# US 2019/0315041 A1 · Molding Unit with Off-Center Neck Passage Opening > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315041 A1 - Document ID: US20190315041A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/385,199 - Filed: 2019-04-16 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16 - Assignees: Sidel Participations - Applicants: Sidel Participations - Inventors: Damien HELLOUIN; Alexandre TOUTOUX - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315041A1 ## CPC - B29C 49/48: Moulds - B29C 49/36: rotatable about one axis - B29C 49/06: Injection blow-moulding - B29C 49/487105: {characterised by the manufacturing process} - B29C 2049/4807: {by movable mould parts in the mould halves} - B29C 2049/4879: {characterised by mould configurations} - B29C 2049/4882: {Mould cavity geometry} - B29C 2949/0715: the preform having one end closed - B29K 2067/003: {PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate} - B29K 2623/12: {PP, i.e. polypropylene} - B29K 2667/003: {PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate} - B29L 2031/712: {Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages (closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418)} - B29L 2031/7158: {Bottles} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract Disclosed is molding unit for the forming of containers made of thermoplastic material including: two half-molds delimited by a front joint face and by a rear assembly face, with the two half-molds being able to occupy a joined position via their joint face; and a molding cavity that is made of two parts in each joint face, where the cavity opens vertically upward via a passage opening. In the joined position, the assembly faces of the mold have two planes of symmetry that intersect at a central vertical axis of the mold. The central axis of the passage opening is offset transversely in relation to the central axis of the mold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Molding unit (30) for the forming of containers made of thermoplastic material starting from preforms (63), in particular by blow molding or stretch blow molding, with the molding unit (30) comprising: Two mold supports (32A, 32B) that can move between an open position and a closed position; A mold (40) comprising at least two half-molds (44A, 44B), each designed to be mounted on one of the associated mold supports (32A, 32B), each half-mold (44A, 44B) being delimited by a front joint face (46) and by a rear assembly face (52), with the two half-molds (44A, 44B) being able to occupy a joined position by their joint face (46) when the mold supports (32A, 32B) occupy their closed position; A molding cavity (48) that is made of two parts in each joint face (46) and that is recreated when the mold (40) occupies its joined position, where the cavity (48) opens vertically upward via a passage opening (42) that is designed to allow a neck (12) of the preform (63) to pass; In the joined position, the assembly faces (52) of the mold (40) have: A first transverse vertical plane (P1) that extends along joint faces (46) and that passes through the center (C) of the passage opening (42), and A second vertical plane (P2) of symmetry that is orthogonal to the first plane (P1) of symmetry, with the two planes (P1, P2) of symmetry intersecting at a central vertical axis (O) of the mold (40); wherein the central axis (C) of the passage opening (42) is offset transversely in relation to the central axis (O) of the mold (40). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Molding unit (30) according to claim 1, wherein the first plane (P1) passes via a hinge axis (B) between the two mold supports, with the passage opening (42) being offset in a direction that is opposite to that of the hinge axis (B) in such a way that the central axis (O) of the mold (40) is interposed between the central axis (C) of the passage opening (42) and the hinge axis (B). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Molding unit (30) according to claim 1, wherein in the joined position of the mold (40), the assembly faces (52) have an elliptical horizontal cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Molding unit (30) according to claim 1, wherein in the joined position of the mold, the assembly face (52) of each half-mold (44A, 44B) has a horizontal arc-shaped cross-section that extends over a sector that is less than 180°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Molding unit (30) that is produced according to claim 1, wherein each half-mold (44A, 44B) is made of a single piece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Molding unit (30) that is produced according to claim 1, wherein each half-mold (44A, 44B) is made of two parts: An internal shell (68) that is delimited longitudinally by a front face forming the joint face (46) of the half-mold (44A, 44B) and by a rear face, opposite to the joint face (46) and forming a mounting face (72) of convex shape; An external shell-carrier (70) that is delimited longitudinally by a front receiving face (74) of a shape that is complementary to that of the mounting face (72) of the shell (68) and in which the mounting face (72) of the shell (68) is housed and by an opposite rear face that forms the assembly face (52) of the half-mold (44A, 44B). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Molding unit (30) according to claim 6, wherein in horizontal cross-section, the mounting face (72) of the shell has an arc shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Molding unit (30) according to claim 7, wherein each mounting face (72) having has, in horizontal cross-section, a half-circle shape that is centered on the central axis (C) of the passage opening (42). ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) Molding unit (30) according to claim 6, wherein the mounting face (72) is concentric to the assembly face (52) of the associated half-mold (44A, 44B). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Molding unit (30) according to claim 1, further comprising two boxing pistons (66) that are each mounted to slide in an associated half-mold (44A, 44B) between a position that is retracted in relation to the molding cavity (48) and an extended position in the molding cavity (48), with the boxing pistons (66) being arranged in the thickness of each half-mold (44A, 44B) close to the hinge axis (B). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Forming system (54), comprising: A rotary main wheel (56); A number of molding units (30) produced according to claim 1, with the molding units (30) being distributed uniformly on the periphery of the main wheel (56); Forming devices (58) comprising an end fitting for connection with the passage opening (42) that is centered on the axis (C) of the passage opening (42). ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) Molding unit according to claim 2, wherein in the joined position of the mold, the assembly faces have an elliptical horizontal cross-section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) Molding unit according to claim 2, wherein in the joined position of the mold, the assembly face of each half-mold has a horizontal arc-shaped cross-section that extends over a sector that is less than 180°. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) Molding unit that is produced according to claim 2, wherein each half-mold is made of a single piece. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) Molding unit that is produced according to claim 3, wherein each half-mold is made of a single piece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) Molding unit that is produced according to claim 4, wherein each half-mold is made of a single piece. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) Molding unit that is produced according to claim 2, wherein each half-mold is made of two parts: An internal shell that is delimited longitudinally by a front face forming the joint face of the half-mold and by a rear face, opposite to the joint face and forming a mounting face of convex shape; An external shell-carrier that is delimited longitudinally by a front receiving face of a shape that is complementary to that of the mounting face of the shell and in which the mounting face of the shell is housed and by an opposite rear face that forms the assembly face of the half-mold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) Molding unit that is produced according to claim 3, wherein each half-mold is made of two parts: An internal shell that is delimited longitudinally by a front face forming the joint face of the half-mold and by a rear face, opposite to the joint face and forming a mounting face of convex shape; An external shell-carrier that is delimited longitudinally by a front receiving face of a shape that is complementary to that of the mounting face of the shell and in which the mounting face of the shell is housed and by an opposite rear face that forms the assembly face of the half-mold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) Molding unit that is produced according to claim 4, wherein each half-mold is made of two parts: An internal shell that is delimited longitudinally by a front face forming the joint face of the half-mold and by a rear face, opposite to the joint face and forming a mounting face of convex shape; An external shell-carrier that is delimited longitudinally by a front receiving face of a shape that is complementary to that of the mounting face of the shell and in which the mounting face of the shell is housed and by an opposite rear face that forms the assembly face of the half-mold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2) Molding unit according to claim 2, further comprising two boxing pistons that are each mounted to slide in an associated half-mold between a position that is retracted in relation to the molding cavity and an extended position in the molding cavity, with the boxing pistons being arranged in the thickness of each half-mold close to the hinge axis.