A beverage bottle filling machine and a method of filling beverage bottles and similar containers.

Disclosed is a molded article, wherein the article has at least one layer having a wood grain-like appearance, wherein the layer comprises: a) a first thermoplastic material that is selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), copolymers thereof, and any combinations thereof; and b) a second polymer material that is at least partially immiscible with said first thermoplastic material, in which said second polymer material is selected from the group consisting of: polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), copolymers thereof, and any combinations thereof; wherein said second polymer material has a Solubility Parameter () of from about 10 (cal.sup.1/2cm.sup.3/2) to about 20 (cal.sup.1/2cm.sup.3/2), and a melting point of from about 194 C. to about 280 C. The present invention also relates to a mixture of masterbatches used for manufacturing the above molded articles, and a method of manufacturing the above molded articles. The present inventions provide wood grain-like appearance, while maintaining mechanical strength and barrier benefit.

The part under the neck ring (9) of a preform for blowing a PET bottle of predetermined capacity not larger than 75 cl and with a max. material weight of 15 g, is inclined by an angle less accentuated than normal, max. 17, which allows to make a preform with a thickness t.sub.2 of the wall thinner than 1.9 mm and a thinner inner diameter of the preform body in order to allow a lower stretch ratio starting from a larger preform to obtain the final bottle of predetermined capacity.

Provided is an apparatus for heating plastic preforms, with a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predefined transport path, wherein this transport device has a plurality of holding elements for holding the plastic preform, and with at least one first heating section which is arranged along the transport path, and at least one second heating section which is arranged along the transport path downstream of the first heating section, wherein the heating sections each include a plurality of independently controllable heating elements which allow heating of the plastic preforms in several heating zones, lying above each other in the longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms, with a temperature profile which changes in the longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms, wherein the apparatus includes a control device for controlling these heating sections.

A synthetic resin container that is formed in a bottle shape having a mouth and a trunk and that is provided in the trunk with at least one reduced pressure absorbing panel. The trunk has a density of 1.3695 g/cm.sup.3 or more, and a ratio of a crystal orientation in a transverse direction with respect to a total value of a crystal orientation in a machine direction and the crystal orientation in the transverse direction in the trunk is less than 44%.

A synthetic resin container that is formed in a bottle shape having a mouth and a trunk and that is provided in the trunk with at least one reduced pressure absorbing panel. The trunk has a density of 1.3695 g/cm.sup.3 or more, and a ratio of a crystal orientation in a transverse direction with respect to a total value of a crystal orientation in a machine direction and the crystal orientation in the transverse direction in the trunk is less than 44%.

A preform assembly includes: an outer preform that includes an outer mouth portion and a stretch portion connected to the outer mouth portion and in which a recess extending in a vertical direction is provided on an inner surface of the stretch portion; and an inner preform that includes an inner mouth portion and a stretch portion connected to the inner mouth portion, wherein an outside air introduction port communicating with a part between the outer preform and the inner preform is provided in a mouth portion composed of the outer mouth portion and the inner mouth portion located on an inner side of the outer mouth portion.

A multi-layered pressure packaging comprises a first container including a lockable neck portion followed by a body part and a bottom part, obtained from a non-foamed thermoplastic material by stretch blow molding, and a first layer at least enclosing the body part and/or bottom part of the first container. The first layer comprises foamed material, and the foamed material layer is foamed in place with an outer enclosure applied over and around the first container defining a free space in between, and foamable material introduced and foamed between the first container and the outer enclosure in the free space, obtaining the foamed material layer. A second layer is applied on the outer surface of the foamed layer for keeping the foamed layer and the first container together. Methods are provided for manufacturing a multi-layered pressure packaging according to an embodiment.

According to the present invention there is provided a preform suitable for subsequent blow molding, and a mold stock for producing the preform. The preform comprises a base having an elliptical inner face with a first flat circular bottom portion, and an elliptical outer face with a second flat circular bottom portion. The first and second flat circular bottom portions each have a center on a vertical center axis of the preform and a radius of equal size. The mold stack comprises a core insert comprising a first cavity defining portion with a gate defining portion, and a gate insert comprising a second cavity defining portion. The gate defining portion has a first elliptical curvature with a first flat circular bottom portion, and the second cavity defining portion has a second elliptical curvature with a second flat circular bottom portion. The first and second flat circular bottom portions each have a center on a vertical axis of the mold stack and a radius of equal size.

The disclosure relates to processes for producing lightweight polyethylene terephthalate bottles that retain good barrier properties against the permeation of oxygen, carbon dioxide and/or water vapor. The use of relatively small amounts of polyethylene furandicarboxylate during the formation of the PET bottles can produce a bottle having the required barrier properties and result in the use of less material.