Method and apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container to include a three-dimensional feature or transferable element
First Claim
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.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification