Method of making a stretch/blow molded article (bottle) with an integral projection such as a handle

A method of making a hollow blow molded article having an integral projection extending from the exterior wall thereof comprising the steps of:

• (a) heating an unblown preform of thermoplastic material to a temperature in the stretch temperature range thereof prior to inserting said preform into said blow mold;
• (b) inserting said unblown preform of thermoplastic polymer into said blow mold having a hollow article defining blow mold cavity and movable mold segments which move toward each other from a first retracted position to a second position within said blow mold to define and form therebetween a projection extending from the exterior wall of the molded article;
• (c) closing said blow mold;
• (d) inserting a stretch rod into the interior of said preform to stretch said preform a predetermined amount;
• (e) injecting a first blow gas into the interior of said preform when said blow mold is closed, said movable segments are in said first retracted position, and said preform is at a temperature in the stretch temperature range thereof to conform said preform to said blow mold cavity and produce the article of desired shape;
• (f) directing a second blow gas from said stretch rod onto at least a portion of an interior wall of the article, said interior wall portion having first and second opposing surfaces;
• (g) ceasing the first blow gas and depressurizing said blow mold;
• (h) advancing said movable mold segments within said blow mold from said first retracted position to said second position thereby compressing said first opposing surface of the interior wall portion into contact with said second opposing surface of the interior wall to bond said opposing surfaces under an elevated temperature and form an integral projection extending from the exterior wall of the blow molded article;
• (i) injecting blow gas and repressurizing said blow mold;
• (j) opening said blow mold;
• (k) removing the blow molded article having the integral projection from said blow mold;
• and
• (l) trimming out the bonded surfaces after removal from said blow mold.

A method of making a hollow blow molded bottle of polyethylene terephthalate having an integral handle extending from the exterior wall thereof comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting an unblown preform of polyethylene terephthalate into a blow mold having a hollow bottle-defining blow mold cavity and movable mold segments which move toward each other from a first retracted position to a second position within said blow mold to define and form therebetween a handle extending from the exterior wall of the molded bottle, each of said retracted mold segments providing a void in said blow mold when it is closed;
• (b) closing said blow mold;
• (c) inserting a stretch rod into the interior of said preform to stretch said preform a predetermined amount;
• (d) injecting a first blow gas into the interior of said preform when said blow mold is closed, said movable segments are in said first retracted position, and said preform is at a temperature in the stretch temperature range thereof to conform said preform to said blow mold cavity and produce the article of desired shape;
• (e) directing a second blow gas from said stretch rod onto at least a portion of an interior wall of the article, the interior wall portion having first and second opposing surfaces;
• (f) advancing said movable mold segments within said blow mold from said first retracted position to said second position compressing an interior wall surface of said bottle into contact with a facing interior wall surface of said bottle to form therebetween an integral handle extending away from the exterior wall of the blow molded bottle;
• (g) opening said blow mold;
• and
• (h) removing the blow molded article having the integral projection from said blow mold.

A method of making from a preform of polyethylene terephthalate a hollow blow molded bottle having an integral handle extending from the exterior wall thereof comprising the steps of.

• (a) heating an unblown uniaxially longitudinally oriented preform of polyethylene terephthalate to a temperature in the stretch temperature range of about 190° F. to about 265° F. prior to inserting said preform into said blow mold,
• (b) inserting said unblown preform of polyethylene terephthalate into said blow mold having a hollow bottle-defining blow mold cavity and movable mold segments which move toward each other from a first retracted position to a second position within said blow mold to define and form therebetween a handle extending from the exterior wall of the molded bottle;
• (c) closing said blow mold,
• (d) inserting a stretch rod into the interior of said preform to stretch said preform a predetermined amount;
• (e) injecting a first blow gas into the interior of said preform when said blow mold is closed, said movable segments are in said first retracted position, and said preform is at a temperature in the stretch temperature range of about 190° F. to 265° F. to biaxially orient and conform said preform to said blow mold cavity and produce said bottle of desired shape;
• (f) directing a second blow gas from said stretch rod onto at least a portion of an interior wall of the bottle, said interior wall portion having first and second opposing surfaces;
• (g) ceasing the first blow gas and depressurizing said blow mold;
• (h) advancing said movable mold segments within said blow mold from said first retracted position to said second position thereby compressing said first opposing surface of the interior wall portion into contact with said second opposing surface of the interior wall to bond the opposing surfaces under an elevated temperature and form an integral projection extending from the exterior wall of the blow molded bottle;
• (i) injecting blow gas and repressurizing said blow mold;
• (j) opening said blow mold;
• (k) removing the blow molded bottle having the integral projection from said blow mold;
• and
• (l) trimming out the bonded surfaces after removal from said blow mold.