of thermoplastic resin. The specific method of forming the preform permits the barrier material layers to be of a greatly reduced thickness as compared to such layer thicknesses permissible in the past, with the result that the barrier material layers in the blow molded articles are of a thickness recognized to be acceptable for the barrier function. The barrier material layers may be selectively terminated along the length of the preform so as to permit portions of the resultant blow molded article to be removed and reused. This abstract is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to laminated preforms, the method of forming such preforms and products which may be beneficially formed utilizing such preforms. Most particularly, this relates to a preform which has formed as part of the injection molding thereof two layers of barrier material which are disposed within two layers of thermoplastic resin and having received therebetween a solid core of thermoplastic resin. The specific method of forming the preform permits the barrier material layers to be of a greatly reduced thickness as compared to such layer thicknesses permissible in the past, with the result that the barrier material layers in the blow molded articles are of a thickness recognized to be acceptable for the barrier function. The barrier material layers may be selectively terminated along the length of the preform so as to permit portions of the resultant blow molded article to be removed and reused. This abstract is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: This relates to laminated preforms, the method of forming such preforms and products which may be beneficially formed utilizing such preforms. Most particularly, this relates to a preform which has formed as part of the injection molding thereof two layers of barrier material which are disposed within two layers of thermoplastic resin and having received therebetween a solid core of thermoplastic resin. The specific method of forming the preform permits the barrier material layers to be of a greatly reduced thickness as compared to such layer thicknesses permissible in the past, with the result that the barrier material layers in the blow molded articles are of a thickness recognized to be acceptable for the barrier function. The barrier material layers may be selectively terminated along the length of the preform so as to permit portions of the resultant blow molded article to be removed and reused. This abstract is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the forming of a champagne bottom plastic bottle wherein the bottom is reinforced by internal radiating ribs which are formed by solid material. The bottle is formed in the customary manner by utilizing a preform which has molded on the inner surface thereof longitudinal ribs. The preform is formed by conventional injection molding equipment which has been modified only to form along the lower part of the customary core member longitudinally extending rib forming grooves.

Abstract: This relates to a container which is formed of a thermoplastic material, preferably PET, wherein the container wall and flanges have a high degree of orientation and the required strength characteristics utilizing a minimum of resin in the formation thereof. An intermediate article of manufacture is formed with this article having a generally bottle-like configuration. The intermediate article of manufacture, which is blow molded from a conventional preform configuration, includes a lower portion in the configuration of the desired container and an upper portion which is an accommodation portion. The accommodation portion is removed from the container and becomes scrap which is reground. 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 disclosure relates to a plastic bottle having a bottom structure of the champagne bottle type. The bottom is reinforced by radiating ribs which are circumferentially spaced and the ribs, utilizing a minimum of material, stiffen the bottom so as to prevent the domed inner section of the bottom from reverting and also greatly resist creep of the bottom under the influence of time and internal pressure. The ribs may be only across the juncture section between inner and outer sections of the bottom, or may extend entirely from the outer section across the juncture section and substantially to the domed center of the domed section. The ribs may also be upstanding and serve to function as guides for a liquid product being placed into the bottle so as to reduce turbulences and aid in expediting the filling operation.

Abstract: This relates to a container which is formed of a thermoplastic material, preferably PET, wherein the container wall and flanges have a high degree of orientation and the required strength characteristics utilizing a minimum of resin in the formation thereof. An intermediate article of manufacture is formed with this article having a generally bottle-like configuration. The intermediate article of manufacture, which is blow molded from a conventional preform configuration, includes a lower portion in the configuration of the desired container and an upper portion which is an accommodation portion. The accommodation portion is removed from the container and becomes scrap which is reground. 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 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 radio frequency heating system for heating PET preforms. The system includes two parallel applicator plates or electrodes and the coupling of a radio frequency power supply thereto. Both the radio frequency applicators are isolated from radio frequency oven cavity and are electrically balanced and operated in a push-pull manner so as the net induced currents in the adjacent transport system are maintained to a minimum level and also the electric field strength between either the applicator plate and the transport system is half of that between the applicator plates. It also includes the use of inductors or stubs at specific points to provide for more uniform radio frequency voltage by reducing the voltage standing wave radio.

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 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 a heating system and process for reheating preforms prior to delivering the preforms to a blow molder. The heating system utilizes different types of heating units, one of which will heat the preform wall more highly at the interior surface and the other of which will heat the preform wall at the exterior surface. By effectively controlling the heat input to a preform from each heating unit and by controlling the outputs of the different heating units in combination, the desired temperature profile through the preform wall may be obtained substantially without any time in the oven being provided for heat equilibration and at the same time a maximum heating effort may be effected to produce the necessary heating of a preform within a minimal time and more uniformly than heretofore possible.

Abstract: This relates to the heating of polyethylene terephthalate by way of RF energy. It has been found that if polyethylene terephthalate articles are passed through a radio frequency energy field, the molecules thereof will become excited and rapid heating will result. This heating is particularly useful in the heating of preforms prior to the blow molding thereof and by varying the configuration and relationship of electrodes, controlled heating of the preforms may be effected with it being possible to have a controlled temperature differential along the length of the preform or other article so heated.