The hollow body molding aid includes a body, a connector, a first profiling assembly, a second profiling assembly, and a positioning mechanism. The connector is fixedly connected to the body. The first profiling assembly is fixedly disposed on one side of the body and is configured to position one half of a reinforced housing. The second profiling assembly is fixedly disposed on the other side of the body and is configured to position the other half of the reinforced housing. The positioning mechanism is disposed on the first profiling assembly and the second profiling assembly. The reinforced housing can be positioned, thus guaranteeing molding quality of the reinforced housing and blanks. In addition, the reinforced housing can be accurately positioned in a cavity of a mold through a manipulator, without the need to use a plurality of air cylinders for step-by-step driving.

The present invention relates to a system and method for in-mould labelling of articles. In particular, the present invention pertains to a system and method for in-mould labelling of multiple labels on two or more adjacent surfaces of a container (102) with polygonal cross-section. The present invention provides a combination of mould formation coupled with a design for magazine and robotic arm (606) to enable simultaneous application of multiple in-mould labels across multiple surfaces of a polygonal container (102) with minimal dead space between the labels. Simultaneous application of multiple labels and the preform inside the mould opening as per the present invention reduces cycle time and increases output efficiency.

A method for producing filled containers (16) from preforms (13). Each of the preforms is transferred to a circulating molding and filling element (14) of a molding and filling station and is shaped into the respective container in a subsequent molding and filling process in a mold under the effect of pressure from a supplied filler, wherein the mold is designed in multiple parts, including a base mold (21) and mold sides (19, 20), and each container is clamped between the base mold at the bottom and the molding and filling element at the top at least at the end of the molding and filling process. The container is separated from the respective molding and filling element and the respective mold after the molding and filling process. The mold sides are removed from each container before the molding and filling element and the base mold are separated from the container.

A method for maneuvering and supporting a container and a preform from which the container is blow molded before, during, and after blow molding, the method including: supporting the preform and the container on a surface by positioning on the surface a tamper lip of a finish of the preform and the container; and grasping the finish with a gripper through cooperation between the gripper and a gripper pad of the finish, the gripper pad is between threads and the tamper lip of the finish.

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.

Transfer star-wheel (1) for containers (100) of thermoplastic material, comprising: a rotary carousel (2) bearing a plurality of supporting stations (S) for supporting containers (100) by their neck (100b), in each supporting station (S) being provided a pliers (3) hinged to the rotary carousel (2) at a hinge axis (AA) in such a way that it assumes at least a first configuration in which the pliers (3) is fixed, that means it cannot rotate about its hinge axis (AA), and a second configuration in which the pliers (3) can oscillate about its hinge axis (AA); a cam kinematic motion that is operatively active on each pliers (3) for maintaining it in the first configuration,
characterized in that it comprises a reactivating device (8) for each pliers (3), that comprises elastic means (9, 10) operatively active on the pliers (3) to bring it from the second to the first configuration following an accidental event that deactivated the pliers.

A preform suitable for subsequent blow-molding into a final-shaped container comprises: a neck portion; a base portion; and a body portion extending between the neck portion and the base portion; the body portion being defined between an inner surface having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape and an outer surface also having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape, the inner and outer surfaces being non-concentric, such that a wall thickness of the body portion varies circumferentially around the preform. A preform handling apparatus for retrieving a preform from a mold comprises a take-off device having a preform carrier and a take-off device alignment mechanism for maintaining the preform carrier in alignment with a contact surface of a body portion of the preform regardless of any offset between a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical outer surface of the body portion and a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical inner surface of the body portion.

A method for forming containers from preforms. The method includes loading successive preforms into successive molds at a mold loading station, each mold having a mold cavity in the shape of the containers to be produced. The containers being formed in a forming station by injecting a gaseous or liquid fluid into the preform in order to expand the preform and acquires the shape of the container defined by the mold cavity. The steps performed at the mold loading station and the forming station are distinct from each other, and a transferring step occurs at a transferring station arranged between the mold loading station and the forming station where successive molds containing the preforms are transferred from the mold loading station to the forming station.

An apparatus for heating plastic preforms with a transport device which includes holding devices for holding the plastic preforms and wherein the transport path has at least one heating portion inside which the plastic preforms are heated, and with a heating device arranged stationarily at least in portions along the transport path and which heats the plastic preforms transported by the transport device during their transport through the heating portion, wherein the heating device has at least one in particular stationary applicator device which is configured for bombarding the plastic preforms with microwaves to heat them. In the heating portion, the transport device is arranged relative to the applicator device such that at least parts of the holding devices are arranged outside the applicator device, wherein the applicator device is configured to receive several plastic preforms simultaneously for at least some of the time.

A mold assembly includes a services block and a cavity plate defining at least a portion of a molding cavity. A quick connection mechanism can connect and disconnect the plate and the services block. The cavity plate may include a base block and a mold cavity block. A mold assembly may include two opposed combinations of such a service block and a cavity plate each mounted to an opposed platen. The base block may include a quick connection device operable connect with and disconnect from a quick connection device on the services block. A services channel in the cavity plate may connect with and disconnect from a service channel in the services block with a quick connection mechanism. A molding system may include a plurality of such cavity plates, each operable to connect with and disconnect from the same services block.