Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor system for conveying preforms in a device for blow-forming finished containers, wherein the conveyor system comprises a conveyor chain, the chain links of which comprise a carrying element and a conveyor element, the conveyor system being characterized in that the conveyor element comprises a support structure and the carrying element comprises a mounting structure and at least some sections of the support structure and the mounting structure are designed and arranged to complement one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for transporting and handling containers, in particular containers made of a thermoplastic material. The containers are transported from an inlet point (41) to an outlet point (30) in a transport direction by the transport device. The transport device has at least one handling device (26) which moves in the transport direction for handling one or more of the containers in a simultaneous manner in particular, and the handling device (26) is arranged in a movable manner relative to the transport device in order to move in a direction which deviates from the transport direction. The invention is characterized in that the transport device has at least one motor (32, 34, 37), by means of which the at least one handling device (26) can be moved in a motor-driven manner in the direction which deviates from the transport direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device (H) for the thermal conditioning of preforms (1) made of a thermoplastic material at a temperature profile that is suitable for a blow molding and a blow molding machine (B) having a heating device (H) of this type. The heating device (H) has multiple heating units (30, 30?) arranged behind one another along a heating section (24) and transport means (33) for transporting the preforms (1) on a transport path (55) along the heating section (24) and along the heating units (30, 30?). The transport means (33) are connected in a chain-like manner to form a closed continuous transport chain (50) and have a rotary drive body (52) that cooperates with a first engaging device (51) that is driven and arranged such that it circulates at a distance to the transport chain (50) in order to introduce a rotational movement thereof about a longitudinal axis of the transport means (33) via engagement in the rotary drive body (52).

Abstract: A device for controlling a blow-molding machine for producing a thermoplastic container, wherein a blowing gas for blow-molding the container is introduced into a thermally conditioned preform, while the preform is held in a blow mold of the blow-molding machine. The blowing gas is introduced during a preblowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform approaches the walls of the blow mold. The blowing gas is introduced during a following finish-blowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform is pressed into the contours of the blow mold walls. The volumetric flow rate of the blowing gas is determined at least during the preblowing phase by an adjustable flow-control valve that can be controlled by a control unit that generates a control signal for adjusting the flow-control valve. The flow-control valve is adjusted as a function of the control signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling a blow-molding machine for producing a thermoplastic container, wherein a blowing gas for blow-molding the container is introduced into a thermally conditioned preform, while the preform is held in a blow mold of the blow-molding machine. The blowing gas is introduced during a preblowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform approaches the walls of the blow mold. The blowing gas is introduced during a following finish-blowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform is pressed into the contours of the blow mold walls. The volumetric flow rate of the blowing gas is determined at least during the preblowing phase by an adjustable flow-control valve that can be controlled by a control unit that generates a control signal for adjusting the flow-control valve. The flow-control valve is adjusted as a function of the control signal.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides methods for implementing Sampling Interval Modulation Magnetic Resonance Elastography (“SLIM-MRE”), based on simultaneous encoding and acquisition of individual displacement components using motion encoding gradients with different time discretization intervals to MRI analysis. The components are modulated with different frequencies in the MR signal phase, which can be expressed as a harmonic function of the start time, or equivalently of initial phase, of the motion encoding gradient components. As a result, all displacement components can be acquired faster than in conventional MRE, and can be derived from the same temporally-resolved MR phase images. This also allows for simultaneously acquired 3D displacement data and storage of such data in the same k-space.

Abstract: A method and device for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from preforms made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the respective preform is at least thermally conditioned and subsequently re-formed during a forming and filling phase into the container with at least one liquid filling material as a pressure medium having a filling pressure p2. The filling material or portions of the filling material is/are supplied at at least two points in time and/or during at least two process phases having different carbon dioxide contents and/or different temperatures. The filling pressure p2 of the container formed in the first process phase is reduced to a pressure p1 and filling material is supplied in the second process phase, after which the pressure of the container is reduced to atmospheric pressure p0. In the first process phase filling material that has been previously degassed and/or uncarbonated is supplied.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for transporting preforms (2) made of a thermoplastic material in the region of a blow-molding (10), having a transport wheel (12) which is mounted in a rotatable manner about a rotational axis and which comprises multiple receiving recess (18) distributed in the circumferential direction over the circumference of the transport wheel for receiving and conveying preforms (20). A hook element (14) is arranged on the transport wheel (12) in the region of each receiving recess (18), said hook element being mounted on the transport wheel (12) in a pivotal manner between an open position and a closed position, and in the closed position, the hook element (14) secures a preform (20) to be transported in the respective receiving recess (18) from falling out of the receiving recess (18).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for sterilizing parisons made of a thermoplastic material that are intended for producing blow-molded containers. During the sterilizing process a sterilizing agent is introduced into an interior of the parison by an applicator. At least one gas is supplied to the applicator via at least one supply element, at least sections of which are arranged in a horizontal direction next to a transport path of the applicator. The supply element comprises at least one outlet opening facing towards the applicator. At least one pressure-applying element is arranged between the applicator and the supply element and is resiliently clamped between the applicator and the supply element.

Abstract: A method for the production of blow-molded containers that are sterile at least in certain regions, and a blow-molding machine configured to carry out the method. In accordance with the method, blowing stations are arranged on a rotating blowing wheel. A preform of a thermoplastic material is first heated and then stretched in a blowing station by a stretching rod and subjected to a pressurized blowing fluid via a blowing nozzle. A sterilizing fluid is supplied to the preform in the blowing station to perform a sterilization. The sterilizing fluid is fed into the preform from an outlet and is carried away again via an inlet and in between follows a flow path. The sterilizing fluid is made to pass through or pass by the stretching rod on its flow path, and the sterilizing fluid is supplied while the blow-molding machine continues to operate.

Abstract: The device used to hold workpieces is designed in a manner of tongs and is provided with two tong arms (45, 46). The tong arms are held by a tong base (47) and can be arranged at least in an open position and in a closed position. The tong base is held by a base element (48). The tong base is arranged on a transfer wheel, an opening movement of the tong arms being carried out by means of a movement component transverse to a radial direction of the transfer wheel. The first tong arm (45) extends on both sides of a central line of the tong base at least in some regions, said central line being oriented in a radial direction of the transfer wheel. A workpiece holding recess, which is spanned by the tong arms at least in some regions, is delimited by the second tong arm (46) only in a holding recess (68) region arranged on the outside in a radial direction of the transfer wheel relative to a holding recess transverse central line that runs transverse to the central line of the tong base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for transporting and handling containers, in particular containers made of a thermoplastic material. The, containers are transported from an inlet point (41) to an outlet point (30) in a transport direction by the transport device, The transport device has at least one handling device (26) which moves in the transport direction for handling one or more of the containers in a simultaneous manner in particular, and the handling device (26) is arranged in a movable manner relative to the transport device in order to move in a direction which deviates from the transport direction. The invention is characterized in that the transport device has at least one motor (32, 34, 37), by means of which the at least one handling device (26) can be moved in a motor-driven manner in the direction which deviates from the transport direction.

Abstract: The method and the device are used to produce filled containers. A preform (2) made of a thermoplastic material is first subjected to thermal conditioning in the area of a heating section along a transport path. Then the preform (2) is shaped into the container (11) inside a mold by applying pressure. A filling medium (21) with which the container is to be filled is used as the fluid for forming the container. The preform (2) is guided at least intermittently while the preform is shaped into the container (11).

Abstract: A method for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from blanks made of a thermoplastic material and to a nozzle for use in the method. In the method, each blank is at least thermally conditioned and is then shaped to form the container in a mold during a shaping phase, by axial and radial stretching, as a result of liquid filling material being introduced under pressure into the blank through a nozzle. The axial stretching is initiated by the pulsed injection of filling material into the blank.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing blow-molded containers, which are sterile at least in some areas, in a blow-molding machine. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first guided through a heating device by a supporting device, heated in the heating device, and then supplied with a pressurized fluid, and the preform is supplied with a sterilizing radiation at least in some areas. At least one radiation source for the sterilizing radiation is arranged in the heating device in a stationary manner at a distance to the preform, and the radiation direction of at least one of the at least one radiation sources is oriented towards the opening region of the preform and/or towards the supporting device.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing blow-molded containers, which are sterile at least in some areas, in a blow-molding machine. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first heated, then stretched by a stretching rod in a blowing station, and then supplied with a pressurized fluid via a blow nozzle, wherein a sterilization device is arranged in the blowing station. The sterilization device has at least one radiation source which emits a sterilizing radiation onto the stretching rod and/or onto the blow nozzle.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing blow-molded containers which are sterile at least in some areas. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first heated in a heating device on a transport path through a blowmolding machine and then supplied with a pressurized fluid in a blow-molding device. The preform is guided along a channel, which conducts a sterilizing gas, at least over one sub-section of the transport path of the preform. The transport path of the preform out of the channel is supplied with the sterilizing gas in order to produce a sterilizing gas corridor in which at least the opening region of the preform is guided. Multiple radiation sources are arranged along the channel and one behind the other in the transport direction. The radiation sources emit a sterilizing radiation onto the preform and/or onto the channel, and/or onto the sterilizing gas corridor.

Abstract: A method and device for producing blow-molded containers which are sterile at least in some areas. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first heated and then supplied with a pressurized fluid, and the preform is supplied with a sterilizing radiation at least in some areas. A radiation source for the sterilizing radiation is arranged at a distance to the preform, and a supplying device is moved into the preform. The supplying device conducts the sterilizing radiation from the radiation source into the preform and emits the sterilizing radiation onto the preform inner wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device used to blow-mold containers. After thermal conditioning, a preform is shaped into the container inside a blow mold by the effect of blowing pressure. Required blowing gas is introduced into an interior of the preform through a connecting element. After the blow-molding, a purging gas is conducted through the interior of the container. A plurality of blowing stations are used, and, for at least one of the blowing stations, at least part of the required amount of the purging gas is stored in a storage volume associated only with said blowing station.

Abstract: Method for producing containers which are filled with a liquid filling substance from parisons made from a thermoplastic material, wherein the respective parison is conditioned thermally and is subsequently shaped into the container during a shaping and filling phase in a mold by way of the filling substance as pressure medium, wherein, during the shaping into the container, the parison is preferably guided at least temporarily through a stretching rod and is stretched in the axial direction.