Abstract: The invention relates to a container handling machine (1) having at least one operative unit (18) comprising first support means (21) to support a base (12) of a filled and closed container (3), second support means (24) cooperating with an end (17) of the container (3) opposite the base (12), a plunger (31) selectively moved along its axis (E) to perform a deformation operation on the base (12) of the container (3) from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and actuator means (35) selectively activated to move the plunger (31) along its axis (E) between a first position, detached from the base (12) of the container (3), and a second position, in which the plunger (31) defines the second configuration of the base (12); the machine (1) further comprises a control unit (41) configured to selectively activate the actuator means (35) for moving the plunger (31) along its axis (E); the second support means (24) are maintained at a constant distance from the first support means

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 labelling group for applying at least one label onto a respective article at an application station is disclosed. The labelling group comprises a transfer element, which is adapted to transfer the label along a trajectory which comprises a transfer station, and can be arranged in an operative position, in which the transfer station coincides, in use, with the application station; and a diverting device, which can be selectively arranged in: a first configuration, which allows the transfer element to convey the label along at least part of the trajectory and to release the label at the transfer station; or in a second configuration, which prevents the transfer element either from receiving the label or from releasing the label to the transfer station. The transfer element is movable in at least one rest position, in which the trajectory is spaced from the application station.

Abstract: A labelling machine for applying a first label and a second label onto a first article and a second article is disclosed. The labelling machine comprises a first conveyor for conveying a succession of the first article and the second article along a path; a first labelling group, which can be selectively arranged in a first operative configuration; and gap creating means adapted to create a first gap, which is arranged inside the succession and is bounded between the first article and the second article. The first labelling group is selectively arrangeable in a first rest configuration. The labelling machine further comprises a second labelling group, which can be selectively moved between a second rest configuration and a second operative configuration, in which the second labelling group transfers, in use, the second label to the second article.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container (2), by drawing and blowing in a mould (8), from a blank (3) made of plastic material, which includes the following operations: inserting the blank (3) in the mould (8); controlling the opening of a pre-blowing solenoid valve (17) at a predetermined pre-blowing rate (DP); measuring the current pressure (P) inside the blank (3); detecting an actual time (tA) for starting the pre-blowing step; calculating a time (tF) for ending the pre-blowing step such that: tF=tA+?t??, wherein: ?t is a predetermined time for opening the pre-blowing solenoid valve and ? is a predetermined constant; deducing therefrom an actual pressure (PF) at the end of the pre-blowing step; comparing said pressure to a theoretical pressure (Pth); and if said pressures are found to be non-identical, ordering a modification of the pre-blowing rate (DP).

Abstract: A capping machine for applying a cap on an open end of a container that is made of a deformable material and filled with a pourable product is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveying device and at least one operative unit moved by the conveying device along a processing path. The at least one operative unit comprises a support portion configured to receive and retain a container, and at least one capping head movable to and away from the open end of the container to apply the cap onto the open end of the container. The at least one operative unit further comprises a plunger movable to and away from an opposite closed end of the container to deform the closed end of the container so as to reduce an interior volume of the container and to increase an interior pressure of the container.

Abstract: A unit for carrying out an operation on a container fillable with a pourable product is disclosed. The unit comprises: a first area; a second area; at least one operative head, which is adapted to carry out the operation; at least one gripping device for gripping the container and which is movable between a rest position, in which the at least one gripping device receives or discharges the container; and an operative position, in which the at least one gripping device sets the container in a position in which the container undergoes the operation. The unit further comprises: a movable element, which is operatively connected to the at least one gripping device for moving the at least one gripping device between the rest position and the operative position, and which comprises a portion movable between the first area and the second area; and a bellow.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly (1) composed of at least one preform (12) and of a device (10) for decontaminating the interior of a preform (12) by irradiation with at least one type of ultraviolet radiation emitted by components (22) of the semiconductor type, relates to an installation (100) for producing a sterile recipient (120) including at least one decontamination device (10) and relates to a method for fabricating a sterile recipient (120) starting from a decontaminated preform (12).

Abstract: Container made of a plastic material, provided with a base including a standing ring forming a support flange and a diaphragm extending from the standing ring to a central portion, the diaphragm being capable of standing in an outwardly-inclined position, the diaphragm connecting to the standing ring at an outer junction forming an outer articulation of the diaphragm with respect to the standing ring; the diaphragm connecting to the central portion at an inner junction forming an inner articulation of the diaphragm with respect to the central portion; the diaphragm being invertible with respect to the standing ring to an inwardly-inclined position; the central portion having a thickness greater than the diaphragm, the central portion having an annular section of greater thickness adjacent to the inner junction, the central portion having a central recess thinner than the annular section and protruding upwardly from an inner edge of the annular section.

Abstract: Thermoplastic container (1) which after filling and sealing is able to withstand without any substantial deformation to an internal pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, comprising a body (2) with substantially cylindrical upper (3) and lower (4) parts and an intermediate part (5) having a curvilinear triangular cross section and comprising three main faces (6a, 6b, 6c) joined by three edges (7a, 7b, 7c); these edges are rounded, having continuous curvature, joined tangentially to the main faces and have radii of curvature (ra, rb, rc) comprised between approximately 5% and 35% of the largest dimension (D) of the cross section of the lower part (3); the main faces have radii of curvature (Ra, Rb, Rc) greater than the largest dimension (D) of the cross section of the lower part (3).

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 container handling machine having at least one operative unit is disclosed. The container handling machine includes a plunger configured to selectively move along a longitudinal axis and to deform a base of a container from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and an actuator configured to selectively move the plunger along the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the plunger is detached from the base of the container, and a second position, in which the plunger deforms the base to the second configuration. The container handling machine further includes a control unit configured to selectively activate the actuator for producing a first stroke of the plunger along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position, in order to deform the base of the container.

Abstract: A container manufacturing plant (10) includes an air circuit (78) employing a recycling method that includes at least the successive steps of: extracting filtered air from an oven (26), after the air has been used in the latter, for the purpose of cooling at least one part of the preforms; treating the sterilizing agent present in the extracted air resulting from the sterilization of the preforms; and recycling the extracted and treated air to the industrial area (16) where the plant (10) is installed. An air recycling method is also described.

Abstract: A mold (11) for manufacturing a container (2) having a body (4) and a bottom (6), including: an annular peripheral base (8) defining a positioning plane (9); an arch (10) which extends concavely toward the inside of the container (2) from the base (8), the mold (11) including: a wall (12) having an inner surface (13) forming the cavity of the body (4) of the container (2) and having an opening therethrough, the wall (12) having an edge (23) forming the cavity of the positioning plane (9); a mold bottom (14) which is moveably mounted relative to the wall (12), the mold bottom (14) having an upper surface (15) forming the cavity of the arch (10), and a skirt (19) having an outer radial extension that is strictly lower than an inner radial extension of the positioning plane (9).

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: A container handling machine including at least one operative unit comprising support means to support a shaped container, and a plunger selectively moved along a given axis to deform a base of the container from a first swollen configuration to a second configuration, in which the base is in part retracted inwardly of the container with respect to the first configuration so as to form a recess delimited by a boundary surface defining an internal volume of the container smaller than that in the first configuration. The plunger is provided with a shaped head interacting with the container base and comprising: first engaging means and an interacting surface.

Abstract: A gluing system for applying glue on products is disclosed. The gluing system includes a glue applicator configured to deposit melted glue on products, a glue container configured to contain excess melted glue discharged from the applicator and fresh melted glue, a glue delivering unit configured to deliver glue from the container to the applicator and a glue discharging unit configured to convey excess glue not used by the applicator to the container. The container is divided by a partition into a first chamber, containing the fresh melted glue, and into a second chamber containing the excess melted glue and separated from the first chamber. The partition includes a filter allowing flow of the fresh melted glue and the excess melted glue from both the first and second chambers to the delivering unit.