Patent ID: 7093411

Claim:
A method of storing thermoplastic preforms in a storage container, said method comprising the steps of: transferring preforms from an injection-molding machine via a conveyor; unscrambling and sequentially orienting said preforms received from an end of said conveyor opposite said injection-molding machine; transferring said unscrambled and oriented preforms sequentially through a transfer system substantially one preform at a time; spraying a lubricant onto said preforms substantially individually as said preforms transfer through said transfer system; dropping said preforms with applied lubricant individually from said transfer system into a storage container; and filling the storage container with said preforms to a predetermined level; wherein said preforms with applied lubricant orient themselves by sliding one over another thereby allowing the storage container to hold a quantity of preforms that is at least ten percent (10%) greater in number than a substantially identical storage container filled to said predetermined level with preforms that are similarly configured and shaped to said preforms without the applied lubricant.