Apparatus and method for forming a container having a receptacle and an integral cap and product formed thereby
AssigneeCapitol Vial Inc.
InventorsMichael Gooden, Randall Lecroy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for forming a container generally comprises a first mold part having an injection mold portion and a blow mold portion and a second mold part having a core pin. The core pin is configured to cooperate with the injection mold portion in a first position to define an injection mold cavity for forming a preform and an integral cap. The core pin is also configured to cooperate with the blow mold portion in a second position to define a blow mold cavity for forming a receptacle from the preform. The cap may be closed at the blow mold portion to seal the receptacle. One or more threads may be formed on a neck of the container.
Claims14
A method of forming a container having a receptacle and an integral cap in a single mold, comprising:
- forming an injection mold cavity in the single mold;
- injecting a molten material into the injection mold cavity to mold a preform having a cap joined to the preform, the preform being supported by a first core pin and the cap being supported by a second core pin;
- forming a blow mold cavity in the single mold;
- moving the preform and the cap to the blow mold cavity while the preform is supported on the first core pin and the cap is supported on the second core pin;
- blow molding the preform in the blow mold cavity to form a container having a receptacle and an open end with the cap attached to the container;
- and
- closing the cap over the open end of the container while the container is retained within the blow mold cavity.
A method of forming a container having a receptacle and an integral cap in a single mold, comprising:
- forming an injection mold cavity in the single mold;
- injecting a molten material into the injection mold cavity to mold a preform having a cap joined to the preform, the preform being supported by a first core pin and the cap being supported by a second core pin;
- forming at least one thread on the preform in the injection mold cavity, the at least one thread being configured to provide a screw-on connection;
- forming a blow mold cavity in the single mold;
- moving the preform and the cap to the blow mold cavity while the preform is supported on the first core pin and the cap is supported on the second core pin;
- and
- blow molding the preform in the blow mold cavity to form a container having a threaded neck portion, a receptacle and an open end with the cap attached to the container.
A method of forming a container having a receptacle and an integral cap in a single mold, comprising:
- forming an injection mold cavity in the single mold between a first mold part and a second mold part, the injection mold cavity being positioned between a first core pin provided on the second mold part and an injection mold portion on the first mold part;
- injecting a molten material into the injection mold cavity to mold a preform and a cap joined to the preform, the preform being supported by the first core pin and the cap being supported by a second core pin;
- retracting the second mold part from the first mold part, the preform being positioned on the first core pin and the cap being positioned on the second core pin of the second mold part;
- forming a blow mold cavity in the single mold;
- repositioning the second mold part relative to the first mold part while the preform is supported on the first core pin so that the first core pin is substantially aligned with a blow mold portion on the first mold part, the blow mold portion having a cavity with a different configuration than the perform to form the blow mold cavity;
- positioning the second mold part against the first mold part so that the preform is received in the cavity of the blow mold portion;
- blowing gas into the preform so that the preform conforms to the shape of the cavity in the blow mold portion and forms the receptacle of the container having an open end;
- retracting the second mold part from the first mold part, the container remaining in the cavity of the blow mold portion;
- and
- actuating a pivot member to rotate the cap over the open end of the receptacle and thereby close the container, the pivot member being coupled to the blow mold portion of the first mold part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.