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: The invention relates to a method for applying a label to an article travelling along an article path, said label being received on a movable surface at an input location to be retained against said surface whilst being glued and advanced to an output location, at which the label is transferred to the article; the article being rotated with a tangential speed about an axis whilst travelling at a speed along the path including providing at least three portions of surface with independent and controllable vacuum means for retaining the label, including curtailing the application of vacuum means at the first portion of the surface upon the first portion reaching the output location and interrupting the application of vacuum means at the third portion of the surface, with the trailing edge of the label being retained at the second portion of the surface.

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 labelling machine for applying labels on respective containers is disclosed. The labelling machine is provided with at least one operative unit, adapted to receive a relative container to be labelled and having a support element for supporting a base portion of the container, with a conveyor device for transferring the operative unit from a feeding station of the containers to an outlet station, and with feeding means for providing at least one label to be applied on the container borne by the operative unit The operative unit also comprises an actuator element borne by the conveyor device on the opposite side of the support element with respect to the receiving position of the container.

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: Method for assembling a modular support structure of an item-processing machine comprising hubs for bearing respective shafts of moving members, and a plurality of link elements fixable at hubs, the method including: a) providing a toleranced jig plate with means defining the definitive boss position of hubs, b) providing fixing portions integral with hubs or fixing portions integral with link elements, fixing portions defining a volume for receiving in loose engagement a respective fixing portion and fillable with a curable resin, c) arranging hubs at their defined boss positions, d) arranging link elements in loose engagement with hubs to form a temporary skeleton, and e) permanently fixing link elements to respective fixing portions of hubs via injection and hardening of a curable resin.

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: An apparatus (1) for sterilizing container closures comprises a conduit (2) defining a passage for the closure and having a wall (3) surrounding the passage, spraying means (4) for injecting inside the conduit (2) a sterilization fluid heated and vaporized, drying means for introducing hot air in the conduit (2) and means for heating the wall (3) of the conduit (2) operatively coupled thereto. A method for sterilizing container closures transported inside a conduit (2) having a wall (3) defining internally a passage for the closures comprises the steps of injecting inside the conduit (2) a sterilization fluid heated and vaporized, introducing hot air in the conduit (2) for drying the closures and heating the wall (3) of the conduit (2) by transferring heat directly to the conduit wall (3).

Abstract: A labelling unit movable along a given path for receiving labels and comprising a hollow receiving member having a lateral wall for receiving a relative label, extending around an axis transverse to the path and comprising a suction portion having through holes; a suction pneumatic device connected to the holes through the inside of the receiving member that can apply suction to retain a label on the outer surface of the lateral wall; and a hollow distributor member coaxially arranged inside the receiving member and provided with a number of angularly spaced opening sections having different heights parallel to the axis and correlated to the heights of different labels processed by the unit, and rotatable in at least two different angular positions, each corresponding to a selected opening section of the suction portion of the lateral wall such that only the holes facing the selected opening section are operative.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: A motor for a plate of a labelling machine comprises a housing with a connecting portion for connecting the motor to a carousel of the labelling machine, a motor shaft pivotally supported within the housing, a coupling flange having a first end connected to the motor shaft and a second end that can be connected to the plate. The motor shaft and coupling flange are joined as one piece such as to form a one-body shaft-flange unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the angular orientation and detection of containers being processed in labeling machines are provided. An apparatus is provided comprising a rotating turntable, a plurality of motor-driven pans each having a controller, an optical sensor and an illuminating device. Also discussed are methods for the detection and angular orientation of containers in labeling machines with such an apparatus.