Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for blow molding of engineering plastic materials, using a mold and an extrusion machine with a die for producing a hollow plastic parison to be partially received in the mold. An extrusion operation and a preblowing operation with air from the die into the parison are concurrently commenced at a high extrusion speed and a low air pressure, with a material remaining in the die being integrated with an upstream portion of a preceding parison prepared in a preceding blow molding run, to complete the downstream parison. The upstream portion has a closed and free lower end prepared in the preceding run. The apparatus is provided with a pinching and cutting device for self-adhering and separating the completed parison above and in the vicinity of the mold to prepare the above mentioned closed free end.

Abstract: When a resin article having at least one thickened part is blow-molded, a parison is extruded and suspended between halves of a blow mold the inner surface of which defines the outer shape of the article to be molded. An expander panel is inserted into the space inside the parison, and is moved toward the part of the inner surface of the blow mold corresponding to the thickened part of the article to press thereagainst a part of the parison. Then the blow mold is closed and pressurized gas is blown into the parison.

Abstract: Blow molding processes for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers are disclosed. The containers are capable of withstanding, without appreciable deformation, relatively severe thermal conditions encountered during processing by filling with a hot liquid or pasteurization of the contents of the container. A representative process includes the steps of blow molding the heated body of an amorphous PET preform comprising a body and a neck section having a body with dimensions greater than the dimensions of the final PET container to be formed; heating only the body of the intermediate container under specified conditions to rapidly shrink the body, thus forming a contracted body; heating the neck section to effect crystallization thereof; slowly cooling the neck section alone while heating of the contracted intermediate body continues; and blow molding the heated contracted body of the intermediate container in a second mold to its final shape and dimensions.

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.

Abstract: Equipment for manufacturing a polyethylene terephthalate container which is capable of withstanding, without appreciable deformation, relatively severe thermal conditions encountered during processing by filling with a hot liquid or pasteurization of the contents of the container. The equipment includes a first mold which is designed to shape the body of an intermediate container from the body of an amorphous polyethylene terephthalate preform to a size larger than the dimensions of the final container to be obtained. Second, the equipment includes a treatment station which itself includes a first heating device which first heats only the body section of the intermediate container to a temperature of about 160.degree. to about 240.degree. C.

Abstract: Equipment for manufacturing a polyethylene terephthalate container which is capable of withstanding, without appreciable deformation, relatively severe thermal conditions encountered during processing by filling with a hot liquid or pasteurization of the contents of the container. The equipment includes a first mold which is designed to shape the body of an intermediate container from the body of an amorphous polyethylene terephthalate preform to a size larger than the dimensions of the final container to be obtained. Second, the equipment includes a treatment station which itself includes a first heating device which simultaneously heats the body and neck section of the intermediate container to a temperature of about 160.degree. to about 240.degree. C. to rapidly shrink the body of the intermediate container and to effect crystallization of the neck section and increase the crystallinity of the contracted intermediate container body.

Abstract: The device for blow molding of a thermoplastic material contains a heating device for tempering preforms and a blow device for blow forming the preforms into a container. For controlling at least one blow station provided in the region of the blow device at least one preloadable control disk is provided. The control disk is preloaded relative to a carrier disk by at least one pneumatic spring and is connected to a pressure relief device allowing pressure free maintenance.

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.

Abstract: A continuous-feed thermal treatment unit for the manufacture of PET containers includes, in succession, a recovery oven (25) and a crystallization oven (42) having respective heater plates (27, 44) for emitting medium-wavelength infrared radiation to heat the bodies of incoming, rotating, bidirectionally stretched, oversize containers to a temperature of 160.degree.-2400.degree.-C. The crystallization oven also includes short-wavelength infrared tubes (47) disposed along the path of the container necks, whose radiation penetrates the necks and heats support mandrels (18) inserted therein to transport the containers. The heated bodies shrink and become at least partially crystallized during their conveyance through the ovens, while the necks undergo spherulitic crystallization.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating longitudinally extending portions of a blow molding preform in order to provide a non-symmetrical temperature distribution about a longitudinal axis of the preform. The non-symmetrical temperature distribution permits the preform to be blown to form a non-symmetrical article that has an essentially uniform wall thickness distribution. An auxiliary heating and transfer station is provided between a reheating station and a blowing station, the auxiliary heating and transfer station including two side-by-side pairs of heating elements that are adapted to heat sequentially, corresponding sides of each of a pair of side-by-side blow molding preforms carried by a pallet. The two zone auxiliary heating arrangement permits the desired temperature rise to be achieved consistently while retaining some process flexibility.

Abstract: An injection stretch blow molding process forms a hollow article having a thick-walled bottom wall by regulating the bottom region of an injection molded preform to a temperature lower than that of a barrel preform portion at a blow molding station. In the process, a bulged portion formed on the distal end of a stretching rod and regulated in temperature is brought into contact with the inner bottom and adjacent side walls of the preform which correspond to the bottom region of the hollow article to be formed into an increased wall thickness, before start of a biaxially stretch blow molding step wherein the preform having a potential heat provided in the injection molding step is biaxially stretched to form the hollow article. The region of the preform contacting the bulged end portion has a temperature lower than another region of the preform non-contacting the bulged end portion.

Abstract: A plastic container, particularly suited for returnable and refillable PET carbonated beverage bottles, having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall but maintaining a very low level of crystallinity in the base. The container can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover from one product to another. The container is formed from a preform, wherein a sidewall-forming section of the preform is initially expanded and then heated to contract and crystallize the same before being reexpanded, and a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and expanded either before or after the heat treatment.

Abstract: Equipment for manufacturing a polyethylene terephthalate container which is capable of withstanding, without appreciable deformation, relatively severe thermal conditions encountered during processing by filling with a hot liquid or pasteurization of the contents of the container. The equipment includes a first mold which is designed to shape the body of an intermediate container from the body of an amorphous polyethylene terephthalate preform to a size larger than the dimensions of the final container to be obtained. Second, the equipment includes a treatment station which itself includes a first heating device which simultaneously heats the body and neck section of the intermediate container to a temperature of about 160.degree. to about 240.degree. C. to rapidly shrink the body of the intermediate container and to effect crystallization of the neck section and increase the crystallinity of the contracted intermediate container body.

Abstract: A plastic system for extruding injection molding and extruding a hollow tube from plastic containing heat sensitive material for thereafter forming into a plastic container by blowing including an extruder for melting the plastic and delivering it to an injection system for injecting the plastic into a manifold that delivers the plastic to the tubular cavities of an injection head including providing a static mixer adjacent each of the cavities. By such an arrangement, the plastic flow in each flow channel provides a uniform homogeneous plastic material such that streaks which may be caused by degraded plastic material or by different color material from a previous run are eliminated.

Abstract: A core 6 is disposed inside of and spaced from a hollow plastic preform 1 subjected to external infrared radiation 4 including a first wavelength B.sub.1 that is absorbed by and heats the plastic, and a second wavelength B.sub.2 that propagates through the wall 2 of the preform. The propagated radiation 12 is converted into the first wavelength by the surface 7 of the core, and reemitted at 13 back towards the preform to heat its internal surface 8 to a higher temperature than its external surface 10. The preform may be axially rotated with the core stationary to implement uniform angular heating. Alternatively, the core may be irregularly configured and/or surface treated, with both the core and preform rotated in synchronism.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the injection-extrusion blow molding of a hollow tubular plastic product useful as a liquid container or the like, and which includes the steps of injecting a predetermined amount of the thermoplastic resin into a tubular cavity so as to form a tubular first preform having a closed end, and then axially extruding the tubular first preform so as to extend the bottom end and form a hollow second perform. The second preform is then blow molded outwardly against the internal surface of a blow mold to form a bioriented finish product. The first preform may be heat conditioned prior to the step of axially extruding the same, and the blow mold may be provided with an axially moveable bottom wall which permits a finished product to be formed having a substantially uniform wall thickness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermically processing a material, such as a plastic material made of PET, in contact with a very thin heating layer that is provided on a body, such as a blow-mold. The intensity of current supplied to the heating layer is controlled as a function of the medium temperature in the heating layer to allow the heating layer to very rapidly heat up the plastic material contacting the heating layer. After switching off the heating current the plastic material is rapidly cooled down to the temperature of the body carrying the heating layer. This process may be applied to the heat setting process of blow-molded hollow articles made of PET.

Abstract: An apparatus of cooling and solidifying a preform involves introducing a preform in a heated state released from an injection mold into a cooling tube having a bottom opening and an upper opening through which cooling air flows from said bottom opening to said upper opening, said bottom opening being provided with a fan for cooling air, and inserting a cooling core into the preform to place the cooling core in close contact therewith, the preform being forcibly cooled from interior and exterior thereof by cooling air flowing in a turning state between the preform and the cooling tube and a coolant supplied to said cooling core.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a hollow container from a hot closed-end parison includes injection molding a hot-closed-end parison, adjusting the temperature of the hot closed-end parison by heating or cooling the hot closed-end parison by heating in a predetermined location within a temperature adjusting pot in a temperature adjusting device. The parison is then blow-molded into a hollow container having a predetermined configuration after the parison has been adjusted in temperature. The temperature adjusting operation uses at least either of the temperature adjusting pot or a temperature adjusting core in the temperature adjusting device so as to apply a pre-treatment, such as by clamping, to a portion of the hot closed-end parison for obtaining the predetermined concavo-convex pattern in the hollow container formed at the subsequent blowing step. Thus, a hollow container, a portion of which has the desired concavo-convex pattern, can be mass-produced simply and inexpensively.

Abstract: An article is formed in a mold by blowing a hot plastic material with a blowing gas. A cooling fluid is introduced into the article to cool the article and allow its removal from the mold. A warmed gaseous form of a cryogen is added to a pressurized liquid form of the cryogen to form the cooling fluid by introducing the pressurized form of the cryogen into a jet pump and drawing the warmed gaseous form of the cryogen in the pressurized liquid form of the cryogen. The resultant cooling fluid circulates through the article by being introduced into the article and discharged from the article by two or more blow pins. Part of the discharged cooling fluid is then recovered in a storage tank. The cooling fluid, which after cooling the article is composed of the warmed gaseous form of the cryogen, is then drawn from the storage tank into the jet pump during formation of the cooling fluid. Additionally, the blowing gas can comprise cooling fluid formed in the manner outlined above.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container capable of withstanding, without appreciable deformation, relatively severe thermal conditions encountered during processing by filling with a hot liquid or pasteurization of the contents of the container. The process inlcudes the following steps, on an amorphous PET preform which includes a body and a neck section which already possesses the final shape and dimensions of the PET container to be formed, heating only the body, exclusive of the neck section, of the PET preform to a temperature at least equal to the PET-softening temperature; in a mold, blow molding the heated preform body to form an intermediate container whose body has dimensions greater, by about 20% with respect to height and by 0 to about 30% transversely, than the dimensions of the PET container to be formed, while cooling the mold walls holding the intermediate container to a temperature of about 5.degree. to about 40.degree. C.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming dilatation balloons and catheters including same are provided. The balloons are fabricated of a material such as a nylon or a polyamide material, and they have been inflated, non-distended working profile as well as a stretched inflated profile which is achieved by applying pressure through a dilation catheter or the like that is in excess of that needed to achieve the inflated, non-distended profile and which is adequate to effect dilation or the like up to a maximum pre-bursting pressure application. The maximum pre-bursting size of the balloon can be tailored depending upon the needs of the particular balloon within a wide range of possible maximum pre-bursting sizes. The apparatus and methods facilitate fabrication of the balloons which are subjected to longitudinal elongation and radial expansion.

Abstract: An injection stretch blow molding apparatus performs a cycle of molding steps by circulating a plurality of neck mold sets for holding the neck portions of preforms. In a first portion of the operating sequence, a neck mold used in the injection molding stage to mold a preform, is conveyed from one end of a horizontal path of movement for conveying said neck mold to the stretch blow molding stage disposed at the other end of the horizontal path of movement. In a second portion of the operation sequence a neck mold, from which a blow molded product has been ejected in the ejection stage, offset vertically from the middle of the horizontal path of movement, is returned back to the injection molding stage, which is empty, through a vertical path of movement connecting the horizontal path of movement with the ejection stage and through the horizontal path of movement, after the first portion of the operating sequence has started.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus including a pressure molding machine for delivering plastic articles, a finishing machine for performing a finishing operation upon said articles, a conditioning section operative to adjust the temperature of said articles between the pressure molding machine and finishing machine, a first transporter adapted to remove the articles from the pressure molding machine and a second transporter adapted to transport the articles from the first transporter to the conditioning section.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for stretch blow molding a preform into a hollow container having a heat-resistant property, including a heatable blow mold for forming the preform located therein into a hollow container by a biaxial stretching and blow molding process, and a heat setting mold for heat setting the hollow container. The apparatus includes a stretching rod for longitudinally stretching the preform when the stretching rod is forwardly moved in engagement with the inner bottom of the preform. The stretching rod has a cooling medium introducing tube centrally located therein with an outlet port adapted to introduce cooling medium into the interior of the hollow container. The cooling medium introducing tube is surrounded by thermal insulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of cooling and solidifying a preform involves: introducing a preform in a heated state released from an injection mold into a cooling tube having a bottom opening and an upper opening through which cooling air flows from the bottom opening to the upper opening, the bottom opening being provided with a fan for cooling air, and inserting a cooling core into the preform to place the cooling core in close contact therewith, the preform being forcibly cooled from interior and exterior thereof by cooling air flowing in a turning state between the preform and the cooling tube and a coolant supplied to the cooling core.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for extrusion blow molding polyethylene terephthalate articles. Articles produced according to this invention may be monolayer or multilayer; they may be circumferentially or biaxially oriented; and they may be heat set.

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

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.

Abstract: A mold for producing thermoplastic pieces by blow process, which pieces are used for storing liquid and solid materials, having two equal symmetrical parts (1) and (1'), each of which is formed by a vertical plate (2) and provided with extensions (3), adjacent the upper and lower edges of the plate (2). Screws (4) which are screwed into holes (5), provided in one lateral edge of another plate (6), and is allowed to slide along channels (7); the plate (2) is provided with a slit (8) through which the screw (9) passes over plate (6) and is screwed into the hole (10) provided on another plate (11) which is orthogonal to plates (2) and (6).

Abstract: A process for forming a hollow container from a hot closed-end parison includes the steps of injection molding a hot closed-end parison, adjusting the temperature of the hot closed-end parison by heating or cooling the hot closed-end parison in a predetermined location within a temperature adjusting pot in a temperature adjusting device. The parison is then blow-molded into a hollow container having a predetermined configuration after the parison has been adjusted in temperature. The temperature adjusting step uses at least either of the temperature adjusting pot or a temperature adjusting core in the temperature adjusting device so as to apply a pre-treatment, such as by clamping, to a portion of said hot closed-end parison for obtaining a predetermined concavo-convex pattern in the hollow container formed at the subsequent blowing step. Thus, a hollow container, a portion of which has the desired concavo-convex pattern, can be mass-produced simply and inexpensively.

Abstract: A blow molded container formed of a polyester resin for use in hot fill applications. The container includes upright side walls, an integral base and a preselected outwardly thermoelastically deformable portion. Upon being filled with a liquid at an elevated temperature, the deformable portion of the container deforms outwardly to partially increase the volumetric size of the container. The remaining portions of the container generally shrink in response to being hot filled.

Abstract: Rapid cooling of molded workpieces formed in an injection molding machine such as PET parisons is provided by a receiver receiving molded workpieces upon ejection from the molding machine, the receiver being transported out of the molding machine to an adjacent position where a cooling head coupled to a source of cooling fluid such as liquid CO.sub.2 directs the fluid toward the surfaces of each workpiece. The cooling head engages and is sealed to the receiver to inhibit the escape of cooling fluid into the atmosphere thereby reducing cost, environmental impact, etc. A sensor coupled to a control of the cooling fluid source permits the release of cooling fluid from said source to contact the workpieces only when the cooling head is engaged with and sealed to the receiver. A vacuum unit withdraws cooling fluid from the receiver subsequent to contact between the workpieces and the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid is then recooled and recycled for reuse.

Abstract: An injection blow tool for synthetic plastic injection casting machine has a casting matrix with a plurality of casting molds, an associated matrix movable relative to the casting matrix and provided with mold cores corresponding to the casting molds, the matrix with the mold cores being formed as a turning body, a support supporting the turning body turnable about a turning angle of at least 90.degree. relative to the casting matrix, the support being arranged between the casting matrix and a displaceable blow matrix so that mold cores arranged at a side of the turning body are inserted in the casting molds of the casting matrix and mold cores arranged at the opposite side of the turning body are simultaneously inserted in the blowing molds of the blowing matrix, and simultaneously an injection casting process step and a blowing process step are performed.

Abstract: A method for stretch blow molding a preform into a hollow container having a heat-resistant property, including the steps of heat setting the hollow container by maintaining the hollow container heated for a predetermined period of time within a blow mold and cooling the hollow container by the use of a cooling medium blown out from the forward end of a stretching rod at least during backward movement of the stretching rod. If the heat setting operation is to be performed in a heat setting mold separately of the blow mold, the hollow container is cooled by the cooling medium blown out from the forward end of a cooling medium introducing rod while being moved. Since the cooling medium outlet is axially moved, the hollow container can be cooled uniformly, even if the hollow container has a particularly increased rate of longitudinal stretch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary type injection molding machine including a base plate provided in its surface with a rotary disk having hold molds at three portions on the lower surface thereof and having required core insert holes bored at stop positions of the hold molds, a support post on a machine bed vertically movably supporting the base plate and the rotary disk in the central portion thereof, the support post being intermittently rotated together with the rotary disk, a vertical clamping device on the machine bed in which one of the stop positions of the hold molds serves as an injection molding section and a clamping plate having a core mold at the lower side thereof is connected by movable tie bars on opposite sides to be positioned upwardly of the base plate, and an injection mold secured to the machine bed of the injection molding section, the base plate being movably supported by the movable tie bars and linked to the clamping device, an upper portion of the support post being carried b

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for extrusion blow molding polyethylene terephthalate articles. Articles produced according to this invention may be monolayer or multilayer; they may be circumferentially or biaxially oriented; and they may be heat set.

Abstract: A parison is blow molded to form a sealed aseptic bottle for subsequent opening and filling. The pressure of the gas in the interior of the bottle when sealed is sub-atmospheric to prevent distortion of the bottle.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming dilatation balloons and catheters including same are provided. The balloons are fabricated of a biaxially orientable material such as a nylon or a polyamide material, and they have an inflated, non-distended working profile as well as a stretched inflated profile which is achieved by applying pressure through a dilatation catheter or the like that is in excess of that needed to achieve the inflated, non-distended profile and which is adequate to effect dilatation or the like up to a maximum pre-busting pressure application. The maximum pre-busting size of the balloon can be tailored depending upon the needs of the particular balloon within a wide range of possible maximum pre-busting sizes. The apparatus and methods facilitate fabrication of the balloons which are subjected to longitudinal elongation or axial orientation and biaxial or radial orientation.

Abstract: A blow-molding apparatus which includes a die for extruding a molten resin; a blow nozzle connected to the die; a split-type mold having separable mold portions and a pinch-off portion provided in a downstream side of the die; device for injecting cooling air and for sucking air received in the mold portions by vacuum through the passages passing through the pinch-off portions of the split-type mold; and porous members embedded in the passages.

Abstract: A multilayer mold for use in blow molding parts within short cycle times is provided. The multilayer mold has a hard skin layer, an insulating layer and a base containing cooling means. The transient temperature increase of the skin layer of the mold as a hot parison contacts the mold is used to produce smooth surfaces on parts since the skin layer remains hot during parison inflation.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a blow mold for forming a blown article from a parison and a rotatable mandrel for holding a parison to be blown. The apparatus provides for moving the mandrel and parison into the blow mold, locating the mandrel and parison thereon into alignment with the blow mold and maintaining the alignment in the blow mold.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related process for blow molding an ultra thin plastic film bag in which sufficient heat is generated in the process to form an effective heat seal or weld along an edge of the bag. The blow mold halves are provided with laterally aligned, outwardly extending projections intermediate upper and lower edges of vertical parting wall surfaces of the mold halves. The projections and cavities formed above and below the projections are configured so that the temperature of the plastic during blow molding and pinch off above the melting point of the plastic to heat seal an edge of the bag. The invention also provides an ultra thin film plastic bag formed with a heat sealed bottom seam.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming dilatation balloons and catheters including same are provided. The balloons are fabricated of a biaxially orientable material such as a nylon or a polyamide material, and they have an inflated, non-distended working profile as well as a stretched inflated profile which is achieved by applying pressure through a dilatation catheter or the like that is in excess of that needed to achieve the inflated, non-distended profile and which is adequate to effect dilatation or the like up to a maximum pre-bursting pressure application. The maximum pre-bursting size of the balloon can be tailored depending upon the needs of the particular balloon within a wide range of possible maximum pre-bursting sizes. The apparatus and methods facilitate fabrication of the balloons which are subjected to longitudinal elongation or axial orientation and biaxial or radial orientation.

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.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for extrusion blow molding polyethylene terephthalate articles. Articles produced according to this invention may be monolayer or multilayer; they may be circumferentially or biaxially oriented; and they may be heat set.

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.

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.