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 locking finger for a unit having a molding cavity for molding the container delimited at least by a first shell attached to a first mold carrier and by a second shell attached to a second mold carrier that is movable relative to the first mold carrier between an open position and a closed position, the first mold carrier comprising a control member for controlling the locking finger and the second mold carrier comprising a locking opening, the locking finger comprising an interface for mechanical coupling to the control member, and a locking portion designed to cooperate with the locking opening in the closed position. The molding unit is a subassembly of a plurality of mechanical parts assembled together rigidly, including a main body of the finger comprising the mechanical coupling interface, and said locking portion, which is a main sleeve made from anti-friction material assembled on the main body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unit for filling articles with a pourable product. The unit includes a tank having pourable product separated from a first aeriforrn; a filling device for filling articles; a first valve, set to an open configuration allowing fluid connection between the pourable product and article or set to a dosed configuration; a first fluidic line fbr allowing escape of a second aeriform from inside articles when first valve is open and article is in contact with filling device; a second valve, set to an open configuration allowing the second aeriform to flow along first fluidic line when first valve is open or set to a dosed configuration; a second fluidic line fluidly connected with first fluidic line; and a third valve arranged along second fluidic line, and which can he selectively arranged to fluidly connect the second fluidic line with an inner volume of a cabinet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a labeling apparatus for labeling articles. In one implementation, the apparatus may include a transfer drum having at least one label retaining segment adapted to receive and to retain at least one label, a glue application unit adapted to apply glue onto the label, a cleaning unit adapted to clean the transfer drum and a control unit adapted to selectively activate the cleaning unit into at least any one of: a partial cleaning configuration in which the cleaning unit is configured to partially clean the at least one label retaining segment or a full cleaning configuration in which the cleaning unit is configured to fully clean the at least one label retaining segment.

Abstract: A plastic container (1) is provided with a body (5) and a bottom (6) that extends from a lower end of the body (5), the bottom (6) including: a peripheral base (7) defining a bearing surface (8); a concave arch (10) that extends from a central zone (11) to the base (7); and a series of main reinforcing grooves (13) hollowed into the arch, extending radially from the central zone (11) at least to the base (7) and dividing the arch into a series of angular sectors (15). Where each groove (13) joins each sector (15) of the arch (10) adjacent thereto it is bordered laterally by a reinforcing rib (18) projecting in relation to the sector (15).

Abstract: A one-piece mold bottom (7) for a mold (1) for manufacturing containers, includes a molding wall (8) having a raised molding surface (9) bearing the imprint of at least one portion of a container bottom. The mold bottom (7) includes a cavity (27) integrally formed with the mold bottom (7), defined by a surface casing (29) defined entirely by the mold bottom (7) and including an inner surface (31) of the molding wall (8), opposite the molding surface (9) and matching the raised pattern thereof, and a rear surface (32, 33) opposite the inner surface (31). The mold bottom (7) is provided with at least one pair of openings (35; 37) leading into the cavity (27) for circulating a heat-transfer fluid inside the cavity.

Abstract: A mould (12) for producing, from a blank (3), a container (2) having a bottom (6) provided with a seat (8), the mould (12) including: —a wall (14) delimiting a cavity (17) and, beyond the cavity (17), a hollow recess (21) opening into the cavity (17) via an opening (20); —a mould bottom (16) that is movable relative to the wall (14), the bottom having an upper surface (27) defining a seat surface (28) having the footprint of the seat (8) of the container (2). In this mould: —the wall (14) has a counterbore (24) that defines, at the top, the hollow recess (21) and that extends perpendicular to and around the opening (20), substantially parallel to the central axis (X); —the upper surface (27) defines a peripheral face (30) that extends flush with the counterbore (24).

Abstract: Clamp (9) for gripping a hollow body (2), which includes a clamp body (12), a pair of jaws (13) mounted articulated relative to the clamp body (12) around respective axes (A1, A2) of rotation that are parallel, and a magnetic return device (17) of the jaws (13), including a pair of magnets (18, 19) in magnetic opposition, with magnetic axes that are parallel to the axes of rotation of the jaws (13), able to draw, by opening or by closing, the clamp (9), thus having two stable positions, open and closed, in which the magnets (18, 19) are off-axis.

Abstract: A transfer device for conveying a plurality of packaging units along a transfer path comprising: a first carrier having at least one first operative branch parallel to the transfer path; at least one first conveying element advanced along the first carrier; a second carrier adjacent to the first carrier and having at least one second operative branch parallel to the transfer path and to the first operative branch; and at least one second conveying element controlled independently from the first conveying element and advanced along the second carrier; wherein the first conveying element and the second conveying element are configured to retain therebetween a packaging unit of the plurality of packaging units and to advance the packaging unit along the transfer path.

Abstract: Unit (4) for molding preforms (2) that each have a body (15) and a neck (17) extending the body (15), this unit (4) including: a frame (19), —a mold holder (27) secured to the frame (19) and carrying at least one mold body (29) having the impression of the body (15) of the preform (2); mobile equipment (60) including a carriage (61) and a core holder (62) carrying at least one primary core (64A) and one secondary core (64B), the carriage (61) being mounted so as to be movable with respect to the frame (19) between a molding position and a demolding position, this core holder (62) being rotatable with respect to the carriage (61), in the demolding position of the latter, about a rotation axis parallel to the molding axis in order to transpose the cores (64A, 64B).

Abstract: A one-piece mould bottom (7) for a mould (1) for manufacturing containers, includes a moulding wall (8) having a raised moulding surface (9) bearing the imprint of at least one portion of a container bottom. The mould bottom (7) includes a cavity (27) integrally formed with the mould bottom (7), defined by a surface casing (29) defined entirely by the mould bottom (7) and including an inner surface (31) of the moulding wall (8), opposite the moulding surface (9) and matching the raised pattern thereof, and a rear surface (32, 33) opposite the inner surface (31). The mould bottom (7) is provided with at least one pair of openings (35; 37) leading into the cavity (27) for circulating a heat-transfer fluid inside the cavity.

Abstract: Container (1) made of plastics material, including a body (5) which extends along a main axis (X), and a base (6) which extends at a lower end of the body (5), the base (6) being provided with protruding feet (7) that are provided with crowns (11) which extend in a common setting-down plane (12), pairs of the feet (7) being separated by recessed grooves (15) which extend radially from a central region (8) of the base (6), each foot (7) having two flanks (17) that each laterally border a groove (15), characterized in that the flanks (17) of two adjacent feet (7) which border one and the same groove (15) form between one another, at the level of the setting-down plane (12) and in a plane transverse to the radial direction of extension of the groove (15), an obtuse angle (A) at the crown.

Abstract: A plastic container (1) is provided with a body (5) and a bottom (6) that extends from a lower end of the body (5), the bottom (6) including: a peripheral base (7) defining a bearing surface (8); a concave arch (10) that extends from a central zone (11) to the base (7); and a series of main reinforcing grooves (13) hollowed into the arch, extending radially from the central zone (11) at least to the base (7) and dividing the arch into a series of angular sectors (15). Where each groove (13) joins each sector (15) of the arch (10) adjacent thereto it is bordered laterally by a reinforcing rib (18) projecting in relation to the sector (15).

Abstract: A mould (12) for producing, from a blank (3), a container (2) having a bottom (6) provided with a seat (8), the mould (12) including:—a wall (14) delimiting a cavity (17) and, beyond the cavity (17), a hollow recess (21) opening into the cavity (17) via an opening (20);—a mould bottom (16) that is movable relative to the wall (14), the bottom having an upper surface (27) defining a seat surface (28) having the footprint of the seat (8) of the container (2). In this mould:—the wall (14) has a counterbore (24) that defines, at the top, the hollow recess (21) and that extends perpendicular to and around the opening (20), substantially parallel to the central axis (X);—the upper surface (27) defines a peripheral face (30) that extends flush with the counterbore (24).

Abstract: A gripper (42) for gripping an object (14), intended for a transfer device includes two jaws (64, 66). Each of the jaws includes: a recess (92), and a first clamping portion (94) and a second locking portion (96). The first clamping portion (94) of each jaw (64, 66) of the gripper (42) includes a supporting surface and, when the gripper (42) is closed around an object (14) occupying a predetermined reference position, the supporting surface is intended to engage with a portion of a bearing surface of a radial collar of the object.

Abstract: A forming method, in a mold provided with a wall forming a cavity, of a container from a blank, which includes a boxing operation of pushing back the material of the blank by an insert movably mounted with respect to the wall of the mold between a retracted position in which the insert is retracted into the wall, and a deployed position in which the insert protrudes with respect to the wall, in order to form on the container, by pushing back, a hollow reserve projecting toward the interior of the container. Additionally, a local pressurization operation is performed, after formation of the hollow reserve, of injecting a pressurized fluid between the insert and the hollow reserve.

Abstract: The support cooperates with the half-molds (2, 3) of a molding unit used to shape a container from thermoplastic material. This support comprises: a pedestal in the form of an actuating cylinder (11), the rod (12) of which is solidly connected to the mold base (1); and, between the rod (12) of the actuating cylinder (11) and the mold base (1), an assembly system (13) formed by a female part in the form of a nut (14) and of a male part in the form of a screw (15). The nut (14) is trapped at the end of the rod (12) of the actuating cylinder (11) and the screw (15) is associated directly or indirectly with the mold base (1). A system of shim(s) (40, 41) can be used to adjust the working stroke of the rod (12) of the actuating cylinder (11) as required.

Abstract: Conveyor for transporting articles such as a chain conveyor that can be changed between a stretched configuration and a compact configuration, the chain being formed from a plurality of articulated links. Each link includes a trolley provided with lateral guide mechanism cooperating with a track defining a predetermined trajectory, a support carrying a nozzle for the releasable attachment of an article, the support mounted rotatably with respect to the trolley between a straight position corresponding to the deployed configuration of the chain, and an oblique position, corresponding to the compact position of the chain and in which the support is inclined with respect to the straight position; and an actuator coupled to the support, capable of driving the support in rotation from its straight position to its oblique position, and reciprocally.

Abstract: A system for aiding in the replacement of a mold in a molding unit of a machine for manufacturing containers, includes at least one transport device (16) for transporting a joined mold (18) forming a transportable unit subassembly, the transport device (16) including at least one robotic arm (96) for positioning, in space along a trihedron (X, Y, Z) and with respect to the molding unit (12), elements (76) for handling at least one joined mold (18) so as to carry out a replacement of the at least one mold (18) of the molding unit (12).

Abstract: Plastic container (1), characterized in that it comprises: a rigidified body (5), a bottom (8) extending to a lower end of the container (1) and comprising: an annular base (9) extending substantially perpendicular to the body (5) in the prolongation thereof; an annular step (10) extending from the base (9) towards the interior of the container (1), a recess (12) at the center of the bottom (8) projecting towards the interior of the container (1), a deformable annular membrane (11) in the shape of a spherical cap extending substantially perpendicular to the body (5) between the step (10) and the recess (12).