WO1997025195A1 - Ebauche de moulage par injection a motif par empreinte en relief - Google Patents

Ebauche de moulage par injection a motif par empreinte en relief Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997025195A1
WO1997025195A1 PCT/US1997/000133 US9700133W WO9725195A1 WO 1997025195 A1 WO1997025195 A1 WO 1997025195A1 US 9700133 W US9700133 W US 9700133W WO 9725195 A1 WO9725195 A1 WO 9725195A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
preform
container
shaped
design
blow molding
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/000133
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Martin H. Beck
Robert Caldicott
George F. Rollend
Original Assignee
Dtl Imprinting, L.L.C.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dtl Imprinting, L.L.C. filed Critical Dtl Imprinting, L.L.C.
Priority to AU15263/97A priority Critical patent/AU1526397A/en
Publication of WO1997025195A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997025195A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
    • B29B11/00—Making preforms
    • B29B11/06—Making preforms by moulding the material
    • B29B11/08—Injection moulding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/071—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2795/00—Printing on articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state
    • B29C2795/002—Printing on articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state before shaping
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/072—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable wall thickness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/072—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable wall thickness
    • B29C2949/0724—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable wall thickness at body portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/072—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable wall thickness
    • B29C2949/0725—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable wall thickness at bottom portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/073—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable diameter
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/073—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable diameter
    • B29C2949/0733—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable diameter at body portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/076—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape
    • B29C2949/0768—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform
    • B29C2949/077—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform characterised by the neck
    • B29C2949/0772—Closure retaining means
    • B29C2949/0773—Threads
    • B29C2949/0774—Interrupted threads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/076—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape
    • B29C2949/0768—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform
    • B29C2949/077—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform characterised by the neck
    • B29C2949/0777—Tamper-evident band retaining ring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/076—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape
    • B29C2949/0768—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform
    • B29C2949/0779—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform characterised by the body
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/081—Specified dimensions, e.g. values or ranges
    • B29C2949/0811—Wall thickness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/0861—Other specified values, e.g. values or ranges
    • B29C2949/0862—Crystallinity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/22—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at neck portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/24—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at flange portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/26—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at body portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/28—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at bottom portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C45/26—Moulds
    • B29C45/37—Mould cavity walls, i.e. the inner surface forming the mould cavity, e.g. linings
    • B29C45/372—Mould cavity walls, i.e. the inner surface forming the mould cavity, e.g. linings provided with means for marking or patterning, e.g. numbering articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
    • B29C49/06—Injection blow-moulding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/722—Decorative or ornamental articles

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to a process for producing a blow molded plastic container having a shaped and/or colored design feature on the inner and/or outer surface thereof.
  • this invention pertains to a process of imprinting a shaped design feature and/or colorant into the inner and/or outer surface of a plastic preform suitable for blow molding a plastic container, a preform having such a design feature and/or colorant imprinted in the inner and/or outer surface thereof and a plastic container having a shaped and/or colored design feature on the inner and/or outer surface thereof produced from such a preform.
  • the soft drink industry is a highly competitive industry that has long demanded an inexpensive bottle for packaging its products.
  • Blow molded plastic bottles presently provide the best available combination of structural integrity and economy of manufacture in the industry, and therefore dominate today's soft drink market.
  • These plastic bottles are typically one piece self-standing bi-axially oriented two liter bottles formed of a tough, flexible plastic, usually a polyester such as PET.
  • the structure of blow molded PET bottles and the process of blow molding PET bottles are well known in the industry and are therefore not described in detail herein.
  • the highly competitive nature of the soft drink industry demands that bottles provide brand distinction. Changing labels on the generically shaped PET bottles is simply not enough for today's soft drink market. Labels, while colorful and informative (product information, etc.), are costly to purchase, inventory and apply. In addition, labels are generally "flat" or two dimensional in appearance and do not add to the structural appearance or design of the bottle.
  • Coca-Cola ® has gone to a contoured blow molded PET bottle design with ribbing. While Pepsi Cola ® has resorted to swirls on the shoulder, and 7-Up ® uses green colored bottles. Other brands likewise desire distinguishing features to identifying their brand or make their bottles stand out among the competition's bottles. Unfortunately, the cost of making selected tooling for each blow molded PET bottle shape, manufacturing and inventory becomes prohibitively expensive. Further, additional material is required to maintain the required structural integrity of a conventional modified PET container when subjected to internal pressurization from the carbonated beverage contained in therein.
  • Decorative design features are presently molded into PET bottles during the blow molding process, i.e. the structural design of the bottles is shaped by specially designed blow molds. Design features that have been blow molded into the bottles may frequently have an adverse effect on the structural integrity and strength of the bottles. When a blow molded bottle is filled with a carbonated beverage, the plastic walls tend to yield
  • the objects of the present invention are achieved by imprinting shaped a design feature onto the inner and/or outer surface of a preform suitable for blow molding a container.
  • a process of producing a hollow plastic preform suitable for blow molding a plastic container having a shaped design on at least one of an outer and inner surface of the container comprising the steps of: a) injection molding a hollow plastic preform suitable for blow molding a plastic container; and b) forming (molding or imprinting) a shaped feature into at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the preform, the shaped feature being sized, shaped and oriented on the preform to, upon blow molding the preform into a container, produce the shaped design on the at least one of an outer and inner surface of the container.
  • Fig. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view of an injection molded plastic preform that has been imprinted with shaped design features according to the present invention, along with a bottle having shaped design features produced from such an imprinted preform, in which the thickness of the walls of the preform and container and the depth of the imprinted design features have been exaggerated for illustration purposes; and
  • Fig. 2 is diagrammatic illustration of a preform having a design feature imprinted an a surface thereof along with a container blow molded from such a preform, showing the degree of stretch of the design.
  • the surface of an injection molded plastic, for example, PET, preform l, suitable for blow molding into a plastic container 3, is imprinted with shaped design features 5, such as swirls, ridges, ribs, designs and/or textured areas in a recessed panel 7, for example, by pressing a branding iron into the inner and/or outer surface of the preform 1.
  • the branding iron is contoured radially and longitudinally to the surface of the preform 1 to be imprinted and the surface of the branding iron is a relief of the shaped features 5 to be imprinted on the preform.
  • the branding iron may have surfaces at two or more levels for imprinting design features 5 of different depths in a single imprinting step.
  • the branding iron is heated to a temperature of about 300°F to about 330°F and is pressed against the surface of the preform to be imprinted for ⁇ to 3 seconds at a sufficient pressure to form the shaped features 5.
  • the amount of time and pressure required to imprint the design features 5 into the surface of the preform depend upon the area, contour, depth, etc. of the design features 5.
  • the design features 5 are imprinted to a depth of 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to 0.050 inches (1.27 mm) into the surface of the side wall 9 of a typical preform 1 having a wall thickness in the range of from about 0.135 inches (3.429 mm) to about 0.165 inches (4.191 mm). With this construction, the shaped design features 5 are relatively shallow, compared to the thickness of the side wall 9 of the preform.
  • the walls 9 of the preform 1 are stretched and thinned by - 6 - a factor of up to 15x, thereby producing a container 3 having a typical wall thickness of approximately 0.008 inches (0.203 mm) to 0.015 inches (0.381 mm).
  • the design features 5 are stretched and thinned along with the wall 9 of the preform 1 during blow molding, as shown with dashed lines in Fig. 2.
  • the design features 11 in the resulting container 3 are therefore relatively shallow, compared to the thickness of the wall 13 of the container 3, and do not extend into the inner region of the wall 13.
  • the design features 11 according to the invention do not significantly adversely affect the structural integrity of the container 3.
  • the design features 5 imprinted on the preform will increase in size by a factor of 2-13x, depending on stretch ratios and location of the design features 5 on the resulting blow molded container 3.
  • the location, size, shape and configuration of the design features 5 to be imprinted on the preform 1 must therefore be designed to accommodate the stretch ratios and location of the desired design features 13 on the resulting blow molded container 3.
  • the shaped design features 5, 11 can be provided on the outer surface 15, 17 only of the preform 1 and resulting container 3, inner surface 19, 21 only, or a combination of both the outer 15, 17 and inner 19, 21 surfaces. Imprinting the design features 5 on the inner surface 19 of the preform 1 will provide the illusion of depth to the design 11 in the resulting container 3. The illusion of depth of the design 11 in the resulting container 3 can be enhanced by imprinting both the outer 15 and inner 19 surfaces of the preform 1. Providing an offset, as illustrated in the figure, between the outer and inner design features 5 further enhances the perception of depth of the design 11 in the resulting container 3 while maximizing retention of wall strength in the resulting container.
  • the container 3 can be provided with a tactile feel by placing a design feature 5 on the outer surface 15 of the preform 1, so that the design 11 on the outer surface 17 of the resulting container 3 retains a surface texture shaped design feature 5,13 may be located anywhere on the preform land resulting container 3 as desired, i.e. on the sidewall, base, feet and/or neck portions, for example.
  • Portions of the surface of the container 3, the design features 11, and/or recessed panel 23 on the container 3 may be colored by embedding a colorant into the outer 15 and/or inner 19 surface of the preform with the branding iron during the imprinting step.
  • the colorant is a concentrated colorant, such as a master batch additive at the same concentration that is conventionally used when coloring an entire preform to producing a colored container.
  • the hot branding iron is dipped into beads of colorant, such that the beads of colorant melt and adhere to the branding iron before imprinting the shaped design features 5 into the preform.
  • the melted colorant then becomes embedded in the surface of the preform during the subsequent imprinting step.
  • the surface of the preform is imprinted with the shaped design features with colorant embedded therein in a single imprinting step for producing colored features a d shaped features 11 on the resulting container 3.
  • the area of the colored feature may be increased by a factor of about lOx thereby reducing its thickness by a factor of about lOx.
  • the colorant may be adhered to the branding iron only on a surface of the branding iron that forms a shaped design feature on the preform 1, for coloring at least a portion of a shaped design feature 11 on the container 3.
  • different colored colorants may be adhered to different portions and/or different levels of the branding iron and embedded into different areas of the preform 1, for producing differently colored features, differently colored shaped features 11 or any desired combination of colored features and colored shaped features 11 on the surface of the container 3.
  • Portions of the surface of the container 3 that are blown, i.e. stretched, such as recessed panel 23, for example, can be lightly crystallized, turning these portions slightly white to the eye.
  • the aesthetics of the design or the container 3 can be enhanced by including clear and white portions as part of the design.
  • white crystallized portions on the resulting container 3 small localized areas on the outer 17 and/or inner 21 surface of the preform 1 that are to be blown and stretched during blow molding are heated to initiate, but not complete, the desired crystallization, forming crystal initiating sites 25. Due to the relatively small localized nature of crystal initiating sites 25 on the surface of the preform, the preform looks transparent to the naked eye.
  • the crystal initiating sites 25 cause areas of the surface of the container 3 to crystalize to a depth of 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to 0.005 inches (0.127 mm) .
  • the crystallization may, however, extend entirely through the wall of the container 3.
  • the recessed panel 7 for example, a white design feature, for example, a snowman, star 11 (Fig. 2) or, a white recessed panel 23 (Fig. 1) , can be produced on the surface of the resulting container 3.
  • a white design feature for example, a snowman, star 11 (Fig. 2) or, a white recessed panel 23 (Fig. 1)
  • Portions or all of the shaped design features 11 on the container 3 may be made white by appropriately locating the crystal initiating sites 25 on the surface of the preform 1.
  • the crystallized portions of the wall 13 of the container 3 Upon being crystallized, the crystallized portions of the wall 13 of the container 3 become more rigid than the uncrystallized portions of the container 3. Less material is therefore required to provide a crystallized design feature with the required strength to prevent distortion of the design feature upon internal pressurization of the container, providing further reductions in material.
  • the design features on the bottles have insignificant distortion with pressure or temperature over a period of approximately 168 hours.
  • Branding with a branding iron is the preferred method for imprinting the shaped design features 5 into the preform 1.
  • any suitable method may be employed to imprint the design features into the surface(s) of the preform.
  • the design features may be imprinted, for example, by cold pressing, hot branding, embossing, etching or laser cutting the features into the surface(s) of the preform, or by any combination of such methods.
  • the method of imprinting a design that covers the entire circumference of the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the preform can be accomplished in several ways.
  • the preform may be rotated 360° while being imprinted by a stationary device, for example, or the imprinting device may orbit 360° around a stationary preform.
  • the preform may be appropriately temperature conditioned to facilitate the imprinting.
  • imprinting is intended to include any suitable method for forming a shaped design feature in the inner and/or outer surface of a preform 1 suitable for blow molding a container.
  • the present invention provides a process of producing decorative blow molded containers having design features that alter the geometry of the inner and/or outer surface of a blow molded container without detrimentally effecting the structural integrity of the container. Since design features produced by the present invention do not effect the structural integrity of the container, there is no need to provided additional material to strengthen the container in the area of the design feature. Thus, the present invention reduces the amount of material required to produce blow molded containers having shaped design features on the inner and/or outer surfaces thereof, compared to conventional methods of blow molding such features into the surface of a container. In fact, by the use of suitably shaped imprint patterns, container produced by the present invention may have enhanced strength without any associated weight increase.
  • the pattern may be injection molded into the preform by the use of features formed in the cavity wall of the injection mold used to mold the preform.
  • the features must be located and designed to permit removal of the preform from the cavity, for example, by locating the features in that portion of the outer wall of the cavity in which the shoulder forming portion and/or sidewall forming portion of the preform are molded.
  • These are portions of the preform in which a wall thickness reduction of at least three and preferably greater than five takes place during blow molding of the preform to form the container with the pattern features therein.
  • the pattern will generally, and most conveniently, be formed in the outer surface of the preform
  • the use of pattern forming features on the surface of the core of the mold is also possible with the pattern then being formed on the inner surface of the preform.
  • a pattern may be formed on both the inner and outer walls of the preform so long as removal of the preform from the mold is facilitated.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une ébauche plastique creuse (1) convenant au moulage-soufflage d'un récipient en plastique (3), un dessin en relief (11) étant réalisé sur sa face intérieure ou extérieure. L'ébauche (1) est obtenue par injection-moulage, le motif en relief (5) étant réalisé par empreinte ou moulage sur la face interne et/ou la face externe de l'ébauche. Le motif en relief (5) est calibré, mis en forme et orienté sur l'ébauche (1) de façon à produire, pendant l'opération de moulage par soufflage un dessin en relief (11) sur la face externe et/ou interne du récipient (3) moulé par soufflage.
PCT/US1997/000133 1996-01-11 1997-01-06 Ebauche de moulage par injection a motif par empreinte en relief WO1997025195A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU15263/97A AU1526397A (en) 1996-01-11 1997-01-06 Injection molded preform with imprinted surface feature

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US58755696A 1996-01-11 1996-01-11
US08/587,556 1996-01-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997025195A1 true WO1997025195A1 (fr) 1997-07-17

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/US1997/000133 WO1997025195A1 (fr) 1996-01-11 1997-01-06 Ebauche de moulage par injection a motif par empreinte en relief

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1526397A (fr)
WO (1) WO1997025195A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1598167A1 (fr) * 2004-05-17 2005-11-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Procédé de fabrication d'ébauches creuses, procédé de fabrication de récipients creux, ces ébauches et récipients en plastique ayant un motif visible sur leur surface
US9327462B2 (en) 2010-10-20 2016-05-03 Pepsico, Inc. Control of bubble size in a carbonated liquid

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4233262A (en) * 1977-04-21 1980-11-11 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Method of forming blown polyethylene terephthalate containers
US4320083A (en) * 1978-03-13 1982-03-16 Platmanufaktur Ab Process of preparing reinforced container
US4339409A (en) * 1981-01-26 1982-07-13 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Method of forming blown polyethylene terephthalate containers

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4233262A (en) * 1977-04-21 1980-11-11 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Method of forming blown polyethylene terephthalate containers
US4320083A (en) * 1978-03-13 1982-03-16 Platmanufaktur Ab Process of preparing reinforced container
US4339409A (en) * 1981-01-26 1982-07-13 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Method of forming blown polyethylene terephthalate containers

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1598167A1 (fr) * 2004-05-17 2005-11-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Procédé de fabrication d'ébauches creuses, procédé de fabrication de récipients creux, ces ébauches et récipients en plastique ayant un motif visible sur leur surface
WO2005115721A1 (fr) * 2004-05-17 2005-12-08 The Procter & Gamble Company Procede pour produire des preformes creuses en matiere plastique, procede pour produire des contenants en matiere plastique, preformes et contenants en matiere plastique presentant un motif conçu de maniere visible sur leur surface
US9327462B2 (en) 2010-10-20 2016-05-03 Pepsico, Inc. Control of bubble size in a carbonated liquid
US10501259B2 (en) 2010-10-20 2019-12-10 Pepsico, Inc. Control of bubble size in a carbonated liquid

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1526397A (en) 1997-08-01

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