A method and a preform for blow molding to form a plastic container are disclosed, the preform having a coating formed on an inner surface thereof. The coating reduces a loss of heat energy from the heated preform during expansion thereof to ensure the preform maintains a temperature at or above the phase change/solidification temperature of the material forming the preform.

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 first, then an inner preform molded through a center hole in the outer preform, and the preforms connected. Inner/outer preform materials can be different, e.g., PET/polyolefin or polyamide, or the 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 perform first molded.

A method for printing on a hollow body which is brought by stretching into a final form during production from a perform includes, before the preform is stretched, printing on preform with at least one ink. The print is applied in a distorted manner such that presentation of a pattern which is required on the hollow body after the stretching of the preform appears upon the preform being stretched.

The present invention provides a preform coating device (10) provided with a cylindrical transfer roller (11) for rotating about a center shaft (111), and an application device for applying a coating liquid in a predetermined thickness to an external peripheral face of the transfer roller (11), the external peripheral face of the transfer roller (11) rotating so as to touch an external peripheral face of a preform (1), and the coating liquid thereby being transferred from the external peripheral face of the transfer roller (11) to the external peripheral face of the preform (1).

A preform made from two different materials that do not bond together by a bi-injection process, using the same mold, is presented. An outer layer of the preform can be first made, then an inner layer molded through a center hole in a bottom of the outer layer, and the two layers connected. Inner/outer preform materials can be different, such as PET/polyolefin or polyamide, or the same, such as PET/PET. To prevent mutual bonding during molding of the second layer, a non-stick coating may be sprayed onto a surface portion of the first layer prior to molding the second. In embodiments, manufacturing order can be either outer/inner, or inner/outer, and the non-stick coating sprayed on the inside/outside of the layer first molded.

A composite container which can be given various functions and characteristics; a method for producing such composite container; a preform; and a composite preform. A composite container according to the present invention that includes a container body which is made of a plastic material; and a plastic member disposed on the outer surface of the container body, wherein the container body and the plastic member are integrally inflated by means of blow molding, and wherein the plastic member includes a colored layer and/or a print layer where a print is made.