An injection mold for producing a double walled drinking vessel includes first and second mold portions. The first mold portion forms a first and second cavities corresponding to the outer shape of the outer container and the outer shape of the inner container, respectively. The first and second cavities are located concentrically with respect to a central axis. An index plate is rotatable and axially movable along the central axis relative to the first mold portion. The index plate includes a first core and a second core. The first cavity has a first cavity injection gate for injecting mold material into the first cavity for forming the outer container. The second cavity has a second cavity injection gate for injecting mold material into the second cavity for forming the inner container. The first cavity has a further injection gate for injecting joint material for joining the outer and inner containers.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

Mineral-filled polymer compositions and methods of forming such polymer compositions into a thermally stable article are provided. Methods of forming a polymeric article include providing a polymer composition comprising a crystallizable polymer, a mineral filler in an amount of more than about 15 wt-% based on the total weight of the polymer composition, and an impact modifier, wherein the polymer composition is at a temperature less than a crystallization temperature of the crystallizable polymer. The methods further include disposing the polymer composition in a mold, forming the polymer composition into an article within the mold, and releasing the article from the mold. The methods can include thermoforming the polymer composition in a mold, or injection molding the polymer composition in a molten form in a mold.

An improved sheet for making a three-dimensional article for holding food, such as a food tray, and a method of making a three-dimensional article. The sheet comprises a substrate and a laminate film. The laminate film may comprise a ceramic film and a copolymer layer. The copolymer layer can repair any cracks that occur due in the ceramic film when the sheet is thermoformed. The food tray is considered a single material that is recyclable.

A biaxially-oriented film for thermoforming is disclosed including at least 75% by weight polyethylene and at least 95% by weight polyolefins, based on the total mass of the film. The polyethylene has an elongation at break of at least 7 in the stress-strain diagram, wherein the stress-strain diagram is measured at a temperature of 10° C. below the melting point of the polyethylene and the melting point is determined by differential scanning calorimetry using a heating rate of 10° C. per minute. A process for producing such films and to the use thereof are disclosed. A process for producing shaped bodies from such films and to the shaped bodies themselves are disclosed.

A station for heating thermoplastic sheet-like blanks for a thermoforming line includes a heating carousel which can rotate continuously about a central axis and which has a number of heating heads radially spaced apart from the central axis. Each heating head is adapted to receive at least one respective thermoplastic sheet-like blank at a first peripheral region which is outside the carousel, to retain the at least one blank during the rotation of the carousel while supplying heat to it, and to release the at least one blank to a second peripheral region which is outside the carousel and is angularly spaced apart from the first region.

A pressure forming machine is provided. In one embodiment, the pressure forming machine integrates a heater in its pressure chamber, so the heater and pressure chamber are movable together with respect to a base of the pressure forming machine. The pressure chamber and base can contain locking mechanisms to create a seal between the pressure chamber and a plastic sheet used for forming. The base can also contain a separable air compressor component, so the air compressor can be physically distanced to reduce the noise experienced by a user. Other embodiments are provided.

Article having a body portion including one or more walls surrounding an interior space. The one or more walls have an inner surface, an outer surface, a wall thickness, a transparent portion, and one or more aesthetic regions having oblong voids provided between the inner surface and the outer surface within an outermost 70% of the wall, and the one or more aesthetic regions are provided in a predetermined pattern.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

A method for manufacturing a tableware article having a thermal-transfer printed pattern includes the following steps. Firstly, a PET resin composition including 3 to 15% by weight of an inorganic filler is provided. Next, the PET resin composition is granulated to obtain plastic granules. Then, the plastic granules are molded into the tableware article and the tableware article is post-crystallized. Finally, a thermal transfer printed pattern is printed on a surface of the post-crystallized tableware article.