A continuous non-symmetric preform feed stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetrical 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 stretch blow moulding system for PET containers with PET integral handles: the containers blown from injection moulded preforms: each preform having the integral handle projecting from a junction point on a body portion of the preform: containers blown in a continuously rotating stretch blow moulding machine of the system. In a preferred form the preforms are progressed continuously at a substantially constant speed: the containers blown therefrom progress at the same substantially constant speed through to the filling and capping machine: and wherein the containers progress continuously through the filling and capping machine at the same substantially constant speed. Also described is a continuous stretch blow moulding system applied to specified integral handle PET preform and PET blown container structures stretch blown from the preforms thereby to obtain variable wall thickness of the preforms and/or variable wall thickness of the containers.

A blow moulding machine for blow moulding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow moulded from a previously injection moulded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.

The production of a container with an integrated handle, by injection moulding a preform with an incorporated handle protrusion, where such protrusion has a direction perpendicular to the axis of the preform and then stretch blow moulding the said preform into a container, where before the end of the blowing step the handle protrusion is deformed into the shape and/or position it will have in the finished container.

Stretch blow station tooling for stretch blowing at least one parison into a molded article, with such parison including a handle. The tooling comprises at least one blow mold assembly including first and second blow mold halves shiftable between an open position and a closed position. The first and second blow mold halves each include a body cavity surface formed therein. In the closed position, the body cavity surfaces of the first and second blow mold halves are aligned to define a blow cavity for receiving at least a portion of the parison. The tooling further comprises a plunger assembly including a plunger configured to be selectively positioned within the blow cavity. When the plunger is positioned within the blow cavity, the plunger is configured to contact the handle of the parison.

A blow molding machine for blow molding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow molded from a previously injection molded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.

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 blow moulding machine for producing blown containers with an integrally formed handle; the machine including a preform injection moulding stage wherein the preform comprising a body portion, a neck portion and an integrally moulded handle; the machine further including a handle orientation stage, a preform conditioning stage and a blow moulding stage, and wherein the preform is nested in cavities provided in opposing portions of a conditioning module; the integrally moulded handle nested in cavities lined with an insulating material. Also disclosed is a method of producing a blown container with an integrally formed handle in a blow moulding machine; the blow moulding machine including a preform injection moulding stage for moulding a preform comprising a body portion and an integrally moulded handle; the blow moulding machine further including a handle orienting stage, a preform conditioning stage and a blow moulding stage; the method including the steps of: Injection moulding the preform with an integrally moulded handle, Orienting the handle of the preform into a predetermined orientation, Transferring the preform to a preform conditioning module, Transferring the preform from the preform conditioning module to a die of a blow moulding machine when the preform body and integrally moulded handle are at predetermined temperatures, Blowing the container in the blow moulding machine, and wherein the preform is nested in cavities provided in opposing portions of the conditioning module; the integrally moulded handle nested in cavities lined with an insulating material.

An injection-molded preform is disclosed for production of a plastic container by a blow-molding method with an elongated, tube-like body, which is closed on its one longitudinal end and has a neck section that is provided with a pour opening on its other longitudinal end, which neck section includes an injection molded connection to an injection molded closure part, wherein the closure part includes: a flip-top closure and an annular section with an inner wall, which inner wall rests directly on an outer surface of the neck section and completely encloses an annular area of the outer surface of the neck section.

A blow molding machine for blow molding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow molded from a previously injection molded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.