Abstract: Unit for treating blanks of hollow bodies made of plastic material, including an enclosure having two opposite walls, namely a first wall and a second wall facing the first one, which together define an enclosure through which the blanks pass along a predetermined longitudinal trajectory. Each wall includes a series of spaced emitters each having a plurality of sources of monochromatic or pseudo-monochromatic electromagnetic radiation sources; a reflective section extends into each space between two adjacent emitters; the emitters of the second wall are offset longitudinally with respect to those of the first wall, so that the emitters of each wall face a reflective section of the opposite wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly (1) consisting of at least one preform (12) and a decontamination device (10) for decontaminating the interior of a preform (12) by irradiation by means of at least one ultraviolet radiation emitted by semi-conductor components (22); relates to a facility (100) for producing a sterile container (120) comprising at least one decontamination device (10) and a method for producing a sterile container (120) from a decontaminated preform (12).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for PECVD deposition of a thin layer of a barrier-effect material in a receptacle (3), the apparatus comprising: a structure (5) receiving the receptacle (3), said structure (5) defining a plasma-presence zone (18), said structure (5) being provided with an orifice (14) defining an axis (A1) and presenting an inside opening (15) opening out into the plasma-presence zone (18), and an outside opening (16) opening out outside said zone (18); an electromagnetic wave generator; and an optical plasma monitor device (19) including a pick-up (21) placed outside the plasma-presence zone (18) on the axis (A1) of said orifice.

Abstract: A device (31) for injecting an incompressible, pressurized liquid into a container (18) made of a thermoplastic material so as to shape the container (18), includes: a pipe (30) for supplying the liquid, which is to connect a liquid source (40) to the container (18); pumping elements (42) for causing the liquid to flow in the supply pipe (30) toward the container (18) at a first pressure (P1); and compression elements (44) for temporarily raising the pressure of the liquid contained in the container (18) to a second pressure (P2) that is greater than the first pressure (P1), wherein the compression elements (44) are formed by a work chamber (48), whose volume is variable, and which is connected only to the supply pipe (30) between the pumping elements (42) and the container (18).

Abstract: Method of heating a blank (2) of plastic material for the manufacture of a hollow body by forming from the blank (2), which comprises the operations consisting of: inserting the blank (2) into an oven (7) provided with sources (9) of monochromatic or pseudo-monochromatic electromagnetic radiation emitting in the infrared range; exposing the blank (2) to the radiation from the sources (9), adjusted to a predetermined emission power for a predetermined exposure time; measuring a temperature on an outer wall (16) of the blank (2); Characterized in that it comprises an operation consisting of: adjusting the exposure time and/or the emission power so that said temperature at an exit from the oven (2) [sic: (7)], does not fall between Tg and 1.8·Tg, where Tg is the glass transition temperature of the material.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of a fluid, especially a liquid, to a hot end wall (2) of at least one thermoplastic container (1). For this purpose, a spongy mass (4) impregnated with the fluid is brought into contact with the end wall (2) of said at least one container (1), said spongy mass being held in contact with the end wall (2) for a predetermined time. Application in particular to the cooling of the hot end walls of containers leaving a blow molding or stretch-blow molding unit.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a container (14) from a blank (2) of thermoplastic material having a body (4) extending along a principal axis (A), which comprises: A selective heating step in which the body (4) of the blank (2) is exposed to monochromatic or pseudo-monochromatic infrared radiation, the power of which is modulated along the principal axis (A) of the body (4) in such a way that said body has alternating hot annular regions (4A, 4C, 4E, 4G, 4I), the temperature of which is far higher than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material, and comparatively colder annular regions (4B, 4D, 4F, 4H), the temperature of which is close to the glass transition temperature (Tg); A forming step in which a fluid under pressure is injected into the blank (2) thus heated, said step being carried out in free expansion.

Abstract: Container of thermoplastic material having a body extending along a principal axis, characterized in that the body has at least one annular narrowed zone of extra thickness.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container having a local recessed or relief impression, from a blank (2) of thermoplastic material. The method includes a heating step in which the blank (2) is exposed to infrared radiation and in which the infrared radiation is monochromatic or pseudo-monochromatic, the intensity of which locally has an extremum in front of a localized zone (11) of the blank, in such a way as to generate a temperature extremum in the zone (11). The method also includes a forming step in which a fluid under pressure is injected into the blank (2) thus heated, and in which the recessed or relief impression is formed at the localized zone (11).

Abstract: A device (24) for injecting at least two pressurized fluids into the axially oriented neck (20) of a container (18) in the preform state in order to form a final container by deforming the container (18) by successively injecting a first pressurized fluid and then a second pressurized fluid, the device (24) including: a first duct for supplying a first pressurized fluid; a second duct (30) for supplying a second pressurized fluid; and an axial nozzle (32) into which the second supply duct (30) opens, the nozzle being intended to be placed concentrically inside the neck (20) with a radial gap (j) so as to allow the first pressurized fluid to be injected into the container (18) through the radial gap (j), characterized in that the second pressurized fluid used for forming the container (18) consists of an incompressible filling liquid.

Abstract: A method of forming a container (18), includes: a partial expansion first step (E1) during which the container (18) is filled with a pressurized blowing gas (G); a second step (E2) of filling the container (18) during which the container (18) is filled with a filling liquid (L) that expels the blowing gas (G) through an outlet orifice (34); and a third step (E3) during which the contents of the container (18) are put under a pressure (HP) so as to make the container (18) conform to its final state (18D), characterized in that, during the filling second step (E2), the ratio of the flow rate of the incoming filling liquid (L) to the flow rate of the outgoing blowing gas (G) is controlled so as to allow the container (18) to continue to expand during this second step (E2).

Abstract: A unit for treating blanks of hollow bodies made of a plastic material which includes: an enclosure which the blanks travel through longitudinally; a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources, arranged on at least one lateral side of the enclosure; at least one airlock adjoining the enclosure, provided with mobile shields that are opaque to the electromagnetic radiation travelling along a path locally encroaching upon the path of the blanks; two shields defining two-by-two an area for holding at least one blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a container from a thermoplastic blank (2), comprising: a step in which the blank (2) is heated using at least one beam (22) of coherent electromagnetic radiation, and a step in which the container is formed from the blank (2) thus heated. The invention also relates to an installation (1) which is used to produce containers (2) and which comprises a unit (16) for heating the blanks (2) in order to form containers from the blanks (2) thus heated. The inventive installation (1) defines a path (23) along which the blanks (2) travel inside the heating unit (16). In addition, the heating unit (16) comprises at least one coherent electromagnetic radiation source (26) which is directed towards a zone (25) that is located on the aforementioned path (23).

Abstract: A method of producing a container from a thermoplastic blank, including a step in which the blank is heated using at least one beam of coherent electromagnetic radiation, and a step in which the container is formed from the blank thus heated. The invention also relates to an installation which is used to produce containers and which includes a unit for heating the blanks in order to form containers from the blanks thus heated. The inventive installation defines a path along which the blanks travel inside the heating unit. In addition, the heating unit includes at least one coherent electromagnetic radiation source which is directed toward a zone that is located on the aforementioned path.

Abstract: A method of measuring the wall temperature of a container blank, including the following operations: inserting a temperature probe into the blank in motion, upon completion of the operation of heating the blank in an oven; maintaining the probe in the blank in motion for a predetermined time; making a temperature measurement by the probe maintained in the blank without contact with the inner wall of the blank; and storing the temperature or the temperature profile thus measured.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of a fluid, especially a liquid, to a hot end wall (2) of at least one thermoplastic container (1). For this purpose, a spongy mass (4) impregnated with the fluid is brought into contact with the end wall (2) of said at least one container (1), said spongy mass being held in contact with the end wall (2) for a predetermined time. Application in particular to the cooling of the hot end walls of containers leaving a blow moulding or stretch-blow moulding unit.

Abstract: Spongy mass (4) suitable for being brought into contact with the end wall of a container for a predetermined time, for treating said end wall of the container. Said mass consists of a soft crosslinked foam having semi-open cells and high resilience, has a main face (14) for contact with the end wall of the container and includes blind grooves (15) which open onto said main face (14), but do not emerge on the opposite side, and that are distributed in two sets of mutually transverse grooves (15a, 15b) that define blocks (16). Application: cooling of the end walls of thermoplastic containers leaving a moulding unit; wiping of the end walls of thermoplastic containers.

Abstract: The condition of a lamp (1) for heating blank bodies made of thermoplastic material, intended for the manufacture of containers by blow moulding or stretch-blow moulding, is detected. The infrared electromagnetic radiation lamp has an envelope (2) made of glass or quartz enclosing a filament (3); the lamp is provided with an electrically conductive element (6) mechanically integral with the envelope; the conductive element is made electrically live and an electrical variable is continuously detected between the terminals of the conductive element when the lamp is in operation; and data representative of the condition of the conductive element, and of the envelope, is supplied.

Abstract: Container (1) equipped with a body (2) containing a product, on which is affixed a flexible electronic label (5) adaptable to the contours of the container (1), the label (5) comprising: an electronic screen (8) for displaying information relating to the product and visible to a user; a micro-controller (10) linked to the screen (8) for controlling the display of information on said screen and the updating of said information; a power source (9) linked to the micro-controller; wherein the label is affixed to the container (1) by means of a film (20) applied to an exterior side (3) of the container (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns the manufacture of containers, in particular bottles, from thermoplastic material blanks, in particular PET, whereby a mold is used including at least one capacitive sensor inserted in its wall defining the molding cavity, the front side of the capacitive sensor being flush with the molding surface of the molding cavity and being configured in the continuity of the surface.