Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a preform and delivering a predetermined volume of a liquid end product, formed by the addition of first and second liquid products, into the container. The apparatus includes a heating oven to heat the preform, a mold defining a cavity in the shape of the container, a stretch member coupled to an actuator to stretch the preform in the mold, an injection head configured to inject the second liquid product through the mouth of the preform so as to cause expansion of the preform within the mold thereby obtaining the container, and a preform filler to at least partially fill the preform with the first liquid prior to injecting of the second liquid product and before expanding of the preform into the container.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a container from a substantially tubular preform. The preform is preheated to a temperature above the glass-transition temperature of the preform and placed in an expansion zone configured to accommodate the preform and in fluid communication with the nozzle of an injection head. The expansion zone is disposed adjacent to the nozzle and about the longitudinal axis defined by the injection head. A volume of an injection liquid is injected from the injection head into the preform cavity of the preform while the preform is in the expansion zone and the preform is expanded, while still in the expansion zone, into a container. Concurrently with the injecting and expanding of the preform, the preform is heated by energizing a plurality of infrared-emitting elements disposed about the preform and projecting infrared radiation into the expansion zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for the fabrication of a container, comprising a mold defining the form of said container and container and configured to accommodate a substantially tubular preform, an injection head configured to interface with the preform and establish fluid communication with a cavity thereof; an injection valve configured to selectively permit fluid communication through said injection head, and a stretching rod slideably disposed within the injection head; said apparatus further comprising a displacement plunger being disposed coaxially about and mobile relative to said stretching rod between a retracted position substantially within the injection head and an extended position wherein said displacement plunger projects at least partially from said injection head.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a preform and delivering a predetermined volume of a liquid end product, formed by the addition of first and second liquid products, into the container. The apparatus includes a heating oven to heat the preform, a mold defining a cavity in the shape of the container, a stretch member coupled to an actuator to stretch the preform in the mold, an injection head configured to inject the second liquid product through the mouth of the preform so as to cause expansion of the preform within the mold thereby obtaining the container, and a preform filler to at least partially fill the preform with the first liquid prior to injecting of the second liquid product and before expanding of the preform into the container.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a container from a substantially tubular preform. The preform is preheated to a temperature above the glass-transition temperature of the preform and placed in an expansion zone configured to accommodate the preform and in fluid communication with the nozzle of an injection head. The expansion zone is disposed adjacent to the nozzle and about the longitudinal axis defined by the injection head. A volume of an injection liquid is injected from the injection head into the preform cavity of the preform while the preform is in the expansion zone and the preform is expanded, while still in the expansion zone, into a container. Concurrently with the injecting and expanding of the preform, the preform is heated by energizing a plurality of infrared-emitting elements disposed about the preform and projecting infrared radiation into the expansion zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of delivering a predetermined volume of a liquid product, defined as the liquid end product, formed by addition of a first and second liquid product, into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform positioned in a mold and having an opening opposite an injection head. Prior to injecting the second liquid product into the preform causing expansion of the container, the preform is at least partially, filled with the first liquid product.

Abstract: An injection head for the fabrication of a container from a preform. The injection head interfaces with a preform to establish fluid communication between a liquid supply and the preform. An injection valve is disposed within the injection head and is configured to selectively permit fluid communication through the injection head. A liquid supply control mechanism and a control mechanism of the injection valve's opening allow fluid communication through the injection head. The control mechanism of the injection valve's opening is activated by the liquid under pressure in the injection head cavity when the liquid supply is opened.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for manufacturing a pack of products (1) having a bottom side (2) and an opposite top side (3), comprising a handle (5) formed over the top side (3) and adapted to be grasped by hand, wherein the process comprises the following steps:—providing the products (1) to be packaged;—fitting a binding structure around the products (1) to bind them;—forming a handle (5) by wrapping a plastic film (4) around the bound products (1) over at least one turn, the plastic film (4) covering at least most of the bottom side (2) and being gathered to a reduced width over the top side (3) to form the handle (5). The present invention is also directed to a device for manufacturing a pack of products (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a container. The apparatus includes an injection head establishing fluid communication between an injection liquid source and a preform cavity of a substantially tubular preform through a nozzle of the injection head. The longitudinal axis of said injection head being substantially vertically oriented and passing through the nozzle. The apparatus further includes a plurality of infrared-emitting elements projecting infrared radiation into an expansion zone which is disposed adjacent to the nozzle and about the longitudinal axis. The expansion zone is configured to accommodate the preform when it is positioned in fluid communication with the nozzle.

Abstract: An injection head for a container fabricating machine. The fabricating machine includes a first nozzle configured to establish fluid communication between an injection liquid source and a preform cavity in communication with a mouth disposed at an open end of the preform. The first nozzle of the injection head includes a substantially tubular spout configured to be inserted into the open end of said preform and thereby create a seal with the preform.

Abstract: A method of degasification of a carbonated beverage-filled container in an apparatus for blowing and filling containers, the apparatus including a mold enclosing a blown and carbonated beverage-filled container. The container includes a dispensing opening, an injection head that is movable along a longitudinal axis, passing by the dispensing opening of the container, between a sealing position in which the injection head is in a sealing engagement with the dispensing opening and a non-sealing position in which the injection head spaced from the dispensing opening. The method includes the steps of moving the injection head away from the sealing position to a first non-sealing position, moving the injection head from the first non-sealing position back to the sealing position, and after moving the injection head back, moving the injection head away from the sealing position to a second non-sealing position that is different from the first non-sealing position.

Abstract: A plurality of containers fabricated from plastic preforms, wherein the form of each of the containers is partially defined, through expansion of the containers by other containers adjacent thereto. A package including a plurality of the plastic containers is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pack of products (1) having a bottom side (2) and an opposite top side (3), comprising a handle (5) formed over the top side (3) and adapted to be grasped by hand. The handle (5) is formed by a plastic film (4) wrapped around the products (1) over at least one turn, the plastic film (4) covering at least most of the bottom side (2) and being gathered to a reduced width over the top side (3) to form the handle (5). A handle (5) formed by a plastic film wrapped around the pack is reliable and easy to manufacture at a limited cost.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously forming and filling a container from a thermoplastic polymer preform with a carbonated liquid at ambient temperature. The system includes a mold that encloses the thermoplastic polymer perform, a stretching member that stretches the thermoplastic polymer preform, an injection head that inject the carbonated liquid, and a pressurization system. The pressurization system is configured to, with the carbonated liquid beverage at room temperature (68° F. to 77° F.), increase pressure of the carbonated liquid beverage to a pre-load pressure that is greater than the defined partial pressure of dissolved carbon dioxide in the resultant filled and sealed container at room temperature, to maintain the carbonated liquid beverage at rest and at the pre-load pressure prior to injecting into the preform.

Abstract: A method for fabricating containers wherein a molding apparatus is provided having a plurality of mold segments, each of which has two substantially opposite faces that form a mold cavity when abutted against an opposite face of an adjacent mold segment. A first mold segment is passed through a manipulation zone at an increased speed to open the mold cavity between the first and second mold segments. After a preform is positioned within the mold cavity, a second mold segment is passed through the manipulation zone at an increased speed to abut a face of the first mold segment against an opposite face of the second mold segment. A volume of a liquid is next injected into the preform, expanding the preform and forming the container. These steps are repeated and a container produced during the previous iteration is removed during an extracting step in an extracting manipulation zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers comprises a nozzle for establishing fluid communication with a container, a filling line extending between the nozzle and a source of a product fluid, a filling valve in the filling line, an auxiliary line extending from the nozzle to a drain, and a drain isolation valve in the auxiliary line; further comprising at least one additive line which extends from a junction with the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the drain valve to an additive fluid source; and a dosing valve in the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the at least one additive line, which permits a predetermined volume of additive fluid to flow through the auxiliary line to the nozzle.

Abstract: An injection head for a container-fabricating apparatus. The injection head includes a first nozzle establishing fluid communication between an injection liquid source and a preform cavity of a substantially tubular preform. The first nozzle is configured to mate with a mouth of the preform. An annular mouth seal, provided in the first nozzle, creates a seal with the mouth of the preform when disposed in contact therewith.

Abstract: A plurality of preforms are positioned in relation to each other and an incompressible fluid is injected into a cavity of each of the preforms to induce them to expand into containers. A portion of the surface of each of the preforms comes into abutment with a portion of the surface of at least one other preform during the injecting step, such that the expansion of the preforms is constrained.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating containers. The apparatus including a plurality of mold segments, an injection cylinder, a closure cylinder and a motor cylinder. The injection cylinder defining a mold cavity substantially in the form of a container and accommodating a substantially tubular preform having a preform cavity in communication with an open end. The injection head establishes fluid communication with the preform and the injection cylinder is in fluid communication with the injection head and configured to inject a volume of liquid into the preform The closure cylinder is configured to exert a force on at least one of the mold segments to maintain them in a closed disposition. The motor cylinder is configured to drive the injection cylinder and being itself concurrently driven with the closure cylinder by a single pressure source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bottling machine comprising a carousel (1) for filling containers with a main liquid material, wherein said bottling machine comprises a first micro-carousel (61) for introducing a first additive fluid into transferred containers; and a second micro-carousel (62) for introducing a second additive fluid into transferred containers. The invention also relates to a method for producing packs of a given number of containers filled with at least two different products within the same pack.