Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling confined preforms which are stopped in a heating station during a production interruption, the heating station comprising a device for conveying preforms comprising individual supports which move in a closed circuit and a heating cavity which is bordered by at least one row of transmitters of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. The method includes a step of heating, by the transmitters of the heating cavity, the confined preforms referred to as “cold” preforms which have been stopped before being exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitters.

Abstract: A device for ejecting products in a unit for processing products, a flow of the products moving one behind the other along a circulation trajectory. The device having an ejector for individually ejecting a product out of the circulation trajectory and a motor of the ejector. The ejector having at least one plate with a peripheral edge provided with at least one recess for receiving a single product and the motor having a rotation drive for the plate and a way for synchronizing the drive with the flow of the products. The invention relates also to an installation and an ejection method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of a container by blowing or blowing-stretching within a production unit comprising a mold and a nozzle which is designed to close the mold hermetically. The process comprises a sequence of forming with a blowing phase and a phase of degassing. The degassing phase comprises spacing the nozzle from the mold in order to interrupt the hermetic closure. The spacing of the is nozzle carried out (i) after the beginning of the degassing phase, when the pressure in the interior of the container has dropped and has reached an intermediate pressure which is lower than the pressure at the end of the forming sequence, and is between 14 and 3 bars or (ii) after completion of the blowing phase, and within an interval of time of between 0 and 200 ms after the stoppage of the injection of gas into the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transferring products, to or from a product collection surface of a product processing line, on which they can accumulate, in which method products are stored in trays. The method includes a loaded tray transfer step, during which a tray, namely the collection tray, is separately moved between the collection surface and a receiving zone, where tray conveyor is provided, as well as a product transfer step, during which products are transferred between the collection surface and the collection tray with a planar sweeping movement, while the collection tray is held flush with the collection surface. Also disclosed is a corresponding device for transferring products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container made of plastic material comprising a petaloid bottom having an axis of symmetry and comprising a central dome that projects toward the interior of the container; a series of feet projecting toward the exterior of the container that radiate from the central dome and each of which has a crest path that extends from an external edge of the dome to a peak radially remote from the dome; and a series of valleys each formed as a hollow between successive feet. Each crest path has an internal section extending from the external edge of the dome to a junction at a distance R2 from the central axis. Each crest path also has an external section extending from the junction tangentially in line with the internal section to the peak. The distances R1 and R2 are in a ratio where 45%?R1/R2?60%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer device for a hollow article comprising a conveyor wheel, transfer arms mounted moveably on the conveyor wheel, and at least one static cam. The at least one static cam comprising at least one cam path that cooperates with cam followers carried by the transfer arms to control the position thereof. The wheel carries at least one cleaning tool for a related cam path, and the cleaning tool is mounted movably and pressed against the cam path with sufficient force to enable the automatic cleaning of the cam path as the conveyor wheel rotates.

Abstract: A locking finger for a unit having a molding cavity for molding the container delimited at least by a first shell attached to a first mold carrier and by a second shell attached to a second mold carrier that is movable relative to the first mold carrier between an open position and a closed position, the first mold carrier comprising a control member for controlling the locking finger and the second mold carrier comprising a locking opening, the locking finger comprising an interface for mechanical coupling to the control member, and a locking portion designed to cooperate with the locking opening in the closed position. The molding unit is a subassembly of a plurality of mechanical parts assembled together rigidly, including a main body of the finger comprising the mechanical coupling interface, and said locking portion, which is a main sleeve made from anti-friction material assembled on the main body.

Abstract: There is described a labelling machine for applying label sheets onto articles comprising: a web feeding unit for feeding a web of labelling material formed by a series of label sheets joined to each other; a label transfer device receiving said web from the web feeding unit at an input station and adapted to feed single label sheets to respective articles at an application station spaced apart from the input station; and a cutting device for cutting the web of labelling material into single label sheets; the label transfer device comprises a transfer conveyor adapted to retain the single label sheets and to release the single label sheets themselves on the articles at the application station; the transfer conveyor comprises a closed-loop transfer track and at least two label holders movable on the transfer track by means of a magnetic-inductive interaction.

Abstract: A method for producing a container from a blank, inside a forming unit having a mold and a movable insert controlled by a variable-flow solenoid valve, a control unit linked to the solenoid valve. The method comprises developing a boxing curve characterizing the successive positions of the insert; determining, based on a reference blowing curve, points of inflection; measuring, on the boxing curve, distances actually travelled by the insert between points in time, some of which correspond to these points of inflection; and comparing the values of the measured distances with nominal values. If there is a difference between a measured value and a nominal value, controlling, by the control unit, a modification in the flow rate setpoint of the solenoid valve for the next production cycle.

Abstract: A molding unit for the manufacturing of a container from a blank made of plastic material includes: a mold equipped with a wall and a movable insert; and at least one boxing system including a cylinder that is integral with the insert. The boxing system includes: at least one solenoid valve mounted on a primary fluid circuit, with this solenoid valve including a fluid outlet connected to a primary chamber and that defines a variable passage section based on an electric control signal applied to the solenoid valve; and a processing unit connected to the solenoid valve and programmed to vary the electric control signal applied to the latter.

Abstract: Disclosed is device for orienting at least one object, comprising: a fixed frame, conveying means defining a conveying surface to contact a bottom portion of object and convey object along a first direction; and rotating means selectively actuatable for creating on bottom portion a differential speed causing the rotation of object about a first axis transversal to first direction. The rotating means comprise a contact element that is fixed or movable along first direction with a differential speed relative to conveying means. The contact element is selectively movable with respect to conveying surface between: a first configuration, protruding from conveying surface along first axis, so as to contact bottom portion of object and to cause the rotation of object about first axis; and a second configuration, offset from conveying surface along first axis. The contact element is free to oscillate around a second axis parallel to first direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing stretching means (12) of a container moulding device (10) fitted to a plant for manufacturing thermoplastic containers obtained by stretch-blow-moulding from production preforms, the said method for sterilizing the stretching means (12) comprises at least the steps consisting in: —introducing a determined quantity of a sterilizing agent into a sterilization preform (30), —during a step referred to as a conversion step, converting said sterilization preform (30) into a hollow body (50) by stretching—blowing into the said moulding device (10), said introduction of the sterilizing agent being performed in the vapour state in a sterilization preform (30) at a temperature that allows a uniform film of mist to be deposited by condensation onto an internal surface (32) of said sterilization preform (30), and in that at least two sterilization preforms (30) are then converted successively into hollow bodies (50) in the one same moulding device (10).

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a positioning device for positioning products while at the same time conveying products one after another on a conveyor in a conveying plane and along a conveying direction. This device comprising a plurality of orientation devices each comprising at least one pusher mounted with the ability to move on a guide, said guide being situated on the side of the conveyor and defining a closed circulation loop at least a portion of which lies along the conveying direction, the at least one pusher being able to act on a product by pushing it in order to cause it to pivot through a predetermined angle about an axis perpendicular to the conveying plane, said orientation devices being capable of moving independently of one another on said guide. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: A locking finger for a molding unit, the molding unit comprising a cavity for molding the container that is at least defined by a first shell fixed on a first mold holder and by a second shell fixed on a second mold holder that can move relative to the first mold holder between an open position and a closed position, the first mold holder comprising a component for controlling the locking finger and the second mold holder comprising a locking opening, the locking finger including an interface for mechanically coupling to the control component, and a locking portion designed to engage with the locking opening in the closed position. The locking portion comprises an anti-friction composite material.

Abstract: Disclosed is object a method for operating a retraction device of an automatic bundler that is designed to be used in a facility for processing products that are delivered in the form of bundles that each group multiple products held together with a retractable film; with the retraction device being equipped with a retraction furnace including at least one heating unit that is designed to heat the air of the furnace and at least one air circulation unit that is designed to distribute the hot air in the furnace; with the operating method including a production mode during which the bundler is adjusted to be able to produce output and a superficial standby mode that helps save energy. The superficial standby mode includes the reduction in speed of at least one air circulation unit, compared to production mode, to a non-zero value. Also disclosed is a corresponding device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaging method for packaging a pourable product in at least one container, by means of which it is obtained an improvement in the flexibility of the packaging machine configured for carrying out the method with regards to the type of the product which is to be packaged, and to a machine configured for carrying out the method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a labelling machine for articles containing pourable product, comprising: a first endless conveyor to advance a number of articles along part of an endless article path, from an input station to an application station and from the application station to an output station; and a second endless conveyor to advance a number of labels along part of an endless label path, from a receiving station to the application station; the first conveyor comprises an article holding device movably coupled to the first conveyor, configured to carry one respective article from the input station to the output station and controllable along the article path by means of magnetic-inductive interaction; the second conveyor comprises a label holding device movably coupled to the second conveyor, to carry one respective label from the receiving station to the application station and controllable along the label path by means of magnetic-inductive interaction.

Abstract: The invention discloses a decoration apparatus for decorating a web of labeling material. The decoration apparatus comprises conveyor for advancing the web of labeling material between a first station and a second station, an activation unit adapted to apply an activation energy at a activation station for selectively activating activatable pigments comprised in the web of labeling material or to locally ablate the web of labeling material and a temperature-conditioning unit which is adapted to actively cool and/or heat the web of labeling material, in particular, in use, prior, during and/or after selectively activating the activatable pigments or ablating the web of labeling material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container perform made from plastic material, including: a body; an open neck that extends from the body from which it is separated by a radially projecting flange; a bottom that closes the body opposite the neck; the body having a concave portion in axial cross section, where: B?0.9·A 0.5.C?C??0.95.C in which A is the overall diameter of the body, measured below the flange; B is the outer diameter of the bottom, measured at the junction of same with the body; C is the cumulative height of the body and the bottom, measured from the flange; C? is the height, measured axially, of the concave portion of the body, and the concave portion has, in axial cross-section, on an outer surface, an outer radius of curvature RE such that: 1.5.0?RE?10.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transferring products (1) between a main conveyor (2) which is configured to convey products in a longitudinal direction and an accumulation surface (3) using an intermediate conveyor (4) and a pushing means (5). The method comprises acceleration of the intermediate conveyor (4) and transfer of products (1) between the intermediate conveyor (4) and the main conveyor (2) via the action of the pushing means (5), and deceleration of the intermediate conveyor (4) and transfer of products (1) between the intermediate conveyor (4) and the accumulation surface (3). The present invention also relates to a device for transferring products (1) between a main conveyor (2) which is configured to convey products in a longitudinal direction and an accumulation surface (3), enabling in particular the method according to the invention to be carried out.