Abstract: A method of controlling a device for conveying thermoplastic material preforms for use in a heat treatment oven and such a device for conveying preforms including at least one principal wheel and one auxiliary wheel at least one of which is driven in rotation to move at least one transport device to which are connected in movement holding device each configured to cooperate with a preform. In example embodiments, the holding device is adapted to be actuated relative to a preform- or vice versa-between an inactive position and an active holding position. In example embodiments, the at least one principal wheel of the conveyor device includes electric actuators that selectively drive at least in rotation the holding device in such a manner as to index said preform in a reference position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation for manufacturing containers made of thermoplastic material, having a sterilizing mode and a production mode. The installation comprising a molding machine, a transfer means, and a decontamination device. The molding machine is equipped with at least one molding device having stretching means, and the molding device is designed to manufacture by stretch blow molding said containers from preforms when the installation is in production mode. The transfer means conveys the manufactured containers between the molding machine and a second downstream machine when the installation is in production mode. The decontamination device introduces the sterilizing agent into at least one sterilizing preform during the sterilizing mode. The installation further comprises removal means that can be actuated in sterilizing mode to remove the hollow bodies from the transfer means upstream from the second machine.

Abstract: Described is a container made of plastics material, provided with a body and with a bottom in the continuation of the body at a lower end of the body. The bottom has an oblong curved contour and includes a seating surface forming a standing plane of the container. The standing plane has an oblong closed curved shape extending along a longitudinal median axis and a transverse median axis. The standing plane also has an arched area extending from the seating surface as far as a central zone of the bottom, the arched area delimiting a concavity oriented toward the outside of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a unit for molding containers, which comprises two mold supports, a device for locking the mold supports in the closed position, and a bistable device which comprises a fixed element and a mobile element able to move between two stable extreme positions. The mobile element comprises a mobile magnetic dipole, and the fixed element comprises a fixed magnetic dipole, the fixed magnetic dipole applying a magnetic force from a distance to the mobile magnetic dipole in order to force the mobile element toward one or other of its two stable extreme positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for bundle-packaging batches of products, wherein products are moved in a longitudinal running direction, grouped into batches and wrapped with a film of heat-shrinkable film. Each wrapped batch is heated to form a contraction of each sheet around said batch. Heating of a batch is performed by the circulation of at least one heated air stream and by the expulsion of said stream toward the interior of the enclosure of an oven provided, successively, with first and second sections; the sheet is cooled; during heating, along at least a part of the first section, a first air stream is shaped discontinuously and expelled toward the interior of said enclosure. The method consists, during heating, along said second section, in shaping a second stream as an air knife and expelling said air knife toward said sheet to be smoothed.

Abstract: A method for regulation of the angular position of hollow bodies in an installation for production of containers. The hollow bodies are moved by individual support members each of which is equipped with means for causing the hollow body to turn about its axis. The method includes a first step of measuring an angular offset of at least one particular hollow body relative to a reference angular position in a measurement zone. The method also includes a second step of compensating of the angular position of the subsequent hollow bodies in a compensation zone upstream of said measurement zone as a function of the angular offset measured for the at least one particular hollow body.

Abstract: A sterilization machine for the sterilization of caps, comprising an isolation chamber having an inner space in which the caps are advanced along a conveying path and separating the inner space from an outer space, a plurality of carts positioned within the inner space and an actuation unit arranged in the outer space and configured to selectively advance the carts along an advancement path by means of the generation of an electromagnetic field. Each cart comprises a pusher element configured to interact with a group of caps having one or more caps, to advance the respective group along the conveying path during the advancement of the respective cart along at least one portion of the advancement path. The actuation unit is configured to selectively lift the carts by means of levitation and to advance the carts along the advancement path by means of control of the electromagnetic field.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for measuring the temperature of a preform in a facility comprising: a device for transporting preforms; a device for contact-less measurement of the temperature of a portion of the preform, comprising a sensor which is capable of measuring the temperature of the preforms in continuous travelling motion over a measurement section of the production path. The measurement device is equipped with an optical device which can project an image of the sensor in a measurement direction in the zone for measuring the temperature of the preforms, the measurement zone having a cross-section of dimensions less than the outer diameter of the portion of the preform to be measured. The invention also concerns a facility for implementing the method.

Abstract: The invention proposes a treatment method for the sterilization by irradiation of containers made of thermoplastic material. The method comprises at least an initial step of modification of the pitch consisting in selectively varying the initial pitch between two consecutive containers to increase the irradiation time of each container. The method also comprises an irradiation step consisting in irradiating each container from the outside with an electron beam emitted by at least one emitter of a sterilization device.

Abstract: Described is a device for inverting the base of a container, comprising means for inverting the base, and at least one tool for holding the container, each holding tool having a retaining member, characterized in that the retaining member has a bearing end that is brought to bear against a container, and in that each holding tool also comprises a centering member mounted inside the retaining member, the centering member being moveable inside the retaining member.

Abstract: A plastic container manufacturing machine, comprising a chassis having a camway with a cam and a countercam and an element which is movable relative to the chassis, bearing a roller interacting with the camway so as to ensure the displacement of the movable element, wherein the machine also comprises a device for controlling the displacement of the movable element, wherein the countercam has at least one portion which is movable relative to the chassis, and wherein the control device incorporates a distance sensor that continuously measures the distance of a movable portion of the countercam relative to a fixed reference point on the chassis.

Abstract: A container made of plastics material, provided with a body and with a bottom in the continuation of the body at a lower end of the body. The bottom has an oblong curved contour and includes a seating surface forming a standing plane of the container. In example embodiments, the standing plane has an oblong closed curved shape extending along a longitudinal median axis and a transverse median axis. In example embodiments, the standing plane has an arch extending from the seating surface as far as a central zone of the bottom, the arch delimiting a concavity oriented toward the outside of the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for cooling heated molds from a machine for molding containers from thermoplastic material by stretch-blow molding hot preforms using at least one pressurized fluid. The cooling method includes, in order to cool the molds, at least one cooling step that involves selectively feeding at least one cooling fluid into the molding cavity of at least some of the molding units that, after the carousel has been stopped in order to immobilize the molding units at least during the cooling step, are located in a predetermined cooling region in which the molding units are in a closed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic container comprising a body that extends along a central axis between an opening and a base, the body having an overstroked holding recess extending parallel to the central axis over a predetermined height, the overstroked holding recess being the only overstroked recess on the body over the predetermined height, and having a median line of maximum indentation, the median line of maximum indentation being able to be inscribed in a diametrical plane.

Abstract: A method for forming, in an inversion device, a base of a filled and sealed plastic container, comprising a step of inverting a diaphragm situated at the center of the base of the container and surrounded by a standing ring forming a standing surface. During the step, two opposing pushing members are set in relative motion with respect to one another so as to come into contact with and press on two longitudinally opposed regions of the container. During a phase of pushing the diaphragm during the inversion thereof, there is sought, on a curve representative of the force applied to the diaphragm to move same during the inversion, a variation on this curve that indicates whether the forces applied by the pushing members to the regions with which they are in contact are becoming smaller.

Abstract: A heating unit for heating preforms made of plastics material and having a flange separating a body and neck. The heating unit comprising a plurality of supports, each bearing a gripping member for gripping the preforms. The supports are movable in the heating unit such that each gripping member moves along a conveying path of the preforms. The heating unit also comprises a plurality of shells secured to the supports, where each shell is connected to one or more supports by an actuating member. The actuating member is mounted on said support to pivot about an axis situated at a distance from the conveying path of the preforms. The heating unit further comprising means for pivoting the actuating member to drive the shell from an open position to a protection position when the support to which said shell is connected is passing from an admission/releasing zone to a holding zone.