Abstract: The invention concerns a device for handling preforms for heating units. The device includes a mandrel that defines a rotation axis of the preforms; a tip mounted at an end of the mandrel and having a part penetrating into the neck of the preforms; a rubbing contact rigidly connected to the tip; and a heatsink rigidly connected to the mandrel and intended to come into contact with the tip. The tip also includes a cooling part axially in line with the penetrating part. The cooling part includes at least one thermal exchange raised portion in contact with the surrounding air. Furthermore, the tip is mounted such that it can be mobile on the mandrel.

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 heating unit for heating preforms made of plastics material and having a flange separating a body and neck. The heating unit comprising a plurality of supports, each bearing a gripping member for gripping the preforms. The supports are movable in the heating unit such that each gripping member moves along a conveying path of the preforms. The heating unit also comprises a plurality of shells secured to the supports, where each shell is connected to one or more supports by an actuating member. The actuating member is mounted on said support to pivot about an axis situated at a distance from the conveying path of the preforms. The heating unit further comprising means for pivoting the actuating member to drive the shell from an open position to a protection position when the support to which said shell is connected is passing from an admission/releasing zone to a holding zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for gripping a container preform having a base, a spindle which is mounted on the base, and an ejector at least partially surrounding the spindle. The spinner includes a spindle mounted such that it pivots in a sliding manner in relation to the base and a spinner tip removably fixed to the spindle. The ejector partially surrounds the spinner and is able to occupy a working position in which it is secured to the base. The spinner tip and the ejector are respectively provided with an imprint and a complementary counter-imprint. The ejector can be removed from the base and can occupy a tooling position in which the counterpart thereof cooperates with the cavity of the spinner tip so that they rotate together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a unit for molding containers, which comprises two mold supports, a device for locking the mold supports in the closed position, and a bistable device which comprises a fixed element and a mobile element able to move between two stable extreme positions. The mobile element comprises a mobile magnetic dipole, and the fixed element comprises a fixed magnetic dipole, the fixed magnetic dipole applying a magnetic force from a distance to the mobile magnetic dipole in order to force the mobile element toward one or other of its two stable extreme positions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of controlling a device for conveying thermoplastic material preforms for use in a heat treatment oven and such a device for conveying preforms including at least one principal wheel and one auxiliary wheel at least one of which is driven in rotation to move at least one transport device to which are connected in movement holding device each configured to cooperate with a preform, said holding device being adapted to be actuated relative to a preform—or vice versa—between an inactive position and an active holding position, said principal wheel of the conveyor device including electric actuators that selectively drive at least in rotation said holding device in such a manner as to index said preform in a reference position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for handling preforms for heating units. The device includes a mandrel that defines a rotation axis of the preforms; a tip mounted at an end of the mandrel and having a part penetrating into the neck of the preforms; a rubbing contact rigidly connected to the tip; and a heatsink rigidly connected to the mandrel and intended to come into contact with the tip. The tip also includes a cooling part axially in line with the penetrating part. The cooling part includes at least one thermal exchange raised portion in contact with the surrounding air. Furthermore, the tip is mounted such that it can be mobile on the mandrel.

Abstract: A method for producing a marked container (12), includes the following steps: a first step (E1) of heating, beyond a glass transition temperature, at least one shape-changing portion of the thermoplastic material wall (17) of a preform (14); and a second step (E2) of forming the container by injecting a pressurized fluid into the body (16) of the preform (14) such as to change the shape of the heated portion of the wall (17) by stretching it; and a step (E0) for marking the preform (14), during which a mark (39) is provided on the shape-changing portion of the wall (17) such that the mark (39) is stretched at the same time as the wall (17), during step (E2) after forming.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for gripping a container preform having a base, a spindle which is mounted on the base, and an ejector at least partially surrounding the spindle. The spinner includes a spindle mounted such that it pivots in a sliding manner in relation to the base and a spinner tip removably fixed to the spindle. The ejector partially surrounds the spinner and is able to occupy a working position in which it is secured to the base. The spinner tip and the ejector are respectively provided with an imprint and a complementary counter-imprint. The ejector can be removed from the base and can occupy a tooling position in which the counterpart thereof cooperates with the cavity of the spinner tip so that they rotate together.

Abstract: A device (30) for serial treatment of hollow bodies including: a transport member (32); a treatment rod (38) mounted slidably relative to the transport member (32); controlled elements for moving each treatment rod (38) between a retracted position and an extended position in which the treatment rod (38) is intended for being inserted axially into the transported hollow body; wherein the controlled elements consist of an electric actuator (42) controlled by an electronic control unit (44) for stopping the treatment rod (38) in the extended position thereof. A method for serial treatment of preforms using the treatment device is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a conveyor for conveying hollow bodies through a hollow-body heating station including: —a heating tunnel defining a heating path, —a conveyor including at least one travel track and shuttles capable of moving along the track while picking up at least one hollow body, the movement of each shuttle being controlled individually, —a travel-track loading portion on which two consecutive shuttles move at a first predetermined input separation, and a travel-track unloading portion. Two consecutive shuttles moving on this unloading portion are spaced apart by a predetermined output separation that is different from the first input separation.

Abstract: An installation (26) for thermally conditioning thermoplastic preforms (14) that are intended to be formed, the installation (26) including:—a thermal-conditioning zone (40) divided vertically into a heating first part (42) which is intended to house a body (16) of the preform (14) and a cooling second part (44) which is intended to house a neck (20) of the preform (14);—a device (62) for cooling a portion of the preform (14) by producing a stream of gas passing through the thermal-conditioning zone (40); characterized in that the cooling device (62) produces a blade (63) of gas blown with laminar flow through an axial outlet slit (72).

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for transporting plastic-container preforms, the device including an endless circulating element having an outer surface and being capable of moving the preforms along a path by rubbing against the preforms, the device including a stationary mounting defining a planar bearing surface for the preforms, the circulating element having a series of brushes which extend projecting from the outer surface, capable of engaging with the preforms in order to move same by rubbing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a conveyor for conveying hollow bodies through a hollow-body heating station including:—a heating tunnel defining a heating path,—a conveyor including at least one travel track and shuttles capable of moving along the track while picking up at least one hollow body, the movement of each shuttle being controlled individually,—a travel-track loading portion on which two consecutive shuttles move at a first predetermined input separation, and a travel-track unloading portion. Two consecutive shuttles moving on this unloading portion are spaced apart by a predetermined output separation that is different from the first input separation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for transporting plastic-container preforms, the device including an endless circulating element having an outer surface and being capable of moving the preforms along a path by rubbing against the preforms, the device including a stationary mounting defining a planar bearing surface for the preforms, the circulating element having a series of brushes which extend projecting from the outer surface, capable of engaging with the preforms in order to move same by rubbing.

Abstract: An installation (26) for thermally conditioning thermoplastic preforms (14) that are intended to be formed, the installation (26) including:—a thermal-conditioning zone (40) divided vertically into a heating first part (42) which is intended to house a body (16) of the preform (14) and a cooling second part (44) which is intended to house a neck (20) of the preform (14);—a device (62) for cooling a portion of the preform (14) by producing a stream of gas passing through the thermal-conditioning zone (40); characterized in that the cooling device (62) produces a blade (63) of gas blown with laminar flow through an axial outlet slit (72).

Abstract: A device (30) for serial treatment of hollow bodies including: a transport member (32); a treatment rod (38) mounted slidably relative to the transport member (32); controlled elements for moving each treatment rod (38) between a retracted position and an extended position in which the treatment rod (38) is intended for being inserted axially into the transported hollow body; wherein the controlled elements consist of an electric actuator (42) controlled by an electronic control unit (44) for stopping the treatment rod (38) in the extended position thereof. A method for serial treatment of preforms using the treatment device is also described.

Abstract: A method of forming a container (18), includes: a partial expansion first step (E1) during which the container (18) is filled with a pressurized blowing gas (G); a second step (E2) of filling the container (18) during which the container (18) is filled with a filling liquid (L) that expels the blowing gas (G) through an outlet orifice (34); and a third step (E3) during which the contents of the container (18) are put under a pressure (HP) so as to make the container (18) conform to its final state (18D), characterized in that, during the filling second step (E2), the ratio of the flow rate of the incoming filling liquid (L) to the flow rate of the outgoing blowing gas (G) is controlled so as to allow the container (18) to continue to expand during this second step (E2).

Abstract: A method for producing a marked container (12), includes the following steps: a first step (E1) of heating, beyond a glass transition temperature, at least one shape-changing portion of the thermoplastic material wall (17) of a preform (14); and a second step (E2) of forming the container by injecting a pressurized fluid into the body (16) of the preform (14) such as to change the shape of the heated portion of the wall (17) by stretching it; and a step (E0) for marking the preform (14), during which a mark (39) is provided on the shape-changing portion of the wall (17) such that the mark (39) is stretched at the same time as the wall (17), during step (E2) after forming.

Abstract: A device (24) for injecting at least two pressurized fluids into the axially oriented neck (20) of a container (18) in the preform state in order to form a final container by deforming the container (18) by successively injecting a first pressurized fluid and then a second pressurized fluid, the device (24) including: a first duct for supplying a first pressurized fluid; a second duct (30) for supplying a second pressurized fluid; and an axial nozzle (32) into which the second supply duct (30) opens, the nozzle being intended to be placed concentrically inside the neck (20) with a radial gap (j) so as to allow the first pressurized fluid to be injected into the container (18) through the radial gap (j), characterized in that the second pressurized fluid used for forming the container (18) consists of an incompressible filling liquid.