Graham Packaging Company, L.p.

Other

Melrose, David Murray

Scott E Bysick

Paul V Kelley

Justin A Howell

Michael P Wurster

David Murray Melrose

John E Denner

Gregory A Trude

Thomas E Nahill

Raymond A Pritchett, Jr

Brian A Lynch

Tapan Y Patel

Angie C Noll

Philip Sheets

Kent Goss

Romuald Philippe

Sheldon E Yourist

Richard K Ogg

David B Heisner

Robert Waltemyer

Gregory Duane Taylor

George Harrell

Raymond Pritchett

Timothy Schnetzka

Roman Justice

Ryan Smith

Robert P Bartnik

The present invention provides a closure for a hot-fill container comprising: a cap member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a wall portion having an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface comprises threads to mate with a threaded neck finish of a hot-fill container; a flexible diaphragm member comprising: at least one flexible portion in a first position and a sealing lip portion to seal a liquid in the container thus preventing the liquid from traveling to the threaded neck finish of the container; and a disc member interposed between the cap member and the diaphragm member, wherein the disc member comprises: a hydrophobic filter membrane and at least one vent providing a path for air to travel from an area near the threads to the hydrophobic filter member, wherein the flexible diaphragm member flexes to compensate for a change in pressure within the container by transitioning downwards in response to a decrease in pressure and/or by transitioning upwards in response to an increase in pressure.

Pressure equalizing closure

The present invention relates to a base assembly () for forming a base portion of a plastic container. The base assembly comprises a base pedestal (), a base mold attached to the base pedestal, a push rod () movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the base mold to reposition a portion of the plastic container, and an activation mechanism adapted to move the push rod between the first position and the second position.

Method and apparatus for forming stretch blow molded containers

A system combining a machine for blow-molding articles with a universal in-mold labeling apparatus. The apparatus has a frame on which turntables are mounted. Each turntable has an air rotary union, facilitating rotation of the respective turntable, and suction cups adapted to pick, hold, and release labels. The turntables deliver labels to the open molds of the machine. The apparatus also has a vertical slide positioned between the turntables. A placement head engages the turntables and moves up the vertical slide to a position in the open molds. At least one label magazine is affixed to the frame and retains the labels. Strategically placed air valves provide air and vacuum to pick, hold, and release labels. A human machine interface facilitates communication between an operator of the system and the system. Finally, a control system is provided to allow the operator to program and control both the machine and apparatus.

Universal in-mold labeling apparatus and system incorporating the apparatus

A hot fill plastic container has a dome portion with a convex outer surface that defines a maximum outer diameter of the container so as to extend outwardly beyond a main body portion of the container. The generally egg-shaped dome portion enhances the crush resistance of the dome and provides a point of contact between containers when they are placed adjacent to one another. A circumferential stiffening groove may be provided near a lower end of the dome portion.

Hot fill container having superior crush resistance

A plastic pressure container including a main body portion and a finish portion defining a mouth, the finish portion has an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim proximate the mouth. The inner surface has an inner undercut defined therein proximate the upper rim, and the inner undercut has a curved shape in cross-section. The outer surface has an outer undercut defined therein proximate the upper rim, and the outer undercut has a polygonal shape in cross-section. The inner undercut defines a first depth relative to an inner diameter Dproximate the mouth and the outer undercut defines a second depth relative to an outer diameter Dproximate the mouth. The second depth is different than the first depth.

Structure and method of sealing a closure assembly onto the neck finish of a plastic pressure container

Plastic containers, base configurations for plastic containers, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof. In particular, the disclosed subject matter involves container base configurations having particular up-stand geometries that can assist or facilitate elevated temperature processing and/or cooling processing of plastic containers.

Plastic containers having base configurations with up-stand walls having a plurality of rings, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof

Method and system for handling a plurality of hot-filled and capped containers having temporary deformations or distortions caused by vacuums induced in the containers. For each container, temporary deformations are confined or directed to a particular portion of the container. Annular hoop rings can be provided to confine the temporary deformations to a smooth sidewall portion of the container between the annular hoop rings. Alternatively, one or more supplemental vacuum panels can be provided to confine or direct the temporary deformation thereto. The annular hoop rings and the one or more supplemental vacuum panels can provide for substantially stable touch points for the container. The containers are conveyed with temporary deformations such that substantially stable contact points of each container are in contact with corresponding substantially stable contact points of other containers. After the conveying, a moveable element in a bottom end of each container is activated substantially permanently to remove the vacuum in the container.

Deformable container with hoop rings

Plastic containers, base configurations for plastic containers, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof. Plastic containers have base portions constructed and operative to accommodate internal pressures within the container due to elevated temperature processing, such as hot-filling, pasteurization, and/or retort processing. Plastic containers can also be constructed and operative to accommodate internal pressures within the filled container resulting from subjecting the filled plastic container to cooling or cool-down processing.

Plastic containers, base configurations for plastic containers, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof

Plastic pressure container including a main body portion, a finish portion, and a closure assembly. The main body portion defines an interior space. The finish portion is unitary with the main body portion and defines a mouth in communication with the interior space. The finish portion has an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim proximate the mouth. The inner surface has an inner undercut defined therein proximate the upper rim. The outer surface has an outer undercut defined therein proximate the upper rim. The closure assembly is mounted to the finish portion in engagement with both the inner undercut and the outer undercut.

Systems and methods for vacuum compensation in hot-filled and cooled containers. Each container reduces, via one or more vacuum panels, a first portion of a vacuum created in the container. Each container also has a repositionable portion to reduce a second portion of the vacuum. During hot-filling, no portion of the repositionable portion extends below a standing or bearing surface of the container.

Repositionable base structure for a container

An improved blow molded plastic container having generally rounded sidewalls that are adapted for hot-fill applications has two adjacent sides and two pairs of controlled deflection panels, each pair reacting to vacuum pressure at differing rates of movement, whereby one pair inverts under vacuum pressure and the other pair remains available for increased squeezability or extreme vacuum extraction. The opposing sidewalls are symmetric relative to vacuum panel and rib shape and placement. The ribs and controlled deflection panels cooperate to retain container shape upon filling and cooling and also improves bumper denting resistance, decreases vacuum pressure within the container, and increases light weight capability.

Pressure container with differential vacuum panels

Base configurations for plastic containers having an inner wall and up-stand wall geometries to accommodate internal container pressures after hot-filling and sealing, corresponding plastic containers, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof. In some embodiments, the up-stand wall geometries include a plurality of stacked rings. The inner wall and up-stand wall geometries can be co-operatively operative to accommodate pressure variations within the jar.

A closure for a container comprising: a cap member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a wall portion having an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface comprises threads to mate with a threaded neck finish of a container; and a composite disc member comprising: an outer vent ring portion comprising a plurality of vents wherein the vents provide a path for air to travel from an area near the threads to an area between the bottom surface of the cap member and the composite disc member, wherein the vent ring portion functions to seal liquid in the container thus preventing the liquid from traveling to the threaded neck finish of the container; and an inner flexible diaphragm portion in a first position, wherein the flexible diaphragm portion flexes to compensate for a change in pressure within the container by transitioning downwards in response to a decrease in pressure and/or by transitioning upwards in response to an increase in pressure.

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Elizabethtown, PA, United States of America

Scott E Bysick