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.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

An injection-molded preform for forming an 8 ounce PET container includes a neck portion configured to engage a closure and having a first wall thickness and an elongated body portion having an upper segment adjacent the neck portion and a lower segment adjacent an end cap. The upper segment has a second wall thickness substantially similar to the first wall thickness. The lower segment has a third wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness. The preform has a total weight less than 7 grams.

An innovative neck (301) configuration is suggested in order to reduce the weight of a large container for beverage dispenser. The neck (301) comprises a neck finish (303) which extends in length (Ltot) starting from the wide mouth (302) of the container to an annular support ring (305) and a smooth surface cylindrical portion (306) which joins the annular support ring (305) to the body (309) of the container. For functional reasons, the total length (Ltot) of the innovative neck (301) remains the same as the usual traditional necks for this type of container, but due to the short length (Ltot) of the neck finish (303) and said cylindrical portion (306), the weight is reduced.

The invention relates to a tube head (1, 2) intended to form a packaging, the head (3, 6) being intended to be welded to a tubular skirt (8, 9) in order to form the said packaging, and the tube head (1 2) being thermoformed from a sheet (20, 21). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a tube head (1, 2) and a tube with said head (3, 6).

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.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

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.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

A lightweight neck finish includes a retaining structure that interacts with a tamper band to cause frangible connectors between the tamper band and closure to break upon initial removal of the closure from the neck finish. An upper retention portion of the retaining structure has a profile with a reduced footprint as compared to a conventional retaining structure. A lower support portion of the retaining structure has an outermost diameter similar in size to an outermost diameter of a conventional retaining structure. However, the lower support of the lightweight neck finish is formed with one or more circumferentially extending slots and/or one or more vertical slots. The reduced footprint of the retention portion and the slots of the support portion minimize the amount of material, weight, and time and cost required to make the lightweight neck finish, while providing for increased tamper evidence visibility as compared to conventional neck finishes.