Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A REPLACEABLE INDICIA IMPRINTING INSERT FOR A NECK RING AND THE
NECK RING INCORPORATING SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to, but is not limited to, molding
systems, and more
specifically the present invention relates to, but is not limited to, a
replaceable indicia
imprinting insert for a neck ring and the neck ring incorporating same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Molding is a process by virtue of which a molded article can be formed from
molding material
by using a molding system. Various molded articles can be formed by using the
molding
process, such as an injection molding process. One example of a molded article
that can be
formed, for example, from Polyethylene Teraphalate (PET) material is a preform
that is capable
of being subsequently blown into a beverage container, such as, a bottle and
the like.
As an illustration, injection molding of PET material involves heating the PET
material (ex.
PET pellets, PEN powder, PLA, etc.) to a homogeneous molten state and
injecting, under
pressure, the so-melted PET material is injected into a molding cavity
defined, at least in part,
by a female cavity piece and a male core piece mounted respectively on a
cavity plate and a
core plate of the mold. The cavity plate and the core plate are urged together
and are held
together by clamp force, the clamp force being sufficient enough to keep the
cavity and the core
pieces together against the pressure of the injected PET material. The molding
cavity has a
shape that substantially corresponds to a final cold-state shape of the molded
article to be
molded. The so-injected PET material is then cooled to a temperature
sufficient to enable
ejection of the so-formed molded article from the mold. When cooled, the
molded article
shrinks inside of the molding cavity and, as such, when the cavity and core
plates are urged
apart, the molded article tends to remain associated with the core piece.
Accordingly, by urging
the core plate away from the cavity plate, the molded article can be demolded,
i.e. ejected off of
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the core piece. Ejection structures are known to assist in removing the molded
articles from the
core halves. Examples of the ejection structures include stripper plates,
ejector pins, etc.
When dealing with molding a preform that is capable of being blown into a
beverage container,
one consideration that needs to be addressed is forming a so-called "neck
region". Typically
and as an example, the neck region includes (i) threads (or other suitable
structure) for
accepting and retaining a closure assembly (ex. a bottle cap), and (ii) an
anti-pilferage assembly
configured to cooperate, for example, with the closure assembly to indicate
whether the end
product (i.e. the beverage container that has been filled with a beverage and
shipped to a store)
has been tampered with in any way. The neck region may comprise other
additional elements
used for various purposes, for example, to cooperate with parts of the molding
system (ex. a
support ledge, etc.). As is appreciated in the art, the neck region can not be
easily formed by
using the cavity and core halves. Traditionally, split mold inserts (sometimes
referred to by
those skilled in the art as "neck rings") have been used to form the neck
region.
It is generally known in the art to imprint certain indicia onto an outer skin
of the preform
during the injection molding process. Some examples of the indicia so-
imprinted include: a
unique identifier of the molding cavity where the preform has been molded, a
logo associated
for example with a converter who produced the preform or a downstream bottler
and the like.
US patent 4,137,962 issued to Pol on February 6, 1979 discloses a casting-
marking apparatus
that is adapted for incorporation in a permanent foundry pattern of the type
used to produce
sand molds for metal casting. The apparatus carries a marking that is
impressed in the sand
mold and subsequently reproduced on a casting. The apparatus is designed and
constructed so
that the marking that it carries can be altered from a station remote from the
pattern. In the
apparatus, the alterable marking is carried by a marking body that is rotated
by an air actuated
piston.
US patent 4,384,702 issued to Boscovic on May 24, 1983 discloses a removable
insert for a
mold for impressing indicia on each molded product formed in the mold. The
insert includes a
plug body, a bore through the plug body, and a plug situated in the bore and
having a mold
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engaging surface for impressing an article formed in the mold. The plug is
rotatable and include
an indicator which may be directed toward a series of indicia spaced about the
periphery of the
bore.
US patent 4,708,314 issued to Kuhling on November 24, 1987 discloses a die for
processing a
pliable plastic moldable material, particularly a plastic resin, and has a
cylindrical circular cross
sectioned passage provided in the die wall. A marking device for the die
comprises a ring body
held space-fixed in the cylindrical circular cross sectioned passage of the
die and a cylindrical
circular cross sectioned central body received rotatable, coaxial, and
stepwise lockable in the
ring body. Both the front surface of the central body and the ring shaped
front surface of the
ring body form part of the embossing surfaces of the die. The rotatable front
surface of the
central body carries an indicating mark, while the space-fixed ring shaped
front surface of the
ring body adjoining the rotatable front surface of the central body is
provided with a number of
other marks, which can give the date or dates. The marking device can
advantageously be
constructed as a standardized part and is easily mounted in the die, without
which the
embossing die must be provided with additional marks on its embossing
surfaces. For a case in
which the marking assembly must be changed due to for example a date change,
the central
body is conveniently adjustable by a tool from the die space.
US patent 5,620,716 issued to Opitz on April 15, 1997 discloses a time stamp
for insertion into
a mould for metal or plastics processing, with a basic body which can be
inserted into the
mould and in which an insert designed as a screw is arranged rotatably. The
insert, in order to
maintain its rotary position relative to the basic body, is retained in the
basic body in that its
shank end is in threaded engagement with a spring-pretensioned holding part
arranged in the
inner region of the basic body, so that the shoulder of the head portion of
the insert can be
pressed constantly against an annular radial step formed on the basic body.
US patent 5,736,168 issued to Goyal et al. on April 8, 1998 discloses a mold
for forming
hollow blow molded containers and is made in multiple sections to create a
cavity in the shape
of the desired container when the mold is in the closed position. A recess is
formed in the inner
surface of at least one of the sections of the mold body, and a removable
insert is designed to be
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placed in the recess. The insert may carry design indicia on it; and it is
held in place by a set
screw extending through the top of the mold body section in which it is
located. Thus, insertion
and removal of different inserts may be accomplished without disassembling the
mold.
US patent 5,788,872 issued to Uratani on April 4, 1998 discloses a removable
marking device
for a mold which includes a substantially cylindrical outer member fitted into
the mold, an
axially rotatable indicator fitted into the outer member and indications
formed on top surfaces
of the outer member and the indicator which is formed by an indication portion
facing an inner
surface of the mold and a screw portion extended from the indication portion,
the outer member
having a three-stepped bore which has an upper bore portion, a middle bore
portion extending
from the upper bore portion of a cross-sectional dimension larger than that of
the upper bore
portion and a lower bore portion extending from the middle bore portion of a
cross-sectional
dimension larger than that of the middle bore portion, the indicator inserted
into the bore with
the indication portion arranged in the upper bore portion and the screw
portion arranged into
the middle bore portion, a cover member inserted to the lower bore portion and
clinging to the
outer member, a nut threaded to a lower end of the screw portion of the
indicator, a spring
interposed above the nut within the middle bore portion, and the indicator
biased downwardly
by the spring in combination with the nut. Making use of the present removable
marking device
for a mold, molded products each having an even surface with no irregularity
can be formed,
and indications can be readily changed.
US patent 5,902,512 issued to Streit on May 11, 1999 discloses a mold insert
for transferring
selectable reference indicia to a molded part is used for tracking various
production parameters
for a manufactured component. The mold insert contains a plurality of tapered
concentric rings,
each tapered concentric ring having a face surface containing various
transferable reference
indicia. A housing having a bore accommodates the plurality of tapered
concentric rings and
permits rotatable adjustment of the tapered concentric rings relative to a
reference indicator. A
releasable fastener connected with respect to a tapered core within the
tapered concentric rings
is used for adjusting and fixing a position of each one of the plurality of
tapered concentric
rings with respect to one another and the reference indicator.
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US patent 6,299,126 issued to Hughes II on October 8, 2001 discloses an
apparatus for
changeable forming information, such as date, time, shift, and/or lot of
manufacturer
information, on members being die cast or molded. The present apparatus
includes at least one
information forming element adapted to be mounted in communication with the
interior cavity
of the die or mold and having a face positioned for forming information on the
member. The
face is adjustably movable relative to a reference element by an adjusting
element located
externally to the die or mold. According to a preferred aspect of the
invention, the apparatus
includes at least one additional information forming element, the additional
element being
concentric with the first named information forming element and being
independently rotatable
to allow quickly and easily changing the information to be formed on the
member.
US patent 6,308,929 issued to Wieder on October 30, 2001 discloses an insert
for a mold
comprising a plug, having an insert face, and a receiver defined by a sidewall
with one of the
plug and the receiver having a groove that receives a guide that extends from
the other of the
plug and the receiver so as to facilitate rotation of the plug while opposing
withdrawal of the
plug. In one preferred embodiment, the groove has an inclined entranceway,
that facilitates
plug insertion and removal, and a transverse portion and extends
circumferentially no more
than about one and one-quarter rotation about the plug. In another embodiment,
the guide is
resiliently urged outwardly from the plug to ride in a groove in the sidewall
and the sidewall
has an access port for prying free the plug from the receiver. A detent
assembly comprised of
notches on the plug and a detent carried by the receiver permit the plug to be
selectively
indexed. The insert can be mounted to or carried by an ejector pin having a
head constructed
and arranged to prevent rotation of the pin during mold operation. A portion
of the barrel is
machined and hardened before shipment to another location, typically to an end
user, where the
unmachined portion is cut to length before machining the head and remainder of
the barrel.
US patent 6,354,560 issued to Kawasaki et al. on March 12, 2002 discloses a
marking device
that can confirm a mark imprinted on a molded piece from outside a molding
tool and can
inscribe a plurality of marks with a sole marker. The marking device consists
of a reference
sleeve, a top imprint portion and a pin. The reference sleeve is fixedly
assembled and has the
top reference imprint surface confronting a molding area, a reference imprint
mark being
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formed on the stamp surface. The top imprint portion is rotatably journaled
within the reference
sleeve and has the top display imprint surface being flush with the top
reference imprint
surface, on which data imprint marks to be pointed by a reference imprint mark
are formed.
The sleeve has a base end actuator, on which data display are indicated,
formed at a protrusion
protruded from a molding area outward. The top imprint member is rotatably
journaled within
the sleeve and has a top display imprint surface being flush with the top
reference imprint
surface, on which a data imprint mark to be pointed a reference imprint mark
is formed. The
pin has a base end actuator having a protrusion protruded from a molding area
outward, on
which data display indicators respectively corresponding to data imprint marks
are indicated.
US patent 6,554,245 issued to Picco et al. on April 29, 2003 discloses a
marking device for a
mould having a housing in a wall. The device includes a threaded cylindrical
body and a
circular head of a diameter about equal to the diameter of the housing. A face
of the head
opposite to the body includes structure that turns the head and a marking
distinct from the
structure and independent from the position of the structure. A length of the
body and head are
less than the length of the housing in the mould in order that the face with
the marking lies
flush with the internal face of the wall of the mould when the device is in
the housing.
US patent 6,755,386 issued to Navarra Pruna on June 29, 2004 discloses a
marker having three
parts: an annular, enveloping body that is fixed in the location of the mold;
and an equally
annular intermediate body that is rotatably mounted inside intermediate body
and which can
rotate relative to the body. Each of these three parts is provided with a
signal. Two narrow
annular locations are disposed in the area of the marker opposite the
operative front, where a
helical spring ending in a lug is placed in each of the locations. The lug of
the outer spring is
the single actuation control of the marker while the lug of the inner spring
exhibits play in a
small location of the intermediate body. Both springs are oppositely coiled in
such a way that
strangling of one of the springs takes place simultaneously while the other
spring is being
released.
US patent 6,889,954 issued to Navarra Pruna on May 10, 2005 discloses a
universal marking
insert for injection molds having a body that forms the marking insert body.
This body has a
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central opening into which the marking case will be inserted and a ring being
set out externally
on the side to be inserted into the mould, on which different motifs to be
transferred to the
moulded body, will be engraved. Internally it has a nut secured by means of a
spring to the
closing end-cap, the shaft of the marking unit screwing into said nut, the
spring staying in
tension while in use, and retaining the marking insert from a possible
withdrawal.
US patent 6,966,257 issued to Uratani on November 22, 2005 discloses a
removable marking
device for mold that consists of a substantially cylindrical outer member, an
indicator that can
be rotated around axis line of outer member, a mark portion that is formed on
upper surface of
outer member and said indicator, wherein in said indicator, plural positioning
projection
portions protruding in radial direction of indicator is located, positioning
projection portion
consists of a positioning spring buried in indicator and an insert portion
located in a tip of
positioning spring, in inner wall of outer member, a positioning groove
extending in an axis
direction of outer member is formed at even intervals along circumferential
direction of middle
bore portion, in plural positioning projection portions, when at least one
positioning projection
portion is inserted in positioning groove, other positioning projection
portion touches in inner
wall of outer member in positioning groove.
US patent 7,014,446 issued to Hall on March 21, 2006 discloses a molding
machine and a mold
assembly having a quick change volume control insert. The volume control
insert can be
changed without disassembly of the mold or use of special tools. The molding
machine
includes a mold, a mold insert, a locking member, and a release member. The
mold insert is
received in one of the mold halves and further includes a mold detail defining
a portion of the
mold cavity, and a retention member. A locking member engages the retention
member when
the mold detail is received within the mold half. The release member,
accessible from the
exterior of the mold half, and is adapted to disengage the locking member from
the retention
member, allowing the mold detail to be removed.
US patent 7,171,894 issued to Uratani on February 6, 2007 discloses a
removable marking
device for a mold that enables to leave two marks of different meanings
accurately with simple
operation. A removable marking device for a mold has a control mechanism that
allows said
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indicator axle to rotate with said rotatable tube when said indicator axle
rotates in the other
direction.
US patent 7,431,580 issued to Chiang on October 7, 2008 discloses a mold for
forming a work
piece that includes a first core holder, a first core member, a second core
holder, a second core
member, a mounting member, and an adjusting member. The first core member is
mounted in
the first core holder, the second core holder is configured for attachment to
the first core holder,
the second core member is mounted in the second core holder, the first core
member and the
second core member are configured for cooperatively defining a mold chamber.
The mounting
member is coupled to the first core holder, the adjusting member has a
threaded portion in
threaded engagement with the mounting member and a distal portion coupled to
the first core
member, the adjusting member is configured for adjustably moving the first
core member
relative to the second core member, thus adjusting a size of the mold chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a replaceable
indicia imprinting insert for use with a neck ring half, which is configured
to define, in use, at
least a neck region of a preform. The replaceable indicia imprinting insert
comprises an insert
body including: a locating structure configured to locate, in use, the insert
body within an insert
bore of the neck ring half; a retaining structure configured to releasably
retain the insert body in
an in-use position; an insert cooling channel defining structure configured to
cooperate, in use,
with a cooling channel of the neck ring half to define a flow path for a
cooling fluid; a sealing
structure associated with the insert cooling channel defining structure
configured to
substantially prevent, in use, leakage of the cooling fluid; a molding surface
defining structure
configured to define, in use, a portion of the preform and including an
indicia imprinting face,
the indicia imprinting face including a pattern for imprinting a desired
indicia onto the preform.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a neck ring
assembly. The neck ring assembly comprises a neck ring half configured to
define, in use, at
least a neck region of a preform; and a replaceable indicia imprinting insert
configured to be
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positionable, in use, within the neck ring half to imprint a desired indicia
onto a portion of the
neck ring half.
These and other aspects and features of non-limiting embodiments of the
present invention will
now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following
description of
specific non-limiting embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the embodiments of the present invention (including
alternatives
and/or variations thereof) may be obtained with reference to the detailed
description of the
exemplary embodiments along with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 depicts a perspective exploded view of a neck ring half 102 and a
replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 140, implemented according to a non-limiting embodiment of
the present
invention.
Figure 2 depicts a cut-out perspective view of the neck ring half 102 of
Figure 1 with the
replaceable indicia imprinting insert 140 installed therein.
Figure 3A, Figure 3B and Figure 3C depict, respectively, a front view of the
neck ring half 102,
a side view of the neck ring half 102 and a top view of the neck ring half 102
with a replaceable
indicia imprinting insert 340 being installed therein, the replaceable indicia
imprinting insert
340 being implemented in accordance with an alternative non-limiting
embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 4 depicts a cut-out perspective view of the neck ring half 102 with a
replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 440 installed therein, the replaceable indicia imprinting
insert 440 being
implemented in accordance with an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the
present
invention.
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The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are may be illustrated by
phantom lines,
diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances,
details that are not
necessary for an understanding of the exemplary embodiments or that render
other details
difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention have been developed based on the
inventor's
appreciation of at least one problem associated with the prior art designs of
in-mold imprinting
of indicia onto preforms. Inventor has realized that in certain circumstances
it is required to
change the indicia so-imprinted without having to replace the mold component,
such as the
neck ring (for example, to mitigate cost impact associated with having to
replace the whole
neck ring assembly).
With reference to Figure 1, a neck ring half 102 is depicted, the neck ring
half 102 being
suitable for implementation of embodiments of the present invention. Figure 1,
more
specifically, depicts a perspective view thereof. The neck ring half 102 is
configured to mate
with another neck ring half (not depicted, but which would constitute a mirror
image of the
neck ring half 102), in use, to define at least a portion of the neck portion
of the preform to be
molded. To that extent, the neck ring half 102 comprises a neck ring body 104.
The neck ring
body 104 includes a mounting flange 106, which is configured to be mounted, in
use, within a
mold (not depicted), typically onto a neck ring slide (not depicted). This is
achieved for
example, by means of a coupling interface 108, which is configured to accept,
in use, a fastener
(not depicted).
The neck ring body 104 further defines a molding face 110. The molding face
110 includes a
molding pattern defining, in use, the desired shape of the neck region of the
preform. The neck
ring body 104 further includes a cooling channel 112 (only a plugged end of
which is visible in
Figure 1). The cooling channel 112 is configured to be coupled, in use, to a
source of cooling
fluid (not depicted) via an inlet (not visible) typically located on a bottom
surface of neck ring
body 104. The cooling channel 112 penetrates the inside of the neck ring body
104 to deliver
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the cooling fluid into desired portions thereof, typically, relatively close
to the preform being
molded to affect cooling thereof, during relevant portions of the molding
cycle. Several layouts
of the cooling channel 112 are known to those of skill in the art and, as
such, will not be
described here at any length.
The neck ring body 104 further includes a number of additional features, all
known to those
skilled in the art, such as vent grooves 114, tapers 116, 118; identification
area 120 and the like.
All of these are well-known and, as such, will not be described here at any
length.
According to embodiments of the present invention, there is also provided a
replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 140, which is configured to cooperate with the neck ring
half 102. The
replaceable indicia imprinting insert 140 comprises an insert body 142. The
insert body 142
includes a locating structure 144, which is configured to be positionable
within an insert bore
220 (as is best seen in Figure 2, which depicts a cut-out perspective view of
the neck ring half
102 of Figure 1 with the replaceable indicia imprinting insert 140 having been
installed
therein). The purpose of the locating structure 144 is to positively locate
the replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 140 within the insert bore 220. It is worthwhile noting that
Figure 2 depicts
what can be thought of a neck ring assembly (not separately numbered), which
includes the
neck ring half 102 and the replaceable indicia imprinting insert 140 (even
though Figure 2
shows it assembled, it can be also be disassembled, as is shown in an exploded
view of Figure
1).
Continuing with the description of Figure 1 and Figure 2, the insert body 142
further includes a
retaining structure 141, which is configured to releasably retain the
replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 140 within the neck ring half 102. More specifically, the
retaining structure
141 comprises a retaining body 143, which is configured to abut, in use, a
rear face (not
separately numbered) of the neck ring body 104. The retaining body 143 further
includes an
aperture 145, which is configured to accept, in use, a fastener 147. The
fastener 147 cooperates
with a body aperture 222 (Figure 2) defined within the neck ring body 104 of
the neck ring half
102 to retain the replaceable indicia imprinting insert 140 in an in-use
position. It is worthwhile
noting that within these embodiments of the present invention, the body
aperture 222 (and
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therefore, a major portion (i.e. more than 50%) of the insert body 142, when
in use) penetrates
the neck ring half 102 from the rear face thereof (not separately numbered) to
the molding face
110.
The insert body 142 further includes an insert cooling channel defining
structure 146. In use,
when installed, the insert cooling channel defining structure 146 is
positioned within the
cooling channel 112. It is noted that within the illustration of Figure 2, the
insert cooling
channel defining structure 146 has a cross-sectional dimension that is smaller
than that of the
remainder of the insert body 142. This is done in order to enable the insert
cooling channel
defining structure 146 to be able to cooperate with the cooling channel 112 to
provide a
substantially unobstructed flow path for the cooling fluid.
The insert body 142 further includes a sealing structure 148, associated with
the insert cooling
channel defining structure 146 and configured to prevent any leakage of the
cooling fluid. In
the specific example depicted in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the sealing structure
148 is
implemented as a pair of O-rings (i.e. two O-rings), each of the pair of O-
rings positioned on a
respective side vis-a-vis the insert cooling channel defining structure 146.
However, other
implementations are of course possible. For example, in an alternative non-
limiting
embodiment, the sealing structure 148 can be implemented differently.
The insert body 142 further includes a molding surface defining structure 150.
The molding
surface defining structure 150 includes an indicia imprinting face 152, which
includes a pattern
for imprinting a desired indicia onto the preform, that is formed in use by
the neck ring half
102. Examples of the desired indicia include, but are not limited to, a unique
identifier of the
molding cavity where the preform has been molded, a logo associated for
example with a
converter who produced the preform or a downstream bottler, time of
manufacturing, batch
number and the like.
The molding surface defining structure 150 is positioned in a face aperture
190 defined within
the molding face 110. It is noted that the molding surface defining structure
150 and the face
aperture 190 are dimensioned in a close toleranced relationship. More
specifically, the molding
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surface defining structure 150 and the face aperture 190 are dimensioned such
that to permit the
molding surface defining structure 150 to be inserted and removed through the
face aperture
190, while preventing any substantial leakage, in use, of the molding material
via the face
aperture 190 and past the molding surface defining structure 150.
In some embodiments of the present invention, optionally, the insert body 142
further
comprises a removal structure 224 (Figure 2). Within the embodiment of Figure
2, the removal
structure 224 comprises a bore defined within the neck ring body 104. In some
embodiments of
the present invention, the removal structure 224 can be a threaded bore. The
removal structure
224 is configured to facilitate removal of the replaceable indicia imprinting
insert 140 from the
neck ring half 102, when it is desired to replace same, for example, to
exchange one desired
indicia for another desired indicia. In those embodiments of the present
invention, where the
removal structure 224 is implemented as a threaded bore, removal of same can
be facilitated by
using a bolt complementary to the threaded bore to affect removal of the
replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 140 from the neck ring half 102.
Accordingly, within embodiments of Figure 1 and Figure 2, there is provided a
replaceable
indicia imprinting insert 140 which is positionable and retainable in use
within the neck ring
half 102 from the rear face (not separately numbered) thereof. However, this
needs not be so in
every embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, in alternative non-
limiting
embodiments of the present invention, a replaceable indicia imprinting insert
can be positioned
in a front face of the neck ring half 102. This is illustrated in greater
detail with reference to
Figure 3A, Figure 3B and Figure 3C, which depict, respectively, a front view
of the neck ring
half 102, a side view of the neck ring half 102 and a top view of the neck
ring half 102 with a
replaceable indicia imprinting insert 340 being installed therein, the
replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 340 being implemented in accordance with an alternative non-
limiting
embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that certain details (such
as, the neck finish in
Figure 3A, etc.) have been omitted from illustration of Figure 3A, 3B, 3C for
the sake of
simplicity of illustration, but those details of implementation are very well
known to those of
skill in the art.
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Construction of the neck ring half 102 is implemented in a substantially the
same manner as
described above. According to embodiments of the present invention, there is
also provided the
replaceable indicia imprinting insert 340, which is configured to cooperate
with the neck ring
half 102. More specifically, the replaceable indicia imprinting insert 340 is
positionable, in use,
within a slot 302 defined within the neck ring half 102 and more specifically,
the slot 302 being
defined in a front face thereof.
The replaceable indicia imprinting insert 340 comprises an insert body 342.
The insert body
342 further includes a retaining structure 341, which is configured to
releasably retain the
replaceable indicia imprinting insert 340 within the neck ring half 102. More
specifically, the
retaining structure 341 comprises two instances of an aperture that cooperate
with respective
bolts for releasably retaining the replaceable indicia imprinting insert 340
within the neck ring
half 102.
The insert body 342 further includes a molding surface defining structure 350.
The molding
surface defining structure 350 includes a feature defining area 351 for
defining portions of the
neck finish and an indicia imprinting face 352, which includes a pattern for
imprinting a desired
indicia onto the preform, that is formed in use by the neck ring half 102.
Examples of the
desired indicia include, but are not limited to, a unique identifier of the
molding cavity where
the preform has been molded, a logo associated for example with a converter
who produced the
preform or a downstream bottler, time of manufacturing, batch number and the
like.
The feature defining area 351 is configured to cooperate with the rest of the
molding face 110
of the neck ring body 104 to define the whole of the neck ring finish
substantially free of
additional split lines. To that extent, the replaceable indicia imprinting
insert 340 can be
positioned within the slot 302 and the desired pattern for the neck finish can
be machined into
the feature defining area 351 and the molding face 110. Alternatively, the
desired pattern can be
machined into the feature defining area 351 prior to installing the
replaceable indicia imprinting
insert 340 within the slot 302.
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Accordingly, within embodiments of Figure 3A, Figure 3B and Figure 3C, there
is provided a
replaceable indicia imprinting insert 340 which is positionable and retainable
in use within the
neck ring half 102 from the front face (not separately numbered) thereof.
Figure 4 depicts another non-limiting embodiment for implementing the rear
face mounted
version of embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4 depicts a
perspective view of the
neck ring half 102, which is implemented in substantially the same manner to
that described
above. Also provided is a replaceable indicia imprinting insert 440, which is
configured to
cooperate with the neck ring half 102. The replaceable indicia imprinting
insert 440 comprises
an insert body 442. The insert body 442 includes a locating structure 444,
which is configured
to be positionable within the insert bore 220. The purpose of the locating
structure 444 is to
positively locate the replaceable indicia imprinting insert 440 within the
insert bore 220.
The insert body 442 further includes a retaining structure 441, which is
configured to releasably
retain the replaceable indicia imprinting insert 440 within the neck ring half
102. The retaining
structure 441 includes an aperture (not separately numbered) for providing
access to a screw
interface 402.
The insert body 442 further includes an insert cooling channel defining
structure 446. In use,
when installed, the insert cooling channel defining structure 446 is
positioned within the
cooling channel 112. The insert cooling channel defining structure 446 can be
implemented in
substantially the same manner as the above-described cooling channel defining
structure 146.
The insert body 442 further includes a sealing structure 448, which can be
implemented in
substantially the same manner as the above-described sealing structure 148.
The insert body 442 further includes a molding surface defining structure 450.
The molding
surface defining structure 450 includes an indicia imprinting face 452, which
includes a pattern
for imprinting a desired indicia onto the preform, that is formed in use by
the neck ring half
102. Examples of the desired indicia include, but are not limited to, a unique
identifier of the
molding cavity where the preform has been molded, a logo associated for
example with a
CA 02684154 2009-10-15
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converter who produced the preform or a downstream bottler, time of
manufacturing, batch
number and the like.
The molding surface defining structure 450 is positioned in a face aperture
190 defined within
the molding face 110. The molding surface defining structure 450 can be
implemented in
substantially the same manner to that described above. Within these
embodiments of the
present invention, the molding surface defining structure 450 is releasably
positionable onto an
engagement member 410 defined on the insert body 442. The engagement member
410 has a
generally circular cross section and the molding surface defining structure
450 has an internal
bore (not separately numbered) that is also of generally circular cross
section complementary to
that of the engagement member 410. Within these embodiments, the engagement
member 410
and the internal bore can be threaded for complementary engagement
therebetween.
Also provided is a biasing member 412, such as a spring and the like for
biasing the insert body
442 towards the rear face of the neck ring half 102. Within these embodiments
of the present
invention, replacement of the molding surface defining structure 450 can be
implemented as
follows, starting with an assembled configuration shown in Figure 4. An
operator engages the
screw interface 402 with a screwdriver and the like and rotates the screw
counter-clockwise.
This disengages the engagement member 410 from the internal bore of the
molding surface
defining structure 450 and, remembering that the molding surface defining
structure 450 has a
rectangular-shape cross section, rotation of the insert body 442 will
generally push the molding
surface defining structure 450 outwardly through the front face of the neck
ring half 102. At
this point, a new version of the molding surface defining structure 450 can be
inserted by
repeating these steps in reverse. A specific technical advantage of this
particular embodiment is
that the molding surface defining structure 450 can be replaced without
purging cooling fluid
from the cooling channel 112. Even though in the specific description the
molding surface
defining structure 450 and the engagement member 410 are engaged by means of a
threaded
connection, this needs not be so in every embodiment and, in alternative
implementations, the
engagement can be executed by a sliding interface and the like.
16
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Accordingly and generally speaking, embodiments of the present invention
provide a
replaceable indicia imprinting insert for a neck ring half 102 that is
configured to imprint a
desired indicia onto a portion of a neck finish of a preform to be molded. In
different
embodiments, the replaceable indicia imprinting insert can be positioned from
the rear face or
from the front face of the neck ring half 102.
A specific technical effect of embodiments of the present invention includes
provision of quick
and easy means to replace one desired indicia for another by means of
replacing the replaceable
indicia imprinting insert 140 for another one. Another specific technical
effect of embodiments
of the present invention includes provision of the replaceable indicia
imprinting insert 140,
which in use does not cause creation of additional split lines. A further
specific technical effect
attributable to some embodiments of the present invention includes provision
of the replaceable
indicia imprinting insert 140, which does not include any retainers on the
molding face 110. It
is noted that not each and every technical effect needs to be enjoyed in each
and every
embodiment of the present invention. The description of the embodiments of the
present
inventions provides examples of the present invention, and these examples do
not limit the
scope of the present invention. It is to be expressly understood that the
scope of the present
invention is limited by the claims only. The concepts described above may be
adapted for
specific conditions and/or functions, and may be further extended to a variety
of other
applications that are within the scope of the present invention. Having thus
described the
embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent that modifications
and enhancements
are possible without departing from the concepts as described. Therefore, what
is to be
protected by way of letters patent are limited only by the scope of the
following claims:
17
