Abstract: The deposition of a coating on a thermoplastic container surface using low pressure plasma by excitation of a precursor gas with UHF electromagnetic waves in a circular shaped vacuum cavity receiving the container is provided. It includes dimensioning the cavity with respect to the frequency of the UHF electromagnetic waves so as to obtain a coupling mode generating several electromagnetic fields inside the cavity. In particular a TM 120 coupling mode is provided which generates two central fields (4A, 4B) inside the cavity, whereby two containers can be simultaneously treated in said cavity.

Abstract: A filling apparatus and method including a carrier for transporting containers and having a plurality of valves, each of the valves being opened for an individual, specific period of time to control a flow of liquid into the respective containers, while the containers are transported by the carrier. An exit feed path transports the containers after the containers have been filled, and a sensor, such as a camera, detects a level of liquid in the respective containers, while the containers are on the exit feed path. The sensor produces a signal that is stored as data representing the level of liquid for the individual containers. The data is then tracked and used for valve optimization. A period of time that each individual valve is opened for subsequent fillings is adjusted based on the signal and the historical performance of each valve.

Abstract: Filling valve (12) including: a hollow housing (21); a moving valve assembly (24) slidingly mounted in the housing (21), the moving valve assembly (24) and the hollow housing (21) together defining a liquid chamber (30) and a gas chamber (32); a liquid inlet (46) for putting the liquid chamber (30) into communication with a liquid supply pipe (14); a gas inlet (47) for putting the gas chamber (32) into communication with a gas supply pipe (17); wherein the hollow housing (21) and the moving valve assembly (24) together define a medium chamber the (33) located between the liquid chamber (30) and the gas chamber (32), and wherein the filling valve (12) further comprises: a first diaphragm (35) linking the valve assembly (24) to the housing (21) between the liquid chamber (30) and the medium chamber (33), and a second diaphragm (36) linking the valve assembly (24) to the housing (21) between the gas chamber (32) and the medium chamber (33).

Abstract: Filling valve (5) including: a hollow housing (11) having a valve seat (25); a moving valve rod (14) slidingly mounted in the housing (11) and having a sealing surface (23), the moving valve rod (14) and the hollow housing. (11) together defining a liquid chamber (18); a liquid inlet (26) for putting the liquid chamber (18) into communication with a liquid supply pipe (6); a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a first, full-open position, in which the sealing surface (23) is spaced from the valve seat (25), thereby forming a passage (27) for the liquid; a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a second, closed position, in which the sealing surface (23) is in sealing contact with the valve seat (25), thereby closing the passage (27), and a device for putting the valve rod (14) in a third, predetermined, semi-open position in which the sealing surface (23) is spaced from the valve seat (25) but closer to the same than in the full-open position.

Abstract: Filling valve (12) including:—a hollow housing (21); a moving valve assembly (24) slidingly mounted in the housing (21), the moving valve assembly (24) and the hollow housing (21) together defining a liquid chamber (30) and a gas chamber (32); a liquid inlet (46) for putting the liquid chamber (30) into communication with a liquid supply pipe (14); a gas inlet (47) for putting the gas chamber (32) into communication with a gas supply pipe (17); wherein the moving valve assembly (24) includes: a hollow valve rod (25) provided with a through hole (43) opening in the gas chamber (32) at an upper end (37) of the valve rod (25), the valve rod being slideable with respect of the housing (21) between an open position in which the valve rod (25) opens an aperture (23) in the housing (21), thereby allowing liquid to flow from the liquid chamber (30) through the aperture (23), and a closed position in which the valve rod (25) closes the aperture (23), and a piston (26) slidingly mounted in the housing between an open p

Abstract: A container made from thermoplastic material, of the type with a domed base, including a central projecting pimple, a peripheral support region and an intermediate arch, provided with ribs, extending from the central pimple to the support region but not therein, the ribs having a dihedral form with a straight section in a V in the medial plane, essentially parallel to the axis of the container and running into each other without a break. The ribs have a longitudinal profile which is curvilinear, the bases of the ribs, in the region thereof adjacent to the central pimple, extending higher than the base of said central pimple and the bases and crests of the ribs, in the region thereof adjacent to the support region, having curves merging progressively into a continuous rounding of unbroken curvature immediately above the support region such that the latter is essentially planar and continuous over the whole length thereof.

Abstract: A moulding device for the production of containers in thermoplastic material, by blowing or blow-drawing, including a mould with two mould halves mutually mobile and provided with a locking device with two lock elements extending over the total height of the respective mould halves and provided with a number of projecting fingers in catches spaced at intervals, one lock element being fixed on one mould half and the other lock element sliding on the other mould half under the action of an actuator device.

Abstract: A molding device for the production of containers in thermoplastic material by blowing or blow-drawing, including a mold with two mold halves mutually mobile and provided with a locking device with first and second lock elements, in the form of catches, extending over the whole height of the respective mold halves and a projecting wing on one mold half, including a rotation surface on which a mobile piece is applied over the whole height thereof which includes the second lock element, such that, on blowing, the forces are taken by said mobile piece over the height of the mold by means of the rotation surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a cooling system for cooling a rotary mount (2) comprising two rings (4, 7) capable of rotating relative to each other, each ring having a raceway, the mount further comprising a bearing device constituted by rolling bodies interposed between the two raceways, the cooling system being characterized in that it comprises at least one circuit for passing a cooling fluid, which circuit is pressed against one of the two rings (4, 7) of said mount. It also provides a rotary mount including such a system, and a machine, in particular a blow-molding machine, including such a mount.

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: A device for carrying a preform in a temperature condition oven, including a gripping device provided with gripping claws, which enclose an outer surface of the neck of the preform. An inner core is provided that penetrates axially inside the neck over a distance substantially equal to the axial length of the neck, such that it presents a lower transverse surface. When the preform is in place on the gripping device, it is substantially axially placed at the boundary between the neck and the body of the preform.

Abstract: A device for blow molding or blow drawing of containers made of thermoplastic performs. The molding device is movable, mainly rotatable and includes at least one wallet-type mold provided with two mold-halves rotatable with respect to each other around an axis; two links which are connected to each other by one of the extremities thereof with the aid of a first pivot pin and pivotally connected to two mold-halves by the other extremities thereof on both sides of the common pivoting axis thereof; actuation devices which are connected to the first pivot pin and provided with at least one cam follower interacting with at least one respective fixed cam so that the first pivot pin is moved in a direction toward the mold or away therefrom, thereby opening or closing the mold. A compensating device acts so that at least one cam follower permanently contacts the respective cam.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for producing thermoplastic containers, in particular bottles, by the blow-molding or stretch blow-molding of a preheated preform. The device comprises at least one mould consisting of two half-molds (2) each supported by a mould carrier, the two mould carriers being movable relative to each other. Each half-mould (2) comprises a shell holder (9), supported by the respective mould carrier, and a shell (7) which is equipped with a half-impression (8) of the container to be obtained and can be rendered integral in a detachable manner with its shell holder (9) by rapid-fastening means (19-23). The shell (7) and the shell holder (9) are of complementary shapes such that they contact each other at least partially for heat conduction purposes whilst the pipes and connections for circulating and/or heating fluids are provided in the shell holder alone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for producing thermoplastic containers, in particular bottles, by the blow-molding or stretch blow-molding of a preheated preform. The device comprises at least one mould consisting of two half-molds (2) each supported by a mould carrier, the two mould carriers being movable relative to each other. Each half-mould (2) comprises a shell holder (9), supported by the respective mould carrier, and a shell (7) which is equipped with a half-impression (8) of the container to be obtained and can be rendered integral in a detachable manner with its shell holder (9) by rapid-fastening means (19-23). The shell (7) and the shell holder (9) are of complementary shapes such that they contact each other at least partially for heat conduction purposes whilst the pipes and connections for circulating and/or heating fluids are provided in the shell holder alone.