| Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120091149 | RETORT-RESISTANT PLASTIC CONTAINER - A retort-resistant plastic container includes a base portion, a sidewall portion, and a neck portion. The base portion includes a domed portion and a lower annular portion. The sidewall portion extends upwardly from the base portion, and typically has a minimum thickness of 0.020 inches. The neck portion extends upwardly from the sidewall portion and includes an annular flange. In embodiments, the outer diameter of the lower annular portion is less than the inner diameter of the annular flange. Further, in some embodiments, the sidewall is substantially smooth absent various sidewall structural reinforcements (e.g., vacuum panels or reinforcement ribs). Moreover, for embodiments, the sidewall portion is at least 0.80 of the total vertical length of the container. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120017783 | ROTARY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRINTING CONTAINERS - A system for digitally printing directly on a plurality of containers is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a device configured to determine an initial position or orientation of an individual container; a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on said containers; and a plurality of container holders configured hold or retain an individual container, to rotate the individual container, and to maintain a rotational position of the individual container relative to at least one print head while printing occurs; and one or more curing devices. The system may be configured such that the plurality of container holders are configured to move along a linear or curved path, and the plurality of container holders may be configured to controllably rotate about a container axis. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110204070 | PLASTIC CONTAINER - The plastic container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base and an upper neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an opening therein. The sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110132916 | CONTAINER WITH NON-CYLINDRICAL UPPER BODY PORTION - A one-piece, unitary molded plastic container includes a neck portion; a base portion; and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base portion toward the neck portion. The sidewall includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The lower body portion is substantially cylindrical, extends from the base portion toward the upper body portion, and has a height that is from about 0.10 to about 0.60 of the total height of the container. The upper body portion is substantially non-cylindrical, extends upwardly from the lower body portion toward the neck portion, and has a height that is from about 0.30 to about 0.80 of the total height of the container; and includes a curved label-receiving portion. In embodiments, a label—e.g., a directly-applied ink label or separately applied composite label—is applied to the label-receiving portion. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110132863 | PLASTIC CONTAINER CONFIGURED FOR CASE-LESS SHIPPING - A plastic container configured for case-less shipping includes a base portion, a sidewall portion, and a neck portion. The base portion is configured to support the container on a surface and includes a substantially planar surface contact portion. The sidewall portion extends upwardly from the base portion and includes a shoulder, an integrally molded handle having a handle opening, and a horizontally-extending collapsible formation. The neck portion extends upwardly from the shoulder of the sidewall portion and includes a dispensing opening, a neck finish, and an uppermost vertical portion. In an embodiment, the handle includes a handle portion that extends vertically from the sidewall portion to an extent that is at or about the same vertical height as the uppermost vertical portion of the neck portion, and a portion of the sidewall portion is permitted to deform in response to a top load force. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110132790 | STACKABLE PLASTIC CONTAINER - A stackable plastic container includes a base portion, a sidewall portion, and an upper portion. The base portion is configured to support the container, and includes an upwardly-extending central base portion and a base reinforcement formation. The sidewall portion extends upwardly from the base portion, and may include a sidewall reinforcement formation. The upper portion extends upwardly from the sidewall portion, and includes a shoulder portion, an angled portion, a neck portion, and a dispensing opening. The base portion may be configured to withstand hydrostatic pressure. A portion of the shoulder portion may be configured to flex downwardly in response to a top load force applied to the neck of the container. The upwardly extending central base portion may be configured to receive an upper portion of another container. With embodiments, in a stacked configuration, the upper portion of another container contacts the central base portion of the container. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110068513 | STRETCH BLOW MOLDED CONTAINER AND METHOD - A method for making a container is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a preform; applying heat or energy to at least a portion of the preform to bring the portion to an elevated temperature and so an inner surface of the preform is heated; and applying an air flow to the preform. In an embodiment an airflow of at least about 2,200 ft/min to maintain a temperature differential between the inner surface and the outside surface of the portion of the preform being heated to within about 20° F. The preform may subsequently be blow molded to form a container. In embodiments of the invention, polypropylene preforms may be used in connection with injection-stretch blow molding (ISBM) technologies for high-speed production of polypropylene containers. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20100259587 | INK DELIVERY SYSTEM - An ink delivery system includes a first tank including a fill sensor; a second tank including a fill sensor; a pump configured to pump ink from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank including a fill sensor; a print head in fluid communication with the second tank and the third tank. In an embodiment, the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank and may be configured to provide a closed loop system, the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank, and a pressure differential across the print head causes ink to flow through the print head. For some embodiments, pumps may be provided to control pressure differentials and print heads may print at one or more angles. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100259575 | METHOD FOR PRINTING - A method of printing including providing an ink delivery system including a print head in fluid communication between a first tank and a second tank; and providing a pressure differential across the print head to cause ink to flow from the print head. With embodiments of the method, ink can be controllably dispensed from the print head at substantially the same velocity irrespective of the orientation of the print head with respect to the direction of the force of gravity. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100200451 | PRINTING PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH DIGITAL IMAGES - A plastic container having curved surfaces and digital printing is disclosed. An embodiment of the container provides a hollow plastic container including a multiple color, single-cured digital image on a first curved surface having a non-constant radius of curvature, and a second curved surface having a non-constant radius of curvature that is spaced from the first curved surface, such that the first and second curved surfaces are on opposed surfaces. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100199611 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESSURIZING A PLASTIC CONTAINER - A system for manufacturing a plastic container, including a thin-walled container, includes an actuator and a base unit. The actuator may include a body portion and a holding/securing member configured to hold or secure a portion of a container. The base unit includes a heating surface and may optionally include an insert. In an embodiment, the actuator may be configured to apply a force or pressure on a container to contact the base unit, the base unit may be configured to receive a base portion of the container, and the heating surface may be configured to convey energy or heat to a portion of the base portion of said container. Embodiments of a method for providing a plastic container are also disclosed. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100193119 | HANDLE APPLICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus for attaching a handle to a container includes a handle supply mechanism configured to supply one or more handles in an open configuration; a container conveyance mechanism configured to provide a container to a handle application location; and a handle applicator configured to attach or connect a handle that supplied initially in an open configuration to a portion of a container. In an embodiment, a heater is included that is configured to provide energy/heat to at least a portion of the one or more handles prior to application. In other embodiments, handles are supplied for application at an elevated temperature. Methods for attaching a handle to containers are also disclosed. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100163513 | HOT-FILLABLE PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH FLEXIBLE BASE FEATURE - A base for a plastic container including an outer support portion; a structured formation ring including a plurality of sequential formations; an inner inversion portion disposed radially inwardly of the structured formation ring; and a central portion. In an embodiment, the sequential formations are disposed in a substantially ring-like configuration and at least the inner inversion portion is configured to flex in response to internal vacuum forces associated with said container. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100096386 | DIGITAL PRINTING PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH IMPROVED ADHESION AND RECYCLABILITY - A container having an external surface with a digital image printed thereon by droplets of ink is provided. The digital image includes a base coat and a secondary coat that is applied to the base coat. In an embodiment, the digital image adheres to the container with an acceptable or sufficient adhesion score and the image is removable using conventional recycling processes. Methods for digitally printing containers and facilitating recycling are also disclosed. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100038339 | DIGITAL PRINTING PLASTIC CONTAINERS - A hollow plastic container having a curved external surface and a digital image printed thereon by ink droplets is provided. The ink droplets may vary in diameter from about 10 to about 200 microns and the droplets may range from about 200 to about 1200 drops per inch. Methods for digital printing plastic containers are also disclosed. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20090314170 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRINTING ON ARTICLES HAVING A NON-PLANAR SURFACE - A method for printing on an article having a non-planar surface in an embodiment includes obtaining coordinates or a geometry for a non-planar surface of an article; determining a tangent orientation for a print head in three dimensions; and using the tangent orientation and positioning the print head relative to the non-planar surface of the article. Embodiments of apparatus for printing on articles having non-planar surfaces are also disclosed. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090237215 | APPLICATION OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION - A method for making a container including a radio frequency identification label is provide. In an embodiment the method includes placing a radio frequency identification (RFID) label into a mold; positioning the RFID label so that an outer portion of the label is substantially flush with the mold surface; and molding a container such that the outer portion of the RFID label is substantially flush with the outer surface of the side wall of the container. An article, which may be formed using the foregoing method, is also disclosed. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20080223816 | PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH ELONGATED VERTICAL FORMATION - A plastic container is disclosed comprising a base portion for supporting the container on a surface, an upper portion, and a body portion. The upper portion includes a neck and a dispensing opening. The body portion extends between the base portion and the neck, the body portion including a shoulder portion below the neck portion and a sidewall portion between the shoulder portion and the base portion. The body portion includes at least one elongated vertical formation that substantially extends along the sidewall portion from the base portion toward the shoulder portion, the elongated vertical portion being continuous along at least 0.60 the total height of the container. | 09-18-2008 |
