Parison Forming Injection Mold Patents (Class 425/533)
  • Publication number: 20040151937
    Abstract: Disclosed is a preferred mold design for producing plastic, injection molded preforms, which may be blow-molded into a container of a final, desired shape. A preferred mold includes a combination of hardened material components and high heat transfer material components to provide a mold having good wear characteristics, for a sufficiently long useful life, and to enable rapid cooling of the injected preform, in order to reduce the cycle time of an injection and cooling cycle. In some arrangements, the hardened materials may form a portion of the preform cavity thereby slowing the rate of cooling in those areas and inducing a semi-crystalline or crystalline structure in the cooled preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Publication number: 20040142128
    Abstract: A preform includes a tapered surface having projections formed thereon for contacting an adjacent, nested preform. The projections facilitate removal of a preform that has been inserted into an adjacent preform during shipping or handling prior to the reheat stage. A mold for forming the preforms all includes the projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Dmitriy Shmagin, Emanuel Shenkar
  • Publication number: 20040137105
    Abstract: The outside surface, which is brought into contact with molds, of a lip mold is formed in different shapes for the injection mold and the blow mold. Then, mold clamping surfaces corresponding to the different shapes are formed on the injection mold and the blow mold, respectively, to prevent an air leakage from the blow mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Hisao Yamaguchi, Wataru Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20040108627
    Abstract: A system and method for making a specialized preform and for fabricating a container from the specialized preform includes a first preform molding assembly in which a preliminary preform is molded so as to have a first sidewall portion that is thicker than the surrounding sidewall areas. A final preform is molded from the primary preform in a second preform molding assembly, wherein fluid pressure is utilized to mold the thickened first sidewall portion into a lateral projection that corresponds and size in shape to a handle structure that is desired in the final container. The specialized final preform is then positioned within a container mold that is constructed to pinch the lateral projection during blowmolding of the final container so as to define an integral molded handle portion having a central sealed slug area that is later removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald C. Schumann
  • Publication number: 20040094869
    Abstract: A device (1) for cooling and/or thermal conditioning of hot preforms or parisons (6), in particular of parisons for the production of blow-moulded bottles made of plastic material, limits and/or reduces the deformations of said parisons during cooling by containing the transverse deformations of the end close to the opening (8) of the parison. The device is provided with a tubular portion of prolongation which wraps totally around the parison that rests on its internal surface with one of its sections (9). Described herein is the corresponding method for cooling the parison (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Matteo Zoppas, Massimo Coran
  • Publication number: 20040084807
    Abstract: Injection-moulding machine for producing plastic containers, comprising an upper platen (1), a moving mould-carrying platen (2), a support bar (3) for lips constituted by two respective separable members (15a, 15b), a plurality of male members (6) applied to said upper platen (1), a cavity-carrying platen (4) in which there are provided removable means (16) adapted to delimitate the travel of said moving mould-carrying platen (2) towards the cavity-carrying platen (4), so that the moving mould-carrying platen (2) can be positioned at a pre-selectable distance with respect to the cavity-carrying platen (4). Said removable means (16) are referably constituted substantially by a number of resting cylinders, or parallelepipeds, arranged parallel with respect to each other and having the same height, the axis of which is parallel to the moving direction of the moving mould-carrying platen (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Luigino Bischer, Paolo Fugolo, Matteo Zoppas
  • Patent number: 6730260
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for transferring parisons from an injection-molding machine to a blow-mold machine on an indexed table. The injection-molding machine creates multiple groups of parisons during an injection cycle. The groups from each cycle are transferred to the table and the blow-mold machine at the end of one interval and the beginning of a next interval so that the groups from a single injection-cycle are treated in a substantially like manner. The intervals may be of equal or unequal duration and total the length of an injection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Christian Nicholas Vardin, Stephen J. Mason
  • Patent number: 6726873
    Abstract: A mould tool comprises a primary cavity part (201), a core part (202), a secondary cavity assembly (203) and an actuation ring (204). The primary cavity part (201) is attached to the fixed platen of a moulding machine in use and incorporates an injection gate (211). The core part (202) is attached to the moving platen and has a fixed portion (2021) having outside its preform shaping surfaces (20211) four pivot points (224)—of which two are shown—for the secondary cavity petals (2030), of which there are four. Also the core part incorporates a movable portion (2022), comprised of a preform shaping end plate (20221), a carrier (20222) for the end plate, a pair of movement rods (20223) to which the carrier is attached and which are housed in bores (20224) in the core (202) via linear bearings (20225).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Coraltech Limited
    Inventor: Peter Reginald Clarke
  • Patent number: 6726466
    Abstract: A clamping device for an injection blow molding machine incorporates separate clamp movement actuators for joining or separating opposing mold parts and clamping actuators for applying a clamping force to closed mold parts. Opposing locking columns and locking collars are locked together and a clamping force is applied to opposing locked columns and collars. A stroke movement of the locking collars can optionally be provided to allow maximum clamp area clearance for a preform or blow-molded product entering or leaving the clamp area. The distance of stroke movement can be adjusted to accommodate molds of varying sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Jomar Corp.
    Inventor: Walter L. Priest
  • Patent number: 6713013
    Abstract: In a single-row and expandable into a multi-row stretch blow molding method and apparatus, at least one row of tray plates in a tray unit is used to collect molded preforms ejected from the opening clamp of a preform-molding unit, transfer the preforms with or without transfer beads out of the molding area and align them with the center row distances of the downstream processing units. At least one robot having a universal gripper assembly is used to pick up either all or consecutively fractions of the preforms align them to the center distances of the blow mold cavities to place them at variable time intervals into a conditioning, stretch blow molding and oriented discharge unit, releases finished hollow articles and returns to a waiting position at the preform-molding and tray unit again at the preform mold's center distance independent of the preform-molding cycle. Simultaneously, component transfer devices may pick up external components, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Ernst Dieter Wunderlich
  • Publication number: 20040058031
    Abstract: An improved injection molding apparatus for a mold using a valve-gated nozzle that includes a replaceable insert with a bore for aligning and sealing with the valve stem. The replaceable insert is advantageously provided as a wear component in a gate insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Husky Injection Molding Systems LTD
    Inventor: Joachim Johannes Niewels
  • Publication number: 20040056385
    Abstract: An injection-molding machine cooling tube, which cools molded plastic parts, includes a porous cooling tube having an outer surface and an inner surface. Preferably, the porous cooling tube has a porosity in the range of 3-20 microns. A cooling fluid passageway is preferably disposed adjacent the porous cooling tube outer surface and is configured to carry a cooling fluid to extract heat from the porous cooling tube. Fluid flow structure, preferably a vacuum, is configured to cause a molded plastic part inside the porous cooling tube to expand into contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the porous cooling tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Husky Injection Molding Systems LTD
    Inventors: Witold Neter, Joachim Johannes Niewels, Richard Matthias Unterlander, Tomasz Uracz, Romanski Zbigniew
  • Publication number: 20040009258
    Abstract: A simplified preform handling device including an end-effector arranged to substantially conform, in use, to an end portion of a preform and to seal therewith. The device also includes an aligning jig to align the preform with the end-effector. The device provides improved preform thermal and angular orientation characteristics when used in a transfer apparatus of an injection blow molding system, or a simplified end-of-arm tool for two-stage preform production. The device may also be operated to condition a preform retained on the injection mold core plate assembly of an injection mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Husky Injection Moldings Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Romanski, Josef Graetz, Michael E. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 6649121
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making laminated bottles each having an outer layer and an inner layer capable of delaminating from the former layer. The method consists of the step of injection molding an outer preform from a molten first resin, and the next step of injection molding an inner preform inside the outer preform, using a molten second resin. The method further has the final step of blow molding a parison composed of the outer and inner preforms so as to form each laminated bottle. The second resin has a melting point lower than that of the first resin, nevertheless and contrarily to the prior art, precise parisons affording satisfactory lamination can now be prepared by the injection molding steps. In addition, ventilation holes are formed in the outer layer readily and surely without damaging the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Taisei Kako Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Hamamoto, Hirokazu Mihashi
  • Patent number: 6634877
    Abstract: An injection molding machine for forming a multi-layer plastic article by over molding where the second layer of the article includes a portion having a different geometrical profile than the first. The injection mold machine comprises an array of one or more cores which engage arrays of one or more first cavity and arrays of one or more composite cavities. Each composite cavity is formed from the combination of a second cavity and a cavity extension which carries at least a portion of the different geometrical profile. In one embodiment, the cavity extension comprises a pair of cavity portions which are mounted adjacent the core to laterally moveable slides on a movable platen. In another embodiment, the cavity extension is a single element which is moved between a disengaged position wherein the core can be inserted into the first cavity and an engaged position wherein the core is inserted into the composite cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Sicilia, Robert Schad, Tom Mcginley, Doug Hietkamp, Bruce Catoen
  • Publication number: 20030173718
    Abstract: In a single-row and expandable into a multi-row stretch blow molding method and apparatus, at least one row of tray plates in a tray unit is used to collect molded preforms ejected from the opening clamp of a preform-molding unit, transfer the preforms with or without transfer beads out of the molding area and align them with the center row distances of the downstream processing units. At least one robot having a universal gripper assembly is used to pick up either all or consecutively fractions of the preforms align them to the center distances of the blow mold cavities to place them at variable time intervals into a conditioning, stretch blow molding and oriented discharge unit, releases finished hollow articles and returns to a waiting position at the preform-molding and tray unit again at the preform mold's center distance independent of the preform-molding cycle. Simultaneously, component transfer devices may pick up external components, i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Ernst Dieter Wunderlich
  • Patent number: 6607375
    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 station (22) simultaneously injection molds 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) removes the M rows of preforms (36) using a removing mechanism (102) in their upright state while decreasing the pitch in the rows. The preforms 36 are inverted with the column pitch changed by an inverting mechanism (104) before delivery to the cooling station in their inverted state. The cooling and heating stations (26), (30) cool and heat one row of N preforms (36) while parallel carrying them along a first carrying chain (200). The second delivery section (32) delivers the preforms (36) to two blow molding stations while in their inverted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Nissei Asb Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Takada, Koichi Sato, Atsushi Sakurai, Yoichi Netsu, Yoichi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6569370
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding System Ltd.
    Inventors: Nadeem Amin, Thomas Schmitz, Harvy Lahe, Stephen Ferenc
  • Patent number: 6555039
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Marshall Ray Porter
  • Publication number: 20030008034
    Abstract: An injection molding system having an improved valve gate arrangement that provides molded articles with improved vestige and or surface quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Husky Injection Molding, Ltd.
    Inventor: Joachim Johannes Niewels
  • Patent number: 6500380
    Abstract: A one-piece self-draining container and method and apparatus for forming same. The container includes a body and a finish wall extending upwardly from a body opening. The finish wall surrounds a dispensing spout which extends above the top of the wall. A frustoconical web joins the finish wall and the dispensing spout to form a drain apron gutter channel having a relatively steeply inclined cone angle. A drain opening is defined adjacent the channel for draining fluid from the channel into the container body. A removable cap having a depending skirt defining a thread which mates with an internal thread on the container wall to thereby threadably engage and close the container. The method is performed on the type of extrusion-injection blow molding machine as generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,654 as modified in accordance with the invention to form the web wall in situ with a frustoconical configuration of uniform cross sectional thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Owens Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Geisinger
  • Publication number: 20020182355
    Abstract: A hollow article is manufactured to have a configuration in which the wall thickness of each of both end portions changes multidirectionally with extremely high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Taro Kawamoto, Kazuhiko Sueoka, Yasuji Takada
  • Publication number: 20020108958
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Charles Jonathan Britton
  • Patent number: 6428304
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Unitek S.r.l.
    Inventors: Adriano Sartor, Antonio Da Rios
  • Patent number: 6425752
    Abstract: A mold assembly including moveable mold parts, one of which includes a plurality of hollow cavities. Each hollow cavity forms an outer wall of an elongated, generally annular portion of a molded part and the other mold part includes a corresponding plurality of core elements, which form an inner wall of the same portion of the molded part. Each core is disposed within a corresponding cavity to define a generally annular mold chamber portion for receiving molten material to be molded to form the shape of the portion of the molded part. Each core element includes a cooling apparatus and each cavity includes an outside cavity-cooling device. Each core element includes a first portion made of high strength material and a tip portion made of material having a greater heat diffusivity and heat transfer coefficient than said first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: John M. Check
  • Patent number: 6413075
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6409946
    Abstract: A method and system for providing for the production of preforms of thermoplastic resin by filling a plurality of multiple-cavity molds with molten resin for forming the preforms, holding and cooling down the molten resin inside the molds, removing the molded preforms from the molds, subjecting the preforms to a subsequent temperature conditioning stage, and transferring the preforms to a blow-molding stage. Each of the multi-cavity molds includes a plurality of cavities defined in several distinct clusters and each cavities belonging to the same cluster is cooled in a distinct and differentiated manner with respect to the cavities belonging to other clusters provided in the same mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sipa S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ireneo De Nardi, Alberto Armellin, Luigi Rodighiero, Nicola Da Riol
  • Publication number: 20020070479
    Abstract: A very thin inner layer composed of a polymer chosen for its barrier and/or inertness properties is fabricated within a container preform constructed mainly from another polymer, or a structure of polymers. The inner layer on the preform is produced either by a controlled coating method involving coating of the injection mold core rod prior to injection molding or by a coating applied directly to the preform after injection molding. This enables both inner and main layers to be brought together at a time when the interface between them is molten. A tie layer can be employed, when desirable, to enable the layers to be combined without melting the layer interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: George Plester
  • Patent number: 6398537
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for injection molding including at least one nozzle capable of injecting a molten material, and a shuttling system with a first mold part and a second mold part. The first mold part has at least one injection cavity for receiving molten material that is aligned and in communication with the at least one nozzle. The first mold part also has at least a pair of cooling chambers flanking the at least one injection cavity. The second mold part has a laterally moveable shuttle plate with a first mold core and a second mold core. The first and second mold cores are capable of being aligned with and inserted into both the at least one injection cavity and the cooling chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventor: Paul R. Matysek
  • Patent number: 6394781
    Abstract: Molds alterable in numbers for injecting molding machines includes core molds, a core mold supporter, injecting hole molds, an injecting hole mold supporter, a bottle mold having bottle mold holes supported on a bottle mold supporter. The core mold supporter, the injecting hole mold and the bottle mold all have the same plural number of the core mold holes, the injecting holes and the bottle mold holes, which may be all used or one or two of them only used according to the number of bottles to be produced so as to speed up production and not to change all the related components in case of producing different diameter bottles. In addition, the components to be changed are quite a few and changing process is simple to save time and labor by inserting or removing them out of the holes in the mold supporters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Golfang Mfg. & Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Po-Chien Lee
  • Patent number: 6391244
    Abstract: The take-out device for use with a machine for injection molding plastic articles such as PET preforms has a plurality of cooling tubes that receive hot preforms from the molding machine, carry them to a position remote from the molds of the machine for cooling, and then eject the cooled preforms onto a conveyor or other handling apparatus. The preforms are retained within the cooling tubes by vacuum pressure, but are then ejected by positive air pressure. A retaining plate spaced slightly outwardly beyond the outer ends of the cooling tubes is shiftable into a closed position in which it momentarily blocks ejection of the preforms during the application positive air pressure, yet allows them to be dislodged slightly axially outwardly from the tubes. Such slight dislodging movement is inadequate to vent the air system to atmosphere such that sufficient dislodging air pressure remains in tubes where the preforms might otherwise tend to stick and resist ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: R & D Tool & Engineering, Co.
    Inventor: Jincheng Chen
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6358038
    Abstract: An injection stretch blow molding machine utilizing a horizontal clamping arrangement and extruder for manufacture of injection stretch blow-molded articles, includes a stationary machine platen; an injection mold mounted to the stationary machine platen, the injection mold having temperature controlled injection cavities; first and second blow-mold assemblies positioned to opposite sides of the stationary machine platen; a shuttle assembly reciprocally movable along a machine axis of the machine toward and away from the stationary machine platen; a movable platen connected with the shuttle assembly for movement toward and away from the stationary machine platen; a retainer plate mounted to the movable platen; a core mold assembly mounted on the retainer plate, the core mold assembly including core pins; a shuttle plate mounted to the shuttle assembly and reciprocally moving perpendicular to the machine axis, the shuttle plate formed with openings and being in close proximity to the retainer plate in a machin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Oleg Rozenberg
  • Publication number: 20010055632
    Abstract: A mold for molding a plastic preform having a threaded finish and a spaced apart support ledge formed of two mating mold components having alternately raised and lowered transverse portion, such that when joined the mating surfaces meet to form mold cavities for forming the threaded finish and the support ledge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Frank E. Semersky
  • Patent number: 6322738
    Abstract: A method of injection molding an over-molded article in which a cavity extension associated with a core is first moved to a disengaged position and the core is inserted into a first cavity having a defined volume in a first geometrical configuration. A first injection operation is performed into the first cavity to form a first layer of the article. The core is then removed from the first cavity with the first layer of the article on the core. The cavity extension is moved to an engagement position and the core and first layer are inserted into a second cavity. The second cavity and the cavity extension engage to form a composite cavity having a larger volume than the defined volume and define a second geometrical configuration. A second injection operation is performed into the composite cavity to over-mold the first layer to form the article. The core and cavity extension are separated from the second cavity to remove the article therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Sicilia, Robert Schad, Tom McGinley, Doug Hietkamp, Bruce Cateon, Kevin Gross
  • Publication number: 20010038866
    Abstract: Machine for the manufacture of preforms (2) for plastic containers, comprising at least one station (10) for molding the preforms and at least one apparatus (30) for injection of the plastic into the molding station, comprising at least two stations (20) for cooling the preforms (2), symmetrically arranged with respect to the molding station (10), there also being provided conveying means (50;150) movable with an alternating movement from the molding station (10) to one of the two cooling stations (20) and vice versa for conveying the preforms (2) to the said cooling stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Ferruccio Giacobbe
  • Publication number: 20010031291
    Abstract: In an injection stretch blow molding method, at least one injection molded preform is transferred from a preform molding section to a blow molding section by way of a transfer section and the at least one preform is blow molded into at least one container in the blow molding section. In the preform molding section the at least one preform is injection molded in an upright state with an open neck section thereof facing upward. In the transfer section, the at least one upright preform is turned upside-down and transferred to the blow molding section in an inverted state. Then, the blow molding section blow molds at least one container from the at least one inverted preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Minoru Takada, Koichi Sato, Kazuyuki Yokobayashi, Shuichi Ogihara
  • Publication number: 20010016239
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6247916
    Abstract: In an injection stretch blow molding method, at least one injection molded preform is transferred from a preform molding section to a blow molding section by way of a transfer section and the at least one preform is blow molded into at least one container in the blow molding section. In the preform molding section the at least one preform is injection molded in an upright state with an open neck section thereof facing upward. In the transfer section, the at least one upright preform is turned upside-down and transferred to the blow molding section in an inverted state. Then, the blow molding section blow molds at least one container from the at least one inverted preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Takada, Koichi Sato, Kazuyuki Yokobayashi, Shuichi Ogihara
  • Patent number: 6217819
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Ernst Dieter Wunderlich
  • Patent number: 6156258
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Takada, Koichi Sato, Atsushi Sakurai, Yoichi Netsu, Yoichi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6129803
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Wescon Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale C. Kester
  • Patent number: 6099766
    Abstract: A preform molding method and apparatus which can utilize a part of an injection mold to crystallize a neck of a preform. A rotary disc includes a plurality of neck cavity molds. An injection molding station, first heating station, second heating station and cooling/removing station are located at the respective positions where the neck cavity molds stops. The injection molding station injection molds a preform having a neck. The preform is sequentially conveyed the first and second heating stations while being held by neck cavity molds at the neck. Each of the heating stations heats the neck cavity molds so that the neck of the preform is heated up to a temperature of crystallization. Thereafter, the cooling/removing station cools the neck cavity molds. After the cooling step, the preforms are released and removed from the neck cavity molds. Thereafter, the neck cavity molds are returned to the injection molding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daiichi Aoki, Kouhei Koga, Tsuyoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 6082991
    Abstract: An injection blow molding machine utilizing an extruder and having interchangeable machine tooling components, for manufacturing injection blow molded articles of different configurations and sizes, includes a stationary machine platen; a movable machine platen which is movable toward and away from the stationary machine platen along a machine axis, to close and open a mold; opposite support rails mounted to the movable platen; a shuttle plate mounted on the movable machine platen between the opposite support rails for movement with the movable machine platen and movable perpendicular to the machine axis and having a rear surface in close proximity to the movable machine platen; core pin retainers mounted on the shuttle plate for movement therewith, each core pin retainer holding an interchangeable core pin that receives a parison to be blown into a bottle; slides movably mounted on the shuttle plate for movement with the shuttle plate and movable toward and away from each other in close proximity to a front
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Oleg Rozenberg
  • Patent number: 6068811
    Abstract: A method for forming an inner thread of a preform is provided, in which an injection core can be removed after molding the inner thread on an inner surface of a neck portion with the base portion of the injection core by enlarging the diameter of the neck portion by blowing air. An inner wall 42b with a transferred inner thread is molded by using a barrel spacer 16 inserted removably into a neck mold 6 from an injection mold 1 side and a base portion 10a of the injection core 10 that has a thread pattern 12 on the outer surface and is inserted into the injection mold 1 through the neck mold 6. While the temperature of the inner wall 42b is high enough for deforming, the spacer 16 is removed to form an expansion space in the neck mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: A.K. Technical Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideaki Koda
  • Patent number: 6045746
    Abstract: A resin molded article having a highly expanded undercut shape and a uniform wall thickness distribution is produced with good productivity by forming a parison as an intermediate molded article by injection molding a thermoplastic resin, expanding said parison in open molds prior to blow molding of the parison in the final shape, then closing the molds, and blow molding said parison in the closed molds to form the final shape of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shozo Komine, Yoshiki Nishigaki, Hachiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 6027325
    Abstract: A mandrel assembly for use in shaping and injection molds, the assembly includes a support having compressed air channels, and a mandrel extending upwardly from the support and having spaced-apart ramps extending radially outwardly therefrom. A cap slidingly fits over the mandrel and has a free end positioned over the compressed air channels of the support. The cap also has an inner groove loosely receiving the ramps of the mandrel such that the cap is secured to the mandrel yet is able to slide up and down on the mandrel such that the free end of the cap will cover and uncover the channels. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the mandrel has an outer groove, and a plurality of balls are received in the outer groove. The cap has an inner groove corresponding to the outer groove that loosely receives the balls such that the cap is secured to the mandrel yet is able to slide up and down on the mandrel such that the free end of the cap will cover and uncover the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Inventor: Tadeusz W. Piotrowski
  • Patent number: 5980234
    Abstract: An improved mold apparatus (10) includes a cutout (30) between the nozzle cap sealing surface (32) and the injection mold cavity (14) configured for receiving the tip (38) of an insert (20). The cutout (30) shortens the material passage (24) leading to the mold space (22) between the mold cavity (14) and core (12) so that the resulting molded product presents a short gate. The cutout (30) is also configured so that material space surrounds the tip (38) for receiving mold material in order to surround and thermally insulate the tip (38) from the injection mold cavity (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: R & D Tool & Engineering Co.,
    Inventor: Craig C. Harley
  • Patent number: 5921416
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of molding a double-wall bottle consisting of an outer bottle (12) and an inner bottle (14). A outer bottle (12) is first formed from a first preform by biaxial Stretch blow molding. After this molding step, a plurality of air vent holes (24) are formed in a biaxially orientated region of the outer bottle (12). Next, a second preform (70) and the outer bottle (12) are set together within a first blow cavity mold (100). Subsequently, the inner bottle (24) is formed by biaxial stretch blow molding from the second preform (70) while the air within the outer bottler (12) is expelled through the air vent holes (24). Circumferential concave ribs (22) are formed around the entire circumference of the outer bottle (12), and at least one of the air vent holes (24) is formed in a region either inside or outside the region in which the circumferential concave ribs are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Uehara
  • Patent number: RE38396
    Abstract: A method of making pairs of thread splits inserts used to injection mold bottle preforms. Machining a hollow outer part of the pair of thread split inserts with an opening therethrough and outer portions of two cooling conduits extending from the opening therethrough to respective inlets and outlets. Making an inner part of the pair of thread split inserts by injection molding a ceramic core with the required shape and investment casting the inner part around the ceramic core. The outer surface of the inner part having grooves to partially form inner portions of the two cooling fluid conduits. Then machining the cast inner part to fit in the opening through the outer part. Mounting the outer part around the inner part with the inner and outer portions of the two cooling fluid conduits aligned. Applying brazing material between the inner and outer parts and heating them in a vacuum furnace to integrally braze them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Jobst Ulrich Gellert