Including Removal Of Flash Or Sprue Patents (Class 264/536)
  • Patent number: 6602458
    Abstract: A reduced flash molding process and apparatus useful for a variety of parts, especially flat plastic panels, reduces trimming time, regrind waste, increases production speeds, reduces energy consumption, and reduces part weight. The reduction in flash is made possible by providing side members which close before molding material reaches them. Flash still occurs at the ends of the mold, but is eliminated from the sides. Because the parison can be more carefully managed during molding, the mold can be placed closer to the parison extrusion die, thereby reducing parison swell and sag and permitting more accurate filling of all areas within the mold geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: Erik L. Skov
  • Publication number: 20030124374
    Abstract: A dimensionally-stable, injection-molded portion of a blow molded intermediate article is engaged by a conveyance mechanism of a trimmer to controllably drive the intermediate article within the trimmer to permit accurate and high speed severing of the injection molded portion and moil from a blown finish container body. An injection-molded, closed end preform is provided having a neck finish with an internal and/or external peripheral drive surface. The preform is utilized to form an intermediate article including a container body and moil. The injection-molded neck portion of the intermediate article remains substantially unchanged from its as-manufactured preform condition and provides a dimensionally stable surface for use in driving and rotating the intermediate article within the trimmer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Bromley, Paul Kelley
  • Publication number: 20030122287
    Abstract: This method of manufacturing packaging articles each having a hollow body provided with a neck-forming open end comprises the steps of applying a flat piece of thermoplastic material over the open end of a mold recess, of heating said material, of punching the material by inserting a piston into the mold cavity through its opening so as to form a blank, of blowing the resulting blank against the wall of the mold, and opening the mold. The mold is constituted by an assembly of elements each constituting a matrix for molding a segment of an article, and the mold is opened by separating the elements of each pair. While the mold is being opened, the article is sucked against a bottom element of the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Michel Marcel, Christophe Marcel
  • Patent number: 6558597
    Abstract: A process for forming an end cap in an extruded ceramic tube. An end cap forming cavity of an end cap forming die is positioned so that, when the body of the end cap forming die is situated against an extrusion die, ceramic material is able to be forced into the end cap forming cavity, through a passageway communicating between the end cap forming cavity and a backfill reservoir, and into the backfill reservoir. A plunger projects into the backfill reservoir to force the ceramic material from the backfill reservoir back through the passageway and into the end cap forming cavity to compact the ceramic material so that the ceramic material within the end cap will be provided with a substantially uniform density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joey Michael Corpus
  • Patent number: 6555033
    Abstract: At least one blow-molded plastic container and one compression molded lid are simultaneously produced in a blow mold. Preferably, the method and apparatus utilize a mold capable of simultaneously receiving a pair of extruded parisons. One of the parisons is utilized to produce a pair of aligned container bodies and the other of the parisons is utilized to form a pair of aligned closures. In this manner, a container and closure combination can be manufactured having perfect color matching and can be readily recycled in its entirety. In addition, the method and apparatus according to the present invention significantly reduces tooling costs and required machine capitol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David W. Cargile, Earle L. Ellis, David Kesselman, Roy N. Krohn
  • Patent number: 6551544
    Abstract: Extrusion blow molding apparatus (10) having a body mold (12) for forming a body portion (B) of a blow molded container (C) from a blowable, extruded thermoplastic parison (P). The blow molding apparatus also has a neck mold (14) for forming an annular finish portion (15) of the container from the parison, the neck mold being removable from the body mold at the conclusion of the blowing step. A blow pin (16), which is reciprocable relative to the body mold, introduces blowing air into the parison during the blowing cycle, and an outside diameter of the blow pin provides a surface against which an internal diameter of the finish is formed. The process also forms a moil portion (M) that extends upwardly and outwardly from a rim (R) at the top of the finish portion of the container, and an anvil (18) with a moil retention element (18a) with an inwardly projecting flange (18b) is provided in contact with an exterior of the neck mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daryl K. Singleton
  • Patent number: 6536616
    Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim (excess plastic) of the neck is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18 degree to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. Other forms of seal surfaces are disclosed In another form of the invention, above the seal surface the neck extends outward and then upward and then inward in a flange which is trimmed along a line which has a circumference no less than the circumference of the seal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Laszlo G. Sandor, Daniel Luch, Richard E. Repp
  • Publication number: 20020180115
    Abstract: A production method is disclosed for separating integrally attached gutter flash from a blow-molded thermoplastic resin product utilizing tensile forces applied to the gutter flash while the product remains fully restrained within the blow-mold assembly in which it is formed, as well as different embodiments of apparatus suitable for utilization in a conventional industrial blow-molding machine to accomplish the production method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Bruce V. Weeks
  • Publication number: 20020180116
    Abstract: A production method is disclosed for separating integrally attached gutter flash from a blow-molded thermoplastic resin product utilizing tensile forces applied to the gutter flash while the product is fully restrained within the closed co-operating product mold in which the product is formed, as well as different embodiments of apparatus suitable for accomplishing the production method in a conventional industrial blow-molding machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Bruce V. Weeks
  • Publication number: 20020171161
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Sabel Plastechs Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel L. Belcher
  • Patent number: 6464907
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Alexander L. Gross
  • Patent number: 6461701
    Abstract: Flexible belts, and electrophotographic machines that use such flexible belts, that having embedded sensor fibers that run across the belt's width. Such sensor fibers enable sensors located along the side of the belt to sense belt position and/or motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., William E. Bond
  • Patent number: 6440352
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a substantially prism-like outer wall provided with a substantial air vent portion and having a corner formed by 3 surfaces: an inner wall having outer surfaces equivalent or similar to inside surfaces of said outer wall and a corner corresponding the corner of said outer wall, said inner wall defining a liquid accommodating portion for containing liquid therein, said inner wall further having a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid out of said liquid accommodating portion; wherein said inner wall has a thickness which decreases from a central portion of the surfaces of the prism-like shape to the corner, and said outer wall and and said inner wall are separable from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sasaki, Sadayuki Sugama, Hideo Okada
  • Publication number: 20020093127
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves together to form a cavity and enclose a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by applying a vacuum to those portions adjacent to a cutter and by then moving the cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom. The apparatus for achieving this method includes a cutter slidably disposed in a first slot and having a slot plugging member slidably exposed in a second slot wherein the cutter and slot plugging member will prevent plastic from entering the first and second slots when the plastic product is being formed. After the plastic is formed, a vacuum is applied to portions of the product adjacent to the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Publication number: 20020066981
    Abstract: The blow-molded articles having an open end is produced by the steps of; setting a resin parison in cavity formed by a pair of metal mold members, blowing a pressurized gas into the resin parison to form an intermediate molded article, and cutting a predetermined part of the intermediate molded article with forward or backward movement of a cutting means. The cutting means is attached to the one member of the metal mold members and movable reciprocally in a cross direction relative to the longitudinal or axial direction of the metal mold members. The cutting means may be guided movably along a groove or slit formed in the metal mold members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventor: Masaaki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6375891
    Abstract: A tool with a blade is provided at a molding die and set so as to protrude further inwardly than the molding surface of the molding die. When a parison is expanded within the molding dies, the parison is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral wall of the tool. A hollow body is formed in a state in which the inner wall surface of a through-hole is molded by the outer peripheral wall of the tool. Thereafter, the tool is advanced and a cut-out piece is excised. A washer tank is thereby formed. The inner wall surface of the through-hole is not a cut surface and the through-hole is formed in accordance with the outer peripheral wall of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nishikawa, Akihiko Natsume, Kouichi Jinno
  • Publication number: 20020043512
    Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim (excess plastic) of the neck is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18.degree. to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. Other forms of seal surfaces are disclosed In another form of the invention, above the seal surface the neck extends outward and then upward and then inward in a flange which is trimmed along a line which has a circumference no less than the circumference of the seal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Laszlo G. Sandor, Daniel Luch, Richard E. Repp
  • Patent number: 6360907
    Abstract: The invention refers to a pallet container (10) including a bottom pallet (12), a plastic receptacle (14) arranged thereon and a support jacket (16) closely surrounding the plastic receptacle (14) and fixedly connected (but detachably) on the bottom side with the bottom pallet (12). Conventionally, the thickened pinch-off seam produced in the lower receptacle plate (and also in the upper receptacle plate (22)) through pinching off the tubular parison interferes with a flow of the residual liquid to the bottom-side discharge valve (28). Thus, in accordance with the invention, the inner plastic receptacle (14) is provided with welded pinch-off seams (30) on two diametrically opposing side walls, preferably with one seam ending directly in the integral discharge valve (28). The discharge valve (28) thus lies in the middle of the side walls with the joining weld for the first time entirely in the tube pinch-off area around the blow mandrel within the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mauser Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Przytulla
  • Patent number: 6358037
    Abstract: A flash removing apparatus is provided which has a pair of blades driven by an actuator through a linkage assembly, simultaneously and in opposite directions, between a bottle receiving position and a closed position to aid in removing flash from a plastic product disposed on the blades. Preferably, the blades can also be moved to a fully open position to permit a bottle to pass between the blades and increase manufacturing flexibility and efficiency of the apparatus. The linkage assembly has a center link rotatable about a fixed pivot and at least one link arm connected to the center link and operably connected to the actuator to unfold and fold the linkage assembly in response to movement of the actuator between its advanced and retracted positions. The folding and unfolding of the linkage assembly moves the blades between their open and closed positions in cycles to remove flash from consecutive plastic products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: R & B Machine Tool Company
    Inventors: Thomas D. Redies, David A. Kohler, Lawrence H. Weber
  • Patent number: 6334766
    Abstract: A take-out system for a shuttle-type blow moulding machine having two moulding assemblies has a single gripper head for taking out moulded articles from both moulding assemblies. The gripper head is carried by a vertical gripper arm which can be raised and lowered by a rack and pinion drive with respect to a carriage that moves in line with the two moulding assemblies. Electric servomotors are used to raise and lower the gripper head and move the carriage under software control so that the motion of the gripper head can be programmed to match a particular moulding machine. The articles may be moulded with tabs that can be gripped by the gripper head, and the take-out system may include a trimmer for removing those tabs, and a waste conveyor for the trimmed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: John McCormick
  • Publication number: 20010032853
    Abstract: A process for the production of a container (1) comprising an outer container (2), an inner bag (3) disposed therein and a pressure equalization opening (10) disposed in the outer container (2), and also a container (1) produced according to this process, is described, wherein firstly a pre-molding, comprising two coaxial tubes, is first produced by co-extrusion with the help of a blow mold and with an outwardly-projecting base seam (5) being formed. The process is to form a pressure equalization opening (10) in the outer container (2) of the container (1) without endangering the integrity of the container (1), wherein a lower wastage rate and higher productivity are to be achieved. This is attained by a process wherein the base seam (5) is partially cut off and a force which acts in the direction of the seam is introduced into the pre-molding, which still has a temperature of 40° C. to 70° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Torsten Kuehn, Burkhard Peter Metzger
  • Patent number: 6241111
    Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim (excess plastic) of the neck is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. Other forms of seal surfaces are disclosed. The exterior of the neck is formed with screw threads which engage threads on the interior of the outer skirt of the cap. Caps suitable for combination with the neck, methods of forming the neck and mold apparatus for forming the neck are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Laszlo Sandor, Daniel Luch, Richard E. Repp
  • Patent number: 6228317
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marvin Lee Smith, Robert Andrew Stewart, Tracy Marie Momany
  • Patent number: 6190590
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a flanged polytetrafluoroethylene cuffed section from a tubular polytetrafluoroethylene graft. The flanged polytetrafluoroethylene graft is well suited for use as a distal bypass graft, for arteriovenous grafting, or as a hemodialysis access graft. The graft includes an integral terminal polytetrafluoroethylene flanged skirt or cuff section which facilitates an end-to-side anastomosis directly between an artery and the polytetrafluoroethylene flanged graft without need for an intervening venous collar or venous patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Impra, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Randall, Roy H. Tang, Albert L. Lamay
  • Patent number: 6187399
    Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim of the neck (excess plastic) is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18° to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. In another form of the invention, above the seal surface the neck extends outward and then upward and then inward in a flange which is trimmed along a line which has a circumference no less than the circumference of the seal surface. The exterior of the neck is formed with shoulders which engage over locking beads on the interior of the outer skirt of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Laszlo G. Sandor, Daniel Luch, Richard E. Repp
  • Patent number: 6003699
    Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim (excess plastic) of the neck is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18.degree. to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. Other forms of seal surfaces are disclosed. The exterior of the neck is formed with shoulders which engage over locking beads on the interior of the outer skirt of the cap. Caps suitable for combination with the neck, methods of forming the neck and mold apparatus for forming the neck are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandor G Laszlo, Daniel Luch, Richard E Repp
  • Patent number: 5964362
    Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim of the neck (excess plastic) is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18.degree. to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. In another form of the invention, above the seal surface the neck extends outward and the upward and then inward in a flange which is trimmed along a line which has a circumference no less than the circumference of the seal surface. The exterior of the neck is formed with shoulders which engage over locking beads on the interior of the outer skirt of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Laszlo G. Sandor, Daniel Luch, Richard E. Repp
  • Patent number: 5910283
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves to form a cavity and close a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by moving a cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 5885517
    Abstract: The plastic container and body including a body portion, a neck defining a finish and having an opening therein and a closure connected to the end of the neck by a strap. The strap is formed with a weakened line such as to define a integral hinge about which the closure is folded after filling the container with the contents in order to bring a plug portion of the closure into engagement with the opening of the finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph B. Hendrickson, Carl E. Koeniger
  • Patent number: 5869155
    Abstract: A hollow plastic container having a finish which has a diameter less than the diameter of the body portion of the container which is made by forming a parison with a neck portion for defining the finish and a body portion and thereafter expanding the body portion to a cross section greater than the cross section of the neck portion. The neck is then trimmed by removing plastic material from the outside of the neck and from the top of the neck to form the finish to the final dimensions. In one form, the parison is a multi-layer parison in order to form a multi-layer plastic container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Krall
  • Patent number: 5792414
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container, wherein less material is required to produce the container, the container has a more uniform wall thickness, and malformations around the neck of the container are significantly reduced. The method includes forming plastic into a parison and blowing it into a mold having a tapered neck portion and a body portion, which join to form an annular corner for contacting the parison. A blow pin blows air into the mold and parison, causing the parison to expand and conform to the inner contour of the mold. The taper of the neck portion and the annular corner thereby formed, cool the plastic at that point and more uniformly form the parison into the container, the amount of material wasted and required in manufacturing the container is substantially reduced, as is malformations and warping which usually occur about the neck of the finished container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 5762859
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a receptacle with a closure cap which is molded simultaneously with the receptacle body by using blow mold machine. A synthetic resin material is introduced into a pair of mold halves and a fluid such as air is injected into the tube to expand the tube against the walls of the mold thereby shaping the receptacle body. The synthetic resin receptacle of this invention comprises a tubular receptacle body 1, a small tube 2 at one end of the tubular receptacle body for filling, a closure cap fitting portion 3 formed at the top end of the vessel body, a diametrically small cut-out portion 5 joining the top end of said closure cap fitting portion and having a small bore, a cap body 4 having reversed-C like shape in a hollow configuration and joining the cut-out portion 5. A projection 7 provided in the center portion of the vertical inner surface of said closure cap body plugs the small bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Koji Kani
  • Patent number: 5749275
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for trimming an inner ring from the neck flange of a blow-molded plastic bottle by extending a reverse punch having a lead end and a trailing end larger than the lead end into the bottle through the flange opening, elastically bending the flange into the interior of the bottle as the punch passes and withdrawing the reverse punch from the bottle and trimming a ring from the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Graham Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis L. Dundas, Paul W. Klinedinst
  • Patent number: 5698236
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parson between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves to form a cavity and close a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by moving a cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 5682804
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming a ring from the neck of a blow molded plastic bottle includes a reverse punch for cutting a ring from the neck and positioning the ring on the punch shaft and a ring stripper for cutting one side of the ring on the punch shaft and stripping the ring from the shaft. The ring stripper travels transversely of the punch shaft. As the reverse punch is retracted with the cut ring on the punch shaft, the ring stripper is moved transversely across the path of the punch shaft. The ring stripper engages an edge of the cut ring and subsequently moves the cut ring away and severs one side to strip the ring from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Graham Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene L. Moore
  • Patent number: 5665285
    Abstract: A molded foam article with an integral skin is produced by blow-molding a parison in a cavity of a metal mold to form a hollow member, filling the hollow member with pre-expanded thermoplastic resin besides before cooling and solidification of the hollow member, and heating the pre-expanded beads to cause the beads to expand further and fuse together. A filler for the pre-expanded thermoplastic resin beads is provided with a cutter for making a hole in the hollow member before introducing the resin beads into the hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Yuka Badische Co., Ltd., Sanko Sogyo Co., Ltd., Aron Kasei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Hattori, Hiroyuki Yamaji, Yoshikazu Hatakeyama, Yoshiyuki Shida, Atsushi Tamura, Takumi Kitaoka, Takashi Kohama
  • Patent number: 5664471
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming a ring from the neck of a blow molded plastic bottle includes a reverse punch for cutting a ring from the neck and positioning the ring on the punch shaft and a ring stripper for cutting one side of the ring on the punch shaft and pulling the other side of ring from the shaft. The ring stripper includes a hook for engaging the ring and pulling the ring against a blade. The blade severs the ring and the hook then strips the severed ring from the shaft for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Graham Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis L. Dundas
  • Patent number: 5639415
    Abstract: A method of forming a hollow article, wherein all the operations such as shifting and opening/closing of a die are performed by electric actuators such as electric motors which operate in accordance with a program operation, thus improving the quality of the hollow article as the product. A parison extruded from an extruder is introduced into and held in a die which has been opened by the operation of a die compacting motor. A crosshead associated with the extruder is lifted to draw the parison, and a parison cutting motor operates to cut the drawn parison. Thus, fully automatic production is realized to ensure high yield of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Kato, Kiyomi Suzuki, Shigeharu Hagiwara, Hiroaki Takanashi
  • Patent number: 5614144
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a wire harness protector (2), which can reduce the manufacturing cost with excellent productivity. A resin material having a black or gray tone, or a resin material containing an additive absorbing a laser beam is employed as a molding resin material. A hollow compact (1) is molded by NC blow molding. Then, the as-formed hollow compact (1) is cut with a laser beam, to manufacture a solid wire harness protector (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Takahashi Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Onishi, Takashi Yamamori, Youzou Yamashita, Ichiro Suzuki, Toshiya Aoyama
  • Patent number: 5599495
    Abstract: A hollow plastic container having a finish which has a diameter less than the diameter of the body portion of the container which is made by forming a parison with a neck portion for defining the finish and a body portion and thereafter expanding the body portion to a cross section greater than the cross section of the neck portion. The neck is then trimmed by removing plastic material from the outside of the neck and from the top of the neck to form the finish to the final dimensions. In one form, the prison is a multi-layer parison in order to form a multi-layer plastic container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Krall
  • Patent number: 5597524
    Abstract: A method of removing a flash portion from a container molded from an elastomer in which the flash portion is held stationary and the container is either inflated or deflated to increase or decrease the size of the container by moving the container walls whereby the stationary flash portions are torn or at least partially torn from the container walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph B. Powell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5523047
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container, with a support stand, for bulk material. The method includes the steps of, by extrusion blow molding, forming a vessel having a bottom wall having flash integral therewith and extending therefrom to lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall, side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and oriented such that when the side walls are substantially vertical, the bottom wall being at an angle to the horizontal, an upper wall connected to the side walls, and a support for maintaining the container in a substantially upright position. The support is formed from the flash and includes a first foot and a second foot. In forming the support, the second foot is removed from the flash so as to leave a portion of the flash defining the first foot. The second foot is then removably engaged with the first foot so as to lie in a plane perpendicular to the first foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Corby, Andrew W. Elder
  • Patent number: 5503885
    Abstract: An article, such as a card of thermoplastic material containing vials, is molded by a method and apparatus which deforms a portion of the mold flash so as to form a reference surface. In a preferred embodiment, the article has a pair of lower walls extending from a central wall in a generally inverted V-shape configuration diverging from an apex which defines a downwardly facing reference surface from which a predetermined reference position can be established for subsequent operations. A conveyor belt can be employed to engage the reference surface and support the article at the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Weiler Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5480607
    Abstract: The present invention teaches an improved method and apparatus for molding plastic products which results in the removal of plastic residue such as flash from the products during the molding process itself. The invention teaches the use of flash retainers, situated within the mold, and into which a portion of the plastic flash becomes trapped during the molding process. After the mold is opened, the product is removed, leaving the flash still secured to the mold. The flash is then removed from the mold by the use of ejector rods which are inserted to within the flash retainers, forcing the flash from the retainer and thereby releasing the flash from the mold. In one embodiment, the flash is pinched between two members which are moved simultaneously away from the molded product to tear the flash completely away from the outer periphery of the molded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 5466413
    Abstract: A substantially cylindrical plastic parison is expanded within a blow mold against the internal walls thereof to form a plastic drinking vessel with a rim having substantially smooth inner and outer surfaces thereon. The inner surface is formed by a reciprocating cutter head assembly including an annular cutter blade with an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of wall surfaces of the blow mold adjacent to a peripheral recess in the blow mold in which an external bead on the rim is formed. The cutter blade and cutter head assembly form a dome-shaped top in response to expansion of the parison. When the cutter blade is retracted axially from the blow mold the dome-shaped top is severed from the vessel. In an alternative embodiment the vessel and a partially severed dome-shaped top are removed as an integral unit from the blow mold and the dome-shaped top is then completely severed from the vessel utilizing a rotary cutter blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Simon J. Richter, Frank G. Hohmann, Ernst Vesely
  • Patent number: 5353930
    Abstract: A vacuum-formed storage tray for autoclaving medical and dental instruments includes a base panel surrounded by a plurality of integrally joined sidewalls so as to create an interior storage area. The base panel defines a plurality of sterilant apertures. The base panel and sidewalls are created by a vacuum-forming operation which concurrently creates by vacuum forming a plurality of aperture bosses. The vacuum-formed aperture bosses are closed as formed and must be subjected to a post-forming machining operation to cut off the closed end of each aperture boss. Once the closed ends are cut off, the closed aperture bosses become open sterilant apertures. The creation of a plurality of sterilant apertures by a vacuum-forming operation can replace any drilling operations for sterilant holes and economically allows greater variety as to the style and shape of apertures which can be formed in the base panel of the storage tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Carr Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernie B. Berry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5292241
    Abstract: A dresser apparatus is provided for a strand of blow-molded articles interconnected by shorter flashings. A first pair of first rollers and a second pair of second rollers are of the gear type and are mounted for rotation to define pinching planes therebetween along which the strand is directed. The second rollers are relatively spaced to engage the articles and flashings passing therebetween, and are spaced from the first rollers such that the second rollers engage each flashing or article while a succeeding article or flashing is being engaged by the first rollers. A second moving device rotates the second rollers at a predetermined speed which is greater than the speed of the first rollers. Thus, each flashing or article is pulled from the succeeding article or flashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Liou Fang, James E. Maly
  • Patent number: 5244625
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cage of a polymeric material for a radial rolling bearing with two end rings formed at the cage and arranged at a distance to each other in the axial direction and crossbars spaced behind one another in the peripheral direction connecting the end rings and forming pockets for receiving rolling elements, each crossbar being formed by two relatively thin-walled crossbar walls delimiting the neighboring pockets and a connecting section situated between the crossbar walls, and a device for executing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Rabe
  • Patent number: 5213753
    Abstract: Device for blow molding a hollow body with a blow molding device in which at least two solid flange rings are molded in the circumferential wall of the hollow body from the same thermoplastic synthetic material of the hollow body. The flanges are formed by compressing and fusing the material with a tandem slide. The movable slide parts travel unlike distances at unlike speeds of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Mauser-Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Przytulla
  • Patent number: 5205885
    Abstract: A process for the production of tighthead drums having dimensional stability of the injection molded lids and blow molded drum bodies, comprises blow molding double drum bodies from plastic and centrally separating them into two drum bodies. Tighthead lids are produced by injection molding from plastic. The tighthead lids are then welded to the drum bodies. Widemouth drums are also produced by blow molding double drum bodies from plastic and centrally separating them into two drum bodies, but with a molded-on edge at a distance under the drum opening. Drum lids are injected molded from plastic with an outside flange molded-on the lower lid edge. A sealant of plastic is injected into the lids and the lids are positioned on the drum bodies sealed with a clamping ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventor: Udo Schutz