A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic container may include locally heating a middle zone of a thermoplastic tube; gripping the tube on either side by using retaining members; pulling the tube apart, causing a middle zone to narrow; pushing the inner wall of the middle zone against each other to obtain a closure; and cutting through the closed-off middle zone to obtain two separate tubular parts. Further is provided a system for pulling apart a tube, the system may include a first retaining member which is provided for insertion into the first zone via the first end and a second retaining member provided for insertion into the second zone via the second end, each retaining member being adjustable between a first position in which the retaining member fits inside the tube and a second position in which, in use, the retaining member exerts a pressure on the inner wall of the tube.

A container manufacturing method includes: a liquid discharge step in which a predetermined amount of liquid (L) in the container (C) is discharged to the outside by supplying pressurized air from air holes (13) provided in a blow molding mold (11) to a cavity (12) and pushing an outer surface of the container (C) after molding by the air; and a headspace forming step in which a headspace (HS) is formed in the container (C) by separating a filling nozzle (22) from a mouth portion (Ca) of the container (C) in a state in which a predetermined amount of liquid (L) is discharged to the outside.

The present invention relates to a system and method for in-mould labelling of articles. In particular, the present invention pertains to a system and method for in-mould labelling of multiple labels on two or more adjacent surfaces of a container (102) with polygonal cross-section. The present invention provides a combination of mould formation coupled with a design for magazine and robotic arm (606) to enable simultaneous application of multiple in-mould labels across multiple surfaces of a polygonal container (102) with minimal dead space between the labels. Simultaneous application of multiple labels and the preform inside the mould opening as per the present invention reduces cycle time and increases output efficiency.

A composite preform including a preform and a plastic member in close contact with the outer surface of the preform is made by preparing the preform made of plastic material and arranging the plastic member to surround the outer surface of the preform. Subsequently, the composite preform is heated and inserted in a blow molding die and undergoes blow molding in the blow molding die, by which the preform and the plastic member of the composite preform are inflated integrally and a composite container is obtained.

A composite container is provided including a container body made of a plastic material and a plastic member disposed on the outer surface of the container body. The container body and the plastic member are integrally inflated by blow molding, and the plastic member includes a colored layer and/or a print layer where a print is made.

A method for manufacturing a composite preform is provided, including preparing a preform that is formed from a plastic material, preparing a tubular heat shrinkable plastic member that is longer than the preform and has a margin for thermocompression bonding at one end, inserting the preform into the plastic member having the plastic member undergo thermal shrinkage by heating the preform and the plastic member, and bonding the margin of the plastic member by thermocompression.

An improved method for molding a plastic container within a mold including an RFID tag to generate a container which leaves a mold having an RFID tag bonded between the container and a label. This method provides for an improved integrally, extrusion blow molded container, label and RFID tag combination.

A method for producing pipettes (110, 111, 112) is provided. The method includes extruding a polymer melt into at least one mold segment of a mold assembly (120) having a plurality of mold segments to form a parison (50) or preform, wherein the plurality of mold segments (122) comprise cavities (42) that are shaped to form pipettes when in communication with the cavity of an adjacent mold segment; forming at least two pipettes in the shape of the mold segment cavities by blow-molding or vacuum forming the parison or preform, each of the at least two pipettes having proximal and distal ends; heating the pipettes to form a locally heated portion of the at least two pipettes; and separating the pipettes by cutting the locally heated portion of the at least two pipettes with separation feature (64, 66, 194, 196).

An improved method for molding a plastic container within a mold including an RFID tag to generate a container which leaves a mold having an RFID tag bonded between the container and a label. This method provides for an improved integrally, extrusion blow molded container, label and RFID tag combination.

A transfer device with unrolling device, intended for providing a label handling system in an IML machine (In Mould Labelling) with IML labels. The transfer device comprises at least four holders, which are movable between a first and a second position, wherein the first position has a first predetermined relationship between the four or several holders regarding the distance in the X-direction. The holders are intended for retrieval of IML labels from the unrolling device, which comprises a label web, the length of which extends in the Y-direction, with partially stamped out labels, connected to the web with micro connections. The second position has a second predetermined relationship between the four or several holders regarding distance in the X-direction. The holders are intended to deliver the IML labels to the label handling system. The unrolling device comprises adjustment means to make possible the retrieval of labels in the Y-direction, so that the distance in the Y-direction between delivered labels has a different distance in the Y-direction than between two adjacent labels in the web. Further, a method of providing an IML machine with IML labels.