AU652595B2

AU652595B2 - Method and apparatus for making a multi-layer plastic bottle with a handle

Info

Publication number: AU652595B2
Application number: AU90062/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Thomas J. Krall; Robert A. Myers
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Plastic Products Inc
Current assignee: Graham Packaging Plastic Products Inc
Priority date: 1991-12-24
Filing date: 1991-12-24
Publication date: 1994-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-24
Also published as: AU9006291A

Description

1 602595

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE S P E C IF I C A T ION FOR A STANDARD PATENT *6 0 S S

S.

S0 *r S

*CS*

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: *Se@O* Actual Inventor: ****arddress for Service: OWENS-ILLINOIS PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC.

THOMAS J. KRALL and ROBERT A. MYERS SHELSTON WATERS Clarence Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 S .00.

0 00 Invention Title: "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A MULTI-LAYER PLASTIC BOTTLE WITH A HANDLE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- This invention relates to blow molding hollow plastic articles and particularly to blow molding hollow plastic articles with integral handles.

Background and Summary of the Invention In the blow molding of hollow plastic articles, it has been common to close a hot tube within a mold and blow a hollow container with an integral handle. Where the tube comprises a single layer of plastic, this is readily achieved sees by pinching off the plastic in the area that forms the hollow oooo of the handle. However, where a multi-layer plastic is desired, et..

o as, for example, where there is an intermediate plastic layer required for providing properties such as permeability or other properties as, for example, are required for containing solvent *eg ee ~based products, it has been found that in order to weld the pinch off areas, a large and unsightly pinch off must be provided S which not only is unsightly but forms a seam line that makes e o Sthe handle uncomfortable to hold. In addition, this construction ~weakens the drop test performance of the container.

eo Accordingly, among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a method and apparatus for forming multi-layer containers having an integral handle which provide for proper pinch off; which avoid large uncomfortable and unsightly pinch offs; which have adequate drop test performance; and which minimize the number of handling steps in the formation of the bottle.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided the method for making a plastic container which comprises: providing a hollow parison of molten plastic material at a blow molding temperature, pinching a portion of the hollow parison between mold sections to form a hollow moil portion, an integral neck portion and a body forming portion, said moil portion communicating with said body portion through said neck portion, forming an integral hollow handle portion connected to said body portion during said pinching by a first integral double layer wall portion, said first integral wall portion isolating said handle portion from 15 said body portion, said handle portion being connected to the moil portion by a second integral double layer wall portion, and forming a passage between the layers of said 20 second wall portion during said pinching of the hollow S"parison, said passage extending between the moil portion and said handle portion, thereafter expanding the parison by applying gaseous pressure to the moil portion such that gaseous pressure passes through the moil portion to the neck portion then through the neck portion to the body portion to form the container and through the moil 2 portion to the passage in said second wall portion then through said passage to the handle portion to expand the handle portion wherein gaseous pressure is applied to the handle portion only from said passage in said second wall portion.

Preferably, the step of providing a hollow parison comprises providing a multi-layer parison and said step of pinching said hollow parison to form a handle portion being such as to form said first integral double layer wall portion which connects the body portion and the handle portion such that the double layer wall comprises continuous multi-layers that connect the handle portion and body portion.

Preferably, the method further includes the step 00-c of trimming the hollow moil portion, the neck portion and the various areas surrounding the handle.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for making a plastic container with a handle comprising: *0 0 mirror image mold sections positioned to close S" about a hollow parison, each said mold section including a hollow portion positioned to define the body of the container, a generally semi-circular portion positioned to define the finish of the container, a continuous groove for defining part of the handle, a shallow groove for defining a wall surrounded by the handle, and upper cavity for defining part of a moil portion and a groove 2a oL for providing a passage in the blown container between the moil cavity and the grooves which cooperates to define the handle, said mold further including a guide portion for receiving a blow pipe for supplying gaseous pressure to the moil portion such that when the mold sections are closed about a hollow parison of molten plastic material at a blow moulding temperature, a portion of the hollow parison is pinched between the mold sections to form a hollow moil portion, an integral neck portion and a body forming portion with the moil portion communicating with the body portion through the neck portion and forming an integral hollow handle portion during the pinching of a first integral 15 double layer wall portion, first integral double wall layer portion isolating the handle portion from the body portion and forming a second integral double layer wall portion S. connecting the handle portion to the moil portion and 20 having a hollow passage between the layers of the second S"double layer wall portion extending between the moil portion and the handle portion and such that when the parison is expanded by applying gaseous pressure through a blow piece received in the guide portion, the gaseous pressure passes from the moil portion to the neck portion then through the neck portion to the body portion to form the container and through the moil portion to the passage in the second wall portion to the w) 2b NT handle portion to expand the handle portion, wherein gaseous pressure is applied to the handle portion only from the passage in the handle portion.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a hollow blown plastic article comprising: a hollow body portion, an integral neck portion, an integral hollow handle portion connected to the body portion by an integral wall, an inte;ral hollow moil portion connected to the handle portion and the neck portion by said integral wall, and an integral passage in said integral wall communicating between the moil oe portion and the hollow handle portion, said passage between the moil portion and the handle portion providing the only passage to the hand'e portion.

Preferably, the blown article comprises a multi-layer wall, the internal portion of the handle being smooth and seamless, the intermittent wall connecting the handle to the body portion comprises a 20 double layer of plastic, each layer being multi-layer.

eeI S"In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a blown hollow container comprising: a hollow body portion, an integral annular hollow handle, an integral wall connecting said handle to said body portion, said integral wall connecting the handle to said S2c WIe body portion comprising a double layer, an integral neck connected integrally to said body portion, said annular hollow handle having a hand receiving opening which is seamless in the area of the upper portion of the handle which is gripped by the fingers, said handle having a passage through said handle to the exterior of said handle, said integral wall connecting said handle and said body portion being without any passage between said handle and said body portion.

Preferably, the container has a multi-layer wall throughout, said wall portion connecting said handle and 15 said body portion comprising a dual multi-layer o construction.

*eoc *oo• 2d Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container after it is blown and prior to being trimmed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

0 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a mold for forming *9*9 the container.

9• Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the container in a mold section after it has been blown.

Fig. 7 the fragmentary sectional view taken along the 15 line 7-7 in Fig. 6 with the other mold section in position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6 with the other mold section in position.

9* 0 o Description Referring to Fig. 1, the container 10 made in accordance with the invention comprises a hollow body 11 having a neck or finish 12 with fastening means for engaging a cap such as threads 13 thereon, an integral hollow handle 14 and a wall connecting the handle 14 to the body 11.

Referring to Fig. 2, as the container 10 is formed, as presently described, it includes a hollow moil portion 16 which is connected to both the handle portion 14 and the finish 12 (Fig. In addition, flat plastic portion 17 closes the finger receiving opening of the handle (Fig. The container thus must be trimmed to provide the configuration such as shown in Fig. 3 by removing the moil portion 16 and plastic portion 17. As can be seen from Fig. 4 which is an greatly enlarged 15 section through the handle, the handle 14 is a multi-layer handle having a smooth continuous surface 18 and the layers of plastic are joined to form the doubled layered wall 15 that connects the handle to the body 11 of the container 10. The container is formed by expanding a parison within the sections o of a mold.

Referring to Fig. 5, one mold section 20 is shown and comprises a hollow portion 21 which is adapted to define the body of the container, a generally semi-circular portion 22 adapted to define the finish 12, a continuous groove 23 for defining part of the handle, a shallow groove 24 for defining the wall 15 and an upper cavity 25 for defining part of the moil portion 16. The mold section 20 further includes a small groove 26 for providing communication between the moil cavity and the groove 23. Finally, the section 20 includes a guide portion 27 for receiving a blow pipe 28. The parison may comprise a extruded tube of plastic a blow molding temperature.

When the sections of the mold are closed about the parison, the lower portion of the parison is pinched by a severe pinch off for defining the body 11 of the container, the upper portion is pinched for defining the moil portion 16, an intermediate portion is pinched for defining the handle 14, the wall 24 and o the portion 17 while the grooves 26 defines a passage 30 between the moil portion 25 and the handle portion 23. Thus when the blow pipe 28 is inserted to blow the container, as shown in Fig.

6, the expanding fluid can flow from the interior of the hollow moil 16 to the interior of the body 11 and also through the c '5 hollow portion 29 defined by the passage 30 to the interior of the handle so that the handle is blown outwardly.

.After the blow molding, the container is re. ved from the mold and trimmed by severing the moil portion 16, wall portion 17 and trimming the finish 12.

The resultant container has a handle whic- does not have a rough seam line in the area of the upper portion of the handle (Fig. 4) which is engaged by the fingers. The severe pinch off in the wall 15 required for maintaining properties, such as permeability, is at the area not engaged by the fingers.

Therefore, the container is more comfortable to hold and is not unsightly, has adequate drop test performance and has been made with a minimum of handling steps.

Claims

1. The method for making a plastic container which comprises: providing a hollow parison of molten plastic material at a blow molding temperature, pinching a portion of the hollow parison between mold sections to form a hollow moil portion, an integral neck portion and a body forming portion, said moil portion communicating with said body portion through said neck portion, forming an integral hollow handle portion connected to said body portion during said pinching by a first integral double layer wall portion, said first integral wall portion isolating said handle portion from said body portion, said handle portion being connected to the moil portion by a second integral double layer wall portion, gee• and o: forming a passage between the layers of said second wall portion during said pinching of the hollow parison, ,said passage extending between the moil portion and said handle portion, thereafter expanding the parison by applying 0gaseous pressure to the moil portion such that gaseous pressure passes through the moil portion to the neck portion then through the neck portion to the body 7 portion to form the container and through the moil portion to the passage in said second wall portion then through said passage to the handle portion to expand the handle portion wherein gaseous pressure is applied to the handle portion only from said passage in said second wall por'ion.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of providing a hollow parison comprises providing a multi-layer parison, said step of pinching said hollow parison to form a handle portion being such as to 'orm said first integral double layer wall portion which connects the body portion and the handle portion such that the double layer wall comprises continuous multi-layers that connect the handle portion and body portion.

3. The method set forth in any one of claims 1 and 2 including the step of trimming the hollow moil portion, o.*o the neck portion and the various areas surrounding the o handle. 20

4. An apparatus for making a plastic container with a handle comprising: mirror image mold sections positioned to close about a hollow parison, each said mold section including a hollow portion 25 positioned to define the body of the container, a generally semi-circular portion positioned to define the finish of the container, a continuous groove for r r 8 defining part of the handle, a shallow groove for defining a wall surrounded by the handle, and upper cavity for defining part of a moil portion and a groove for providing a passage in the blown container between the moil cavity and the grooves which cooperates to define the handle, said mold further including a guide portion for receiving a blow pipe for supplying gaseous pressure to the moil portion such that when the mold sections are closed about a hollow parison of molten plastic material at a blow moulding temperature, a portion of the hollow parison is pinched between the mold sections to form a hollow moil portion, an integral neck portion and a body forming portion with the moil portion communicating with the body portion through the neck portion and forming an integral hollow "handle portion during the pinching of a first integral double layer wall portion, the first integral double wall layer portion .00: 20 isolating the handle portion from the body portion and forming a second integral double layer wall portion connecting the handle portion to the moil portion and having a hollow passage between the layers of the second S: double layer wall portion extending between the moil soo 25 portion and the handle portion and such that when the parison is expanded by applying gaseous pressure through a blow piece received in the guide portion, A!> w c/ -9- the gaseous pressure passes from the moil portion to the neck portion then through the neck portion to the body portion to form the container and through the moil portion to the passage in the second wall portion to the handle portion to expand the handle portion, wherein gaseous pressure is applied to the handle portion only from the passage in the handle portion.

A hollow blown plastic article made in accordance with the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 or using the apparatus as claimed in claim 4, comprising: a hollow body portion, an integral neck portion, an integral hollow handle portion connected to the body portion by an integral wall, an integral hollow moil portion connected to the handle portion and the neck portion by said integral wall, and an integral passage in said integral wall communicating between the moil portion and the hollow handle portion, said passage between the moil portion and the handle portion providing the only passage to the handle portion.

6. The blown article set forth in claim 5 wherein said blown article comprises a multi-layer wall, the internal portion of the handle being smooth and seamless, the e intermittent wall connecting the handle to the body portion comprises a double layer of plastic, each layer being multi-layer. 25

7. A blown hollow container made in accordance with the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 or using the 10 apparatus as claimed in claim 4, comprising: a hollow body portion, an integral annular hollow handle, an integral wall connecting said handle to said body portion, said integral wall connecting the handle to said body portion comprising a double layer, an integral neck connected integrally to said body portion, said annular hollow handle having a hand receiving opening which is seamless in the area of the upper portion of the handle which is gripped by the fingers, said handle having a passage through said handle to the exterior of said handle, Ssaid integral wall connecting said handle and .said body portion being without any passage between said ootm handle and said body portion. ••co oooo

8. The container set forth in claim 7 wherein said ••co 20 container has a multi-layer wall throughout, said wall portion connecting said handle and said body portion .oo0 comprising a dual multi-layer construction.

9. A hollow blown article substantially as herein o.o. described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the 25 accompanying drawings.

10. An apparatus for making a plastic bottle substantially as herein described with reference to 11 Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method for making a plastic bottle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A blown hollow container substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 28th day of June 1994 OWENS-ILLINOIS PLASTIC PRODUCTS, INC. Attorney: PETER HEATHCOTE Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS 0o a*« S 4 0 **f o S** ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The method and apparatus for making a multi-layer plastic bottle (10) with a handle (14) for holding liquids and the like which comprises enclosing a hollow parison (21) of molten plastic which is at a blow molding temperature, pinching a portion of the hollow parison as the mold (20) closes to form a hollow moil portion (16) and neck portion simultaneously pinching a portion *see of the hollow parison to form a hollow handle portion (14) while leaving a portion of the parison to provide a passage (30) from the moil portion (16) to the handle portion (14) and thereafter expanding the parison through the moil portion (16) to form the container