Patent ID: 8591215

Claim:
A machine ( 10 ) for manufacturing containers, notably bottles of thermoplastic material, which includes at least one molding unit ( 24 ) including: at least two mold holders ( 26 ) which are mounted movably between an open position and a closed position of the molding unit ( 24 ), and a mold including at least two molding elements ( 28 ), each of which is fixed removably to one of the mold holders ( 26 ), and a locking device ( 50 ) of the molding unit ( 24 ) including at least one control member ( 52 ) capable of actuating locking means ( 55 ) which are mounted movably between: a locked position in which the mold holders ( 26 ) of the molding unit ( 24 ) are kept in the closed position by said locking means ( 55 ), and an unlocked position in which the mold holders ( 26 ) are freely movable between the closed and open positions, characterized in that the machine ( 10 ) includes a system ( 82 ) for providing assistance when changing molds, which can be in at least a standby state associated with an operating mode of the machine ( 10 ) called the production mode, for manufacturing containers by means of the machine, and a state of use associated with another operating mode of the machine ( 10 ), called the intervention mode, for the purpose of at least changing the mold of said at least one molding unit ( 24 ), said system ( 82 ) including at least one module ( 84 ) associated with said at least one molding unit ( 24 ), said module ( 84 ) including an actuating device ( 86 ) which includes an operating member ( 88 ) intended to interact with said member ( 52 ) for controlling the locking means ( 55 ) when the molding unit ( 24 ) occupies a specified reference position relative to the module ( 84 ), said operating member ( 88 ) being capable of being driven and thereby moved so as to actuate said member ( 52 ) for controlling the locking means ( 55 ) in order to cause, on the one hand, the movement of the locking means ( 55 ) toward at least one of said locked and unlocked positions and, on the other hand, the movement of the mold holders ( 26 ) toward at least one of said open and closed positions of the molding unit ( 24 ).