Abstract: A container (1) includes a body and a petaloid base (3) extending the body, the base (3) including feet (7) separated into pairs by recessed valleys (12) that extend radially to an edge (8), the base (3) further including a series of grooves (17) that extend radially, extending at least partially along the bottom of the valleys (13), in which: the feet (7) extend axially to a height less than or equal to 1/5 of a radial extension of the bottom (3); the bottom (3) includes a central dome (5), whose concave part is turned towards the outside of the container (1); each groove (17) has an inner section (17A) that projects radially from the valley (12) and overlaps the dome (5), and an outer section (17B) that extends radially in the continuity of the inner section (17A), at the bottom of the respective valley (12).

Abstract: Container (1) made of plastic material comprising a body (2) and a petaloid bottom (3) extending the body (2), the bottom (3) comprising a bottom wall (4) that is generally convex towards the exterior, from which feet (5) protrude that are formed by excrescences, the feet being separated side by side by portions of the bottom wall forming hollow valleys (13) that extend radially from a central zone (6) of the bottom to a periphery (7) of the bottom, characterized in that each valley (13) widens out from the central zone (6) towards the periphery (7) and has a concave portion (15) located near the periphery (7).

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 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 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: Disclosed is a device for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the device including a bowl centrifuge formed by: a horizontal circular platen rotating about a vertical axis; a fixed peripheral rail; at least a first angular sector for aligning the preforms against the rail; and at least a second angular sector for righting the preforms. The device includes a unit for actively ejecting incorrectly aligned preforms from the row of correctly aligned and righted preforms.

Abstract: The unit (1) for processing hollow-body plastic blanks (2) includes a chamber (6) wherein the blanks (2) move along a predetermined path. The chamber (6) is defined, on both sides of the path, by two side walls (3, 4) having inner surfaces (5) that face each other. The chamber (6) includes a main section (9) wherein at least one of the walls (3, 4) is provided with a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources (10). The side walls (3, 4) define therebetween, on at least one end of the chamber, an opening (8) for the preforms to pass therethrough. The chamber (6) includes at least one optical confinement section (12) that extends between the main section (9) and the opening (8) and wherein the inner surfaces (5) of the side walls (3, 4) are optically reflective and converge toward the opening (8).

Abstract: A molding unit (10) for forming a container made of thermoplastic material, includes: —a mold bottom (16) that is movable between a low position, an intermediate boxing position and a high position; —a carriage (24) that supports the mold bottom (16) and is mounted in a movable manner in a fixed holder (26); —actuation elements for moving the carriage (24) into its intermediate boxing position; —the actuation elements including a cylinder (32) that houses a piston (98) liable to push the mold bottom (16) through a boxing travel; characterized in that the mold bottom (16) is supported in a fixed manner by the carriage (24), the cylinder (32) being fixed with respect to the fixed holder (26). A method for employing the molding unit is also described.

Abstract: There is described a conveying and cooling apparatus (6, 6?) for conveying and cooling receptacles (2) comprising a conveying device (25) for advancing receptacles (2) along a conveying path (P1), a cooling device (28, 28?) for cooling the receptacles (2). The cooling device (28, 28?) comprises a supply unit adapted to supply a cooling medium, a plurality of advancing injection nozzles (45) adapted to be in fluid connection with the supply unit and for directing a cooling medium onto the receptacles (2) and a plurality of valve members (46), each one associated to one respective injection nozzle (45) and adapted to selectively open or close the fluid connection between the respective injection nozzle (45) and the supply unit (40, 81).

Abstract: An air filter unit for removing contaminations from air is disclosed. The air filter unit includes an airflow generating device configured to generate and direct at least one airflow from an air inlet to an air outlet, a filter disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet and including at least one filter layer for removing contaminations from the at least one airflow, a heater disposed upstream of the filter and configured to heat the at least one airflow directed towards the filter, an ejection device disposed upstream of the filter and configured to inject a sterilizing agent into the at least one airflow directed towards the filter, and a duct interposed between the air inlet and the filter and configured to feed the at least one airflow to the filter. The duct includes a volute-like outlet portion, and the ejection device is arranged in the duct.

Abstract: A molding unit (10) for manufacturing preforms (100) made of plastics material, includes at least one “HR”-type mold (10), a nozzle (14) including at least a nozzle body (28) and a nozzle orifice (30) incorporating a preform (100) stabilizer (34) that forms with a tubular member (40) a mobile assembly that is able to slide axially relative to the nozzle orifice (30) between at least a top position and a bottom position, wherein the tubular member (40) is guided so as to slide axially with respect to the nozzle body (28) by at least one guiding element (46) which is interposed radially between the nozzle body (28) and the tubular inlet member (40), and the stabilizer (34), fixed to the tubular member (40), is guided with respect to the nozzle body (28) only by way of the at least one guiding element (46).

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: Container (1) made of a plastic material, provided with a base (7) including a standing ring (8) forming a support flange (9) and a diaphragm (11) extending from the standing ring (8) to a central portion (10), the diaphragm (11) being capable of standing in an outwardly-inclined position. The diaphragm (11) connects to the standing ring (8) at an outer junction (12) forming an outer articulation of the diaphragm (11). The diaphragm (11) connects to the central portion (10) at an inner junction (13) forming an inner articulation of the diaphragm (11). The diaphragm (11) is invertible with respect to the standing ring (8) from the outwardly-inclined position to an inwardly-inclined position. In the inwardly-inclined position, at least an inner portion (16) of the diaphragm (11) adjacent to the inner junction (13) is curved in radial section, with a concavity turned outwards.

Abstract: A device for gripping a hollow body includes a freely-rotating shaft and a mandrel that is integral with the shaft. The mandrel itself includes: an end fitting; a radiator that is mounted directly on the end fitting; a crosspiece inserted between the end fitting and the radiator; an expandable ring mounted between the end fitting and the crosspiece; an elastic element mounted between the end fitting and the expandable ring; an insert made of a material with high thermal conductivity, set in a housing made in the end fitting and emptying onto a free end face of the former, with the insert extending up to the point facing the radiator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for transporting plastic-container preforms, the device including an endless circulating element having an outer surface and being capable of moving the preforms along a path by rubbing against the preforms, the device including a stationary mounting defining a planar bearing surface for the preforms, the circulating element having a series of brushes which extend projecting from the outer surface, capable of engaging with the preforms in order to move same by rubbing.

Abstract: A machine for filling containers, each container having a longitudinal axis, the machine comprising: a conveying device; at least one handling unit including a support device configured to receive and retain a container and at least one filling device selectively activated for feeding a pourable product into the container while the at least one handling unit travels along the transfer path; a pressurizing circuit; a decompression circuit; at least one actuating device; and a control unit configured to: control activation and deactivation of the at least one filling device and the at least one actuating device; control connection of the pressurization circuit and the decompression circuit with the container; and simultaneously maintain the at least one actuating device in an active state while the decompression circuit is in communication with the container so as to rotate the container about the longitudinal axis during decompression.

Abstract: A filling system for filling a container with a pourable product, comprising: a tank configured to be filled with the pourable product; at least one filling device including a local control unit having a control module configured to selectively allow filling of the container with the pourable product; at least one duct interposed between the tank and the filling device; and at least one vortex flowmeter disposed along the duct and configured to generate a pulse-train detection signal as a function of a flow rate of the pourable product along the duct, wherein the local control unit of the filling device includes a processing module configured to process the detection signal from the at least one vortex flowmeter in order to determine an amount of the pourable product flowing into the container, as a function of a number of pulses of the detection signal.

Abstract: A method for producing a container (2) from a blank (3) in a mold (1) provided with a wall (4) and a mold bottom (8) that is movable relative to the wall (4) between a retracted position and a deployed position, the method including: a phase of introducing the blank (3) into the mold; a preblowing phase including the injection, into the blank (3), of a fluid pressurized to a so-called preblowing pressure, a blowing phase following the preblowing phase and including the injection, into the blank (3), of a fluid pressurized to a so-called blowing pressure greater than the preblowing pressure; a boxing phase including the displacement of the mold bottom (8) from the retracted position thereof to the deployed position thereof, initiated after the pressure in the blank (3) has reached the blowing pressure.