Process and device for producing containers from thermoplastic and a container produced in this way

A process for producing a thermoplastic container, the process comprising the steps of:

• extruding a thermoplastic tube along a longitudinal axis of a mold and between movable main and bottom mold parts thereof while the main and bottom mold parts are in open positions thereof and are laterally spaced relative to the longitudinal axis, said bottom mold parts being axial extensions of the main mold parts;
• moving the main mold parts and the bottom mold parts laterally and translationally toward one another relative to the longitudinal axis and into closed positions thereof while the tube is positioned therebetween, the closed bottom mold parts welding a bottom end of the tube closed;
• forming a container from the tube by exerting a pressure gradient on the tube to expand the tube against wall surfaces of the closed main and bottom mold parts, the bottom mold parts thus forming a container bottom end having a cup-shaped bottom container part extending axially from a main part of the container formed by the main mold parts;
• while retaining the main mold parts in their closed positions, moving the bottom mold parts laterally and translationally apart relative to the longitudinal axis and independently of the main mold parts to provide a space therebetween;
• and
• axially inserting a plunger into the space created by independent movement of the bottom mold parts, upwardly from a location below the bottom mold parts, to deform a portion of the bottom container part into the main part of the container while the main part of the container remains retained by the closed main mold parts.