Abstract: Disclosed is a process and a device for sterilizing gas filtration unit, characterized in that the sterilization process includes at least: —an application step consisting in circulating, through the gas filtration unit, a gas mixture including hot air and a determined amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor, in which the determined amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor is obtained by sequentially injecting, with a given time interval (t) between two successive injections, a given dose of hydrogen peroxide in the liquid state into the hot air; and —a sterilization step consisting, during the time interval (t), in circulating hot air through the filtration unit in order to eliminate, by evaporation, all or some of the hydrogen peroxide deposited on the filtration unit during the application step.

Abstract: A device for conveying products within an industrial line, comprising a conveyor transporting a stream of products along at least one line. The device comprises at least one main zone delimited by primary beacons and covering a segment of the stream; and above the conveyor, at least one member for detecting the primary beacons and for counting the number of products at least inside the main zone. Also a method for conveying products, in which a stream of products is transported along at least one line and, by means of primary beacons at least one main zone is delimited, covering a segment of the stream; the primary beacons are detected and the number of products in the main zone is counted.

Abstract: A process for angular indexing of a pre-form having a body and a neck. The process includes a step of marking the neck of the pre-form which consists of production of at least one reference point on the neck of the pre-form. The process also includes a step of a heating station taking charge of the pre-form, during which the pre-form is transported along a heating course by a support unit, known as a spinner, which makes it possible to turn the pre-form around its axis, and during which the body of the pre-form is heated. The marking step is carried out during the step of taking charge, when the pre-form, supported by a spinner, travels along the heating course.

Abstract: A robotic arm comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, the second arm portion moveable between a first axial position, in which the first arm portion and the second arm portion are mutually spaced from each other along said axis, and a second axial position, in which a first end of first arm portion and a second end of the second arm portion are in contact to define a housing, a head rotatable with respect to the first arm portion and around said axis; and a robotic joint. The joint is configured for adopting an operative condition, to make the second arm portion integral with the head. The robotic arm is configured so that said operative condition corresponds to said second axial position and said second angular position and the robotic arm is configured so that, in said operative condition, the joint is located within said housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer device for transferring products in an industrial processing line for the in-line processing of products, between a collecting surface and a transit zone running alongside the collecting surface, said transit zone comprising at least two longitudinal conveyors spaced away from a slider bed and each intended to transport a file of products, said device comprising said collecting surface, said transit zone, and a transfer tool transferring between the collecting surface and the transit zone, equipped with at least three longitudinal vertical walls, and intended to push, transversely, longitudinal rows of products which rows are each positioned between two walls. This device is wherein at least one wall of the transfer tool is mounted with the ability to move translationally on said tool in a transverse direction, for a movement of pushing said products. Other subjects of the invention are corresponding methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capping machine comprising a protected area from impurities, an unprotected area divided from the protected area by a parting wall, and an operating unit. The operating unit includes a container support element arranged in the protected area, an operating head arranged in the protected area and configured to apply one capsule on the relative container, a motor assembly arranged in the unprotected area and configured to drive motion of the operating head, a torque control head between the motor assembly and the operating head, and an annular bellows element coaxial with the vertical axis and within the protected area and one opposite axial end crossed in a sealed manner by an output shaft of the torque control head. The torque control head is arranged above the parting wall in the unprotected area and the output shaft crosses said opening and the entire bellows element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a production facility of a series of containers from a series of preforms made of plastic materials. The method includes a first step of producing a preliminary series of individual containers from a preliminary series of preforms made of plastic materials. For each individual container produced during a tracking period, the method records (i) a marking that distinguishes said container other containers produced during said tracking period, and (ii) data relative to the production facility, its operation, and/or the preform or container. The method also includes a second step during which one or more physical values of each of the individually identified containers are measured during the first step, and a third step of compiling a database that matches, for each individually identified container, the measurement(s) of the second step, and the series of data acquired during the first step.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for supplying preforms having a collar. The device comprising a file-forming slide for the preforms, and the slide comprises a fixed frame and elements for guiding the preforms. The guiding elements are mounted so as to be adjustable in terms of position on the frame so as to be adapted to different formats of preform. The frame comprises support plates that are fixed in a reference position on the frame by removable fastening means, the guiding elements being mounted so as to be adjustable on the support plates.

Abstract: The invention concerns a preform for a container made of plastic material, comprising a cylindrical body that extends along an axis of revolution of the preform and a bottom that closes the cylindrical body. The bottom has an outer profile with a central portion and a curved portion joining the central portion to the cylindrical body. The central portion has, in longitudinal cross-section, a first concave section. The curved portion has successively, in longitudinal cross-section, from the first concave section towards the cylindrical body, a first convex or frustoconical section, a second concave section and a second convex or frustoconical section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for treating at least one hollow body made of thermoplastic material, such as a preform or a cap, the treatment process successively including at least the following steps: a first step, consisting in treating at least the inside of the hollow body using hydrogen peroxide; a second step, consisting in heating the hollow body; a third step, consisting in treating the hollow body with plasma in order to reduce the concentration of hydrogen peroxide residues. Also disclosed is a plant for manufacturing containers in which the process is carried out in particular by way of a unit for the plasma treatment of the preforms.

Abstract: A filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product having a conveyor configured to receive containers to be filled at an input station, and a plurality of filling devices carried by the conveyor and each configured to fill one container at a time with a predetermined amount of pourable product during its advancement along the filling path. Each filling device includes a filling valve controllable between an open position and a closed position. The machine also includes a control unit configured to generate a signal for triggering the opening of the filling valves and to sequentially send said signal to each filling device. Each filling device is configured to receive one container at a time at the input station, and the control unit is configured to send the signal to each filling device with an advance time before the filling device receives the container to be filled.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for handling preforms for heating units. The device includes a mandrel that defines a rotation axis of the preforms; a tip mounted at an end of the mandrel and having a part penetrating into the neck of the preforms; a rubbing contact rigidly connected to the tip; and a heatsink rigidly connected to the mandrel and intended to come into contact with the tip. The tip also includes a cooling part axially in line with the penetrating part. The cooling part includes at least one thermal exchange raised portion in contact with the surrounding air. Furthermore, the tip is mounted such that it can be mobile on the mandrel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for managing captive preforms immobilized in a heating station during an interruption of production, the preforms following a production stream, the heating station including a device for conveying preforms and a heating cavity bordered by at least one row of emitters of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. The method consists in ejecting from the production stream the cold captive preforms that have been immobilized before they have been exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitters to a recycling stream and rejecting from the production stream the hot captive preforms that have been at least partly exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitters to a reject stream separate from the recycling stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container by stretch blow-molding from a preform made of plastic material in a forming unit, the forming unit comprising a mold, an elongation rod that is movable heightwise inside the mold, the method comprising, in succession, a pre-blow-molding step and a blow-molding step, the method also comprising a step of boxing of a handle, a rising phase of the elongation rod being initiated before the blow-molding step, the boxing step being initiated after the rising of the elongation rod, the handle being formed on the extension axis of the elongation rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for gripping a container preform having a base, a spindle which is mounted on the base, and an ejector at least partially surrounding the spindle. The spinner includes a spindle mounted such that it pivots in a sliding manner in relation to the base and a spinner tip removably fixed to the spindle. The ejector partially surrounds the spinner and is able to occupy a working position in which it is secured to the base. The spinner tip and the ejector are respectively provided with an imprint and a complementary counter-imprint. The ejector can be removed from the base and can occupy a tooling position in which the counterpart thereof cooperates with the cavity of the spinner tip so that they rotate together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a labelling machine for applying labels onto articles intended to contain a pourable product and comprising a conveyor and a transfer element. The labelling machine also comprises first detection means, arranged peripherally to the transfer element in a position downstream of an application station and upstream of a receiving station, relatively to an advancement direction. The first detection means is configured to detect the single labels still retained in use and to generate a presence signal correlated with the presence of the labels, by the lateral surface downstream of the application station. The labelling machine comprises second detection means arranged in a position downstream of the receiving station and upstream of the application station, relatively to the advancement direction, and configured to detect a positioning of each label onto the lateral surface and to generate a positioning signal correlated with the positioning of each label.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of hollow objects made of plastics material by way of an extruder. In order to improve the quality of the manufactured objects and the regularity of manufacture, the extruder that is fed at least with the initial metered quantity and to which at least a part of the molded blanks and/or of the molded and heated blanks used for manufacturing said objects and/or of the finally manufactured objects will be recycled is a twin-screw extruder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a labelling machine (1) for applying labels (2) to receptacles (3) comprising a web (11) having a succession of decorative patterns (15); a cutting unit (12) configured to cut said web (11) so as to obtain individual labels (2); a conveying means (14) configured to advance the individual labels (2); a control unit (17) configured to control a positioning of the web (11) in relation to a reference station (18); a determination device (19) configured to determine and/or detect a relative positioning of the decorative patterns (15) in relation to the reference station (18); and a removal device (20) configured to remove incorrect labels (2) that are determined and/or detected as a function of the relative positioning of the decorative patterns (15) in relation to the reference station (18). Also included is a method for applying labels (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inverting the diaphragm of a filled and capped container. According to the invention, the container is placed on a support ring of an inversion device, a pressing member is applied to the container and a pusher is raised through the support ring to invert the diaphragm and shape the diaphragm into an arch. While the pusher inverts the diaphragm, the seat is moved away from the upper plane of the support ring, so that when the pusher reaches the raised position, a space is opened between the seat and the support ring to enable a longitudinal expansion of the container under the combined effect of the increase in internal pressure caused by the decrease in the volume due to the inversion and the forces generated inside the container by the pusher and the support member.