Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a container (45″), with an opening (53), whose opening axis (57) is at an angle to the container axis (23), whereby a blank (45) is introduced into a blowing mould (11, 13), a fixing region (47) of the blank (45) pressed against a stop zone (41) on the blowing mould and the blank pneumatically formed in the blowing mould. The fixing region (47) of the blank (45) is pressed against a stop zone (41) on the blowing mould, inclined at an angle other than 90°. The moulding thus occurs such that an opening region axis (58) of the blank (45, 45′) is at an angle to the container region axis (59) of the blank (45, 45′). The opening axis (57), of the blowing mould (11), forms an angle to a longitudinal axis (51) of a stretching drift (49), which may be extended along the longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: A preform assembly for blow molding a container includes a molded plastic preform having a body and a neck with an external surface. The neck includes a plurality of spaced lands molded integrally with the neck and the body and defining the external surface of the neck, and a plurality of open spaces between the lands. A plastic finish ring is molded separately from the preform and is externally secured over the lands. The open spaces between the lands reduce heat transfer between the preform neck and the finish ring. In two exemplary embodiments of the invention, the lands include either spaced axial ribs or spaced circumferential ribs on the preform neck, and the open spaces include either spaced axial channels or spaced circumferential channels between the ribs.

Abstract: Bottles, containers and other articles are formed from polypropylene compositions that include a reheating agent, such as antimony, carbon black, graphite, titanium, copper, manganese, iron, tungsten, graphite, infra-red absorbing dyes or other infra-red absorbing material. The reheating time for the polypropylene composition is shortened for injection stretch blow molding or thermoforming, and the polypropylene granule composition with reheating agent has an L* value of at least 80% of the L* value for a polypropylene granule control without added reheating agents as measured by the Gardner color test. The reheating agent may be incorporated into the polypropylene composition by in situ chemical reduction of a metal compound, such as antimony triglycolate, with a reducing agent, such as hypophosphorous acid. In addition, the polypropylene composition with reheating agent may be derived from a polypropylene masterbatch with high concentrations of reheating agent.

Abstract: A device for treating preforms to obtain containers made of plastics, for example bottles for food applications, comprising an ejector adapted to pick up and release one or more preforms, arranged so that their neck is directed upwardly, a heating conveyor, and a unit for transferring the preforms unloaded from the heating conveyor, which is adapted to modify their spacing and speed, adapting them to the spacing and speed of an adjacent and axially offset blow-molding conveyor to which the one or more preforms are transferred.

Abstract: The method and the device are used for blow forming containers of a thermoplastic material. The preforms that are used are first temperature treated and then shaped into containers in the area of at least one blow station. Moulds to define the container shape are held by mould supports. At least two preforms are simultaneously shaped into containers within each blow station. Positioning of the preforms is done such that the preforms assume a positioning relative to one another when entering the blow station that differs from the positioning during the blow forming process. Spacing of the preforms relative to one another is changed during transport between entry into the blow station and blow positioning. In addition to this first change in spacing, a second change in spacing between adjacent preforms is performed relative to one another.

Abstract: The method and the device serve the tempering preforms of a thermoplastic material. The preforms are modeled subsequent to tempering into a container inside a blow-molding mold by the action of a medium under pressure. During tempering, the preforms are heated by being acted upon by a heat radiation as well as cooled by being blown upon with cooling air, at least in the surface region. For compensation of a change in the surface temperature of the preforms due to operating ambient parameters, a change in the intensity in the subjecting of the preforms to cooling air is conducted. This takes place such that with simultaneous heating and cooling a basically constant surface temperature of the preform is attained. In addition, the intensity of heat radiation can be regulated for adaptation to at least one operating parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for making a specialized preform and for fabricating a container from the specialized preform includes a first preform molding assembly in which a preliminary preform is molded so as to have a first sidewall portion that is thicker than the surrounding sidewall areas. A final preform is molded from the primary preform in a second preform molding assembly, wherein fluid pressure is utilized to mold the thickened first sidewall portion into a lateral projection that corresponds and size in shape to a handle structure that is desired in the final container. The specialized final preform is then positioned within a container mold that is constructed to pinch the lateral projection during blowmolding of the final container so as to define an integral molded handle portion having a central sealed slug area that is later removed.

Abstract: A reheat stretch blow-molding process comprises providing a polypropylene preform, and heating the preform utilizing a plurality of infrared energy sources positioned adjacent-said preform at distances inversely proportional to the wall thickness of said preform directly apposing said infrared energy sources.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for transferring parisons from an injection-molding machine to a blow-mold machine on an indexed table. The injection-molding machine creates multiple groups of parisons during an injection cycle. The groups from each cycle are transferred to the table and the blow-mold machine at the end of one interval and the beginning of a next interval so that the groups from a single injection-cycle are treated in a substantially like manner. The intervals may be of equal or unequal duration and total the length of an injection cycle.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing plastic bottles, including the step in which respective preforms are removed from the respective moulds, and the step in which said preforms are transferred into temperature conditioning stations for a predetermined period of time, during which said preforms are caused to undergo an asymmetrical heat treatment that is effective in heating in a different manner a preform sector having an angular spread of a definite value that is anyway not less than 180°. The method includes the step in which said surface sector of the preform is heated up with the help of heating means that are partially arranged in a crown-like manner around the respective preform.

Abstract: A multilayer preform having at least a medium or intermediate gas barrier layer is prepared in advance by the injection molding of this preform in a predetermined shape that corresponds to the shape of a finished molded product. The body portion of this preform is heated to a blow moldable temperature. The heated preform is set in a primary blow mold (12), and is blow molded in the biaxial orientation to give a primary molded intermediate (5). The primary intermediate (5) is then heated to deform it forcibly by thermal shrinkage and thereby to give the secondary molded intermediate (6). The shrunken secondary intermediate (6) is set in a secondary blow mold (13), and is subjected to the secondary blow molding in the biaxial orientation to obtain a finished molded product, which is fixed thermally to give heat history to the PET resin.

Abstract: In a single-row and expandable into a multi-row stretch blow molding method and apparatus, at least one row of tray plates in a tray unit is used to collect molded preforms ejected from the opening clamp of a preform-molding unit, transfer the preforms with or without transfer beads out of the molding area and align them with the center row distances of the downstream processing units. At least one robot having a universal gripper assembly is used to pick up either all or consecutively fractions of the preforms align them to the center distances of the blow mold cavities to place them at variable time intervals into a conditioning, stretch blow molding and oriented discharge unit, releases finished hollow articles and returns to a waiting position at the preform-molding and tray unit again at the preform mold's center distance independent of the preform-molding cycle. Simultaneously, component transfer devices may pick up external components, i.e.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a sterile packaging container from a thermoplastic blank or preform which, during stepwise displacement between different processing stations (A-H), is subjected to a first heating to a temperature suitable for a subsequent sterilization with the aid of a chemical sterilization agent in gas form. A subsequent, additional heating stage imparts to the blank the desired moulding temperature, whereafter the blank, after displacement to a blow moulding station, is blow moulded to the desired configuration with the aid of mould halves (9) surrounding the blank. Hereafter, the blank is displaced to a filling station (E) in which it is filled with the desired contents in order thereafter finally to be sealed with the aid of a wafer (17) and discharged out of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Abstract: A preform (32) and method used to make a container (10, 110) which has a blown wide-mouth finish (20, 120) and a multilayer wall structure. The injection molded preform (32) has a multi-layer container body forming portion (54), a mono-layer moil forming portion (52) and a blown finish forming portion (56) located between the container body forming portion (54) and the moil forming portion (52). The preform (32) is blown into an intermediate article (36) consisting of a blown finish wide-mouth multi-layer container (10, 110) and a mono-layer moil portion (38) which is severed from the intermediate article (36) and recycled. The multilayer wall structure can include at least one layer (22) of a gas barrier material, a cost-effective recycled material, or a material which strengthens and/or lightweights the container (10, 110).

Abstract: A method for forming a balloon for a dilation catheter is provided herein. The method includes the steps of: (i) positioning a tube in a preconditioned mold; (ii) expanding the tube in a preconditioned mold to form a parison; (iii) positioning the parison in a balloon mold; and (iv) expanding the parison within the balloon mold to form the balloon. Thus, the tube is initially expanded into a parison in the preconditioned mold. Subsequently, the parison is expanded into a balloon in the balloon mold. Because of this unique manufacturing process, polyester block copolymers can be formed into balloons. Some of these polyester block copolymers could not be formed into a balloon using prior art blow molding processes. The resulting balloon exhibits superior characteristics, including relatively thin and consistent walls, soft texture, low uninflated crossing profile, expansion in a predictable fashion, and good tensile strength.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding balloon catheters is disclosed. The balloon may be molded by providing a polymeric tube within a mold having an interior cavity in the shape of the desired balloon. Microwave energy, which may be generated by a gyrotron, may then be directed toward the mold, to heat the polymeric material without heating the mold. Once heated, pressurized fluid may be injected into the tube to blow the polymeric material against the interior cavity whereupon the material can cool to form the balloon or can be further heatset by additional microwave energy and be cooled to form the balloon. In accordance with one embodiment, microwave energy can also be used without a mold to form a medical device.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding balloon catheters is disclosed. The balloon may be molded by providing a polymeric tube within a mold having an interior cavity in the shape of the desired balloon. Microwave energy, which may be generated by a gyrotron, may then be directed toward the mold, to heat the polymeric material without heating the mold. Once heated, pressurized fluid may be injected into the tube to blow the polymeric material against the interior cavity whereupon the material can cool to form the balloon or can be further heatset by additional microwave energy and be cooled to form the balloon.

Abstract: A method for inspecting the material distribution of a sequence of stretch blow molded containers or other articles in a continuous production process, by providing injection molded parisons, each parison having at least one indicator, typically two or more indicators, for detecting material distribution at a predetermined position along the axial extent of the parison. Each of the parisons is subjected to a heating stage in the continuous production process, generally by exposure to infrared heating. Each heated parison is then subjected to a blow molding process, which can be a stretch blow molding process, so that each material distribution indicator is transformed to a corresponding position along the axial extent of the blow molded article. A detector is positioned to detect the location of each indicator on each blow molded article from a given mold in the production process.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing balloon catheters, and the catheters manufactured thereby. In accordance with the method, a workpiece comprising a tube-within-a-tube is placed within a mold, and a first region of the outer tube is distended into contact with the mold to form a seamless balloon of a desired configuration. The distension of the first region of the outer tube may be facilitated by electron beam irradiation, heating and/or longitudinal drawing of the workpiece concurrently with the introduction of a pressurized fluid into the space between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube so as to exert the required outwardly distending pressure against the first region of the outer tube.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus and method for forming balloons with improved dimensional stability and balloons formed by the same. The method of the present invention provides for a very accurate control of the temperature profile of the balloon material during its making. The attributes of the balloon can be affected by how the balloon is treated during the blowing stage and after the initial blowing, i.e., heat-setting. Using the present method, the balloon will form more uniformly and evenly (e.g., wall thickness and outer diameter of the balloon). The present method significantly increases the dimensional stability of the balloon which provides a balloon that is more predictable, in use. The present heat-set process also provides the means for the working length to be located more accurately on dilation catheters and stent delivery systems.

Abstract: A process and a bottle made from this process where the bottle has improved material thickness distribution within the bottom or base portion. The bottle has a noncircular cross-sectional configuration with corresponding major and minor axes. The mold-base region of the bottle mold-cavity features at least one standing rib-like projection generally parallel to the major axis. The standing rib-like projection increases surface distance in a direction generally corresponding with the minor axis. An expanding heated preform traverses the increased surface distance causing the preform to thin more than what otherwise would be the case thus improving material thickness distribution of the base portion that in turn minimizes unwanted bottle shape distortions.

Abstract: In a system for manufacturing containers by blow-molding or drawing/blow molding of previously heated preforms, sterile containers (110) are obtained by wetting (45) the preforms (3) using an appropriated heat-activated sterilizing product by activating the product by heating means (100) which also provide a suitable heating profile to the preforms to prepare them for blowing.

Abstract: Machine for blow-moulding containers (1a) from cold parisons (1), comprising at least one loading station (100), at least one heating station (200), at least one station (400) for blowing the parisons (1) and at least one station (500) for unloading the moulded containers (1a), wherein at least one station (300) for conditioning the parisons (1), arranged upstream of the blowing station (400), is provided.

Abstract: The method involves making a hollow blow molded thermoplastic article having an integral handle. An unblown preform of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is inserted into a blow mold and thereafter stretched by a stretch rod. Blow gas is then injected into the interior of the preform when the blow mold is closed and the preform is at a stretch temperature. After the preform is blown into the shape of the bottle in the mold, blow gas is discharged from the stretch rod onto an interior wall surface where the handle is to be formed. Movable mold segments are then advanced within the blow mold from a first retracted position to a second position thereby compressing an interior wall surface of the article into contact with a facing interior wall surface of the bottle to bond the surfaces at an elevated temperature and form an integral handle extending from the exterior wall of the blow molded article.

Abstract: A boot comprising an upper portion, an outersole portion, an optional midsole/wedge portion and a shell portion, wherein the shell portion is produced by the blow molding process. The shell portion may contain a midsole/wedge element inside or outside of its volumetric shape and it may also contain a pre-molded outersole which is replaced into the blow mold. The shell portion can be produced with thickness as little as 0.25 mm and weight as low as 25 grams. The shell portion may be constructed of any material that is extrudable. The shell portion is produced with mold cavities, but no mold core. The shell portion may be flocked internally with textile fibers. A pair of shell portions can be simultaneously produced from a single extrusion of material.

Abstract: A device for treating preforms to obtain containers made of plastics, for example bottles for food applications, comprising an ejector adapted to pick up and release one or more preforms, arranged so that their neck is directed upwardly, a heating conveyor, and a unit for transferring the preforms unloaded from the heating conveyor, which is adapted to modify their spacing and speed, adapting them to the spacing and speed of an adjacent and axially offset blow-molding conveyor to which the one or more preforms are transferred.

Abstract: A heat-resistant container molding apparatus and method which are compact and inexpensive and can reliably increase the crystallinity, reduce the residual stress in a container filled with a hot content such as thermally sterilized fruit juice, and prevent a thermal deformation with improved container stability at a raised temperature. The apparatus has a receiving and removing unit for receiving primary moldings obtained by blow-molding preforms and for removing final products, a heat treatment section for heating the primary moldings by bringing the primary moldings into contact with the inner wall of a heat treatment mold while pressurizing the interior of the primary moldings within the heat treatment mold, a final molding section for blow molding intermittent moldings into final products within a final blow mold, and a rotary plate, neck support fixing plate and neck support member for conveying the moldings through the receiving and removing unit, heat treatment section and final molding section.

Abstract: The invention is directed to adjustable length mold assemblies for forming inflatable members and methods for using adjustable length mold assemblies for forming inflatable members, such as, for example, balloons for use with balloon catheters and stent delivery systems. The adjustable length mold assemblies comprise at least two mold pieces adapted to fit together, one mold piece having a surface configured to be slidably received by a bore of the other mold piece, the placement of one piece within the other defining a chamber of variable length which forms the mold. Each adjustable length mold assembly of the present invention is effective to form balloons, where if desired different balloons formed by a single mold may have different lengths. The adjustable length mold assemblies may also comprise a positioner to put a mold piece in a desired position relative to the other, and a locking mechanism to secure a mold piece in a desired position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making plastic tubes, whereby a tube blank (Te) brought to a temperature close to molecular orientation temperature is subjected to a bi-axial drawing, by radial expansion of the tube blank inside a forming shaft (2), with formation of a contraction cavity at one end of the tube, by controlled displacement of this contraction cavity to the other end of the tube, and by longitudinal drawing. The radial expansion is carried out in at least two phases, viz. a first phase during which the tube blank (Te) is inflated to an intermediate diameter (Di) determined by a double-walled envelope (21), introduced into the forming shaft (2), with circulation of a hot fluid between the two walls of the envelope (21), and then the envelope is gradually removed from the forming shaft (2) to enable, during a second phase, the radial expansion of the plastic tube up to an internal diameter of the forming shaft (2), and its longitudinal drawing.

Abstract: A machine and method for blow molding a polyester bottle for carbonated beverages with an internal web structure positioned between two hand-grip depressions. The machine and method uses an injection-molded preform having a web feature and maintains the web of the preform in a precise position during heat-treatment and eventual blow molding into the bottle. Heat-treatment involves an oven capable of heating and cooling selected regions of the preform by using a combination of shields, heat energy reflective surfaces, and cooling airflows. Bottle blow molding involves precise placement of the preform relative to hand-grip surfaces in a blow mold cavity and cooling airflow of the internal web structure before bottle removal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus and method for forming balloons with improved dimensional stability and balloons formed by the same. The method of the present invention provides for a very accurate control of the temperature profile of the balloon material during its making. The attributes of the balloon can be affected by how the balloon is treated during the blowing stage and after the initial blowing, i.e., heat-setting. Using the present method, the balloon will form more uniformly and evenly (e.g., wall thickness and outer diameter of the balloon). The present method significantly increases the dimensional stability of the balloon which provides a balloon that is more predictable in use. The present heat-set process also provides the means for the working length to be located more accurately on dilation catheters and stent delivery systems.

Abstract: The method and the device are used for blow forming containers of a thermoplastic material. The preforms that are used are first temperature treated and then shaped into containers in the area of at least one blow station. Moulds to define the container shape are held by mould supports. At least two preforms are simultaneously shaped into containers within each blow station. Positioning of the preforms is done such that the preforms assume a positioning relative to one another when entering the blow station that differs from the positioning during the blow forming process. Spacing of the preforms relative to one another is changed during transport between entry into the blow station and blow positioning. In addition to this first change in spacing, a second change in spacing between adjacent preforms is performed relative to one another.

Abstract: A method and system for providing for the production of preforms of thermoplastic resin by filling a plurality of multiple-cavity molds with molten resin for forming the preforms, holding and cooling down the molten resin inside the molds, removing the molded preforms from the molds, subjecting the preforms to a subsequent temperature conditioning stage, and transferring the preforms to a blow-molding stage. Each of the multi-cavity molds includes a plurality of cavities defined in several distinct clusters and each cavities belonging to the same cluster is cooled in a distinct and differentiated manner with respect to the cavities belonging to other clusters provided in the same mold.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing an explainable element for use as a support body of a piece of furniture or a part thereof, a mattress, a cushion or the like. The element was a thin wall of a soft, flexible polymeric material, by blow moulding in an essentially closed form. During the blow-moulding process at least one portion of the wall of the element is pressed inwardly to a position where it is brought to permanently adhere to another portion of the wall of the element or another portion of the wall which is pressed inwardly.

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: An improved molding process provides highly conductive polymer composite parts have bulk conductivity over 10 S/cm. This conductivity is particularly useful in collector plate for use in fuel cells. The process can include compounding of a mixture of conductive filler with a polymer binder, extruding the mixture after the binder is plasticized to make pellets. The pellets can then be introduced to a dual temperature feed container of an injection molding machine and injected under high pressure and velocity into the mold cavity. The resulting parts, and particularly collector plates can be made economically and provide a high conductivity while maintaining strength and chemical resistance properties.

Abstract: A heater assembly (20) for heating blow molding plastic preforms (14) includes a plurality of elongated heaters (26) mounted by a housing (24) and extending along a path of conveyance of the preforms in a parallel relationship to each other, and each heater includes an elongated parabolic reflector (44) that reflects radiation from an adjacent elongated bulb (36) to irradiate the conveyed preforms. The heater assembly (20) also includes a quartz window (58) located between the elongated heaters (26) and the conveyed preforms (14) to transmit infrared radiation while blocking longer wavelength radiation so as to provide uniform heating of the conveyed preforms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for using spinel pigments to increase the infrared heat-up rates of thermoplastic resins and specifically polyester bottle resins. In particular, the method comprises adding spinel pigments to polymerized resins to increase the reheat rates of the resulting polyester pre-forms. When uniformly distributed, these spinel pigments absorb applied energy and thereupon transfer the energy to the polyester.

Abstract: A machine and method for blow molding a polyester bottle for carbonated beverages with an internal web structure positioned between two hand-grip depressions. The machine and method uses an injection-molded preform having a web feature and maintains the web of the preform in a precise position during heat-treatment and eventual blow molding into the bottle. Heat-treatment involves an oven capable of heating and cooling selected regions of the preform by using a combination of shields, heat energy reflective surfaces, and cooling airflows. Bottle blow molding involves precise placement of the preform relative to hand-grip surfaces in a blow mold cavity and cooling airflow of the internal web structure before bottle removal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for using spinel pigments to increase the infrared heat-up rates of thermoplastic resins and specifically polyester bottle resins. In particular, the method comprises adding spinel pigments to polymerized resins to increase the reheat rates of the resulting polyester pre-forms. When uniformly distributed, these spinel pigments absorb applied energy and thereupon transfer the energy to the polyester.

Abstract: A stretch blow molding process and apparatus for the manufacturing of plastic containers includes the step of preheating the preform. In particular the preheating step includes directly heating the inside of the preform. This is particularly important during the processing of polypropylene. The method for heating plastic preforms for the stretch blow molding thereof comprises the steps of heating the outside of the preforms with at least one infrared radiation lamp and directly heating the inside of the preforms. Preferably the heating of the outside and the heating of the inside is performed concurrently. The apparatus for use in the preheat step of a preform during a stretch blow molding process includes a channel; a plurality of chucks and a method of directly heating the inside of the preforms. The plurality of chucks are movably connected to the channel and each chuck is adapted to receive a preform. The inside of the preform is heated as the chuck moves along the channel.

Abstract: A heat blow molding apparatus includes a supply section 110, a heating station 112, a transfer section 114 and a blow molding station 116, all of which are disposed linearly in a direction A in which preforms 118 are carried. The supply section 110 supplies the preforms 118 each having a neck portion in their inverted state. The heating station 112 simultaneously heats the inverted preforms 118 while they are being carried parallel to each other. The transfer section 114 transfers the inverted preforms 118 after they have been heated by the heating station. The blow molding station 116 simultaneously blow molds the inverted preforms 118 transferred from the transfer section 114 into containers.

Abstract: A wide-mouth plastic container is formed from a preform that is blow-molded to form an intermediate container article that has blown threads located below a moil. The moil is severed above the blown threads to yield the finished container. A preform and process for manufacturing the wide-mouth container are disclosed.

Abstract: A container (5) such as a bottle made of thermoplastic material and provided with a bottom wall having an inwardly convex curved central portion (3) is disclosed. The container is produced by blow moulding a blank (4) with at least one incipient bottom recess (3) in a finishing mould (15a, 15b, 11) of which the bottom wall (11) has an arched central portion (10) substantially matching the recess in the bottom of the container to be produced. Said container is produced by causing relative rotation of the central portion (10) and the blank (4) when said central portion is positioned in the recess in the bottom of the blank.

Abstract: In a single-row and expandable into a multi-row stretch blow molding method and apparatus, a robot having a universal gripper assembly is used to pick up molded preforms during the clamp opening stroke of a preform-molding unit and then transfer the preforms at variable time intervals to a conditioning, stretch blow molding and discharge unit, releases finished hollow articles and returns to a waiting position at the preform-molding unit independent of the preform-molding cycle. Simultaneously, component transfer devices pick up external components, i.e. labels, valves or handles during the stretch blow molding phase and release the components into the blow-mold cavities while the universal gripper assembly is in the waiting position. The universal gripper assembly can alternatively also be pivoted to pick up preforms from a lateral reheat unit to supplement the molded preform supply.

Abstract: An injection blow molding system includes an injection molding station 22, a first delivery section 24, a cooling station 26, a heating station 30, a second delivery section 32 and a plurality of blow molding stations 34. The injection molding station 22 is designed to simultaneously injection mold M rows of N preforms 36 arranged in a second direction B perpendicular to a first direction A in which the preforms 36 are carried. The first delivery section 24 is designed to remove the M rows of preforms 36 injection molded by the injection molding station 22 through a removing mechanism 102 in their upright state while decreasing the pitch in the rows. The preforms 36 are inverted with the column pitch being changed by an inverting mechanism 104 before they are delivered to the cooling station in their inverted state. The cooling and heating stations 26, 30 are designed to cool and heat one row of N preforms 36 while parallel carrying them along a first carrying chain 200.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stage, post-mold cooling method and apparatus used in conjunction with an injection molding machine having an aggressive cycle time and a high output. The apparatus of the present invention includes a thermal conditioning device/station with cooling tubes for keeping separate the preforms of each batch and effecting cooling of the molded preforms, several separated cooling levels for simultaneously cooling multiple batches of preforms, and internal devices for automatically transferring each batch of molded preforms from one cooling level to the next. In a preferred embodiment, the thermal aconditioning device/station is partially sealed to create a controlled temperature environment for conditioning the molded articles. In another embodiment, the thermal conditioning device/station includes a level for re-heating the preforms.

Abstract: When a desired preform is to be molded from a molding material which is a polyester resin composed of a blend of PET and PEN by compressing and melting the molding material by the rotation of a screw in a heating cylinder and injecting and filling the molten material into a mold, a plastication zone 13 for the molding material is formed between a compression zone 12 of the injection screw 2 and a metering zone 14 at an end of the screw. In the plastication zone 13, the molding material is subjected to melting, relaxation, kneading and relaxation steps in order to melt and remove an unmolten material until the molten material reaches the metering zone 14. To prevent a molded article from becoming opaque and the production of a gel-like unmolten granular material when a polyester resin composed of a blend of PET and PEN is used as a molding material.

Abstract: A preform molding method and apparatus which can utilize a part of an injection mold to crystallize a neck of a preform. A rotary disc includes a plurality of neck cavity molds. An injection molding station, first heating station, second heating station and cooling/removing station are located at the respective positions where the neck cavity molds stops. The injection molding station injection molds a preform having a neck. The preform is sequentially conveyed the first and second heating stations while being held by neck cavity molds at the neck. Each of the heating stations heats the neck cavity molds so that the neck of the preform is heated up to a temperature of crystallization. Thereafter, the cooling/removing station cools the neck cavity molds. After the cooling step, the preforms are released and removed from the neck cavity molds. Thereafter, the neck cavity molds are returned to the injection molding station.

Abstract: A compression mold and blow mold are provided in spaced relationship to each other. A preform is formed from a preform precursor in the compression mold and transferred to a blow mold while maintaining the spaced relationship between the compression mold and blow mold, and a container is formed from the preform in the blow mold.