American National Can Company

American National Can

American Can Company

Pechiney Emballage Flexible Europe

Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc.

George F Nahill

Robert J McHenry

Thomas T Tung

Frederick G Kudert

Henry Pfutzenreuter, Iii

William A Tennant

Maurice G Latreille

John Vella, Jr

Christopher J Farrell

Thomas Hlobil

An injection nozzle device including multi-polymer injection nozzles comprising an assembly of shells, and having fixed, tapered passageways communicating with annular orifices close to a nozzle gate and to each other, and polymer flow balancing and directing means in the passageways in the form of concentric and eccentric chokes.

Apparatus for injection molding multi-layer articles

Apparatus for unit cavity and multi-cavity, multi-layer injection molding and injection blow molding machines are provided, which in preferred embodiments, include:

Methods and apparatus for injection molding and injection blow molding

An injection molding machine for simultaneously injection molding a plurality of articles each made of plural polymeric materials. The injection molding machine includes a source of a first polymeric material and a source of a second polymeric material. The injection molding machine also includes a plurality of co-injection nozzles, each of the nozzles has an associated injection cavity mold. Each of the nozzles also has a first flow channel for providing a stream of said first polymeric material to said mold and a second flow channel for providing a stream of said second polymeric material to said mold. The machine further includes a manifold for feeding the polymeric materials from their sources to each of the nozzles and each of the associated molds, such that each of the streams of the first polymeric materials flows from each nozzles into each associated mold simultaneously and each of the streams of the second polymeric materials flows from each nozzle into each associated mold simultaneously.

Apparatus for injection moulding multi-layer articles

An apparatus for injection molding a plurality of multilayer, multimaterial plastic containers. A plurality of co-injection nozzles are positioned to feed a plurality of cavities defined by a plurality of injection molds and a source of polymer materials is located upstream of the nozzles. The apparatus also includes a flow channel for each of a plurality of polymer streams to define a path between the polymer source and at least one of the co-injection nozzles such that each of the co-injection nozzles is in communication with one of the flow channels for each polymer stream and the polymer streams enter more than one of the co-injection nozzles. The channels are arranged to provide substantially the same flow experience to each polymer stream.

A co-injection nozzle having a central injection channel with an open end and providing an injection path for injecting streams of melt materials to form a multi-layer article from the melt material streams. The nozzle comprises interfitting axially concentric members, including at least an interfitting shell and an outer nozzle cap, each having inner and outer surfaces. The nozzle cap has an inner surface with a frustoconical portion enclosing at least a portion of the outer surface of the interfitting shell. An enclosed portion of the outer surface of the shell has a frustoconical shape. The outer and inner frustoconical surface portions are adapted and cooperate to form an annular melt material flow passageway having a fixed tapered frustoconical portion of substantially invariable dimension which terminates at a fixed, annular orifice whose dimension is substantially invariable for flow of a melt material therethrough, for injection of the material from the nozzle.

Apparatus for injection molding and injection blow molding multi-layer

An injection molding machine for simultaneously injection molding a plurality of articles each made of plural polymeric materials. The injection molding machine includes a source of a first polymeric material and a source of a second polymeric material. The injection molding machine also includes a plurality of co-injection nozz;es, each of the nozzles has na associated injection cavity mold. Each of the nozzles also has a first flow channel for providing a stream of said first polymeric material to said mold and a second flow channel for providing a stream of said second polymeric material to said mold. The machine further includes a flow control device for feeding the polymeric materials from their sources to each of the nozzles and each of the associated molds, such that each of the streams of the first polymeric materials flows from each nozzle into each associated mold simultaneously and each of the streams of the second polymeric materials flows from each nozzle into each associated mold simultaneously.

Methods for injection molding and injection blow-molding multi-layer plastic articles, including containers and parisons for forming containers, which comprise providing a plurality of co-injection nozzle means for injecting plastic materials into associated injection cavities to form each article, providing streams of polymeric materials to form corresponding layers of the articles, moving each stream separately to plural nozzle means, separately receiving the streams in the plural nozzle means, and injecting the streams to form the multi-layer plastic articles. Preferably, each stream of material which is to form a corresponding layer of the articles is provided with substantially the same polymer flow, preferably from where each stream is split and moved to each nozzle means. Valve means can be employed in each nozzle means for positively controlling preferably substantially simultaneously the flow and nonflow of respective materials into the central channel of the nozzle means. Preferably, injection is effected to provide uniform onset flow of one or more internal layer materials into the central channel, cause foldover of one or more of the internal layers and provide in the parison or container sidewall one or more internal layers whose leading edge is substantially unbiased relative to the terminal end of the sidewall.

Methods for injection molding and blow-molding multi-layer plastic

Multi-co-injection nozzle injection molding and injection blow-molding apparatus for injection molding and injection blow-molding a multi-layer plastics article, parison or container, including a plurality of co-injection nozzles, means associated with the nozzles to channel each material stream which is to form a layer of the article separately to each nozzle, and means for moving the materials streams along their respective channels to their respective nozzles for injection into associated injection mold cavities. The channels preferably provide substantially the same material flow for streams of the same material channeled to the nozzles. Preferably, the nozzles have an axial central channel and a plurality of flow stream passageways with orifices in communication with the central channel, and valve means cooperatively associated with and operative within each co-injection nozzle for there preventing and allowing the flow of respective materials streams from the orifices into the central channel.

Multi-co-injection nozzle injection molding apparatus for an injection molding machine for injection molding a multi-layer plastics article or container, comprising a plurality of co-injection nozzles, means associated with the nozzles to channel each material stream which is to form a layer of the article separately to each nozzle, means for moving the materials streams along their respective channels to their respective nozzles and means for combining in each nozzle the streams moved thereto, to form combined streams in the nozzles for injection into associated injection mold cavities. Each of the channels preferably provide substantially the same material flow stream travel path for each material stream of the same material channeled to each nozzle. Each co-injection nozzle has an axial central channel and a plurality of flow stream passageways with orifices in communication with the central channel. Preferably, valve means are cooperatively associated with and operative within each co-injection nozzle for there preventing and allowing the flow of respective materials streams from the passageway orifices into the central channel.

A microwavable container suited to contain foodstuff over long periods of time has a plastic body and a metal closure sealed to the plastic body preferably by a double seam. A plastic seam ring having a top portion and inner and outer skirts descending therefrom is provided by itself or is mounted over the double seam to conceal the metal of at least the double seam. Means are provided on the seam ring to secure the seam ring to the container body preferably such that it is not readily removable therefrom. A central portion of the metal closure bounded by a parting line can be removed by the consumer to expose the contents of the container. With the seam ring mounted on the container body, the inner edge of the seam ring is adjacent to the remaining metal edge after the inner panel has been removed from the closure to shield this edge and minimize the chance of cutting or scraping of the user's fingers when handling the container. With the closure panel removed, the remaining container presents a substantially all-plastic appearance to the consumer. A splash panel is provided and a support ledge may be formed in the seam ring to allow mounting of the splash panel on the seam ring which covers the contents of the container during microwave heating. Outwardly extending handles may also be molded in the same ring to allow the consumer to remove the container after heating in the microwave oven without contacting the heated container body. The plastic of the seam ring also insulates the heated metal double seam from touch by the user.

Container and seam ring for container

Apparatus for selectively controlling the flow of at least three melt material streams through the nozzle of a machine for injection molding multi-layer plastics articles. The nozzle has, for each stream, a flow passageway terminating at an exit orifice. Sleeve means having an internal axial material flow passageway, communicate with the central channel and with one of the flow passageways and are movable axially and/or rotationally to block and unblock at least two orifices. Each flow passageway can include material flow directing means for balancing stream flow around the passageway and its exit orifice, and a tapered portion adjacent its orifice. Preferably, the orifices are fixed. Means can pressurize melt material in a flow passageway between the flow directing means and the associate orifice so that the start of flow of the material through the orifice is substantially uniform thereabout. Co-injection nozzle means for multi-polymer injection molding and blow molding machines are provided having valve means and/or one or more of the afore-mentioned features.

A method of simultaneously effecting the initiation, flow and termination of flow of corresponding melt streams of polymer materials from a plurality co-injection nozzles of a multi-co-injection nozzle injection molding machine to form a plurality of multi-layer injection molded plastic articles. A melt stream of polymeric material for each layer is provided and feed along an equal flow path to each nozzle using a common pressure source for each stream of a given polymeric material which is to form a layer in more than one article. A valve means effects the initiation, flow and termination of the flow of material simultaneously and identically in each nozzle.

Method for injection molding multi-layer articles

Valve means for use in a co-injection nozzle of a multi-polymer injection molding or blow-molding machine wherein the nozzle has an axial or cylindrical central channel, comprised of an elongated sleeve having an axial central passageway and a port in its side wall and axially-reciprocable within the nozzle central channel, and, either a solid pin within and fixed relative to the sleeve, or, more preferably, an elongated pin axially-reciprocable within the sleeve central passageway, the sleeves and pins each mounted in close tolerance slip fits to prevent any significant accumulation or passage of polymer melt material.

A multi-coinjection nozzle injection molding machine and nozzle for co-injecting at least three streams of melt materials to form a multi-layer article. The nozzle includes at least two interfitting shells and a nozzle cap. At least one of the shells has a feed flow channel for flow of melt material which leads to an associated annular flow passageway. The shells have a symmetrical furstoconical shape and and form a fixed tapered, symmetrical, frustoconical portion of an annular passageway which terminates at a fixed, annular orifice for the flow of melt material therethrough.

A method of forming multi-layer plastic articles by using a multi-cavity injection molding machine. A combined material stream is injected from a plurality of co-injection nozzles into associated injection cavities. Streams of polymeric materials which form the layers of the articles are directed separately into each of the nozzles and in each of the nozzles a combines stream is formed which is injected into the cavities. The individual flow of each of the material streams in the nozzle can be controlled in the nozzle.

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Crystal Lake, IL, United States of America

George F Nahill