Abstract: A system and method provide haptic feedback with respect to the maneuvering of a distal tip at a distal end of a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) ultrasound transducer probe deployed in a patient. An acoustic imaging system is connected to the TEE ultrasound transducer probe and produces acoustic images in response to one or more signals from the TEE ultrasound transducer probe. A control apparatus is provided for maneuvering the distal tip of the TEE ultrasound transducer probe with respect to the patient. A contact force sensing device senses a contact force between the distal tip of the TEE ultrasound transducer probe and the patient, and a feedback mechanism provides tactile, audio, and/or visual feedback when the contact force between the distal tip of the TEE ultrasound transducer probe and the patient exceeds a threshold force.

Abstract: A method of making plastic preforms may include molding one or more preforms in an injection molding apparatus, moving the preforms into cooling tubes while the preforms are in a deformable state, and while the preforms are being cooled in the cooling tubes to a temperature at which deformation of the preforms is resisted, crystallizing a portion of the preforms.

Abstract: A method of making a plastic container having a threaded wide-mouth finish includes providing a preform having at least an exterior surface of molded polyester construction. The preform is placed in a mold cavity having a first portion for forming a container body, a second portion adjacent to the first portion for forming a cylindrical finish wall without threads, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion for forming a trim dome or moil. The preform is expanded within the mold cavity to form a one-piece intermediate product that includes a body, a cylindrical wide-mouth finish wall and a moil. After removing the intermediate product from the cavity, the moil is severed from the end of the finish wall. At least one thread is then formed on the finish wall by engaging the finish wall with at least one thread-forming tool, which may be heated to facilitate the forming operation.

Abstract: A container, a container preform and a method of making the container or preform in which the finish of the preform or container is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction, and has an end portion remote from the body of the preform or container, a capping flange adjacent to the body of the preform or container, and a mid portion between the end portion and the capping flange. The end portion of the finish forms an end surface, and the end and mid portions of the finish form continuous inner and outer surfaces. The polymer material in at least one of the end, inner and outer surfaces is crystallized, and crystallization in the finish in a direction perpendicular to such surface is graded from crystallization at the surface to an essential absence of crystallization at a position within the finish spaced from the surface.

Abstract: A preform assembly for blow molding a container includes a molded plastic preform having a body and a neck with an external surface. At least one circumferential channel is molded into the external surface of the preform neck for removing the preform from the forming mold. A plastic finish ring separate from the preform is externally secured to the preform neck over the external surface of the neck.

Abstract: A method of producing a finish assembly, preform assembly, or container assembly, including placing a plastic finish ring over a neck of a plastic preform or container, and conjointly radially displacing a portion of the neck and a portion of the finish ring overlying the portion of the neck, such that the portions are nested one within another and prevent at least one of axial and circumferential movement of the finish ring on the neck.

Abstract: A method of reheat blow molding a container includes the step of positioning a preform in a blow mold cavity with at least one of the walls having an opening with an anvil received therein for movement between a first position outside the cavity and a second position at least partially within the cavity. Further, expanding the preform within the cavity while moving the anvil from its first position to its second position so that the expanding preform forms a pocket for receiving a handle therein.

Abstract: A method of making a preform for blow molding a plastic container. In one embodiment, a tubular shell of plastic construction is provided, wherein the shell has a closed end and an open end. A plastic mold charge is then placed within the shell, and a preform body is compression molded within the shell such that the shell is secured to an outer surface of the preform body. In another embodiment, a tubular shell of plastic construction is provided wherein the shell is open at opposed ends, and a preform body is then compression molded externally around the shell. A preform for blow molding a plastic container includes a plastic shell and a plastic body that is compression over-molded to the plastic shell.

Abstract: A take-out and cooling method and apparatus conveys molded plastic articles from a molding machine to and through a cooling station and preferably includes a take-out apparatus that has a main support, a conveyor carried by the main support for movement in an endless path, a cam adjacent to the support, a plurality of arms carried by the conveyor for movement with the conveyor along the endless path and including a follower responsive to the contour of the cam to vary the position of the arms relative to the support, and at least one holder carried by each arm. Each holder is adapted to receive and carry at least one molded article to facilitate in conveying the molded articles and is flexible and resilient to permit relative movement of at least a portion of the holder relative to its associated arm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compression molding plastic articles include a plurality of tools mounted in opposed pairs with the tools of each pair including opposed first and second actuators that define a mold cavity in which a charge of plastic is compression molded. The tooling is preferably carried by a rotary turret so that first and second actuators of each tooling pair are moveable relative to each other between an open position permitting formed articles to be removed from the tooling and to receive fresh charges of plastic, and a closed position to compression mold the charges of plastic.

Abstract: A method of making a preform assembly including providing a finish ring of plastic construction, placing the finish ring onto a core pin, introducing a preform polymer into a mold cavity that includes the core pin, and compression molding the preform polymer to the finish ring. A resulting preform assembly, and container assembly blow-molded from the preform assembly, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method making a plastic container in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes molding an intermediate container product having a body and a moil integral with the body. The body is of layered construction that includes at least one layer of barrier resin that extends part-way into but not throughout the moil. The upper portion of the moil, in which the barrier material is absent, is removed for recycling as process regrind. The lower portion of the moil is removed to form the container. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper portion of the moil is removed in a laser trimming operation. The lower portion of the moil is removed in the preferred embodiment of the invention by inserting a plug into the open end or mouth of the container, and employing a cutting tool that is positioned by the plug for accurately trimming of the container product with respect to the mouth of the container. The cutting tool preferably is either a pair of shear rollers or a laser cutting tool.

Abstract: A hollow plastic container includes an open finish, a closed bottom and a sidewall connecting the finish to the bottom. The sidewall is ultra thin, having a radial wall thickness of not more than 0.008 inch, preferably in the range of about 0.003 to 0.004 inch. The container preferably is blow molded from a preform having a wall thickness such that a stretch ratio of eight to ten is obtained during the blowing operation. The preform may be heated prior to blow molding to achieve sidewall crystallization at a level of 28% to 35%.

Abstract: A method of making a plastic container having a body and a finish with at least one external thread includes injection or compression molding a plastic preform having a body and a finish with at least one external thread, blow molding the body of the preform to form the body of the container, and either prior to, subsequent to or both prior and subsequent to blow molding the container body, expanding the injection or compression molded preform finish to form a container finish having at least one injection or compression molded external thread. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the finish is expanded after the container body is blow-molded. The invention can be implemented to expand a narrow-neck preform or container finish to a wide-mouth preform or container finish.

Abstract: A method of making a plastic container having a body and an internally threaded finish includes providing a preform of molded plastic construction having a body and an integral neck, and expanding the body of the preform within a mold cavity to form the body of the container. Either prior to or subsequent to blow molding the container body, at least one internal thread is formed in the neck by engaging an inner surface of the neck with a first rotary tool having a peripheral channel, engaging an outer surface of the neck with a second rotary tool having a peripheral bead, and causing rotation of the neck and tools to swage at least one internal thread in the neck.

Abstract: A finish assembly for a plastic container or preform includes a plastic neck having an open end surrounded by an external flange. The flange has an open axially facing channel adjacent to the outer surface of the neck. A plastic finish ring has an annular body, an inner surface opposed to the outer surface of the neck, an outer surface with at least one external thread, bead or other means for attachment of a closure, and an annular lip extending into the channel. The channel is formed in part by a radially inwardly extending conical surface on the flange, and the lip has a radially outwardly extending conical surface in facing engagement with the radially inwardly facing conical surface on the flange to seal the finish ring against the flange against entry of liquid between the finish ring and the neck.

Abstract: A method of producing preforms for blow molding containers includes producing polyester polymer by melt phase polymerization and compression molding preforms of the polyester polymer without solidifying the polyester polymer prior to compression molding the preforms. This process has the advantage of eliminating the conventional intermediate steps of solidifying the polymer in the form of pellets, shipping the pellets to the preform manufacturer and then remelting the polymer. Furthermore, because the preforms are produced directly from melt phase polymer, the polymer can have a low intrinsic viscosity of 0.65 or less, which is particularly useful for blow molding containers for low pressure, low temperature applications.

Abstract: A finish on a hollow plastic preform or container includes a neck that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and is at least partially crystallized, and a finish ring externally secured over the neck. The neck preferably is of molded plastic construction, and preferably is stretched subsequent to molding but prior to external securement of the finish ring. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the preform or container has an integral body, and the neck is integrally molded with the body. The finish ring preferably has at least one external thread for securement of a closure to the container after molding.