Including Heating Of Previously Formed Parison To Blow Molding Temperature Patents (Class 264/535)
  • Patent number: 6079579
    Abstract: A preform adapted for being subjected to blow molding into a container is provided. The preform has a bottom (4), and a tubular wall (1) extending upwardly from the bottom (4) in an elongated manner. The part of the wall (1) opposite bottom (4) forms a pouring spout (20) with a profiled neck (3) encompassing a pouring opening. The pouring spout (20) is integral with the tubular wall (1). The spout (20) has a symmetrically rotational configuration, the neck (3) being provided with an externally extending annular projection (24) forming a first pouring no-drip rib at the opening. The rib includes a downwardly extending pouring surface which extends outwardly from the wall (1). The external profile of the neck (3) is provided with at least one further annular projection (21, 22) forming at least one second no-drip rib (21, 22). The first pouring no-drip rib and the at least second no-drip rib (21, 22) delimitate an annular recess (28) therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Resilux
    Inventor: Dirk De Cuyper
  • Patent number: 6005223
    Abstract: A preform heating device has a plurality of infrared heaters disposed horizontally and spaced apart in the axial direction of a preform carried along a carrying path which carries a preform in a state that the axial direction thereof is vertical. The preform is at least rotated when facing the infrared heaters. First and second insulating plates, and an insulating air layer formed therebetween are disposed facing the carrying path with the infrared heaters between. The infrared heaters are supported by a plurality of support members. Each of this plurality of support members is able to be moved upward and downward by a height adjustment means, and is fixed to the second insulating plate at a given vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Ogihara
  • Patent number: 5980229
    Abstract: The heating device for a machine for transforming plastic materials, comprises a heating body (39) disposed between two parallel rows (41, 42) of preforms (14). It is provided with at least two heating tubes (40) having bidirectional heating blades (54). These latter are inclined at an angle (.alpha.) such that a first of their faces emits heating radiation (55) in the direction of the adjacent row of preforms and such that the second surface emits its heating radiation (56) substantially in the direction of the free space between the two opposite rows of heating tubes toward the farthest row of preforms. Reflectors (60) are moreover arranged so as to reflect the heating radiation in a horizontal plane toward the preforms (14). The device thus permits obtaining very high energy efficiency whilst avoiding a harmful elevation of the temperature of the machine into which it is integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA
    Inventor: Andre-Marcel Collombin
  • Patent number: 5942259
    Abstract: A preform heating method for heating a preform for a stretch blow molding is executed by an apparatus which comprises an outer heating die having a cavity for the preform, a thermal-insulating pot surrounding the outer heating die and a high-frequency heating unit installed around to the thermal-insulating pot. The heating of the preformed is executed by locating the heating die around the preform, applying alternating magnetic flux to the heating die to heat the preform through the heating die, and controlling the magnitude of the alternating magnetic flux to control the temperature of the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Tahara Machinery Limited
    Inventors: Mikio Uchiyama, Tatsuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5876768
    Abstract: The machine for the production of receptacles of plastic material includes a loading device (5) in which the preforms are disposed neck down on supports (7) of double carriers (8) heated in a heating device (10) and moved into a drawing-blowing device (12). In this latter, the receptacles are formed and then discharged into a discharging device (14). In the part (21) of the guide track (20) the supports (7) and the preforms are aligned in a single row, whilst in the part (22) the supports (7) and the preforms are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows. Between each row of preforms of a row of carriers (8), the heating device (10) includes a heating body (42) arranged so as to heat bidirectionally the preforms located on each side of the heating body (42). The heating device can moreover be raised from an active position to an inactive position and vice versa. There is thus obtained a machine with a very high output, of reduced size and low consumption of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA
    Inventor: Andre-Marcel Collombin
  • Patent number: 5783232
    Abstract: To be able to guide the parisons in a reheat type blow molding machine having separate heat and blow paths along the path where they are heated up to blow temperature, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Bekum Maschinenfabriken GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe-Volker Roos, Gottfried Mehnert, Franz Gittner
  • Patent number: 5780069
    Abstract: The invention aims at enabling inexpensive manufacture of a preform carrying mechanism of a simple construction for a blow molding apparatus for biaxial stretching of hollow moldings such as PET bottles from preforms. The molding apparatus is provided with a linear carrying line for carrying preforms (P), and the carrying line comprises a beam (81), on which a multiplicity of carrying members (82) are supported, a carrying mechanism (83) and a lifting mechanism (84) for the beam. The carrying members (82) on the beam are repeatedly moved back and forth at a constant feed pitch by means of the mechanisms. A preform grasping/releasing mechanism (85) is actuated in synchronism with the movement so that while the respective carrying members (82) are caused to advance from backward positions, the preforms are delivered to the respective carrying members (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Frontier, Inc.
    Inventor: Saburo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5718853
    Abstract: A system for preconditioning preforms prior to reheating the preforms for blow molding, includes an area for receiving finished preforms, a conveyor for moving the preforms from the area and to a blow molding operation, a reheat section connected with the conveyor for receiving the preforms and for heating the preforms in preparation for blow molding, and a preconditioning section for preconditioning the temperature of the preforms prior to distributing the preforms to the reheat section such that the heat energy contained by each preform is substantially the same and uniformly distributed throughout each preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald William Ingram
  • Patent number: 5688466
    Abstract: An alignment assembly for aligning heating lamps in a heating lamp assembly intended for use in an oven of a blow molding machine, the heating lamp assembly having a chassis removably positionable in at least one preselected location in the machine and including a vertical array of generally horizontally disposed lamps held in position by a lamp holder coupled to each end of each lamp. The alignment assembly has a baseplate including a coupling for coupling the chassis to the baseplate. A pair of standards are coupled to another plate movable relative to the baseplate projecting upward therefrom for holding a vertical scale and a plurality of vertically positionable and horizontally reciprocable gages indicate the relative position of the lamp holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Constar Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Monroe S. Mitchell, Vinson A. Loos
  • Patent number: 5683729
    Abstract: A machine manufactures containers such as bottles, pots, or other hollow bodies by thermal conditioning and blow molding of plastic preforms. The machine has two portfolio molds on the periphery of a carousel, and each has at least two molding cavities. The machine also has a device for steering and for holding the preforms on a path between thermal conditioners. The preforms are separated at a pitch that is less than that of the molding cavities. The machine features a device for changing the pitch of the preforms between the steering device and the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sidel S.A.
    Inventor: Thierry Valles
  • Patent number: 5607706
    Abstract: A system for preconditioning preforms prior to reheating the preforms for blow molding, includes an area for receiving finished preforms, a conveyor for moving the preforms from the area and to a blow molding operation, a reheat section connected with the conveyor for receiving the preforms and for heating the preforms in preparation for blow molding, and a preconditioning section for preconditioning the temperature of the preforms prior to distributing the preforms to the reheat section such that the heat energy contained by each preform is substantially the same and uniformly distributed throughout each preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Ingram
  • Patent number: 5549468
    Abstract: An alignment assembly for aligning heating lamps in a heating lamp assembly intended for use in an oven of a blow molding machine, the heating lamp assembly having a chassis removably positionable in at least one preselected location in the machine and including a vertical array of generally horizontally disposed lamps held in position by a lamp holder coupled to each end of each lamp. The alignment assembly has a baseplate including a coupling for coupling the chassis to the baseplate. A pair of standards are coupled to another plate movable relative to the baseplate projecting upward therefrom for holding a vertical scale and a plurality of vertically positionable and horizontally reciprocable gages indicate the relative position of the lamp holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Constar Plastics Inc.
    Inventors: Monroe S. Mitchell, Vinson A. Loos
  • Patent number: 5529744
    Abstract: Bottle preforms are made by injection moulding a thermoplastic polymer, preferably a polyethylene terephthalate polymer, which contains metal particles, preferably particles of antimony, which are sufficiently fine for them not to be visible to the eye and which intrinsically absorb radiation in the wavelength region 500 nm to 2000 nm. The metal particles are present in an amount such that the reheat time of the polymer is less than the reheat time of the polymer in the absence of the metal particles. The metal particles contained in the polymer are generated in situ by incorporating into the polymer fine particles of a reducible metal compound and a reducing agent capable of reducing the metal compound to the metal and then reacting the metal compound with the reducing agent so as to produce the metal particles. Bottles are made from the bottle preforms by reheating the bottle preforms and then blow moulding bottles from the reheated preforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventor: Neil Tindale
  • Patent number: 5525288
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hose having an expanded portion and a compression formed portion, including making the expanded portion and the compression formed portion integral and almost simultaneously. The manufacturing process is simple and easy, and the number of manufacturing steps is reduced and the cost can be reduced. The process forms the expanded portion and the compression formed portion from a tube. A rigid, middle core member is inserted into at least one end portion of the tube. This structure is then mounted between mold sections which have an expanded interior cavity when closed. The mold sections are then closed and the end between the middle core member and the opposing inner surface of the mold sections are compressed and formed. After that, the tube is expanded in the mold to conform the tube to the cavity surface by introducing pressurized fluid into the interior of the tube. The conformed tube is removed from the mold sections as a hose with expanded and compression formed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Ninomiya, Tetsuya Fujii, Shinji Ito, Hiroyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 5516274
    Abstract: A blow molding machine configured to receive plastic parisons and output blow mold formed containers has a support frame having a trackway. A parison conveyor is attached to the support frame, and a blow mold assembly is positionable in its operating position within the support frame to receive parisons from the parison conveyor. A track mounted frame is movably supported by the trackway, with the track mounted frame configured to support the blow mold assembly as the blow mold assembly is moved outward from its operating position within the support frame to its service position adjacent to the support frame, with outward movement of the blow mold assembly permitting improved access for servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Electra Form, Inc.
    Inventor: Lynn R. Maggert
  • Patent number: 5392950
    Abstract: A plastic container for holding liquids, such as syrup, which has a hollow handle completely sealed from the bottle's exterior and interior. The bottle results from blow molding an extruded thermoplastic parison into an unfinished bottle which has a channel running between the interior of the bottle and the hollow space defined by the handle. The air pressure to form the handle passes through this channel. Sealing this channel through the application of ultrasonic heat closes it and provides a handle with an interior volume completely shut off from the exterior and from the inside of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Continental Plastic Containers, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Foss, Theodore Guss, Darin R. Paul, Robert E. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 5340526
    Abstract: A method for temperature conditioning a blank of plastic material in which a conditioning mandrel is placed within the blank and thereafter expanded into reliable abutment against the inner surface of the blank. The mandrel is thereafter returned to its initial position. The outer surface of the mandrel is adjusted to and maintained at a certain temperature, whereby, during the abutment, an energy exchange takes place between the blank and the mandrel for adjusting the temperature of the blank. At high temperatures of the mandrel, the mandrel is displaced out of the blank after such short time that the plastic material in the region of the abutment surface never passes the critical temperature of tackiness of the plastic material and/or thermal crystallization of the plastic material. As a rule, the expansion and contraction of the mandrel is repeated one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: PLM AB
    Inventor: Torsten Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5322651
    Abstract: Preforms are thermally treated in a continuous-run oven equipped with infrared lamps. The portions of the oven exposed to infrared radiation are cooled by an air flow, whose temperature is kept constant by mixing air at ambient temperature with hot air. The latter is obtained by recycling at least part of the cooling air flow, which becomes heated as it carries away excess heat. A recycling mechanism in the form of a plenum box 13 equipped with a pivotable shutter 16 for adjusting the proportions of recycled hot air and ambient temperature air makes it possible to keep the temperature of the cooling air constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Sidel
    Inventor: Gerard Emmer
  • Patent number: 5312572
    Abstract: A preform of a thermoplastic material, especially a material which is orientable during blow forming, has an opening region, a closed bottom as well as walls connecting the bottom with the opening region. In the region of at least a part of the surface demarcating the preform a texturing enlarging the surface is provided, which has a low profile depth relative to the wall thickness of the preform. A process for heating a preform of a thermoplastic material is also disclosed which includes texturing a portion of the surface of the preform to enlarge the surface area thereof whereby the time required to heat the preform to a desired temperature suitable for blow molding is reduced. The preform is also rotated as it is moved past a heating device and the heating device is controlled such that the heating device combination with the texturing provides a desired temperature profile rendering the preform suitable for blow molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Krupp Corpoplast Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Claus Horwege
  • Patent number: 5261545
    Abstract: Spherulites grow in such sections as neck, neck end, bottom center or bottom periphery of a hollow bottle-shaped container of biaxially oriented blow-molded polyethylene terephthalate where the resin is not substantially subjected to orientation, thereby to improve the thermal resistance, stiffness and content resistance of such sections to almost the same extent as the biaxially oriented sections of the container such as shoulder and cylindrical sections thereof. The aforesaid sections of the preformed piece before being blow-molded or of the blow-molded container where the resin is not substantially subjected to orientation are first heated at 120.degree.-180.degree. C. for 3-8 minutes and, then, annealed at room temperatures, with a result that such sections have a spherulite texture of an increased density and are opacified in white or milky white.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiho Ota, Fumio Negishi
  • Patent number: 5260005
    Abstract: A process for forming a container of acrylonitrile polymers by biaxial-orientation blow-molding a preform. A preform of thermoplastic resin, mainly acrylonitrile polymers, is irradiated with an electron beam or a gamma-ray. Immediately after the irradiation, the preform is heated at 40.degree. C. or higher to reduce residual acrylonitrile monomer in the preform to 0.1 ppm or less. Then, the preform is biaxial-orientation blow molded to form a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignees: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Ishigaki, Keizo Makuuchi, Fumio Yoshii, Hideo Kushida, Hiroshi Iida, Toyokazu Owada
  • Patent number: 5248533
    Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate resin bottle-shaped container made by thermally crystallizing a neck portion of a preform, heating the preform, blow-molding the preform to form a primary intermediate molded bottle-shaped piece, raising the temperature of the primary intermediate molded bottle-shaped piece to a temperature greater than the temperature during blow-molding the preform to thermally contract the primary intermediate molded bottle-shaped piece to form a secondary intermediate molded bottle-shaped piece, and blow-molding the secondary intermediate molded bottle-shaped piece to form a bottle-shaped container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Horoaki Sugiura, Fuminori Tanaka, Daisuke Uesugi
  • Patent number: 5190715
    Abstract: A blow molding process of producing molded articles including the steps of extruding a parison of the plasticized material from a die into a gap between mold halves while the mold is open and blowing gas into the parison, while the mold is closed, to have the parison form a molded hollow article within the mold. The parison is heated before molding by heating the inner shell contoured parts of the mold at the surfaces thereof and the plasticized material at the outer surface by using an instantaneous radiation heater disposed in the mold half gap to partially encompass the parison while the mold is open and the inner shell contoured part is heated by a heating medium passed through the heat medium passages. The molded article is cooled by cooling the mold at the inner shell contoured parts thereof by flowing a cooling medium through the heat medium passages of the mold while the mold is closed. The cooling of the mold occurs alternately with the heating of the mold by the heating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Yamada, Yoshiaki Kanoh
  • Patent number: 5145632
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container from a hollow amorphous PET preform which includes an open end and a closed end, the open end forming a neck section having dimensions already conformed to its final size and shape, the container being able to withstand relatively severe thermal conditions encountered when the container is filled with a hot liquid, without appreciable deformation, including the steps of: a) rapidly heating only the body of the PET preform, exclusive of the neck section, to a temperature at which subsequent longitudinal and transverse stretching cause no stresses in the PET; b) transferring the hot preform from step (a) to a mold whose walls are maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature of the hot preform body; c) longitudinally stretching the preform body while simultaneously transversely expanding it by blow-molding using a pressurized fluid so as to mold the preform body to the shape of the mold cavity; d) rapidly evacuating the press
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Sidel
    Inventors: Gerard Denis, Jean-Michel Ruis, Paul La Barre
  • Patent number: 5145629
    Abstract: A method for temperature conditioning a blank of plastic material in which a conditioning mandrel is placed within the blank and thereafter expanded into reliable abutment against the inner surface of the blank. The mandrel is thereafter returned to its initial position. The outer surface of the mandrel is adjusted to and maintained at a certain temperature, whereby, during the abutment, an energy exchange takes place between the blank and the mandrel for adjusting the temperature of the blank. At high temperatures of the mandrel, the mandrel is displaced out of the blank after such short time that the plastic material in the region of the abutment surface never passes the critical temperature of tackiness of the plastic material and/or thermal crystallization of the plastic material. As a rule, the expansion and contraction of the mandrel is repeated one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: PLM AB
    Inventor: Torsten Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5116565
    Abstract: A thin-walled bottle has ribs at least at its bottom portion, and the bottle bottom is raised up frusto-conically or has an undulatory shape. A tubular intermediate is first formed with ribs which become thin-walled protuberant ribs after blow molding. The thin-walled bottle is produced by blow-molding the ribbed tubular intermediate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yataro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 5089353
    Abstract: A multi-layer material with a layer (A) of a saponified product of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 60 mol % and a degree of saponification of at least 90% and a layer (B) of a styrene-based polymer having mainly syndiotactic configuration, or a resin composition comprising 5 to 95 parts by weight of a saponified product of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (A) having an ethylene content of 20 to 60 mol % and a degreee of saponification of at least 90% and 95 to 5 parts by weight of a styrene-based polymer (B) having mainly syndiotactic configuration has gas barrier properties and markedly improved heat resistance.In a molding comprising the resin composition or the multi-layer material, contents (food) can be stored for a long period of time at ambient temperature. Moreover, after retort sterilization, the container can be heated by boiling, or in a microwave oven or a grill oven (at 220 to 240.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Negi, Akira Mochizuki, Shiro Nagata, Komei Yamasaki, Keisuke Funaki, Takashi Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 5085821
    Abstract: A multi-layer drawn polyester bottle has a neck portion having an opening on the top end and a fitted or screwed part on the periphery, a bottom portion formed by fusion bonding and closing of a pipe and a barrel portion biaxially molecularly oriented by draw-blowing of the pipe. The pipe is composed of a co-extrudate of inner and outer surface base layers of polyethylene terephthalate and an intermediate layer of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content lower than 50 mole %. This multi-layer drawn polyester bottle is prepared by co-extrusion a multi-layer pipe using the coextrudate and, if necessary, interposing an adhesive layer between the two resin layers, cutting the pipe into a predetermined length, closing one end of the cut pipe by fusion bonding to form a bottom portion, forming the other end of the cut pipe into a neck portion having an opening on the top end and a fitted or screwed part on the periphery, pre-heating the so-obtained preform at a drawing temperature of 85.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigezo Nohara
  • Patent number: 5073330
    Abstract: A method of molding polysilazane which includes heating a liquid sheet composed of liquid polysilazane alone or containing not more than 30 wt. % of a ceramic powder or a ceramic precursor to form a highly viscous sheet having a viscosity coefficient of 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.6 poise, fitting the highly viscous sheet to a forming mold, and heating to set the sheet. According to the method of the invention, molded bodies are easily obtained which have relatively uniform thickness, and are excellent in transferability, homogeneous and show less defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nishio, Keiji Watanabe, Michitaka Sato
  • Patent number: 5017126
    Abstract: An apparatus for blow-molding a hollow double wall type article using a mold incorporated with a heating and cooling system. The mold consists of male and female mold halves, each composed of an outer shell area having a contoured cavity surface part and an inner heat insulating area defined within the outer shell area. The cavity surface part is made of mainly of a metallic material having a high thermal conductivity, and the inner heat insulating area is provided therein with a reinforcing block for reinforcing the outer shell area against a blow molding pressure and a mold clamping pressure. The inner heat insulating area provides a substantial thermal insulation against a transmission of heat thereto from the cavity surface part. The reinforcing block may be formed of a non-metallic material having a low thermal conductivity. Preferably, the block is permeably porous so that it provides heat medium passages for the heating and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Yamada, Yoshiaki Kanoh
  • Patent number: 5000905
    Abstract: A method is described for stretch blow-moulding thermoplastics bottles (50) from heated parisons of thermoplastics material such as polypropylene. The parisons are severed from thermoplastics sticks (51) each of which is formed of several, e.g. five, parison lengths. The sticks are severed from the leading end of a continuously extended thermplastics tube, and are individually heated in an oven to orientation temperature. After heating, the sticks are presented for severance as successive groups of associated sticks which are advanced longitudinally one parison length at a time while disposed in parallel, laterally aligned relation. The bottles are formed by repeated stretch blow-moulding operations upon the groups of parisons so produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: CMB Packaging (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Andrew P. D. Cox, Terence P. McCormack, Percy W. Morris
  • Patent number: 4997692
    Abstract: A synthetic resin thin-walled bottle, a tubular intermediate therefor and a method of producing a thin-walled bottle. The thin-walled bottle has ribs at least at its bottom portion, and the bottle bottom is raised up frusto-conically or has an undulatory shape. The tubular intermediate is first formed with ribs which become thin-walled protuberant ribs after blow molding. The thin-walled bottle is produced by blow-molding the ribbed tubular intermediate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yataro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 4988399
    Abstract: A method of producing a pair of container bodies. A cylindrical, hollow preform of a thermoplastic polymer material having a cylindrical body having a sidewall and an opened neck finish on each longitudinal end of the preform is provided. The preform is heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer and below the melting temperature of the polymer, and is stretched. The preform is stretched longitudinally by applying force to at least one of the ends, and is stretched transversely by introducing fluid pressure into the preform sufficient to form a stretch blown component having a first neck at one end and a second neck at the other end, and a body portion between the necks. The stretch blown component is separated transversely through the body to provide two container bodies, each having a neck finish corresponding dimensionally with the respective neck finish on the preform from which the container bodies are stretch-blown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Martin J. Watson, Thomas L. Levendusky
  • Patent number: 4963086
    Abstract: A reheat blow mold machine includes a preform loader, an oven, a mold station and a preform transfer mechanism for transporting preforms from the oven to the mold station. A loader defines a plurality of lanes within which the preforms are supported. A reciprocal jaw assembly moves the preforms from a receiving end to a load end of the oven. The oven includes a plurality of tandemly arranged abutting pallets which rotatably support the preforms. The pallets are stepped through the oven and moved between a receiving end and a discharge end by a pair of elevators and a return conveyor. The transfer mechanism includes two sets of jaw assemblies, a pair of slidable actuators and a compensation mechanism to automatically adjust for tolerance variations in the diameter of the preforms. A mold station includes a pair of opposed platens which support mold halves. A bottom platen is positioned by a cam arrangement mounted on the opposed platens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: B & G Machinery
    Inventors: James G. Wiatt, Kevin J. Swiderski, Samuel L. Belcher, Roger D. Smith
  • Patent number: 4957687
    Abstract: A tube or hollow body of a plastic material having memory characteristics is formed in a mold body having interior undulations or grooves. Pressure is applied to the interior of the plastic tube, while the tube is at a temperature above its softening point, to expand the tube into the configuration of the interior of the mold body. The pressure is maintained while the tube is cooled. After cooling, the tube is extracted axially from the mold body, and is reheated to cause the tube, by virtue of its memory characteristics, to return to the shape it had while in the mold, thereby eliminating the distortion and stretching occurring during removal from the mold. The mold body can be a tubular corrugated casing or stainless steel with a relatively thin wall, which cannot be taken apart. End assemblies are provided to hold and seal the tube ends while the tube is expanded in the mold body, by pressure applied through one of the end assemblies. The preferred plastic material is PTFE (TEFLON).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Inventors: Bulent Akman, Bernard de Curraize
  • Patent number: 4952133
    Abstract: In forming a blown bottle with a handle as a one-piece-molded product, a thermoplastic parison and a handle are previously held with a correct positional relation by respective holders and they are simultaneously moved in a blow mold to be subjected to blow molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Plastics Industries Limited
    Inventors: Hideo Hasegawa, Toshio Takahashi, Masayuki Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 4935190
    Abstract: An expandable section plastic tube having utility, for example, in inflatable balloon section catheters, and a method of making the same. The tube formed of thermoplastic material is inserted in a wall defining member, such as a mold, having an enlarged section surrounding a portion of the tube. The tube portion is then heated to a thermal plastic temperature and is expanded into the enlarged section by a sudden application of pressure resulting in a thinning of the tube wall in the expanded area. Thereafter, the tube is cooled and removed from the mold. In the making of a catheter, one section of the tube to one side of the expanded area is inverted and drawn into the section of the tube on the other side of the expanded area whereby the expanded area forms a balloon end at one end of the telescoped tube sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: William G. Whitney
    Inventor: Milton R. Tennerstedt
  • Patent number: 4928835
    Abstract: A polyester preform which is injection molded preferably of PET and wherein the preform is provided with a molded neck finish or neck portion inlcuding threads which are molded to a high tolerance and wherein the neck finish may receive a closure cap of the type having a tamper indicating band which engages over a retaining bead also molded to a high tolerance as part of the neck finish. In order to maintain the container which is blow molded from the preform in axial alignment with the neck finish and thus eliminate the perpendicularity problem, a ring of the preform immediately below the flange which functions as the capping ring, is heated to a high temperature and crystallized. In a like manner, the end sealing surface is also heated to a high temperature and crystallized. The remainder of the neck finish remains in its amorphous state without disturbing the configuration of either the threads or the retaining bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Ralph Armstrong
  • Patent number: 4927680
    Abstract: A blow molded container which is formed of a polyester resin which has formation and shape characteristics wherein it may be hot filled with a liquid at a temperature on the order of 180.degree.-185.degree. F. with a maximum volumetric shrinkage of no greater than 1 percent. The container is formed from a specially configurated injection molded preform which is initially stretched axially only on the order of 25 percent, after which the preform is inflated and blow molded within a blow mold to a configuration which resists vacuum collapse or paneling of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, David P. Piccioli
  • Patent number: 4909978
    Abstract: A method of forming a blown bottle with a handle as a one-piece-molded product, wherein a thermoplastic parison and a handle are held in correct positional relationship by respective holders and are simultaneously moved in a blow mold to be subjected to blow molding. The parison is blow molded by injecting a pressurized fluid into it. Blow molding results in connection of the parison with the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Plastics Industries Limited
    Inventors: Hideo Hasegawa, Toshio Takahashi, Masayuki Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 4891178
    Abstract: A method for making a partially crystalline, biaxially oriented heat set hollow polyethylene terephthalate free standing container from a hollow parison having an open end and a closed end including engaging the open end of a plastic parison which is at a temperature within its molecular orientation temperature range, positioning a mold base in axial alignment with said engaged hot parison, enclosing a hot mold about the mold base, the mold being at heat setting temperature and the mold base being at a temperature preferably significantly lower than the mold, expanding the plastic parison within the hot mold and mold base by internal pressurization to induce biaxial orientation of the plastic parison and force the plastic parison into intimate contact and conformance with the hot mold and to maintain contact by such internal pressurization between the mold and mold base and the biaxially oriented container for a time sufficient to induce partial crystallization in the side wall and base of the biaxially orien
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventors: Prakash R. Ajmera, Saleh A. Jabarin
  • Patent number: 4889247
    Abstract: In the blow molding of a container from a preform in a heated blow mold wherein the container has formed as part of the preform a neck portion which remains unoriented, there is a tendency for the neck portion to distort relative to the body so that there is a perpendicularity problem. In accordance with this invention, the problem has been solved by either crystallizing that portion of the preform which remains unoriented in the blow molding of the container so as to both provide a clear line of demarcation between the unoriented and biaxially oriented portion of the container and to increase the glass temperature of the preform portion so as to prevent shrinkage due to conductive heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
  • Patent number: 4856978
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the conveyance of preforms through a heating station to a stretching and blowing machine during the production of hollow articles from thermoplastic plastics materials, means of which preforms having different neck diameters can be heated satisfactorily and extremely uniformly without major modification of the apparatus. This is achieved by providing two endless toothed sections extending parallel to each other and have preform pick-up means mounted thereon. The preforms are collected and retained in position by the pick-up means as they pass through the heating station. The mutual spacing of the belts and, hence, of the pick-up means from one another and from the heating devices is adjustable. A further pair of endless drive belts are provided which rotate the preforms at desired circumferential speed about their own axes as they pass through the heating device so as to promote an even distribution of the heat in the preforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Hermann Berstorff Machinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Voss, Manfred Mank
  • Patent number: 4853171
    Abstract: A method for making a partially crystalline, biaxially oriented heat set hollow plastic container from a hollow poly(ethylene) terephthalate parison having an open end and a closed end comprising engaging the open end of a plastic parison which is at a temperature within its molecular orientation temperature range, enclosing a hot mold about the hot parison, the mold being at heat setting temperature, expanding the plastic parison within the hot mold by internal pressurization to induce biaxial orientation of the plastic parison and force the plastic parison into intimate contact and conformance with the hot mold and to maintain contact by such internal pressurization between the mold and the biaxially oriented container for a time sufficient to induce partial crystallization in the biaxially oriented container, maintaining a lower internal pressurization of the container to prevent significant shrinkage, opening the hot mold while maintaining engagement of the open end of the blown hollow container, enclosin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Prakash R. Ajmera
  • Patent number: 4830811
    Abstract: A method for molding double-layered preforms in an injection, stretching and blow molding machine. Plastic material is injected into a cavity formed by a mated inner preform and core mold and into another cavity formed by a mated outer preform, neck mold and a core mold carrying an inner preform to form respectively inner and outer preforms. The inner core mold is lifted, while carrying an inner preform, and moved over the outer preform mold. The outer core mold is lifted and the neck mold strips the double-layer preform formed by the injection of the outer preform onto the inner preform. The neck mold carrying the double-layer preform is moved away from alignment with the outer preform mold and advances the preform to heating, stretching and blow molding stages. Another neck mold is moved into alignment with the outer preform mold prior to lowering the core mold carrying the inner preform into the outer preform mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: Katashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 4822275
    Abstract: An arrangement for opening and closing mold halves of a blow mold is disclosed. The blow mold generally forms part of a stretching and blowing machine for blow-molding hollow bodies from thermoplastic plastics materials.The mold halves are coupled to driven rocker arms, which are driven by driving rocker arms of a four-link gear, the pivot of the four-link gear being disposed immediately at the end of the common pivotal axis of the mold halves.The driving rocker arm of the four-link gear is formed by cylinders, which are provided with cam tracks on their external curved surfaces in which rollers mounted on a sliding cam controller travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Hermann Berstorff Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Voss, Manfred Mank
  • Patent number: 4803036
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a heat-resistant polyester hollow formed body, which comprises mounting a preform of a thermoplastic polyester composed mainly of ethylene terephthalate units, which is maintained at a temperature where high-speed drawing is possible but whitening can be prevented, especially at a temperature represented by the following formula:T=k(100.multidot.IV-8.multidot.DEG+42) (1)wherein IV stands for the intrinsic viscosity (dl/g) of the thermoplastic polyester, DEG stands for the content (% by weight) of diethylene glycol units in the thermoplastic polyester, k is a number of from 0.95 to 1.05, and T stands for the temperature (.degree.C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Maruhashi, Setsuko Iida, Takashi Sugisaki, Yohji Mizutani, Nobuhiro Kishida
  • Patent number: 4793960
    Abstract: The method of the present invention involves transferring plastic parisons from a receiving station to a finishing station on a plurality of pallets in a single row for forming said parisons into hollow plastic articles. The pallets with parisons thereon are transported through a temperature conditioning means for temperature conditioning said parisons to render same suitable for forming into said hollow plastic articles at the finishing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert D. Schad, Herbert Rees, Gary Hughes, John R. Murchie
  • Patent number: 4783303
    Abstract: The cross-linked plastic material is shaped in the softened state, for example, by blow-molding, deep-drawing, pressing, rolling, calendering or stretching and cooled below the softening range while retaining the thus formed shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Wirsbo Pex Platzer Schwedenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Imgram
  • Patent number: H671
    Abstract: Thermoplastic parts are formed by a process that produces at least one surface that is a direct replication of the mold surface without secondary operations, e.g., a "Class A" surface. The process is particularly suitable for the production of large parts such as automobile panels, refrigerator panels and the like especially those employing a high-viscosity resin and particularly those parts made by blow-molding. The process comprises pressing at a selected pressure a plastic preform heated above the glass transition temperature (Tg) against a suitably smooth or detailed mold surface held at a temperature below the Tg of the resin; raising, preferably rapidly, the mold to a temperature above Tg for the time necessary to raise above Tg a depth of resin sufficient to remove surface imperfections, die lines, and pores, and fill voids, and substantially embed included matter; and rapidly cooling the mold until the molded part is below Tg when pressure may be released and the mold opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventors: Marcia J. Cho, Christopher J. LaTulippe, Robert A. Marin