# US 9,517,601 B2 · Method for calibration of a pour opening of a plastic container produced in an extrusion-blow-molding method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,601 B2 - Document ID: US9517601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/082,759 - Filed: 2013-11-18 - Published: 2014-03-13 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-16 - Assignees: Alpla Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Alpla Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Johann Künz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517601B2 ## CPC - B29D 22/003: {Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks} - B29C 49/04: Extrusion blow-moulding - B29C 49/22: using multilayered preforms or parisons - B29C 49/76: Neck calibration - B65D 1/04: Multi-cavity bottles - B65D 81/3283: {Cylindrical or polygonal containers, e.g. bottles, with two or more substantially axially offset, side-by-side compartments for simultaneous dispensing (B65D35/22, B65D35/242, B65D81/3227, B65D81/325 take precedence)} - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A method is disclosed for providing dimensional accuracy of a pour opening in or on a plastic container produced by extrusion-blow-molding. The method can include inserting a section of a plastic hose, extruded in one or more layers through an extrusion nozzle, into a mold cavity of a blow mold tool; and inflating the plastic hose by a calibrating blow pin according to a shape of the mold cavity, whereby at least one pour opening of the plastic container is determined with respect to its inside diameter and its inside contour to form a completed inflated plastic container, and wherein the calibrating blow pin is axially inserted into the plastic hose section after a head plate of the blow mold tool has been closed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for providing dimensional accuracy of a pour opening in or on a plastic container produced by extrusion-blow-molding, comprising: inserting a section of a plastic hose, extruded in one or more layers through an extrusion nozzle, into a mold cavity of a blow mold tool; and inflating the plastic hose by a calibrating blow pin according to a shape of the mold cavity, whereby at least one pour opening of the plastic container is determined with respect to its inside diameter and its inside contour to form a completed inflated plastic container, and wherein the calibrating blow pin is axially inserted into the plastic hose section after a head plate of the blow mold tool has been closed, and before the blow mold tool has reached its completely closed position, an axial displacement of the plastic hose being avoided when the calibrating blow pin is axially inserted, and wherein when the blow mold tool is completely closed, the plastic hose is radially squeezed in an area of calibrating surfaces of the calibrating blow pin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein: the blow mold tool includes two blow mold halves, and the calibrating blow pin being inserted axially into the plastic hose section, while the blow mold halves are spaced at a distance from one another, which is 0.5 mm to 10 mm larger than the inside diameter of a pour opening on a neck of the plastic container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the calibrating blow pin is inserted at an axial position that is at an axial distance of 0.3 mm to 5 mm from its end position, before the blow mold tool is completely closed, and is advanced into its axial end position in the plastic hose section after the blow mold tool has been completely closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the calibrating blow pin is advanced continuously axially during a closing process of the blow mold tool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Method according to claim 4, wherein the calibrating blow pin is advanced axially at a speed of approximately 5 mm/s to approximately 80 mm/s. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Method according to claim 5, wherein a double calibrating blow pin, which has two calibration areas for two pour openings, is used. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Method according to claim 6, wherein the calibration areas of the double calibrating pin are axially advanced, coupled to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Method according to claim 7, wherein the calibration areas of the double calibrating pin are arranged at different axial heights. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) Method according to claim 6, wherein the calibration areas of the double calibrating pin are configured with outside diameters that are different from one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) Method according to claim 2, wherein the calibrating blow pin is inserted at an axial position that is at an axial distance of 0.3 mm to 5 mm from its end position, before the blow mold tool is completely closed, and is advanced into its axial end position in the plastic hose section after the blow mold tool has been completely closed. ### Claim 11 Method according to 10, wherein the calibrating blow pin is advanced continuously axially during a closing process of the blow mold tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein the calibrating blow pin is advanced axially at a speed of approximately 5 mm/s to approximately 80 mm/s. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Method according to claim 12, wherein a double calibrating blow pin, which has two calibration areas for two pour openings, is used. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Method according to claim 13, wherein the calibration areas of the double calibrating pin are axially advanced, coupled to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Method according to claim 14, wherein the calibration areas of the double calibrating pin are arranged at different axial heights. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein excess plastic material is displaced in an axial direction upon radial squeezing of the plastic hose due to completely closing the blow mold tool.