Abstract: An apparatus for splicing a new web having repeated patterns, to a web in use moving along a predetermined path and also having repeated patterns. The apparatus having: a handling device to advance the new web at the same speed as the web in use and positioning a segment of the new web to overlap a segment of the web in use such that the corresponding patterns align; a cutting device for cutting the overlapping segments of the webs at the area interposed between two successive patterns and dividing each web into an upstream portion and a downstream portion; a folding device for selectively folding either the upstream portion of the web in use and the downstream portion of the new web outside the overlapping area; and an applicator for applying a splicing buffer on the adjacent the cut portions of the two webs to be joined.

Abstract: Device (1) for gripping an object such as a blow-molding container preform (3), comprising: a guiding body (12); a stop body (13), mounted so as to move axially relative to the guiding body (12) along an axis (4) of the device, intended to be aligned with the object (3) to be gripped; a mandrel support (7), equipped with a gripping mandrel (15), able to move axially relative to the guiding body (12) and having a plunge-in travel (8) going from a set-back position to a plunged-in position in which the mandrel (15) is capable of gripping the object (3). The stop body (13) has, together with the mandrel support (7), a system of support stops (18, 19) arranged so that the mandrel support (7) drives the stop body (13) axially onto a terminal portion of the plunge-in travel (8). The device (1) includes a return means (34, 36) mounted between the guiding body (13) and the stop body, for the purpose of driving the stop body along an axial set-back direction opposite direction of plunge-in travel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preform which includes, centred on a single axis xx?: a neck (5), a cylindrical body (12), and a sealed spheroidal bottom (13), and is defined relative to the dimensions of a predefined bottle model (1) which includes: a bottom (3), a body (2) and a neck (5), said neck (5) of said bottle model (1) being identical to the neck of said preform (11).

Abstract: Article handling machine (1) comprising a frame (2) for receiving article handling elements, a roof (3) covering said frame (2), and, on one lateral side (6) of the machine (1), a catwalk (5) pivotally mounted on the frame (2) between an extended position in which it protrudes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lateral side (6), with an inner edge facing the machine lateral side (6), and a folded position in which it stretches out in a direction substantially parallel to the lateral side (6).

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 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: 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: There is disclosed a filling system for filling a container with a pourable product, in particular a pourable product having an electrical conductivity below 15 ?S, comprising: a tank filled, in use, with a pourable product; at least one filling valve selectively available in a configuration in which it allows the filling of the container with the pourable product; and at least one duct interposed between the tank and the filling valve; the system comprises a vortex flowmeter interposed along the duct.

Abstract: An automated system for changing a mold of a molding unit (24) with which a machine for manufacturing containers is provided, characterized in that the system includes at least one control module (M) having at least a first actuating device (122) combined with the locking device (90) of the molding unit (24) and a second actuating device (126) combined with the opening/closing device (82) of the molding unit (24).

Abstract: The mould carrier unit for manufacturing containers by a stretch blow-moulding operation of preforms (3) arranged in moulds (2), comprises: on the one hand, a stretching rod (10) borne by a slide (13) which is mobile between an inactive position and an active position where its free end reaches the bottom of said mould (2), on the other hand, a nozzle (15) comprising a fixed body (16) extended by a bell (20), which is mobile under the action of appropriate means for passing from an inactive position where its free edge (25) is held substantially at the same level as the free end (11) of the stretching rod (10) to an active position where it is sealingly applied against the inlet surface (4) of the mould (2), to close the circuit of the blowing fluid, and said bell (20) comprises a bar (21) provided with a stop (23), which stop (23) cooperates with a support (24) formed on said slide (13) to permit said bell (20) to pass from its active position to the inactive position with the same law of motion as sa

Abstract: A machine (10) for manufacturing containers, includes a system (82) for providing assistance when changing moulds, including at least one module (84) which, combined with a moulding unit (24), has an actuation device (86) provided with an operating member (88) intended to cooperate with a member (52) for controlling the locking elements (55) when the moulding unit (24) occupies a specified reference position relative to the module (84), the operating member (88) being able to undergo a displacement so as to actuate the member (52) for controlling the locking elements (55) in order to cause the locking elements (55) to move towards at least one of the locked or unlocked positions and to make the mould holders (26) move towards at least one of the open or closed positions of the moulding unit (24).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved vacuum drum for handling labels in labelling machines to be used for labelling containers such as bottles. In particular, the present invention relates to a vacuum drum system (1) for labelling machines, comprising a vacuum drum (2) rotatably supported on a non-rotating base (12), a feeding and cutting group (4) for the labels and a gluing group (5) having a gluing drum for the label, characterized in that it comprises a suction system (3) for withdrawing hot glue filaments originating from the glued label assisted by air jets emitted from the drum surface, the said suction system (3) being positioned adjacent to and downstream the gluing drum of the said gluing group (5), along the direction of rotation of the said vacuum drum (2). A method of operating the said system is also claimed.

Abstract: Container (1) of plastic material, comprising a body (5) and a bottom (6), the bottom (6) having an annular outer seat (8) defining a principal seating plane (9) for the container (1), and a deformable membrane (10) that extends radially inside the annular outer seat (8) and is arranged to be able to adopt two configurations: a retracted configuration, in which the membrane (10) extends axially above the principal seating plane (9); a deployed configuration, in which the membrane (10) comprises an annular inner seat (14) in the form of an annular bead projecting towards the exterior of the container (1), which extends axially beneath the principal seating plane (9) and defines a secondary seating plane (15), the bottom (6) comprising a series of hollow reserves (20) in the annular inner seat (15) [sic], which form local discontinuities of the secondary seating plane (15).

Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a tool (1) for handling and grouping together products which are aligned one behind another and which are separated by a given spacing, said tool (1) comprising a row of supports (2) which are each able to carry a grasping element (5) for grasping a product, the supports (2) being mounted such as to be able to move on at least one rail (3,4), each support (2) being connected to an adjacent support (2) by attachment means (10). The attachment means (10) each comprise a rod (11) that connects two adjacent supports (2) and also a member (12) for locking the position of at least one of the two adjacent supports (2) on the rod (11), it being possible to deactivate the locking member (12) in order to adjust the distance between two supports (2) to said distance between two products.

Abstract: Article handling machine (1) having a frame (3) for receiving article handling elements, a roof (7) covering said frame (3), and an electrical cabinet (12) for receiving devices for controlling electrical power supplied to said handling elements, characterized in that the electrical cabinet (12) is pivotally mounted on the roof (7) between an erected position in which the cabinet (12) is substantially perpendicular to the roof (7) for allowing an operator to access inside the cabinet (12) in standing posture, and a lying position in which the cabinet (12) extends substantially parallel to the roof (7).

Abstract: Pressurized gas injecting device (14) for a machine (1) for blow molding or stretch blow molding a container from a blank (2) of plastic material. The device has a nozzle (15) movable between an upper position separated from a mold (9) intended to receive the blank (2) and a lower position pressed against the mold (9) while covering a neck (3) of the blank (2); an insert (36) mounted movably with respect to the nozzle (15), the insert (36) having a lower end face (45) capable of being pressed against a lip (4) of the blank (2); and a return device (44) applying force on the insert (36) toward a lower position in which the insert (36) is at the end-of-travel stop with respect to the nozzle (15), and in which the lower end face (45) of the insert (36) extends beyond the nozzle (15).

Abstract: A planar table for accumulating items for conveying equipment, including: two parallel planar inlet and outlet conveyors that are driven in opposite directions so as to longitudinally move the items. The planar conveyors form an item transit area that has a variable receiving surface, and a diverting member for transferring the items, arranged on the inlet conveyor, to the outlet conveyor. The diverting member is shaped as a curved wall arranged on a longitudinally movable carriage. The wall extends substantially over the entire width of the inlet conveyor, between a side chute and a structure arranged between the two conveyors and on which the carriage is attached. There is an area for feeding items onto the outlet conveyor, the feeding area is arranged outside said transit area.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of a fluid, especially a liquid, to a hot end wall (2) of at least one thermoplastic container (1). For this purpose, a spongy mass (4) impregnated with the fluid is brought into contact with the end wall (2) of said at least one container (1), said spongy mass being held in contact with the end wall (2) for a predetermined time. Application in particular to the cooling of the hot end walls of containers leaving a blow molding or stretch-blow molding unit.

Abstract: An article (2) accumulation conveyor (1) having an endless conveying belt (9), characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of accumulation modules (14) having adjustable capacity, comprising independent frames (16), a device (53) for transferring the articles (2) from one accumulation module (14) to mother (14), said device (53) being interposed between said modules (14); an endless conveying belt (9) common to the accumulation modules (14) and to the transfer device (53).

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).