FR2949707A1 - Molding device for manufacturing machine of thermoplastic bottles, has fixation units movably mounted between fixation and release positions, where displacement of units between positions are controlled when holders are in closed position - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has two mold holders (14) movably mounted with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position. Two half molds (22) are respectively mounted in the mold holders and provided with a half-cavity. Fixation units are provided for fixing the half molds to the mold holder in a detachable manner and movably mounted between a fixation position and a release position, where displacement of the fixation units between the fixation and release positions are controlled when the mold holders are in the closed position.

Description

The present invention relates to a molding device for a machine for manufacturing containers, in particular bottles. The present invention relates more particularly to a molding device for a machine for manufacturing containers, such as bottles, made of thermoplastic material by blowing or by stretch-blow molding of a previously heated preform. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Molding devices are known from the state of the art intended to equip container manufacturing machines, in particular but not exclusively so-called "rotary" machines comprising a circumferentially carousel provided with a given number of identical blowing stations. The manufacture of plastic containers, such as bottles, flasks, etc., is made from preforms or blanks previously heated in a thermal conditioning oven. Depending on the number of impressions of the molds, one or more preforms are thus brought (s) to a station of the machine to be introduced (s) into a molding device with which are associated blow-molding or stretch blow-molding means . Such molding devices comprise at least one mold consisting of two half-molds supported respectively by two mold carriers which are mounted movable relative to each other. Each half-mold is generally received in a complementary housing of the associated mold-holder, to which the half-mold is removably fastened by means of fixing means to allow disassembly for a change of mold, Particularly for producing containers of different shapes and / or sizes or replacing them in case of damage and / or wear of the half-molds. In order to reduce both the manufacturing costs and the time required for such dismantling of the mold, various improvements to the molding devices have already been proposed in document EP-B1-0.821.641. According to the teachings of this document, means for regulating the temperature of the imprints of each half-mold are made in a separate part of the half-mold. Each half-mold is thus no longer made in one but in two distinct parts so that, according to the designations used in this document, each half-mold comprises on the one hand a shell holder provided with temperature control means which is intended to be supported by the mold holder and, secondly, a shell provided with a half-cavity of the container to be obtained which is adapted to be removably secured to the shell-holder by means of fastening means. This document also discloses means for attaching the shell to the shell holder which are arranged on the respective edges of the shell and the half-shell which are parallel to the cavity and in particular comprise screwing means on the shell. seal face of the shell holder with the clamping surface projecting over the seal face of the shell which implement tabs and screws to ensure the attachment of the shell integrally to the shell holder. With the known fixing means, the assembly and disassembly operations are carried out by at least one operator and the positioning of the shell is obtained in a circular motion. More specifically, the shell is introduced into the corresponding housing of the shell holder, the edge of the mold located on the side of the hinge means between the mold carriers is first brought into position and then continuing the circular movement. brings the other edge into position to proceed to fixing through the fastening means which are then controlled.

Thus, the assembly and disassembly operations require the use of tools, such as screwdrivers, to act on the fastening means and that while the operator is facing the mold holders in the open position. This is followed successively disassembly of one shell and then that of the other shell, as well as the mounting of the new shells are performed one after the other. In spite of the improvements made to the fastening means, it is sought to further reduce the time required for disassembly (or assembly) of the shells obtained in particular with such fastening means, and in particular since the immobilization of the machine during these operations presents a problem. significant cost because of the stop of the manufacture. This is one of the reasons why, we are always looking for fixing means that can further reduce the time required to perform these operations of assembly / disassembly of the shells (or half-molds). For this purpose, the invention proposes a molding device for a container manufacturing machine comprising: two mold carriers mounted movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position; molds, each provided with a half-cavity and carried by a mold carrier, are respectively mounted in the associated mold-holder, and fastening means capable of removably fastening to the mold carrier each half-hour. mold occupying a mounted position, 4 characterized in that the fixing means of each half-mold to the mold carrier, mounted movable between at least one fixing position and a release position, are able to be controlled in displacement between said positions when the mold holders are in the closed position. Thanks to the invention, it is indeed possible to act on the fastening means from outside the molding device so as to fix or selectively release the half-molds relative to the mold carrier and this whatever the open or closed position occupied by the mold holders. In comparison with the fixing means according to the state of the art for which the mold holders must necessarily be in the open position to allow access to the fastening means, the fastening means according to the invention are capable of being controlled independently of the open or closed position of said mold holders. Advantageously, the fastening means according to the invention make it possible to fasten or release each half-mold without tedious handling of tools, the control 20 of the fastening means being obtained quickly and simply and that the holders molds occupy the open position or the closed position. Thanks to the invention, it is possible to perform the assembly or disassembly operations of each of the elements 25 forming the mold as explained above for the state of the art, for example when only one edge of the shell is provided means according to the invention and the other edge of conventional means, then successively performed the operation for each of the shells and the mold bottom. Advantageously, it is also possible, when the two edges of each shell are equipped according to the invention, to perform in a single operation the assembly or disassembly of a unitary subassembly, comprising for example the two half-shells imprisoning the mold base, which subassembly is then able to be extracted in a single operation from the opening of the mold holders and this thanks to the fastening means according to the invention which allow the extraction or introduction of each shell out or in the housing of each shell-holder according to a translation movement. In a nonlimiting manner, the fixing means proposed in the present application are so-called mechanical means, more particularly characterized by the use of an actuating member of the fixing means movable between the fixing and release positions. , which actuating member is adapted to be controlled by associated actuating means, including when the mold holders are in the closed position. Preferably, the control device provided with means for actuating the fastening means is not integrated with the molding device but in the form of an independent device that can be arranged, temporarily or permanently, in a operating position in a defined area of the container making machine. According to other characteristics of the invention: the fastening means comprise at least one actuating member of the fixing means that can be controlled while moving from the outside of the molding device, whatever the open or closed position mold holders of the molding device; - The control portion of the actuating member extends wholly or partly projecting outside the molding device; - The actuating member of the fixing means is adapted to be selectively controlled by a control device for sliding between at least said fixing and release positions of each half-mold; The fixing means comprise respectively at least one first fastening element which is integral with each half-mold and at least one second fastening element which, complementary to the first element, is connected to the actuating member; the actuating member comprises at least two second fastening elements, one of which is connected to said member with the interposition of an elastic member to form a play connection capable of guaranteeing the correct positioning of each second element with the first associated element; the control device is able to urge the actuating member to selectively cause the displacement of said actuating member carrying the second fastening elements between at least: the fastening position in which the second element co-operates with the first mold member for securing the mold half and the mold holder by pressing the mold half against the mold holder, and • the release position in which the second member is retracted so as not to interfere with the first member half-mold, in particular when the half-mold occupies said mounted position; the fixing means comprise elastic return means which urge the actuating member towards the fixing position so that said member is automatically biased towards said fixing position; the molding device comprises a locking system which, associated with the fixing means, is selectively controlled to lock in the fixing position or in the release position the actuating member comprising the second element of the fixing means; 7 - the locking system comprises control means capable of causing the displacement of at least one locking latch which is mounted movably between: • an unlocked position in which the locking latch is retracted to leave the actuating member free to slide, in particular between the fixing and release positions, and • a locked position in which the locking latch cooperates selectively with a first notch or with a second notch of the actuating member, said first and second notches respectively corresponding to the fixing position and the release position of the actuating member; the locking system comprises a resilient biasing member of the locking latch from the unlocked position to the locked position so that the locking latch is automatically biased back to the locked position by said resilient member; the second notch of the actuating member and the latch 20 of locking are designed to present, in the direction of sliding, a clearance adapted to allow a displacement of the member beyond the release position in order to control selectively via the control device of the detachment means of the half-mold relative to the mold-carrier; the detachment means are constituted by a part of the second ramp member which is able to exert on the first element a detachment force when the control device biases the actuating member to slide it beyond the release position according to an overtravel determined by said play of the locking latch in the second notch. Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view which represents the molding device in place on a station of a container manufacturing machine and which illustrates mold holders in the closed position comprising half-molds; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the molding device according to FIG. 1 which comprises fastening means according to a first embodiment of the invention and which illustrates the mold holders in the open position; half-molds each consisting of a shell holder mounted in a housing of a mold holder and a shell, the two shells that complete a mold bottom forming a unitary subassembly adapted to be extracted or introduced between the mold holders for disassembly or assembly; FIG. 3 is a perspective view which shows, in exploded form, the half-molds according to the first embodiment which, provided with the fastening means according to the invention, respectively consist of two shells with which a mold bottom is associated; and two shell holders for mounting to the mold carriers and interposed therebetween and the shells; FIG. 4 is a perspective view which shows in detail two actuating members, one of which is in section along a vertical orientation plane, each member being provided with second fastening elements formed by hooks in this first fashion ; FIGS. 5 and 6 are front views which represent a molding device in the closed position and which illustrate, thanks to a vertical section, the fastening means according to the first embodiment of the invention, each actuating member being mounted in the shell holder and respectively shown in the fixing and releasing position, in particular by means of the detailed views of FIGS. 5A and 6A representing the first and the second fixing means; FIGS. 7 to 9 are perspective views which represent, seen from below the molding device, an exemplary embodiment of a locking system that can be associated with the actuating member of the fixing means, FIGS. , 8 and 9 successively illustrating said system in the locked position of the member occupying the release position, in the unlocked position and in the locked position of the member occupying the fixing position; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of a control device comprising means for actuating the member and illustrating said device in the free state, that is to say before hanging on a plate which, shown above, is secured to the shell holder; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the control device being mounted on the plate in order to position it and attach it to the plate; - Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views which show the control device in a specific position relative to the plate, prior position from which the attachment of the device to the plate is obtained by moving the body of control of the attachment means of the device as illustrated by the comparison of Figures 12 and 13; FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a part of the hooked control device, in operating position as shown in FIG. 13, and illustrating a hooking finger inside the complementary hole of the plate. ; FIG. 15 is a perspective view which, in comparison with FIG. 13 illustrating the operating position of the control device in which the actuating means occupy a rest position, represents said actuating means in the active position obtained. by moving the lever to cause the cam to cooperate with the control portion of the actuating member and thereby to cause the release of the fastening means having previously taken care to unlock the locking system; FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing, in exploded form, a half-mold comprising a shell and a shell-holder intended to be fastened together by fixing means made on one of its edges in a second embodiment; Embodiment of the invention, - Figures 17 and 18 are perspective views which show the shell in mounted position and then fixed to the shell holder and which illustrate the fastening means according to the second mode respectively in fixing position and in the release position, - Figures 19 and 20 are perspective views which show an exemplary embodiment of a control device adapted to actuate the actuating member of the wedge fixing means according to the second embodiment of the invention. In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations will be adopted in a nonlimiting manner with reference to the trihedron (L, V, T) shown in the figures, it being specified that the longitudinal and transverse directions are determined in a fixed manner. relative to the mold holders so that the open or closed occupied position is without affecting said orientations. By convention, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used in a nonlimiting manner with reference to the longitudinal orientation, as well as "superior" and "lower" with reference to the vertical orientation 2949707 II and finally "left" or "right" and "inside" or "outside" with reference to the transverse orientation which is more particularly oriented from the outside of the mold towards the inside of the mold. We will now describe a first embodiment of the fixing means according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, as well as an exemplary embodiment of a locking system in FIGS. 7 to 9 and a device of FIG. 10 to 15. FIG. 1 shows a molding device 10 for a manufacturing machine (not shown) for containers, the molding device 10 carried by a console 11 forming, for example, a part of a blowing or stretch-blow molding station of such a blowing machine. The molding device 10 is especially intended to equip a machine for manufacturing thermoplastic containers by blow-molding or stretch-blow molding of a previously heated preform, in particular bottles. The molding device 10 shown in FIG. 1, however, constitutes only a non-limiting example of the type of molding device 10 capable of receiving the fastening means produced according to the teachings of the invention. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the molding device 10 comprises at least one mold 12 consisting of two half-molds, respectively a left half-mold and a right half-mold. The two half-molds forming mold 12 are intended to be respectively supported by two mold carriers 14, also respectively left and right, which are movably mounted relative to each other. For this purpose, the molding device 10 comprises fastening means which are able to detachably fasten 12 to the mold holders 14 each half-mold occupying a mounted position. The molding device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is more particularly intended to equip a blowing station of a "rotary" type of production machine, that is to say generally having a carousel at the circumference of which are arranged stations each comprising a molding device 10 associated with blowing or stretch-blow molding means (not shown).

However, the fastening means according to the invention are also likely to be implemented in a linear type of machine (and not rotating). In such a linear machine, the molding device 10 comprises, for example, two mold holders movable in translation relative to one another, respectively between an open position and a closed position, and half-molds each of which is mounted on one of the mold holders by said fixing means. Consequently, the implementation of fastening means according to the invention is not limited to the molding device 10 described and shown in the figures, which is thus a non-limiting example of application. As regards the above-mentioned blow molding or stretch blow-molding means, still sometimes called and made in the form of a blowing nozzle, reference is made to document FR-2.764.544 for further details but given as a 'example. In the example shown, the mold carriers 14 are constituted in the form of two bearing structures pivotally mounted about a common axis O of rotation, the axis O of rotation here extending vertically along the trihedron (L, V , T). Each mold carrier 14 comprises, in the longitudinal direction, a rear portion which is complementary to the rear portion of the other mold holder and which is shaped to interpenetrate with the latter to form a hinge 13, such as a hinge whose two fittings would however pivot around the axis O of rotation. Alternatively, only one of the mold holders is movably mounted while the other mold holder is fixed, the movable mold holder being controlled in displacement between said open or closed positions. The mold carriers 14 are therefore capable of mutually deviating from each other by pivoting respectively about the axis O and are therefore movably mounted between at least one closed position (Figure 1) and an open position (Figure 2). Due to the kinematics of the mold holders 14, such a molding device 10 is still called "wallet" mold (or "book-like opening" in English). In a known manner, the drive of the mold carriers 14 between the open and closed positions is obtained by a traction arm system 16 (see FIG. 2) one end of which is articulated on the mold carriers 14 and the other end of which is articulated on the mold carriers 14. end is connected to associated control means, preferably of the roller / cam type. An articulation of the mold carriers 14 of this type and associated opening and closing control means are for example described in the document WO-A1-2004 / 018181 to which reference will be made advantageously for further details. The molding device 10 further comprises a latch 18 which, arranged longitudinally in the front part, opposite the pivoting joint about the axis O, is intended to ensure the locking of the two mold carriers 14 in the closed position. . Such a latch 18 is also known and will not be described in more detail, said latch 18 having the particular function of preventing any unexpected opening during operations 14 blow molding for which the final pressures can reach 40 bar. For further details on the structure and operation of a latch 18, one can for example refer to the document FR-2.646.802. Of course, this is only an example because there are many different but equivalent locks that can provide the lock function. Preferably, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the molding device 10 is here of the type in which each half-mold of the mold 12 is made in two distinct parts, respectively a shell 20 provided with the half-cavity 21 of the mold. container to manufacture and a shell holder 22 for supporting the shell 20 and adapted to be secured to one of the mold holders 14. 15 Such a design of the mold 12 has many advantages including described in the EP document -B1-0.821.641 supra. Alternatively, each half-mold is nevertheless capable of being made in one piece or monobloc, adapted to be fixed on one of the mold holders 14 by fixing means. Each shell 20 has a half-cavity 21 of the final container which is hollowed out in an inner face 24, the inner faces 24 being joined to one another in a vertical plane of molding to form the cavity of the container. 25 when each shell 20 is in the mounted position and the mold holders 14 in the closed position. Each shell 20 has an outer face 26, opposite to the inner face 24, which has generally the shape of a half-cylinder of revolution substantially coaxial with the axis X of the cavity of the container which extends vertically. Advantageously, centering means are provided so as to angularly recenter the mold 12 with respect to the mold carriers 14, such as a protruding pin from the outer face 26 of the shell 20 intended to penetrate a complementary hole. of the inner face of the shell holder 22. Each shell 20 has two edges 28, rectilinear and vertical orientation, by which the inner faces 24 and outer 26 of the shell 20 are connected. When the mold carriers 14 are in position closed, the two shells 20 joined together determine a horizontal upper face having centrally an opening 30 for allowing the introduction of the preform.

Preferably, the upper face of each shell 20 is formed by a separate plate 29, integrally attached to each shell 20. In the closed position, the plates 29 together determine a horizontal surface surface with which is intended to come into contact with the end bottom of a nozzle (not shown) comprising the blowing or stretch-blowing means. The shells 20 further include in their upper part, just below the horizontal upper face, a groove 32 which extends circumferentially continuously around the two shells 20 when they are joined to obtain the impression. When the container to be made has a bottom of complex shape, in particular petaloid, demolding problems are then likely to occur.

For this reason, a separate mold bottom, distinct from the half-molds or, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, apart from the shells 20, is advantageously provided with a footprint. the bottom of the complementary container half-fingerprints 21. Advantageously, the shapes of the shell 20 and the shell holder 22 are complementary so that the contact of the outer face 26 of the shell 20 and the inner face 36 of the holder 22 in all or in part in contact, pressed against each other, in particular to allow heat transfer by conduction transversely outwards, that is to say from the shell 20 to the door -coquille 22.

Advantageously, each shell holder 22 is provided with inner conduits and associated connectors in order to allow the circulation of a cooling fluid (or heating) in the shell holder 22 having the inner wall 36 against which is plated the shell 20.

Advantageously, the molding device 10 further comprises positioning means intervening, between the shell holder 22 and the shell 20 together forming a half-mold, in particular by cooperation of shapes such as ribs / grooves cooperating together to ensure at least one positioning in the vertical direction. In the exemplary embodiment, the molding device 10 comprises an upper part, here secured to the shell holder 22, an inner edge 38 of which penetrates into the circular groove 32 of each shell 20.

The molding device 10 comprises fastening means 40 able to removably attach to the mold holder 14 each half-mold occupying a mounted position. In the exemplary embodiment, the shell holder 22 - although removable - remains permanently mounted on the mold holder 14 and secured thereto since only the disassembly of each shell 20 having the half-cavity 21 is necessary to carry out a mold change, for example for the manufacture of another container. Accordingly, the molding device 10 also comprises reversible connection means intervening between each mold carrier 14 and the shell holder 22 to fix them together. More specifically, the aforementioned fixing means 40 are accordingly those intended to lock the shell 20 on the shell holder 22 since in the present example the half-mold is made in two distinct parts (and not monoblock).

Thus, in the case of a molding device 10 comprising, for each mold carrier 14 and a half-mold of the associated mold 12, the fastening means 40 then intervene to fix each half-mold directly to the mold carrier 14. According to the invention, the fixing means 40 of each half-mold to the mold carrier 14 are able to be controlled in displacement between at least one fixing position and a release position when the mold carriers 14 are in position. closed. A first embodiment of such fastening means according to the invention will now be described without limitation. The fastening means 40 of each half-mold to the mold carrier 14, that is to say in the example of each shell 20 on the shell holder 22, are of the mechanical type and result from the cooperation of shapes between two elements respectively related to 20 each room. Advantageously, the fixing means 40 comprise at least one actuating member 42 which is shown in detail in FIG. 4, respectively in perspective and in section along a vertical plane. According to this first embodiment, the fixing means 40 comprise at least one actuating member 42 of the fixing means. Advantageously, the actuating member 42 comprises at least one control portion 46 which is able to be controlled in displacement from the outside of the molding device 10, that is to say without necessarily requiring that the holders molds 14 are in the open position to allow access to the fastening means 40. 18 Because the control of the fastening means is effected regardless of the open or closed position of the mold carriers 14 of the molding device 10, it is dispensed with the obligation to open the mold holders as was previously mandatory to achieve the fastening means. Preferably, the actuating member 42 is carried by the molding device 10, more precisely by the half-mold or here by the shell holder 22. Alternatively, the actuating member 42 could also be worn. by the shell 20. However, it is generally sought to design the molding device 10 so as to have a mold 12 which is as simple as possible and therefore lower manufacturing cost. The actuating member 42 carrying the fastening means 40 is movably mounted between at least one fixing position and a releasing position which are respectively shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The actuating member 42 is carried by the molding device 10, preferably mounted on the shell holder 22 in each edge of which is arranged for this purpose at least one housing 44 complementary. The actuating member 42 of the fixing means is characterized in that it is able to be controlled when the mold holders 14 are in the closed position. Preferably, the control portion 46 that comprises the actuating member 42 protrudes out of the housing 44, at the lower end of the shell holder 22. The actuating member 42 of the fixing means 40 shown in detail in Figure 4 generally has the shape of a rod. The actuating member 42 of the fixing means 40 comprises a rod of which a lower section constitutes the control portion 46 of the displacement of the actuating member 42. Advantageously, the control portion 46 is able to be controlled by displacement from the outside of the molding device 10 and this regardless of the open or closed position of the mold carriers 14 of the molding device 10.

Preferably, when the actuating member 42 is mounted in its housing 44, the control portion 46 projects outside the molding device 10, that is to say extends at least in part to the outside of the housing 44 of the shell holder 22, so as to allow the displacement control of said actuating member 42 by actuating means also arranged outside, here below the molding device 10. Alternatively not shown, the actuating member 42 is controlled to move from outside the molding device 10 without the control portion 46 protrudes. By way of non-limiting example of such a variant, the control portion 46 of the member 42 could be arranged inside the housing 44 of the shell holder 22 or of another integral part so that the means actuation are then designed to penetrate from the outside into the device in order to act on said control portion 46. Of course, it is possible that the actuating means are also integrated in the shell holder 22, all of this proceeding partly from the choice of the control device comprising said actuating means as explained in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15. Indeed, the actuating member 42 of the fixing means 40 is able to be controlled selectively by a control device 48 comprising actuating means 106 to cause it to slide between said fixing and release positions of each shell 20. Preferably, the actuating member Slide 42 slides vertically between said attachment and release positions. In a variant not shown, the actuating member 42 is arranged in another orientation, for example to slide in the transverse direction, in a horizontal plane orthogonal to the vertical direction. However, the actuating member 42 is movable between the fixing and releasing positions according to another kinematic sliding. In a variant not shown, the actuating member 42 is rotatably mounted between the fixing and releasing positions. Advantageously, the control device 48 comprises actuating means 106 which cooperate with a control surface 50 which comprises the control part 46, at the free end of the lower section, of the actuating member 42. Preferably, the fixing means 40 comprise elastic return means 52 which urge the actuating member 42 towards the fixing position so that said member 42 is automatically biased towards said fixing position. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show diagrammatically the control device 48 by an arrow. The actuator 42 mounted in the housing 44 of the shell holder 22 is slidable against an elastic return member 52, such as a compression spring. The elastic return spring 52 is mounted around the actuating member 42 which passes through the turns, for example around the lower portion of the member 42 and arranged vertically above the control portion 46 located at the lower end. 21 As can be seen more clearly in the sections of FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper end of the elastic return spring 52 bears against a lower face 53i of a ring 53, which ring 53 is intended to be supported by its upper face 53s against a shoulder 51 provided for this purpose in the housing 44 and the lower end of the spring 52 cooperates with an upper face of a shoulder 55 of the actuating member 42. When the actuating member 42 is moved, by means of a control device 48, from the fixing position illustrated in Figure 5 to the release position shown in Figure 6, the return spring 52 which is then compressed exerts a vertically oriented return force downwards on the shoulder 55 of the actuating member 42. In a variant, the actuating member 42 does not comprise an elastic return spring 52 so that the sliding of the member 42 between its positions of fixing and li beration is then a function of the force applied on the part 46 by the actuating means 106 of the control device 48. The fixing means 40 respectively comprise at least one first fastening element 54 which is integral with each half-mold, here each shell 20, and at least one second fastening element 56 complementary to the first element 54. Preferably, said at least one second fastening element 56 is carried by the actuating member 42 so that the sliding of the 42 between the fixing and releasing position is simultaneously accompanied by the displacement of the second fixing element 56. As a variant, not shown, the second fixing element 56 is carried by another part, such as the shell holder 22 ( or the mold carrier 14) and for example disposed in the housing 44, and the second element 56 is mounted to move between a first position and a second position, respectively by analogy release fixation. In such a variant, the actuating member 42 is advantageously capable of causing the displacement of said second element between said first and second positions when it is itself controlled in displacement by a control device 48 for sliding between at least two positions corresponding to the state of attachment or release of the fixing means 40. io Thus, the fastening means 40 and more particularly said at least one second element 56 is able to be actuated between the fixing and release positions by the actuating member 42. The first fixing element 54 is for example constituted by a male element while the second element is constituted by a female element. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first fixing element 54 is constituted by a pin while the second fixing element 56 is constituted by a hook 20 of complementary shapes of said pin 54 with which it is intended to cooperate. Alternatively, the first fastener 54 attached to the half-molds is a female element, for example a notch, while the second fastener 56 is a male element, for example a stud. Of course this is only a non-limitative example since many complementary elements 54, 56 can be used to achieve such a cooperation of forms to guarantee the attachment between each of the two parts carrying one respectively. first and second elements. Preferably and as illustrated by Figures 2 or 3 for the first embodiment, each shell 20 has four pins 54, two pins 54 respectively upper and lower 23 which are superimposed one above the other and this on each edges 28 of the shell 20 which thus each comprise a pair of pins 54. Preferably, the pins 54 are distinct elements which are integrally attached to each edge 28 of the shell 20 which has for this purpose a housing 61 more particularly visible in Figure 3 where the upper one of the pins 54 has been omitted on the shell 20 on the left. Advantageously, such a shell 20 has a particularly simple form which is capable of being obtained by molding without additional manufacturing costs and it is also possible to easily modify shells 20 according to the state of the art by making the necessary modifications to it. the implantation of the pawns. In addition, the pins 54 are then capable of being made of a chosen material, distinct from that used for the shell 20. In a variant, the pins forming the first fastening elements are, however, capable of being made of material with the shell 20, that is to say made in one piece with the latter. Advantageously, each shell 20 comprises first means 54 of fixing means 40 which are arranged on each of its edges, diametrically opposed. The fixing means 40 also comprise two associated actuating members 42 which are each arranged in a housing 44 arranged on each edge of the shell holder 22. Each actuating member 42 comprises two hooks 56 forming the second fastening elements. and which are respectively associated with each pair of pins 54 carried by an edge of the shell 20. Preferably, each actuating member 42 thus comprises an upper hook 56 and a lower hook 56 intended to cooperate with upper and lower pieces. 54. Advantageously, one of the hooks 56 is connected to said actuating member 42 with a play in the vertical sliding direction, that is to say by a play connection having a relative displacement capacity of the hook 56 by relative to the actuating member 42. To form said play link, the lower hook 56 is preferably connected to the actuating member 42 with the interposition of a elastic member 58 adapted to ensure the correct positioning in fixing or release position of each hook 56 with the associated pin 54, in particular by compensating tolerances. Thanks to such a connection, it ensures the proper positioning of the lower hook 56 independently of that of the upper hook 56 fixedly connected to the actuating member 42. As illustrated in Figure 4, the upper end of the elastic member 58 bears against the underside of a shoulder that comprises the actuating member 42 while the lower end biases the upper face of the hook 56 arranged below said spring 58. The lower hook 56 is is therefore not fixed like the upper hook 56 and is free to move vertically with respect to the actuating member 42, against the spring 58 and within the limit of a clearance or clearance determined by a face upper abutment 59 which is integral with the actuating member 42 and with which the lower hook 56 is capable of cooperating. Each hook 56 generally has an inverted "L" shape comprising a first branch 56A of vertical orientation connected to the actuating member 42 and a second branch 56B, orthogonal to the first and here of transverse orientation, which delimits with the first branch 56A a housing 60 generally "U" in which a complementary pin 54 is intended to engage in the fixing position. Thus and as previously described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the control portion 46 of each member 42 is selectively biased by actuating means 106 of a control device 48 to cause the displacement of the control member. actuation 42 between the fixing and release positions. The fastening position therefore corresponds to the position of the fastening means 40 in which each hook 56 cooperates with the pin 54 of the shell 20 engaged in the housing 60 in order to press the shell 20 against the shell holder 22. While the release position corresponds to the position in which each hook 56 is retracted so as not to interfere with the pin 54 of the shell 20 occupying said mounted position. In the mounted position of the shell 20, each pin 54 penetrates through a notch 57 in the housing 44 of the shell holder 22 in which is mounted the actuating member 42 carrying the hooks 56 of attachment. In the fixing position illustrated in Figure 5, each pin 54 is received in the housing 60 of the associated hook 56 which surrounds it and thus ensures the attachment of the shell 20 in the shell holder 22 at least in the transverse direction. Indeed, in addition to the fastening means 40, each shell 20 is held vertically by the cooperation of shapes between the circular edge 38 connected to the shell holder 22 with the groove 32 of the shell 20. Advantageously, each hook 56 ensures the fixation by exerting on the pin 54 a clamping force corresponding to a so-called attraction force having at least one component of transverse orientation which is exerted on the pin 54 of the inside 26 towards the outside so as to flatten intimately the outer face 26 of the shell 20 against the inner face 36 of the shell holder 22. Due to the attraction force resulting from the cooperation between the pins 54 and the hooks 56 of the fixing means 40, the outer face 26 of the shell 20 and the inner face 36 of the shell holder 22 are in thermal conduction contact with each other, in whole or in part according to the applications, so as to obtain a satisfactory heat transfer to the holder-coqui 22 provided with cooling means by fluid circulation. According to the first embodiment, the molding device 10 advantageously comprises a locking system 62 which, associated with the fixing means 40, is selectively controlled to lock the actuating member 42 in the fixing position and / or in position of liberation. One embodiment of such a locking system 62 which is more particularly shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 will now be described in a nonlimiting manner. The locking system 62 is for example mounted on the outside on a plate 63 arranged in lower part of the molding device 10 and which is integral with the shell holder 22. The locking system 62 is adjacent to the control part 46, the locking being preferably carried out on the lower section of the actuating member which, arranged vertically just above said control portion 46, also extends outwardly projecting out of the shell holder 22. First, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the actuating member 42 comprises, respectively, a first notch 64 and a second notch 66, alternatively at least one notch. The first and second notches 64 and 66 are respectively formed by an annular groove which is formed in the lower portion of the actuating member 42, vertically above the control portion 46, the first notch 64 being The first notch 64 is delimited vertically by a bottom bearing face 64i and by an upper face 64s, as well as the second notch 66 is delimited by a bottom bearing face 66i and a bearing surface 66i. upper end face 66s. The locking system 62 comprises a support 68, a first portion of which is fixed integrally with the plate 63 by means of a first fastener 69, such as a screw, and a second part of which is fixed integrally to the platen 63 via a second fastener 70. The locking system 62 has at least one locking member 72 formed by a latch which is pivotally mounted via one of its ends around the 15 second fixing member 70 and whose other free locking end has a notch 74 complementary shape locking the first and second notches 64, 66. The locking latch 72 is movably mounted between: - an unlocked position shown in FIG 8 in which the locking latch 72 is retracted to allow the actuating member 42 to slide freely between its fixing and releasing positions, and - a positi it is locked in which the locking latch 72 selectively cooperates with the first detent 64 (FIG. 7) or with the second detent 66 (FIG. 9) of the actuating member 42, said notches 64, 66 respectively corresponding to the position and the release position of the actuating member 42 of the fastening means 40. The locking latch 72 comprises, between said ends, a tab 76 to which is attached an end of an elastic return member 80, here a spring, the other 28 end is attached to a stud 78 integral with the plate 63 and forming a fixed anchor point. The locking system 62 comprises control means 82 which are able to cause the locking latch 72 to move from the locked position to the unlocked position against the elastic return member 80. Thus, the elastic member 80 urges the locking latch 72 by exerting on the lug 76 of the latch 72 a return force adapted to automatically recall the latch 72 to the locked position, in one or other of the notches 64, 66. The means of For example, the control 82 of the locking system 62 is in the form of a pallet generally having an open "U" shape. The control pallet 82 has a first portion 84 which is attached to attachment, for example by screwing, on the part of the latch 72 opposite the tab 76, and an intermediate portion which is extended by a second portion 86 forming the The free end of the control pallet 82. The unlocking is achieved by applying an unlocking force on said portion 86 to cause the latch latch 72 to pivot from the lock position to the unlock position, against the biasing member 80 of the latch 72. Advantageously, the support 68 forms a so-called limit stop against which a portion of the control pallet 82 bears when an unlocking force is applied to the portion 86 and which corresponds to a stroke sufficient to guarantee the unlocking of the latch 72 against the return member 80. Preferably, the locking system 62 is a system unstable for which the only stable state corresponds to the locked position, thus the maintenance of the system in the unlocked position can be obtained by permanently applying a sufficient release force F on the part 86 of the control pallet 82. FIG. 8 shows schematically in FIG. 8 by means of an arrow F such an unlocking force F applied to the part 86 of the control pallet 82. If one stops applying such an effort or the force applied on the latch 72 via the pallet 82 is less than the restoring force exerted by the elastic return member 80, said member 80 then automatically recalls the locking latch 72 in the locked position. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9, when the locking latch 72 is in the locked position in the first detent 64, the latch 72 bears against the lower bearing face 64i, as well as when the latch Lock 72 is in the locked position in the second detent 66, the latch 72 is in abutment against the bottom bearing face 66i. A locking system 62 such as that of the exemplary embodiment which has just been described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 is optional since it does not condition the operation of the fastening means 40 according to the invention. However, such a locking system 62 has certain advantages, the main ones of which are described below. The locking system 62 firstly makes it possible to guarantee the attachment of the shell 20 to the shell holder 22 and this even if the return spring 52 which urges the actuating member 42 towards the fixing position came to know a failure, for example a break. This is the reason why the actuating member 42 includes the first detent 64 for locking the fixing position. As will have been understood, the actuating member 42 could therefore not include such a first catch 64 but only a second catch 66 so that only the release position would then be able to be locked. by the locking system 62. The locking system 62 then allows, thanks to the second notch 66 for locking the actuating member 42 in the release position, to exercise only temporarily and not permanently the stress of unlocking applied by the actuating means 106 of the control device 48 to the control portion 46. Indeed, the sliding of the actuating member 42 from the fixing position to the release position is effected by Against the return spring 52. Thus, in the absence of such a locking of the actuating member 42 once said release position is reached, it would be necessary to permanently apply an unlocking force above Instead, the spring 52 would be biased back to the spring 52 otherwise it would immediately cause the actuating member 42 to return to the fixing position. Advantageously, the locking of the actuating member 42 in the release position makes it possible to actuate only temporarily the actuating means 106 of the control device 48 in particular for the purpose of saving energy. By locking the release position, it is then possible to manipulate each shell 20, for example to make its change, and regardless of the presence or absence of a control device 48, no effort to unlocking no longer to be applied to the control portion 46. Moreover, once a new shell 20 is placed in the mounted position, its fixing is then able to be obtained quickly and simply by actuating the pallet 82, as illustrated in FIG. 8, causing unlocking of the locking system 62 to be triggered. Actually, by automatically unlocking the locking latch 72 and the fact of the presence of the spring 52, the organ actuation 42 to the attachment position.

It will be noted that, again, the presence of the control device 48 is not necessary. Indeed, the control device 48 is implemented in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 15 only to control the sliding of the actuating member 42 from the fixing position to the release position and until the locking of the actuating member 42 when the release position is reached. In addition, the second notch 66 is "wider", that is to say that it has in the vertical direction a dimension greater than that of the first notch 64 whose dimensions here correspond substantially to those of the locking latch 72 Advantageously, the second notch 66 of the actuating member 42 and the locking latch 72 are shaped to present, in the vertical sliding direction, a clearance adapted to allow a displacement of the member 42 beyond the release position. By means of which, by means of the actuating means 106 of the control device 48, the separating means 88 of the half-mold, here of the shell 20, are selectively controlled relative to the mold carrier 14. Advantageously, the detachment means 88 are constituted by a ramp portion which is carried by each hook 56 and which is arranged on the vertical leg 56A of the hook, at the entrance of the housing 60 for the pin 54. As illustrated in FIGS. 6, the detachment ramp 88 of the hook 56 is able to exert on the pin 54 a detachment force when the actuating means 106 32 urge the actuating member 42 to slide beyond the release position , following an overtravel determined by said vertical clearance of the second notch 66 corresponding to the spacing between the lower bearing face 66i and the upper abutment face 66s. Diagrammatically represented by an arrow D is the transverse orientation component of the force corresponding to the release force applied to the pin 54 by the ramp 88 of the hook 56. An embodiment of the invention will now be described in a nonlimiting manner. In this example, the actuating means 106 of the control device 48 are of the "mechanical" type and are intended to be manually controlled, that is to say directly manipulated. manually by an operator. Of course, the actuating means 106 could alternatively be partially or fully automated, in particular by using an actuator, such as a cylinder or a motor controlling a rod. In addition, such an actuator may be of the pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical type to provide the actuating means 106 with the energy necessary for the application on the control portion 46 of the actuating member 42 of a force release of the fixing means 40 against the elastic return member 52 of the member 42 to the fixing position. Of course, besides the control device 48, it is also possible to automate the control of the locking system 62, for example also by means of such actuators, to selectively control the unlocking of the locking latch 72. Advantageously, the unlocking is then controlled in synchronization with the actuating means 106 of the control device 48 which act on the actuating member 42. The synchronization of the control of the actuators of the locking system 62 and the control device 48 is then controlled so as to unlock the system 62 before and during the actuation of the member 42 by the actuating means 106 to slide the member thus released from its fixing position to the release position and again to lock the system 62 when said release position is reached, once the locking of the organ 42 in p In this case, the actuation of the control device 48 can cease. The actuating means 106 of the control device 48 according to this exemplary embodiment are shown in FIGS. 10 to 15. In FIG. 10, the control device 48 is represented in the free state, ie say here before proceeding to its establishment relative to the molding device 10. Indeed, the control device 48 is advantageously- 2o ment a removable device which is permanently mounted on the molding device 10. More precisely , the control device 48 is intended to be mounted on the plate 63, in the lower part of the molding device 10, in the vicinity of the zone where the locking system 62 of the actuator 42 is already located. The control device 48 comprises a frame 90 which carries the different parts, in particular in the upper part of the hooking means 92 of the control device 48 on the plate 63 shown alone in FIG. Means 48. The attachment means 92 comprise a control member 94 which is pivotally mounted about an axis A of rotation arranged between the ends of said member 94. 34 The first lower end of the member 94 is free to allow to act on the member and cause it to pivot about the axis A, the second upper end comprises an oblong slot 96 in which is engaged a pin 98. The pin 98 is integral with the body of an actuating means 100 which is capable of controlling the displacement of two gripping fingers 102 that it has at each of its ends. The two gripping fingers 102 are movably mounted between a latching position of the control device 48 on the plate 63 and a retracted position corresponding to the free state of the control device 48. The following will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, the hooking of the control device 48 to the plate 63, a step prior to the subsequent actuation of the actuating member 42 by the actuating means 106. The operation of the attachment means 92 is as follows, the control device 48 is preferably brought first obliquely as illustrated in Figure 11. The rear portion on the side of the hinge means 13 of the mold carriers 14 is first engaged then the front part until reaching the determined position shown in Figure 12, position from which the attachment of the control device 48 is then likely to be obtained by moving the control member 94 of the mo The control device 48 then occupies a so-called operating position but it is necessary to proceed with the attachment to hold it there and then the operator is again in the hands. free. A pushing force along the arrow P is thus exerted on the lower free end of the control member 94, here manually by an operator, and this to cause the pivoting of the control member 94 about its axis A The pivoting of the control member 94 causes parallel movement of the pin 98 engaged in the light 96 of the member 94 so that the pin 98 then moves simultaneously from the high position that it occupies in FIG. the control device 48 in position before hooking to a low position that it occupies in Figure 13 corresponding to the attachment of the device in the operating position. Since the pin 98 itself is integral with the actuating means 100, the pivoting of the control member 94 which causes the pin 98 to move in the slot 96 also causes the actuating means 100 to move in translation. will then move in translation each of the gripping fingers 102 from its retracted position to its attachment position. In the hooking position and as illustrated particularly by the section of FIG. 14, each hooking finger 102 enters a hole 104 complementary to a workpiece, in this case plate 63, so as to hang the control device 48 to the plate 63. The actuating means 106 of the control device 48 are then able to act from the outside of the molding device 10 on at least one actuating member 42 of the fixing means 40 of which the control portion 46 advantageously projects for its actuation by the actuating means 106. Preferably and as shown in FIG. 10, the actuating means 106 comprise a cam 108 which is mounted to be rotatably mounted through a first portion about the pivot axis A carried by the frame 90. 36 The cam 108 has another portion, here opposite the rotatably mounted portion, which is integral with a end of u n control lever 110. Preferably, the control lever 110 has at its other free end a handle 112 to facilitate its handling by an operator. In a variant, the free end of the control lever 110 can be connected to an actuator for selectively controlling the actuation of the member 42 as described above. The cam 108 has a cam surface S intended to cooperate with the lower control face 50 of the control portion 46 of the actuating member 42 to selectively cause the actuator member 42 to slide between the positions fixation and release. To do this, the surface S of the cam 108 comprises at least a first cam section Ti and a second cam section T2. As explained above, each shell 20 preferably comprises fastening means 40 according to the invention on each of its sides, in the vicinity of its edges 28, so that for each shell 20 it is necessary to control not one but two Actually, however, it is possible to provide fastening means only on one of the edges 28 of the shell 20. In such a variant, the shell 20 is then held in place on the another edge 28 adjacent to the axis O of the molding device 10 by other means, for example by wedging between complementary means intervening between the shell 20 and the shell holder 22, for example an ear of the shell holder 22 in a notch of the shell 20. In such a variant, the kinematic introduction or extraction of a shell is then effected by a circular movement 37 as with the fastening means known from the state of the art. Such kinematics is operated according to said circular movement and is accompanied by the successive introduction of the rear edge 28 of the shell 20 and the other edge 28 and that while the mold holders 14 are imperatively in the open position. According to a preferred embodiment of the first embodiment, each assembly consisting of a shell 20 and its shell holder 22 is provided with fixing means 40 according to the invention on each of its two edges to allow an introduction according to a different kinematics and particularly advantageous. Thus, the fixing means 40 according to the invention allow - when they are arranged on each edge - on the one hand to be controlled while the mold holders 14 occupy the closed position and, on the other hand, to introducing or extracting a shell in a translation movement generally perpendicular to the mold holder 14. Advantageously, the fastening means 40 are therefore double so that it is necessary to control the displacement of the two actuating members 42 arranged to immobilize each of the edges 28 of the shell 20, and preferably simultaneously. This is the reason why the actuating means 106 advantageously comprise two cams, respectively referenced 108 and 108 ', which are able to control the displacement of each of the two actuating members 42 that comprises a shell holder 22. The second cam 108 'is rotatably mounted via a first portion about a pivot axis B carried by the frame 90 of the controller 48 and has another portion which is connected with a possibility 38 of relative displacement, by connecting means 114 with another part of the first cam 108. Said other part of the first cam 108 extends here beyond the portion mounted about the axis A, to the inside the frame 90 opposite the part connected to the lever 110. The connecting means 114 ensure the transmission of movement between the cam 108 and the cam 108 'so that any displacement of the cam 108 controlled by the pivoting of the lever 110 is automatically returned by the cam 108 '. The cams 108 and 108 'are in this way controlled simultaneously by actuating a single means constituted by the control lever 110. A molding device 10 comprises at least one control device 48 of the type of that which has just been described. Indeed, the control device 48 is capable of being detached from the plate 63 after release of the first shell of the mold 12 and in order to proceed with its attachment to the plate 63 of the other shell holder 22 and thus to control the release of the other shell 20 from the mold 12. Preferably, a control device 48 as represented in FIGS. 10 to 15 is respectively associated with each of the shell holders 22 (or mold holders 14) for controlling the means fastening 40 associated with each shell 20 (or each half-mold) according to the design in two or three parts of the molding device 10. The various steps implemented to proceed with the change of the mold 12 of a device will now be described. 10 of the type comprising fastening means 40 according to the invention described above and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 15. Preferably, the mold 12 thus consists of two half-molds made s in two parts, namely for each of a shell 20 and a shell holder 22 as previously indicated. More precisely, a first method of changing the mold and then a second method of changing the mold which differ in particular from each other depending on whether the actuation of the member 42 to control the fastening means will be described below. 40 in order to release the shell 20 by is respectively performed while the mold holders 14 of the molding device 10 are in the open position in the first case and in the closed position in the second. Firstly, the different steps of the first mold changing process which are implemented while the molding device 10 is in the open position will be described first. Preferably, the various steps in relation to the fixing means according to the invention are implemented manually by at least one operator, but as has been said above, some of them are capable of being automated by means of actuator. Such automation of the control of the locking system to achieve the unlocking of the latch and / or the actuation of the member 42 advantageously reduces the time required to proceed to a change of mold 12. According to this first method of When the mold is changed, the operator manually changes the mold of a molding device 10 by successively removing one after the other the mold parts according to a procedure similar to that previously used with the fastening means according to the invention. the state of the art. Of course, in order to proceed with the opening of the molding device 10, the latch 18 for closing the mold holders 14 is actuated beforehand or simultaneously to its unlocked position in order to be able to move the mold holders 14 away from one another. the other, unlocking and opening being performed by the operator. In this first method, the first step (a) consists in controlling the opening of the molding device 10, that is to say in rotating the mold carriers 14 about the axis O from the closed position to the in the open position. In order to be able to release a shell 20 from the shell holder 22 in order to change it when said control device 48 is of the type shown in FIGS. 10 to 15, it is necessary that at least one control device 48 comprising the actuating means 106 has been previously hooked in the operating position. In doing so, said control device 48 being in the operating position, each cam 108, 108 'is then able to cooperate with the control face 50 of the control portion 46 of the actuating member 42 when the lever 110 is moved to its active position. Indeed, the control device 48 according to the exemplary embodiment being removable, it is not necessarily permanently hooked to the molding device 10 but can be only when one wishes to intervene on one of the half molds and proceed to the mold change. Preferably and as indicated above, the molding device 10 comprises a control device 48 for each half-mold, here each shell 20, for a molding device 10. Said control devices 48 are hooked in the operating position at most. late after the opening, in the event that they are unhooked at the end of assembly / disassembly operations and do not remain attached to the plates 63. In the latter case, it will be understood that a pair of control devices is sufficient for successively proceed to 41 multiple changes of shells (or half-molds according to the design of the mold) when the different molding devices 10 of a machine succeed in a given area for it to be there, post by post, process to the change of mussels. A second step (b) therefore consists in hooking up the control device 48. Of course, such a second step (b) is only implemented if the control device 48 is of the type of that represented in FIGS. 10 to 15 and which will be recalled that it is only a possible embodiment, or a similar control device 48 which is removable and has been disassembled or that it is desired to disassemble. Thus, in the case of a controller 48 which would be permanently mounted on the plate 63, such a second step (b) would be irrelevant. Alternatively, the control device 48 (removable or not) is not disassembled but remains integral with the plate 63, such a control device 48 is for example in the form of a grasshopper of the type shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. In this case, each shell holder or mold holder is equipped with the control device 48 including during the manufacture of containers during which it is not used. According to another variant, the control device 48 is integral with the frame of the machine comprising the molding device 10. Preferably, the control device 48 is then arranged in a determined zone so as to control the machine in rotation and the molding devices 10 are successively arranged in the said zone comprising the control device 48. Advantageously, the control device 48 is retractable or the actuating means of the device are so as not to interfere with the mold carriers when the machine operates in container manufacturing mode and not in intervention mode for mold change. According to the first embodiment, the fixing means 40 comprises an elastic return spring 52 which constantly urges the actuating member 42 towards the fixing position, in which position the pins 54 are engaged in the housings 60 of the hooks 56 and the shell 20 attached to the associated shell holder 22. If the molding device 10 is provided with an associated locking system 62 then a third step (c) must first be performed to unlock the locking system 62. In this third step, the system 62 is controlled to release the locking device 62. latch 72 of the first notch 64 of the actuator 42 so that the actuator 42 can be slidably displaced from its attachment position 20 to its release position. Advantageously, it will be recalled that the shell 20 has a double fastening, or fastening means 40 for each of its edges 28. For the third step, the operator first exerts manually a force from the outside towards the inside the portion 86 of each of the control paddles 82 to abut against the support 68. In doing so, the operator causes the desired unlocking in each locking system 62 associated with the actuating member 42, that is, pivoting the latch lock 72 about its axis to the unlocked position and that against the resilient biasing member 80 of the latch 72 to the locked position. 43 Indeed, each latch 72, driven by the portion 84 of the pallet which it is secured, pivots to the unlocked position in which the notch 74 of the latch 72 is free, none of the notches 64 or 66 are no longer committed .

It will be observed that the portions 86 of each of the control paddles 82 of each locking system associated with each of the actuating members 42 are adjacent and sufficiently close to one another so that the The operator can simultaneously urge both of them with one hand in order to unlock each locking latch 72. As previously explained, the locking system 62 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9 is not a bi-stable system, i.e. the unlocked position is not a stable position so that the operator must, with one hand, maintain his effort on the control pallets 82 at least until the lever 110 of the control device 48 is actuated (otherwise the latches 72 will automatically be returned to its locked position by the springs 80). Once the locking system 62 has been unlocked according to said third step (c), the actuating member 42 is then free to be actuated by the control device 48 in order to cause it to slide, against 25 spring 52, from the fixing position to the release position. Of course, the third step (c) is carried out only if the molding device 10 comprises such a locking system 62 which, although it can be deleted, has different advantages described above. According to a fourth step (d), it controls the displacement of the fastening means 40 from the fixing position to the release position. With fixing means 40 according to the first embodiment, this means the sliding control of the actuating members 42 of each shell 20. To do this, the operator uses his second hand to actuate the lever 110 that it rises upward to rotate it from its rest position to its active position. During the stroke of the lever 110 towards the active position, the control portion 46 of each of the two actuating members 42 associated with the shell 20 will be biased by the cam 108, 108 'corresponding to a release force exerting against the spring 52 and which is able to slide each member 42 to the release position. The cam 108 'simultaneously urges the control portion 46 of the other actuating member 42 arranged at the rear. More specifically, the control face 50 of the control part 46 cooperates with the surface S of the cam 108, the sections Ti and then T2 are successively traversed and shaped to cause the sliding of the actuating member 42 20 to the position of liberation. When the release position is reached, a fifth step (e) is used to lock the actuating member 42 in the release position. To do this, the operator stops exerting his effort on the control pallets 82 but still still maintaining the lever 110 in the active position to overcome the force exerted by the return spring 52. The cessation of application of the effect on the control paddles 82 has the effect that each locking latch 72 of each system 62 is automatically biased back to its locked position and engages, due to the sliding of the control member 42 towards the position of release, in the second notch 66 which is vis-à-vis. 45 The locking latch 72 being pressed against the lower bearing face 66i, the actuating member 42 which is in the release position is then blocked by the locking latch 72 (locked position).

Of course such a fifth step (e) is implemented only in the presence of a locking system 62. Advantageously, the fifth step (e) is facilitated by the automatic return of the latch 72 to the locked position by means of the locking is obtained by simply releasing the pallet 82 and without any additional effort being necessary. According to a sixth step (f), the operator stops holding the lever 110 in the active position and releases the latter when the actuating member 42 is locked in the release position by a locking system 62, or operator maintains its effort on the lever 110 and at least until the shell 20 is disassembled. Of course, depending on the type of control device 48 used, it is possible for the actuating means 106 to be kept in the active position without requiring the constant application of a force on the lever 110, such will be in particular the case if the active position of the control device 48 is a stable position. If it has not already done so before moving the lever to its active position, the operator will advantageously perform an additional bias on the lever 110 in order to make the actuating member 42 the own overtravel. to actuate the detachment means that constitute the ramp 88 of each hook 56. With this, it ensures the separation of the shell 20 relative to the shell holder 22. 46 According to a seventh step (q), we control therefore the detachment means of the shell 20 relative to the shell holder 22. The various steps relating to disassembly according to the first mold changing process are advantageously carried out by two operators, one of which can seize and extract the shell 20 out of the shell holder 22 of the molding device 10 while the other will perform the manipulations, in particular the unlocking with a first hand and the actuation for the release of the shell with the second. After successively carrying out the various steps to remove the first shell 20, the operator repeats the same operations to proceed with the extraction of the second shell 20 and this before or after fixing a new shell in place and place of the first shell. The steps of the first method are also likely to be implemented by a single operator, in particular in the absence of locking system to actuate or elastic return of the system 62 in the locked position. Advantageously, the holding of the actuating member 42 in the release position is then ensured directly by the control device 48, and this in the presence or in the absence of a return spring 52 of the body of Actuation 42. Of course, in addition to disassembly of each of the shells 20, the operator also proceeds in an additional step of disassembling the mold base 34. Thus, the mold base 34 is separated from its support saddle, after disconnection fluidic connections. Preferably, the step of dismounting the mold bottom 34 is carried out immediately after the first step (a) of opening the mold holders 14 and before the following steps so as to release the space inside the device molding 10 and facilitate access to the shells 20 for the operator. Advantageously, only the shells 20, each equipped with the half-cavity 21 and which, in comparison with the shell-holders 22, are lighter and without any fluid connection are disassembled.

Each shell holder 22 remains mounted and fixed to the mold holder 14 of the molding device 10. In order to assemble a new shell 20 in each shell holder 22, the same steps as described above are generally carried out but by running them in reverse order. Following the aforementioned steps of disassembly, the fixing means 40 are in the release position and are held in this position by the locking system 62, the locking latch 72 is engaged in the locked position in the second notch 66 of each body member. Actuation 42. For the assembly, an eighth step (h) is applied to the insertion and positioning of a shell 20. More precisely, the operator introduces, in a translation movement generally perpendicular to the one of the 20 shell holders 22, a first shell 20 and until said shell 20 occupies the mounted position in which it is adapted to be fixed to the shell holder 22. The mounted position is reached when the pins 54 penetrate by the notches 57 in the housing 44 of the actuating member 42 and are correctly positioned relative to the hooks 56. According to a ninth step (i), the fixing means are controlled n to move them from the release position to the attachment position. In the present example, to control the fastening means 40 and proceed to the fixing of the shell 20 on the shell holder 22, the operator actuates the control paddles 82 to cause the unlocking of the locking systems 48 62 of which the latch 72 blocks the actuating member 42 associated in the release position. To do this, it exerts a force on the part 86 of each control pallet 82 so as to overcome the return force exerted by the spring 80 and to cause the pivoting of the locking latch 72 towards its unlocked position. The latch 72 is no longer engaged in the second notch 66, each actuator 42 is then free to slide from the release position it occupied to the io fixing position. More specifically, the sliding of the actuating member 42 is performed automatically by the elastic return member 52 which permanently urges the member 42 to said fixing position. In the fixing position, the hooks 56 are engaged around the pins 54, whereby the shell 20 is fastened by each of its edges 28 to the shell holder 22 and the outer face 26 of the shell 20 is pressed by a pulling force. against the inner face 36 of the shell holder 22. As soon as the fastening means 40 occupy the fastening position, the operator advantageously stops applying his force on the control pallet 82 intended to hold the locking system 62 in unlocked position. In doing so, the locking latch 72 is automatically returned to its locked position by the spring 80 so that its notch 74 is positioned in the first detent 64, thereby locking the actuating member 42 in the fixing position. Thus, even if the spring 52 breaks the actuating member 42 would be maintained in the fixing position and the proper operation of the molding device 10 guaranteed. Advantageously, in the presence of a return spring 52, the control device 48 comprising the actuating means 49 intervenes only during the disassembly operations of a shell 20 and not during the assembly and fixing of a shell 20 in the shell holder 22 which further reduces the required intervention time.

Advantageously, the fastening means 40 according to the invention make it possible to further reduce the intervention times by at least one operator in order to successively dismantle and assemble the shells 20. In fact, it follows from the description which comes from It should be realized that the fastening means 40 are controlled in a particularly simple and rapid manner by acting simultaneously on two control pallets 82 or by actuating the lever 110. Consequently, the fastening means 40 according to the invention make it possible to further reduce the total time required to change a mold on a molding device 10. However, when proceeding as just described, the molding device 10 is in the open position and the shells 20 are mounted or successively disassembled one after the other to allow an operator to extract or introduce each of them into the shell holder 22. Now will be described a second mold changing method in which the actuation of the fixing means by the control device is carried out while the mold carriers 14 of the molding device 10 are in the closed position and thanks to which the time of change of a mold is further reduced substantially. According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the fastening means 40 are also capable of being controlled when the mold carriers 14 are in the closed position. Like the first method, the second mold changing method is described hereinafter for fastening means 40 made according to the first embodiment. Thus, the control portion 46 of the actuating member 42 is able to be controlled in motion from the outside of the molding device 10 regardless of the open or closed position of the mold carriers 14 of the molding device 10. Preferably and in a nonlimiting manner, the control part 46 of each actuating member protrudes out of the molding device 10 so that it is possible to act on the control part 46 independently of the open or closed position and particularly in comparison with the known solutions of the state of the art including in the closed position. In the second mold changing process 12, the steps described below are carried out while the mold carriers 14 of the molding device 10 are in the closed position. Preferably, the molding device 10 is previously brought into a predetermined area of the manufacturing machine for the purpose of changing the mold. In a rotary machine, such a zone is for example located opposite the side of the machine in which one proceeds to the introduction of the preforms and to the extraction of the manufactured containers. According to the mold changing method of the invention, a step (a) of controlling the fastening means 40 to release each half-mold is first carried out while the mold carriers 14 occupy the closed position. . With fastening means 40 made according to the first embodiment, step (a) comprises in particular the sub-steps described hereinafter. According to a first substep (a1), the unlocking of the locking systems 62 is controlled in order to release each of the actuating members 42 from the fastening means 40. The first substep (a1) is implemented for each shells 20, advantageously simultaneously. For each shell 20, first actuating means (not shown) are used such as a controlled actuator capable of actuating at least one locking system 62. Advantageously, each actuator is able to simultaneously actuate the two locking systems of a shell 20. In a variant, the locking system 62 is actuated manually by an operator who exerts the unlocking force and successively performs the substeps for a shell 20 and then the other shell 20. Thus, the actuator is actuated to that in each of the systems 62, the latch 72 disengages from the first detent 64 of the actuator 42 so that the actuating member 42 can be slidably displaced from its attachment position to its release position. As shown in FIG. 8, the piloted actuator is able to exert an unlocking force F, transversely from the outside to the inside, on the part 86 of each of the control pallets 82 in a course determined by the coming into operation. abutment against the support 68 of each locking system 62. In doing so, the actuator causes the desired unlocking in each locking system 62 associated with the actuating member 42, that is to say the pivoting of the latch of locking 72 about its axis to the unlocked position and that against the elastic return member 80 of the latch 72 to the locked position. Indeed, each latch 72, driven by the portion 84 of the pallet which it is secured, pivots to the unlocked position in which the notch 74 of the latch 72 is free, none of the notches 64 or 66 are no longer committed .

It will be observed that the portions 86 of each of the control paddles 82 of each locking system associated with each of the actuating members 42 are adjacent and sufficiently close to one another so that the The actuator can simultaneously urge them together to unlock each locking latch 72 of the two systems 62 that includes a shell 20. As previously explained, the locking system 62 according to the embodiment of FIGS. Figures 7 to 9 is not a bi-stable system, i.e. the unlocked position is not a stable position so that the operator must, with one hand, maintain his or her effort on the control pallets 82 at least until the actuation of the member 42 by control device 48 (otherwise the latches 72 will automatically be returned to its position 20 locked by the springs 80). In fact, once the unlocking system 62 has been unlocked according to the substep (a1), the actuating member 42 is then free to be actuated by the control device 48 in order to cause it to slide against the spring 52, from the fixing position to the release position. Of course, the sub-step (a1) is only implemented if the molding device 10 includes such a locking system 62 which, although it can be deleted, has the various advantages described above. According to a second substep (a2), each actuating member 42 being unlocked, the control device 53 is controlled to slidably move the fastening means 40 from the fixing position to the release position. As illustrated in Figure 6, the implementation of the second substep (a2) is of course a function of the control device 48 used. Advantageously, the control device 48 is also an actuator capable of selectively biasing the control portion 46 of each of the two actuating members 42 associated with the shell 20 in order to exert against the spring 52 of each of them a force release which is capable of sliding each member 42 to the release position. In a variant, the control device 48 is a device of the mechanical type, such as that of FIGS. 10 to 15 or else FIGS. 19 and 20, which is able to be actuated manually by an operator, for example by acting on a lever . When the release position is reached (FIG. 6), a third substep (a3) controls the locking of the actuating member 42 in the release position. Naturally, such a sub-step (a3) is implemented only in the presence of a locking system 62. The control device 48 is able to maintain in the release position each actuating member 42 at least until locking according to the sub-step (a3). To achieve locking, the actuator ceases to exert effort on the control paddles 82. The cessation of the application of the force on the control paddles 82 causes each lock latch 72 of each system 62 is automatically returned to its locked position and engages, due to the sliding of the control member 42 to the release position, in the second notch 66 which is opposite and as shown in FIG. FIG. 9. The locking latch 72 being in abutment against the lower bearing face 66i, the actuating member 42 which is in the release position is then blocked by the locking latch 72 (locked position).

Advantageously, the automatic return of the latch 72 to the locked position facilitates this maneuver because the locking is obtained by simply releasing the pallet 82 and without any additional effort being necessary. Advantageously, a fourth substep (a4) is used to control the detachment means of the shell 20 relative to the shell holder 22. Advantageously, the fourth substep (a4) is performed simultaneously with the implementation of the substep (a2) by the actuator which is controlled so as to urge each actuating member 42 with a release force capable of causing each of them to traverse the overtravel beyond the release position so as to to simultaneously cause the detachment. After step (a), the shells 20 present inside the molding device 10 are no longer attached to the shell holders 22 nor more than, if necessary, the mold bottom 34 to the fifth wheel so that the attached shells 20 enclosing the mold base 34 advantageously constitute a unit subset. However, the shells 20 are then held together only by the mold carriers 14 which surround in the closed position said unitary subassembly. This is the reason why the mold 12 advantageously comprises at least one part 120 which protrudes out of the molding device 10. Advantageously, the shells 20 of the mold 12 comprise a protruding top portion 120 which extends vertically above the groove 32 in which is received the edge 38 of the shell holder 22. 55 As a non-limiting example, the mold 12 shown in Figures 2 and 3 advantageously comprises such a projecting top portion 120 adapted to allow gripping as the l immobilization of the parts of the unitary subassembly.

The protruding top portion 120 of the shells 20 is intended to allow the establishment of assembly means, able or not to provide a support function, to join together the half-molds and form said transportable unitary subassembly which is constituted by the shells 20 trapping the mold bottom 34. Thanks to the top part, it is in particular possible to join the shells 20 together from the outside of the molding device 10 while the mold holders 14 are in the closed position. Thus, according to the second step (b) of the method according to the invention consists in joining together the half-molds by means of assembly so as to form a transportable unitary subassembly while the mold holders occupy the closed position . Indeed, each shell 20 being free from the shell holder 22 since the implementation of step (a), there is a risk of falling of the latter when opening the mold holders 14. According to a particularly simple and economical embodiment, the assembly means are constituted by a link which is arranged by the operator at the top portion 120 of the mold 12 which protrudes out of the shell holder 14 so as to immobilize the shells 20 in said attached position and constitute the unit subset. The assembly means are intended to hold the half-molds together in order to constitute said transportable unitary sub-assembly forming a compact block capable of being displaced. When the mold 12 has a mold bottom 34, it is automatically held in place by cooperation of shapes with the shells 20 which, surrounding it, encircle circumferentially.

Many devices for maintaining and / or supporting the unitary subassembly are conceivable, in particular devices of the mechanical type. As a variant, the mold 12 comprises a temporary blocking device able to hold the shells together to form the unitary subassembly. Advantageously, the locking device comprises locking means which are mounted movably between a retracted position and a locking position. In addition, the locking means are advantageously controlled in displacement between said positions by a control member, for example an element connected to the actuating member 42 of the fixing means 40 so as to take advantage of the sliding of said member. 42 to its release position to proceed immediately after the immobilization of the shells 20. The blocking of the shells 20 is for example carried out using the pins 54 present on each of the shells 20. According to another variant, gripping means such as that a clamp are set up around the top part 120 and are able to ensure both the assembly function of the shells together to form said unit subset as the support function of such a unitary subassembly, said gripping means being actuated by the operator or automated and connected to a supporting structure. Advantageously, step (b) can be carried out indifferently before or after step (a). Whatever the means of assembly chosen, they preferably also provide the support function so as to facilitate the transport of the unit subset. The third step (c) is to open the mold carriers from the closed position to the open position to extract, in a translational movement, said unit subset and so that said unit subset remains in position. a reference position, it proceeds to the opening of the mold holders 14. Preferably, when opening the mold carrier from the closed position to the open position, the previously formed unit subset is extracted " automatically "and remains static, only the mold holders 14 moving to move transversely from each other. When only assembly means (without support function) are set up in step (b), the unitary subassembly is supported via its bottom 34 in the reference position, in particular by means of intermediate of a saddle. Advantageously, the assembly means are constituted by the above-mentioned gripping means (not shown), namely a gripper whose jaws are capable of clamping the top portion 120 of the unitary subassembly, which gripper then also performs the function of support of the transportable unitary subassembly. Thanks to the cooperation of the gripping means associated with the upper part 120, it is therefore possible to proceed to open the mold carriers 14 of the molding device 10 without risk of falling of the unitary subassembly. The fourth step (d) consists in removing the unit subset of the mold carriers from its reference position. Preferably, it is ensured prior to the extraction of the unlocking of the mold base 34 relative to the support saddle and the disconnection of the fluidic connections. As previously indicated, the unitary subassembly is advantageously integrally supported by the gripping means to which the subset is suspended. Of course, the gripping means are also likely to be formed directly by the hands of an operator seizing the unit subassembly, constituted by means of assembly, to extract it from the reference position, here Central. Alternatively, the extraction of the unit subset is automated and performed by means of a robot having at least one arm provided with gripping means. The disassembly phase of the mold 12 according to the method is then completed, the molding device is in the open position waiting for the assembly of another unit subassembly. Thus, a mounting phase of a unitary subassembly then follows the disassembly phase mentioned above. To do this, we proceed to the implementation of the following steps. For the mounting phase, a fifth step (e) is to set up a unitary subassembly in said reference position between the mold holders in the open position. The mold holders 14 being in the open position, a unitary subassembly is introduced along the arrow in the reference position. Preferably and according to the exemplary embodiment of the molding device 10, the bottom 34 is mounted on the saddle and, where appropriate, with the required fluid connections. The unitary subassembly is then supported by the fifth wheel and the shells 20 held by the assembly or gripping means. Then, according to a sixth step (f), the mold carriers are closed on the unit subassembly.

As soon as the mold carriers 14 are closed on the reference subassembly unit previously disposed in the position of it is possible to remove the assembly means. seventh step (g) consists in removing the assembly means of the unitary subassembly to allow the separation of the half-molds. The eighth step (h) consists of controlling the fixing means to fix each half-mold to the associated mold-holder. With fixing means 40 according to the first embodiment, the fixing is obtained by the implementation of substeps similar to those described above for step (a) of the disassembly phase. According to a sub-step (h1), the unlocking of the locking system 62 is controlled. Advantageously, the fixing of the shells 20 in the shell-holders 22 is obtained automatically because of the return of the actuating members 42 towards the position of fixation so that no specific sub-step is required. In the absence of a return spring of the actuating member 42, the control device 48 is controlled according to a substep (h2) to move the actuating member from the release position to the position of fixation, for example by means of the actuator forming the control device 48. Once the fastening position is reached (FIG. 5), the locking system 62 is controlled to lock in the fixing position said actuating member 42 of the Fastening means 40. As the locking system 62 comprises a latch return spring 72 in the locking position of the fastening position of the actuating members 42 of the fastening means 40, no particular substep is required. and the lock is obtained automatically. As a variant, in the absence of such a means for returning the latch 72 to the locked position, the locking system 62 is controlled according to a substep (h3) in order to lock the actuating member by the latch 72.

Advantageously, it then controls if necessary the latch 18 to lock the mold holders 14 in the closed position. Advantageously, the mold changing method according to the invention makes it possible to very significantly reduce the time required for disassembly and assembly compared to the known solutions of the state of the art. Indeed, the unitary subassembly formed shells 20 and optionally the mold bottom 34, can be mounted or disassembled in a single operation and no longer following successive operations seizure and then deposited for each of the parts . Such a method of changing the mold is made possible by the fastening means according to the invention which make it possible to achieve the release as the fastening of the unitary subassembly 20 in a particularly simple and fast manner. According to a particularly advantageous operating procedure, the intervention of the operator is reduced or even eliminated and the support means, such as a gripper controlled in opening and closing advantageously also ensuring the maintenance function of the unitary subassembly, are connected. to a transport device. Advantageously, such a transport device is able to transport, after the disassembly phase, the unit subset to a storage magazine while other support means are advantageously waiting with a new unitary subassembly. to realize without waiting its mounting on the molding device 10 according to the steps corresponding to the mounting phase. Advantageously, the second method of changing the mold thus makes it possible to further reduce the time required for disassembly compared with the first method, moreover by comparison with known solutions of the state of the art. Indeed, in the second method, the unitary subassembly formed shells 20 and optionally the mold bottom 34 is capable of being mounted or disassembled in a single operation and not following successive operations for each shell 20 including . Such a method of changing the mold is made possible by the fastening means according to the invention by virtue of which the release of the unitary subassembly is obtained in a particularly simple and rapid manner.

According to a particularly advantageous operating mode, the intervention of the operator is reduced or even eliminated and the gripping means of the unitary subassembly, such as a clamp controlled in opening and closing, are connected to a transport device capable of transporting after the disassembly phase, such a unitary subsystem in particular up to a storage magazine while other gripping means are advantageously waiting with the new unitary molding subassembly to achieve without waiting for its mounting on the molding device 10 according to the steps corresponding to the mounting phase. We will now describe a second embodiment of fixing means for a molding device according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 16 to 20. The description of the second embodiment of the fastening means will advantageously be made by comparison with the first embodiment. In addition, the elements having similar, analogous or identical functions will be designated, with the exception, however, of the first fixing means, by the same reference numbers after incrementing by two hundred, for example the reference 220 corresponds to the reference 20. and refers to the shells.

FIG. 16 only shows a half-mold of a mold 212. Preferably, each half-mold is made as previously in two distinct parts, namely a shell 220 comprising a half-cavity (not shown) which is intended to be removably attached to a shell holder 222 by means of fastening means 40. The other half-mold not shown is identical in all respects to that of FIG. 16 and each half-mold is able to be mounted on a mold carrier 14 of a molding device 10 for a container manufacturing machine, such as the molding device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fastening means 40 are intended to equip a molding device 10 of the type described above and comprising: - two mold carriers 14 mounted movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, - two half-molds 220 which, each provided with a half-cavity and worn by a mold carrier 14, are respectively mounted in the associated mold holder 14, and - fixing means 40 adapted to removably attach to the mold holder 14 each half-mold 220 occupying a mounted position. More specifically, the fastening means 40 comprise first attachment means 140 and second attachment means 240. The first attachment means 140 are arranged between the rear edges of the shell 220 and the shell holder 222, that is, that is to say the edges located on the side of the axis O of rotation of the mold holders 14 while the second attachment means 240 are arranged between the front edges of the shell 220 and the shell holder 222, diametrically opposite first attachment means 140. The first fastening means 140 are similar to those described for the side adjacent to the axis of rotation in the aforementioned document of the state of the art EP-B1-0.821.641 to which reference will be made for more details. According to this document, the fasteners arranged on this rear side do not have to be actuated but preferably consist of simple adjustable stops. Advantageously, the mutual positioning in the vertical direction of the shell holder 222 and the shell 220 is obtained by cooperation of shapes of a set of elements of the type rib (s) / groove (s) nested one in the another and of which a portion is, in Figure 1, visible on the outer face 226 of the shell 220. Preferably and as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, the first attachment means 140 mainly comprise a bar 141 orientation vertical which comprises protruding portions 143 extending transversely and intended to be received in housing 145 of complementary shapes that includes the rear edge 138 of the shell 220. Preferably, the bar 141 comprises housing 147 for the passage of fastening members (not shown) of the bar 141 on the shell holder 222. With such first fastening means 140, the shell 220 is inserted into the shell holder 222 by sliding with it ation. The second fastening means 240 illustrating the second embodiment of fixing means 40 according to the invention will now be described more particularly. According to the invention, the second attachment means 240 of each shell 220 to the shell holder 222 are mounted movably between at least one fixing position and a release position of the shell 220 and are able to be controlled in displacement between said positions when the mold holders 14 are in the closed position.

The second fixing means 240 comprise at least one actuating member 242 that can be controlled in movement from the outside of the molding device 10, regardless of the open or closed position of the mold carriers 14 of the molding device 10. Preferably, the actuating member 242 is constituted by a threaded rod which extends vertically. Advantageously, the actuating member 242 of the second fixing means 240 is intended to be controlled selectively by a control device 248 able to selectively control the vertical sliding of said member 242 between the fixing and release positions of each shell 220 Advantageously, the second fastening means 240 respectively comprise at least one first fastening element 254 which is bonded to each shell 220 and at least one second fastening element 256 which, complementary to the first element 254, is connected to the fastener member. 242. Preferably, the first elements 254 consist of studs secured to the outer face 226 of the shell 220, each stud 254 projecting having an inner bearing surface 254i which, flat, extends vertically according to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the studs 254 are made by machining the shell 220, alternatively integrally molded, more specifically here a shell 220 made according to the state of the art. Indeed, as can be seen in Figure 1, the shell 220 has at the front an edge identical to the rear edge 138 but 65 which could be deleted when it no longer has reason to be in the presence second fastening means 240. Between two consecutive studs 254, the shell 220 has a notch 257 for allowing the passage of the second elements 256 when they occupy the release position. Preferably, the second elements 256 connected to the actuating member 242 consist of wedges. Advantageously, the corners 256 are carried by the actuating member 242 so that the corners 256 are integral in displacement, here without play as the upper hook 56, of said member 242 when the latter slides vertically between the fixing positions and of liberation. Preferably, each corner 256 comprises a tapped hole to allow its mounting by screwing on the threaded rod 15 forming the actuating member 242. The corners 256 are for example generally parallelepiped shape. Each corner 256 has in particular an external vertical face 260e of longitudinal orientation, said retaining face, and, transversely opposite, an inner vertical face 260i, called the clamping face. Advantageously, the outer vertical face 260 is planar while the inner vertical face 260 is convex, having a curved profile. The second fastening means 240 comprise a rake-shaped support 265 which has a main portion of vertical orientation from the outer face of which transverse portions 267 extend. Preferably, the support 265 is fixed integrally to the door -coquille 222 via fastener 271, 30 such as screws, which pass through the support 265 here at transversely oriented holes 273 which open at the free end of the parts 267. 66 The transverse parts 267 of the support 265 each comprise another hole 275 of vertical orientation which, offset longitudinally with respect to the hole 273, is traversed by the actuating member 242.

The actuating member 242, however, is of a smaller diameter in order to be able to slide freely, in the vertical direction, relative to the support 265 in a path corresponding at least to the displacement between the fixing and release positions. The portions 267 of the support 265 delimit between them a "U" -shaped housing in each of which, in mounted position and then fixed, a wedge 256 is received. Each housing has an oblique vertical face 277 disposed transversely opposite the 260i convex clamping face of each corner 256.

The oblique face 277 forms a ramp intended to cooperate with the clamping face 260i and has a slope such that the housing for the wedge 256 that it delimits transversely with the shell holder 222 shrinks vertically when the wedge 256 slides from above. downwards in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the fastening position of the second fastening means 240, each corner 256 forming the second element cooperates, on the one hand, via its retaining face 260e with the face of FIG. support 254i pads 254 carried by the shell 220 and, secondly, by its clamping face 260i 25 with the oblique face 277 of the support 265. By virtue of which, the cooperation between the retaining faces 260e and support 254i guarantees the fixing of the shell 220 to the shell holder 222 with application of a clamping force which, resulting from the cooperation between the clamping faces 260i of the corner and oblique 277 of the support 265, is suitable for pressing the outer face 226 the shell against the inner face (not visible) of the shell holder 222.

As shown in FIG. 18 showing the release position of the second fastening means 240, the corners 256 are offset vertically upward so that the retaining faces 260e of the wedges 256 are positioned transversely in register with the notches 257 and thus no longer cooperate with the bearing faces 254i associated pads 254. Advantageously, the control device 248 is adapted to bias the actuating member 242 to selectively cause the displacement of the actuating member 242 second attachment means 240 between the attachment and release positions. Preferably, the control device 248 is constituted by a sliding-stem locator, such a well-known device is also called "toggle clamp" in English.

Such a device 248 is capable of transforming a rotational movement into a translation movement, here a vertical sliding. Advantageously, the control device 248 comprises a fixing bracket 290 through which it is permanently mounted on the plate 263 of the shell holder 222 and this on each shell holder 222 of the control device 248. The control device 248 comprises a lever 210, here provided with a handle, which is rotatably mounted between at least a first position and a second position about an axis A carried by the bracket 290. The first position of the control device 248 illustrated in FIG. 17 corresponds to the fixing position of the second fixing means 240 while the second position illustrated in FIG. 18 corresponds to the release position of said means 240. The lever 210 of the device 248 is connected to the end lower of a rod 206 forming an actuating means whose other upper end is advantageously connected in 68 displacement at the lower end of the actuating member 242 of the second fixing means 240. As can be seen by comparison of FIGS. 19 and 20, when the lever 210 is displaced, according to a 180 ° rotation indicated schematically by an arrow F1, from its first position (FIG. 19) corresponding to the fixing position to its second position (Figure 20) corresponding to the release position, the rod 206 then moves vertically from bottom to top along the arrow F2 shown in Figure 20. io Indeed, in the first position, the lower end of the rod 206 connected to the lever 210 extends vertically below the axis a while in the second position, the same end extends above the axis A of rotation. In comparison with the first embodiment, the fixing means 240 according to the second embodiment do not comprise a locking system and the actuating member 242 is not automatically returned to the fixing position by an elastic return means. . Moreover, because of the presence of the first attachment means 140 and in comparison with the first embodiment, the introduction of the shell 220 into the shell holder 222 does not take place in a translational movement performed generally according to the invention. the transverse direction. Accordingly, mold changing methods described above with reference to the first embodiment of the fastening means 40, only the first mold changing method is operable, i.e. process starting with the opening of the molding device 10 and wherein the shells are disassembled successively one after the other. However, this would not be the case if the two rear and front edges of the shell 220 and the shell holder 222 were provided with second attachment means 240 because the control 69 of the fixing means could be obtained while the mold holders 14 are in the closed position and completely releasing each shell 220 which would no longer be fixed to the shell holder 222. We will now describe the operation of the fastening means 240 according to the second embodiment during the implementation of the assembly steps and disassembly for making a mold change according to a method generally similar to the first method described above. For the disassembly phase according to the method, the first step (a) consists of controlling the opening of the molding device 10, that is to say to rotate the mold carriers 14 about the axis O since the closed position to the open position. As indicated above, a control device 48 formed by a grasshopper is permanently mounted on each shell holder 220 of the molding device 10 so that, in comparison with the first method, no shackling or setting-up step such a device is required. Likewise, in the absence of a locking system, the step of controlling the unlocking of the system does not find application in the exemplary embodiment of the fastening means according to the second embodiment. According to a second step (b), the fixing means 240 are moved from the fixing position to the release position via the control device 248.

To do this, the operator manually actuates the lever 210 to rotate it 108 ° about the axis A of rotation from its first position to its second position. During the stroke of the lever 210 to the second position, the rod 206 will slide vertically upwards and urge the actuator 242 so as to slide said member 242 from its fixing position to its release position.

In the absence of a return spring of the actuating member 242, the release position of the second fastening means 240 is a stable position so that, in comparison with the first method, no locking of the actuator member is possible. Actuation is not necessary. In comparison with the first embodiment, it will be noted that the second fastening means 240 also do not comprise detachment means. The various steps relating to the disassembly phase according to the mold change method which has just been described are advantageously carried out by a single operator which, when the second fixing means 240 occupy the release position, is free to disassemble. the shell. According to a third step (c), the shell 220 is disassembled by the operator. To carry out its extraction, the operator seizes the shell 220 and makes it perform a circular rotational movement relative to the shell holder 222, the rotational movement operating from the rear to the front so as to first of all, leave the front edge freed of the second attachment means 240, then the rear edge 138, thereby disengaging the first fastening means 140. Advantageously, the process steps just described are re-set to remove the other shell 220. Of course, in addition to the disassembly of each of the shells 220, the operator also proceeds in a preliminary step to disassembly of the mold base 34 when the mold comprises such a bottom and this step is then advantageously implemented as soon as the mold holders 14 are opened. To mount a new shell 220 in each shell holder 222 while the molding device 10 is in position. ition open, the operator performs the following steps 71 which correspond to the previously described steps performed in the reverse order. For the mounting phase of the change process, the operator proceeds - according to a fourth step (d) - to the introduction of a shell 220 made in a circular movement from front to rear so as to engage First, the edge 138 in the first fastening means 140. In a fifth step (e), the second fastening means 240 are controlled to move them from the release position to the fastening position. In the second embodiment, the operator moves the lever 210 of the control device 248 from its second position (FIGS. 18 and 20) to its first position (FIGS. 17 and 19), thereby simultaneously causing the rod to slide downwards. 206 and the actuator 242 until the corners 256 reach the fastening position. In the fixing position, the retaining face 260e of each corner 256 cooperates with the bearing face 254i of each stud 254 thus exerting on the shell 220 a substantially transverse force oriented from the inside to the outside. In the second embodiment, the faces 260e and 254i are advantageously planar to optimize the application surface of the force and the clamping force is obtained thanks to the cooperation between the convex faces 260i of the corners and 277 of the Alternatively, the studs 254 and the wedges 256 are shaped with complementary faces capable of cooperating by wedging so as to achieve with two faces only both the locking of the shell 220 in the shell holder 222 that the clamping specific to the external face 226 of the shell 220 is advantageously pressed. Advantageously, in duplicate or in combination with first fastening means 140, the second attachment means 240 according to the invention make it possible to further reduce the intervention times of at least one operator to proceed successively disassembly and assembly of the shells 220. Indeed, it follows from the description that has just been made that the second attachment means 240 s have controlled in a particularly simple and rapid manner by acting on the lever 210 of the control device 248. Consequently, the second fastening means 240 according to the invention can further reduce the total time required to change a mold on a device As will be understood, when proceeding as described above, the molding device 10 is in the open position and the shells 220 are successively mounted or dismounted one after the other. the other to allow an operator to extract or introduce each of them into the shell holder 222. However, the implementation of an automated and even faster mold changing method is also susceptible to be obtained by arranging second fixing means 240 on each of the edges and not just one. Such a method would then be similar to the second method described above in connection with the first embodiment and the control device 248 advantageously split with a common lever 210 to simultaneously control the release of each of the second fastening means.

Claims (5)

REVENDICATIONS1. Molding device (10) for a machine for manufacturing containers, especially bottles of thermoplastic material by blowing or stretch-blow molding a previously heated preform, the molding device (10) comprising: - two mold carriers (14) mounted movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, - two half-molds (20, 220, 22, 222) which each provided with a half-cavity (21) and carried by a mold carrier (14), are respectively mounted in the associated mold carrier (14), and - fixing means (40, 140, 240) adapted to detachably fix to the mold carrier (14) each half -mold (20, 220) in a mounted position, characterized in that the fastening means (40, 240) of each half-mold (20, 220) to the mold carrier (14), movably mounted between at least one fixing position and a release position, are able to be controlled moving between said positions when the po rte-moules (14) are in the closed position. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means (40, 240) comprise at least one actuating member (42, 242) fastening means adapted to be controlled moving from the outside of the device molding (10) irrespective of the open or closed position of the mold carriers (14) of the molding device (10). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuating member (42, 242) of the fixing means (40, 240) is adapted to be controlled selectively by a control device (48, 248) for slide it between at least said fixing and releasing positions of each half-mold (20, 220). 74 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the fastening means (40, 240) respectively comprise at least one first element (54, 254) of attachment which is secured to each half-mold (20, 220) and to at least one second fixing element (56, 256) which, complementary to the first element (54, 254), is connected to the actuating element (42, 242). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control device (48, 248) is able to urge the actuating member (42, 242) to selectively cause the displacement of said actuating member (42, 242) carrying the second fastening elements (56, 256) between at least: - the fixing position in which the second element (56, 256) cooperates with the first element (54, 254) of the half-mold (20, 220 ) to fix the half-mold (20, 220) and the mold carrier (14) by pressing the half-mold (20, 220) against the mold carrier (14), and - the release position in which the second element (56, 256) is retracted so as not to interfere with the first element (54, 254) of the half-mold (20, 220), in particular when the half-mold (20, 220) occupies said position climb. 8. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing means (40) comprise elastic return means (52) which urge the actuating member (42) towards the fixing position so that said member ( 42) is automatically recalled to said attachment position. 9. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the molding device (10) comprises a locking system (62) which, associated with the fixing means (40), is selectively controlled to lock in fixing position or in 30 release position the actuating member (42) comprising the second element (56) of the fixing means (40). 10. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking system (62) comprises control means (82) capable of causing the displacement of at least one locking latch (72) which is movably mounted between: an unlocked position in which the locking latch (72) is retracted to allow the actuating member (42) to slide freely, in particular between the fixing and release positions, and - a locked position in which the latch (72) cooperates selectively with a first detent (64) or with a second detent (66) of the actuating member (42), said first and second detents (64, 66) respectively corresponding to the position fixing and the release position of the actuating member (42). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the second notch (66) of the actuating member (42) and the latch 15 of locking (72) are shaped to present, in the sliding direction, a set adapted to allow movement of the member (42) beyond the release position to selectively control through the control device (48), detachment means (88) from the half-mold (20). ) relative to the mold carrier (14). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the detachment means (88) are constituted by a portion of the second member (56) forming a ramp which is adapted to exert on the first member (54) a peel force 25 when the control device (48) urges the actuating member (42) to slide it beyond the release position in accordance with an overtravel determined by said play of the locking latch (72) in the second detent (66) .