Vertical displacement devices and methods for mechanically inverting a thermoplastic container base

A displacement device for mechanically moving a truncated cone at a center of a base of a thermoplastic container from an as-blown position to a displaced position subsequent to hot-filling and capping the container to reduce an internal volume of the container, in the displaced position the truncated cone is closer to an opening of the container than in the as-blown position, the base including a deep base ring between a standing surface and the truncated cone, the displacement device comprising:

• a support collar defining a receptacle, a first aperture at a base of the support collar, and a second aperture, the support collar is sized and shaped to be received within the deep base ring of the container subsequent to filling and caping the container;
• and
• a plunger including a head at an end of a shaft extending through the first aperture at the base of the first aperture, the head is sized and shaped to be received within the receptacle of the support collar;
• wherein the plunger is movable from a retracted position at which the head is seated within the receptacle, to an extended position at which the head extends out from within the receptacle to allow the head to contact the truncated cone and move the truncated cone from the as-blown position to the displaced position.

A method for mechanically moving a truncated cone at a center of a base of a thermoplastic container from an as-blown position to a displaced position subsequent to hot-filling and capping the container to reduce an internal volume of the container, in the displaced position the truncated cone is closer to an opening of the container than in the as-blown position, the base including a deep base ring between a standing surface and the truncated cone, the method comprising:

• moving a support collar of a displacement device into cooperation with the deep base ring after the thermoplastic container has been blow molded, filled, and capped;
• moving a plunger of the displacement device from a retracted position at which a head of the plunger is seated within the receptacle to an extended position at which the head extends out from within the receptacle to allow the head to contact the truncated cone and move the truncated cone from the as-blown position to the displaced position to reduce an internal volume of the container, the head is at an end of a shaft extending through a base of the support collar;
• and
• removing the support collar from cooperation with the deep base ring.