Abstract: Method for producing a vessel (2) by blowing in a mould (11) from a preform (3) made of plastic material, comprising the operations consisting in: introducing the preform (3) into the mould; at a predetermined moment, called pre-blowing cue (tP), controlling the opening of an electrovalve (22) for establishing a communication between the inside of the preform (3) and a source (20) of gas at a predetermined pre-blowing pressure; measuring the pressure (P) inside the preform (3); detecting the so-called real moment (tA), of the beginning of the pre-blowing, at which the (P) in the preform (3) starts to increase; comparing this moment (tA) with a theoretical pre-blowing beginning moment; if the real moment (tA) of the beginning of the pre-blowing follows the theoretical pre-blowing beginning moment, advance the pre-blowing cue (tP); if the real moment (tA) of the beginning of the pre-blowing precedes the theoretical pre-blowing beginning moment, delay the pre-blowing cue (tP).

Abstract: A container (1) made from a plastic material, provided with a body and with a bottom (6) extending from a lower end of the body, the bottom FIG.2 (6) comprising: a peripheral seat (7) defining a positioning plane (8);—a concave arch (10) that extends from a central zone (11) to the seat (7); and a series of main reinforcement grooves (13) that extend radially from the central zone (11) at least to the seat (7). The arch (10) has two concentric regions, i.e. a central region (15) and a peripheral region (16), separated by a median axial step (17) that extends annularly in a continuous manner around the central zone (11), such that the central region (15) is raised relative to the peripheral region (16).

Abstract: A container of plastic material, having a body extending along a principal axis and a bottom in the extension of the body at a lower end thereof. The bottom has an annular seat defining a seating plane; and a conical arch that extends from near the seat towards the interior of the container to a central apex, the arch having in transverse cross-section a star-shaped profile inscribed between two circles, the ratio of the diameters of which is greater than or equal to 0.7.

Abstract: A device (10) for the manufacture of containers by blow moulding, includes:—a mould (12) equipped with a line for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid, having on an external face (34) of the mould (12) a heat transfer fluid inlet orifice (30) and a heat transfer fluid outlet orifice (32);—a mould carrier (20, 22) in which the mould (12) is removably mounted;—a plug (38) fitted with a duct (40) for conveying the heat transfer fluid and with a duct (42) for removing the heat transfer fluid, the plug (38) being mounted so that it can slide longitudinally on the mould carrier (20, 22) between a position of connection with the orifices (30, 32) of the mould (12) and a position of disconnection of the orifices of the mould, and elements for clamping the plug against the mould in the position of connection.

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 invention relates to an automatic automated installation in which at least one robot (2) is used in at least one mode of operation in at least one work zone (3). The installation comprises a closed space (1) equipped with at least one door (4) offering access to at least one operator intervention work station (6) which is situated in said work zone (3) of said robot, and means (7) for detecting the presence of an element (25; 26) in said closed space (1) at said operator intervention work station (6). The detection means (7) are arranged in said closed space (1) to delimit at least two zones (8, 9, 10) and are also associated with means (21) for control of said at least one mode of operation of the robot (2), each zone (8, 9, 10) being associated with one mode of operation of the robot (2). The detection means (7) are positioned a predetermined height from a floor (18) of said space (1), said height being greater than the height of an empty pallet (12).

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: A machine (10) for forming containers made of a thermoplastic material, includes: a mold consisting of two half-molds (12A, 12B) defining a molding cavity (14); a forming pipe (24) which couples the molding cavity (14) to a pressurized-fluid source (26), and which is capable of being closed off by a valve (32); a compensation chamber (34) which is combined with a half-mold (12A); a compensation pipe (40) which couples the compensation chamber (34) to a pressurized-fluid source (26) parallel to the forming pipe (24); and a pipe (44) for bypassing the compensation pipe (40), characterized in that the bypass pipe (44) is coupled to the forming pipe (44) between the valve (32) and the molding cavity (14).

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).

Abstract: A machine for filling containers, including a plurality of filling spouts, and a cleaning device comprising a plurality of individual tubular collecting elements rigidly mounted on a collection tube, and a device for moving the collection tube between a retracted position and a service position in which the collecting elements are in contact, via the upstream ends thereof, with the filling spouts. The collection tube laterally supports the collecting elements, such that, in the retracted position, the collecting elements are arranged between the filling spouts. The moving device capable of moving the collection tube from the retracted position thereof to the service position thereof by at least one downward vertical translational movement, followed by a horizontal movement.

Abstract: A guide track associated with a capping machine, including a capping head that is adjustable to fit the different formats of bottles. The track has, upstream from and adjacent to the capping head, a telescopic portion having a section rigidly connected to the capping head and movable with the latter, and a stationary section rigidly connected to a general frame. The telescopic portion of the guide track for caps includes side walls, the surface of which is smooth, regardless of the position of the stationary section and the movable section in relation to one another. The stationary section and the movable section are transversely shifted, and guided with regard to one another, by a runner system.

Abstract: A regulating unit inserted in an installation for preparing batches of containers of the bottle kind. The unit is interposed between an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor and at each of its ends, between two adjacent walls (16), includes a mechanism for centering each conveyor module (9). These mechanism includes arms (25) of the same length forming a pair of compasses between two adjacent walls (16), which pair of compasses has a central articulation secured to the conveying module (9) by a sliding connection located in the mid-plane of the corresponding lane. The walls (16) are connected to one another by a pantograph system (30) and a connecting member, having a link rod (35) extending between the pair of compasses and the pantograph to collaborate with the corresponding support of the conveying module (9) in order to keep it in the mid plane of the corresponding lane.

Abstract: A unit for treating blanks of hollow bodies made of a plastic material which includes: an enclosure which the blanks travel through longitudinally; a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources, arranged on at least one lateral side of the enclosure; at least one airlock adjoining the enclosure, provided with mobile shields that are opaque to the electromagnetic radiation travelling along a path locally encroaching upon the path of the blanks; two shields defining two-by-two an area for holding at least one blank.

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: The invention relates to a pack, including a group of stackable containers, each of which includes a body, a shoulder, a neck, and a bottom defining a recess shaped so as to receive the neck and at least part of the shoulder of an identical underlying container; and a flexible film enclosing the group of containers, said film having bottom openings aligned with each hollow recess. The film closely fits the base of the containers on a bottom contact area that annularly extends around the bottom openings; and the film further has top openings through which the necks extend, the film closely fitting the shoulders of the containers on a top contact area that annularly extends around the top openings.

Abstract: Container of plastic material having a flattened body and a bottom in the extension of the body having peripheral seat defining a seating plane the contour of which has in the same plane a large dimension A1 and a small dimension A2 that is strictly smaller than the large dimension, and an inner annular cheek substantially perpendicular to the seating plane. The bottom having a concave arch that extends from the seat towards a central zone. A height H of the cheek and a width L of the seating plane are such that 0.5 ? L H ? 2.5 . A transverse extension A of the seating plane and a transverse extension B of the body, measured near the bottom, are such that A B ? 0.85 .

Abstract: A method of measuring the wall temperature of a container blank, including the following operations: inserting a temperature probe into the blank in motion, upon completion of the operation of heating the blank in an oven; maintaining the probe in the blank in motion for a predetermined time; making a temperature measurement by the probe maintained in the blank without contact with the inner wall of the blank; and storing the temperature or the temperature profile thus measured.