MX2008010045A - Molded plastic container and preform having insert-molded rfid tag - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of making a plastic container (20) having an RFID tag (30) in a wall of the container includes providing a mold (48) having a mold core (46 or 88) and mounting an insert (28 or 80) on the core. The insert includes an RFID tag (30), which may be surrounded by a plastic housing (34 or 82). A plastic preform (70) is formed in the mold around the core and the insert, preferably by injection molding, such that the insert is embedded in a wall of the preform. The preform is then blow molded into a plastic container (20) having the insert embedded in a wall of the container. The insert preferably is mounted on an end of the core such that the insert is in the base wall of the container following blow molding. The RFID tag preferably is externally covered by plastic material in the preform as molded, and in the container as blow molded, so that the RFID tag is not externally exposed in the preform or the container. The disclosure also contemplates a container preform (70) and a blow molded plastic container (20) manufactured in accordance with a method of the disclosure.

Description

PLASTIC CONTAINER MOLDED AND PREFORMS THAT HAS MOLDED INSERT MADE OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present description relates to the manufacture of molded plastic containers having a radio frequency identification mark (RFID) insert molded into a wall of the container, and to the manufacture of preforms by blow molding in plastic containers. and having a RFID brand insert molded into a wall of the preform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been proposed to place RFID marks on or in walls of a container to confirm the authenticity of a container that includes the container and / or to provide information related to a product inside the container. Such RFID tags can be secured to a wall of the container after manufacture of the container, embedded in a wall of the container during blow molding of the container, or assembled to a container preform such that the mark will be embedded in a container. container wall after blow molding the preform. A general object of the present disclosure is to provide an insert molding method of an RFID mark on a wall Ref. 195077 of a container or a container preform, and providing a blow molded plastic container or a molded plastic preform having an RFID brand insert molded therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present description includes a number of aspects that can be implemented separately or in combination with each other. A method for making a plastic container having an RFID mark on a wall of the container, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, includes providing a mold having a mold core and mounting an insert in the core. The insert includes an RFID mark, which can be surrounded by a plastic housing. A plastic preform is formed in the mold around the core and the insert, preferably by injection molding, so that the insert is embedded in a wall of the preform. The preform is then blow molded into a plastic container having the insert embedded in a wall of the container. The insert is preferably mounted at one end of the core so that the insert is in the base wall of the container after blow molding. The RFID mark is preferably externally covered by plastic material in the preform as it is molded, and in container as it is blow molded, so that the RFID mark is not externally exposed in the preform or the container. The description also contemplates a container preform and a blow molded plastic container manufactured in accordance with a method of the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The description, together with objects, features, advantages and additional aspects thereof, will be better understood from the following description; the appended claims and accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a blow molded plastic container in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is an elevation view of the RFID insert in the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the insert in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a sectional view of an apparatus for molding a container preform in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the mold core in the apparatus of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a sectional view of an exemplary container preform made in the apparatus of Figures 5 and 6 for blow molding the plastic container of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a sectional view of a preform molding apparatus which is a modification to the embodiment of Figure 5; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the preform of Figure 8 within the area 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 illustrates a blow molded plastic container 20 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container 20 includes a side wall 22 connecting a base wall 24 to a neck termination 26. The side wall 22 can be of any suitable geometry, such as cylindrical. An RFID insert 28 is an insert molded into a container wall 20, preferably a base wall 24. The RFID insert 28 is illustrated in greater detail in Figures 2-4 and includes an RFID tag 30 coupled to a radio frequency antenna 32. The combination of brand 30 and antenna 32 is embedded in a plastic housing 34, such as molded insert in the housing. The plastic housing 34 is preferably of disc-shaped construction, having a circular periphery 36, an externally-domed end face 38, and a second end face 40 with a central button 42. The button 42 is preferably contoured substantially spherical in this modality. The circular periphery 36 is preferred to conform to the generally circular geometry of the closed end of a container preform. However, other peripheral geometries may be employed. The mark 30 and antenna 32 may be of any suitable construction. The housing 34 may be of any suitable plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene plastics. Figures 5-6 illustrate a mold apparatus 44 for making a preform for blow molding in the container 20 in a blow molding and injection operation or a blow molding operation with reheat. The apparatus 44 includes a mold core 46 removably received within a female mold 48 to form a mold cavity 50 around the core. A gate 52 in the mold section 48 connects the cavity 50 to an external source 54 of one or more plastic resins. The mold core 46 in this embodiment includes a core head 56 coupled to a bar 58 extending through a core body 60. A coil spring 62 surrounds the end of the remote rod 58 of the head 56. The spring 62 cooperates with a nut 64 received in the rod 58 to bias the head 56 to a closed position against the body 60 as is illustrated in Figure 5. The nut 64 can be engaged by a cam 66 to "break" the joint between the head 56 and body 60 during blow molding. The free end of the head 56 has a pouch 68 shaped to receive the button 42 in the plastic housing 34 of the insert 28 to center the insert at the end of the core head 56. The core 46 is held at elevated temperature during the operation so that the placement of the insert 28 on the end of the core, centered by cooperation of the button 42 with the bag 68, partially melts the insert housing on the surface 40 and keeps the insert on the surface of the core head. They are the insert 28 thus positioned at the end of the core head 56 and the closed mold apparatus as illustrated in Figure 5, one or more plastic resin materials can be injected through the gate 52 in the mold cavity 50 for molding the preform. Fig. 7 schematically illustrates a resultant preform 70 generally including a tubular body 72 having a closed end 74 with the inserted REID insert 28 molded into the closed end 74. The dimensions and geometry of the mold cavity 52 preferably are such that the insert 28 is externally covered by the preform plastic material at the closed end 74, as shown in Figure 7. In this way, when the container 20 (Figure 1) is blow molded from the preform 70 (figure 7), the insert 28 will be externally covered by plastic material, as shown in figure 1. The plastic of the preform 70 and container 20 can be of any suitable type, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Figure 1 illustrates the container 20 being of monolayer construction, and Figure 7 correspondingly illustrates the preform 70 being of monolayer construction. However, they are for ease of illustration only, and the container preform and container body can be made of multi-layer construction employing any suitable simultaneous or sequential injection molding technique. It is also contemplated in accordance with the broader aspects of the description that the preform may be made by compression molding, although injection molding is preferred. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modification to the mold apparatus 44 in Figures 5 and 6. In the mold apparatus 76 of Figures 8 and 9, a mold core 78 is received within the female mold 48 to form the mold cavity. mold 50. In this embodiment, the RFID insert 80 has a plastic housing 82 with an axially extended conical plug 84. This conical plug 84 is received by snap fit within a conical aperture 86 at the end of the mold core head 88 to retain the insert 80 in the mold core 78 The bar 58 extends through the head 88 and the mold core body 90 which is engaged by a cam 66 to move the bar 58 against the force of the spiral spring 62 to separate the insert 80 from the core head. 88 during blow molding. The insert housing 82 has a conical periphery 92, and the plug 84 is such that there is a slight opening 94 between the housing 82 and the end of the core head 88. During the molding of the preform, the plastic preform material it will flow around the conical periphery 92 in the opening 94 to help retain the insert 80 within the end of the preform during blow molding. Accordingly, a method has been described for molding a plastic container having an RFID mark on a wall of the container, a method for molding a container preform having an RFID mark on a wall of the preform, a plastic container blow molding having a RFID brand insert molded and embedded in a wall of the container, and a container preform for blow molding in a plastic container having a RFID brand insert molded into the container preform, which completely satisfies all the objects and purposes previously described. The description has been presented in conjunction with several exemplary modalities, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations will readily suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. For example, although the description has been presented in conjunction with injection molded preforms and blow molded and injection molded containers, the subject of the description may easily be implemented in a blow-molding operation with overheating in which the preforms are made by injection molding or even compression molding. The RFID insert may be a molded insert in the side wall of the preform, although the end wall of the preform is preferred. The description is proposed to cover all modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. Method for making a plastic container having an RFID mark on a wall of the container, characterized in that it includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold including a mold core, (b) mounting an insert in the core, the insert includes an RFID mark, (c) forming a plastic preform in the mold around the mold core and the insert so that the insert is embedded in a wall of the preform, and (d) blow-molding the preform into a plastic container having the insert embedded in a wall of the container. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that step (b) includes mounting the insert at one end of the core so that the insert is in a base wall of the container after the step. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that step (c) includes injection molding the plastic preform in the mold around the core and the insert. 4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that step (a) includes providing an ejection bar in the core, and wherein step (d) includes activating the ejection bar to facilitate separation of the core insert during molding by blowing. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the insert includes an RFID tag coupled to a rf antenna of a plastic housing. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the temperature of the core is such that the insert is retained in the core after step (b). Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the core has a conical opening at one end of the core, and wherein the insert has a conical plug which is inserted into the opening during step (b). Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the core has an ejection bar, and wherein step (d) includes actuating the ejection bar to facilitate separation of the core insert during step (d). 9. Blow-molded plastic container, characterized in that it is made with the method according to claim 2. 10. Blow-molded plastic container, characterized in that it is made in accordance with the method according to claim 1. 11. Container preform for blow molding a plastic container, characterized in that it includes a tubular plastic body having a closed end and an RFID mark insert. molded at the closed end. 12. Preform in accordance with the claim 11, characterized in that the RFID mark insert is externally covered by plastic material of the preform at the closed end. 13. Preform in accordance with the claim 12, characterized in that the insert includes an RFID tag coupled to an RF antenna inside a plastic housing. 14. Method for making a plastic container preform having an RFID mark on a wall of the preform, characterized in that it includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold including a mold core, (b) mounting an insert in the core, the insert includes an RFID mark, and (c) forming a plastic preform in the mold around the core and the insert so that the insert is embedded in a wall of the preform. 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that step (b) includes mounting the insert at one end of the core so that the insert is in a base wall of a container after blow molding the preform. 16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that step (c) includes injection molding the plastic preform in the mold around the core and the insert. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that it includes blow molding the preform in a container having the insert embedded in a base wall of the container. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the insert includes the RFID mark inside a plastic housing. 19. Container, characterized in that it is made in accordance with the method according to claim 17. 20. Container preform, characterized in that it is made in accordance with the method according to claim 15. 21. Container preform, characterized because it is done in accordance with the method according to claim 14.