US4735538A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process of forming a biaxially oriented thermoplastic tube including the formation and severance of a bubble forming a radially outwardly flared leading tube end
Assignee: Crown Packaging UK Ltd
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Filing: 1986-08-22
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Granted: 1988-04-05
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Expires: 2006-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A process of forming biaxially oriented tubular articles by repeatedly performing a cycle of operations which includes engaging a thermoplastic tube by a first clamping member over a first region at a trailing end of the tube and engaging the tube by a second clamping mechanism over a second region at a spacing from the first region so as to define between the clamping mechanisms a portion of the tube to be longitudinally stretched and radially expanded; moving the clamping mechanisms apart to stretch the tube portion therebetween longitudinally; admitting pressure fluid into the tube portion to expand it radially and form a biaxially oriented bubble adjacent the leading end of the tube, and severing a substantial part, but not all, of the bubble from the tube to form the tube with a radially outwardly flared end as the leading end of the tube for the succeeding cycle of operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard W. Reed
- 👤 Robert M. S. Barr
- 👤 David A. Dick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:50
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/42; B29C49/4273; B29C49/4278; B29C49/08; B29C49/10; B29C49/14; B29C49/28; B29C49/30; B29C49/32; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/30; B29C2949/00; B29C2949/07; B29C2949/079; B29C2949/08; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/25; B29K2105/253; B29K2105/258; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/717; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/1397
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A process for forming at least partly biaxially oriented tubular articles from an elongate tube (10) of thermoplastics material having a first predetermined cross-sectional dimension, the process comprising repeatedly performing a cycle of operations each including the following steps: engaging the tube by a first clamping means (11, 12) over a first region at a leading end (10') of the tube and engaging the tube by a second clamping means (13, 14) over a second region at a spacing from the first region so as to define between the clamping regions a portion of the tube to be longitudinally stretched and radially expanded; and moving the clamping means apart to stretch the tube portion longitudinally and admitting pressure fluid to the tube portion to expand it radially to a second predetermined cross-sectional dimension greater than the first predetermined cross-sectional dimension, such stretching and expansion forming a bubble (100) of biaxially oriented thermoplastics material adjacent the leading end of the tube; characterized by severing a substantial part, but not all, of the bubble from the tube to leave the tube with a radially outwardly flared end, having the second predetermined cross-sectional dimension, at the leading end of the tube, and engaging the flared end, having the second predetermined cross-sectional dimension, of the tube by the first clamping means during the succeeding cycle of operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A process for forming at least partly biaxially oriented tubular articles from an elongate tube (10) of thermoplastics material having a first predetermined cross-sectional dimension, the process comprising repeatedly performing a cycle of operations each including the following steps: engaging the tube by a first clamping means (11, 12) over a first region at a leading end (10') of the tube and engaging the tube by a second clamping means (13, 14) over a second region at a spacing from the first region so as to define between the clamping regions a portion of the tube to be longitudinally stretched and radially expanded; and moving the clamping means apart to stretch the tube portion longitudinally and admitting pressure fluid to the tube portion to expand it radially to a second predetermined cross-sectional dimension greater than the first predetermined cross-sectional dimension, such stretching and expansion forming a bubble (100) of biaxially oriented thermoplastics material adjacent the leading end of the tube; characterized by severing a substantial part, but not all, of the bubble from the tube to leave the tube with a radially outwardly flared end, having the second predetermined cross-sectional dimension, at the leading end of the tube, and engaging the flared end, having the second predetermined cross-sectional dimension, of the tube by the first clamping means during the succeeding cycle of operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process according to claim 1, characterized in that for each cycle of operation it includes the further step of confining the tube portion within a mould cavity (12) during its stretching and expansion to form the bubble, the bubble thereby being conformed to the mould cavity by the pressure fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the second clamping means (13, 14) engages the tube on the tube outside and sealingly on the tube inside while maintaining the tube in an open condition at the second region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1, which is further characterized by subdividing each severed bubble to form thereform one or more parts as the tubular articles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 4, characterized in that the or each part of each severed bubble is or right-cylindrical form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 4, which is characterized by the further step of forming the or each part of each severed bubble as a container by attaching a closure member (30, 31) to each end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the or each container is heat-processable together with its contents, wherein the process further comprises subjecting the thermoplastics material of the respective severed bubble part to a heat treatment whilst it is restrained against excessive dimensional change, the heat treatment being such as to give the thermoplastics material dimensional stability at the processing temperature to be employed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermoplastics material is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 2 characterized in that the second clamping means (13, 14) engages the tube on the tube outside and sealingly on the tube inside while maintaining the tube in an open condition at the second region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 2, which is further characterized by subdividing each severed bubble to form therefrom one or more parts as the tubular articles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 3, which is further characterized by subdividing each severed bubble to form therefrom one or more parts as the tubular articles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 5 which is characterized by the further step of forming the part of each severed bubble as a container by attaching a closure member (30, 31) to each end thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 2, characterized in that the thermoplastics material is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 3, characterized in that the thermoplastics material is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 4, characterized in that the thermoplastics material is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 5, characterized in that the thermoplastics material is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the thermoplastics material is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 7, characterized in that the thermoplastics material is polyethylene terephthalate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-05 | 1991-10-05 | 1992-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-05 | 1995-10-05 | 1996-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-05 | 1999-10-05 | 2000-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |