Abstract: Apparatus for handling and cooling preforms, comprising a collection element provided with a plurality of receptacles arranged according to a definite geometrical distribution pattern and adapted to accommodate a corresponding plurality of preforms, as well as a cooling element. The collection element is displaceable from a preform loading position to several distinct positions, arranged above the cooling element, which is provided with a plurality of cups collected into a plurality of distinct, but similar geometrical distribution patterns that are translated with respect to each other in such a manner as to prevent them from interfering with each other.

Abstract: An injection molding machine and method of injection molding is provided, in which an upper platen, a moving platen, and a cavity-carrying platen are used. A removable member (cylinder) is provided to limit travel of the moving platen towards the cavity-carrying platen and to support the moving platen.

Abstract: A pick-up plug for supporting and transporting preforms of thermoplastic resin, includes a central body, and an engagement mechanism adapted to slip into the neck portion of the preform, in which elastic members are provided on the engagement mechanism so as to press them against the wall of the neck portion, wherein a central body is provided with at least three groove-like recesses opening towards the exterior and the engagement mechanism is constituted by individual and independent gripping members that are housed in respective ones of the groove-like recesses. The elastic members are constituted by respective preloaded springs acting between the inner wall of each groove-like recess and the inner wall of the respective individual gripping member.

Abstract: Arrangement that supports a temperature sensor comprising a terminal probe, applied on the outside of a preferably cylindrical body, and comprising an elastic ring arranged in contact with said body and provided with a hole accommodating said terminal probe; the elastic ring is interrupted by a split-like gap that increases the elastic adaptation ability thereof. Preferably, on the outside of said ring there is provided a perimetrical groove and said hole is obtained by appropriately shaping of inner surfaces of said groove. On the inside of the ring there may be provided a through-slit, so that the groove is capable of being spread apart in correspondence of said hole.

Abstract: Apparatus for blow moulding plastic containers, comprising a plurality of pairs of half-moulds (1, 2) capable of being coupled with each other, separated from each other and clamped together, said pairs (1, 2) being associated to an appropriate central structure and constituted by a stationary half-mould (1), which is substantially attached to said structure, and a respective moving half-mould (2) capable of being opened and clamped with a rotary motion, in which there are provided means adapted (3, 4) to arrange a respective preform (7) in a pre-defined position adapted for blow moulding, and to hold this preform (7) in this position regardless of the position of the respective half-moulds (1, 2), these means being in particular constituted by: a fork means (3) firmly joined to a respective stationary half-mould (1), a pincer-like gripper (5) adapted to transfer a respective preform (7) from an external position and fit it on to the respective fork means (3), and a small-tube (4) assembly adapted to be inser

Abstract: A plant for cooling preforms has a collection and translation element provided with a plurality of receptacles adapted to accommodate respective preforms that are usually knocked out of an injection mould. A revolving-turret element has two opposite surfaces provided with a plurality of cups adapted to accommodate respective performs. The turret revolves in a controlled manner about a horizontal axis so as to successively orientate the two surfaces upwards and downwards, and the collection and translation element can be displaced with a translational motion from a preform loading position selectively to a plurality of distinct positions, which lie above the surfaces of the turret when rotated upwards, and can engage and release the preforms from the respective receptacles.

Abstract: Apparatus for the alignment of a plurality of bottles whose body is in the shape of a parallelepiped, and which are furthermore oriented in such a manner that said bottles are provided with respective axes centered on to the respective mouth, and the respective walls are inclined at either acute or obtuse angles with respect to the plane passing through said axes, in which there is provided a structure comprising two comb-like members (10, 11) and plurality of cylindrical cups (26) inserted in appropriate housings provided between said comb-like members (10, 11), wherein said cups (26) hold respective bottles (3) and are made in such a manner as to ensure that the corners of the bottles (3) are capable of being arranged in contact with the inner surface of said cups; said surface is in the shape of a plurality of plane surfaces spaced from each other by configurations in the shape of an arc of a circle having a radius (R) that is equal to the inner radius of the cups (r).

Abstract: An injection-molding half-mold has a base plate (1), a nozzle-carrying plate (2), a cavity-carrying plate (3), and a hot runner (4) to which there are associated a plurality of resistive elements (6) connected externally to a power supply source via at least an electric conductor (9, 19) lead connected to an appropriate external connector.

Abstract: A hydraulic press apparatus comprises: a lower plate and an upper plate adapted to be driven toward the lower plate via operation of a motion a position control device; a hollow cylinder under the lower plate, the hollow cylinder having an upper edge tightly engaged with a lower surface of the lower plate; a guide column connected to the upper plate, the guide column having a lower end portion that defines a rod for a first piston adapted to slide within the hollow cylinder, and the guide column defining an inner cylindrical cavity that extends through the first piston, with the inner cylindrical cavity being filled with hydraulic fluid; a hole extending through the lower plate, the hole being adapted to slidably accommodate said guide column; an aperture in a side surface of the hollow cylinder, the aperture allowing a volume defined between the lower plate and the first piston to communicate with a hydraulic device that is adapted to apply a hydraulic pressure within the volume when the first piston is in a

Abstract: Pick-up plug comprising at least an annular stator (10) engaging driving means, a motor (11) in an equally annular shape capable of being associated to said stator (10) and having the same axis (O) thereof, said rotor and said respective stator (10) being mutually engaged by means of generally known means and being adapted to rotate relatively to each other about said common axis (O). In the stator there are applied a plurality of magnets adapted to be collected into a multiplicity of distinct clusters, in which each cluster of magnets comprises magnets provided with a same polarity ((N), (8)), and in the rotor there are applied a plurality of magnets capable of being collected into clusters in a similar manner. Said magnets of the rotor and said magnets of the stator are arranged so as to enable said rotor and said stator to dispose themselves, when at rest, into a defined number of prefixable positions.

Abstract: Infrared oven for heating a plurality of preforms and comprising: a conduit through which said preforms move, a flow of outside air that flows through said conduit from an intake mouth to an exhaust mouth under the action of a blower, a plurality of infrared lamps irradiating the preforms in said conduit, in which a reflective surface is arranged downstream of said lamps and is provided with apertures through which the flow of outside air passes prevailingly. The axis of the preforms is oriented in a manner that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of said outside air. The infrared lamps are arranged substantially downstream of the preforms, and are separated from each other by appropriate intervals through which said flow of outside air passes, in which said flow of outside air first passes through said intervals separating said preforms and then through said intervals provided between said infrared lamps.

Abstract: Preform gripper comprising a handling arm (1) and a preform support plate (2) that has at an extremity thereof a semi-circular aperture (7) that is adapted to accommodate a cylindrical portion (28) of the collar of the preform. Hinged on said plate there are provided two parallel side gripping members (5, 6), two end portions of which (13, 14) are in the shape of an arc of a circle and are adapted to elastically move closer to each other up to a pre-established position. The gripper is adapted to, enable said cylindrical portion (28) of the collar of the preform to be fitted into and removed from, with a snap-like action, said semi-circular aperture (7) by pressing and pulling, respectively, the preform against two opposite, elastically enlargeable outer edges (31, 32) of said two side gripping members (5, 6).

Abstract: An apparatus transfers performs traveling along an inclined path from an upper loading station to a lower unloading station. The apparatus includes a device that includes plural rotary forks which rotate so as to engage and remove from the inclined path performs that are joined together.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing plastic hollow bodies has a blow-moulding station, a device for introducing thereinto a sequence of trains of preforms, an ejection station adapted to separate the ejected hollow bodies, and devices provided downstream of the ejection station to handle the hollow bodies, the devices including a conveyor belt capable of being driven by a pulley and provided with plugs adapted to pick up the hollow bodies. The pulley is provided on its outer surface with a plurality of ejectors that are arranged to sequentially engage and disengage the pick-up plugs so as to release the blow-moulded hollow bodies therefrom. Beneath said ejectors there is arranged a guide which is adapted to intercept the so released hollow bodies, and which is provided with two parallel rails adapted to retain the hollow bodies by their neck portion and push them, preferably with jets of blown air, towards their utilization apparatuses.

Abstract: A nozzle, for the injection of molten plastics, includes a rear central portion terminating with a planar surface, and an outer annular element terminating with a corresponding planar surface on its rear side. The terminal planar surface of the central portion is situated in a more rearward position relative to the planar surface of the outer annular element. A first annular groove forms an acute angle between the outer edge of the rear portion and an inner surface of the outer annular element. A second annular groove, forming an acute angle, is provided in the rear portion. The two annular grooves open in opposite directions, and the bottoms of the respective grooves are located at substantially the same height of the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously transferring orderly sequences of preforms includes a closed-loop conveyor belt and a plurality of support and forward carrying elements. A loading station is provided for loading the preforms, while an unloading station is provided for separating the preforms from the elements. A temperature conditioning station is provided between the loading station and unloading station.

Abstract: A method and system for providing for the production of preforms of thermoplastic resin by filling a plurality of multiple-cavity molds with molten resin for forming the preforms, holding and cooling down the molten resin inside the molds, removing the molded preforms from the molds, subjecting the preforms to a subsequent temperature conditioning stage, and transferring the preforms to a blow-molding stage. Each of the multi-cavity molds includes a plurality of cavities defined in several distinct clusters and each cavities belonging to the same cluster is cooled in a distinct and differentiated manner with respect to the cavities belonging to other clusters provided in the same mold.

Abstract: Apparatus for blow molding hollow plastic bodies (7) comprising a plurality of pairs of mutually joinable half-molds (2, 4) capable of being opened and closed, associated to an appropriate rotary apparatus (10) carrying said half-molds (2, 4), a retrieval device adapted to remove the finished container (7) from the respective pair of half-molds (2) after the opening thereof, an opening and closing mechanism adapted to close the half-molds (2, 4) after the passage thereof through the position of the preform feeding mechanism, and to open them before the passage thereof through the position of the finished-container removal mechanism, in which said pairs of half-molds (2, 4) are constituted by a fixed half-mold (2) and a moving half-mold (4) that is capable of being opened from and closed against said fixed half-mold (2).

Abstract: A parison of thermoplastic resin to be particularly used to be subsequently blow molded to become a plastic bottle has an upper portion (H), a middle portion (L) and an end portion (N). The middle portion has, on its lower side near the terminal portion, a lower sub-portion (M) which has a thickness that is variable and smaller with respect to the wall thickness of the parison in the middle portion, with a profile in the shape of a downward narrowing frustum of a cone. Preferably, the thickness in the lower sub-portion (M) is decreased by at least 12% with respect to the thickness of the remaining middle portion of the parison, and the angle between the sides of the profile in the shape of a frustum of a cone and the axis of symmetry is between 5° and 10°. The advantages are broader process tolerances, elimination of heat conditioning treatments, reduction in resin usage.