Abstract: A process for angular indexing of a pre-form having a body and a neck. The process includes a step of marking the neck of the pre-form which consists of production of at least one reference point on the neck of the pre-form. The process also includes a step of a heating station taking charge of the pre-form, during which the pre-form is transported along a heating course by a support unit, known as a spinner, which makes it possible to turn the pre-form around its axis, and during which the body of the pre-form is heated. The marking step is carried out during the step of taking charge, when the pre-form, supported by a spinner, travels along the heating course.

Abstract: Provided is a method for verifying holding members in a heating station equipped with a device for transporting the preforms. The device includes a plurality of movable supports circulating in a closed circuit and members for individually holding the preforms by their neck, where each of the holding members is borne by a movable support. The method includes setting the movable supports in movement to bring them successively into an acquisition zone, acquiring an image of each individual holding member in the acquisition zone, and automatically verifying the presence of a holding member on each of the images taken.

Abstract: Provided are methods for automatically positioning ramps in a station for the heating of preforms. The method includes acquiring an image of a preform traveling along a slot delimited by a pair of ramps, where at least one of the ramps is transversely mobile to vary the width of the slot (56) and where a motorized device transversely moves the at least one mobile ramp and is controlled automatically by an electronic control unit. The method further includes automatically determining the diameter below the neck of the preform by computer processing the image and automatically adjusting the width of the slot by moving the at least one mobile ramp according to the determined diameter below the neck.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a facility for producing containers from blanks made of a plastic material, the facility having one or more units for thermally conditioning blanks; one or more units for forming containers from the thermally conditioned blanks; one or more units for transferring containers to a labelling or filling unit; and a control unit that controls at least the thermal conditioning unit(s), the forming unit(s), and the transfer unit(s) by imposing a set speed on each unit, proportionate to a production rate for the containers. The method includes detecting an incident, determining a reduction of the production rate generated by the incident, and applying the reduction to the set speed.

Abstract: A process for angular indexing of a pre-form having a body and a neck. The process includes a step of marking the neck of the pre-form which consists of production of at least one reference point on the neck of the pre-form. The process also includes a step of a heating station taking charge of the pre-form, during which the pre-form is transported along a heating course by a support unit, known as a spinner, which makes it possible to turn the pre-form around its axis, and during which the body of the pre-form is heated. The marking step is carried out during the step of taking charge, when the pre-form, supported by a spinner, travels along the heating course.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming blanks made from plastic material into containers, the method including steps of blowing into the blanks in such a way as to form them into containers, then internally degassing the formed containers. In the method, the steps are carried out according to a first cycle at a first rate. Then, during a second subsequent cycle of steps carried out at a second rate slower than the first rate, a time delay is added with respect to the first cycle, during or after degassing, such that the second cycle lasts longer than the first.

Abstract: A thermal conditioning device for thermally conditioning preforms, comprising a heating module provided with an enclosure with a transport volume for said preforms; a heating means and a cooling means that are oriented toward the volume; a control means for controlling said heating and cooling means; said cooling means comprising a circulating means for circulating a flow of air with a nominal flow rate determined by said control means; a channel between said circulating means and said enclosure and leading toward said volume; wherein it comprises, along said channel, a measuring means for measuring the actual flow rate and an adjusting means for adjusting said nominal flow rate with respect to said actual flow rate, by controlling the control means. The invention also relates to a corresponding thermal conditioning method.

Abstract: A device for treating hollow bodies, comprising at least a nozzle and a circuit for setting a pressurized airflow in circulation, having a valve and a first pressure sensor measuring a first pressure; a control distributor of said valve; a line connecting said distributor to said valve; a control unit with a time measurement component; wherein said device comprises a second pressure sensor situated along said line, measuring a second pressure, and wherein said control unit comprises means that are able to determine a differential between the measurement of the first pressure and the measurement of the second pressure as a function of time. The invention also relates to a corresponding treatment method.

Abstract: A method for regulation of the angular position of hollow bodies in an installation for production of containers. The hollow bodies are moved by individual support members each of which is equipped with means for causing the hollow body to turn about its axis. The method includes a first step of measuring an angular offset of at least one particular hollow body relative to a reference angular position in a measurement zone. The method also includes a second step of compensating of the angular position of the subsequent hollow bodies in a compensation zone upstream of said measurement zone as a function of the angular offset measured for the at least one particular hollow body.

Abstract: A method for orienting a preform of axis in a forming mold of a blowing machine, a neck of the preform being provided with at least one marker, the method including (i) installing the preform in the mold; (ii) detecting the current angular position of the preform by determining the angle of rotation through which the preform has to be rotated to reach the reference angular position thereof; and (iii) orienting the preform about the axis thereof in relation to the mold until a reference angular position is reached.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming blanks made from plastic material into containers, the method including steps of blowing into the blanks in such a way as to form them into containers, then internally degassing the formed containers. In the method, the steps are carried out according to a first cycle at a first rate. Then, during a second subsequent cycle of steps carried out at a second rate slower than the first rate, a time delay is added with respect to the first cycle, during or after degassing, such that the second cycle lasts longer than the first.

Abstract: Method for thermal conditioning, within a thermal conditioning unit that is equipped with a row of adjacent emitters that each comprise a number of monochromatic electromagnetic-radiation sources, of a queue of preforms of containers having a head preform or a tail preform, with this method comprising the following operations: Periodically determining the position of the head preform, or, respectively, of the tail preform; As the queue of preforms moves along, gradually igniting the emitters that are located downstream and in the vicinity of the head preform or, respectively, gradually extinguishing the emitters that are located upstream and in the vicinity of the tail preform.

Abstract: A facility for the production of containers from blanks, which facility includes: a forming unit equipped with a rotating carrousel driven by a motor; a unit for heating blanks, equipped with infrared emitters and a power feed for each emitter; a control unit having in the memory a nominal speed setpoint ?N of the rotation of the carrousel and a nominal electrical power setpoint PN. The control unit is programmed for: controlling the rotation of the carrousel according to the nominal speed setpoint ?N.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a facility for producing containers from blanks made of a plastic material, the facility having one or more units for thermally conditioning blanks; one or more units for forming containers from the thermally conditioned blanks; one or more units for transferring containers to a labelling or filling unit; and a control unit that controls at least the thermal conditioning unit(s), the forming unit(s), and the transfer unit(s) by imposing a set speed on each unit, proportionate to a production rate for the containers. The method includes detecting an incident, determining a reduction of the production rate generated by the incident, and applying the reduction to the set speed.

Abstract: Method for thermal conditioning, within a thermal conditioning unit that is equipped with a row of adjacent emitters that each comprise a number of monochromatic electromagnetic-radiation sources, of a queue of preforms of containers having a head preform or a tail preform, with this method comprising the following operations: Periodically determining the position of the head preform, or, respectively, of the tail preform; As the queue of preforms moves along, gradually igniting the emitters that are located downstream and in the vicinity of the head preform or, respectively, gradually extinguishing the emitters that are located upstream and in the vicinity of the tail preform.

Abstract: A facility for the production of containers from blanks, which facility includes: a forming unit equipped with a rotating carrousel driven by a motor; a unit for heating blanks, equipped with infrared emitters and a power feed for each emitter; a control unit having in the memory a nominal speed setpoint ?N of the rotation of the carrousel and a nominal electrical power setpoint PN. The control unit is programmed for: controlling the rotation of the carrousel according to the nominal speed setpoint ?N.

Abstract: A method for changing a mould of a moulding device, includes at least the following steps for dismounting a mould: (a) controlling fixing elements in order to release each mould half (20), (b) joining the mould halves together in order to form a single transportable sub-set, (c) opening mould carriers (14) from their closed position during steps (a) and (b) in order to extract, with a translational movement, the sub-set arranged in a reference position, and (d) removing the sub-set as a single unit from its reference position, from between the mould carriers.

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: Disclosed is a molding device for a machine for producing containers consisting of a thermoplastic material by forming a pre-heated preform using at least one pressurized fluid. The device includes: two mold carriers mounted in such a way that they can move in relation to each other about a rotational axis, between an open position and a closed position; two mold halves that each have a half-impression, are carried by a mold carrier, and are respectively mounted in the associated mold carrier; and fixing element that can dismountably fix each mold half, in its mounted position, to the mold carrier. The element for fixing each mold half to the mold carrier, which are mounted in such a way that they can move at least between a fixing position and a release position, can be controlled as they move between the positions when the mold carriers are in the closed position.

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).