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.

A method for forming and filling a container. The method includes: determining an effective fill area of an opening of the container through which fluid can pass while a stretch rod is seated within the opening; actuating a seal pin to open a nozzle passage of the nozzle to allow the fluid to flow through the nozzle passage and through the opening to simultaneously form and fill the container; detecting a degree to which the nozzle passage is open; increasing fill velocity of the fluid to the nozzle as the nozzle passage is opened; setting fill velocity of the fluid to a maximum fill velocity when the nozzle passage is opened such that an area of the nozzle passage is at least equal to the effective fill area at the opening of the finish; and closing the seal pin after the container is formed and filled.

A nozzle is provided for engaging with lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle includes a seal configured to engage with a stepped interior of the finish portion and enables stretching and/or blow-molding the preform into a container. The seal tightly engages a smooth surface inside the finish portion without damaging the surface or a sidewall of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seal includes a profile shape that mates with a transitional surface comprising the stepped interior of the finish portion. The profile shape distributes the contact force of the seal over a maximal area of the transition surface so as to minimize the total pressure exerted onto the finish portion. The profile shape reduces potential cracking of a thin-walled region of the finish portion during stretching and/or blow-molding the preform to form the container.

A nozzle is provided for engaging with lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle includes a seal configured to engage with a stepped interior of the finish portion and enables stretching and/or blow-molding the preform into a container. The seal tightly engages a smooth surface inside the finish portion without damaging the surface or a sidewall of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seal includes a profile shape that mates with a transitional surface comprising the stepped interior of the finish portion. The profile shape distributes the contact force of the seal over a maximal area of the transition surface so as to minimize the total pressure exerted onto the finish portion. The profile shape reduces potential cracking of a thin-walled region of the finish portion during stretching and/or blow-molding the preform to form the container.

A nozzle for a blow-molding process includes a first sealing portion and a second seating portion. A transition portion is positioned between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The nozzle is configured such that upon engagement with 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.

A nozzle for a blow-molding process includes a first sealing portion and a second seating portion. A transition portion is positioned between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The nozzle is configured such that upon engagement with 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.

A delaminated container has a main body portion and an opening portion. An accommodation space of the delaminated container is formed by a body inner surface of the main body portion and an opening inner surface of the opening portion. The delaminated container includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes a first tightly-attached section. At the main body portion, the first layer is located closer to the body inner surface than the second layer located thereto and is exposed on the body inner surface. The second layer includes a second tightly-attached section. The first tightly-attached section and the second tightly-attached section are tightly attached to each other. The first tightly-attached section and the second tightly-attached section are both located at the opening portion of the delaminated container.

A container production method including a preform setup step of disposing a preform in a blow molding mold and engaging a filling nozzle with a mouth of the preform; a blow molding step of liquid blow molding the preform by supplying a pressurized liquid into the preform; a liquid discharge step of releasing the blow molding mold and pressing a trunk of the container after molding with a pressing portion that is inserted from a clearance between separated mold pieces adjacent to each other to discharge a liquid in the container to the outside of the container by a predetermined amount; and a headspace forming step of forming a headspace in the container by separating the filling nozzle from a mouth of the container.

A liquid container manufacturing method of manufacturing a liquid container that contains a content liquid from a synthetic resin preform, the method including an inflation body insertion step of inserting an inflation body into the preform; an air discharge step of discharging air out of the preform by inflating an inflation body in the preform; a mouth blocking step of blocking a mouth of the preform; an inflation body contraction step of contracting the inflation body with the mouth blocked; and a liquid blow molding step of molding the preform into a liquid container by supplying a pressurized liquid into the preform through a blow nozzle.

A container manufacturing plant (10) includes an air circuit (78) employing a recycling method that includes at least the successive steps of: extracting filtered air from an oven (26), after the air has been used in the latter, for the purpose of cooling at least one part of the preforms; treating the sterilizing agent present in the extracted air resulting from the sterilization of the preforms; and recycling the extracted and treated air to the industrial area (16) where the plant (10) is installed. An air recycling method is also described.