An apparatus for a nozzle is provided for engaging with lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle comprises a first cylindrical portion including a first seal, a second cylindrical portion including a second seal, and a tapered portion between the first and second cylindrical portions. The first and second cylindrical portions include diameters that are less than respective diameters of interior surfaces within the finish portion. The first and second seals are disposed around respective circumferences of the first and second cylindrical portions and configured to tightly engage with the interior surfaces of the preform while maintaining clearance between the nozzle and the interior of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seals are configured to stabilize an orientation of the preform after being pressed onto the nozzle and facilitate conveying the preform along a manufacturing line.

The invention relates to a method comprising, as method steps, a) providing a container blank comprising a blank wall at least partly surrounding a blank interior, comprising i) a multitude of particles, and ii) a liquid in a first proportion of liquid; and b) shaping the container blank thereby obtaining a container comprising a container wall which at least partly surrounds a container interior and comprises a container layer comprising i) the particles of the multitude of particles, and ii) the liquid in a further proportion of liquid;
wherein the further proportion of liquid is less than the first proportion of liquid. The invention further relates to a container obtainable by the above method; to a container having a container layer; to a method of filling and closing one of the aforementioned containers; to a closed container obtainable by said method; to an apparatus; and to uses of a filling machine, of one of the aforementioned containers, of the apparatus and of a multitude of fibers.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

A hollow article 10 is molded in a state where an inner surface of a neck portion 11 including an inner screw portion is held by an inner neck mold 52, and then, the hollow article 10 is demolded from the inner neck mold 52 by inserting an ejection rod 81 into the hollow article 10 to be engaged with an inner surface of the hollow article 10 and rotating the hollow article 10 together with the ejection rod 81.

A preform molding system is disclosed that includes a cavity half that is mountable to a stationary platen of an injection molding machine and a core half that is mountable to a moving platen of the injection molding machine. The preform molding system includes a mold stack assembly having a cavity portion and a core portion. The cavity portion is coupled to the cavity half and includes a cavity insert, and the core portion is coupled to the core half and includes a core insert, a pair of neck rings, and a stripper ring. The core insert has an undercut that defines an annular protrusion on an internal surface of a preform that is created in the mold stack assembly. The preform molding system is configured to permit in sequence, retraction of the pair of neck rings away from the core insert and ejection of the preform from the core insert via the stripper ring.

A preform for a container has a hollow cylindrical main body having a first thickness, a hollow cylindrical thick portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a curved end portion. Inner surfaces of the main body, the thick portion, and the end portion form a cavity.

A preform for a container has a hollow cylindrical main body having a first thickness, a hollow cylindrical thick portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a curved end portion. Inner surfaces of the main body, the thick portion, and the end portion form a cavity.

A preform for a container has a hollow cylindrical main body having a first thickness, a hollow cylindrical thick portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a curved end portion. Inner surfaces of the main body, the thick portion, and the end portion form a cavity.

Multi-barrier bottles having tabbed preforms, as well as methods of forming the same are disclosed. A tabbed preform includes an elongate body extending into a cavity of a first barrier, where the cavity is defined by at least one piece having a recess therein. The tabbed preform further includes at least one preform extension piece extending from the elongate body at a predetermined distance from a top surface of the elongate body. The at least one preform extension piece is sized and shaped to correspond to a size and a shape of the recess.

Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a container having a printing layer that is printable with exposure to laser light of selected properties.