A method of controlling a preform for stretch blow-moulding a container with an integrally formed handle; the preform comprising, a body portion and the integrally formed handle; the preform transferred from a perform supply source to a blow moulding die for blowing the container; the method including the steps of passing the preform through a preform handle orientating apparatus, transferring the preform to a preform transportation system, maintaining orientation of the preform handle imposed by the perform handle orientating apparatus during transfer to the perform transportation system and transfer to the blow moulding die, rotating the preforms during transport along the transportation system past an array of preform heating elements while shielding the integrally formed handle from excessive exposure to the heating elements, transferring the preform from the transportation system to the blow moulding die, and wherein the handle comprises a loop of orientable material extending between an upper connection region and a lower connection region on the body portion of the preform; characterised in that the handle has a generally uniform cross section from proximate the lower connection region to a gradually widening cross section approaching the upper connection region; the cross section reaching and maintaining a maximum width proximate the upper connection region.

A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

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.

A method for producing a sterilized container comprises: providing a preform having a hanger arranged on a bottom of the preform, heating the preform in a heating device, feeding the heated preform into a stretching and blowing apparatus, stretching and blowing the preform in the stretching and blowing apparatus such that the container for the infusion solution is formed from the preform, cleaning the formed container in a rinsing apparatus, and drying the cleaned container in a drying device, filling the cleaned and dried container at least with an infusion solution, via a filling opening present in the container, in a filling plant, closing the container by attaching a closure cap to the filling opening of the container, sterilizing the closed container in an autoclave, wherein the hanger of the preform is oriented and folded over by a bending apparatus prior to stretching and blowing in the stretching and blowing apparatus.

A stackable plastic container includes a neck area; a body portion with a base; an integral handle part located around the neck area of the container, in which the handle part includes one or more handles for carrying and handling the container; and an integral first chime configured to receive and/or cooperatively engage the base of an identical container.

A method for producing a sterilized container comprises: providing a preform having a hanger arranged on a bottom of the preform, heating the preform in a heating device, feeding the heated preform into a stretching and blowing apparatus, stretching and blowing the preform in the stretching and blowing apparatus such that the container for the infusion solution is formed from the preform, cleaning the formed container in a rinsing apparatus, and drying the cleaned container in a drying device, filling the cleaned and dried container at least with an infusion solution, via a filling opening present in the container, in a filling plant, closing the container by attaching a closure cap to the filling opening of the container, sterilizing the closed container in an autoclave, wherein the hanger of the preform is oriented and folded over by a bending apparatus prior to stretching and blowing in the stretching and blowing apparatus.

A method of forming a container from bi-axially orientable plastics material and having an integral handle with the steps of forming a preform having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck portion, with the neck portion including a locating ring above the expandable portion and a handle molded to the non expandable at one end and molded to the expandable portion at the other end. Where the molded-in handle is the approximate length of the handle of the finished container. The unblown preform of orientable plastics is inserted into a blow molder and thereafter stretched by a stretch rod. During the stretch process the handle on the preform unbends rather than stretching to form the approximate shape of the handle in the finished container. The blow mold then closes on the stretched preform thus capturing the handle. Blow gas is then injected into the interior.

A method for forming a container with an integral handle includes heating a preform having an integral handle in a first oven, stretching the preform, closing a first mold having a first mold recess and a second mold having a second mold recess around the preform, and blowing air into the preform. A handle pocket wedge block is inserted into a handle pocket of the integral handle of the preform within the first mold and the second mold.