Keith A Barker

US Patent:

6884382, Apr 26, 2005

Filed:

Jan 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/351658

Inventors:

Brian A. Lynch - Merrimack NH, US
Keith J. Barker - Candia NH, US
Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc. - York PA

International Classification:

B29C049/00

US Classification:

264521, 264529, 264537, 264908

Abstract:

A method of making a plastic container having a body and a finish with at least one external thread includes injection or compression molding a plastic preform having a body and a finish with at least one external thread, blow molding the body of the preform to form the body of the container, and either prior to, subsequent to or both prior and subsequent to blow molding the container body, expanding the injection or compression molded preform finish to form a container finish having at least one injection or compression molded external thread. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the finish is expanded after the container body is blow-molded. The invention can be implemented to expand a narrow-neck preform or container finish to a wide-mouth preform or container finish.

US Patent:

7033656, Apr 25, 2006

Filed:

Apr 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/122901

Inventors:

Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US
Keith J. Barker - Candia NH, US
Brian A. Lynch - Merrimack NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging PET Technologies, Inc. - York PA

International Classification:

B32B 1/02

US Classification:

428 357, 4285428

Abstract:

A container, a container preform and a method of making the container or preform in which the finish of the preform or container is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction, and has an end portion remote from the body of the preform or container, a capping flange adjacent to the body of the preform or container, and a mid portion between the end portion and the capping flange. The end portion of the finish forms an end surface, and the end and mid portions of the finish form continuous inner and outer surfaces. The polymer material in at least one of the end, inner and outer surfaces is crystallized, and crystallization in the finish in a direction perpendicular to such surface is graded from crystallization at the surface to an essential absence of crystallization at a position within the finish spaced from the surface.

US Patent:

7138082, Nov 21, 2006

Filed:

Dec 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/329666

Inventors:

Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US
Keith J. Barker - Candia NH, US
Brian A. Lynch - Merrimack NH, US
Bassam M. Kalmouni - Pembroke NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc. - York PA

International Classification:

B29C 49/00

US Classification:

264533, 264534, 264536

Abstract:

A method of making a plastic container having a threaded wide-mouth finish includes providing a preform having at least an exterior surface of molded polyester construction. The preform is placed in a mold cavity having a first portion for forming a container body, a second portion adjacent to the first portion for forming a cylindrical finish wall without threads, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion for forming a trim dome or moil. The preform is expanded within the mold cavity to form a one-piece intermediate product that includes a body, a cylindrical wide-mouth finish wall and a moil. After removing the intermediate product from the cavity, the moil is severed from the end of the finish wall. At least one thread is then formed on the finish wall by engaging the finish wall with at least one thread-forming tool, which may be heated to facilitate the forming operation.

US Patent:

7303796, Dec 4, 2007

Filed:

Jul 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/613445

Inventors:

Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US
Brian A. Lynch - Merrimack NH, US
Keith J. Barker - Candia NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc. - York PA

International Classification:

B29D 22/00
B29D 23/00
B32B 1/08

US Classification:

428 357, 428 369, 4285428, 264521, 264532, 264901, 264903, 264296, 215 44, 215274

Abstract:

A finish on a hollow plastic preform or container includes a neck that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and is at least partially crystallized, and a finish ring externally secured over the neck. The neck preferably is of molded plastic construction, and preferably is stretched subsequent to molding but prior to external securement of the finish ring. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the preform or container has an integral body, and the neck is integrally molded with the body. The finish ring preferably has at least one external thread for securement of a closure to the container after molding.

US Patent:

7604769, Oct 20, 2009

Filed:

Mar 1, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/068382

Inventors:

Brian A. Lynch - Merrimack NH, US
Keith J. Barker - Candia NH, US
Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc. - York PA

International Classification:

B29C 49/02
B29C 49/06
B29C 49/76

US Classification:

264521, 264529, 264537, 264908

Abstract:

A method of making a plastic container having a body and a finish with at least one external thread includes injection or compression molding a plastic preform having a body and a finish with at least one external thread, blow molding the body of the preform to form the body of the container, and either prior to, subsequent to or both prior and subsequent to blow molding the container body, expanding the injection or compression molded preform finish to form a container finish having at least one injection or compression molded external thread. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the finish is expanded after the container body is blow-molded. The invention can be implemented to expand a narrow-neck preform or container finish to a wide-mouth preform or container finish.

US Patent:

7651644, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

May 31, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/443704

Inventors:

Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US
Sam Kalmouni - Pembroke NH, US
Nikhil Mani - Billerica MA, US
Keith Barker - Candia NH, US
Brian Lynch - Merrimack NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging Company, LP - York PA

International Classification:

B29C 45/16
B29C 45/22
B29C 45/78

US Classification:

264 401, 425145

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for controlling the delivery of polymer material in a sequential injection molding process. In one embodiment, the method provides: delivering a first shot of a first material simultaneously to a plurality of mold cavities; independently sensing for each cavity a property that is indicative of a volume or flow of material that is delivered to the corresponding cavity during the step of delivering the first shot; independently stopping the step of delivering the first shot to one or more cavities according to a program that uses as a variable a signal indicative of the property sensed for the corresponding cavity during delivery of the first shot; and delivering a second shot of a second material simultaneously to the cavities subsequent to the step of stopping the step of delivering the first shot.

US Patent:

7892462, Feb 22, 2011

Filed:

Jan 13, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/686434

Inventors:

Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US
Sam Kalmouni - Pembroke NH, US
Nikhil Mani - Billerica MA, US
Keith Barker - Candia NH, US
Brian Lynch - Merrimack NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging Company, LLP - York PA

International Classification:

B29C 45/77

US Classification:

264 401, 425145

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for controlling the delivery of polymer material in a sequential injection molding process. In one embodiment, the method provides: delivering a first shot of a first material simultaneously to a plurality of mold cavities; independently sensing for each cavity a property that is indicative of a volume or flow of material that is delivered to the corresponding cavity during the step of delivering the first shot; independently stopping the step of delivering the first shot to one or more cavities according to a program that uses as a variable a signal indicative of the property sensed for the corresponding cavity during delivery of the first shot; and delivering a second shot of a second material simultaneously to the cavities subsequent to the step of stopping the step of delivering the first shot.

US Patent:

8118581, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Feb 18, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/031012

Inventors:

Thomas E. Nahill - Amherst NH, US
Sam Kalmouni - Pembroke NH, US
Nikhil Mani - Billerica MA, US
Keith Barker - Candia NH, US
Brian Lynch - Merrimack NH, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging Company, LP - York PA

International Classification:

B29C 45/77

US Classification:

425130, 425145, 425533, 425572

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for controlling the delivery of polymer material in a sequential injection molding process. In one embodiment, the method provides: delivering a first shot of a first material simultaneously to a plurality of mold cavities; independently sensing for each cavity a property that is indicative of a volume or flow of material that is delivered to the corresponding cavity during the step of delivering the first shot; independently stopping the step of delivering the first shot to one or more cavities according to a program that uses as a variable a signal indicative of the property sensed for the corresponding cavity during delivery of the first shot; and delivering a second shot of a second material simultaneously to the cavities subsequent to the step of stopping the step of delivering the first shot.