Flexible tube and method of and apparatus for making it

Abstract: A flexible plastic tube and a method of forming a flexible plastic tube comprises injection molding a finish having an opening, extruding a tube integrally with the finish by relevant movement of the finish with respect to an extruder, moving the finish axially away from the extruder while continuing continuously extruding the tube, closing a blow mold about the extruded tube, blowing the tube into an integral container body having a closed bottom, opening the molds to provide an integral flexible tube with a finish thereon. Thereafter the method includes decorating the body with indicia, cutting the closed end of the tube leaving an open-ended tube of the end opposite the finish, and applying a closure to the finish. Subsequently, the tube is filled through the open end and the open end is closed. The decorating includes rotating the tube about the longitudinal axis of the tube while engaging the finish and bottom. The step of decorating preferably comprises rotating the container relative to a silk screen printing device. The step of injection molding and extrusion molding preferably comprises injecting and extruding linear low density polyethylene. A closure is applied before or after cutting the bottom from the container.

Description: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus of forming an intermediate flexible plastic article to be filled with a viscous product according to the preamble of claims 1 and 45 and to an intermediate plastic container for use in making said intermediate article which is to be filled with a viscous product according to the preamble of claim 39. In a known method referred-to above (FR-A-2,680,721) an intermediate flexible plastic container is formed, put under pressure and printed by silk screen printing. Thereafter, the bottom of the container is cut away and the so formed intermediate article filled with viscous product and the open end sealed. However, the final container has a special shape with a variable cross section, which means that also the intermediate container with the bottom not yet cut away has a special shape which is not adapted to be engaged by a rotating device. Production of a container by extruding a tube integrally with the neck portion and blowing the tube into an integral container having a closed bottom is known from US-A-2,911,673. During extrusion, the neck portion is moved axially away from the extruder. The bottom of the container is not specific for being engaged by a rotating device for being decorated during rotation. Decorating bottles during rotation is known from GB-A-2,008,033. The bottles have detents for being engaged by a detent pin, and rotated. Blow-molding a multilayered parison to form an intermediate flexible plastic container, which can be filled when the bottom is cut away is known from GB-A-2 023 088. However, no means for being engaged are provided at the bottom of the intermediate container. One of the objects of the invention is to form an flexible plastic container having exceptional decoration or indicia which can be applied by conventional silk screening equipment also by rotating the container. The invention is defined in claims 1, 39 and 45. According to invention, an intermediate container having an integral neck portion, a shoulder portion, a tubular body portion and a closed bottom is formed, the neck and bottom portions are engaged by a rotating device, and the intermediate container is rotated about its longitudinal axis when being decorated. Then the closed bottom is cut away and an intermediate flexible plastic article is prepared to be filled with the viscous product. Thereupon the open end of the intermediate article is closed to produce the final container which is a flexible plastic tube for use in dispensing the viscous product. The method of forming the intermediate flexible plastic article comprises injection molding the neck portion having an opening, extruding a tube integrally with the neck portion by relative movement of the neck portion with respect to an extruder orifice, moving the neck portion axially away from the extruder orifice while continuing continuously extruding the tube, closing a blow mold about the extruded tube, blowing the tube into an integral container having a body portion and a closed bottom, and opening the mold halves to provide the intermediate container. Thereafter the method consists of decorating the container body with indicia, and cutting the bottom of the container leaving the open-ended intermediate article, and applying a closure to the neck portion thereof. The closure is applied either before or after cutting the bottom from the intermediate container. Preferably the closure is applied to the neck portion after decorating. Subsequently, the intermediate article is filled through the open end and the open end is sealed. The step of decorating includes rotating the intermediate container about the longitudinal axis thereof while engaging the neck portion and bottom. The step of decorating preferably comprises rotating the intermediate container relative to a silk screen printing device. The step of injection molding and extrusion molding preferably comprises injecting and extruding linear low density polyethylene. However, high density polyethylene and low density polyethylene also may be used. Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a diagram of the steps in making the flexible plastic tube embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram of an apparatus for silk screen decorating of the container. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the container which is used to make the tube. Fig. 4 is a top plan view. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the lower end of the container. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary part sectional view of a preferred method and apparatus for applying the closure. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary part sectional elevational view of an apparatus for severing the bottom from the container after it is decorated. Fig. 9 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the station. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the capping apparatus at the capping station shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a part sectional elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 13-13 in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale of another portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a trimming apparatus at a trimming station. Fig. 16 is fragmentary part sectional elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary part sectional plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary part sectional view taken along the line 18-18 in Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 19-19 in Fig. 16. Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line 20-20 in Fig. 18. Fig. 21 is a part sectional view taken along the line 21-21 in Fig. 17. Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 22-22 in Fig. 16. Fig. 23 is a part sectional view of the closure feed apparatus at another station. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Fig. 1 which is a schematic view of the succession of steps A-F to produce a filled container, the first step A comprises making a hollow plastic container by a method and apparatus wherein the neck or finish of the container is first injection molded, then a tube is extruded integrally with the injection molded finish, molds are closed about the tube and the tube is blown to form a container. Such a method and apparatus is shown in U.S. Patents 2,710,987 and 2,911,673, incorporated herein by reference, and embodied in what has become known as a BC-3 machine. As further shown in Fig. 1, the hollow blown container is than applied with indicia or decoration in one or more colors and designs through step B as may be desired. Step C of Fig. 1 shows applying a closure C to the container. The bottom of the container is then cut off as in step D leaving an open-ended tube as shown in step E. Step E shows the tube with the closure thereon as delivered to a customer. The purchaser of the open-ended tube fills the tube with the viscous product through the open end and then seals the open end as at F. A closure can be applied either before or after decorating, herein shown as applied after the first decorating step B. Preferably, the closure is applied after decorating. In accordance with the invention, the decorating steps are performed by rotating the container with respect to silk screen printer stations P, as shown in Fig. 2, by clamping the container and rotating the container relative to the station. Besides decorating by rotation, the step of decorating may also comprise in-mold labeling during blow molding of the tube or by heat bonding a label after the container is blown. Referring to Figs. 3-6, the container comprises the injection molded finish 10, the extruded side wall or body 11 sufficiently thin thickness that it is flexible, and the integral bottom wall 12 which is thicker and relatively rigid to allow for driving the tube to rotate the tube in the capping and decorating operations. The wall 11 is preferably of substantially constant thickness, for example, ±0.15 mm (±0.006 in.). As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the bottom wall 12 is formed with indentations or recesses 13, 14 which are utilized so that they can be engaged by lugs 16, 17 of a chuck 18 (Fig. 2) for the printing and application of the closure. As shown in Fig. 4, the finish 10 preferably includes a top or transverse wall 10a having a centrally located dispensing opening 10b. The container is preferably made of linear low density polyethylene. A preferred composition is linear low density polyethylene having a dispersion index of 5. However, high density polyethylene and low density polyethylene may be used. Referring to Fig. 8, the apparatus for severing the bottom of a container comprises a lower star wheel 20 having recesses 21 for receiving the closures C on the inverted containers A and an associated guide rail 32. The apparatus also includes an upper star wheel 30 with recesses for the container body 34 and an associated guide rail 31. The upper end of the container is clamped by blocks 26, 27 having recesses 28, 29 which are movable relative to one another to hold the upper end of the container A. A guillotine blade 24 is movable across the bottom of the closure by a cylinder to sever the bottom of the container A along a plane that is at 90° to the vertical or longitudinal axis of the container A. The guillotine 24 is guided by guide surfaces 25 in the blocks 26, 27. The apparatus of Fig. 7 is preferably positioned at a capping station adjacent a rotary turret 30 which is driven intermittently past the capping station to apply the container to the closure. The apparatus shown in Fig. 8 is located at a trimming station and the turret 30 moves the inverted containers past the trimming station to sever the bottom of the container. A guide rail 32 retains the lower end of the capped container in recesses the lower star wheel during severing of the bottom of the container. Referring to Fig. 9, a preferred form of apparatus for performing the method consists of a base 40 on which a turret 41 is rotatably mounted and driven intermittently. Turret 41 supports a star wheel 42 having a bottle or container receiving cavities 43. The apparatus as shown is intended to handle two caps and two containers at a time and includes a cap loading apparatus 44 at a cap loading station which delivers caps or closures to the base of the turret singularly; a bottle loading apparatus 45 at a bottle loading station which delivers two bottles at a time down an inclined path and in inverted position to the cavities 43 of the star wheel (Fig. 9); a capping apparatus 46 at a capping station; and a trimming apparatus 47 at a trimming station. The apparatus further includes a bottle reject station and a bottle unload station. Referring to Figs. 10-14, the capping apparatus 46 includes a cap holding member 50 and is adapted to hold the two closures C stationary while the bottles A resting thereon are rotated by rotating chucks 51. The cap holding member 50 is moved radially toward and away from the closures C by engagement of a cam follower roller 52 with a lever 53 that has one end 54 engaging the roller 52 and a lower end 55 engaging a cam 56 (Figs. 12, 13). An oscillating mechanism moves the cam 56 upwardly and downwardly through a support plate 57. The upward and downward movement is controlled by an oscillating motor 58 having a crank arm 59 thereon engaging a link 60 pivoted to a bracket 61 on fixed plate 57. Referring to Fig. 13, the cap holding member 50 includes two recesses 62 for engaging simultaneously two caps C. The cap holding member 50 has shafts 63 fixed thereto which are slidably mounted in bearings in a fixed plate 50a. Springs 64 are interposed between the cap holding member 50 and plate 50a to yieldingly urge the cap holding member 50 radially toward the closures C as the cam follower 55 follows the cam 56. Referring to Figs. 9-11, each chuck 51 is adapted to be rotated through a torque limiter 65 interposed between the chuck 51 and a shaft 66. A pulley 67 on shaft 66 has a belt 68 trained over a pulley 69 on a spline shaft 70. The shafts 66, 70 are rotatably mounted in a support 71 and moved vertically toward and away from the bottom of the containers by a linear motor 72. As shown in Fig. 9 which is a top plan view, each chuck 51 is driven in this manner. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the chuck 51 and associated apparatus are mounted on the support plate 57 such that it is moved along the spline shaft by the crank arm 90. In operation, the chuck is continuously rotating, the holding member is moved to hold the closures and then the chucks are lowered to engage the closures. Referring to Figs. 15-21, the trimming apparatus 47 at the trimming station comprises a column 80 on base 40 which includes a slide 81 that is adjustable vertically through a threaded shaft 82 and knob 83 to raise and lower the trimming apparatus. The apparatus 47 further includes a first fixed holding member 85 having arcuate recesses 86 that receive and hold the bottles A with the caps C thereon in the recesses 43. A second holding member 87 having an arcuate edge 88 is positioned in fixed position above the knives 90 to engage the containers A above the area to be cut (Figs. 15, 16, 21). As shown in Figs. 15-21, a pair of cutting knives 90 are mounted on a slide 91 for movement toward and away from the containers A. Each knife 90 has a V-shaped cutting edge such that the point of the knife 90 pierces the body of the container A. Slide 91 is guided for movement on a second slide 92. The slide 91 is moved by a cylinder 93 through a shaft 94. A second cylinder 95 is fixed on a bracket 96 mounted on cylinder 93 and has a shaft 97 connected to second slide 92. The first slide 91 has a projection 91a that extends into a recess 92a in the second slide 92 such that the slide supporting knives 90 have limited relative movement. The knives 90 are reciprocated in a horizontal space formed by fixed guides 97, 98 such that the knifes 90 move at a right angle relative to the vertical axis of containers A. Third movable holding members 99 are provided above and below the knives 90 and has recesses 100 which cooperate with recesses 86 to hold the containers below the knives 90. The third holding members 99 are connected to a cylinder 89 to move toward and away from the containers A. The second holding member 87, being positioned above the knives, functions to prevent the containers from tilting toward the knives 90 during the cutting. In operation, containers A are delivered to the intermittently driven turret at the bottle load station, then successively to the capping station, bottle inspection station, trimming station, reject station and unload station. Although the apparatus has been described with respect to two containers, it can be readily modified to handling a single container and additional containers. It can thus be seen that there has been provided a method of forming a flexible plastic tube comprises injection molding a finish having an opening, extruding a tube integrally with the finish by relevant movement of the finish with respect to an extruder orifice, moving the finish axially away from the extruder orifice while continuing continuously extruding the tube, closing a blow mold about the extruded tube, blowing the tube into an integral container body having a closed bottom, opening the molds to provide an integral flexible tube with a finish thereon. Thereafter the method consists of decorating the body with indicia, and cutting the closed end of the tube leaving an open-ended tube of the end opposite the finish, and applying a closure to the finish. A closure is applied either before or after cutting the bottom from the container. Preferably the closure is applied to the finish after decorating. Subsequently, the tube is filled through the open end and the open end is sealed. The step of decorating includes rotating the tube about the longitudinal axis of the tube while engaging the finish and bottom. The step of decorating preferably comprises rotating the container relative to a silk screen printing device. The step of injection molding and extrusion molding preferably comprises injecting and extruding linear low density polyethylene. However, high density polyethylene and low density polyethylene may be used.

Claims: A method of forming an intermediate flexible plastic article to be filled with a viscous product which comprises: injection molding a neck portion (10) having an opening (10b), extruding a tube integrally with the neck portion (10), blowing said tube into an intermediate container having a body portion (11) and a closed bottom (12), decorating the body portion (11) with indicia, cutting the closed bottom (12) of the intermediate container so as to leave an article having a neck portion (10), a shoulder portion and an open end, characterized in that extruding is by relative movement of the neck portion (10) with respect to and axially away from the extruder while continuing continuously extruding said tube, blowing includes closing a blow mold about the extruded tube and forming said body portion (11) with a substantially constant wall thickness and with a bottom (12) which is thicker than the wall thickness of said body portion (11) and which includes means for being engaged, so that, after opening the molds, said intermediate container having an integral neck portion (10), a shoulder portion, a tubular body portion (11) and a closed bottom (12) is provided, and said step of decorating includes engaging the neck and bottom portions (10, 12) and rotating said intermediate container about its longitudinal axis while engaging the neck and bottom portions (10, 12). The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of blowing said tube forms indentations (13, 14) in the bottom (12) of said intermediate container, said indentations (13, 14) constituting said means for being engaged to rotate said container. The method set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said step of decorating comprises rotating said intermediate container relative to a silk screen printing device. The method set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said step of decorating comprises applying a label to the intermediate container. The method set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said step of decorating comprises in-mold labeling. The method set forth in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said shoulder portion is formed with walls having a thickness greater than that of said body portion (11). The method set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said step of injection molding and extrusion molding comprises injecting and extruding linear low density polyethylene. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein said linear low density polyethylene having a molecular weight dispersion index greater than 5. The method set forth in any of claims 2 to 8 wherein said step of engaging said indentations (13, 14) comprises moving a chuck (15) having axially engageable elements (16, 17) axially into engagement with said indentations (13, 14) and said step of rotating said container comprises rotating said chuck (15). The method set forth in claim 9 including providing spring means (18) yieldingly urging said chuck (15) into engagement with said bottom (12) of said container. The method set forth in any of claims 1 to 10 including applying a closure (C) to the neck portions (10) of said intermediate container prior to cutting the closed bottom (12) of the container. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said neck portion (10) has a thread and said closure (C) has a thread including holding said closure (C) and rotating said intermediate container to apply said closure (C). The method set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of holding the closure (C) comprises providing a guide rail (32), providing a holding member (50) having recesses (62), providing a closure (C) adjacent said rail (32), and moving said holding member (50) toward the rail (32) to hold the closure in position. The method set forth in claim 13 including the step of yieldingly supporting said holding member (50). The method set forth in claim 14 including the step of supporting said holding member (50) comprises interconnecting said holding member (50) with the movement of said chuck (51) toward the container such that the holding member (50) is moved into engagement with said closure before the chuck (51) is rotated to rotate the container. The method set forth in claim 15 wherein said step of interconnecting comprises supporting said chuck (51) for movement toward and away from a container and moving the chuck toward and away from a container. The method set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of moving said chuck (51) and said holding member (50) comprises providing an oscillating crank (59) interconnected with said holding member (50) and said chuck (51). The method set forth in claim 17 including providing a cam (56) on said support of said chuck, interconnecting said cam (56) with said crank (59) and providing a cam follower (52) on said holding member (50) movable with said holding member (50). The method set forth in claim 18 including the step of pivotally mounting said cam follower (52) on said holding member (50). The method set forth in any of claims 1 to 19 wherein said step of cutting the bottom of the container comprises holding the container and moving a knife (24, 90) transversely of the longitudinal axis of said container. The method set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of cutting is by clamping the lower end of the intermediate container and directing a cutter blade knife (24) is directed transversely between clamped portions of the flexible tube portion. The method set forth in claim 20 or 21 including the step of guiding the movement of the knife (24, 90) such that it is in a single plane. The method set forth in claim 22 wherein said step of cutting said container comprises providing a flat knife (90) having a V-shaped cutting edge, holding said container with the cap (C) thereon in inverted upright position and guiding said knife blade transversely of the vertical axis of the container. The method set forth in claim 23 wherein said step of holding the container in inverted upright position comprises providing opposed arcuate clamping members (85, 99) having opposed arcuate recesses (86) and moving one of said clamping members toward the other toward the container to clamp the container. The method set forth in claim 24 including the step of providing a second holding member (87) spaced vertically from said first holding member (99) in a position above the path of movement of the knife (90) to prevent tilting of the container. The method set forth in claim 25 wherein the step of guiding the knife (90) comprises providing a guide slot for guiding said knife. The method set forth in claim 26 wherein said step of moving said knife (90) comprises mounting said knife on a slide (91) and moving said slide (91) toward and away from the container. The method set forth in claim 27 wherein said step of moving said first slide (91) comprises providing a cylinder (93) and actuating said cylinder to move said slide. The method set forth in claim 28 including providing a second slide (92), positioning said first slide (91) on said second slide (92), providing a projection (91a) on said first slide (91), extending into a recess (92a) in said second slide (92) to limit the movement of said slide upon actuation of said cylinder (93). The method set forth in claim 29 including the step of moving the knife (90) vertically. The method set forth in any of claims 20 to 30 wherein said step of holding said container comprises providing opposed gripping members (85, 99) for holding the container adjacent the closed end. The method set forth in claim 31 wherein said step of guiding said knife (90) comprises providing a guide surface on at least one of said gripping members (85, 99). The method set forth in claim 32 wherein said step of providing a guiding surface comprises providing a slot in at least one.of said gripping members (85, 99). The method set forth in claim 33 including providing aligned slots in both of said gripping members (85, 99). The method set forth in any one of claims 12 to 34 including the step of intermittently moving said closure (C) through a predetermined path and performing the step of holding and rotating the container to thread the closure on the container at one point along said path and performing the step of cutting the bottom of the container at another point along said path. The method set forth in claim 35 wherein said steps of applying the closure (C) and cutting said container are performed while the closure and container are inverted. The method set forth in claim 36 wherein said container is provided with indicia on the exterior of said side wall of said container prior to applying the closure to the container. The method set forth in any one of claims 1 to 37 including the further steps of filling the tube through the open end, and thereafter closing said bottom (12) of said tube by a transverse seal so as to produce a flexible plastic tube for use in dispensing a viscous product. An intermediate flexible plastic container for use in making an open ended article which is to be filled with a viscous product, comprising an injection molded neck portion (10), an integral shoulder portion, an integral flexible tubular body portion (11) of substantially uniform wall thickness and being decorated with indicia, as well as an integral closed bottom portion (12), characterized in that said bottom portion (12) has a wall thickness greater than that of the container body portion (11) and is formed with indentations (13, 14) helpful for rotating said intermediate container when being decorated. The intermediate plastic container set forth in claim 39 wherein also said shoulder portion has a greater thickness than said tubular body portion (11). The intermediate plastic container set forth in claim 39 or 40 wherein said decoration comprises a silk screen print. The intermediate plastic container set forth in any of claims 39-41 wherein said decoration comprises also an in-mold label. The intermediate plastic container set forth in any of claims 39-42 wherein said decoration comprises a heat bonded label. The intermediate plastic container set forth in any of claims 39 to 43 including a closure (C) on said neck portion (10). An apparatus of forming an intermediate flexible plastic article to be filled with a viscous product which comprises: means for injection molding a neck portion (10) having an opening (10b), means for extruding a tube integrally with the neck portion (10), means for blowing said tube into an integral container body (11) having a closed bottom (12), means for decorating the body portion (11) with indicia, means for cutting the closed bottom (12) of the container leaving an article having a neck portion, a shoulder portion and an open end tube, characterized in that said extruding means is adapted to produce relative movement of the neck portion (10) with respect to and axially away from the extruder while continuing continuously extruding said tube, said blowing means includes means for closing a blow mold about the extruded tube and means for opening the blow mold to provide an integral container having a neck portion (10), a shoulder portion, a tubular body portion (11) and a closed bottom (12) having a wall thickness greater than that of said tubular body (11) and formed with indentations (13, 14), and said decorating means comprises means (50, 51) for engaging the neck and bottom portions (10, 12) as well as means (16, 17) for engaging said indentations (13, 14) and rotating said container about its longitudinal axis. The apparatus of claim 45 comprising means (50) for holding a closure having threads stationary, and means (51) for rotating the container about its longitudinal axis to apply the closure on the container. The apparatus set forth in claim 46 including means (90) for cutting the bottom (12) along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container to provide a tube having a closure applied to its neck (10). The apparatus set forth in claim 45 wherein said means (16, 17) engaging said indentations (13, 14) comprises a rotatable chuck (51) having axially engageable elements axially engaging said indentations (13, 14) and said means for rotating said container comprises said chuck (51). The apparatus set forth in claim 48 including spring means (18) yieldingly urging said chuck (51) into engagement with said bottom (12) of said container. The apparatus set forth in claim 49 wherein said closure holding means comprises a guide rail (32), a holding member (50) having recesses (62), and means for moving said holding member (50) toward the rail (32) to hold the closure in position. The apparatus set forth in claim 50 including means (64) yieldingly supporting said holding member (50). The apparatus set forth in claim 51 wherein said means of supporting said holding member (50) comprises interconnecting means (52 to 57 and 60, 61) between said holding member (50) and drive means (58, 59) operable during movement of said chuck (51) toward the container such that the holding member (50) is moved into engagement with said closure before the chuck (51) is rotated to rotate the container. The apparatus set forth in claim 52 wherein said interconnecting means (52 to 60) comprises means supporting said chuck (51) for movement toward and away from a container and means moving the chuck (51) toward and away from a container. The apparatus set forth in claim 53 wherein said means for moving said chuck (51) and said holding member (50) comprises an oscillating crank (59) and means (52 to 56 and 60 to 61) interconnecting said crank (59) with said holding member (50) and said chuck (51). The apparatus set forth in claim 54 including a cam (56) on said supporting means for said chuck (51), means interconnecting said cam (56) with said crank (59) and a cam follower (52) on said holding member (50) movable with said holding member. The apparatus set forth in claim 55 including means pivotally mounting said cam follower (52) on said holding member (50). The apparatus set forth in any of claims 47 to 56 wherein said means for cutting the bottom (12) of the container comprises means for holding the container and a knife (90) movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of said container. The apparatus set forth in claim 57 including the means (97, 98) of guiding the movement of the knife (90) such that it is in a single plane. The apparatus set forth in claim 58 wherein said means for holding said container comprises opposed gripping members (85, 99) for holding the container adjacent the closed end. The apparatus set forth in claim 59 wherein said means for guiding said knife (90) comprises a guide surface on at least one of said gripping members (85, 99). The apparatus set forth in claim 60 wherein said guide surface comprises a slot in at least one of said gripping members (85, 99). The apparatus set forth in claim 61 including aligned slots in both of said gripping members (85, 99). The apparatus set forth in any of claims 47 to 62 wherein said cutting means for cutting said container comprises a flat knife (90) having a V-shaped cutting edge, means (85, 99) holding said container with the cap thereon in inverted upright position and means (97, 98) guiding said flat knife (90) transversely of the vertical axis of the container. The apparatus set forth in claim 63 wherein said means holding the container in inverted upright position comprises opposed arcuate clamping members (85, 99) having opposed arcuate recesses (86) and means moving one of said members toward the container to clamp the container. The apparatus set fort in claim 64 including a second holding member (87) spaced vertically from said first holding member (99) in a position above the path of movement of the knife (90) to prevent tilting of the container. The apparatus set forth in claim 65 wherein means guiding the knife (90) including a guide slot for guiding said knife. The apparatus set forth in claim 66 including means for moving said knife (90) comprising means for mounting said knife on a slide (91) and means for moving said slide (91) toward and away from the container. The apparatus set forth in claim 67 wherein said means for moving said first slide (91) comprises a cylinder (93) and means for actuating said cylinder (93) to move said slide (91). The apparatus set forth in claim 68 including a second slide, means for positioning said first slide on said second slide (92), a projection (91a) on said first slide (91) extending into a recess (92a) in said second slide (92) to limit the movement of said slide upon actuation of said cylinder (93). The apparatus set forth in claim 69 including means for moving the knife (90) vertically. The apparatus set forth in any one of claims 46 to 70 including means (41) of intermittently moving said closure (C) through a predetermined path and said container past stations (45, 46, 47) including a station (46) where said means (50, 51) for holding and rotating the container to thread the closure (C) on the container is positioned and a station (47) where said means (90) for cutting the bottom (12) of the container is positioned. The apparatus set forth in claim 71 wherein said means (46) for applying the closure (C) and said means (47) for cutting said container are constructed and arranged such that the closure and container are inverted.

Inventors: KAMINSKI RONALD S, KRALL THOMAS J, SMITH ROGER P, KAMINSKI, RONALD S., KRALL, THOMAS J., SMITH, ROGER P.
Applicants: OWENS BROCKWAY PLASTIC PROD, OWENS-BROCKWAY PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B29D23
IPC codes: B29C49, B29D23, B29C45, B65D35, B29L23, B29L22, B29K23, B67B3