MXPA00002389A - Container with integral handle, preform and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of forming a container (10) from bi-axially orientable plastics material and having an integral handle formed from a stem (15);said method comprising:(a) forming a preform (26, 36) having a neck portion and an expandable portion (12) below the neck portion (11), said neck portion including a locating ring (14) above the expandable portion and a solid stem (15) of orientable thermoplastics material projecting from or near the neck portion or immediately below it and moulded integrally therewith, and (b) performing a blow moulding operation on said preform to expand the expandable portion to form the body of the container. Also disclosed is a container (10) manufactured from a two stage injection stretch blow moulding process, said container including a graspable handle affixed at at least a first point to said container so as to form an enclosed area between the handle and the container and through which the fingers of a human hand may be passed.

Description

CONTAINER WITH INTEGRATED HAND PREFORM AND MANUFACTURING METHOD II »INTRODUCTION This invention relates to a container with an integrated handle, the preform of the container which is blown biaxially and a method of manufacturing thereof.

• BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Attempts have been made to incorporate handles integrated into PET injection blow molded containers and the like, for example, see Thomson US 4,629,598, issued to TriTech Systems International, Inc. The parison of which the handle bottles of US 4,629,598 are produced, is illustrated in Figure 1. To date, however, attempts to produce a mass-produced, practical version of this arrangement They have not been successful. Instead, the best that appears to have been made in commercial practice is an arrangement whereby the blown containers are arranged to accept a clamp or a handle placed under pressure in a separate production step after the container itself is formed. See for example the WO82 / 02371 and WO82 / 02370, both from Thompson.

Blow molding, by stretch, by injection is a process in which the parison is stretched both axially and radially, resulting in a • biaxial orientation. 5 The biaxial orientation provides greater tensile strength (higher load), less permeation due to the stronger alignment of the molecules, and better impact resistance due to drop, clarity and light weight of the container. • 10 Not all thermoplastics can be oriented. The main thermoplastics used are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP). PET is by far the largest volume material, followed for PVC, PP and PAN. Amorphous materials, for example, PET, with a wide range of ther oplasticity are easier to stretch by blowing than partially crystalline types, such as PP. The melting temperatures and approximate stretching to produce the maximum properties of the container are: Material Fusion, Degrees C. Stretch, Degrees C. PET 280 107 PVC 180 120 PAN 210 120 Fusion Material, Degrees C. Stretch, Degrees C, PP 240 160 There are basically two types of processes to stretch by blow molding: 1) a single stage in which preforms and blown bottles are made in the same machine, and 2) two stages in which preforms are made in a machine and then blown on another machine. A single-stage equipment is capable of processing PVC, PET and PP. Once the parison is formed (extruded or molded by injection), it passes through conditioning stations, which carry the proper orientation temperature. The single-stage system allows the process to proceed from the raw material to the finished product in a machine, but since the tools can not be easily changed, the process is more suitable for dedicated applications and lower volumes. The most commonly oriented PVC containers are made in single-stage extrusion machines. The parison is extruded in units of a single or double head. The conditioning, stretching, and forming of the thread at temperature are made in a variety of ways depending on the design of the machine.

Many of the processes currently in use are patented. Many oriented PET containers are produced in single-stage machines. The preforms are first injection molded, then transferred to a temperature conditioning station, following the blow molding operation where the preforms are blown in bottles, and finally to an ejection station. With the two-stage process, the processing parameters for manufacturing preforms and blowing bottles can be optimized. A processor does not have to compromise the design and weight of the preform, production speeds and quality of the bottle since it does it in a single-stage equipment. You can make or buy preforms. And if you choose to do them, you can also do it in one or more places suitable for your market. High production machines and low production machines are available. Machines of the two-stage extrusion type are generally used to make oriented PP bottles. In a typical process, the preforms are re-extruded, cooled, cut along, reheated, stretched while the neck finish is being cut, and ejected. The two-stage process is the lowest cost method to produce oriented PET containers. The two-stage process, which allows injection molding of the preform and transportation to places by blow molding, has allowed companies to become producers of preforms and sell them to blow molding producers. In this way the companies that decide to enter the market with oriented PET containers can reduce to a minimum their capital requirements. Stretching by blow molding in two stages is also being used for the production of oriented PVC containers. The design of the preform and its relationship with the final container is still the most critical factor. The proper stretching ratios in the axial and mold directions must be satisfied and the intended product will be properly packed. Material Stretch Temperature Relations Orientation Degrees F. (° C) PET 16/1 195-240 (81.5-104) PVC • 7/1 210-240 (89-104) PAN 9/1 220-260 (94-114) PP 6/1 260-280 (114-124) Another object of the present invention is to produce an injection molded stretch blow molded container made of orientable thermoplastic materials incorporating the handle that is formed during and is part of the stretching operation by blow molding by injection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a preform for a container comprised of thermoplastic material orientable and arranged so that the resulting blown container will include a handle or similar support structure; the preform comprises a molded structure having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck, the neck includes a locating ring above the expandable portion and a solid body of orientable thermoplastic material projecting from the preform and integrally molded with it, which, when the container is formed, constitutes the handle. Preferably, the body projects from the locating ring and from a temperature transition zone located immediately below said ring. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for forming a container having an integrated handle; the method comprises: (a) forming a preform having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck portion, the neck portion includes a locating ring on top of the expandable portion and a body solid of orientable thermoplastic material projecting from the preform and molded integrally with it, and (b) performing a blow molding operation on the preform to expand the portion • 10 expandable to form the container body. Preferably, the body projects from the locating ring and from a temperature transition zone located immediately below the ring. In a preferred form of the invention, the agreement portion and the integral handle are subjected to a crystallization step. Preferably, the blow molding operation includes supporting the body while the preform is blown in some way so that at least a portion of the outer side of the tube is expanded to encircle at least a lower portion of the body to form a portion. of closed clamping between the outer side and the solid body.

It is preferred that the closed fastening portion allow at least two fingers of a human adult's hand to pass through it. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the body is formed such that it has an I-shaped cross section at least through that portion of the body projecting from the outer side of the tube. The handle can be curved to provide additional strength. In a broader form of the invention, a parison is provided for a stretch process by injection blow molding, the parison being formed by an injection process including two separate injection points. Preferably, a first injection point allows the injection of non-recycled PET or similar thermoplastic materials. Preferably, a second injection point allows injection of PET or similar thermoplastic materials that incorporate at least a portion of recycled material. Preferably, the first injection point is for the formation of that part of the parison to be stretched during an operation of stretching by blow molding on the parison. Preferably, the second injection portion is for the formation of those portions of the parison that will remain unexpanded or substantially unexpanded in a stretch blow molding operation on the parison. In a still broader form of the invention, a container manufactured from a two stage injection blow molding stretch process is provided., the container includes a clamped handle fixed to at least a first point and a second point to the container to form a closed area between the handle and the bottle and through which the fingers of a human hand can pass. Preferably, the first connection point comprises an integral connection between the handle and the container and is formed in the first step of the two-step operation. Preferably, the second connection step is formed during the second step of the two-step operation. Preferably the handle at the second point of the interconnection includes a bulbous portion adapted to be at least partially wrapped by a portion of the container when it is blown during the second step of the two-step operation, whereby an interlocking connection is formed mechanically at the second connection point of the handle to the container. In particular preferred forms, the bulbous portion comprises one of a hook extending upwardly, a hook extending downwardly, and a bulb or a combination of one or more thereof. In a broader form of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a PET container with integrated handle that includes the step of reinforcing a portion of the handle body of a preform during preheating of the preparatory preform for a step of Stretch by blow molding. Preferably, the handle body is fully supported by a mold cavity against movement during the stretch blow molding operation. In an even broader form of the invention, a container comprised of biaxially orientable thermoplastic material manufactured by two-stage injection blow molding stretch processes is provided.; the two-stage process comprises a first stage in which a preform is manufactured and a second stage in which the preform is reheated and biaxially stretched to form the container; the container includes a fixed clamped handle in at least one first connection point and a second connection point to the container to form a closed area between the handle and the container and through which at least two fingers of a human hand can pass; and wherein the first connection point comprises an integral connection between the handle and the container and the first stage of the two-stage process is formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS «k 10 The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a parison of the prior art, 15 Figure 2 is a side view of a parison incorporating features according to the embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3 is a partial side elevational view of a blow molded PET container 20 formed from a preform according to the invention; to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates the steps of forming a parison according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5A is a side view of a preform according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 5B is a side view of a container formed from the preform of Figure 5A. Figure 6 is a side view of a die in open position for manufacturing a preform; Figure 7 is a matrix of Figure 6 in the closed position; Figure 8 is a side view of the matrix of Figures 6 and 7 showing the body or shank of the preform located therein; Figure 9 is a top view of a two stage injection molding machine; , adapted to receive preforms and orient them biaxially in blown containers according to one embodiment of the invention, Figure 10 is a side sectional view of a mechanism of ascent, descent and rotation to cover the handle for use with the machine of the Figure 9, Figure 11 is an alternate side sectional view of the mechanism of Figure 10, Figure 12 is an approach of the side cut view of the machine in Figure 9 showing a preform with a handle cover lowered over the handle portion thereof, Figure 13A, B illustrates the first and second side cut views of a preform adapted to be loaded on the machine of Figure 9, Figure 14 is a perspective view of the preform of the Figure 13, Figure 15 is a perspective view of a blown container from the preform of Figure 14 on the machine of Figure 9, Figure 16 is a plan view of a mold half adapted to blow the preforms on the machine of Figure 9, Figure 17 is a top view of the mold of Figure 16 with a preform inserted therein ready to be blown onto the machine of Figure 9, Figure 18 is a bottom view of Figure 17 with both halves of the mold in opposite relation, Figure 19 is a further bottom view of Figure 17 showing the preform at the position of Figure 17, Figure 20 is a sectional view through the middle of the mold of the Figure 16, Figure 21 is a sectional view through the mold of Figure 16, Figure 22 is a side view of the container of blown Figure 15 of the mold of Figure 19 from a preform as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 13 and 14, Figure 23 is a v In a detailed lateral section of the neck of the upper handle portion of the container of Figure 22, Figure 24 is a side view of a preform incorporating a first elongated, unexpanded region, according to a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 25 is an alternative side view of the preform of Fig. 24, Fig. 26 is a side view of a blown container from the preform of Fig. 24 on the machine of Fig. 9, Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the preform of Figure 24, Figure 28 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 26, Figure 29 is a side view of another alternative embodiment of a preform incorporating a first unexpanded zone, elongate and adapted to be blown on the machine of Figure 9, Figure 30 is a side view of a blown container from the preform of Figure 29 on the machine of Figure 9, Figure 31 is a plan view d e half of a mold to blow the preform of Figure 24, Figure 32 is a plan view of the mold half of Figure 31 with the preform of Figure 24 inserted therein ready to be blown in the machine of Figure 9, Figure 33 is a side sectional view of a blown container in the mold of Figure 32 and, Figure 34 is a detail side sectional view of the neck and upper handle portion of Figure 33. Figure 35 is a first perspective view of a container according to to a further embodiment of the invention particularly adapted to withstand high internal pressures, Figure 36 is a second perspective view of the container of Figure 35, Figure 37 is a first side view of the container of Figure 35, Figure 38 is a second side view of the container of Figure 35; Figure 39 is a plan view of the container of Figure 35; Figure 40 is a side view of a preform from which the container of Figure 35 can be blown; 4 1 is a perspective view of the preform of Figure 40, Figure 42 is a perspective view of a container with a handle connected by a cord according to an embodiment of the invention, and Figure 43 is a side view of a preform from which the container of Figure 42 can be blown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A container 10 according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3. This includes a neck 11 and an expanded portion 12. The neck 11 has a threaded portion 13 and a locating ring 14. Molded integrally with the ring 14 there is a rod or body 15 having a first portion 15a extending outward from the ring 14 and a second portion 15b inclined towards the first portion 15a which is almost parallel to a vertical axis of the container 10. In this case, the first portion 15 subtends an angle of slightly more than 45 ° towards the wall 20, and the second portion subtends an angle of approximately 20 ° towards the wall 20.

The particular shape of the body or shank 15 is selected so that when it is formed as a handle it can be held by the fingers of the human hand. The body or rod 15 ends at one end of the body or rod 16 which is generally oriented downward in the general direction of the closed end of the container 10. In this case, the body or rod 15 is of I-shaped cross-section to combat undesirable effects arising at or near the union 17 of the body or rod 17 with the ring 14 after a blow operation on the preform 10. Those undesirable effects particularly include the effects of stress and air inclusions resulting from non-uniform cooling through the volumes of the preform of different cross section. In this embodiment of the invention, the preform is made of PET and prepared using a hot mold. To produce the container 10, the parison or preform 26 (see Figure 2) according to one embodiment of the invention, it can be placed in a blow molding machine (not shown) and blow molded according to the techniques of blow molding in biaxial orientation with the neck 11 being held in a mold so that it does not expand. Initially, the expandable portion of the preform below the neck can be mechanically pulled down towards the bottom of the mold and then the mass of the preform can be blown outward by the application of compressed air to the extent that a support portion is formed 18 around the end of the body or rod 16, so that a closed area 19 is formed between the wall 20 of the container 10 and the body or rod 15 in the process of forming by blow-molding the container 10. In a particular form Preferred of the invention, the enclosed area 19 is of sufficient cross-sectional area to allow at least two fingers of a human hand to be inserted therethrough and hold the handle 15 to support the container 10. The blow molding operation is It performs in such a way that it provides a bottle or container that has optimal resistance reaching the biaxial orientation of the PET pre-material molecules. as well as improved barrier properties to reduce oxidation. According to one embodiment of the invention, the neck 11 and the handle 15 can be crystallized by superheating those parts of the preform. The crystallization of the handle increases its rigidity, which helps the orientation of the preform and allows the use of less material. The crystallization of the neck and the handle can be carried out by running hot oil over the neck and the handle, applying an open flame or blowing hot air. The location of the handle 15 on the ring 14 ensures that there is minimal interference with the blow molding process applied to the rest of the preform. Any one of a two-stage process can be used.

Detailed Description of the Additional Modes Figure 1 illustrates the parison preform of the prior art 21 of US 4,629,598. The concept of this description of the prior art is to form a handle portion 23 from the locating ring of the non-expandable portion 22 of the parison, 21. With reference to Figure 2, and with reference to the detailed description to the preferred embodiment, this arrangement of Figure 1 is modified according to the present invention in a number of aspects. The inserts 2A, 2B and 2C show bulbous portions 27 forming part of the end of the body or rod 16 in the form, respectively of a downwardly extending hook 24A, a bulb 24B and an upwardly extending hook 24C. These portions have in common a shape, which is adapted to mechanically couple with a blown portion of the container 10 which is adapted to wrap the bulbous portions 27. The process by which the second stage of blowing the expandable portion 12 of the parison 26 it is made to wrap the bulbous portion 27 of the end of the body or rod 16, it is a blow-stretch process in biaxial orientation. With reference to Figure 4 a particular method of manufacturing the parison 26 according to the embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This includes a two-stage process for the formation of the parison by an injection molding process. In step 1, a first injection mold inlet 28 allows the entry of plastic materials for the formation of the expanded portion 12 of the parison 26 (expanded in the blow molding step of the formation of the container, with reference to the Figure 3). In a second step of the injection molding process for the formation of the parison 26, a second injection mold inlet 29 allows the entry of plastic material for the formation of the expandable portion 25 of the parison 26. The injection arrangement in two stages it is such that different plastic materials can be injected through the first inlet of the injection mold 28 and the second inlet of the injection mold 29. In a particularly preferred form, the plastic materials injected into the first inlet of the injection mold 28 is plastic material not recycled or substantially not recycled, while the plastic material injected in the second inlet of the injection mold 29 is recycled or at least partially recycled plastic material. This arrangement allows the controlled use of portions of recycled or non-recycled plastic material to achieve optimum economy in the construction of the parison 26. In a modification of this arrangement, the step from Step 2 may include the production of two walls in the non-expandable portion 25 comprising the inner wall 51 and the outer wall 52. The inner wall 51 is made of virgin or non-contaminated PET material and acts as an insulating barrier with respect to the wall 52 which can be made of recycled material 52 This double-wall arrangement can be produced by using a slidable core arrangement as a modification in the matrix array and the process described with reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8 later in this specification. Of course, the steps of Stage 1 and the Stage 2 of Figure 4 can be exchanged in order. A parison and the resulting container according to a further embodiment of the invention are illustrated in Figures 5A and B respectively. The similar parts were numbered as in the previous modalities. In this embodiment, the parison 21 includes a locating ring 14 immediately below which is a first non-expandable region 30 and a second non-expandable region 31. The first non-expandable region 30 can itself be formed to be slightly elevated or another differentiated mode of the expandable portion of the parison 21. The second expandable region 31 may not be differentiated from the expandable portion of the parison 21 but, in use, the blowing operation will be such that it will ensure that a second expandable region 31 does not expand in the blowing process. In this case, the body or rod 15 includes a first edge 32 integrally molded with and extending from the locating ring 14. The body or rod 15 also includes the second edge 33 integrally molded with and extending from the second non-expandable region 31. The body or shank 15 further includes an edge connector 34 integrally molded with and extending from the first non-expandable region 30 and forming a continuous connection between the first edge 32 and the second edge 33 through the length of the body or shank 15. The parison 36 of Figure 5A is then blown in the manner described above to form the volume 35 of the container 37 illustrated in Figure 5B. The neck portion that includes the body or shank 15, the ring 14, the first non-expandable region 30 and the second non-expandable region 31 remain unexpanded while the expandable portion 36 of the parison 36 is stretched biaxially to form the largest volume. of the container 37. The end of the body or rod 16 may include bulbous portions according to the above described modalities for connection to the container 37 or, alternatively or in addition, may include the application of an adhesive material whereby a chemical bond is formed between the end or body of the rod 16 and the wall of the vessel 37 by the use of a chemical intermediate.

In a modification of the embodiments of Figure 5A and Figure 5B, the first non-expandable region 30 and the second non-expandable region 31 can be part of a single non-expandable region. In a further modification, the second non-expandable region 31 can be located in the temperature transition zone of the container and where a smaller expansion can take place during the blow molding step. In a further modification, both of the first non-expandable region 30 and the second non-expandable region 31 can be located in the temperature transition zone immediately below the locating ring 14 and, again, the minor expansion of those regions can take place during the sopado. With respect to at least the two described variations, one takes advantage of the observation that the expansion in the temperature transition zone can be limited by the appropriate mold design and the control of the process so that the undesired distortion effects caused by the rigid interaction of this temperature transition zone 30, 31, via the second edge 33 and the connector of the edge 34 to the ring 14 (or other non-expandable portion of the neck 11) can be controlled.

In use, the preforms and blown containers thereof can be manufactured as follows: A preform is formed from an orientable thermoplastic material, preferably PET or similar material in an injection molding process. The sliding matrices are illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 and include a slidable core 40, sliding blocks 41, the body 42, the base 43, the thrust block 44 and the split fastener 45.

Figure 6 illustrates the array in the open position, the Figure 7 illustrates the matrix in the sowed position and the Figure 8 illustrates the side view showing the arrangement of the body or rod 14. The preforms completed in a second and preferably separate step, are subsequently passed to a stretch blow molding machine where the preforms are reheated first to the temperature of appropriate transition (refer to the introduction). The non-expandable portion of the preform including the locating ring 14 and the body or rod 15, are substantially protected from the reheating process by appropriate protections. In most cases, there is a probability that there is a temperature transition zone in the region 30, 31 described wreference to Figures 5A, 5B. The reheated preform is then placed in a mold and biaxially stretched and the expandable portion blown to full size using the processes known in the art. During this process the preform is supported by the neck 14 and can also be supported on the body or rod 15. The body or rod 15 does not take part in the blowing process although its end of the body or rod 16 can be partially wrapped by a external wall of the blown container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUFACTURING METHODS INCORPORATING TWO STRETCHING MACHINES BY BLOW MOLDING OF TWO MODIFIED STAGES FIG. 9 illustrates a machine, of a modified two-stage blow molding machine 110 adapted for stretch blow molding (including biaxial orientation) of the preforms of the above modalities and the preforms of additional modalities to be described below wreference to the following figures. The machine 110 comprises a first carousel 16 adapted to receive preforms wan integrated handle 112 of an inclined ramp 113 towards the openings 114 spaced around the periphery thereof. When a first carousel 111 rotates, it moves, via the openings 114, the preforms 112 of the ramp 113 to a second loading position of the carousel where the preform 112 is transferred to a pivot 115 mounted near the periphery of the second carousel 116. A The approximately 270 ° sector of the second carousel 116 is arranged as a preheating tunnel 117 where the preforms 112 are progressively heated by a heating bench mounted in opposite relation to the path of travel of the preforms. The preheats preheated appropriately 112 are consecutively loaded into the openings 119 of a third carousel 120, which acts as a transfer mechanism for properly orienting the preforms 112 about their longitudinal axis and presenting them to a mold cavity 121 comprising the first • half of mold 122 and second half of mold 123. It should be noted that during its time in preheating tunnel 117, preforms 112 rotate about their longitudinal axis by means of pivots 115 and have a handle reinforcement 124 mounted on the body or shank of the preform, which subsequently forms a handle for the blown container 125. The details of the rotation of the pivots 115 and the reinforcement of the rod or body of the preform are discussed more fully wreference to the Figure 10, 11 and 12. The cavities of the mold 121 are mounted on the periphery of a fourth carousel 126. During its displacement through In a sector of approximately 270 °, the halves of the molds 122, 123 rotate to a closed position about their axis 127 and, while closed, the preform 112 closed therein is blown and biaxially stretched in a known manner to produce a handle to the blown container, wan integrated handle, 125. This container 125 is ejected as illustrated when the halves of the molds are opened in preparatory manner to receive a preheated, fresh preform 112. Wreference to Figure 10, further details of the pivots 115 and the reinforcements of the handle 124 are shown in their operation form and in relation to the preforms 112, while passing through the preheating tunnel 117 on the second carousel 116. The pivots 15 are rotated by means of a drive belt 128 for, in one embodiment, rotating the preforms 112 through approximately four full axial rotations during their passage through the preheating tunnel 117. While in the preheating tunnel 117 a reinforcement of the handle 124 is lowered onto the free end 129 of the body or stem of the handle 130 to fully reinforce the body or stem of the handle 130 as best seen in greater detail in Figure 12. The reinforcement 124, in a preferred form , is cylindrical for a grooved open mouth 131 as best seen in Figure 12. The grooved mouth 131 helps to ensure maximum reinforcement of the body or stem of the handle 130 and also helps to guide the reinforcement 124 on the free end 129 of the body 130. The ascent and descent of the reinforcement 124 is effected through a body supporting the reinforcement 132, which is suspended from a cam roller 133 adapted to move on a cam 134. The bodies 132 rotate through themselves of a band 135 to follow the rotation of the pivots 115. As best seen in the view from the end of Figure 11, the reinforcing support body 132 is deviated from the body of the cam roller 136 by virtue of be mounted near the periphery of plate 137.

When the cam cylinder 133 is mounted on the cam 134 it pulls the reinforcement of the handle 124 upwards with it, by virtue of the connecting link comprising the body of the reinforcing support 132, the plate 137 and the body of the cam roller 136. The body of the cam roller 136 may comprise a telescopic arrangement that allows relative axial rotation between two components, telescopic parts thereof. The reinforcement of the handle 124 may comprise other alternative forms besides the cylindrical one, for example an oval cross section is possible although the cylindrical arrangement having a circular cross section is preferred. The reinforcement of the handle 124 is preferably made of insulating material, such as a ceramic material and is covered on the outer surface 138, in a preferred embodiment, with a heat reflecting material which, ideally, also reflects light. In use, the reflecting surface 138 causes the light and heat emanating from the heating bank 118 to be reflected therefrom, whereby two functions are performed. The first function involves protecting the body of the handle 130 from heat. The second function is to reflect the heat and light in the direction of that portion of the preform closer to the body of the handle 130 so that it is heated uniformly and does not tend to be overshadowed by the body 130. In a particular form, the reinforcements of the handle 124 can be cooled by a jet of air or nitrogen (not shown) directed at them while they are clearly lifted from the preform 112. This will help prevent the accumulation of the radiated heat and / or transfer by convection into the cavity 139 of the reinforcement 124. Figures 13-23 illustrate the details of a preform, the mold and the container 120 blown therefrom and therein by the machine of Figure 9. With reference to Figure 13, in a preferred embodiment, the dimension A is greater than dimension B, so that the entanglement of the preforms is discouraged before being loaded onto the ramp 113. It will be noted that the upper end of the handle is located near the locating ring in this version: It will also be noted that the body of the preform that subsequently constitutes the handle of the blown container is fully supported within the mold half during the blowing process. In contrast, container walls that include portions of the container wall peripherally opposite the upper end of the handle body are free to be blown into the mold restriction device. With reference to Figures 24-34 a second version of a resulting preform, mold and blow container is illustrated, wherein the first expandable region 30 is relatively long in the axial direction, including a portion 140, which extends from the ring locating 141 down and around at least one upper portion of the handle body connection 130, thereby forming a union of the upper end of the body of the handle 130 with the locating ring 141. (Best seen in Figure 24). In this version, there is an at least partial expansion of the wall portions of the preform located peripherally away from the attachment of the handle body 130 to the preform 112 (as best seen in Figures 32 and 34). This expansion is relatively no greater than the biaxial expansion occurring under the first and second non-expandable regions 30, 31. This may, however, be significant in improving the strength and resistance to gas permeation in at least one second non-expandable region 31, but is an expandable region 30.

INTERNAL PRESSURE RESISTANT CONTAINER With reference to Figures 35 to 39, there is shown a container 150 that incorporates an integrated handle 151 which was blown biaxially from the preform 152 illustrated in Figures 40 and 41. In this case, as best seen perhaps in Figure 36, the blown container 150 includes a discontinuous region 153. In this case, the discontinuous region 153 extends to the entire circumference of the container 150. As best seen in Figure 38, the broken region 153 is in a plane which subtends an acute alpha angle with a horizontal plane XX. The plane of discontinuous region 153 is oriented so that where it passes. closer to the integrated handle 151 is located between the first end 154 and the second end 155 of the handle 151. In this case, that part of the discontinuous region 153 that is located furthest from the handle 151 is in the XX plane passing to through, or near, the junction region 156 where the second end 155 of the handle 151 is attached to the container 150.

The discontinuous region 153 is formed by a substantial change in the direction of the wall of the container 150, as perhaps best seen in Figure 35, where the first tangent 157 the upper wall portion 158 intersects the second tangent 159 to the bottom wall portion 160 of container 150 at the obtuse angle beta, thereby forming a portion of discontinuous region 153. This discontinuous region 153 imparts additional stretch to the walls of the container, whereby resistance to deformation may arise, particularly , of internal pressures which arise when the container is sealed, as for example when the container contains a carbonated beverage. To assist in the creation of the discontinuous region 153, the preform 152 of which the container 150 is blown biaxially, includes different wall thickness profiles, in this case in the shape of the first wall profile 161, second wall profile 162 and third wall profile 163 separated from each other by a first transition zone 164 and a second transition zone 165 as best seen in Figure 40. It will be noted that the wall thickness of the third wall profile 163 is greater than the thickness of the wall. thickness of the second wall profile 162 which, in turn, is greater than the thickness of the wall of the first wall profile 161. The second end 155 of the handle 151 is attached to the container during the axial path blowing operation by the deformation and wrapping around the second end 155. Second end 155 may include a bulbous portion that includes a bulbous portion of the types illustrated in Figure 2. The preform 152 may be manufactured from materials of PET in an injection molding operation as described at the beginning in this specification. The preform 152 is then blown as an operation of the second stage in a blow molding machine so that its walls conform to the internal surfaces of a mold, also as described at the beginning in this specification.

LABEL CONNECTED TO THE ASA Referring to Figure 42 and Figure 43, an alternative version of the container is illustrated in the preform from which it was constructed. With reference to Figure 42, the container 201 includes an integrated handle 202 as described above and constructed, so that the connection to the lower end of the container 201 is formed as an integrated connection by means of a label 203, which extends from a lower end 204 of a wide portion of the handle 202 downward to a middle circumferential portion 205 of the container 201, at which point it integrally connects thereto. The lower edge 204 on the wide portion of the handle 202 includes a landing portion 206, which simply rests on the surface of the container 201, at this point, instead of being integrally connected to it or otherwise connected to it in this point. A preform 207 of which the container 201 of Figure 42 was blown, is illustrated in Figure 43. This preform 207 is constructed substantially in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 40, except that the lower edge 204 of the handle 202 is integrally connected to the preform 207 by means of a label 202 on the The shape illustrated in Figure 43. The preform 207 is blown to form the container of Figure 42 using the process described above with reference to Figures 10, 11 and 12. The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and can be obvious modifications by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The embodiments of the invention are applicable to the manufacture of containers made of adjustable thermoplastic material and that incorporate a handle or similar holding device as an integral component of the container. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out said invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (79)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A preform for a container comprised of thermoplastic material oriented and arranged so that the resulting blown container will include a handle or similar support structure; the preform is characterized in that it comprises a molded structure having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck, the neck includes a locating ring on top of the expandable portion and a solid body of orientable thermoplastic material projecting from the preform and molded integrally to it, which when the container is formed constitutes the handle.

2. A method for forming a container having an integrated handle, the method is characterized in that it comprises: (a) forming a preform having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck portion, the neck portion includes a locating ring on top of the expandable portion and a solid body of orientable thermoplastic material projecting from the preform and integrally molded therewith, and (b) performing a blow molding operation on the preform to expand the expandable portion to form the container body.

The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the neck portion and the integrated handle are subjected to a crystallization step.

The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the blow molding operation includes supporting the body while the preform is blown, such that at least a portion of the outer side of the tube is expanded to encircle at least a portion upper body to form a closed clamping portion between the outer side and the solid body.

The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the closed fastening portion allows at least two fingers of an adult human hand to pass therethrough.

The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the body is formed to have an I-shaped cross section at least through that portion of the body where it projects from the outer side of the tube.

7. A parison for a stretching process by injection blow molding, the parison is characterized in that it is formed by an injection process in which it includes two separate injection points.

8. The parison according to claim 7, characterized in that a first injection point allows the injection of non-recycled PET or similar thermoplastic material.

9. The parison according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second injection point allows the injection of PET or similar thermoplastic material that incorporates at least a portion of the recycled material.

10. The parison according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the first injection point is for the formation of that portion of parison that will be stretched during a stretching operation by blow molding on the parison.

11. The parison according to claim 9, characterized in that the second injection point is for the formation of those portions of the parison that will remain unexpanded or substantially unexpanded in a stretch blow molding operation on the parison.

12. A container manufactured from a stretch process by blow molding by injection, by two stages, the container is characterized in that it includes a fastening handle fixed to at least a first point and a second point the container to form a closed area between the handle and the bottle and through which the fingers of a human hand can pass.

The container according to claim 12, characterized in that the first connection point comprises an integral connection between the handle and the container and is formed in the first step of the two-step operation.

14. The container according to claim 13, characterized in that the second connection point is formed during the second step of the two-step operation.

The container according to claim 14, characterized in that the handle at the second interconnection point includes a bulbous portion adapted to be wrapped at least partially by a portion of the container when it is blown during the second step of the two-step operation , so that a mechanically interconnected connection is formed at the second connection point of the handle to the container.

The container according to claim 15, characterized in that the bulbous portion comprises one of a hook extending upwards, a hook extending downwards, a bulb or a combination of one or more thereof.

The container according to any of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that an adhesive is used to assist the connection at the second interconnection point.

18. The preform according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a locating ring immediately below which is a first expandable region and a second non-expandable region.

19. The preform according to claim 18, characterized in that the first expandable region is formed to rise slightly or otherwise differentiate from the expandable portion of the parison.

The preform according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the second expandable region does not differ from the expandable portion of the parison.

21. The preform according to any of claims 18-20, characterized in that the body includes a first edge molded integrally with and extending from the locating ring.

The preform according to claim 21, characterized in that it also includes a second edge molded integrally with and extending from the second non-expandable region.

The preform according to claim 22, characterized in that it further includes an edge connector integrally molded with and extending from the first non-expandable region and forming a continuous connection between the first edge and the second edge across the length of the rod.

24. The preform according to any of claims 18-23, and wherein the second non-expandable region forms part of a temperature transition zone.

25. The preform according to any of claims 18-24, and wherein the first non-expandable region forms part of the temperature transition zone.

26. The preform according to claim 24 or claim 25, characterized in that the deformation of the temperature transition zone takes place during the stretching process by blow molding.

27. The preform according to any of claims 18-26, characterized in that it is manufactured by a two-stage injection molding process, where the material is injected in different places in the matrix to form a preform adapted to be composed of more than one type of material.

28. The preform according to claim 27, characterized in that during an at least one stage of the two-stage process an inner wall and an external wall of the preform is formed, the inner wall is adapted to be made of a different material than the external wall.

29. A container, characterized in that it is stretched by blow molding from the preform according to any of claims 18-28.

30. A container, characterized in that it is made of PET material and stretched by blow molding from the preform according to any of claims 18-29.

31. A container, characterized in that it comprises a biaxially orientable thermoplastic material, manufactured from a stretch blow molding process, by injection, in two stages, the container includes a fixed clamped handle in at least a first point and a second point to the container to form a closed area between the handle and the bottle and through which the fingers of a human hand can be made to pass.

32. The container according to claim 31, characterized in that it comprises an integral connection between the handle and the container and is formed in the first step of the two-step operation.

The container according to claim 31 or claim 32, characterized in that the second connection point is formed during the second step of the two-step operation.

34. The container according to claim 33, characterized in that the handle of the second interconnection point includes a bulbous portion adapted to be at least partially enveloped by a portion of the container when it is blown during the second step of the operation of two. steps, 'so a connection is formed between the zone mechanically at the second connection point of the handle with the container.

35. The container according to claim 34, characterized in that the bulbous portion comprises one of a hook extending upwards, a hook extending downwards, a bulb or a combination of one or more thereof.

36. The container according to any of claims 31 to 35, characterized in that an adhesive is used to assist in the connection at a second interconnection point.

37. The container according to any of claims 31 to 36, characterized in that it also includes a locating ring in a portion of the neck thereof, immediately below which is a first non-expandable region.

38. The container according to claim 37, characterized in that it also includes a second non-expandable region below the locating ring.

39. The container according to claim 37 or claim 38, characterized in that the first non-expandable region is formed to be slightly elevated or otherwise differentiated from the expandable portion of the parison.

40. The container according to claim 37 or claim 38, characterized in that the second non-expandable region does not differ from the expandable portion of the parison.

41. The container according to any of claims 31-40, characterized in that the handle includes a first edge molded integrally, and extending from the locating ring.

42. The container according to claim 41, characterized in that the handle includes a second edge integrally molded with and extending from the second non-expandable region.

43. The container according to claim 41 or claim 42, characterized in that it further includes an edge connector integrally molded with and extending from the first non-expandable region and forming a continuous connection between the first edge and the second edge to through the length of the handle.

44. The container according to any of claims 31-43, and characterized in that the second expandable region forms part of the temperature transition zone.

45. The container according to any of claims 31-44, and characterized in that the first non-expandable region forms part of the temperature transition zone.

46. The container according to any of claims 35-45, characterized in that the deformation of the temperature transition zone takes place during a stretching process by blow molding.

47. The container according to any of claims 31-46, characterized in that it is manufactured by a two-stage injection molding process, where the material is injected in different places, so that the container is composed of more than one type of material.

48. The container according to claim 47, characterized in that at least one stage of the two-stage process is formed an inner wall and an external wall of the preform, the inner wall is adapted to be made from a different material than the of the external wall.

49. A method for the production of an integrated handle PET container, characterized in that it includes the step of reinforcing the handle body portion of a preform during the pre-heating of the preform, preparatory to a stretch step by molding by blown.

50. The method according to claim 49, characterized in that the handle body is fully supported in a mold cavity against movement during the stretch blow molding operation.

51. A container, characterized in that it is comprised of biaxially oriented thermoplastic material, manufactured from a stretch process by blow molding, by injection, in two stages; the two-stage process comprises a first stage in which a preform and a second stage are manufactured, in which the preform is biaxially reheated and stretched to form the container; the container includes a fixed clamped handle in at least one first connection portion and a second connection point to the container to form a closed area between the handle and the second container and through which at least two fingers of a human hand can pass. , and wherein the first connection point comprises an integral connection between the handle and the container and is formed in the first stage of the two-stage process.

52. The container according to claim 51, characterized in that the second connection point is formed during the second stage of the two-stage process.

53. The container according to claim 52, characterized in that it also includes a locating ring in a portion of the neck thereof.

54. The container according to claim 53, characterized in that the handle at the second connection point includes a bulbous portion, which is at least partially enveloped by a portion of the container when it is blown during the second stage of the process in two. stages, whereby a mechanically interconnected connection is formed at the second connection point of the handle with the container.

55. The container according to claim 54, characterized in that the bulbous portion comprises one of a hook extending upwards, a hook extending downwards, a bulb or a combination of one or more thereof.

56. The container according to claim 55, characterized in that an adhesive is used to assist the connection at the second connection point.

57. The container according to claim 54, characterized in that it also includes a first non-expandable region immediately below the locating ring.

58. The container according to claim 57, characterized in that it also includes a non-expandable region below the first non-expandable region.

59. The container according to claim 57, characterized in that the first non-expandable region is formed to rise slightly or otherwise differentiate from the portion of the container that is oriented in a fully biaxial manner during the second stage of the two-stage process.

60. The container according to claim 58, characterized in that the second non-expandable region does not differ from the portion of the container that is oriented in a totally biaxial manner during the second stage of the two-stage process.

61. The container according to claim 58 or claim 59, characterized in that the minor expansion of the second non-expandable region takes place during the second stage of the two-stage process.

62. The container according to claim 58, characterized in that the handle includes a first edge molded integrally, and extending from the locating ring.

63. The container according to claim 62, characterized in that the handle includes a second integrally molded edge, and extending from the second non-expandable region.

64. The container according to claim 63, characterized in that it further includes an integrally molded edge connector, and extending from the first non-expandable region and forming a continuous connection between the first edge and the second edge across the length of the handle.

65. The container according to claim 58, characterized in that the second non-expandable region forms part of a temperature transition zone.

66. The container according to claim 57, characterized in that the first non-expandable region forms part of a temperature transition zone.

67. The container according to claim 66, characterized in that the deformation of the temperature transition zone takes place during a stretching process by blow molding.

68. The container according to claim 51, characterized in that it is manufactured by the process of injection molding in two stages and where the material is injected in different places during the formation of the preform during the first stage of the two-stage process, so the container can be composed of more than one type of materials.

69. The container according to claim 68, characterized in that during the first stage of the two-stage process an internal wall and an external wall of the preform is formed, the inner wall is made of a material different from that of the external wall. .

70. The container according to any of claims 51-69, characterized in that it also includes a discontinuous region of conformity as defined in the specification.

71. The container according to claim 70, characterized in that the discontinuous region is in a plane which is at an acute angle to the horizontal, the discontinuous region extends substantially across the circumference of the container.

72. The container according to any of claim 70 or claim 71, characterized in that the discontinuous region at its closest point to the handle is located between the first end and the second end of the handle.

73. A preform from which the container can be made according to any of claims 51 to 72, the preform is characterized in that it includes more than one wall profile.

74. The preform according to claim 73, characterized in that the preform has a first wall profile near its neck followed by a second wall profile immediately below it and separated from it by a first transition zone.

75. The preform according to claim 74, characterized in that the preform further includes a third wall profile immediately below the second wall profile and separated from it by a second transition zone.

76. The container according to any of claims 31 to 38, characterized in that the clamped handle is fixed at the second point by means of a label.

77. The container according to claim 76, characterized in that the label extends from the lower edge of a wide portion of the handle and is integrally connected in a middle circumferential portion of the container.

78. The container according to claim 76 or 77, characterized in that the lower edge of the wide portion of the handle includes a landing portion, which rests on, but is not otherwise connected to, or wrapped by an external surface. of the container.

79. The preform from which the container according to any of claims 76 to 78 is blown, the preform is characterized in that it includes a label extending from the lower edge of a portion of the handle of the preform; the label is integrally connected to the preform.