A process for regulating a cyclical production of containers by stretch blow molding from preforms, comprising an initializing phase, a regulated production phase, and a stabilizing phase. In the regulated production phase, the preblowing curve is measured and stored, and a real instant and/or a real pressure is calculated, corresponding to a characteristic point. A new value of at least one operating parameter of the machine is calculated as a function of a difference between a real instant and a reference instant and/or between a real pressure and a reference pressure. The regulated production phase monitors for change, imposed by the operator, of a value of an operating parameter of the machine and automatically updates the regulating parameters in the stabilizing phase while production is continued. The process also corrects the reference instant and/or the reference pressure as a function of the real pressure and/or real instant values stored.

A process for regulating a cyclical production of containers by stretch blow molding from preforms, comprising an initializing phase, a regulated production phase, and a stabilizing phase. In the regulated production phase, the preblowing curve is measured and stored, and a real instant and/or a real pressure is calculated, corresponding to a characteristic point. A new value of at least one operating parameter of the machine is calculated as a function of a difference between a real instant and a reference instant and/or between a real pressure and a reference pressure. The regulated production phase monitors for change, imposed by the operator, of a value of an operating parameter of the machine and automatically updates the regulating parameters in the stabilizing phase while production is continued. The process also corrects the reference instant and/or the reference pressure as a function of the real pressure and/or real instant values stored.

A blow moulding machine for blow moulding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow moulded from a previously injection moulded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.

A blow moulding machine for blow moulding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow moulded from a previously injection moulded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.

A container includes an outer layer defining an exterior surface and including poly (ethylene terephthalate) and an inner barrier layer including semi-crystalline poly(ethylene furanoate) including semi-crystalline poly(ethylene furanoate) where the poly(ethylene furanoate) has a crystallinity X.sub.c of 3 to 40%.

A container includes an outer layer defining an exterior surface and including poly (ethylene terephthalate) and an inner barrier layer including semi-crystalline poly(ethylene furanoate) including semi-crystalline poly(ethylene furanoate) where the poly(ethylene furanoate) has a crystallinity X.sub.c of 3 to 40%.

An article-inspection apparatus includes a light source for directing light energy with multiple wavelengths at the article and multiple sensors to receive light reflected from external and internal surfaces of the wall of the article, with the reflections being used to compute a physical characteristic, e.g., wall thickness, of the container, due to the light absorption characteristics of the material of the wall of the article. A single light sensitive sensor may be used if the light source wavelengths can be selectively transmitted. The apparatus can be used for inspecting transparent plastic containers that are filled (with a liquid) or unfilled. The apparatus may determine the wall thickness of transparent plastic containers even if they have in-molded features or decorations that make their inner and outer walls non-parallel.

A plastic preform includes a hollow body portion including a closed base portion and a lower portion and a lower portion extending upwardly from the closed bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation having a lower surface and positioned directly below the threads, and a support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface and positioned below the tamper-evident formation. In an embodiment, the plastic preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange is from 0.125 to 0.150 inches. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.

A plastic preform includes a hollow body portion including a closed base portion and a lower portion and a lower portion extending upwardly from the closed bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation having a lower surface and positioned directly below the threads, and a support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface and positioned below the tamper-evident formation. In an embodiment, the plastic preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange is from 0.125 to 0.150 inches. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.

A blow moulding machine for blow moulding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow moulded from a previously injection moulded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.