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 blow-molding machine and then supplied with a pressurized fluid in a blow-molding station of the device. The preform is guided along a channel, which conducts a sterile 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 sterile gas in order to produce a sterile 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 sterile gas corridor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gripper for holding workpieces, in particular preforms or containers, in their neck region, having a gripper base on which two gripper arms are pivotably arranged, which each have gripping ends for partially enclosing the neck region, wherein the gripper arms are held in a base position under spring tension, in which the gripping ends can jointly enclose and hold a neck region and, if they come into contact with an obstacle, can be pivoted out of the base position jointly in one direction, wherein one of the gripper arms as the main arm (13, 13?) is clamped via a spring (20) with the gripper base (11), which pulls the main arm (13, 13?) into contact with the other gripper arm, functioning as a secondary arm (14, 14?), in the base position, and the main and secondary arm (13, 13?; 14, 14?) are each mounted in a joint (18, 19), wherein the joint (19) of the secondary arm (14) is closer to its gripping end (16) than the joint (18) of the main arm (13), and the main and secondary arm pr

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: 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: A heating device for the thermal conditioning of preforms made of a thermoplastic material at a temperature profile that is suitable for a blow molding, and a blow molding machine having such a heating device. The heating device includes a plurality of heating units arranged one behind another along a heating section. The preforms are transported on a transport path along the heating section and along the heating units. The heating section includes a first heating section portion provided with first heating units for the uniform heating of the preforms in their peripheral direction, and a second heating section portion provided with second heating units for the non-uniform heating of the preforms in their peripheral direction. A method for the thermal conditioning of preforms is also disclosed.

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 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 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 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: 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: The method and the apparatus are used for blow molding and for filling containers. To this end, after a thermal conditioning step, a preform is shaped into a container using blowing pressure inside a blow molding tool. The blow molded containers are positioned at least along part of the transport path thereof by a carrying element, which is held by a rotating transfer wheel. The transfer wheel provides at least part of a coupling between a blow molding module for producing the containers and a filling module for filling the containers. An outfeed wheel of the blow molding module can be arranged in a transport direction of the containers upstream of the transfer wheel, and an infeed wheel of the filling module can be arranged in said transport direction downstream of the transfer wheel, wherein each wheel can be equipped with carrying elements for the containers. The number of carrying elements (42) in the region of the transfer wheel (41) is varied in accordance with a production speed.

Abstract: The method and the apparatus are used for blow molding and for filling containers. To this end, after a thermal conditioning step, a preform is shaped into a container using blowing pressure inside a blow molding tool. The blow molded containers are positioned at least along part of the transport path thereof by a carrying element, which is held by a rotating transfer wheel. The transfer wheel provides at least part of a coupling between a blow molding module for producing the containers and a filling module for filling the containers. An outfeed wheel of the blow molding module can be arranged in a transport direction of the containers upstream of the transfer wheel, and an infeed wheel of the filling module can be arranged in said transport direction downstream of the transfer wheel, wherein each wheel can be equipped with carrying elements for the containers. The number of carrying elements (42) in the region of the transfer wheel (41) is varied in accordance with a production speed.