Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for transporting containers, having a movable carrier on which a plurality of gripping devices for gripping containers are arranged, wherein these gripping devices being designed as gripping clamps, and these clamps each having at least two clamp arms which can be moved between a first position, in which they grip the containers to be transported, and a second position, wherein the gripping clamps having contact portions which are suitable and intended to contact the containers, and wherein furthermore an actuating mechanism is provided which is suitable for transferring the gripping means between the first position and the second position, characterized in that this actuating mechanism comprises at least one roller element which is arranged on at least one of the clamp arms and can be rotated with respect to this clamp arm and with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation.

Abstract: A blowing mold array includes a blowing mold unit forming a cavity, inside of which plastic preforms are expanded to plastic containers. The blow mold unit includes a blowing mold retainer having at least two mold retainer elements for accommodating parts of the blowing mold unit, and a locking mechanism to arrest at least one part of the blowing mold unit against at least one mold retainer element. The locking mechanism includes an engagement element that can be pivoted and/or shifted relative to a default axis, which in an arrested state abuts a segment of a part of the blowing mold unit. The locking mechanism has an actuating element to loosen the arrest between the mold retaining element and the blowing mold unit. Actuation of the actuating element is coupled with actuation of the engagement element.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting piece goods may include a receiving surface which can rotate about a predefined rotation axis and is designed to receive the piece goods. The apparatus may include a first guide rail for guiding the piece goods, wherein this guide rail has a gap through which one region of the piece goods passes and by means of which another region of the piece goods is held. The apparatus may include a turning device which pivots the piece goods with respect to a longitudinal direction of the piece goods. The apparatus may include a separating device which separates out some of the sorted piece goods which are not guided in a predefined manner by the first guide rail or by the turning device. The turning device may be arranged upstream of the separating device in the movement direction of the piece goods.

Abstract: A blowing mould array includes a blowing mould unit forming a cavity, inside of which plastic preforms are expanded to plastic containers. The blow mould unit includes a blowing mould retainer having at least two mould retainer elements for accommodating parts of the blowing mould unit, and a locking mechanism to arrest at least one part of the blowing mould unit against at least one mould retainer element. The locking mechanism includes an engagement element that can be pivoted and/or shifted relative to a default axis, which in an arrested state abuts a segment of a part of the blowing mould unit. The locking mechanism has an actuating element to loosen the arrest between the mould retaining element and the blowing mould unit. Actuation of the actuating element is coupled with actuation of the engagement element.

Abstract: A blowing mold array includes a blowing mold unit forming a cavity, inside of which plastic preforms are expanded to plastic containers. The blow mold unit includes a blowing mold retainer having at least two mold retainer elements for accommodating parts of the blowing mold unit, and a locking mechanism to arrest at least one part of the blowing mold unit against at least one mold retainer element. The locking mechanism includes an engagement element that can be pivoted and/or shifted relative to a default axis, which in an arrested state abuts a segment of a part of the blowing mold unit. The locking mechanism has an actuating element to loosen the arrest between the mold retaining element and the blowing mold unit. Actuation of the actuating element is coupled with actuation of the engagement element.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and a method with a plurality of treatment units which are arranged on a carrier rotatable about an axis of rotation and which treat the containers in a pre-set manner, wherein the carrier is driven by at least one drive device and a speed of rotation of the carrier is retarded by at least one mechanical braking device which contacts the carrier at least for a time, and wherein for a retardation of the speed of rotation of the rotatable carrier at least one valve of the braking device is switched in a variable manner by a control device connected in terms of communication to the braking device, in such a way that a flowable medium under pressure is drawn individually from or into a reservoir of the braking device on or from a braking cylinder of the braking device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blowing mold array (1) for re-molding plastic preforms into plastic containers comprising a blowing mold unit (2) forming a cavity (8), inside of which the plastic preforms can be expanded to plastic containers, wherein the blowing mold unit (2) is at least a two-piece unit, and having a blowing mold retainer (4) for accommodating the blowing mold unit, wherein the blowing mold retainer (4) has at least two mold retainer elements (4a, 4b) for accommodating parts (2a, 2b) of the blowing mold unit (2), and having a locking mechanism (10) in order to arrest at least one part (2a) of the blowing mold unit (2) against at least one mold retainer element (4a), wherein the locking mechanism (10) is provided with an engagement element (12) that can be pivoted and/or shifted relative to a default axis (X), which in an arrested state of the part (2a) of the blowing mold unit (2) opposite a mold retaining element (4a) abuts a segment of the part (2a) of the blowing mold unit (2).

Abstract: A stretching rod holding arrangement may include a stretching rod for expanding plastic containers, wherein the stretching rod has an elongate rod-shaped main body and a holding body, which protrudes with respect to this rod-shaped main body in a radial direction of the rod-shaped main body. The arrangement comprises a receiving space for mounting the stretching rod, wherein at least one region of the holding body can be received by this receiving space, and the receiving space has a lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod. An opening is provided in this lower boundary wall, through which opening the main body of the stretching rod can pass. An arresting mechanism, which can be moved with respect to the receiving space between at least two positions, may be provided above the lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod.

Abstract: A method for transferring a plurality of preforms to a blow molding machine having a plurality of mold carriers, wherein each mold carrier is arranged to carry at least one multi-part blow mold, the method including the steps of transferring the preforms along a transfer section to the blow molding machine, opening at least one of the mold carriers as it reaches the transfer section, transferring at least one preform located at the transfer section to a holding element assigned to the open mold carrier, positioning the preform in the at least one blow mold of the mold carrier, closing the mold carrier with the preform positioned therein, wherein part of the blow mold in the closed state of the mold carrier being formed by the holding element, and repeating the previous steps for each of the preforms supplied to the blow molding machine via the transfer section.

Abstract: A method for transferring a plurality of preforms to a blow molding machine having a plurality of mold carriers, wherein each mold carrier is arranged to carry at least one multi-part blow mold, the method including the steps of transferring the preforms along a transfer section to the blow molding machine, opening at least one of the mold carriers as it reaches the transfer section, transferring at least one preform located at the transfer section to a holding element assigned to the open mold carrier, positioning the preform in the at least one blow mold of the mold carrier, closing the mold carrier with the preform positioned therein, wherein part of the blow mold in the closed state of the mold carrier being formed by the holding element, and repeating the previous steps for each of the preforms supplied to the blow molding machine via the transfer section.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting piece goods may include a receiving surface which can rotate about a predefined rotation axis and is designed to receive the piece goods. The apparatus may include a first guide rail for guiding the piece goods, wherein this guide rail has a gap through which one region of the piece goods passes and by means of which another region of the piece goods is held. The apparatus may include a turning device which pivots the piece goods with respect to a longitudinal direction of the piece goods. The apparatus may include a separating device which separates out some of the sorted piece goods which are not guided in a predefined manner by the first guide rail or by the turning device. The turning device may be arranged upstream of the separating device in the movement direction of the piece goods.

Abstract: A stretching rod holding arrangement may include a stretching rod for expanding plastic containers, wherein the stretching rod has an elongate rod-shaped main body and a holding body, which protrudes with respect to this rod-shaped main body in a radial direction of the rod-shaped main body. The arrangement comprises a receiving space for mounting the stretching rod, wherein at least one region of the holding body can be received by this receiving space, and the receiving space has a lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod. An opening is provided in this lower boundary wall, through which opening the main body of the stretching rod can pass. An arresting mechanism, which can be moved with respect to the receiving space between at least two positions, may be provided above the lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod.