Modified hot runner systems for injection blow molding

Abstract

An injection blow molding method for making a container comprising the steps of injecting a molten crystallizable polymer in a preform mold via a hot runner system and biaxially stretching the preform by blowing, thereby forming a container, characterized in that said method further comprises means to selectively modify the flow path of the molten crystallizable polymer within the hot runner system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hot runner for connection to an injection mold capable of making an injection molded article said hot runner comprising a flow path through which a polymer melt of at least one crystallizable polymer can flow; and wherein the flow path is configured to force the polymer melt of the at least one crystallizable polymer when flowing through the flow path into a regular sequence of variations in molecular pre-alignment/orientation between different locations of a cross-section of the injection molded article. 
     
     
         2 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the hot runner is part of an injection molding machine capable of making the injection molded article. 
     
     
         3 . The hot runner of  claim 2 , wherein the hot runner has a profile of a needle in the flow path. 
     
     
         4 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the hot runner has a change in the cross sectional area of the flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the hot runner has a venturi restriction followed by a channel for subsequent expansion of the flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the hot runner has an expansion in the flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the hot runner has a profile of a needle in the flow path. 
     
     
         8 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the hot runner has a profile of a bus of the hot runner in the flow path. 
     
     
         9 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the hot runner has an insert in the flow path. 
     
     
         10 . The hot runner of  claim 1 , wherein the insert has an insert flow path. 
     
     
         11 . The hot runner of  claim 9 , wherein the hot runner is part of an injection molding machine capable of making the injection molded article. 
     
     
         12 . A hot runner for connection to an injection mold capable of making an injection molded article, said hot runner comprising a flow path through which a polymer melt of at least one crystallizable polymer can flow; and wherein the flow path is configured to force the polymer melt of the at least one crystallizable polymer when flowing through the flow path into a regular sequence of variations in crystallinity of the at least one crystallizable polymer between different locations of a cross-section of the injection molded article. 
     
     
         13 . The hot runner of  claim 12 , wherein the hot runner is part of an injection molding machine capable of making the injection molded article. 
     
     
         14 . The hot runner of  claim 13 , wherein the hot runner has a profile of a needle in the flow path. 
     
     
         15 . The hot runner of  claim 12 , wherein the hot runner has a change in the cross sectional area of the flow path. 
     
     
         16 . The hot runner of  claim 12 , wherein the hot runner has a venturi restriction followed by a channel for subsequent expansion of the flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The hot runner of  claim 12 , wherein the hot runner has an expansion in the flow path. 
     
     
         18 . The hot runner of  claim 12 , wherein the hot runner has a profile of a needle in the flow path. 
     
     
         19 . The hot runner of  claim 12 , wherein the hot runner has a profile of a bus of the hot runner in the flow path. 
     
     
         20 . The hot runner of  claim 12 , wherein the hot runner has an insert in the flow path. 
     
     
         21 . The hot runner of  claim 20 , wherein the insert has an insert flow path. 
     
     
         22 . The hot runner of  claim 20 , wherein the hot runner is part of an injection molding machine capable of making the injection molded article.