Abstract: Provided is a thermal conditioning method of preforms. The method includes heating each preform by transport along a heating path exposed to heating radiation with a determined production rate; transporting the preforms (in line along a diffusion path; transforming the preforms in forming units at the determined production rate. The diffusion path includes a final buffer section along which the preforms travel for an adjustable duration.

Abstract: Provided is an interface for supplying consumables to a product processing station, with an entry accessible to an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) transporting a consumable corresponding to the processing station and means for automatic transfer of the consumable from the AMR to a reception space. The reception space can be integrated with the processing station, where the transfer means has an automatic loading means dedicated to the consumable to be transferred and to each reception space of particular processing stations to be supplied with the corresponding consumable. Also provided is a production line in which at least one of the stations is equipped with the interface, as well a method for managing the supply of consumables to this production line. Also provided is a system for supervising the supply of consumables to particular stations.

Abstract: The invention proposes a treatment method for the sterilization by irradiation of containers made of thermoplastic material. The method comprises at least an initial step of modification of the pitch consisting in selectively varying the initial pitch between two consecutive containers to increase the irradiation time of each container. The method also comprises an irradiation step consisting in irradiating each container from the outside with an electron beam emitted by at least one emitter of a sterilization device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for cooling heated molds from a machine for molding containers from thermoplastic material by stretch-blow molding hot preforms using at least one pressurized fluid. The cooling method includes, in order to cool the molds, at least one cooling step that involves selectively feeding at least one cooling fluid into the molding cavity of at least some of the molding units that, after the carousel has been stopped in order to immobilize the molding units at least during the cooling step, are located in a predetermined cooling region in which the molding units are in a closed position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for molding containers made of thermoplastic material including: a shell-carrier designed to accommodate an interchangeable molding shell including a bearing face resting against a support face of the shell-carrier; a cold-molding shell whose bearing face is shaped to be directly in contact with the support face; and a cooling unit for each shell-carrier. Moreover, the device includes: a hot-molding shell equipped with a heating unit that heat its bearing face; and thermal insulation interposed between the bearing face of the hot-molding shell and the support face of the shell-carrier.

Abstract: A molding unit for producing a container, that includes: —a mold having the footprint of the container, including a pair of shells each having an inner wall; —a pair of shell holders onto each of which a shell is removably attached; —a device for controlling the temperature of the mold, that includes: ?at least one radiator integrated into a shell holder, ?at least one temperature probe integrated into a shell, for measuring the temperature in the vicinity of the inner wall, ?a variator connected to the temperature probe and to the radiator, the variator being arranged to modulate the temperature of the radiator depending on the temperature measured by the probe.

Abstract: A device (20) for gripping a container (16) made of a thermoplastic material, includes: a nose (30) having a main shaft (B) which is suitable for axially inserting into the neck (24) of the container (16); a plurality of jaws (46) which are mounted in the nose (30) in a radially mobile manner between a retracted position allowing the free axial sliding of the nose (30) in the neck (24) and an expanded position allowing the immobilization of the neck (24) in relation to the nose (30) by pressing against the inner part of the neck (24); and elements (54) for elastically returning the jaws to their expanded position, wherein the jaw assembly (46) is maintained circumferentially in a determined circumferential position in relation to the nose (30).

Abstract: A device (20) for gripping a container (16) made of a thermoplastic material, includes: a nose (30) having a main shaft (B) which is suitable for axially inserting into the neck (24) of the container (16); a plurality of jaws (46) which are mounted in the nose (30) in a radially mobile manner between a retracted position allowing the free axial sliding of the nose (30) in the neck (24) and an expanded position allowing the immobilization of the neck (24) in relation to the nose (30) by pressing against the inner part of the neck (24); and elements (54) for elastically returning the jaws to their expanded position, wherein the jaw assembly (46) is maintained circumferentially in a determined circumferential position in relation to the nose (30).

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: A forming method, in a mold fitted with a wall forming a cavity, of a container from an intermediate container including at least one lateral protrusion projecting toward the exterior of the container. The method includes a boxing operation of pushing back the lateral protrusion in order to form, by turning it around an articulation zone, a hollow reserve projecting toward the interior of the container and a local cooling operation, after turning the protrusion over, of sweeping a circulation fluid over the articulation zone.

Abstract: A forming method, in a mold provided with a wall forming a cavity, of a container from a blank, which includes a boxing operation of pushing back the material of the blank by an insert movably mounted with respect to the wall of the mold between a retracted position in which the insert is retracted into the wall, and a deployed position in which the insert protrudes with respect to the wall, in order to form on the container, by pushing back, a hollow reserve projecting toward the interior of the container. Additionally, a local pressurization operation is performed, after formation of the hollow reserve, of injecting a pressurized fluid between the insert and the hollow reserve.

Abstract: A machine (10) for forming containers made of a thermoplastic material, includes: a mold consisting of two half-molds (12A, 12B) defining a molding cavity (14); a forming pipe (24) which couples the molding cavity (14) to a pressurized-fluid source (26), and which is capable of being closed off by a valve (32); a compensation chamber (34) which is combined with a half-mold (12A); a compensation pipe (40) which couples the compensation chamber (34) to a pressurized-fluid source (26) parallel to the forming pipe (24); and a pipe (44) for bypassing the compensation pipe (40), characterized in that the bypass pipe (44) is coupled to the forming pipe (44) between the valve (32) and the molding cavity (14).

Abstract: Device for forming containers from blanks made of plastic material, having a mold provided with a wall defining a cavity intended to receive the blank; a boxing insert mounted movably with respect to the mold between a retracted position in which the insert is retracted into the wall, and an extended position in which the insert projects from the wall toward the interior of the cavity; a plate, on which the insert is rigidly fixed; a support on which the plate is removably mounted; and a system for the quick attachment of the plate to the support.

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: A forming method, in a mold fitted with a wall forming a cavity, of a container from an intermediate container including at least one lateral protrusion projecting toward the exterior of the container. The method includes a boxing operation of pushing the lateral protrusion by an insert movably mounted with respect to the mold between a retracted position in which the insert is retracted into a recess formed in the wall and a deployed position in which the insert protrudes with respect to the wall, in order to form, by overturning, a hollow reserve projecting toward the interior of the container. Also included is an operation to pressurize the intermediate container, including, prior to the boxing operation, injecting a fluid under pressure into the intermediate container; and a local pressurization operation, prior to the boxing operation, of injecting a fluid under pressure into the volume defined in said recess between the lateral protrusion and the insert.

Abstract: The electrical power supply to a magnetron (M) is regulated as a function of an instantaneous microwave power setpoint by: predetermining and storing (20) a value (?) for the electrical efficiency of the magnetron; inputting (19) a setpoint mean microwave power value, and converting it into a low frequency setpoint instantaneous power signal that is sampled at high frequency; measuring (8, 9) and sampling the instantaneous values of anode current and of the high voltage fed to the magnetron; calculating (10) the difference at a sampling instant (n) between the setpoint instantaneous microwave power and the product of the current multiplied by the high voltage multiplied by the efficiency; determining an instantaneous microwave power value at the consecutive sampling instant (n+1) that is corrected as a function of a predetermined regulation relationship that is valid at said instant (n+1); and converting it into an analog signal representative of the corrected instantaneous microwave power for powering the ma

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: Disclosed is a moulding 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 mould 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 mould halves that each have a half-impression, are carried by a mould carrier, and are respectively mounted in the associated mould carrier; and fixing element that can dismountably fix each mould half, in its mounted position, to the mould carrier. The element for fixing each mould half to the mould 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 mould carriers are in the closed position.

Abstract: Hollow body extending along a principal axis and having a neck provided with a first relief suitable for allowing a predetermined angular indexing of the hollow body around its principal axis with respect to a device for gripping the hollow body. The neck having a second relief, axially offset with respect to the first relief, suitable for allowing a predetermined angular indexing of the hollow body around its principal axis with respect to a second gripping device superimposed on the first one.

Abstract: A forming method, in a mold fitted with a wall forming a cavity, of a container from an intermediate container including at least one lateral protrusion projecting toward the exterior of the container. The method includes a boxing operation of pushing the lateral protrusion by an insert movably mounted with respect to the mold between a retracted position in which the insert is retracted into a recess formed in the wall and a deployed position in which the insert protrudes with respect to the wall, in order to form, by overturning, a hollow reserve projecting toward the interior of the container. Also included is an operation to pressurize the intermediate container, including, prior to the boxing operation, injecting a fluid under pressure into the intermediate container; and a local pressurization operation, prior to the boxing operation, of injecting a fluid under pressure into the volume defined in said recess between the lateral protrusion and the insert.