Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine in which a coolant temperature of an engine coolant of the internal combustion engine is determined and is compared with a predetermined threshold temperature. If the coolant temperature is higher than the predetermined threshold temperature, a thermal input into the engine coolant is reduced by changing at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. This can be done, for example, by raising a charging pressure of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine in which a coolant temperature of an engine coolant of the internal combustion engine is determined and is compared with a predetermined threshold temperature. If the coolant temperature is higher than the predetermined threshold temperature, a thermal input into the engine coolant is reduced by changing at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine. This can be done, for example, by raising a charging pressure of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method and device for heating at least one blank which is used to produce a container, such as a bottle, from a thermoplastic material, particularly PET, by means of blow molding or stretch blow molding. The blank is disposed between two opposing lateral walls which are positioned at a distance from one another. One of the walls supports several radiation sources which are disposed one above the other opposite the body of the blank. The space between the two lateral walls is closed at least partially beyond and close to the base of the blank. At least part of the radiation emitted beyond the base of the blank is reflected in the direction of the body of the blank. In this way, losses due to lost radiation are limited.

Abstract: A method and device for heating at least one blank which is used to produce a container, such as a bottle, from a thermoplastic material, particularly PET, by means of blow molding or stretch blow molding. The blank is disposed between two opposing lateral walls which are positioned at a distance from one another. One of the walls supports several radiation sources which are disposed one above the other opposite the body of the blank. The space between the two lateral walls is closed at least partially beyond and close to the base of the blank. At least part of the radiation emitted beyond the base of the blank is reflected in the direction of the body of the blank. In this way, losses due to lost radiation are limited.

Abstract: An oven for heating moving thermoplastic blanks (preforms, intermediate containers), which includes conveying devices for supporting and moving the blanks sequentially while rotating each of them about its own axis. A heating device is arranged laterally to the conveying device for heating the moving blank bodies, and the conveying device includes at least two parallel conveying branches, proximate each other and having opposite conveying directions, the two branches being traveled along one after the other by the blanks. The heating device is arranged between the two conveying branches so as to heat simultaneously on both sides of the blanks moving in opposite directions respectively on the two branches.

Abstract: An installation for blow molding thermoplastic polymer containers, including a blowing mold consisting of two portions capable of being assembled and a blowing device with a bell-type nozzle pressed in a sealed manner against a front mold surface mounted on the neck of a blank to be blow molded; a leaking device with a relatively large cross-section which extends from one contact surface of at least one mold portion up to the outside of the mold beyond the support of the bell of the nozzle on the surface. The high pressure blow molding fluid which can penetrate through an interstice between the mold portions which tend to be spaced apart from each other is at least mostly evacuated outside.

Abstract: A cam-operated guiding device for controlling a related movement of a member which is moreover continuously displaced, the device including two mutually transversely offset parallel cams with which co-operate respectively two coaxial rollers for bilaterally guiding said member. One of the cams is mounted via elastically deformable members designed to allow an elastic displacement of the cam relative to the other cam.

Abstract: The invention concerns an oven (1) for heating moving thermoplastic blanks (preforms, intermediate containers), comprising conveying means (2) supporting and moving the blanks sequentially while rotating each of them about its own axis and heating means (3) arranged laterally to said conveying means (2) for heating the moving blank bodies; the conveying means (2) include at least two parallel conveying branches (4, 5), proximate each other and having opposite conveying directions, said two branches being travelled along one after the other by the blanks; the heating means (3) are arranged between said two conveying branches (4, 5) so as to heat simultaneously on both sides the blanks moving in opposite directions respectively on said two branches.

Abstract: A cam-operated guiding device for controlling a related movement of a member which is moreover continuously displaced, the device including two mutually transversely offset parallel cams with which co-operate respectively two coaxial rollers for bilaterally guiding said member. One of the cams is mounted via elastically deformable members designed to allow an elastic displacement of the cam relative to the other cam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for blow-molding thermoplastic products. This type of machine has a molding unit comprising two mobile supports (12), which are hinged in relation to each other and which are controlled by a mechanism comprising a traveling slide (16), between an open position and a closed position. Each support (12) is connected to the slide (12) by at least one associated connecting link (36). The inventive blow-molding machine is characterized in that in its closed position, the main axes of the connecting links (36) are oriented in the same direction, perpendicular to the hinge axis (A1), in such a way that the control mechanism can cause the molding unit to be locked in this closed position.

Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for blow moulding thermoplastic polymer containers, comprising a blowing mould consisting of two portions (2) capable of being assembled and blowing means with bell-type nozzle (11) pressed in sealed manner against a front mould surface (F) mounted on the neck (9) of a blank (7) to be blow moulded; leaking means (21, 24) with relatively large cross-section extend from one contact surface (20) of at least one mould portion (2) up to the outside of the mould beyond the support (13) of the bell (11) of the nozzle (12) on the surface (F); thus the high pressure blow moulding fluid which can penetrate through an interstice (14) between the mould portions (2) which tend to be spaced apart from each other is at least mostly evacuated outside.

Abstract: A machine for making thermoplastic containers by stretching and blowing a preform, comprising several molding stations mounted on a rotary carrousel, each station being provided with at least a stretch rod whereof the sliding movement is controlled along an axis (An). The stretch rod is controlled by a magnetic device having at least a fixed magnetic guide arranged about the axis of the carrousel and a slide which is integral with the stretch rod and bears at least a magnetic shoe and the shoe and the guide co-operate by magnetic coupling such that the guide imposes a predetermined axial movement on the slide.

Abstract: To blow plastic hollow bodies, each mold (7) has its respective compression chamber (21) connected to it, constituted by a cylinder (20)-piston (19) assembly; pressure is initialized in the chamber; the fluid is compressed in the chamber; the chamber is connected (22, 24, 25) with the blank (9) when the piston position attains a predetermined position and chamber volume continues to be reduced to complete the blowing. The invention can be applied in particular to the blowing of small-volume hollow bodies.

Abstract: A preform (3) for use in making a container such as a bottle from a thermoplastic material is selectively heated prior to at least one step of blow molding or stretch-blow molding the heated preform. For this purpose, at least most (7A) of the radiation (4) transmitted generally towards the preform by a source (1A) is focused (8) onto a preferred area (A) thereof, the source is located substantially opposite the preferred area of the preform, whereby said the preferred area (A) receives most (7A) of the radiation (4) while the areas adjacent to the preferred area (A) do not receive the radiation fraction initially transmitted towards them by the source.

Abstract: Device (1) for supporting a preform in an endless chain for conveying preforms that rotate simultaneously about themselves. The device comprises a plate (2) hingedly coupled to two adjacent plates and supporting a rod (5) removably fastened to the open end of a preform (8). The plate includes a linking stem portion (11) supporting a dome-shaped surface forming a coupling head (12) for contacting the associated adjacent plate, and a spherical seat portion (13) with a central axial opening (14) for the free passage of the linking stem portion (11) of the associated adjacent plate. The device is characterized in that the dome-shaped surface forming a coupling head is mounted free to rotate on said linking stem portion. A contact plate (16) is fastened to the free end of the linking stem portion (11) and extends transversely thereto substantially parallel to the side of the coupling head (12) opposite the side of the spherical cap.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading necked containers on a conveyor chain 3, 9 equipped with individual neck-gripping mandrels 4, 16, the mandrels and the containers being spaced apart by the same pitch P. The conveyor chain turns around an axis 11 such that the mandrels describe an arc-shaped path within the loading area. A rotating disk 1 for picking up the arriving containers is fitted with recesses 5 for individually housing the containers spaced apart by the pitch P, the disk being located beneath the conveyor chain and rotating in the same direction thereas around an axis 6 parallel to the axis 11 but offset therefrom. The diameter of the disk and the respective positions of the axes is such that the circular path of the recesses intersects the arc-shaped path of the mandrels at an angle of about 3.degree..

Abstract: A continuous-feed thermal treatment unit for the manufacture of PET containers includes, in succession, a recovery oven (25) and a crystallization oven (42) having respective heater plates (27, 44) for emitting medium-wavelength infrared radiation to heat the bodies of incoming, rotating, bidirectionally stretched, oversize containers to a temperature of 160.degree.-2400.degree.-C. The crystallization oven also includes short-wavelength infrared tubes (47) disposed along the path of the container necks, whose radiation penetrates the necks and heats support mandrels (18) inserted therein to transport the containers. The heated bodies shrink and become at least partially crystallized during their conveyance through the ovens, while the necks undergo spherulitic crystallization.

Abstract: Equipment for the manufacture of hollow plastic bottles from preforms (16) having a closed end and an open end forming a neck, includes a conveyor equipped with supports (11) for the preforms which are driven in a predetermined path (T). The supports are arranged one after the other and are capable of pivoting over a given angular range when acted upon by a cam guide and follower arrangement (17, 18) such that the preforms may be inverted from their initial position. The cam guide may be an elongated, stationary rod (17) in the shape of a spiral section coiled around the path (T) followed by the swivel pins (13) of the supports, having a length determined according to the pitch of the spiral and to the angular swing amplitude required for the preforms. Follower rollers (18) are mounted on each support and flank the rod (17) such that, during the displacement of the supports along their path, the supports and preforms carried thereby are swung through 180.degree..