A preform coating device is provided with: a conveyance part that conveys a preform; a dispenser that discharges a coating liquid toward the preform; a drier that is disposed along the conveyance route of the conveyance part so as to be separated from the dispenser, and that dries the coating liquid applied to the preform by irradiating, with infrared rays, the coating liquid applied to the preform; and a first air sending mechanism that sends air, toward the preform, for inhibiting the temperature of the preform from rising at the position where the preform is irradiated with infrared rays by the drier.

A blow molded multilayer article with a hollow body defined by a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface has an axial color gradient. The wall has multiple layers and at least one layer optionally contains an effect pigment and/or an opacifying pigment.

A device and method for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the method being intended for use with axisymmetric preforms having an annular supporting face. The method includes a first step of discharging the preforms in bulk onto a rotating horizontal platen; a second step of aligning the preforms against a fixed peripheral rail by way of the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the rotating platen; a third step of successively righting the aligned preforms by tilting the preform bodies, performed under the annular supporting face. During the second alignment step, the main axis of the preforms is oriented essentially tangentially to the direction of movement.

The present invention provides a preform coating device (5) provided with: a rotating and holding part (9) that holds a preform (1) in a horizontal direction, and rotates the preform (1) about an axis (A) of the preform (1); and a dispenser (6) that has a slot (62) and discharges a coating liquid in a plane form from the slot (62) to the preform (1), wherein the discharge direction of the coating liquid is the direction of the normal to an outer peripheral surface of the preform (1).

The invention relates to a multi-component injection molding method for producing a sleeve-shaped preform as well as to a perform which has at least two layers, said method comprising at least two process steps including at least two cavities and at least one injection mold core that can be used for both cavities, and wherein during the first process step, the first layer which has at least one first and at least one second area extending partially in the circumferential direction of the preform, is injected onto the injection mold core within the first cavity, with the second area having a substantially lower layer thickness than the first area, and during the second process step, the second layer is deposited on the first layer which is located on the injection mold core in the second cavity in such a way that only the second area of the first layer is completely covered by the second layer, or during the first process step, the first area of the first layer is deposited partially on the injection mold core within the first cavity, with the remaining areas being covered by the second layer during a second process step within a second cavity.

A preform can be made from two different materials that do not bond together by a bi-injection process, using the same mold. First an outer preform can be fashioned first, then an inner preform molded through a center hole in the outer preform, and the preforms connected. Inner/outer preform materials can be different, e.g., PET/polyolefin or polyamide, or the same, e.g., PET/PET. To prevent mutual bonding during molding of the second, a non-stick coating can be sprayed on a surface portion of the first preform prior to molding, the second. Manufacturing order can be either outer/inner, or inner/outer, and the non-stick coating sprayed on the inside/outside of the perform first molded.

Disclosed is a method for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the method being intended for use with axisymmetric preforms having an annular supporting face. The method includes: a first step of discharging preforms in bulk onto a rotating horizontal platen; a second step of aligning the preforms against a fixed peripheral rail by way of the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the rotating platen; a third step of successively righting the aligned preforms by tilting the preform bodies, performed under the annular supporting face. During the second alignment step, the main axis of the preforms is oriented essentially tangentially to the direction of movement. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the method.

A preform made from two different materials that do not bond together by a bi-injection process, using the same mold, is presented. An outer layer of the preform can be first made, then an inner layer molded through a center hole in a bottom of the outer layer, and the two layers connected. Inner/outer preform materials can be different, such as PET/polyolefin or polyamide, or the same, such as PET/PET. To prevent mutual bonding during molding of the second layer, a non-stick coating may be sprayed onto a surface portion of the first layer prior to molding the second. In embodiments, manufacturing order can be either outer/inner, or inner/outer, and the non-stick coating sprayed on the inside/outside of the layer first molded.

A composite container which can be given various functions and characteristics; a method for producing such composite container; a preform; and a composite preform. A composite container according to the present invention that includes a container body which is made of a plastic material; and a plastic member disposed on the outer surface of the container body, wherein the container body and the plastic member are integrally inflated by means of blow molding, and wherein the plastic member includes a colored layer and/or a print layer where a print is made.