Extrusion blow moulding equipement with reciprocating moulds moving "to and fro" having a small footprint

Linear machine for blow moulding containers or other hollow bodies from a thermoplastic material, comprising:

• at least one extruder (E) extending along an axis of extension (X-X);
• at least one extrusion head (T1) fed by said at least one extruder and arranged laterally to said at least one extruder with respect to its axis of extension (X-X);
• said extrusion head (T1) comprising a plurality of juxtaposed extrusion mouths, each adapted to extrude at least one parison;
• at least one module (M1) operatively arranged below said extrusion head (T1), said module comprising:
• at least one pair of mould and counter-mould assemblies (S1, S2), each pair being operatively associated with an extrusion head (T1);
• at least one pair of blowing stations adapted to blow air into the parison to form containers;
• at least one pair of grippers (P1, P2) for handling the containers as blown by the blowing stations;
• at least one conveyor (B3) for conveying the container products away from the machine;
• said conveyor (B3) extending along a direction of extension (Z-Z) which is substantially parallel to the axis of extension (X-X) of said extruder (E) and being positioned vertically below said extruder (E);
• the mould and counter-mould assemblies (S1, S2) of each pair, along with the respective grippers (P1, P2), can be alternately moved along an axis which is substantially parallel to both the axis of extension (X-X) of said extruder (E) and the axis of extrusion of said extrusion head (T1).