CN1241522A - Plastic container with drain back spout and method and apparatus for making same - Google Patents

Abstract

A one-piece self-draining container and method and apparatus for forming same. 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 has a depending skirt with an external 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. Patent 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.

Description

The plastic container and manufacture method and the equipment that have drain back spout

The present invention relates to plastic container, particularly a kind ofly have a container that becomes the drain back spout (drain back spout) of Unitarily molded moulding with it.

From the container of carrying liquid, only pour out in the process of a part of liquid therein at every turn, for example in the container of splendid attire such as goods such as liquid detergent and bleaching agent, the user can worry that after pouring out liquid from container drop can flow down along the neck and the sidewall of container, thereby causes dirty.Like this, when a bottle with top bottleneck portion forwards one to when getting back to its stand up position again after toppling over delivery location from the splendid attire position of its normal upright, some drops can flow down along the bottleneck outside of container.Disclosed various containers with drain back spout (DBS) structure in the prior art, described drain back spout (DBS) can be collected unnecessary fluid and it is expelled back in the described container, rather than its bottleneck and sidewall along container is flowed down.

The container of many DBS of having need be after going out modulo operation (a post moldingoperation) with a plurality of detail assemblys or need again forming operation so that skewed slot is positioned again.U.S. Patent No. 4,989,757 and No.5,114, self-draining container disclosed in 659 can overcome the problem that self-draining container brought that is formed by a plurality of detail assemblys, the method and apparatus that they provide a kind of all-in-one-piece self-draining container and have been used to make this container, thereby make described container only molded in an equipment, and described drain back spout structure is as an integral part of described container, promptly in the molded process of described container, described drain back spout is as the part of formed bottleneck.Like this, other required parts of complete package part only are removable covers that is suitable for that is used to seal described container.This all-in-one-piece container is compared with the container that is formed by a plurality of detail assemblys has higher economic value, and this is because only can make described container by molded method, and need not the operation after other the depanning.

In each embodiment of the all-in-one-piece self-draining container disclosed in above-mentioned patent ' 757, no matter adopt the equipment of what type and method to produce described container, the diameter of described discharging skewed slot all is equal to or greater than the recess diameter of described container.Container in above-mentioned patent ' 757 is to be produced by a kind of blow molding method that is called as injection-extrusion blow forming method, employed equipment is in U.S. Patent No. 2,804, a kind of apparatus for blow moulding disclosed in 654 (back is referred to as " ' 654 equipment "), this equipment is promoted the use of by cessionary of the present invention.During container in using described ' 654 device fabrication patent ' 757, the following outside face of wallboard element radially stretches out and rectangular with the axis A of described neck from the neck of narrow shoulder type container body, and therefore the upper inner surface of described wallboard tilts slightly and impels some restricted liquid to be expelled back into the foot in the gap in the described skewed slot when getting back to its upright splendid attire position with the described container of box lunch.

Utilize described ' 654 equipment to come production U.S. Patent No. 5,114 with a kind of method equally, the self-draining container described in 659 is so that make a kind of all-in-one-piece self-draining container.But, the difference of container is that shape is different in container described in patent ' 659 and patent ' 757, the diameter of wherein said discharging skewed slot is less than the diameter of described container neck, therefore be applicable to that more the base portion described in patent ' 659 is the container of wide shoulder type, and purposes is more extensive.

In addition, disclosed a kind of molding process in patent ' 659, this method can provide lines clear and survivable negative thread, makes to have at least two threaded portions all the time at any axial cross section place of described neck wall by making screw thread extend at least two whole circles (promptly 720 °).When putting in order the container molding of enclosing screw threads, two of less thaies make the impaired problem of screw thread with regard to having overcome to have like this, this also is the problem of the normal appearance of institute in producing container, though say that from function this container is operable, in real life, do not wish to obtain.As can be seen, the diameter that this improved modulo operation can be by making described container neck reaches less than shoulder regions in-to-in diameter on the container body part that links to each other with described container neck and the diameter that makes the discharging skewed slot diameter less than container neck from patent ' 659.

But, in the all-in-one-piece self-draining container described in patent ' 659, as container shown in Figure 3 in patent ' 757, the bottom of described skirt-type wallboard (apron web) or inside face are radially to extend in perpendicular to a plane of described neck axis, and therefore the upper surface of described wallboard can only slightly tilt to impel above-mentioned drop gravity reflux a little.Described wallboard upper surface is restricted as a practical problems with respect to the degree of dip of wallboard lower surface, and this is because the blocked up meeting of plastics of wallboard is to molding cycle and capacity rating bringing bad influence.The wallboard cross sectional shape is asymmetric also can to bear a heavy burden to neutral and a side and brings problem in some production at device.

Because above-mentioned restriction, described wallboard almost is smooth at formed edge, described discharging skewed slot bottom.For the DBS container according to the prior art that is used for wide shoulder type container of manufacturing in patent ' 659, remaining liquid will be retained in the bottleneck zone of described container in container when pouring liquid.When toppling over or refill described container, the residual solution of backflow is known from experience dirty user.Therefore for many years, people need a kind ofly do not losing that utilizations ' 654 equipment is implemented and be applicable to that method, equipment and described screw thread lines described in patent ' 659 of wide shoulder type container body part improve integral type plastic container with raising liquid gravity backflow effect to the DBS shape under the prerequisite of advantage clearly.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is, a kind of all-in-one-piece self-draining container of novelty is provided, described container is can be in an independent equipment molded and do not need assembly operation, the discharging wallboard of described container has bigger gradient so that more help making the liquid return that leaves described container finish in described container, make the discharging wallboard of described container make by the uniform plastics of thickness and enough approach, therefore can not bring bad influence the production cycle.

Another object of the present invention is, providing a kind of utilizes widely used ' 654 type equipment to be used to make the method and apparatus of the container with above-mentioned feature, this equipment has been done to change and change to parts seldom according to the present invention, the container in patent ' 659 and the advantage of method have been kept, this method and apparatus eliminated in the past since the not parallel device that occurs of the uneven thickness even upper and lower surface of existing wallboard to problem neutral and side heavy burden, this method and apparatus can at high speed, reliable and economic mode utilizes existing device production to have a kind of improved type container of above-mentioned feature.

Put it briefly, the present invention by a kind of improved all-in-one-piece self-draining container is provided and be used to form described container improve one's methods and equipment realized above-mentioned purpose.Described container comprises that a base portion and one are from the upwardly extending bottle mouth wall of body openings.Described bottle mouth wall surrounds a discharging skewed slot, and described discharging skewed slot extends in the over top of described bottle mouth wall.Backflow skirt-type wallboard link to each other with the discharging skewed slot with described bottle mouth wall and for the cardinal principle truncated cone shape to form a letdown tank with the bigger cone angle of gradient.A discharge side is adjacent with described letdown tank, and this discharge side preferably adopts the form in a gap that is arranged in described discharging skewed slot rear portion so that fluid is discharged into described container body part from letdown tank.Described skirt-type wallboard preferably has top wall surface and the wall surfaces that is parallel to each other substantially, and described top wall surface and wall surfaces tilt towards skewed slot downwards when described container is in stand up position.

The inventive method that is used to form above-mentioned improvement container be utilize to routine ' 654 type extruding/injection blow molding formers carry out improved equipment to be implemented in a normal cycle of operations with the operating mode of routine, thereby described container is made by a kind of like this method, that is: in an operating process of this method, at least described neck, described discharging skewed slot, the bottle mouth wall of described annular, described skirt-type wallboard and the described vent gap that flow of liquid is crossed are formed in first model, need not utilizing blow molding method to form described base portion under the situation of forming operation again after formed each parts carry out depanning in described first model then, thereby can obtain the net shape of mold container.To routine ' improvement of 654 equipment is as follows, wallboard forming part by configured and disposed injection mold cavities so as on wallboard the molded upper surface of truncated cone shape substantially that forms, to the end surface of extrusion die carry out configured and disposed in case when the described injection mold cavities of closure on described wallboard the molded lower surface of truncated cone shape substantially that forms.Best, this is by central surface on the described core end shape that is in depression is realized, this spill central surface is matched so that these parts converge in the zone of central authorities' applying with the core bar lower end of an injection model, described zone is positioned at the below of annular extrusion outlet and maintains a certain distance with it, and described annular extrusion outlet is formed on centering between the lining of described core in core upper end and the extrusion equipment.So on the end of described core, form a frusta-conical surface, described frusta-conical surface round the spill central surface of described core and by its upwards and radially outward crustal inclination so that export residing Plane intersects with described annular extrusion mould.Equally, the shape complementarity of the lower end of the bottleneck portion inset type lining of injection model equipment and described core end frusta-conical surface is so that make this cavity surface form a die cavity betwixt, thus the skirt-type wallboard of formation cardinal principle truncated cone shape.

From following to the preferred embodiment of the present invention be described in detail and claims and accompanying drawing are appreciated that above-mentioned and other purpose, feature and advantage of the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the transparent view of first embodiment of container that the present invention constructs, has a bottle cap on the wherein said bottle;

Fig. 2 is the section drawing at the top of container shown in the resulting presentation graphs 1 of 2-2 line in Fig. 1, wherein has a bottle cap, has represented first embodiment of self-draining container of the present invention.

Fig. 3 represents that ' 654 equipment right according to the present invention that the present invention is used to produce the first embodiment container have carried out improved equipment, be the elevation view of a part center axial cross section, there is shown the bottleneck portion of pushing injection molding container according to method of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is and the similar schematic cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, but the replacement of blowing half module is pulled down and utilized in the extrusion equipment among Fig. 3 from Coinjection molding apparatus, the part of container body of the present invention closed blow mold partly that Fig. 4 has represented wherein blowing;

Fig. 5 is the section drawing of the bottleneck portion of expression integral type self-draining container second embodiment that the present invention constructed; And

Fig. 6 is and the similar schematic cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, represented to be used for the further improvement that ' 654 equipment right according to the present invention of the second embodiment DBS container shown in the shop print 5 carry out.

Now describe first embodiment of a kind of self-draining container 10 that the present invention constructs in detail in conjunction with Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.Though shown here self-draining container 10 is a kind of liquid design-calculated plastic bottles that aim at, other self-draining container that falls in the protection domain of the present invention also can be made by other material, and can be used for carrying liquid, powdered substance or particulate material.

Self-draining container 10 comprises " wide shoulder " formula base portion 11, and the end of described base portion 11 is an opening 12, can the material of institute's splendid attire in the described container 10 be poured out by described opening 12.One with the integrally formed discharge unit 14 of described base portion 11 (implication of " integrally formed " described here promptly, when molded and shaped, discharge unit 14 is one with base portion 11) extend out and communicate from described base portion 11 with described base portion 11, described discharge unit 14 is commonly called " bottleneck portion ".Described bottleneck portion 14 comprises a circular neck wall 16, and described circular neck wall 16 extends round described body openings 12 angledly.A discharging skewed slot 18 is positioned at described neck wall 16 and is surrounded by described neck wall 16, leakage fluid dram 20 on described discharging skewed slot 18 comprises, and described upper end leakage fluid dram 20 extends to tip edge 22 tops of described neck wall 16.

According to an important characteristic of the present invention, the external diameter of described discharging skewed slot 18 is less than the internal diameter of described neck wall 16, the bigger liquid collecting skirtboard 24 of gradient extends to the lower edge 26 of described discharging skewed slot 18 in a position below the described top edge 22 between the described neck wall 16, thereby described discharging skewed slot 18 is linked to each other with described container neck, and the form of described skirtboard 24 is the truncated cone shape wallboard.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the cone angle of described wallboard 24 is approximately 30 °, and described wallboard 24 is continuous on whole 360 ° circumference and the lower rounded edge 26 of described neck wall 16 with described discharging skewed slot 18 linked together.Described wallboard 24, neck wall 16 and discharging skewed slot 18 define a discharge channel 28 together, when making 10 reversings of described container when making described container be in erectility after will liquid wherein pouring out, be back to described discharging skewed slot 18 outsides and bottle cap 40 in-to-in fluid by gravitys downwards and can be discharged in the described discharge channel 28.Then, the liquid that is discharged in the described discharge channel 28 is back in the described container 10 by axially extended skewed slot rear gap, described skewed slot rear gap is formed between a pair of rear part edge 30 of skewed slot 18, and this of described skewed slot 18 keeps certain intervals (only showing a rear part edge 30 among Fig. 2) each other to rear part edge 30.Described wallboard 24 should center on half of described neck wall 16 at least, preferably as shown in Figure 2, make described wallboard 24 around whole described neck wall 16, thereby under the part heeling condition, during pouring liquid, prevent that liquid from flowing to the described discharge channel 28 from described internal tank when described container 10.

According to above-mentioned patent ' 659, form screw thread 32 in the inside face of described neck wall 16, described screw thread 32 extends two whole circles at least so that axially run through two separate and mutually different parts that any cross section of described neck wall 16 can both have described screw thread 32.Described in above-mentioned patent ' 659, on a container, form negative thread 32 with a discharging skewed slot 18 and neck wall 16, the length of described negative thread 32 is to determine like this, promptly described container can be taken out from injection model under the prerequisite that can not destroy described screw thread 32.

See figures.1.and.2, capping or bottle cap 40 comprise a top 42 and a sidewall 44 that dangles and extend.A seal ring 46 extends radially outwardly from described sidewall 44, the extension of dangling below described ring 46 of a cylindrical shape lateral margin 48.Be formed with outside thread 49 on the outside face of described cylindrical shape lateral margin 48, the negative thread 32 of described outside thread 49 and described container finish part 14 cooperatively interacts and takes off from container 10 so that can utilize the mode of thread connection that bottle cap 40 is installed on the container 10 or with bottle cap 40.It should be understood that in other embodiments of the invention, the screw thread 32 of described bottleneck portion also can be arranged on described neck wall 16 the outside so that its be arranged on bottle cap lateral margin in-to-in bottle cap screw thread and cooperatively interact.

With reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, can be at above-mentioned being called as ' 654 equipment integrally produce described self-draining container 10 in cycle according to a normal operation will carrying out improved a kind of apparatus for blow moulding required for the present invention.This blow molding method also can be called as injection/extrusion blow forming method, and is used by cessionary of the present invention and other people, and the employed equipment of this method here is called as ' 654 equipment.The self-draining container that utilizes this equipment to produce need not to carry out forming operation again after depanning.An injection/extrusion forming device part of described ' 654 equipment is totally represented with Reference numeral 50 in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.Each parts, operation mode and the implementation method of described ' 654 equipment all are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,804, in 654, and U.S. Patent No. 2,804,654 as a list of references of the present invention.To how under the prerequisite that can not destroy described screw thread 32, described container can be taken out from injection model be described in detail in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 5,114,659, U.S. Patent No. 5,114,659 also as a list of references of the present invention.

In described ' method that 654 equipment are adopted (to existing described ' 654 equipment and carried out in the method that improved described equipment adopted according to the present invention), at first in the injection molding apparatus of described equipment, utilize injection molding forming method form described container on neck or bottleneck portion.After finishing the step of above-mentioned injection mo(u)lding, make described injection molding apparatus lift and leave the hole of described injection/extrusion forming die head device, simultaneously from injection/extrusion forming die head device squeeze out certain-length through heating and pipe plasticizing.Along with described pipe is extruded out, the bottleneck portion of described pipe and described injection mo(u)lding fuses and is upwards pulled out.After squeezing out the pipe of suitable length, the blow molding half module of described ' 654 equipment around described pipe closed and guiding air by described injection molding apparatus assembly so that described pipe in the blow mold of closure, expand, thereby form the remainder (being base portion) of described container.These steps all are disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 2,804,654.

In the injection mo(u)lding step shown in Fig. 3, a lining 52 and a core 54 are represented and comprised to described extrusion die device totally by Reference numeral 50, the extruded hole 56 that described lining 52 and core 54 cooperatively interact and define a ring-type, described heated and the plasticizing material upwards be expressed to by being injection molded in the die cavity that bottleneck and neck ring assembly injection molding apparatus 58 are limited by described extruded hole 56, described injection molding apparatus 58 and extrusion die device 50 are juxtaposed.Described injection molding apparatus 58 comprises a movable neck ring assembly 60, described movable neck ring assembly 60 in described injection mo(u)lding step, can move down engage with the lining 52 of described extrusion equipment 50 and with described extruded hole 56 centerings, described movable neck ring assembly 60 can move up in pressing steps, thereby described extruded hole 56 upwards can be pulled out and made it to leave to the pipe that extruding from described extruded hole 56 is come out.Described movable neck ring assembly 60 comprises neck ring half module 62 and 64, described neck ring half module 62 and 64 is open and close radially, described neck ring half module 62 and 64 has inner wall section 66 and 68 separately, and it is molded and shaped that the outside face of the annular wall 16 of container finish part abuts against described inner wall section 66 and 68.Described movable neck ring assembly 60 also comprises a core bar 70, described core bar 70 has a blowing passage 72 that axially connects, after the pipe of described extrusion forming is closed in the blow molding half module 74 and 76 (Fig. 4), can pressurized air be incorporated in the described pipe that is extruded by described blowing passage 72, thereby described pipe is expanded in blow mold and form the base portion 11 of described container 10.

The lower end of described core bar 70 has the head 80 of an enlarged diameter, and the outside face of described core bar head 80 can provide a cavity surface, and described cavity surface is used to form the inside face of vessel discharge skewed slot 18.Described core bar 70 has the shank 82 of a reduced, and described shank 82 extends to an annulus 84 that radially protrudes from described head 80 always.A bottleneck portion inset type bush assembly 86 is made of an annular element 88 and a lining 90, utilize machine bolt 92 removably described lining 90 to be fastened to the downside of described annular element 88, described bottleneck portion inset type bush assembly 86 surrounds the shank 82 of described core bar 70 and defines a concave regions 92, and described concave regions 92 extends to the lower surface edge 96 of the annular element 88 of described bottleneck portion inset type bush assembly 86 from the top edge 94 of described core bar head 80.Described lining 90 has a concave inside surface 100 that is used to limit model-die cavity, its shape can match with the external surface shape of described core bar 80, thereby in molded process, the upper end 20 of described discharging skewed slot 18 and the outside face of described discharging skewed slot 18 have been formed.In molded process, the following outside of described lining 90 can form the inside face of described neck wall 16, and the following outside of described lining 90 has a thread groove 102, can utilize molded mode to form screw thread 32 in described thread groove 102.Described in patent ' 659, the length of described thread groove 102 should be able to provide the screw thread (promptly 720 °) of at least two whole circles, like this, where no matter any axial cross section that passes neck wall 16 whole 360 ° of circumference be in, and has at least two threaded portions in the axial cross section all the time.Should find out, described annular element 88 in described bush assembly 86 upper ends is slidably to surround described core bar shank 82, and described annular element 88 can move with respect to described core bar shank 82 between by the shoulder edge 94 of described core bar assembly and 95 stop end that provided.

Another key character according to method and apparatus involved in the present invention, rear surface 104 to described lining 90 improves, making it be shaped as truncated cone shape and its cone angle is convergence downwards, thereby defines the injection moulding cavity surface that is used for forming in molded mode the truncated cone shape upper surface 106 of skirt-type wallboard 24 (Fig. 2).In addition, upper surface to described extruding core 54 improves, make its central authorities have the plane concave surface 108 of a circle, as shown in Figure 3, when the described extruding/injection mould head unit 50 and the neck ring device 60 of injection device 58 operationally engage to carry out injection moulding when operation, described surperficial 108 abut against the circular, flat rear surface of described core bar head 80 with matching.Described core spill end face 108 is surrounded by an annular frustoconical shape core surface 112, and this core surface 112 defines the injection mold cavities surface that is used for forming in molded mode the whole base 26 of surface 114 (Fig. 5) and described discharging skewed slot 18 under the described wallboard 24.When described extrusion die 50 abuts against the head surface 110 that closely places on the described core surface 108 with surperficial described injection mold cavities of formation jointly of the outer die cavity of described lining 90 and core bar head 80 and described core bar head 80, described model closure.

After finishing the injection moulding step shown in Fig. 3, from the hole 56 of described injection/extrusion forming die head 50, squeeze out certain-length through the heating and the plasticizing pipe the time, described injection model is lifted and makes it to leave described extruded hole 56.Along with described pipe is extruded out, the injection mo(u)lding bottleneck portion shown in described pipe and Fig. 3 fuses and is upwards pulled out.After squeezing out the pipe of suitable length, as shown in Figure 4, blow molding half module 74 and 76 around described pipe closed and utilize shown in passage 72 guiding air by described injection molding apparatus assembly so that described pipe in the blow mold of closure, expand, thereby form the remainder of described container, as in above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 2, describe in detail in 804,654.

After base portion 11 blow moldings of described container 10, described discharging skewed slot 18, skirt-type wallboard 24 and bottle mouth wall 16 can be taken out from described neck ring assembly 60.This normally carries out after opening the molded and shaped therein blowing half module 74 and 76 of described base portion 11.This taking-up operation be the taking-up described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in above-mentioned patent ' 659 11 to 13 in sequence, this patent is hereby incorporated by and no longer repeats.But, it should be noted, although the present invention is right ' core and core bar device in 654 equipment improve, and formed the skirt-type wallboard 24 of truncated cone shape, still kept can be under the situation of the screw thread 32 that does not destroy bottleneck portion as far as possible with the advantage of described container molding.With above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,989, narrower neck in 757 is compared with larger-diameter discharging skewed slot, makes described container body part 11 keep wide shoulder shape and the less discharging skewed slot 18 of employing diameter can improve described molding effect in base portion 11 and container finish part junction.

Fig. 5 show all-in-one-piece self-draining container 10 involved in the present invention ' second embodiment, wherein with container 10 in identical parts represent with identical Reference numeral, intimate parts then add one " ' " in original Reference numeral back, and the description of these parts is no longer repeated.By comparison diagram 2 and Fig. 5 as can be seen, the second embodiment container 10 ' only be with the difference of the container 10 of first embodiment, skirt-type wallboard 24 ' the shape difference.Described skirt-type wallboard 24 ' shape be downward taper with constant slope, its foot described clearance margin 30 ' sentence the skewed slot opening be the center, with described discharging skewed slot 18 ' leakage fluid dram 20 fully relative.In fact, wallboard 24 ' cone axis and the central longitudinal axis of described main body 11 or neck wall 16 about 10 ° of angles that tilt, therefore described discharging skewed slot 18 ' lower edge 26 ' also be as shown in Figure 5 bevelled with meet described skirt-type wallboard 24 ' alteration of form.When described discharging skewed slot is in its normal stand up position, the improvement shape of embodiment shown in Fig. 5 also can by make described skirt-type wallboard 24 ' the zone import the effect that improves the gravity discharge opeing in the rear portion gap of bevel opening 30 of described letdown tank foot.

Fig. 6 show the present invention right ' extrusion equipment and neck ring injection device in 654 equipment carry out improved second embodiment so that the container 10 shown in the shop print 5 '.As can be seen, wherein with first embodiment in identical parts represent that with identical Reference numeral description of them no longer repeats, intimate parts then add one " ' " in original Reference numeral back.As can be seen, if to produce shapes of containers shown in Fig. 5 only need to described core 54 ' the upper end face shape and the respective lower 104 of bottleneck portion inset type lining ' improve.With core 70 ' the described core 54 of lower end head 80 ' be installed to ' a groove of upper end face in.The inclined-plane that the lower surface 104 of described bottleneck portion inset type lining ' and described core upper end face 112 ' have cooperatively interacts to be keeping a gap uniformly basically, thus make wallboard 24 ' on material thickness be consistent.Described core 54 ' and head 80 ' apparent surface 108 ' and 110 ' be level rather than have angle, will eliminate the problem of the side heavy burden that may occur in the equipment like this.

As can be seen, those skilled in the art can carry out various improvement to overcome shortcoming of the prior art and more advantage is provided to the method and apparatus of all-in-one-piece self-draining container of the present invention, this container of manufacturing from above description with reference to the accompanying drawings.Described discharging skewed slot 18,18 ' can fuse with described container, promptly in molding process, form with described integral container ground, and fuse by a liquid collecting skirt-type wallboard or edge and the container neck that centered on, described liquid collecting skirt-type wallboard or edge are tapered or downward-sloping with bigger gradient on its whole circumference, thereby provide a kind of letdown tank of better effects if, impel described stream of liquid droplets to the less discharging skewed slot of diameter more, thereby liquid can be back in the described container by by gravity.The present invention has not only kept in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 5,114,659 improved screw thread advantage clearly, but also has the advantage of molded and shaped discharging skewed slot.Therefore, can solve the described edge that in patent ' 659, is occurred and almost be the smooth liquid that causes and stay problem in the described bottleneck zone because of being formed on described discharging skewed slot bottom, this is because increased frustum-like shape wallboard 24 or 24 ' towards the angle of inclination of described discharging skewed slot greatly and made its clearance opening 30 round described discharging skewed slot rear portion, therefore can improve the liquid by gravity and be back to ability in the described container.

In addition, only known ' 654 type apparatus for blow moulding are carried out the structure that slight improvement can obtain this improved vessel discharge groove.As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, only need the upper surface of core 54 is carried out machinework and is ground to the spill shown in a Fig. 3 or Fig. 6.Utilize an axially extended head replace described core bar assembly 70 or 70 ' head 80 or 80 ', so that lining with axially extended mode improve described bottleneck portion inset type lining 90 or 90 ', make described lining bottom surface 104 or 104 ' shape and core top end surface 112 or 112 ' shape conform to.Other all in equipment parts are not all had to change, and can not influence the cycle of operations of equipment.Although to wallboard 24 or 24 ' shape improve, the section thickness of wallboard is kept evenly and thinner, make it can not influence the cycle of operations of equipment.

Therefore, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can be to self-draining container of the present invention and the preferred embodiment that is used to make the method and apparatus of this container comprise the various modifications and variations of shape and configuration.These improvement and modification can not break away from the scope of principle of the present invention and appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. the self-draining container of a Unitarily molded moulding (10) comprising:

A base portion (11);

A neck (14) integrally formed with described base portion (11), described neck (14) defines a cylindrical opening (12), fast opening (12) have a predetermined diameter, described neck (14) extends upward from described base portion (11), a discharging skewed slot (18) is integrally formed and surrounded by described neck (14) at least in part with described neck (14), at least a portion of described discharging skewed slot (18) is a cylindrical shape, described cylindrical shape has the outside face of a diameter less than described predetermined diameter, described discharging skewed slot (18) has greater than 180 ° and less than 360 ° circumference, described discharging skewed slot (18) has opposed edges (30), described opposed edges (30) defines a gap in the lower end of described discharging skewed slot (18), the bottle mouth wall of an integrally formed annular (16) round described discharging skewed slot (18) and with its maintenance certain intervals;

A skirt-type wallboard (24,24 '), described skirt-type wallboard (24,24 ') bottle mouth wall (16) and the described discharging skewed slot (18) of described annular linked together with described neck (14), described wallboard (24,24 ') form and define jointly a groove (28) with the bottle mouth wall and the described discharging skewed slot of described annular, when described container (10) when a dump position moves to a stand up position, described groove (28) can receive the liquid that emits from described discharging skewed slot (18);

Described gap is provided with an opening, when described container is in erectility, liquid can flow to described neck (14) and base portion (11) from described groove (28) by the opening on the described gap, can utilize a kind of like this method to make described container, that is: in an operating process of this method, at least described neck (14), described discharging skewed slot (18), the bottle mouth wall (16) of described annular, described wallboard (24,24 ') and the described gap that flow of liquid is crossed be formed on first model (50,58; Fig. 3 58,50; Fig. 6), need not formed each parts in described first model are carried out to utilize blow molding (74,76 under the situation of post-molding operation then; Fig. 4) form described base portion (11);

It is characterized in that, described skirt-type wallboard (24,24 ') be constructed and arranged to and have the top wall surface (106 that is parallel to each other substantially, 106 ') and wall surfaces (114,114 '), described top wall surface and wall surfaces tilt towards discharging skewed slot (18) downwards when described container is in stand up position.

2. a self-draining container as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, each parts that are formed in described first model (58) are injection molding, then by extruding come out certain-length pipe (50,50 '; Fig. 3 or Fig. 6) with it integral body formed a parison, then with described pipe blow molding (74,76; Fig. 4) to form described base portion (11).

3. self-draining container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that, described wallboard (24,24 ') from the lower end of described discharging skewed slot (18) upwards and stretch out, described discharging skewed slot (18) extends upward from described wallboard along an axis that is parallel to the axis of described neck (14,16).

4. a self-draining container as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, described wallboard (24,24 ') at it directly upwards with around the section thickness uniformly that upwards has in week basically of described discharging skewed slot (18).

5. a self-draining container as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, described wallboard (24) be shaped as the truncated cone shape (Fig. 2) that cone angle is approximately 30 °.

6. a self-draining container as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, the axis of the axis of described wallboard (24) and described discharging skewed slot (18) is an almost parallel

7. self-draining container as claimed in claim 5, it is characterized in that the axis of described wallboard (24 ') tilts in the mode that departs from described discharging skewed slot (18) axis and tilts towards described gap of bevel (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) along a direction of upwards dispersing.

8. a method that is used to form the all-in-one-piece self-draining container described in above-mentioned any one claim comprises the following steps:

(a) in an injection model (58,62,64,90,90 '), a die cavity is set, defines in the described die cavity

(i) a skewed slot moulding section (100),

(ii) cylindrical wall moulding section, described cylindrical wall moulding section has an outside face (66,68) and an inside face (90), described inside face (90) comprises a thread forming projection (102), described thread forming projection (102) is extended at least two whole circles around the inside face of described cylindrical wall moulding section

(iii) wallboard forming part (104,105), it interconnects with described skewed slot moulding section (70) and described cylindrical wall moulding section (90,62,64), described each moulding section all with the exterior of described model;

(b) produce between extrusion die (50,50 ') and described injection model (58) and relatively move, this extrusion die is used for extruded heating and plastic material plasticizing, so that described extrusion die engages with described injection model, thus closed described die cavity;

(c) plastic material is expelled to (Fig. 3 the described die cavity from described extrusion die; Fig. 6) with the described die cavity of filling, thereby the integral panel (24) that has formed a discharging skewed slot (18), cylindrical wall (16) and described discharging skewed slot (18) and cylindrical wall (16) are interconnected, also formed and the integrally formed screw thread of described cylindrical wall (32), described screw thread (32) is round the inside face of described cylindrical wall;

(d) make to produce between described extrusion die and the described injection model and relatively move, will described plastic material be pushed from described extrusion die with the form of tubulose simultaneously, the diameter of described pipe approximates the diameter of described cylindrical wall;

(e) around the closed blowing half module (74,76) of the pipe that is extruded out;

(f) make described pipe (Fig. 4) expand with form one have closed bottom and the discharging of described single-piece skewed slot, wallboard (24) and cylindrical wall (16) from discharge opeing plastic container (11);

(g) open described blowing half module and assign to move axially described discharging skewed slot, cylindrical wall and become the single-piece wallboard, so that from described die cavity, take out described discharging skewed slot, cylindrical wall and wallboard and from described thread forming projection, take out described screw thread (Fig. 2 with respect to described skewed slot moulding section and cylindrical wall forming part; Fig. 5);

The improvements that engage with preceding method also comprise the following steps:

(h) in step (a), partly carry out configured and disposed so that on described wallboard, form a upper surface (106,106 ') of truncated cone shape substantially with molding mode to the wallboard forming in the described injection moulding die cavity; And

(i) end surface that is used to seal described die cavity to described die head carries out configured and disposed so that form a lower surface (114,114 ') of truncated cone shape substantially with molding mode on described wallboard in step (b).

9. method as claimed in claim 8, it is characterized in that, described screw thread (32) extends at least two circles around the inside face of described cylindrical wall, and described screw thread is stretched so that can not destroy final screw thread (32) when taking out described screw thread from described thread forming projection (102,104) in step (g).

10. a method as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, in step (h) and step (i), make described wallboard upper and lower surface (106,106 ', 114,114 ') be parallel to each other substantially, thereby make described wallboard have substantially section thickness (Fig. 2 uniformly; Fig. 5).

11. a method as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, and described pipe (56, Fig. 3; Diameter Fig. 6) is substantially equal to the diameter of described cylindrical wall (16).

12. an equipment that is used to form the all-in-one-piece self-draining container described in claim 1-7 comprises:

(a) be used to form the molded and shaped device (58) of an injection mold cavities, this molded and shaped device (58) comprising:

(i) skewed slot of a longitudinal extension (18,18 ') cavity section (100);

A (ii) wallboard (24,24 ') cavity section (104,108), described wallboard cavity section communicate with described skewed slot cavity section and extend from described skewed slot cavity section outward radial; And

A (iii) wall (16) cavity section (66,68,90), described wall cavity section is round the described skewed slot cavity section that communicates with described wallboard cavity section;

(b) extrusion die assembly (50,50 '), described extrusion die assembly has a center core (54,54 ') and a lining (52), described core (54,54 ') stop at one end (108,108 ', 112,112 '), described lining (52) is round described core (54,54 ') and keep certain interval to limit ring exit (56) with it, and the end of described core and the outlet of described lining are positioned at roughly same plane;

(c) described molded and shaped device (58) comprises a neck ring assembly (60), described neck ring assembly (60) has an in-to-in core bar (75,70 '), described core bar (75,70 ') stop at one end (110,110 '), also has a lining (90,90 '), this lining is round described core bar and complemented each other to form the die cavity that described and needed skewed slot shape conforms to it, described lining has an end (104,104 ') and a pair of neck ring half module (62 and 64), described neck ring half module can move between the open and close position, when described neck ring half module is closed, described neck ring half module and the described lining cooperation formation die cavity that described and needed annular wall (16) shape conforms to, the part that cooperatively interacts with described neck ring half module of described lining has formed one and has had thread groove (102,104) described annular wall die cavity, described thread groove extends at least two whole circles so that upward form negative thread (32) in described annular wall (16) around described lining, and the sectional dimension of described annular wall (16) exports (56) with shape and described annular extrusion and roughly conforms to; Described equipment can be operated by this way, that is: described neck ring assembly (60) is moved to and described extrusion die assembly (50,50 ') engage, the neck ring half module (62 and 64) of described closure is contacted with lining (52), described core bar (70,70 ') end and described center core (54,54 ') the end contact, described gasket end (110,110 ') at least a portion and the end (108 of described center core, 108 ', 112,112 ') keep certain interval to seal described die cavity, force through the thermoplastic material of heating and the plasticizing ring exit (56) by described extrusion die assembly flow in each die cavity that is limited by described neck ring assembly and the gap of inflow between described gasket end and described center core end in; And make described neck ring assembly (58) move away described extrusion die assembly, force simultaneously thermoplastic material to pass through described extrusion die assembly (50 unceasingly through heating and plasticizing, 50 ') basic identical and from the tubular parison that described annular wall is dangled and extended to form a size and described annular wall size, make described tubular parison in a blow mold (74 and 76), to expand to form described base portion (11); Operating described equipment then opens described neck ring half module (62 and 64) at least in part, described core bar (70,70 ') is pulled out from described skewed slot (18,18 ') at least in part, then the described annular wall (16) of negative thread (32) that comprises is taken out from described lining (90,90 ');

It is characterized in that, a spill central surface (108 that is arranged on the described core end, 108 ') and a core bar surface (110 that limits described core bar end, 110 ') when model is closed, be resisted against the fit area, a center that is arranged in below the described plane, be positioned at the cardinal principle frusta-conical surface (112 that being used on the described core end limits model-die cavity, 112 ') round described core central surface and by its upwards and radially outward crustal inclination so that in described annular extrusion mould exit and described Plane intersects, and

The surface (104 that can provide one to be used to limit model-die cavity is provided described gasket end, 104 '), the frusta-conical surface (112,112 ') of this surface and described core end is complementary substantially so that the wallboard model that forms between them has the profile that is roughly truncated cone shape.

13. an equipment as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that, (Fig. 3 when described moulding-forming equipment is in closure state; Fig. 6), the described surface (104 that is used to limit model-die cavity on core end and gasket end, 104 ', 112,112 ') between keep roughly uniformly at interval, make formed betwixt wallboard model at it directly upwards with around the section thickness uniformly that upwards has in week substantially of described discharging skewed slot.

14. an equipment as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that, the described inclined surface (104 and 112) that is used to limit model-die cavity on core upper end and gasket end has the cone angle (Fig. 3) that is approximately 30 °.

15. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterized in that, the described inclined surface (112 and 104) that is used to limit model-die cavity on core end and gasket end comprises the surface of revolution, moving direction when the direction that respective axis that this each surface of revolution had is extended and described extruding and moulding-forming equipment (50 and 58) are opened model and operate with closed model is parallel substantially, described core end spill central surface (108) and described core bar end mating surfaces (110) be respectively substantitally planar and substantially the edge perpendicular to the direction extension of the axis of the inclined surface (104 and 112) of the formation wallboard on described core end and the gasket end.

16. equipment as claimed in claim 15, it is characterized in that, the inclined surface on core end and the gasket end (112 ' and 104 ') that is positioned at that forms the wallboard model is constructed such that (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6): their axis separately extend in parallel to each other substantially and tilt with the moving direction of an acute angle with respect to described shaped device (58 and 50 '), and are on the direction radially relative with a upper end filtering port (20) of described vessel discharge skewed slot (18 ').

Images