Method and apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container to include a three-dimensional feature or transferable element
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
- a previously formed and cooled plastic container having a smaller upper portion and a larger remainder;
a heater for heating only the upper portion of the container to be reformed, while leaving the remainder of the container relatively unheated;
first and second reforming tools spaced apart from the heater, defining a cavity between the first and second reforming tools receiving the upper portion of the container after the upper portion has been heated, compressing only the heated upper portion between the first and second reforming tools to eliminate manufacturing imperfections on the upper portion, and having a contact surface configured to contact and reform not more than the upper portion of the container after heating by the heater; and
at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element located on the contact surface of the reforming tools,wherein the reforming tools are configured to transfer the at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element to the upper portion of the container when the reforming tools contact the upper portion of the container.
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
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
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a previously formed and cooled plastic container having a smaller upper portion and a larger remainder; a heater for heating only the upper portion of the container to be reformed, while leaving the remainder of the container relatively unheated; first and second reforming tools spaced apart from the heater, defining a cavity between the first and second reforming tools receiving the upper portion of the container after the upper portion has been heated, compressing only the heated upper portion between the first and second reforming tools to eliminate manufacturing imperfections on the upper portion, and having a contact surface configured to contact and reform not more than the upper portion of the container after heating by the heater; and at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element located on the contact surface of the reforming tools, wherein the reforming tools are configured to transfer the at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element to the upper portion of the container when the reforming tools contact the upper portion of the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
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a previously formed and cooled plastic container having a smaller upper portion and a larger remainder; a heater for heating only the upper portion of the container to be reformed, while leaving the remainder of the container relatively unheated; first and second reforming tools spaced apart from the heater, defining a cavity between the first and second reforming tools receiving the upper portion of the container after the upper portion has been heated, compressing only the heated upper portion between the first and second reforming tools to eliminate manufacturing imperfections on the upper portion, and having (a) a contact surface configured to contact and reform not more than the upper portion of the container after heating by the heater, and (b) an air gap extending from the contact surface to vent air from between the contact surface and the upper portion of the container; a chiller coupled to the reforming tools for cooling the contact surface of the reforming tools; and at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element located on the contact surface of the reforming tools, wherein the reforming tools are configured to transfer the at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element to the upper portion of the container when the reforming tools contact the upper portion of the container. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising:
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a previously formed and cooled plastic container having a smaller upper portion and a larger remainder; a heater for heating only the upper portion of the container to be reformed, while leaving the remainder of the container relatively unheated; first and second reforming tools spaced apart from the heater, defining a cavity between the first and second reforming tools receiving the upper portion of the container after the upper portion has been heated, compressing only the heated upper portion between the first and second reforming tools to eliminate manufacturing imperfections on the upper portion, and having (a) a contact surface configured to contact and reform not more than the upper portion of the container after heating by the heater, and (b) an air gap extending from the contact surface to vent air from between the contact surface and the upper portion of the container; a chiller reducing the temperature of a coolant; a pump circulating the coolant through the chiller and to the reforming tools for cooling the contact surface of the reforming tools; a control setting a desired coolant temperature; and at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element located on the contact surface of the reforming tools, wherein the reforming tools are configured to transfer the at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element to the upper portion of the container when the reforming tools contact the upper portion of the container.
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Specification