A vertical additive processing system for use with a blow molding machine having a flow head from which a plastic parison is delivered to a mold and producing an article. The system has a servo-controlled accumulation technology (SCAT) unit including (a) an accumulator collecting plastic material when retracted and delivering plastic material when extended, and (b) an actuator directing the accumulator to retract and extend. The system further has a tooling unit including a bushing body adapted to engage the flow head, a distribution ring, a bushing cap, a central aperture defining a main parison flow path, and a distribution channel delivering plastic material received from the accumulator to the main parison flow path. The system still further has a material duct connecting the two units through which plastic material delivered by the SCAT unit is transported to and received by the tooling unit. Also disclosed is a related method.

A preform can be made from two different materials that do not bond together by a bi-injection process, using the same mold. First an outer preform can be fashioned, then an inner preform molded through a center hole in the bottom of the outer preform, and the preforms connected. Inner/outer preform materials can be different, e.g., PET/polyolefin or polyamide, or same, e.g., PET/PET. To prevent mutual bonding during molding of the second, a non-stick coating can be sprayed on a surface portion of the first preform prior to molding the second. Manufacturing order can be either outer/inner, or inner/outer, and the non-stick coating sprayed on the inside/outside of the preform first molded.

A container including a finish at a first end of the container defining an opening. A base is at a second end of the container that is opposite to the first end. A shoulder extends from the finish. A body defines an internal volume and extends from the shoulder to the base. A single layer material portion of the container extends from the first end to form at least a portion of the finish. A multi-layer material portion of the container extends from the single layer material portion to the second end of the container and across the base. A transition area is spaced apart from the first end where the single layer material portion transitions to the multi-layer material portion.

A process includes: supplying a main resin from outer and inner flow channel, to a joined flow channel at a predetermined supply velocity for a predetermined time; supplying a second resin from a middle flow channel to the joined flow channel simultaneously with the main resin at a predetermined supply velocity for a certain time within the predetermined time; and sliding a shut-off pin to bring the pin forefront to a predetermined position near an outlet of the inner flow channel, open to the joined flow channel, before the second resin is supplied, or during a time starting after a time from the start of the second resin supply and ending with the termination of the supply, so that the velocity of main resin supply from the inner flow channel to the joined flow channel is reduced to a predetermined level by adjusting the degree of aperture for the outlet.

A method, system, and preform for liquid forming of the preform into a final-shaped container using the liquid to be contained in the final-shaped container. The preform undergoes a stretching step to a size less than the size of a base of the final-shaped container, before being relocated and stretched to the final shape by the liquid. A stretch rod sealably connects with an interior surface of the preform to partially isolate a gate portion of the preform. The isolation is effected by a portion of the inner surface of the preform extending inwardly, or by a deformable member on the stretch rod which can selectively extend outwardly to contact the interior surface of the preform. The stretch rod includes a selectively heatable tip to heat the gate portion of the preform. The gate portion of the preform includes inner, outer, and core layers which comprise a material configured to affect the thermal properties of the gate portion.

The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform and a method for making it. The bag-in-container has an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further has at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the at least one vent runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers and opens to the atmosphere at a location adjacent to, and oriented coaxially with the bag-in-container's mouth. Processes for manufacturing a preform and a bag-in-container as defined above are defined too.

A preform coating device is provided with: a plurality of rotational holding parts that horizontally hold a preform; a conveyance part that conveys the preform by moving the plurality of rotational holding parts, the plurality of rotational holding parts being disposed at a predetermined interval along the conveyance route of the conveyance part; and a dispenser that discharges a coating liquid toward the preform. The dispenser has: a head including a mechanism for feeding the coating liquid; and a plurality of nozzles that are in fluid communication with the head and that each include a slot for discharging the coating liquid. The plurality of nozzles are disposed at a predetermined interval along the conveyance route. The interval between the plurality of nozzles is equal to the interval between the plurality of rotational holding parts.

Method for manufacturing plastic preforms (10) by injection moulding, consisting of sub-preforms (11, 12) injected at the same time, wherein (1) the injection mould (3) containing the injected composite preform (10) and secondary sub-preform (12) is 1 st closed, and a gripper (4) provided with a set of receiving members (16) is set in a standby position (A) aside from the mould (3); in a 2nd step (2) the mould (3) is opened, wherein each primary core (33) bears an injected composite preform (10), and the secondary core (33) a secondary inner preform (12); the gripper (4) is then driven (3) in motion between the standby position (A) and a take-over position (B), wherein the injected preforms (10, 12) are cooled and taken over from the core side (31) by the gripper (4) by means of suction means (6); wherein the gripper (4) is further moved (4) into a further operating position (C), in which it places the received secondary inner preforms (12) onto the respective primary cores (33) and continues to hold said preforms (11), with formation of integrated preforms (10) which are expelled to a discharge unit.

To provide a composite preform that can ensure that worsening of the appearance of a surface of a plastic member caused by near-infrared heating prior to blow molding is effectively prevented and that an inner preform is efficiently heated. The composite preform of the present invention includes a preform and a heat-contractive plastic member, the preform including a mouth part; a trunk part linked to the mouth part; and a bottom part linked to the trunk part, and the heat-contractive plastic member being disposed so as to surround the outside of the preform and including at least a colored layer that contains a resin material and a colorant, wherein the heat-contractive plastic member has a near-infrared transmittance of 50% or higher.

A preform coating device is provided with: a conveyance part that conveys a preform; a dispenser that discharges a coating liquid toward the preform; a drier that is disposed along the conveyance route of the conveyance part so as to be separated from the dispenser, and that dries the coating liquid applied to the preform by irradiating, with infrared rays, the coating liquid applied to the preform; and an air sending mechanism that is disposed along the conveyance route of the conveyance part so as to be separated from the drier and that sends air toward the preform irradiated with infrared rays.