Method and apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container to include a three-dimensional feature or transferable element

• US 20060127618A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: O'Connell, Patrick M., Chisholm, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,637,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/35.700
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/025 Tube ends
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/00 Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 57/00 Shaping of tube ends, e.g. flanging, belling or closing; Apparatus therefor , e.g. collapsible mandrels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 57/12 Rim rolling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/021 of profiled articles, e.g. hollow or tubular articles, beams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reforming a portion of a blow molded plastic container includes directing energy from a heater onto the portion of the container so as to heat the portion while leaving the remainder of the container relatively unheated. The heated portion of the container is then engaged by a reforming tool having an embossed or imprinted characteristic on a contact surface of the reforming tool so as to reform the portion of the container and form a three-dimensional feature thereon which is not reproducible without using the method and/or apparatus of the present invention. Alternatively, the heated portion of the container is engaged by a reforming tool having a transferable element on a contact surface of the reforming tool so as to reform the portion of the container and transfer the transferable element to the portion of the container.

Claims

1. A method of reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:

directing energy from a heater onto the portion of the container to heat the portion, the remainder of the container remaining relatively unheated;

contacting the portion of the container with a surface of a reforming tool to reform the portion of the container, wherein the surface of the reforming tool includes at least one embossed or imprinted characteristic thereon; and

removing the reforming tool from the portion of the container, wherein the portion of the container includes a three-dimensional feature formed by the at least one embossed or imprinted characteristic on the surface of the reforming tool.

2. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the energy from the heater heats the portion of the container to its softening temperature.

3. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the heater is a non-contact heater.

4. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the reforming tool is substantially unheated to simultaneously reform and cool the portion of the container upon contact.

5. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional feature formed on the portion of the container is a mirror-image of the at least one embossed or imprinted characteristic.

6. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of the container is a neck finish end portion.

7. A plastic container including a three-dimensional feature on a portion thereof, the plastic container reformed according to the method of claim 1.

8. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:

a heater for heating the portion of the container, while leaving the remainder of the container remaining relatively unheated; and

a reforming tool having a contact surface configured to contact and reform the portion of the container after heating by said heater, the surface of the reforming tool including at least one embossed or imprinted characteristic thereon,

wherein the at least one embossed or imprinted characteristic on the surface of the reforming tool is configured to form a three-dimensional feature on the portion of the container when the reforming tool contacts the portion of the container.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein the heater is a non-contact heater.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein the heater is configured to heat the portion of the container to its softening temperature.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein the reforming tool is substantially unheated.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the substantially unheated reforming tool is adapted to simultaneously reform and cool the portion of the container upon contact.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein the reforming tool includes an air gap extending from the surface to vent air from between the surface and the portion of the container.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, further including a cooler coupled to the reforming tool for cooling the surface of the reforming tool.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 14, wherein the cooler includes means for circulating liquid coolant through the reforming tool.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional feature formed on the portion of the container is a mirror-image of the at least one embossed or imprinted characteristic.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein the portion of the container is a neck finish end portion.

18. A method of reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:

directing energy from a heater onto the portion of the container to heat the portion, the remainder of the container remaining relatively unheated;

contacting the portion of the container with a surface of a reforming tool to reform the portion of the container, wherein the surface of the reforming tool includes at least one transferable element thereon; and

removing the reforming tool from the portion of the container, wherein the portion of the container retains the transferable element transferred from the surface of the reforming tool.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the transferable element is a radio frequency identification device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the transferable element is a decorative particle.

21. A plastic container including a transferable element on a portion thereof, the plastic container reformed according to the method of claim 18.

22. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:

a heater for heating the portion of the container, while leaving the remainder of the container remaining relatively unheated; and

a reforming tool having a contact surface configured to contact and reform the portion of the container after heating by said heater, the surface of the reforming tool being configured to receive at least one transferable element thereon,

wherein the reforming tool is configured to transfer the at least one transferable element to the portion of the container when the reforming tool contacts the portion of the container.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transferable element is a radio frequency identification device.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transferable element is a decorative particle.