Plastic tube bodies, and method for producing them

Abstract

A method for producing a tube preform using an injection molding method. An injection molding method is used to produce tube preforms which can be constructed with either one layer or a plurality of layers. The preform subsequently is heated and biaxially expanded by compressed air. A tube can be obtained which, on the one hand, has a tube shoulder with the strength provided by an industrial thread and, on the other hand, has a side wall which exhibits the softness desired for a tube.

1 . A method for producing fillable plastic tube bodies, comprising the steps of: 
 a. injection molding a tube body preform which has a shoulder region that open towards the interior of the tube body preform, and a closed end region;    b. heating the tube body preform;    c. biaxially expanding the tube body preform in order to form a tube body; and    d. cutting open a closed end region of the tube body to form a cut-open end of the tube body.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step c includes blow molding the tube body from the preform.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step b includes heating the tube body preform by means of infrared radiation or hot air.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of printing the biaxially expanded tube body with a desired tube inscription.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: 
 e. filling the biaxially expanded tube body with desired contents via the cut-open end of the tube body; and    f. closing the cut-open end of the tube body by means of welding.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step a comprises: 
 g. filling at least two feeding containers, respectively, with first and second thermoplastic materials;    h. plasticizing the first and second thermoplastic materials in the respective feeding containers;    I. injecting the first and second thermoplastic materials through an annular nozzle having at least two concentrically arranged annular nozzle gaps at essentially the same delivery rate in terms of direction and magnitude for the first and second materials, with the result that the homogeneity of the first and second materials is maintained after they leave the annular gaps; and    j. directing the plasticized materials into a mold cavity of an injection mold as they leave the annular nozzle with the homogeneity the materials being maintained in the mold cavity, the mold cavity defining the shape of the tube body preform.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein thermoplastic material injected through an outer one of the annular gaps can be welded.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic material which is injected through an inner one of the annular gaps is selected to be compatible with the substance to be contained in the tube body.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , where at least one further material layer in injected through a respective annular gap of the nozzle disposed between the annular gaps through which the first and second materials are injected, which material is selected to have a diffusion-inhibiting effect on the substance to be contained in the tube body.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , the thermoplastic material which is injected through the outer one of the annular gaps comprising polyethylene (PE), polyethylene glycol terephthalates or polyalkylene terephthalates (PET) or polypropylene (PP).  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , the thermoplastic material which is injected through the inner one of the annular gaps comprising polyethylene (PE), polyethylene glycol terephthalates or polyalkylene terephthalates (PET) or polypropylene (PP).  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the thermoplastic material of the further layer comprises polyamide (PA) and/or (PE) and/or (PET) and/or (PP) and/or ethylenevinyl alcohol (EVOH) and/or PEN and/or PVDC and/or polyethylene glycol terephthalates.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tube preforms are cold-stretchable.  
     
     
         14 . A tube body preform, wherein the tube body preform is injection molded with a shoulder region that open towards the interior of the tube body preform, and a closed end region.  
     
     
         15 . A tube body produced using a method according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A procedure for the production of a tube body, comprising the steps of: 
 a. injection molding a preform from a thermoplastic material;    b. putting the preform into a blow mold;    c. biaxially expanding the preform to form a container by stretching and supplying pressurized blowing gas;    d. removing the containers from the blow mold;    e. cutting off a closed end region of the container to form an open end;    f. pressing the opposite open end and a closure section together; and    g. welding the open end.    
     
     
         17 . The procedure according to  claim 16 , wherein the production of the containers is accomplished in a two-stage procedure.  
     
     
         18 . The procedure according to  claim 16 , wherein the production of the container is accomplished in a classifying procedure.  
     
     
         19 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the procedure is accomplished using a stretch pin.  
     
     
         20 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the container is made of a preform with a single-layer structure.  
     
     
         21 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the container is made of a preform with a multilayer structure.  
     
     
         22 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the container is manufactured as a flask-shaped container.  
     
     
         23 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the tube body is manufactured as a tube.  
     
     
         24 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the tube body is manufactured as a bottle.  
     
     
         25 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein welding the open end is accomplished before a filling of the tube container.  
     
     
         26 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein separating the closed end region and welding the open end is accomplished in a processing step.  
     
     
         27 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the welding of the open end is accomplished after filling the tube container.  
     
     
         28 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 16 , wherein the open end is treated after welding.  
     
     
         29 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 28 , characterized in that the treatment is accomplished before the filling.  
     
     
         30 . The procedure according to the requirements of  claim 28 , wherein the treatment is accomplished after the filling.  
     
     
         31 . A device for the production of a tube body, comprising an input mechanism for the admission of a blow-formed container from a thermoplastic material; output mechanism for the removal of the tube body; and a cutting mechanism located between the input mechanism and the output mechanism, the cutting mechanism being operative to cut off a closed end region of the container opposite a closure region of the container.  
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein the input mechanism is coupled to the outlet of a blow mold that in turn in coupled to the outlet of an injection mold.  
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein the output mechanism is coupled to a drop mechanism.  
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein the cutting mechanism is provided with our coupled to welding equipment.  
     
     
         35 . The device according to the requirements of  claim 31 , characterized in that preparing the production of tubes is realized.  
     
     
         36 . The device according to the requirements of  claim 31 , for producing bottles.  
     
     
         37 . A tube body, which is designed as a separated part of a blow-formed and biaxial oriented container made of a thermoplastic material, wherein a final section of the body, which is arranged opposite a closure section, is joined by welding an open end of the container formed by separating an end region of the container.  
     
     
         38 . A tube body, which is designed as a separated part of a blow-formed and biaxial oriented container from a thermoplastic material, characterized in that a final section of the body, is welded for a closure section opposite a floor part, which is relative to a side wall of the movable and sealed body.