A method for producing a container from a blank, inside a forming unit having a mold and a movable insert controlled by a variable-flow solenoid valve, a control unit linked to the solenoid valve. The method comprises developing a boxing curve characterizing the successive positions of the insert; determining, based on a reference blowing curve, points of inflection; measuring, on the boxing curve, distances actually travelled by the insert between points in time, some of which correspond to these points of inflection; and comparing the values of the measured distances with nominal values. If there is a difference between a measured value and a nominal value, controlling, by the control unit, a modification in the flow rate setpoint of the solenoid valve for the next production cycle.

A conveying system, comprising a modular conveyor belt supported on a conveyor track so that top surfaces of the modules of the conveyor belt present a conveying face that in use moves along the track in a conveying direction, and at least one plastic bottle supported at its bottom on the conveying face via one or more textured surfaces at a bottom of the bottle. The disclosure also includes a method of conveying bottles, wherein plastic bottles are supported with their bottoms on a moving conveying face of a conveyor, and wherein the conveying face and the bottom of the bottle are conveyed via one or more textured surfaces at a bottom of the bottle. The disclosure further includes use of at least one textured bottom surface of a plastic bottle for conveying, and a blow mold for blow molding a plastic bottle.

A balloon suitable for use in a catheter for carrying out a method for angioplasty consists of a middle cylindrical region and two end regions delimiting the middle cylindrical region. The balloon, with a pressure application of 6 bar, has a ratio of the cross section in the middle region to the cross sections in the two end regions of at least 2, and preferably greater than 3. The balloon can have a balloon wall thickness in the middle cylindrical region that is greater than or equal to a balloon wall thickness in the two end regions and is preferably more than 10% thicker than a balloon wall thickness in the two end sections.

A method of manufacturing includes forming a medical balloon (12) with a scoring element (60) along at least a barrel section by expanding a tubular parison in a mold cavity (52) including a closed end groove (52a, 52b) corresponding to the scoring element. The scoring element may extend longitudinally, circumferentially, or helically, and a plurality of scoring elements may be provided. Medical balloons formed using the method and a mold (54) for forming such balloons are also disclosed.

A method for producing a balloon from a suitable blank is provided. The blank is introduced into an outer mold heated an first expanded to expand it against the inner wall of the outer mold. Pressure is reduced to relax the blank away from the inner wall. The three-dimensional volume of the mold is changed. Second expanding of the blank expands again against the inner wall of the changed volume of the outer mold. Balloons of the invention consist of a middle cylindrical region and two end regions delimiting the middle cylindrical region. With a pressure application of 6 bar, a ratio of the cross section in the middle region to the cross section in the end region is at least 2, and preferably greater than 3.

An injection head for the fabrication of a container from a preform. The injection head interfaces with a preform to establish fluid communication between a liquid supply and the preform. An injection valve is disposed within the injection head and is configured to selectively permit fluid communication through the injection head. A liquid supply control mechanism and a control mechanism of the injection valve's opening allow fluid communication through the injection head. The control mechanism of the injection valve's opening is activated by the liquid under pressure in the injection head cavity when the liquid supply is opened.

The present application provides: first base members that respectively hold split molds disposed at both ends in a second direction, and are fixed to a mold clamping plate; second base members disposed between the first base members and having the split molds other than the split molds fixed to the first base members fixed thereto; and coupling members that couple the first base members and the second base members in a state that allows each of the pair of split molds to come into contact or separate. The present invention is configured such that the plurality of second base members follow the movement of the first base members.

A conveying system, comprising a modular conveyor belt supported on a conveyor track so that top surfaces of the modules of the conveyor belt present a conveying face that in use moves along the track in a conveying direction, and at least one plastic bottle supported at its bottom on the conveying face via one or more textured surfaces at a bottom of the bottle. The disclosure also includes a method of conveying bottles, wherein plastic bottles are supported with their bottoms on a moving conveying face of a conveyor, and wherein the conveying face and the bottom of the bottle are conveyed via one or more textured surfaces at a bottom of the bottle. The disclosure further includes use of at least one textured bottom surface of a plastic bottle for conveying, and a blow mold for blow molding a plastic bottle.

An apparatus for molding a handle-equipped container is provided. The apparatus has a gripping mechanism section 160a which comprises a first gripping member 161 having a pair of first chuck members 163 for grasping a preform 200, and a second gripping member 162 having a pair of second chuck members 167 for grasping a container handle 20 in association with the action of the first gripping member 161. The apparatus can simultaneously grasp a plurality of the preforms 200 and a plurality of the container handles 20 and reliably transport them to a blow molding section.

A conveying system (1), comprising a modular conveyor belt (2) supported on a conveyor track (3) so that top surfaces (4) of the modules (5) of the conveyor belt present a conveying face (6) that in use moves along the track in a conveying direction, and at least one plastic bottle supported at its bottom on the conveying face via one or more textured surfaces at a bottom of the bottle. The disclosure also includes a method of conveying bottles, wherein plastic bottles are supported with their bottoms on a moving conveying face of a conveyor, and wherein the conveying face and the bottom of the bottle are conveyed via one or more textured surfaces (12) at a bottom of the bottle. The disclosure further includes use of at least one textured bottom surface of a plastic bottle for conveying, and a blow mold for blow molding a plastic bottle.