Abstract: A multilayer plastic container having enhanced strength for high temperature and pressure applications such as the pasteurization of carbonated juice drinks. The container is commercially cost-effective in comparison to prior art pasteurizable glass containers, and provides all of the advantages of plastic over glass, i.e., lightweight, shatter-resistant, etc. In a particular embodiment, the multilayer container includes inner and outer layers of a relatively high IV virgin PET, e.g., 0.85-0.90 dl/g, and a core layer of post-consumer PET having a substantially lower IV. The container has a relatively tall and slender profile, with high orientation levels in the panel and shoulder, and an oriented thick-walled base with feet. The base preferably has a high profile and angled foot pads which are allowed to move outwardly under creep.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual-chamber plastic container in an injection/extrusion/blow-molding operation, in which a container finish is first injection molded. The finish mold tooling is then moved axially upwardly as plastic continues to be extruded through extrusion tooling in which an orifice bushing surrounds a mandrel tip. The mandrel tip has a passage through which plastic is extruded to form a wall that divides the extruded tube into separate chambers. Blow molds are brought in from both sides to capture the extruded tube, and air is blown through a passage in the finish mold tooling to blow the tube chambers to the confines of the mold.

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.

Abstract: A method of making a disposable tumbler includes: injection molding a polyethylene terephthalate resin in an annular mold cavity defined by an injection mold wall and a core to form a resinous parison on the core; separating the parison from the injection mold wall by moving the parison on the core away from the mold wall; moving the parison on the core into alignment with a blow-mold; and expanding the parison by directing a pressurized fluid to its interior such that the parison separates from the core and expands to the surface of the blow mold to form the tumbler, wherein the parison is radially expanded by a factor of at least about 2.6 at its base to form the tumbler. Typically, the parison is radially expanded at its base by a factor of from about 2.6 to about 3.25 to form the tumbler; whereas preferably the parison is expanded by a factor of from about 2.7 to about 2.9.

Abstract: A preform and container each having a crystallized neck finish and method of making the same, wherein the method involves introducing a first thermoplastic material into a first mold section to form a substantially crystallized neck portion of a preform, and introducing a second thermoplastic material into a second mold section to form a substantially amorphous body-forming portion of a preform. The first material may have a substantially higher crystallization rate than the second material, and/or the first mold section may be at a higher temperature than the second mold section. In one embodiment, an indexer carrying two core sets is movable between first and second cavity sets for sequentially molding the neck portions on the first core set in the first cavity set, and then transferring the cores and neck portions to the second cavity set for molding the body-forming portions.

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

Abstract: Injection molding system for molding a molded article and method for forming same, including a mold cavity for forming the molded article, wherein the mold cavity is defined at least in part by a mold core defining inner walls of the molded article, a first insert defining at least outer side walls of the molded article, and a second insert defining an outer wall of a neck of the molded article. In addition, a cavity plate at least partly surrounds the first insert and a cavity flange retains the first insert in the cavity plate.

Abstract: A multi-layer preform, includes: (a) a plastic inner liner, comprised of a cylindrical walled body, which may or may not include a tapered annular shoulder portion, and a cylindrical walled neck portion extending upwardly from the body, and (b) a molded outer layer. Prior to the outer layer being molded over the plastic inner liner, at least a portion of the liner is crystallized by a heat treatment process. The molded outer layer may include a means to receive a closure device. When the preform is at an acceptable temperature range for orientation, the multi-layer preform can be blow-molded to form a multi-layer container having improved properties.

Abstract: A blow molding machine capable of relatively high production rates at relatively low cost is provided. The blow molding machine comprises a base, a reciprocating shuttle mechanism supported by the base, a single blow molding station supported by the base, and adapted to receive a parison for forming the hollow article at the blow molding station, a pair of cooling stations supported by the base on flanking sides of the blow molding station, a pair of blow pin carriages spaced from one another, each of which is connected to the shuttle mechanism and is indexable to the blow molding station and to one of the cooling stations. Each blow pin carriage can comprise one or more blow pin assemblies that are movable independent of the shuttle mechanism between a rest position and a blow position.

Abstract: A method and mold (10) for manufacturing a vehicle component such as a bumper beam (52) or body panel (62). The component is manufactured by: 1) injecting molten material into a parison cavity of a mold (10) to form a parison (40), wherein the mold has at least two sections (14, 18) that are moveable between a first position defining the parison cavity and an expanded second position defining predetermined blow cavities; 2) retracting the at least two sections (14, 18) to the expanded second position, and 3) injecting a gas into the parison (40) to expand the parison (40) to form blown part (44).

Abstract: A required preform 2 is molded by rapidly cooling molten resin which has been injected and filled into an injection mold. The preform 2 is held by its neck portion with a neck mold and is mold-released in a high temperature state. A bottle 1 having a thin body portion 1a is molded by stretch blowing laterally and longitudinally within a blow mold. Among the thickness 2a and length 2b of a stretched portion of the preform 2 which are set according to the volume and weight and body portion thickness 1a of the bottle 1, the thickness 2a is set to be thinner than the usually set thickness. The length 2b is set to be long inversely proportional to the thickness setting. The preform 2 is mold-released at a higher temperature than usual and is stretch-blow molded before its outer surface temperature reaches its peak.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises a main body, a large-diameter member and a small-diameter-formed member. The main body is formed of a plastic laminate film into a tubular shape. The large-diameter-formed member is joined to the outer surface of the end of the main body by an insert-injection process. The small-diameter-formed member is jointed to the inner surface of the other end of the main body by the insert-injection process.

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

Abstract: A preform or parison for manufacturing a container having a large interior diameter body and small interior diameter opening is prepared by molding the preform in two parts, a body having a generally cylindrical sidewall with one open end and one closed end, and a preform end having a diameter sized to mate with the sidewall and an opening therein for accessing the interior of the preform, and then joining the preform body and preform end to form a complete preform having an internal diameter larger than the diameter of the opening. The preform so formed is then used in a conventional blow molding process to produce a container having a large internal diameter and a narrow access opening.

Abstract: Treatment for the dimensional stabilization of containers in PET or COPET obtained by injection-blow molding consisting in subjecting to beat treatment during the blowing phase, preforms obtained from PET or COPET upgraded in the solid state in the presence of small quantities (0.01-0.2% by weight) of a dianhydride of an aromatic tettacarboxylic acid, preferably pyromellitic dianhydride.

Abstract: Polyester resins particularly suitable for extrusion and injection blow-molding contain from 20 to 1000 ppm of a dianhydride of an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid and show values of die swell less than 45%. The resins are obtained by solid state polycondensation of resin having intrinsic viscosity less than 0.7 dl/g, added with a dianhydride of an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid in amount between 0.02 and less than 0.05% by weight.

Abstract: A container is made in two stages from thermoplastics material. In the first stage a preform (1) is injection moulded, the mould parts easily releasing a tubular body (2) with a closed end and an outwardly projecting rim (3) at the open end. In the second stage the still heated preform (1) is blow moulded, possibly with some preliminary mechanical stretching, with the blow pin (13) seated in the open end of the body (2) and the preform (1) held by the outer part (7) of its rim. The wall of the body (2) is expanded, and immediately below the open end it is stretched outwardly to meld with the underside of the inner part (5) of the rim. The resultant container thus has a mouth defined by an inset lip. It may be of paint tin form, with a drip groove (9) around the mouth.

Abstract: An injection stretch blow molding apparatus has an injection molding station and a blow molding station, with a transfer station positioned therebetween. The injection molding station has an injection molding section which molds preforms and a removal section which removes the preforms from an injection core mold. The blow molding station carries out circulating transfer of carrying members which support the preforms, and in the blow molding section the preforms are blow molded into containers. The transfer station has a receiving mechanism which receives preforms removed from the injection core mold in the injection molding station in the upright state, an inverting receiving mechanism which inverts the preforms and passes them in the inverted state to carrying members, and between the receiving mechanism and the inverting receiving mechanism, a movement mechanism transferring the preforms from the receiving mechanism to the inverting receiving mechanism.

Abstract: Preform preparation apparatus for manufacturing plants for the production of bottles and containers, as well as products of various kind, comprising moulding means provided with machine tools for the preparation of a mass of molten plastic material, in view of obtaining a plurality of preforms therefrom, possible preform loading means and preform conveying means, along with means for cooling down and processing the same preforms in view of obtaining the desired finished products, in which said moulding means comprise at least a first and a second moulding means (26, 27) provided with plungers or punches (28) and at least a third moulding means (22) provided with moulding cavities (25), all of them communicating with said machine tools, said first and second moulding means (26, 27) being capable of selectively coupling with said third moulding means (22) for forming said preforms, in such a manner that, in the situation in which one of said first and second moulding means (26, 27) is coupled with said third mo

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

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making multilayer injection molded plastic articles. In one embodiment, a relatively thin inner sleeve layer is molded in a first mold cavity on a core, the first mold cavity being heated to maintain an outer surface of the inner sleeve layer at an elevated temperature, and the core and sleeve layer are transferred to a second mold cavity to mold a relatively thick outer layer over the sleeve layer while the outer surface is at the elevated temperature, where the elevated temperature is selected to provide melt adhesion between the inner sleeve and the outer layer during the second molding step. In another embodiment, a method of injection molding is provided in which a first thermoplastic material is used to form a first preform portion having an average percent crystallinity of at least about 30%, and a second thermoplastic material is injection molded to form a second preform portion which remains substantially amorphous.

Abstract: A core rod positioning device is provided. The core rod positioning device has a sleeve having an outer surface defining an interior surface of an article molded using the core rod assembly. The sleeve also has an interior surface and a mandrel is located within the sleeve. Portions of the mandrel define a first passageway therethrough and which terminates at a port located in the exterior surface of the mandrel. The exterior surface of the mandrel cooperates with the interior surface of the sleeve thereby defining a second passageway between the sleeve and the mandrel. An adjustment mechanism is operably coupled to the mandrel allowing the mandrel to be adjusted laterally relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a container (10) for holding at least one good in a space (12) with a separate compartment (14) for holding a novelty article that is selectively accessed, in which a first portion of the container is defined in an injection mold by molding a parason with thermoplastic resin around a mandrel and while the thermoplastic resin is still hot, transferring the parason to a blow mold; and injecting compressed air into the mold to force thermoplastic resin of the parason to take the shape of the mold cavity for defining a second portion of the container having the separate compartment. A container made by the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A container is made in two stages from thermoplastics material. In the first stage a preform (1) is injection molded, the mold parts easily releasing a tubular body (2) with a closed end and an outwardly projecting rim (3) at the open end. In the second stage the still heated preform (1) is blow molded, possibly with some preliminary mechanical stretching, with the blow pin (13) seated in the open end of the body (2) and the preform (1) held by the outer part (7) of its rim. The wall of the body (2) is expanded, and immediately be low the open end it is stretched outwardly to meld with the underside of the inner part (5) of the rim. The resultant container thus has a mouth defined by an inset lip. It may be of paint tin form, with a drip groove (9) around the mouth.

Abstract: A container is made in two stages from material such as thermoplastics that is deformable when heated. In the first stage a preform (1) is injection moulded, the mould parts easily releasing a tubular body (2) with a closed end and an outwardly projecting rim (3) at the open end. On or in the surface of the rim facing away from the body there is a formation such as a spiral rib (5) or groove. In the second stage the still heated preform (1) is blow moulded, possibly with some preliminary mechanical stretching, with the blow pin (9) seated in the open end of the body (2) and the preform held by the outer part (7) of its rim. The wall of the body (2) is expanded and the inner part (4) of the rim is urged away from the blow pin (9), deforming into a short tubular mouth with the formation (5) facing inwards. A spiral becomes a screw thread for receiving a screw-in cover.

Abstract: In an injection blow-molding process the preform is purposely formed as a smooth walled tube closed at one end and without any thread or other cap attachment configuration about the mouth of the preform. The preform is moved to the bottle mold which completely forms the cap attachment configuration with the bottle in the blow-molding step. A processing dome is also formed from the preform in the blow-molding step to provide means to transfer the bottle to the trimmer which removes the dome. By using the smooth walled preform (without threads or any other cap fastening features), the bottle mold may utilize only a portion of the vertical height of the preform for the bottle. Bottle molds for a variety of bottle volumes and heights may employ the same preform and preform injection mold. The smooth walled preform also permits bottle molds with a variety of mouth diameters to be employed with the same preform injection mold.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing ceramic balls useful as ball bearings is described, wherein spherical green bodies are formed into ceramic balls having few pores and substantially uniform strength distribution, using a rubber die having a hardness not higher than 65.

Abstract: A container comprises a wall comprising at least one layer, the wall comprising a polypropylene having a high flexural modulus and a polyethylene chosen from low-density and very low-density polyethylenes. The container can further comprise a product in the container. The product is chosen from cosmetic products, food products, household products, and industrial chemistry products. A method of making the container includes extruding a parison having at least one layer, the parison including a polypropylene having a high flexural modulus and a polyethylene chosen from low-density and very low-density polyethylenes, and blowing the parison in a mold having at least one cavity with a geometry corresponding to that of the container to obtain the container.

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

Abstract: A multiple neck spray bottle, and method of making. The multiple neck spray bottle can be made by a single blow pin method or multiple (e.g. two) blow pin method.

Abstract: A dual-chamber container is formed in an injection blow molding process. Two preforms are injection molded around respective core rods. The preforms and core rods are then moved to a blow mold, in which the preforms are molded to the confines of the mold. The blow mold has partial walls between the two cavities, which provide directional control over the preforms as the preform wall portions are blown against and contact welded to each other. The outer walls of the preforms, which must travel and stretch a greater amount than the inner walls, are formed thicker in the preform molding operation.

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

Abstract: An additive system for polyester polymers comprising an effective amount of (i) a fatty acid amide selected from the group consisting of oleyl palmitamide, ethylene bis stearamide, ethylene bis oleomide, and stearyl erucamide; (ii) a partially or fully calcined porous poly(methylsilsequioxane); and (iii) a stabilizer comprising a primary and a secondary antioxidant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new polyester compositions, novel processes to prepare molded articles from these new polyester compositions, and novel containers fabricated from polyester/clay composites for food and beverages. The processing methods employed in this invention enable containers to be formed which exhibit excellent clarity. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process comprising forming a parison from a composite composition comprising about 0.01 to about 25 weight % platelet particles dispersed in at least one polyester at a processing temperature which is at least 50° above the Tg of said polyester; and molding said parison into a clear, thin walled article.

Abstract: A method of making a multiple neck spray bottle comprising the steps of providing a blow mold having a molding cavity configured for molding a multiple-neck spray bottle have multiple open headed neck portions with at least one threaded neck portion configured to connect with the spray head, providing at least one plastic parison inside the molding cavity, blow molding the at least one parison inside the molding cavity to form the multiple neck spray bottle, and opening the blow mold to release the formed multiple neck spray bottle from the blow mold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of molding a polyolefin-based resin comprising the steps of dissolving at least one dibenzylidene sorbitol compound in a molten polyolefin resin, cooling the molten resin to a temperature not higher than the sol-gel transition temperature during the cooling cycle to form network-like crystals of the dibenzylidene sorbitol compound, and molding the resulting resin composition at a temperature not lower than the melting temperature of the polyolefin-based resin but not higher than the sol-gel transition temperature during the heating cycle; and a polyolefin resin molded article obtainable by this molding method.

Abstract: Stretch blow molded containers are made from a preform made of a plastic material suitable for stretch blow molding such as, e.g., PET. The preform is heated to a temperature suitable for stretch blow molding and is introduced into a mold. An explosive gas mixture is introduced into the preform with a stretching pressure and the preform is axially stretched with the help of a stretching rod. After stretching, the explosive gas mixture is ignited, the explosion creating a blowing pressure which presses the wall of the preform against the inner wall of the mold so as to impart to the container its definite form. Due to the temperature shock generated by the explosion, the inner surface of the container is simultaneously sterilized.

Abstract: Methods of thermal annealing of plastic pieces immediately after hot melt forming are disclosed to accelerate the time required to achieve dimensional stability. The present methods include the essential steps of: (A) forming molten plastic into molded plastic pieces and rapidly cooling to below the melting point of the plastic in a mold to form shaped cooled plastic pieces; (B) immediately thereafter, heating the plastic pieces to a temperature of about 150° to 170° F. (65.5° to 80° C.) to form heated plastic pieces; and, thereafter, (C) cooling the heated plastic pieces to room temperature to form thermally annealed plastic pieces. Tn its product aspect, the present invention resides in physically aged thermoplastic pieces having reduced rates of age shrinkage.

Abstract: A hollow form body having a first-level faceplate and a second-level faceplate, with an appropriately sized space formed in between the two faceplates and a pattern formed on the one of the faceplates. An arresting edge of an appropriate height extends from the outline of a pattern such that a recessed area is formed in the bottom section of the pattern by the arresting edge. The pattern is figured on the first-level faceplate. A thick section at the lower extent of the arresting edge of the pattern covers and fastens onto the first-level faceplate, with a section being exposed on the surface of the first-level faceplate. The first-level faceplate fits into the recessed area of the pattern unit itself formed by the arresting edge and a rib is formed where the first-level faceplate covers the arresting edge.

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

Abstract: The present invention provides method of molding a polyolefin-based resin comprising the steps of dissolving at least one dibenzylidene sorbitol compound in a molten polyolefin resin, cooling the molten resin to a temperature not higher than the sol-gel transition temperature during the cooling cycle to form network-like crystals of the dibenzylidene sorbitol compound, and molding the resulting resin composition at a temperature not lower than the melting temperature of the polyolefin-based resin but not higher than the sol-gel transition temperature during the heating cycle; and a polyolefin resin molded article obtainable by this molding method.

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

Abstract: A preform and container each having a crystallized neck finish and method of making the same, wherein the method involves introducing a first thermoplastic material into a first mold section to form a substantially crystallized neck portion of a preform, and introducing a second thermoplastic material into a second mold section to form a substantially amorphous body-forming portion of a preform. The first material may have a substantially higher crystallization rate than the second material, and/or the first mold section may be at a higher temperature than the second mold section. In one embodiment, an indexer carrying two core sets is movable between first and second cavity sets for sequentially molding the neck portions on the first core set in the first cavity set, and then transferring the cores and neck portions to the second cavity set for molding the body-forming portions.

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

Abstract: The invention provides a stretch blow molded container formed from a thermoplastic resin material which comprises polyglycolic acid having(a) a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## (b) a melt viscosity, .eta.* [as measured at a temperature of (the melting point, Tm of the polymer+20.degree. C.) and a shear rate of 100/sec] of 500-100,000 Pa.s;(c) a melting point, Tm of at least 180.degree. C.;(d) a melt enthalpy, .DELTA.Hm of at least 20 J/g; and(e) a density of at least 1.50 g/cm.sup.3 as measured in an unoriented, crystallized form,wherein the stretch blow molded container has tensile strength (in a circumferential direction) of at least 100 MPa and a carbon dioxide permeability (as measured at a temperature of 23.degree. C. and 80% relative humidity; in terms of the thickness of 50 .mu.m) of 300 cc/m.sup.2.day.atm or smaller at the body sidewall thereof, and a production process thereof.

Abstract: A propylene block copolymer comprising(A) 60-90 weight %, based on the total amount of the block copolymer, of a first block of a propylene polymer, optionally containing a small amount of copolymerised ethylene,(B) 40-10 weight %, based on the total amount of the block copolymer, of a second block of an ethylene-propylene copolymer containing 1-10 weight % of ethylene, and the total ethylene content of the block copolymer being within the range of 0.1-2.5%. The weight process for the manufacturing of the propylene block copolymer and use of it for the manufacture of bioriented bottles.

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

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

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

Abstract: A method of making an open mouth vessel with undercuts on the inside including the method steps of injection molding a cylindrical shape preform having a closed bottom and open mouth top with a lip therearound including a pouring spout in the lip; placing the preform in its molten state in a split blow mold, which mold supports and retains the bottom, lip and pouring spout in its original shape and pressurizing the preform to blow-form the cylindrical wall to the shape of the blow form mold.