A fabric and elastomeric material (referred to as a fabric trilayer) combined with a sealant may be applied in such a fashion so as to eliminate or minimize air entrapment in an elastomeric composite structure that forms a seal-sealing volume. The performance of the self-sealing volume is dramatically improved with this minimizing of air entrapment. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, this construction approach may be accomplished without significantly adding to the weight or thickness of the volume and without affecting the outer dimension of the self-sealing volume. Thus, a method and system for forming a self-sealing volume are described. The system includes an elastomeric composite structure comprising at least one layer of an elastomeric material derived from a neat (no solvent) elastomeric material that does not substantially react at room temperature.

A liquid blow molding method includes: a preliminary pressurizing step of operating a pressure feeding source to preliminary pressurize a liquid between the pressure feeding source and a blow nozzle; an operating condition setting step of setting an operating condition of the pressure feeding source on the basis of data acquired by the preliminary pressurizing step; a blow molding step of liquid blow molding a preform into a container of a predetermined shape; and a suck-back step of operating the pressure feeding source in a reverse direction on the operating condition set in the operating condition setting step to suck back the liquid from inside of the container molded into a predetermined shape in the blow molding step toward inside of the blow nozzle.

The invention relates to a method for producing a container (2) filled with a liquid product in which a preform (1) consisting of a thermoplastic material is stretched after a thermal conditioning with a stretching rod (11) and is shaped in an inflation process to the container (2), wherein the inflation process comprises a pre-blowing phase in which a fluid of a first pressure level is used for the inflation, and comprises a main blowing phase in which a fluid of a second pressure level that is greater than the first pressure level is used for the inflation and is characterized in that the fluid used in the pre-blowing phase is a blowing gas and that the fluid used in the main blowing phase is the product. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out a method according to the invention.

A liquid blow molding method molds a bottomed tubular-shaped preform into a liquid containing container. The method includes a nozzle engaging step of engaging a blow nozzle with a mouth of the preform; a molding step of molding the preform into a container of a predetermined shape by supplying a pressurized liquid from a pump into the preform; a suck-back step of sucking back a predetermined volume of liquid out of the container into a supply path; a nozzle closing step of closing the blow nozzle by a sealing body; and a discharge step of discharging a liquid in the supply path by a predetermined volume from a discharge port by operating, after the nozzle closing step, a pump in a positive direction with the discharge port connected to the supply path opened.

A method of making a container via a simultaneous filling and forming of the container with a liquid product is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of extruding a parison (12, 2), capturing a portion of the parison (12, 2) within a mold (15), and inflating the captured portion of the parison (12, 2) against the mold (15). The captured portion of the parison (12, 2) is inflated against the mold (15) by introducing the liquid product into an interior of the captured portion of the parison (12, 2), wherein the liquid product forms an end product to be sealed within the resultant container.

An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container without the use of a mold forming a mold cavity (116, 16) is provided. A pressure source (120, 20) includes an inlet (146, 150, 46, 50) and a piston-like device (140, 40). The piston-like device (140, 40) is moveable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn into the pressure source (120, 20) through the inlet (146, 150, 46, 50) and in a second direction wherein the liquid is urged toward the preform (112, 12). A blow nozzle (122, 22) may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source (120, 20) and transfer the liquid at high pressure (P2) into the preform (112, 12) thereby urging the preform (112, 12) to freely expand until an unopened end thereof contacts a platen (118). The platen (118) forms a bottom in a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.

A method and a device for producing containers formed by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure (i.e. blowing pressure or the pressure of a fluid to be filled) from preforms with a blow mold are provided. The blow mold has a bottom mold with an axially displaceable bottom die, wherein for exerting a counterforce on the bottom die is configured to bias the bottom die into an extended position being arranged in the interior of the blow mold and being extended from the bottom mold, wherein the stretching rod is configured to displace the bottom die against the counterforce into a retracted position substantially being arranged in the bottom mold. The counterforce clamps the preform stretched by the stretching rod between the tip of the stretching rod and the bottom die so that the container being formed is always kept centered.

A method of forming a container (1) and a container (1) formed thereby. A preform (2), having a generally cylindrical body (60, 8) extending between a closed end (12) and an open mouth, is placed within a mold (20, 22) having surfaces corresponding in shape to the desired container (1). An incompressible medium, which is the end product that remains in the molded container (1), is injected under pressure into the preform (2). Under the influence of the incompressible medium, the preform (2) is expanded into contact with the surfaces defining the cavity, simultaneously forming and filling the container (1). During expanding of the preform (2), portions of the plastic material are forced into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). With the incompressible medium contained therein, the container (1) is removed from the mold (20, 22) and including a series of raised dots corresponding to the series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). A method of forming a container (1) and a container (1) formed thereby. A preform (2), having a generally cylindrical body (60, 8) extending between a closed end (12) and an open mouth, is placed within a mold (20, 22) having a surfaces corresponding in shape to the desired container (1). An incompressible medium, which is the end product that remains in the molded container (1), is injected under pressure into the preform (2). Under the influence of the incompressible medium, the preform (2) is expanded into contact with the surfaces defining the cavity, simultaneously forming and filling the container (1). During expanding of the preform (2), portions of the plastic material are forced into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). With the incompressible medium contained therein, the container (1) is removed from the mold (20, 22) and including a series of raised dots corresponding to the series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85).

A method for operating a heating device for thermal conditioning preforms made of a thermoplastic material in which each respective one of the preforms is prepared for a subsequent forming process during which the preforms are formed into containers with a forming fluid fed under pressure into the preforms. The heating device is operated in at least a first operating state and a second operating state. The second operating state is a startup phase of the heating device during which a temperature of the heating device approaches an equilibrium temperature of a thermodynamically stable equilibrium state of the heating device. The first operating state is a continuous operation state following the startup phase. The second operating state is operated with a heating output value that varies over time. Furthermore, the invention relates to a heating device and a machine having a heating device, which are configured to implement the method.

Methods and systems for simultaneously forming and filling a container from a preform with fluid, adjusting a fill point of the fluid, and removing air and/or foam from within the container. One of the methods includes injecting fluid from a fill source into the preform through a nozzle passage defined between the nozzle and a seal pin of the forming and filling system to simultaneously form the container from the preform and fill the container. After the container is formed and filled, the seal pin is actuated to close the nozzle passage and prevent fluid and air from exiting the container through the nozzle passage, thereby trapping fluid and air within the container under pressure. Air, fluid, and/or foam is extracted out from within the container through a passageway defined within a stretch rod to adjust a fill point of the container.