Method for processing hot-filled plastic containers are provided. In some embodiments, the method may include hot-filling a plastic container, sealing the container, and conveying the sealed container, each with an inner annular wall and a push-up portion in a first position. In some embodiments, the method may further include creating a vacuum pressure in the hot-filled and sealed container and repositioning the push-up portion from the first position to a second position under a mechanical force.

The invention proposes a method for positioning protective screening ramps of a station for heating preforms, on the occasion of a change of format, the heating station comprising: —members for transporting preforms; —at least one pair of parallel longitudinal screening ramps for protecting necks against heat, which ramps are parted in order to leave a slot through which the preforms progress; —a motorized device for moving the ramps transversely. The method includes a preliminary calibration step which consists in arranging at least two calibration elements between the two protective screening ramps occupying an initial position, and manually causing the protective screening ramps to move into a calibrated position in which they are each in simultaneous contact with the two calibration elements.

A displacement device for moving a truncated cone at a base of a container from an as-blown position to a displaced position. The base includes a deep base ring between a standing surface and the truncated cone. The displacement device includes a collar sized and shaped to be received within the deep base ring. A plunger includes a head at an end of a shaft extending through the collar. The head is sized and shaped to be received within the receptacle of the collar. The plunger is movable from a retracted position, at which the head is seated within the receptacle, to an extended position at which the head extends out from within the receptacle to allow the head to contact the truncated cone and move the truncated cone from the as-blown position to the displaced position.

A container, preferably a bottle, is fabricated in a method comprising: —providing a preform comprising poly(ethylene 2, 5-furandicarboxylate); —stretch blow-molding the preform to form the container, wherein the stretch blow-molding comprises a stretching step of the preform to a ratio higher than the natural draw ratio of poly(ethylene 2, 5-furandicarboxylate) at a temperature in a range of 105° C. to 145° C., preferably in a range of 110° C. to 140° C., and at an equivalent axial strain rate at a reference temperature of 100° C. in the range of 0.001 to 10 s.sup.−1, preferably in a range of 0.03 to 3 s.sup.−1.

A plastic, hot-fillable container is provided. The container comprises a blow molded body including a neck and a base having a center portion and a plurality of spaced apart radial segments. At least a portion of each segment is tapered from an outer side to an inner side thereof. Container systems and methods of manufacturing containers are disclosed.

The invention proposes a method for positioning protective screening ramps of a station for heating preforms, on the occasion of a change of format, the heating station comprising:—members for transporting preforms;—at least one pair of parallel longitudinal screening ramps for protecting necks against heat, which ramps are parted in order to leave a slot through which the preforms progress;—a motorized device for moving the ramps transversely. The method includes a preliminary calibration step which consists in arranging at least two calibration elements between the two protective screening ramps occupying an initial position, and manually causing the protective screening ramps to move into a calibrated position in which they are each in simultaneous contact with the two calibration elements.

A method of blow molding an article having at least one layer of thermoplastic material. The method comprises the steps of heating a mold having an inner surface with two or more areas of different surface textures to a first temperature of greater than 55° C. and subsequently feeding a parison into the mold. The parison is then blown against the inner surface of the mold to form an article. The temperature of the mold is subsequently lowered to a second temperature of between 20° C. to about 55° C. and the temperature cycle time (t.sub.ct) of the mold is less than 250 seconds. Using the two phase heating and cooling process in combination with a mold featuring different surface textures provides a finished article with different visual effects.

A plastic, hot-fillable container is provided. The container comprises a blow molded body including a neck and a base having a center portion and a plurality of spaced apart radial segments. At least a portion of each segment is tapered from an outer side to an inner side thereof. Container systems and methods of manufacturing containers are disclosed.

First, a composite preform 70 including a preform 10a and a plastic member 40a in close contact with the outer surface of the preform 10a is made by preparing the preform 10a made of plastic material and arranging the plastic member 40a to surround the outer surface of the preform 10a. Subsequently, the composite preform 70 is heated and inserted in a blow molding die 50 and undergoes blow molding in the blow molding die 50, by which the preform 10a and the plastic member 40a of the composite preform 70 are inflated integrally and a composite container 10A is obtained.

First, a composite preform 70 including a preform 10a and a plastic member 40a in close contact with the outer surface of the preform 10a is made by preparing the preform 10a made of plastic material and arranging the plastic member 40a to surround the outer surface of the preform 10a. Subsequently, the composite preform 70 is heated and inserted in a blow molding die 50 and undergoes blow molding in the blow molding die 50, by which the preform 10a and the plastic member 40a of the composite preform 70 are inflated integrally and a composite container 10A is obtained.