A nozzle for a blow-molding process includes a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and a seal disposed around a circumference of the first sealing portion in the form of circular edge. A transition portion is positioned between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The nozzle is configured such that upon engagement of the second sealing portion with the interior of a container preform having a longitudinal axis, the second sealing portion is positioned along the longitudinal axis at a different location than the first sealing portion.

An aseptic filling machine capable of performing molding and filling at the same time that has a compact facility size, requires a reduced initial investment, requires a reduced running cost because of its simplified process, and ensures an aseptic condition with reliability, and an aseptic filling method therefor. An aseptic filling machine includes a pre-heating sterilizing portion that sterilizes a preform, a heating portion that heats the sterilized preform, a molding and filling portion that fills the heated preform with a sterilized content under high pressure, thereby molding the preform into a bottle and at the same time filling the preform with the content, and a sealing portion that seals the bottle filled with the content. Before the aseptic filling machine starts operating, each portion is sterilized. During operation of the aseptic filling machine, aseptic air is supplied to each portion to maintain the aseptic condition.

A plastic container for storing a product. The container includes a base formed of a plastic material and sidewalls formed of the plastic material and extending upwardly from the base, ending in an open top adapted to be closed by a cap, and with the base defining an interior volume. The container also includes a snapping frame integrally formed in the base of the plastic material. The frame has a convex base shape before activation when the pressure in the interior volume is less than or equal to a predetermined critical pressure and has a concave base shape immediately after activation when the pressure in the interior volume is greater than the predetermined critical pressure, thereby increasing the interior volume and avoiding catastrophic failure of the container. Also disclosed are a method of using the container and a process of manufacturing the container.

The invention concerns an apparatus for blowing and filling a container (22) from a preform (16), said apparatus comprising: —a mold (12) for enclosing a preform (16), —stretching means for stretching the preform (16) placed within said mold (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 mold, —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 the liquid within the liquid injection circuit, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises releasing means for releasing said overpressure of the liquid within the liquid injection circuit.

An apparatus (1) and a method for optical inspection of parisons (2) made of thermoplastic material comprises: a conveyor (3) comprising a pair of lateral, under-flange guides 31A for holding each parison by its flange, and configured to transport the parisons (2) in succession along an inspection path; an inspection station (41, 42, 43, 51, 52), located along the inspection path and including at least one inspection camera (410, 411, 412, 413, 421, 431, 510, 511, 520, 521, 522), configured to capture image data of a parison (2) positioned in the inspection station (41, 42, 43, 51, 52), wherein the conveyor (3) has a first operating configuration for transporting parisons (2) of a first size and a second operating configuration for transporting parisons (2) of a second size, different from the first size, the conveyor (3) including at least one adjustment actuator (7), configured to move the conveyor (3) between the first and the second operating configuration.

A stretch blow-molded plastic container, including a container body, one longitudinal end of which is closed by a container bottom and to whose other longitudinal end is connected a shoulder section; and a container neck, which connects to the shoulder section, the shoulder section having at least two hinge-like areas that run in a circumferential direction, and which areas are arranged at a distance (a) from one another and in each case have a wall thickness (v, w) that is reduced compared to the adjoining areas, the stretch blow-molded plastic container having a total stretching ratio of greater than 11 for a longitudinal stretching ratio of 2.5 to 3.5.

A valve (10) comprising a bore (14) extending about an actuation axis (A), wherein a spool (34) inside the bore (14) is actuated between a first working position and a second working position, and a first circumferential seal wing (56A) and a second circumferential seal wing (56B) being arranged on the spool (34). In the first working position, the first seal wing (56A) abuts to an outer first recess wall (24a) and the second seal wing (56B) abuts to an inner second recess wall (24c), so as to open some flow paths and close other flow paths. In the second working position, the first seal wing (56A) abuts to an inner first recess wall (24b) and the second seal wing (56B) abuts to an outer second recess wall (24d), so as to close some flow paths and open other flow paths.

A blow molding device includes a nozzle, a pressurized fluid supply source, a seal body, and a rod. The seal body includes a tubular wall. A communication depression extending from a lower end of the tubular wall to a communication port open on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular wall is provided in an inner circumferential surface of the seal body. A communication path is provided in the nozzle. The blow molding device further includes a fluid suction source configured to suck an incompressible fluid from the communication depression through the communication path and the communication port, and/or a pressurized gas supply source configured to supply a pressurized gas that blows off the incompressible fluid from the communication depression through the communication path and the communication port.

A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

Non-symmetric and volume reduced preforms and containers stretch blow moulded therefrom by a continuously rotating, preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric or reduced volume injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric or reduced volume preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.