A method of sub-ambient pressure processing of blow-molded polymer foams and skin-over-foam sandwich panel configurations for lightweight components having improved structural properties. The method can create either skinned or un-skinned foams that offer smooth interior and exterior surfaces, zero or controlled surface porosity, skins of pre-defined thickness, and foam cells that are expanded and oriented normal to the material plane, effectively spherical or polyhedral in nature, and offering improved bending and compressive strength.

A method of sub-ambient pressure processing of blow-molded polymer foams and skin-over-foam sandwich panel configurations for lightweight components having improved structural properties. The method can create either skinned or un-skinned foams that offer smooth interior and exterior surfaces, zero or controlled surface porosity, skins of pre-defined thickness, and foam cells that are expanded and oriented normal to the material plane, effectively spherical or polyhedral in nature, and offering improved bending and compressive strength.

An apparatus for blow-molding plastic containers includes at least one blow-molding station that defines at least one molding cavity for forming plastic containers. The blow-molding station includes two lateral bodies and, for each forming cavity defined by the blow-molding station, a bottom. The bottom includes an external body of the bottom that defines an annular portion that extends around the axis of extension of the respective forming cavity, and an internal body that can be accommodated at least partially inside the annular portion, between the external lateral surface of the internal body and the internal surface of the annular portion there being at least one air evacuation opening that extends around the axis of extension and is connected to first air evacuation elements. The internal body is adjustably movable on command with respect to the annular portion along the axis of extension.

An apparatus for blow-molding plastic containers includes at least one blow-molding station that defines at least one molding cavity for forming plastic containers. The blow-molding station includes two lateral bodies and, for each forming cavity defined by the blow-molding station, a bottom. The bottom includes an external body of the bottom that defines an annular portion that extends around the axis of extension of the respective forming cavity, and an internal body that can be accommodated at least partially inside the annular portion, between the external lateral surface of the internal body and the internal surface of the annular portion there being at least one air evacuation opening that extends around the axis of extension and is connected to first air evacuation elements. The internal body is adjustably movable on command with respect to the annular portion along the axis of extension.

Disclosed is a blow mold for plastic bottle, which comprises: a mold body, two exhaust channels, a label plate, and a vacuum suction assembly; the mold cavity is arranged in the mold body, the mold cavity is used for shaping the bottle embryo; the two exhaust channels are connected to the mold cavity; the vacuum suction assembly is connected to the two exhaust channels and used to suction out the gas inside the mold cavity. The present disclosure starts the vacuum suction assembly when blow molding the bottle embryo to carry out an active exhaust operation, reduces the generation of air bubbles between the bottle embryo and the label plate and the interior of the label plate, improves the adhesion between the bottle and the label plate, also reduces the air bubbles and delamination of the interior of the laminated label plate in the process of blow molding

Disclosed is a blow mold for plastic bottle, which comprises: a mold body, two exhaust channels, a label plate, and a vacuum suction assembly; the mold cavity is arranged in the mold body, the mold cavity is used for shaping the bottle embryo; the two exhaust channels are connected to the mold cavity; the vacuum suction assembly is connected to the two exhaust channels and used to suction out the gas inside the mold cavity. The present disclosure starts the vacuum suction assembly when blow molding the bottle embryo to carry out an active exhaust operation, reduces the generation of air bubbles between the bottle embryo and the label plate and the interior of the label plate, improves the adhesion between the bottle and the label plate, also reduces the air bubbles and delamination of the interior of the laminated label plate in the process of blow molding

A blow mold for making PET containers comprising an inner surface corresponding to the outer outline of the container, on which there are one or more cavities or projections configured to make corresponding respective projections or cavities of the outer surface of the container, wherein the mold comprises one or more venting grooves along the edge delimiting said cavities or projections. A plurality of venting holes are possibly arranged along such grooves, as well as it is also possible for some venting holes to be arranged outside thereof. The width and depth of these are selected according to the wall thickness of the container to be blown to prevent that the deformation of the container during the blowing obstructs the venting grooves and leaves visible marks on the container.

A blow mold for making PET containers comprising an inner surface corresponding to the outer outline of the container, on which there are one or more cavities or projections configured to make corresponding respective projections or cavities of the outer surface of the container, wherein the mold comprises one or more venting grooves along the edge delimiting said cavities or projections. A plurality of venting holes are possibly arranged along such grooves, as well as it is also possible for some venting holes to be arranged outside thereof. The width and depth of these are selected according to the wall thickness of the container to be blown to prevent that the deformation of the container during the blowing obstructs the venting grooves and leaves visible marks on the container.

A method for heating a preform that is rotationally symmetric about its longitudinal axis, has a standard thread, and is made of a thermoplastic material. During heating, the preform is temperature conditioned to be formed into a container having a non-circular cross-section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the container by blow-molding. The preform is provided with a temperature profile along a circumference of the preform such that areas of the preform are differentially heated in a radial direction of the circumference of the preform. The standard thread of the preform is aligned in a predefined target position before the areas of the preform are differentially heated. The preform is rotated into alignment. An alignment element engages in the standard thread of the preform and thereby prevents further rotation of the preform as soon as the alignment element comes in contact with a predetermined contact surface in the standard thread.

A method for heating a preform that is rotationally symmetric about its longitudinal axis, has a standard thread, and is made of a thermoplastic material. During heating, the preform is temperature conditioned to be formed into a container having a non-circular cross-section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the container by blow-molding. The preform is provided with a temperature profile along a circumference of the preform such that areas of the preform are differentially heated in a radial direction of the circumference of the preform. The standard thread of the preform is aligned in a predefined target position before the areas of the preform are differentially heated. The preform is rotated into alignment. An alignment element engages in the standard thread of the preform and thereby prevents further rotation of the preform as soon as the alignment element comes in contact with a predetermined contact surface in the standard thread.