Compression molding container preforms

1. Apparatus for supplying a mold charge for a mold cavity, which includes:

a mold charge chamber having a longitudinal dimension,

at least two lateral inlets to said chamber for supplying plastic resin materials to said chamber such that said materials are stratified longitudinally of said chamber, and

a plunger movable longitudinally into said chamber to force said stratified materials out of said chamber and thereby provide a stratified mold charge for a mold cavity.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least two lateral inlets to said chamber are spaced from each other lengthwise of said chamber.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger has a contoured end for imparting a contour to said mold charge as said mold charge is forced from said chamber.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising an actuator coupled to said plunger for moving said plunger into said chamber.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuator is selected from the group consisting of an electrical servo actuator and a fluid actuator.

6. Apparatus for supplying a mold charge to a mold cavity, which includes:

a mold charge chamber having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension that is uniform longitudinally of said chamber,

at least one lateral inlet to said chamber for supplying at least two plastic resin materials to said chamber in such a way that said materials are stratified longitudinally of said chamber,

a plunger having a lateral dimension that is substantially equal to that of said chamber and being movable longitudinally into said chamber to force said stratified materials out of said chamber and thereby provide a stratified mold charge for a mold cavity, and

a gate at an end of said chamber remote from said plunger for selectively closing said chamber for filling and opening said chamber for discharge of a mold charge.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said plunger has a contoured end for imparting a contour to said mold charge as said mold charge is forced from said chamber.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one lateral inlet to said chamber comprises at least two inlets that are spaced from each other lengthwise of said chamber.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 further includes a layer multiplier having inlets for receiving at least two resin materials and an outlet coupled to said inlet of said chamber.

10. Apparatus for supplying a mold charge for a mold cavity, which includes:

a mold charge chamber having a longitudinal dimension,

at least one inlet to said chamber for supplying plastic resin materials to said chamber such that said materials are stratified longitudinally of said chamber, and

a plunger movable longitudinally of said chamber to force said material out of said chamber and thereby provide a mold charge for a mold cavity,

said plunger having a contoured end for imparting a contour to said mold charge as said mold charge is forced from said cavity.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein said at least one inlet includes at least two lateral inlets to said chamber for supplying at least two resin materials to said chamber in such a way that said materials are stratified longitudinally of said chamber.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 further includes a layer multiplier having inlets for receiving at least two resin materials and an outlet coupled to said inlet of said chamber.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 further including a gate at an end of said chamber remote from said plunger for selectively closing said chamber for filling and opening said chamber for discharge of said mold charge.

14. Apparatus for compression molding preforms for blow molding plastic containers, which includes:

a mold charge chamber having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension that is uniform longitudinally of said chamber,

at least one lateral inlet to said chamber for supplying plastic resin materials to fill said chamber such that said materials are stratified longitudinally of said chamber,

a plunger having a lateral dimension substantially equal to that of said chamber, said plunger being movable between a first position that closes an upper end of said chamber and a second position in which said plunger substantially fills said chamber,

a gate at an end of said chamber remote from said plunger for selectively closing said chamber for filling through said inlet and opening said chamber for discharge of a mold charge as said plunger moves to said second position,

a preform mold cavity disposed to receive a mold charge discharged from said chamber, and

a mold core for entering said mold cavity and compression molding a container preform.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one lateral inlet includes at least two lateral inlets spaced from each other longitudinally of said chamber, and wherein said apparatus further includes at least two sources of plastic resin materials coupled to respective ones of said inlets for supplying said plastic resin materials to said chamber in such a way that said materials are stratified longitudinally of said chamber.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 14 wherein said plunger has a contoured end for imparting a contour to said mold charge as said mold charge is forced from said chamber.