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: The invention concerns a method of blowing and filling a container from a thermoplastic polymer preform, comprising: stretching a thermoplastic polymer preform (16) placed within a mould (12) during a stretching phase, starting an injection phase for injecting a liquid into the preform, the injection phase starting after the stretching phase has started, characterized in that prior to starting the injection phase the liquid is at a predetermined pressure above the atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for blowing and filling a plastic container from a preform and using liquid as the blowing medium. The apparatus includes a mold encloses a preform so as to leave access to the mouth of the preform protruding from the upper surface of the mold. An injection head is provided for injecting a liquid into the preform and a liquid collecting member is provided for collecting any residual liquid present between the injection head and the neck of the blown and liquid filled container before opening the mold and/or moving the injection head away from the mold.

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: 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 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: A container-fabricating apparatus having an injection head establishing fluid communication between an injection fluid port disposed therein and a preform disposed in communication with a nozzle of the injection head. The apparatus also including a stretching rod moveable between a position projecting from the injection head through the nozzle and a substantially retracted position. The apparatus further includes a cleaning chamber at least partially defined by a hollow, elongate housing contiguous with and extending from the injection head, a plurality of cleaning chamber ports in a wall of the housing establishing fluid communication with the cleaning chamber, the stretching rod being substantially disposed within the cleaning chamber when disposed in the substantially retracted position.

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 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: 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: 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: An injection head for the fabrication of a container from a preform. An injection head interfaces with a mouth of the preform to establish fluid communication between a liquid supply and the mouth. The injection head includes an injection valve disposed within an outer shell of the injection head and configured to selectively permit fluid communication through the injection head upon displacement between an opened and a closed position. The injection head also includes an injection head cavity disposed between the injection valve and the outer shell and connected to the liquid supply. 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 liquid supply is opened.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of a container (802), comprising the steps of: —providing a preform (705), said preform being substantially tubular in form and being provided with a closed end (709), a cavity (707), and an open end (710) communicating with said cavity (707); —positioning at least one restriction device (711, 714) relative to the preform (705) so as to define at least one restriction zone and restrict expansion of the preform (705) therein; —injecting a pre-determined volume of an incompressible fluid (800) into the cavity (707) of the preform (705) via the open end (710), provoking the preform (705) to plastically deform by expansion, said preform (705) expanding freely in at least one expansion zone outside said at least one restriction zone; and —Using for the fabrication of a beverage container (802).

Abstract: An apparatus for the fabrication of a container (300), comprising a mold defining the form of said container (300) and configured to accommodate a substantially tubular preform, an injection head (115) configured to interface with the preform and establish fluid communication with a cavity thereof; an injection valve (202) configured to selectively permit fluid communication through said injection head (115), and a stretching rod (117) slideably disposed within the injection head (115); said apparatus (100) further comprising a displacement plunger (209) being disposed coaxially about and mobile relative to said stretching rod (117) between a retracted position substantially within the injection head (115) and an extended position wherein said displacement plunger (209) projects at least partially from said injection head (115).

Abstract: An apparatus (500) for fabricating containers (511) comprises a plurality of mold segments (501A-501I) each with two substantially opposite faces (510A-510I) that form a mold cavity (509A-509I) when abutted against another mold segment (501A-501I), and a guiding means (502) to conduct them along a closed path (503) of length greater than the total length of the mold segments (501A-501I); being characterized in that it comprises at least one injecting head configured to inject a volume of liquid into a cavity of a preform (507) disposed within the mold cavity (509A-509I) and expand it into a container (511), and being further characterized in that each mold segment (501A-501I) is conducted along the closed path (503) through at least one manipulation zone (505, 506) of said closed path (503) at an increased speed relative to the immediately adjacent mold segments (501A-501I), said apparatus (500) comprising a positioning manipulation zone (505) where the preform (507) is inserted into said apparatus (500), and

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for the fabrication of a container (300) comprising a mold (121) defining the form of said container (300) and configured to accommodate a substantially tubular preform, an injection head (115) configured to interface with the pre-form (108) and establish fluid communication with a cavity thereof; and an injection valve (202), said injection valve (202) configured to selectively permit fluid communication through said injection head (115); said apparatus (100) further comprising at least one compression means (303A, 303B) mobile relative to said mold (121) such that said at least one compression means (303A, 303B) is disposed outside said mold cavity (105) in a retracted position and projects into said mold cavity (105) in an extended position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of simultaneously blowing and filling a container from a thermoplastic polymer preform with a carbonated liquid at ambient temperature having, said carbonated liquid having a defined quantity of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) depending on the carbonated liquid beverage, comprising: stretching the thermoplastic polymer preform (16) placed within a mould (12) during a stretching phase, starting an injection phase for injecting said carbonated liquid into the preform, the injection phase starting after the stretching phase has started, characterized in that prior to starting the injection phase the carbonated liquid is at a predetermined pressure (P1) equal or greater than the partial pressure (P2) of the carbon dioxide (CO2) defined for said carbonated liquid beverage in the container. The invention also concerns related system.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for blowing and filling a container (22) from a preform (16), said apparatus comprising:—a mould (12) for enclosing a preform (16),—stretching means for stretching the preform (16) placed within said mould (12),—a pressurized liquid injection circuit (18) able to inject a liquid under pressure inside said preform (16) when said preform is placed inside said mould,—injection means which are adapted to inject a predetermined volume of liquid through said liquid injection circuit (18) into the preform and to stop injection of the liquid through said circuit into the preform when a blown and filled container (22) has been obtained, stopping the injection of the liquid through the liquid injection circuit into the preform creating an overpressure of liquid within the liquid injection circuit, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises releasing means for releasing said overpressure of liquid within the liquid injection circuit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of blowing and filling a container (120) from a preform, the method comprising: —placing a preform within a mould (140), —stretching the preform —injecting a liquid into the preform after the stretching has started so as to cause expansion of the preform within the mould, thereby obtaining a blown and filled container (120), —capping the blown and filled container (120).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of blowing and filling a container from a thermoplastic polymer preform, comprising: stretching a thermoplastic polymer preform (16) placed within a mould (12) during a stretching phase, starting an injection phase for injecting a liquid into the preform, the injection phase starting after the stretching phase has started, characterized in that prior to starting the injection phase the liquid is at a predetermined pressure above the atmospheric pressure.