Abstract: A cap transfer unit (1) comprising a cap transfer line (8) defining a transfer path (5) from a cap loading area (4) to a cap discharge area (6), and a cap pusher (16) slidingly mounted along the cap transfer line (8), the cap pusher (16) having a rest position in which the cap pusher (16) is spaced from the transfer path (5), and an active position in which the cap pusher (16) overlaps at least partially the transfer path (5) for coming into abutment with caps (2) located therein.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a container (14) from a blank (2) of thermoplastic material having a body (4) extending along a principal axis (A), which comprises: A selective heating step in which the body (4) of the blank (2) is exposed to monochromatic or pseudo-monochromatic infrared radiation, the power of which is modulated along the principal axis (A) of the body (4) in such a way that said body has alternating hot annular regions (4A, 4C, 4E, 4G, 4I), the temperature of which is far higher than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material, and comparatively colder annular regions (4B, 4D, 4F, 4H), the temperature of which is close to the glass transition temperature (Tg); A forming step in which a fluid under pressure is injected into the blank (2) thus heated, said step being carried out in free expansion.

Abstract: The installation comprises:—an upstream conveyor (2) which supplies the lines of products, and a downstream conveying system, having, between the two;—a unit (5) for regulating the flow of products and, in each lane of said unit, a conveying module (9) of the endless belt type and sets of mobile fingers (8) for controlling the advancing speed of said products. The endless belt of each conveying module (9) extends as far as the inlet of the downstream conveyor (4), and control means are provided to separately adjust the speed of the sets of fingers (8) so as to ungroup the products in accordance with two separate modes:—an ungrouping mode with selection by regulated flow (SRF) and—an ungrouping mode with selection by adjustable fingers (SAF).

Abstract: The support cooperates with the half-moulds (2, 3) of a moulding 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 mould base (1); and, between the rod (12) of the actuating cylinder (11) and the mould 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 mould 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: A machine for the manufacture of containers made of thermoplastic, includes at least one molding unit selectively associated with a control module (70) able, in the use state, selectively using a first actuating device (76) to control the locking device and using a second actuating device (78) to control the opening/closing device with which the molding unit is respectively equipped.

Abstract: The regulating unit is inserted in an installation for preparing batches of containers of the bottle kind. This regulating unit is interposed between an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor and at each of its ends, between two adjacent walls (16), comprises means for centring each conveyor module (9). These means consist of 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 said conveying module (9) by means of 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, consisting of a link rod (35), which extends between the pair of compasses and said 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 member (22) for gripping vessels (16) includes: a support (32) that moves along a transport trajectory of the vessel (16); a nose (38) including a mandrel (40) capable of holding a neck (26) of the vessel (16), the nose (38) being fixed removably to a bottom axial end of the support (32); characterized in that the nose (38) includes an ejection plate (46) which is mounted to slide axially around the mandrel (40) between a cladding position towards which it is elastically returned and in which the mandrel (40) protrudes axially downwards and an uncladding position in which the mandrel (40) is axially retracted above a bottom face of the plate (46). A device for replacing such a gripping member is also described.

Abstract: A method for placing an oven (12) for heat-treating preforms (13) into standby, including: a device (16) for conveying the preforms (13); at least one heating lamp (22); at least one heat-accumulation element (24, 26); and an electronic unit for controlling the heating lamps (22), characterized in that the method includes, in series: a first switching-off step (E1) which is triggered when a stop in production is determined, and in which the heating lamps (22) are completely switched off; and then a second temperature-maintaining step (E2) which is triggered after the first step (E1), and in which the heating lamps (22) are activated at a predetermined intensity in order to reheat the accumulation elements (24, 26).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container having a local recessed or relief impression, from a blank (2) of thermoplastic material. The method includes a heating step in which the blank (2) is exposed to infrared radiation and in which the infrared radiation is monochromatic or pseudo-monochromatic, the intensity of which locally has an extremum in front of a localized zone (11) of the blank, in such a way as to generate a temperature extremum in the zone (11). The method also includes a forming step in which a fluid under pressure is injected into the blank (2) thus heated, and in which the recessed or relief impression is formed at the localized zone (11).

Abstract: Container of thermoplastic material having a body extending along a principal axis, characterized in that the body has at least one annular narrowed zone of extra thickness.

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: Method of manufacturing a container (2) by stretch-blow molding in a mold (8) from a blank (3) of plastic material, which comprises the operations consisting of: measuring the pressure prevailing inside the blank (3) during a pre-blowing phase; detecting an instant corresponding to a local minimum pressure in the blank (3); placing in memory the instant at which said minimum pressure occurs as well as the corresponding pressure prevailing in the blank (3); comparing the instant and the pressure of the detected minimum with, respectively, a predetermined instant and pressure of a theoretical minimum pressure; if the measured minimum and the theoretical minimum do not coincide, ordering a modification of at least one of the following parameters: pre-blowing pressure, pre-blowing flow rate, stretching speed, heating temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for collecting products (2) arriving in line on a conveyor (1), using a collector device (4) provided transversally relative to the advancement direction. The collector (4) deposits and drops the products collected at a take-up station (10) located on the side of said supply conveyor (1) the collector (4) is capable of a loop movement that can divided into a transverse movement combined with a longitudinal movement upwards of the queue, i.e. a movement opposite to that of the product supply conveyor. The equipment for implementing the method includes a table (3) provided at and along the conveyor (1), a collector (4) carried by an appropriate structure for longitudinal and transverse movement above said conveyor (1) and said table (3). The table (3) includes two panels (31, 32) extending on either side of the supply conveyor (1) for depositing and dropping the products collected on either side of the conveyor (1) at the edge thereof.

Abstract: A removable device (3) for attaching with fluidic connection a mold base (1) on a support (4), said device (3) comprising a male part (6) and a female part (7), said male part (6) having a truncated-cone-shaped surface (10), said female part (7) comprising a locking mechanism (26) including balls (33) suitable for engaging with said surface (10), a device wherein the female part (7) comprises a peripheral cage (27) provided with holes (2) where the balls (33) are seated, and a lock (34) provided with an annular ramp (41), mounted around said cage (27), that can be manually accessed and moved between a locking position wherein the ramp (41) is arranged in line with the balls (33), and a release position wherein the ramp (41) is separated from the balls (33).

Abstract: A container made of plastic material, provided with a body and a bottom extending at a lower end of the body, the bottom including an annular seat extending substantially in the prolongation of the body and defining a seating plane; a concave arch that extends from a zone near the seat to a central zone, the arch including a series of stiffeners that extend radially from the central zone to the seat.

Abstract: The invention relates to an feeding table, comprising a pair of rollers (13, 14), referred to as pressers, arranged downstream from the cutting system, said pair including a motor-driven roller (13) and at least two driven rollers (14) which are arranged so as to form at least two pressure tracks engaging with the plastic film (6) moving between said pair of rollers (13, 14). Each pressure track includes a driven roller (14), the shaft (23) of which is supported by a mobile frame (19) that is guided on a beam (20), wherein said beam (20) is secured to the general frame (2) and a foolproof system for applying pressure is provided between said beam (20) and said frame (19) in order to restrain said driven roller (14) and hold the latter in tangential contact with the motor-driven roller (13).

Abstract: Device (10) for transferring containers (2) from a feed rail (9) to a rotary star wheel (3). The device (10) has a transfer wheel (11) provided, on its periphery, with a plurality of recesses (12) for engaging containers (2) under their neck (7) and moving the containers (2) along a transfer path (15) extending from a loading point (13) at an end of the feed rail (9) to an unloading point (16) at the periphery of the rotary star wheel (3). Also included is a guiding member (18) having a flat lower surface (19) extending at least partly above the transfer path (15) at a distance from the transfer wheel (11) substantially equal to the height of the container neck (7).

Abstract: Palletizer for depositing a preformed layer (13) of objects (14) on a pallet (15), comprising: a conveyor, equipped with an advancement means (16, M1) which advances the preformed layer of objects, and designed to impart kinetic energy to said preformed layer (13) of objects, a layer depositing tool (12), designed to deposit the preformed layer (13) of objects onto the pallet (15), and a transfer means for transferring the preformed layer (13) of objects, designed so that the entirety of said preformed layer (13) of objects leaves the conveyor and arrives on the layer depositing tool (12). The transfer means comprise said advancement means (16, M1). The conveyor is a conveyor-launcher (11) designed for launching the preformed layers (13) of objects, and the transfer means consists solely of the advancement means of the conveyor-launcher and the kinetic energy imparted by the conveyor-launcher (11).

Abstract: Thermoplastic container having a body and a base including: a concave arch, a concave dome opening at the center of the arch, an annular zone surrounding the base of the arch and forming a flat foundation, claw-shaped zones radially extending the base of the body and offset projecting outwards relative to the arch, and radial grooves delimited between the zones in the shape of claws. The grooves have bottoms that are formed by radial sections of the arch and that have a radially variable depth maximum in correspondence with said annular zone forming a foundation. The base is adapted for withstanding, without marked deformation, hydrostatic pressure due to the liquid column increased by an excess pressure not exceeding approximately 2×105 Pa.