Abstract: Disclosed is a molding device for a machine for producing containers consisting of a thermoplastic material by forming a pre-heated preform using at least one pressurized fluid. The device includes: two mold carriers mounted in such a way that they can move in relation to each other about a rotational axis, between an open position and a closed position; two mold halves that each have a half-impression, are carried by a mold carrier, and are respectively mounted in the associated mold carrier; and fixing element that can dismountably fix each mold half, in its mounted position, to the mold carrier. The element for fixing each mold half to the mold carrier, which are mounted in such a way that they can move at least between a fixing position and a release position, can be controlled as they move between the positions when the mold carriers are in the closed position.

Abstract: A system for aiding in the replacement of a mold in a molding unit of a machine for manufacturing containers, includes at least one transport device (16) for transporting a joined mold (18) forming a transportable unit subassembly, the transport device (16) including at least one robotic arm (96) for positioning, in space along a trihedron (X, Y, Z) and with respect to the molding unit (12), elements (76) for handling at least one joined mold (18) so as to carry out a replacement of the at least one mold (18) of the molding unit (12).

Abstract: An automated system for changing a mold of a molding unit (24) with which a machine for manufacturing containers is provided, characterized in that the system includes at least one control module (M) having at least a first actuating device (122) combined with the locking device (90) of the molding unit (24) and a second actuating device (126) combined with the opening/closing device (82) of the molding unit (24).

Abstract: A container inverting device is capable of inverting containers that have a neck oriented in a first direction at the entrance of the device and then in a second direction at the exit of the device. The inverting device includes at least one clamp (45) for holding the neck of a container. The clamp (45) is mounted on a belt (49) by a fixing bracket (47), and in order to invert the container, the belt passes around at least one pulley (33) and moves the clamp from one side of the pulley (33) to the other.

Abstract: A method for changing a mould of a moulding device, includes at least the following steps for dismounting a mould: (a) controlling fixing elements in order to release each mould half (20), (b) joining the mould halves together in order to form a single transportable sub-set, (c) opening mould carriers (14) from their closed position during steps (a) and (b) in order to extract, with a translational movement, the sub-set arranged in a reference position, and (d) removing the sub-set as a single unit from its reference position, from between the mould carriers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a moulding device for a machine for producing containers consisting of a thermoplastic material by forming a pre-heated preform using at least one pressurized fluid. The device includes: two mould carriers mounted in such a way that they can move in relation to each other about a rotational axis, between an open position and a closed position; two mould halves that each have a half-impression, are carried by a mould carrier, and are respectively mounted in the associated mould carrier; and fixing element that can dismountably fix each mould half, in its mounted position, to the mould carrier. The element for fixing each mould half to the mould carrier, which are mounted in such a way that they can move at least between a fixing position and a release position, can be controlled as they move between the positions when the mould carriers are in the closed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum pumping circuit comprising: an upper chamber (34) and a lower chamber (36) that communicate via a connecting orifice (38), and comprising a valve (40) provided with a stem guided so as to slide along a vertical axis (A1) in order to close the connecting orifice (38), which circuit is characterized in that the valve stem (48) is provided with a section forming a piston (52) which constitutes the mobile upper wall of a control chamber (54) communicating with the upper chamber (34), the piston (52) having an upper face (56) at atmospheric air pressure and a lower face (58) on which the pressure is that present in the control chamber (54).

Abstract: A device (10) for gripping a hollow body (12) having a tubular neck (16), the device (10) includes a back plate (38) defining an axial bearing surface (40), a head (34) delimiting a radial bearing surface (50), a locking catch (54) supported by the head (34), characterised in that the head (34) is movably mounted between a locking position of the neck (16), in which the locking catch (54) bears on an inner surface (58) of the neck (16), such that the bearing surfaces (40, 50) define an so-called gripping area (Z), and an unlocking position (16) of the neck, in which the catch (54) is removed from the gripping area (Z).

Abstract: Installation for depositing, by means of a microwave plasma, a barrier coating on thermoplastic containers (5), this installation comprising treatment stations (1) each comprising a treatment enclosure (2) and a cover (3) and including a vacuum pumping chamber in which connection means (4) for sealed connection to the container comprise a sleeve (6) co-axial with the neck (7) of the container, each cover (3) also supporting an injector (8) co-axial with the sleeve (6) for injecting a reactive fluid into the container; the sleeves (6) and/or the injectors (8), of several adjacent stations are fastened to a single support plate (15, 20) that extends in the form of a bridge over the covers (3) of these stations (1), whereby the plate (15, 20) and the sleeves and/or injectors of the stations (1) constitute a unitary assembly (16, 21) that can be maneuvered as one piece.

Abstract: A container inverting device is capable of inverting containers that have a neck oriented in a first direction at the entrance of the device and then in a second direction at the exit of the device. The inverting device includes at least one clamp (45) for holding the neck of a container. The clamp (45) is mounted on a belt (49) by a fixing bracket (47), and in order to invert the container, the belt passes around at least one pulley (33) and moves the clamp from one side of the pulley (33) to the other.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning the inner walls (66, 75) of a receptacle (12), includes several cleaning stations of which one is fitted with an insufflation tube (36) that is connected to a source of pressurized gas and that is provided with a nozzle (38) insufflating the gas towards the inner walls (66, 75) of the receptacle (12) during a cleaning cycle including an ascending phase and a descending phase (Pd) of the insufflation tube (36), the nozzle (38) having an annular peripheral slot (64) that is capable of forming a peripheral jet (f2) of gas of generally frustoconical shape directed towards the inner side walls (66) of the receptacle (12) and towards the bottom, and the peripheral jet (f2) being triggered for at least a part of the descending phase (Pd).

Abstract: Installation for depositing, by means of a microwave plasma, a barrier coating on thermoplastic containers (5), this installation comprising treatment stations (1) each comprising a treatment enclosure (2) and a cover (3) and including a vacuum pumping chamber in which connection means (4) for sealed connection to the container comprise a sleeve (6) co-axial with the neck (7) of the container, each cover (3) also supporting an injector (8) co-axial with the sleeve (6) for injecting a reactive fluid into the container; the sleeves (6) and/or the injectors (8), of several adjacent stations are fastened to a single support plate (15, 20) that extends in the form of a bridge over the covers (3) of these stations (1), whereby the plate (15, 20) and the sleeves and/or injectors of the stations (1) constitute a unitary assembly (16, 21) that can be maneuvered as one piece.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning the inner walls (66, 75) of a receptacle (12), includes several cleaning stations of which one is fitted with an insufflation tube (36) that is connected to a source of pressurized gas and that is provided with a nozzle (38) insufflating the gas towards the inner walls (66, 75) of the receptacle (12) during a cleaning cycle including an ascending phase and a descending phase (Pd) of the insufflation tube (36), the nozzle (38) having an annular peripheral slot (64) that is capable of forming a peripheral jet (f2) of gas of generally frustoconical shape directed towards the inner side walls (66) of the receptacle (12) and towards the bottom, and the peripheral jet (f2) being triggered for at least a part of the descending phase (Pd).

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum pumping circuit comprising: an upper chamber (34) and a lower chamber (36) that communicate via a connecting orifice (38), and comprising a valve (40) provided with a stem guided so as to slide along a vertical axis (A1) in order to close the connecting orifice (38), which circuit is characterized in that the valve stem (48) is provided with a section forming a piston (52) which constitutes the mobile upper wall of a control chamber (54) communicating with the upper chamber (34), the piston (52) having an upper face (56) at atmospheric air pressure and a lower face (58) on which the pressure is that present in the control chamber (54).