Method of forming a container with a hanger device

Abstract

The present application provides methods of producing containers (315, 415, 515, 720, 815, 915) having shaped tails (610, 910), including blow molding a precursor having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910); and shaping the tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) to form a shaped tail (610, 910). Various types of blow molding can employ various types of precursors having tails (510). Injection blow molding can be used where a preform (105, 200, 305, 405, 505) having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) is optionally stretched longitudinally and inflated with a gas or liquid. Extrusion blow molding can be used where a parison (705) having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) is inflated. The tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) shaping device can be part of the blow molding process or can be employed after the container (315, 415, 515, 720, 815, 915) is produced from the precursor having a tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910). The shaped tail (610, 910) can impart functionality to the container (315, 415, 515, 720, 815, 915), including shaping the tail (105, 110, 205, 310, 410, 510, 715, 810, 910) to be usable as a coupling point such as an attachment point, a hanging point, or a hook.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present technology relates to techniques for simultaneously forming and filling a container from a preform, wherein the preform includes an external feature configured as a hanging device in the final filled product container. BACKGROUND

[0002] This section provides background information relating to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0003] Various products are distributed in plastic containers, such as containers formed from one or more polymers. Common polymers used to form containers include polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high and low density polyethylene, polycarbonate, and polypropylene, among others. Plastic containers can be made using various blow molding processes, including injection blow molding, liquid or hydraulic blow molding, and extrusion blow molding.

[0004] Injection blow molding can be used to form a particular plastic container in one or more stages and can include the use of a stretch rod. In a two-stage injection stretch blow molding process, a plastic is first molded into a preform using an injection molding process. The preform can include a neck and finish of the container to be formed, which can include threads thereon, and a closed distal end. The preform can then be heated above the plastic glass transition temperature, optionally stretched longitudinally with a stretch rod, and blown into a container conforming to a mold using a high pressure gas, such as air. As the preform expands, it lengthens and stretches, assuming the shape of the mold cavity. The plastic solidifies upon contact with the cooler surfaces of the mold, and the completed hollow container is subsequently ejected from the mold.

[0005] Liquid or hydraulic blow molding can form and fill a container in a single operation. A liquid product can be used to form the preform and fill the liquid product into the final container, wherein the liquid product is then retained in the completed container. A heated preform, much like the preform used in injection blow molding, can be placed in a mold, optionally stretched, and rapidly filled using a liquid product, rather than a gas, to form the container. Thus, the combination of the forming step and the filling step can optimize the packaging of a liquid product by eliminating the transport of empty containers and the time requirements associated with a subsequent filling operation.

[0006] Extrusion blow molding can be used to form a particular plastic container, wherein a continuously extruded hot plastic tube or parison is captured within a mold and expanded against the inner surfaces of the mold to form a container blank. The mold can be designed to travel at the speed of the moving extruded parison as it is closed over the parison, such that the process can be operated continuously. There are a variety of different types of extrusion blow molding machines, including shuttle molds designed to travel in a linear motion, and extrusion blow molding wheels that travel in a rotational or circular motion.

[0007] Preforms used in injection blow molding and liquid blow molding or parisons used in extrusion blow molding can have tails extending therefrom. For example, a preform can be formed by injection molding, where molten plastic is fed into a preform mold, the entrance of which includes a pipe, runner, or gate that delivers molten plastic from an extruder. Depending on the configuration of the pipe and the presence or location of one or more gates, the preform can include a tail extending from the point at which the molten plastic is injected into the preform mold. Likewise, when a mold captures and pinches a hot plastic tube or parison in extrusion blow molding, the base of the pinched parison can generate a tail from the parison that subsequently extends from the blown container. In the manufacture or formation of a preform or parison, it is common to minimize any tail or extended plastic, as such material is often considered wasted plastic material. Such tail or gate residue, even when minimized in the formation of a preform or parison, can require post-forming machining by cutting or trimming to remove features that are generally considered surface defects or can interfere with the aesthetics and performance of the final container.

[0008] Conversely, the present technology seeks to transform the tail feature of a preform or parison into a useful function, such as can be used as an attachment point, a hanging point, or a hook-like coupling point. Rather than configuring a blow molding system to minimize the presence of a tail feature of a preform or parison and / or to require post-forming machining of a preform or container produced therefrom, the present technology intentionally provides a tail that can be shaped to complement the function of certain containers. The shaped tail can be positioned opposite an opening of the container such that when the container is hung from the shaped tail, its contents can be pulled toward the opening by gravity. In this way, the container can be stored in a position where the viscous product contained in the container is held near the capped opening to facilitate efficient dispensing of the product. SUMMARY

[0009] The present technology includes systems, processes, and articles of manufacture related to containers formed from preforms that are used to fill a product, where the preform includes an external feature shaped into a hanging device in the final filled product container.

[0010] Methods of producing a container having a shaped tail are provided, including blow molding a precursor having a tail; and shaping the tail to form a shaped tail. To produce a container having a shaped tail, the tail can be shaped during or after blow molding. Blow molding can include injection blow molding, and the precursor can include a preform having a tail, where blow molding can optionally include longitudinally stretching the preform having a tail. Blow molding can include injection blow molding using a gas or using a liquid product that is retained within the container as a final product. Blow molding can include extrusion blow molding, and the precursor can include a parison having a tail. Shaping the tail to form a shaped tail includes engaging the tail with a tail shaping device, which can include a portion of a mold used to produce the container, and where the tail is engaged by the tail shaping device while the precursor having a tail is blow molded to produce the container having a shaped tail. Shaping the tail to form a shaped tail can include engaging the tail with a tail shaping device after the precursor having a tail is blow molded to produce the container. The tail shaping device can shape the tail into a coupling device such as a hanging point or a hook.

[0011] Other suitable applications will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended only to provide illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings described herein are for the purpose of illustrating selected embodiments only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0013] Figure 1 A scheme for injection molding a preform having a tail is shown, where the preform having a tail is loaded into a mold along with a blow rod for subsequent injection blow molding of a container having a tail.

[0014] Figure 2 A preform having a tail made by injection molding is shown.

[0015] Figure 3 A scheme for injection blow molding a preform having a tail into a container having a tail is shown.

[0016] Figure 4 A three-stage rotary injection blow molding system is shown that forms and uses a preform having a tail to produce a container or bottle having a tail.

[0017] Figure 5 A scheme for injection stretch blow molding a preform having a tail into a container having a tail is shown.

[0018] Figure 6 A scheme for injection stretch blow molding a preform having a tail into a container having a tail is shown.Figure 5 A modified version of the scheme shown in the middle, where the mold for stretch blow molding the preform having a tail includes a tail forming device configured to receive and form the tail during the stretch blow molding process.

[0019] Figure 7 A scheme for extrusion blow molding is shown, where the parison is captured in a mold to generate a parison having a tail and its subsequent blow molding generates a container having a tail.

[0020] Figure 8 One embodiment of a tail forming device that joins a tail on a container is shown.

[0021] Figure 9 Another embodiment of a tail forming device that joins a tail on a container is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following description of the technology is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any particular application claimed in this application or in such other applications as can be filed claiming priority to this application or patents issued thereon. With respect to the methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments, including the possibility of simultaneous execution of certain steps. As used herein, "a" and "one" mean "at least one" of the items being described; the use of "a" or "one" does not exclude multiple items. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all numerical quantities in this description are assumed to be modified by the word "about" and all geometric and spatial descriptors are assumed to be modified by the word "substantially." "About" when applied to numerical values means that the calculation or measurement allows some slight imprecision (with some approach to the perfect) and that the imprecision does not, in the context, render the stated feature of the technology unusable. As used herein, "about" and / or "substantially" shall connote at least the ordinary meaning of the term, and in the application context shall mean items that are nearly identical, with only minor variations therebetween.

[0023] Unless otherwise expressly stated, all technical and scientific documents, including patents, patent applications and scientific articles, cited herein are incorporated by reference. In the event of any conflict between the description contained herein and the documents incorporated by reference, the description contained herein shall control.

[0024] Although the open-ended term "comprising," as the synonym of non-limiting terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, these embodiments can alternatively be described using the more limiting terms such as "consisting of" or "consisting essentially of." Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (e.g., an element described as "consisting essentially of" means that additional such elements can be present, as long as they do not substantially change the essential characteristics of the embodiment, i.e., the essential characteristics are indistinguishable from those of the embodiment explicitly disclosed). For example, recitation of an element A, B and C as a means-plus-function, means that any element which performs substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same results is considered equivalent to the recited elements A, B and C, even if the other elements do not operate in the same way or achieve the same results as the recited elements A, B and C.

[0025] As described herein, ranges disclosed include endpoints and include all intervening values and further partitioned ranges unless otherwise specified. Thus, for example, a range of "from A to B" or "from about A to about B" includes A and B. Values and range values disclosed for a particular parameter (e.g., number, weight percent, etc.) do not exclude other values and range values useful in the present disclosure. It is contemplated that two or more specific example values for a given parameter can define the endpoints of a range value for the parameter that can be claimed. For example, if a parameter X is exemplified herein as having a value of A and also as having a value of Z, it is contemplated that parameter X can have a range value of from about A to about Z. Likewise, it is contemplated that two or more range values for a parameter disclosed, whether such ranges are nested, overlapping, or distinct, include all possible range combinations of values that can be claimed using the endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if a parameter X is exemplified herein as having a range of values of 1 to 10, or 2 to 9, or 3 to 8, it is also contemplated that parameter X can have other range values, including 1 to 9, 1 to 8, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, 2 to 10, 2 to 8, 2 to 3, 3 to 10, 3 to 9, etc.

[0026] When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layers can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0027] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms can be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not connote a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, a first component, a first region, a first layer or a first section discussed below could be termed a second element, a second component, a second region, a second layer or a second section without departing from the teachings of examples of embodiments.

[0028] Spatially relative terms such as “internal,” “external,” “under,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like can be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms can be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0029] The present technology converts a tail feature of a preform or parison into a useful function, such as a coupling point such as an attachment point, a hanging point, or a hook, that can be used in the final container. The blow molding art generally attempts to minimize the presence of a tail feature of a preform or parison, while the present technology deliberately provides a tail that can be shaped to complement the function of certain containers. The shaped tail can be positioned opposite an opening of the container to allow the container to hang from the shaped tail so that contents can be pulled toward the opening by gravity. In this way, the container can be stored in a position where the viscous product contained in the container is held near the opening to facilitate efficient dispensing of the product. Thus, a container having a shaped tail is provided by blow molding a precursor having a tail and shaping the tail to form a shaped tail, thereby producing a container having a shaped tail.

[0030] Various types of blow molding operations can be employed. Blow molding can include injection blow molding, where the precursor includes a preform having a tail. The blow molding operation can optionally include longitudinal stretching of the preform having a tail, such as injection stretch blow molding using a stretch rod to extend the preform longitudinally to conform to a container mold, either before or in conjunction with inflation of the preform. Blow molding can include injecting a gas into the preform to inflate the preform or a liquid product to inflate the preform, where the liquid product can remain in the container as a final product. Blow molding can include extrusion blow molding, where the precursor can include a parison having a tail. For example, the precursor can be formed from a parison of an extruded tube captured in a mold, one end of the tube being engaged by the mold to form a tail of the parison.

[0031] There are various ways to form a shaped tail. Shaping the tail to form a shaped tail can include engaging the tail with a tail shaping device. In certain embodiments, the tail shaping device includes a portion of a mold used to produce a container. The tail can be engaged by the tail shaping device while the precursor having the tail is being blow molded to produce a container having a shaped tail. The tail can also be engaged by the tail shaping device after the precursor having the tail is blow molded to produce a container.

[0032] In certain embodiments, the tail shaping device includes a channel that receives the tail and directs the tail to be a shaped tail to produce a container having a shaped tail. The channel can have an open side that allows the shaped tail to be removed therefrom. The channel can also be heated or cooled to facilitate shaping and setting the structure of the shaped tail. The channel can also take the form of a surface, including a grooved or curved surface, against which the tail is contacted so that at least a portion of the tail is offset from a longitudinal axis of the container to form a shaped tail.

[0033] In certain embodiments, the tail-forming device can include two members having complementary surfaces that engage the tail therebetween and apply a compressive force to the tail to produce a container having a shaped tail. For example, a portion of the tail can be machined or compressed against a mandrel, or formed into a structure that imparts a desired shape to the shaped tail. A clamping action between two or more components can shape the tail into a coupling device, such as a hook. One or more members of the tail-forming device can also be heated or cooled to facilitate shaping and to set the structure of the shaped tail.

[0034] In certain embodiments, the tail-forming device shapes the tail such that at least a portion of the shaped tail is offset from the longitudinal axis of the container. The tail can be shaped into a variety of structures, including various coupling devices such as a hanging point or hook. Where the final container has a shaped tail positioned opposite the opening of the container, the container can rely on the shaped tail for storage, allowing any product contained in the container to be pulled toward the opening by gravity. The opening can be sealed in a variety of ways, including various valve members, threaded structures, or snap-on, flip-top, or the like. Thus, the efficiency of dispensing of the product can be maximized. For example, the container can be filled with a variety of viscous products, such as shampoo or conditioner, adhesive, paste food, or the like, and can then be hung from the shaped tail for display and / or storage.

[0035] The present technology also contemplates a variety of containers having shaped tails produced by the processes described herein. As such, the present technology provides a variety of blow molding systems for producing containers having shaped tails, as well as methods of using these systems. The present technology includes a variety of articles of manufacture, such as molds, tail-forming devices, preforms, parisons, and containers. The present technology also includes a variety of systems and system components having the features provided herein. The present technology provides a variety of articles of manufacture, including a variety of process products.

[0036] Reference is now made to the drawings herein to illustrate non-limiting aspects of various embodiments of the present technology.

[0037] Figure 1 A scheme 100 is shown for injection molding a preform 105 having a tail 110 using an injection mold 115 and a blow rod 120, where the preform 105 having a tail 110 can be loaded into a blow mold 125 along with the blow rod 120 for subsequent blow molding of a container having a tail, for example, see Figure 3 . In Figure 1On the left side, a blow rod 120 is loaded into an injection mold 115, where material (e.g., PET) is injection molded through port 125 to form a preform 105 having a tail 110. The preform 105 is formed between and around a portion of the blow rod 120 and the injection mold 115. For example, the tail 110 may include a portion of a gate at an inlet located at port 130. The blow rod 120, including the preform 105 with tail 110, is then moved into the blow mold 125, as... Figure 1 As shown on the right. The blow molding die 125 has two halves that enclose the preform 105 on the blow rod 120. The blow molding die 125, having an inner surface 135, defines the structure of the subsequently blow-molded container. As shown, the blow rod 120 includes a channel 140 extending through it for introducing fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) and blow molding the preform 105 at the tail 110 into a final container having the tail 110. See, for example, [reference needed]. Figure 3 .

[0038] Figure 2 A preform 200 with a tail 205, manufactured by injection molding, is shown, for example... Figure 1 As shown in scheme 100. Precast component 200 can be manufactured using, for example... Figure 1 Various injection blow molding methods are shown for one or more injection molds 115 and blow rods 120, as well as other injection molding methods excluding the blow rod 120. An embodiment of the preform 200 shown includes a tail 105, a support ring 210, and a threaded finish 215 adjacent to the open end 220 of the preform. Similarly, the described embodiment of the preform 200 is typically a hollow cylinder formed by injection molding from one end having the tail 205 and subsequently blow molding at the other open end 220. However, the preform 200 can be configured in other shapes so that the tail 205 is located at other positions on the preform, and the support ring 210 and finish 215 are configured in other ways.

[0039] Figure 3 A scheme 300 for blow molding a preform 305 having a tail 310 into a container 315 having a tail 310 is shown. The left side of scheme 300 shows the preform 305 loaded onto a blow molding die 325 on a blow rod 320, the die being closed around the preform 305 and the tail 310. The inner surface 330 of the blow molding die 325 defines the final configuration of the blow-molded container 315. The right side of scheme 300 shows fluid 335 injected through a channel 340 in the blow rod 320 to cause the preform 305 to expand to contact the inner surface 330 of the blow molding die 325. The two halves of the blow molding die 325 can be separable, for example, as... Figure 1The container 315 having a tail 310 can be removed from the blow mold 125.

[0040] Figure 4 A three-stage rotary injection blow molding system 400 is shown that forms and uses preforms 405 having tails 410 to produce containers or bottles 415 having tails 410. The system 400 includes a preform injection station 420, a blow molding station 425, and a removal station 430 that can sequentially dock using a changeover head 435 to index one or more blow pins 440 at each station 420, 425, 430. At the preform injection station 420, a reciprocating screw extruder 445 is used to injection mold a preform 405 having a tail 410 around a portion of a blow pin 440 located within an injection mold 450. At the blow molding station 425, the blow pin 440 with the preform 405 having a tail 410 is placed within a blow mold 455 and fluid is injected through a passage 455 into the blow pin 440 to inflate the preform 405 to conform to the blow mold 455 and form a container 415 having a tail 410. At the removal station 430, a removal plate 465 is used to eject the container 415 having a tail 410 from the blow pin 440. The blow pin 440 is then returned to the preform injection station 420. The system 400 can be operated stepwise, where each station 420, 425, 430 is operated substantially simultaneously to produce a container 415 having a tail 410 in each cycle after the first cycle is completed. For example, the changeover head 435 can have one or more rotating blow pins 440 such that one or more preforms 405 each having a tail 410 are injection molded, one or more preforms 405 each having a tail 410 are blown to form one or more containers 415 each having a tail 410, and one or more containers 415 each having a tail 410 are removed at the respective stations 420, 425, 430.

[0041] Figure 5 A scheme 500 for injection stretch blow molding a preform 505 having a tail 510 into a container 515 having a tail 510 is shown. In a first stage, the preform 505 having a tail 510 is heated using a heat source 520. For example, the preform 505 having a tail 510 can be heated by Figure 1The injection molding formation shown in the first stage. In the second stage, the heated preform 505 with tail 510 is disposed within a blow mold 525, where the blow mold 525 includes two halves that close around the heated preform 505 with tail 510. In the third stage, the heated preform 505 with tail 510 is stretched in the longitudinal direction by stretch rods 530. The stretch rods 530 can have a passageway therethrough that can have one or more outlets to allow fluid to be injected into the stretched preform with tail 510, as shown in the fourth stage. The injected fluid causes the preform 505 to expand to contact and conform to the inner surface 535 of the blow mold 525, forming a container 515 with tail 510. During the third and / or fourth stages, the tail 510 can be directed into and received within a recess 540 of the blow mold 520. As shown, the recess 540 can be formed between the two halves of the blow mold 525. In the fifth stage, the preform with tail 510 is fully expanded into the container 515 with tail 510, and the two halves of the blow mold 525 are separated so that the container 515 can be removed from the blow mold. The sixth stage shows the final container 515 with tail 510 removed from the blow mold 525.

[0042] Figure 6 A modification 600 of the third and fourth stages of the scheme 500 shown in Figure 5 The blow mold 525 for injection stretch blow molding the preform 505 with tail 510 includes a tail forming device 605 that is configured to receive and form the tail 510 during the stretch blow molding process. The tail forming device 605 replaces the recess 540 of Figure 5 and is used to form the tail 510 when it is directed and received therein during the third and / or fourth stages. As shown in Figure 6 The tail forming device 605 receives and forms the tail 510 into a formed tail 610, as shown in the modification 600. The formed tail 610 shown forms a hook, but can take other shapes and forms. The tail forming device 605 can have various dimensions and lengths to accommodate various tails 510 and conform them to various types of formed tails 610.

[0043] Figure 7A scheme 700 for extrusion blow molding is shown, where a parison 705 is captured in a blow mold 710, generating a parison 705 with a tail 715 and its subsequent blow molding generates a container 720 with a tail 715. In a first stage, material (e.g., PET) is extruded at 725 to form a continuous and hollow tubular structure that forms the parison 705. In a second stage, the base of the parison 705 is captured by the blow mold 710 and pinched to close the end of the parison 705 and form the tail 715. Fluid (e.g., air) is injected into the parison 705 at 730 to inflate the parison 705 with the tail 715 to conform to the inner surface 735 of the blow mold 710 and form the container 720 with the tail 715. As shown in the third stage, the parison 705 is fully inflated inside the blow mold 710 to form the container 720. The fourth stage depicts the removal of the final container 720 with the tail 715 from the blow mold 710.

[0044] Figure 8 An embodiment 800 of a tail forming device 805 that joins a tail 810 on a container 815 is shown. Here, the container 815 with the tail 810 is moved as shown by the arrows 820 such that the tail 810 is received by the tail forming device 805. Alternatively, the tail forming device 805 can move to join the container 815 with the tail 810. Pressure and / or heat can be applied to the tail 810 and / or the tail forming device 805 such that the tail 810 conforms to a structure imposed by the tail forming device 815. For example, where the tail 810 comprises a thermoplastic material such as PET, the application of heat, pressure, and force can cause the tail 810 to conform to a shape or structure imposed by the tail forming device 805 and retain that shape or structure upon cooling and / or removal of the pressure and force. The embodiment of the tail forming device 805 described comprises a hook-shaped channel 825 that causes the tail 810 to form a hook-shaped tail.

[0045] Figure 9 Another embodiment 900 of a tail forming device 905 that joins a tail 910 on a container 915 is shown. Here, the tail forming device 905 comprises a multi-part molding operation that presses the tail 910 between a first mold part 920 and a second mold part 925 as shown by the respective arrows 930, 935. Heat and / or pressure can be applied to the tail 910 by the first mold part 920 and the second mold part 925 such that the tail conforms to a shaped tail that is complementary to the contact surface of the first mold part 920 and the contact surface of the second mold part 925. The embodiment of the tail forming device 905 shown comprising the first mold part 920 and the second mold part 925 causes a curve to be formed in the shaped tail 910, where the shaped tail can thus have a hook shape imparted to it.

[0046] As shown in these examples, the presently described methods and systems can produce containers having shaped tails by blow molding a precursor having a tail and shaping the tail to form a shaped tail. However, it should be understood that the present technology can be used in conjunction with other container manufacturing methods, and can be used with a variety of precursor and container materials, including, for example, thermoplastics, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), PET / PEN blends or copolymers, and a variety of multilayer structures can be suitable for the manufacture of plastic containers and used in conjunction with the principles described herein. While the present disclosure contemplates the production of PET containers, it should be understood that other polyolefin materials (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, etc.) as well as many other plastics can be processed using the present technology.

[0047] Examples of these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the embodiments can be practiced without the specific details given, that numerous implementation- specific decisions can be made to the embodiments, and that the embodiments presented are by way of examples only. For purposes of convenience and clarity, directional terms, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, left, right, and the like can be used with reference to the accompanying drawings to describe the present technology. These directional terms are not to be construed as limiting the present technology in any manner. In some examples of these embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail unless their description would aid in the understanding of the present technology. Equivalent changes, modifications, and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions, and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, and can be made according to the equivalent changes, modifications, and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions, and methods.

Claims

1. A method for producing a container having a shaped tail, the method comprising: Provide prefabricated components with a tail section; Blow molding the preform, wherein the blow molding includes: The preform is placed into the cavity of a blow molding die, the cavity including a tail forming device, the tail forming device including a conduit that receives the tail and guides the tail into a formed tail to produce a container having the formed tail. The preform is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the preform in the mold cavity, wherein the stretching of the preform causes the tail of the preform to be axially inserted into the channel of the blow mold, wherein, as the tail is gradually inserted axially into the channel, the tail engages to define the surface of the channel so that the tail conforms to the shape of the channel, thereby forming a shaped tail, wherein at least a portion of the channel is bent to deviate from the longitudinal extension direction of the stretched preform to form a hook shape, thereby causing the shaped tail to include a hook shape; Fluid is injected into the preform to cause the preform to expand and form the container having the shaped tail.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The blow molding includes injection blow molding.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The injection blow molding process uses gas as the fluid.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The injection blow molding uses a liquid product that remains in the container as the final product as the fluid.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The conduit shapes the tail section into a connecting device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The pipe shapes the tail end into a suspension point.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The blow molding die includes a first blow molding die portion and a second blow molding die portion, the first blow molding die portion defining a first portion of the mold cavity, and the second blow molding die portion defining a second portion of the mold cavity, wherein the conduit extends at least partially along a seam, and the first blow molding die portion and the second blow molding die portion engage at the seam when the blow molding die is closed around the preform.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, Before the tail portion is axially inserted into the tube of the blow mold, the blow mold closes as the first blow mold portion and the second blow mold portion engage at the joint.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following step: The tail is heated prior to the step of placing the preform into the blow mold to promote the tail conforming to the shape of the pipe during the axial insertion of the tail into the pipe.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The preform is stretched in the longitudinal direction by means of a tension rod extending through the interior of the preform, wherein, during the stretching of the preform in the longitudinal direction, an axial force applied to the interior of the preform by the tension rod causes the tail to conform to the shape of the pipe to form the shaped tail.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The tension rod has a passage forming through it, wherein the passage includes at least one outlet for injecting the fluid into the preform.

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