Abstract: A method of manufacturing an off-center container includes: stretching a preform made of resin having a bottomed shape with a stretching rod, heating the preform; and blow-molding the off-center container, in which a central axis of a neck portion is displaced from a central axis of a body portion, by introducing a pressurized fluid into the preform disposed in a mold. The container has a flat shape and a dimension in a first direction in a cross section is longer than in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In a circumferential cross section of the preform, a thickness of a first region corresponding to a surface extending in the first direction of the container is set to be thicker than a thickness of a second region corresponding to a surface extending in the second direction of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for blow molding plastic containers includes a blow molding carousel and is connected, at a first transfer station, to a feeding line of preforms, the first transfer station having a transfer carousel supporting grip elements which are associated with at least one respective grip body. Each grip element has a first arm, which is supported so that it can rotate by the transfer carousel in order to rotate on command about a substantially vertical pivoting axis, and a second arm, which extends longitudinally and can slide on command with respect to the first arm along an advancement/retraction direction which is substantially parallel to its own direction of extension. The grip body includes a coupling element which is configured to stably hold the preform.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers with at least one forming station which forms the plastic preforms into the plastic containers by the action of a flowable medium, wherein the forming station has a blow mould which forms a cavity, within which the plastic preforms are formed into the plastic containers. The blow mould has a base part which has an inner contour which forms a base of the containers, wherein the base part has at least one channel for conducting a temperature control medium for temperature control of the base part. A course of the channel is adapted to a course of the inner contour and/or the channel has, on its inner surface facing the temperature control medium, structures and/or cross-sectional changes which influence the flow of the temperature control medium through the channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoplastic resin material, including: a mold for molding a base material containing a thermoplastic resin into a predetermined shape; and a transfer mechanism that places the base material in the mold, wherein the transfer mechanism includes a detection mechanism that detects a state of the base material, and a controlling unit that controls operation of the mold and the transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A method for producing containers filled with liquid content from preforms made of thermoplastic material. The liquid content is fed as a pressure medium into thermally conditioned preforms during a forming and filling phase in a mold of one of a plurality of forming stations arranged circumferentially spaced apart on a common, continuously rotationally driven working wheel. A compensating device compensates for thermal consequences of centrifugal force acting on the liquid content fed into the preform during the forming and filling phase. The compensating device imparts a temperature profile to the preform in a circumferential direction, which is not point-symmetrical in relation to a longitudinal axis of the preform to produce a thermally differentiated partial circumferential region. The preform is inserted into the mold such that the thermally differentiated partial circumferential region faces in a radial direction of the working wheel.

Abstract: Provided is an electrical heating mold. The electrical heating mold includes a mold casing and an electrical heating device disposed in the mold casing. The electrical heating device includes an upper annular heating resistor element group configured to perform heating around a bottleneck, a middle annular vertical-inserted columnar heating resistor element group configured to perform heating around a bottle body, and a lower annular heating resistor element group configured to perform heating around a bottle bottom. The electrical heating mold has a good heating effect, a low processing cost and a simple structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a pressure vessel liner are disclosed. One method includes forming an extruded tube by extruding a parison through a die and a mandrel and forming main body sections and return line sections in the extruded tube according to a first pattern. A cross-sectional area of the return line sections is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the main body sections. The method further includes changing the pattern according to which the main body sections and the return line sections are formed from the first pattern to a second pattern without stopping the forming of the extruded tube and forming the main body sections and the return line sections in the extruded tube according to the second pattern.

Abstract: A tray sealer including a sealing station comprising a tool upper part, a clamping frame and a tool lower part. The tool upper part may surround a dome-shaped die used for deforming a skinnable top film. First and second channels in the dome-shaped die and in the tool upper part, respectively, are connectable to one another. The tool upper part or the dome-shaped die may comprise at least a third channel communicating with a vacuum generator so as to generate a thermal air convection from the first channel to the third channel along a side of the top film facing the dome-shaped die.

Abstract: A method for producing a balloon from a suitable blank is provided. The blank is introduced into an outer mold heated an first expanded to expand it against the inner wall of the outer mold. Pressure is reduced to relax the blank away from the inner wall. The three-dimensional volume of the mold is changed. Second expanding of the blank expands again against the inner wall of the changed volume of the outer mold. Balloons of the invention consist of a middle cylindrical region and two end regions delimiting the middle cylindrical region. With a pressure application of 6 bar, a ratio of the cross section in the middle region to the cross section in the end region is at least 2, and preferably greater than 3.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus includes: an injection molding section for injection molding a plurality of preforms at a time; a cooling section for cooling the preforms; a heating section for heating the preforms while continuously transporting them along a transport line; and a blow molding section for blow molding the preforms to form hollow containers. The blow molding section includes a primary blow molding section which is equipped with a heat-treating blow mold and blow molds the preforms moved from the transport line into the heat-treating blow mold to form intermediate molded products, and a secondary blow molding section which is equipped with a final blow mold and blow molds the intermediate molded products moved from the heat-treating blow mold into the final blow mold to form the hollow containers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement system of containers to and from operating units, in particular blowing units for bottles made of plastic material or filling units.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stamping a thermoplastic matrix composite blank, in view of heating and stamping the blank. The apparatus includes a machined blank and a frame. A plurality of cleats are fixed on the frame, extend towards the interior of the frame. The cleats delimit an internal opening surface of the frame, free from any obstacle. A locator is linked with a cleat and configured to cooperate with a hole machined in the blank. A heat sink is located near the locator and configured to maintain locally the blank temperature under the melting temperature of the polymer constituting the matrix, during the heating and transfer of the blank.

Abstract: An injection blow molding apparatus comprises: a first oil supply section 100A which has a hydraulic drive source composed of a drive motor, whose number of revolutions can be controlled, and a hydraulic pump and which supplies oil from an oil tank 90 to an injection mold drive unit 72 provided in an injection mold unit 70; and a second oil supply section 100B which has a hydraulic drive source composed of a drive motor, whose number of revolutions can be controlled, and a hydraulic pump and which supplies oil from the oil tank 90 to a blow mold drive unit 42 provided in a blow mold unit 41, the second oil supply section 100B being provided independently of the first oil supply section 100A.

Abstract: A mold block includes a tool body with a contoured finished surface adapted to receive a tool insert having a forming surface for forming a bottle neck in a molding operation. The tool body defines an internal channel for heat transfer with the forming surface. At least a portion of the channel is offset generally equidistant from the finished surface to provide a path contoured for conformal cooling of the insert. The tool body has a pair of ports intersecting the channel. Several methods for forming a mold block are disclosed and include machining a contoured finished surface adapted to receive a tool insert on a tool body, forming a heat transfer channel within the tool body, and forming a pair of ports into the tool body. At least a portion of the channel is offset generally equidistant from the finished surface for conformal cooling of the insert.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-component injection molding method for producing a sleeve-shaped preform as well as to a perform which has at least two layers, said method comprising at least two process steps including at least two cavities and at least one injection mold core that can be used for both cavities, and wherein during the first process step, the first layer which has at least one first and at least one second area extending partially in the circumferential direction of the preform, is injected onto the injection mold core within the first cavity, with the second area having a substantially lower layer thickness than the first area, and during the second process step, the second layer is deposited on the first layer which is located on the injection mold core in the second cavity in such a way that only the second area of the first layer is completely covered by the second layer, or during the first process step, the first area of the first layer is deposited partially on the injection mold core

Abstract: A system for forming a container from a preform includes a first mold having a plurality of first portions that cooperate to define a first internal surface against which the preform is blown for forming a first form. The system also includes a second mold having a plurality of second portions that cooperate to define a second internal surface against which the first form is blown for forming a second form. Also, the system includes a mold servo motor that actuates the plurality of first portions relative to each other and/or actuates the plurality of second portions relative to each other. Furthermore, the system includes a controller that controls the mold servo motor for controlled actuation of the plurality of first portions and/or the plurality of second portions.

Abstract: An automated forming machine is adapted to form at least one metal sheet and contains: a material supplying zone, a heating zone, a forming zone, and a cooling zone which are all configured to accommodate components of the automated forming machine. The automated forming machine includes: a frame and a forming device for clamping, heating, and blow molding the at least one metal sheet. The automated forming machine also includes plural tracks, plural loading carriers, a first pushing devices, a second pushing device, a third pushing device, a fourth pushing device, a pulling device, a first heating device and two cooling devices, and each cooling device includes a support rack and a plurality of spray nozzles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold for molding a hollow body from a preform, the mold defining a molding cavity having the shape of the a hollow body to be molded. The mold including a first part and a second part movable relative to each other between an opened configuration, wherein the preform can be loaded inside the molding cavity, and a closed configuration, wherein the molding cavity is formed. The mold further including a locking element arranged to maintain the mold in its closed configuration in a locked position of the mold. The locking element having at least a sleeve portion arranged around a portion of the first and second parts in the closed configuration such that the sleeve portion surrounds the portion of the first and second parts and prevents the mold from moving towards its open configuration in the locked position of the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming plastic pre-forms into containers with a blow mold which has at least two movable blow mold parts which, when closed form a container-forming cavity. The first blow mold part is removably arranged on a first blow mold carrier shell part, and the second blow mold part is removably arranged on a second blow mold carrier shell part. The first blow mold carrier shell part is movable with respect to the second blow mold carrier shell part for opening the mold. A holding device holds at least one blow mold part on the respective blow mold carrier shell part. The holding device has an actuating member extending through an opening in a wall of the blow mold carrier shell part. The actuating member is movable relative to the wall, and a first holding element for holding the blow mold part is arranged on the actuating member.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for molding plastic preforms into plastic containers, including a transport unit, on which a plurality of molding stations is provided and which moves the molding stations along a predefined transport path, wherein the molding stations respectively have blow mold parts that are movable relative to each other, the parts are movable relative to each other for opening and closing blow molds; and including a clean room that surrounds a transport path, along which the molding stations are transported, and which is separated from an environment by at least one wall; wherein the apparatus includes a cooling system for cooling at least one element of the respective molding stations; and wherein the apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies a gaseous medium to the clean room. The apparatus also includes a drying unit for drying the gaseous medium supplied to the clean room via the supply unit.

Abstract: A blow molding machine for producing plastic bottles, particularly PET bottles, including a plurality of blow molding stations, which have assigned thereto valve blocks with control valves and blowing nozzles for introducing or discharging blowing air; and a cleaning-in-place (CIP) system for cleaning the blow molding machine. Since the valve blocks are configured such that they can be included in the CIP process, the system components, such as the blowing nozzle, which are particularly important for the production of PET bottles in terms of hygiene, can be cleaned and sterilized without disassembly.

Abstract: In an aspect, an injection molding machine is provided and incorporates a mold block with a plurality of sides including an injection side at which hollow parts are formed in mold cavities, a first post-mold cooling side whereat the hollow parts are cooled, and a part transfer side where parts are transferred out of the mold block. Optionally additional post-mold cooling sides are provided. A takeout structure is provided to remove the hollow parts from molding cores on the injection side, to transfer the hollow parts to the first post-mold cooling side, and to subsequently transfer the hollow parts to the part transfer side. The takeout structure holds the hollow parts by their neck portions and cools their neck portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing plastic preforms, comprising a rotating carousel forming device for plastic preforms and movement elements adapted to pick up the preforms from the rotating carousel forming device; the movement elements are associated with a supporting structure for a plurality of shaping receptacles, which are mutually spaced and movable along a transfer path, the shaping receptacles being adapted to receive a respective preform directly from the rotating carousel forming device and at an angular pick-up portion which is defined along the circular movement trajectory of the preforms on the rotating carousel forming device.

Abstract: Described are a device and a method for blow molding containers, whereby the device contains a plurality of blow-molding stations, each provided with at least one blow mold, whereby these blow-molding stations are arranged on a carrier, such as a blowing wheel. The blow-molding stations are supplied with an operating medium by means of a tempering device. To simplify the design and optimize the control, it is proposed to arrange the tempering device on the carrier such that the tempering device runs along with the carrier.

Abstract: A system and method for post-treatment of a hollow body molding produced in an injection molding mold. A receiving finger is provided with a first end and a second end. The receiving finger is designed that it can engage into the hollow body molding. The outside shape of the receiving finger substantially corresponds to inside shape of the hollow body molding so that the receiving finger (5) can hold the hollow body molding. Preferably, the outside diameter of the receiving finger is substantially equal to inside diameter of the hollow body molding in a cooled condition so that the hollow body molding can be removed from the receiving finger even after shrinkage. Desirably, the outside diameter of the receiving finger is between about 0.01 mm and about 1 mm and preferably about 0.1 to about 0.5 mm smaller than the inside diameter of the hollow body preform in the removal condition so that the hollow body molding can be removed from the receiving finger even after shrinkage.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of heating a preform (1) characterized by a radius (R), a material thickness (t), and a material absorption spectrum, which method comprises the steps of selecting, depending on a desired temperature profile, a desired effective absorption coefficient for the preform (1) on the basis of the preform radius (R) and material thickness (t); generating a laser radiation beam (L) comprising radiation with a wavelength spectrum compiled on the basis of absorption coefficients of the absorption spectrum to satisfy the effective absorption coefficient and directing the laser radiation beam (L) at the preform (1) to heat the preform (1). The invention further describes a driving arrangement (7) for controlling a laser radiation generating unit (9) of a preform heating system (10), a preform heating system (10), and a computer program.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing a transparent synthetic resin vessel with an integrated handle are provided. The transparent synthetic resin vessel manufacturing apparatus includes: an upper mold being vertically movable and having a core and a core block; a fixing plate having rib members; a rotating plate being vertically movable together with the upper mold and having a rotating device for simultaneously molding the handle on one side of a preform and manufacturing a transparent synthetic resin vessel; a fixing member for joining the fixing plate with the rotating plate; a lower mold supplied with molten resin at one side thereof so as to injection-mold the handle; an injection mold for forming the preform into a transparent synthetic resin vessel; and a vessel separator for separating the transparent synthetic resin vessel from the vessel manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an injection stretch blow molding device includes an injection molding section that produces N (N is an integer equal to or larger 2) preforms by injection molding, a cooling section that subjects the N preforms transferred from the injection molding section to forced cooling, a heating section that continuously transfers and heats the N cooled preforms, and a blow molding section that subjects the N heated preforms to stretch blow molding in n (n is an integer equal to or larger than 2) operations, the blow molding section simultaneously stretch blow molding M (M=N/n, M is a natural number) preforms among the N preforms into M containers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a device for delivering a predetermined volume of beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a preform positioned in a mold having an opening opposite an injection head (18), characterized in that the method includes a prior step of exposing the preform to a sterilizing fluid supplied by a first circuit connected to the injection head (18) and a step of injecting, into a recess of the preform, at least some of the beverage supplied by a second circuit connected to the injection head (18) so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold, the mold defining the shape of the container.

Abstract: A conveying and cooling apparatus for performs comprising a cooling plate (12), that rotates about an axis X, and a system for supplying fluids and transmitting the rotational motion to the cooling plate, which comprises a single rotation shaft (14) provided with ducts (7, 8) for the passage of fluids from or to the cooling plate; a mechanical support structure (6) arranged along the X-axis, to support the cooling plate, and comprising the rotation shaft; a motor (10), arranged along the X-axis and adapted to transmit the rotation to the shaft and, consequently, to the cooling plate; and wherein fluid inlet/outlet pipes (3, 4) are connected to the shaft, said mechanical support structure being configured so as to act as rotating joint that allows the distribution of said fluids from said inlet/outlet pipes to the respective ducts or vice versa.

Abstract: A blow molding device for a rotary bottle blowing machine includes just needs one drive source to rotate a coaxial drive device, then first, second and third control members will move the movable mold portion, the bottom mold portion and the locking block, to carry out the operation of mold opening and closing, lifting of the bottom mold portion, and locking and unlocking of the locking block. Therefore, the structure of the blow molding device is simplified, and operation efficiency is improved, and cost is reduced.

Abstract: Systems for spacing and transferring objects between operative stations are provided. Such systems can be used with ovens for preforms for plastic material, in blowing or stretch-blowing machines and for other applications in the packaging field. Such systems provide spacing and transferring of objects advancing in procession on transport elements, from a minimum pitch to a preset pitch larger than said minimum pitch, and for transferring said spaced objects to handling elements.

Abstract: The present invention involves a fabrication of plastic-tube-screen-fill using plastic tubes. The plastic-tube-screen-fill consists of several plastic tubes suspending between top and bottom tube holding perforated frames in the shape of a rectangular thin plate as a vertical string screen. The tube holding perforated frames are in same configuration to be used in two ways and fabricated by assembling a perforated frame and tube holding frame. The tube holding frame is a straight male band connector with several short solid rods positioned and fixed on band for push-fitting into the holes on perforated frame. The short solid rod on tube holding frame has a male push-fit connector on its lower part to be push-fitted into one edge of tube. The tubes used in the present invention are spiral corrugated tubes. Fabrication and assembling method of perforated frames, tube holding frames, and spiral corrugated tubes are described in the present invention.

Abstract: A mold temperature control device comprising a first medium supply portion for circularly supplying first medium to a medium flow path of a mold, a second medium supply portion for circularly supplying the medium flow path with second medium having temperature different from that of the first medium, and a third medium supply portion for circularly supplying third medium corresponding to the first medium to the medium flow path. The mold temperature control device further comprises a switching connection portion for switching between a medium supply path and a medium return path of each medium supply portion to connect the medium flow path, and a control portion which switches second medium supply mode circularly supplying the second medium to the medium supply path to third medium supply mode circularly supplying the third medium to the medium flow path, and to first medium supply mode supplying the first medium to the medium flow path by controlling the switching connection portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating plastic receptacles includes a transport device which transports the receptacles along a predetermined transport path and at least one heating device for heating the plastic receptacles. The heating device includes at least one radiation source which directs radiation at the plastic receptacles and at least one first reflector element which reflects radiation emitted from the radiation source. The apparatus includes a proportional reflection device which transmits radiation emitted by the radiation source with wavelengths in a first predetermined wavelength range onto the receptacle and reflects radiation with wavelengths in a second predetermined wavelength range onto the radiation source.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing plastic containers includes a heating module that heats plastic preforms and a molding module for molding the preforms into containers. The heating module includes a first transport unit that transports the preforms during the heating and a first interface. The molding module is downstream of the heating module in the transport direction and includes a blow molding unit for applying a flowable medium onto the preforms for expansion thereof, a second transport unit that transports the preforms during the expansion, and a second interface. The first and second interfaces allow a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the modules such that the molding module may be disposed on the heating module and at least one further module integrated between the heating and molding modules. The further module treats the preforms following the heating and prior to the molding.

Abstract: A cavity insert for a mold stack is disclosed, the cavity insert being dimensioned to define a continuous annular cavity insert cooling chamber. The cavity insert also provides a first and second decompression chamber in fluid communication with each end of the cavity insert cooling chamber. Also disclosed is a chamber extension feature in fluid communication with the cavity insert cooling chamber to promote cooling in the downstream region of the cavity insert.

Abstract: A container treatment plant having an oven, a blow molder located downstream of the oven and used for processing a plurality of container blanks, such as preforms, and a conveying unit configured for conveying a plurality of carriers, each carrier being provided for accommodating at least one container blank, and the conveying unit and the carrier being adapted to one another such that each carrier is individually movable through the oven.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, with at least one blowing station arranged on a moving carrier, wherein the blowing station has a blow mould carrier for holding a blow mould and the blow mould carrier has a first blow mould carrier part and a second blow mould carrier part, wherein the second blow mould carrier part can be moved away from the first blow mould carrier part in order to open the blow mould for removal of a plastic container and/or for insertion of a preform, and wherein the second blow mould carrier part can be moved towards the first blow mould carrier part in order to transfer the blow mould into a closed state for forming the preform, wherein that the second blow mould carrier part has a lower density and/or strength than the first blow mould carrier part.

Abstract: A method for cooling IR emitters in a heating device for warming preforms before processing them in a stretch blow or blow molding device. IR emitters are arranged on at least one sidewall of the heating device parallel to the transport direction of the preforms, with at least one back reflector arranged on the side of the IR emitters facing away from the performs. The preforms to be warmed include a mouth region and a longitudinal axis and the mouth region is cooled with a first coolant flow. An almost vertical second coolant flow passes between the IR emitters and the at least one back reflector, this second coolant flow being at least partially fed by the almost horizontal first coolant flow and/or is united with the almost horizontal first coolant flow. A heating device and cooling device are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are a device for reshaping preforms to plastic containers (2), a transport device (1), as well as a method for transporting plastic containers (2) or preforms. The device (100) for reshaping preforms into plastic containers (2) comprises at least two blow moulds (81) in which the preforms are expanded into plastic containers, arranged on a circumferentially driven blowing wheel (80), a heater (50) for heating the preforms, and a transport device (1) for the plastic containers (2) or preforms.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a conveying device and a plurality of blow moulding stations arranged on the conveying device. Each blow moulding station includes a blow mould. A clean room is provided inside which the plastics material pre-forms are conveyed. The blow mould has two lateral parts and a bottom part that jointly form a cavity inside which a plastics material pre-form is shaped into a plastics material container. A drive device moves the lateral parts or the bottom part of the blow mould. A coupling device couples the drive device to a lateral part. A mounting device mounts the coupling device.

Abstract: A method of after-cooling of the bases of blown out containers, wherein after the transfer of the blown out containers from a blow moulding machine to a run-out star wheel which directly follows the blow moulding machine along a conveying direction of the containers a cooling of the bases of the containers is carried out by at least one apparatus for cooling the bases. The cooling of the bases of the containers starts immediately during a time interval of at least 0.1 seconds and at most 2 seconds after a pressure release of the containers by the blow moulding machine after the blowing out.

Abstract: The neck crystallization system includes a rectangular stage, a plurality of sprockets that are disposed on the stage, and an endless member that is fitted around the plurality of sprockets. A transfer path that is formed in an area in which the endless member is disposed, includes first to fourth linear transfer paths. A plurality of heating sections provided along at least the first to third linear transfer paths, a cooling section disposed along at least the fourth linear transfer path, a molded article supply section that supplies the molded article at a position on the upstream side of the plurality of heating sections, and a molded article removal section that removes the molded article at a position between the cooling section and the molded article supply section, are provided along the transfer path in which a plurality of transfer members that respectively support the molded article are transferred.

Abstract: A method for producing a component for a blow molding module of a stretch blow molding machine which as a component to be produced includes at least one of a blow valve, a blow nozzle, a valve block, a stretching rod, a mold carrier, a shell mold one or more single- or multi-part mold inlay(s) with a container contour, and which entails that the component to be produced is completely or partly produced by use of an additive rapid prototyping method, for example by 3D printing or laser sintering, and is produced from one or more of metal, plastic materials, ceramic materials, or from a combination of metal, plastic materials and/or ceramic materials.

Abstract: A blow molding method includes a primary blow molding step that molds a preform (200) in a primary blow mold (300A) that includes a primary temperature control section (330) to obtain an intermediate molded article (202), a shrinkage step that discharges blow air from the intermediate molded article to shrink the intermediate molded article, and a secondary blow molding step that blow-molds the intermediate molded article (204) that has shrunken in a secondary blow mold that includes a secondary temperature control section (430) to obtain a final molded article. The primary blow molding step cools a first intermediate molding region of the intermediate molded article that follows a neck using a first primary temperature control section, and the shrinkage step shrinks a second intermediate molding region of the intermediate molded article of which the temperature is controlled by a second primary temperature control section.

Abstract: An extension for a heating element includes a bracket for a quartz lamp within a furnace of a blow molding machine. The extension includes a base that is coupled to the furnace where the extension directs the heating element toward an end of a preform. The extension may include a parabolic lens to provide controlled and directed heating of the end of the preform to optimize material distribution upon blow molding.

Abstract: Mold for forming containers from blanks of plastic material. The mold includes a shell delimiting a cavity with the impression of a container extending around a central axis, and a system for heating the shell. The heating system includes at least one set of different resistive elements that are superimposed substantially parallel to the central axis and of similar topology, the heating system being arranged to dissipate a different thermal energy at each resistive element of a same set.

Abstract: In a crosshead, a pair of sheets (7) are formed by bisecting a parison (3) suspended from a resin flow passage (30) formed between a core (9) and a die (8) by causing a first dividing body (33) of a separator (5, 5a) provided on the core (9) or the die (8) to contact a second dividing body (40) provided on the core (9) or the die (8).

Abstract: An apparatus for reheating and conditioning an elongate preform for forming a blow moulded container, said apparatus comprising: a receiver including an elongate annular non-cylindrical inner surface portion, wherein the surface portion defines a cavity and is adapted to engage with an elongate outer surface of an elongate preform to transfer heat thereto by conduction from said surface portion, wherein the surface portion includes a three-dimensional relief to provide substantially non-uniform contact between the receiver and the elongate preform; and means for heating said receiver.