Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing containers (22) by blow molding, with at least one temperature-controllable blow mold (21) held by a mold holder (20), namely with a bottom insert held by a bottom mold carrier and/or with mold inserts held by mold half carriers, and is characterized by an inductive heating device, which indirectly heats the bottom insert and/or the mold inserts by means of induction.

Abstract: A labeling apparatus includes a rotating vacuum drum and a pair of vacuum holders on the drum that are switched by rotating switches between a working position for gluing labels and a rest position in which the vacuum holders avoid an application of glue. Actuators cause the switches to transition between operating positions. Stationary switch controllers initiate transitions between the operating positions of the switch, thereby causing the holders to transition between their two positions.

Abstract: A vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine has the segments arranged next to each other to collectively form a circumferential surface of the vacuum drum. A typical segment has vacuum-holders that holds ends of the label. The holders are offset along the drum's circumferential surface. The segment also has a carrier plate and a label arc between the first and second vacuum holders. The first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and the second vacuum holder comprises a second housing. At least one of the carrier plate, the housings, and the label arc is formed by additive manufacturing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the plasma treatment of containers. The essential aspect according to the method according to the invention is that, after the plasma treatment at the plasma station and before the container is filled, at least the container interior of the container is at least partially ventilated with a sterilization medium, i.e. is loaded with a sterilization medium.

Abstract: A filling element has a gas valve that controls flow of gas through a gas channel that extends into or faces the container during filling thereof. The gas valve transitions between discrete states, which includes a fully-open state, a closed state, and one or more partially-open states.

Abstract: A container transport machine for transporting containers, such as beverage bottles, cans, and similar containers, and packages of containers or other products.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a product includes a filling element, a supply line that supplies the product, a switching valve, a control valve, a vessel that is disposed between the switching valve and the control valve, and a volumeter that is disposed between the switching valve and the control valve. The vessel supplies a pre-metered quantity of the product for discharge via the switching valve to the filling element, the quantity having been pre-metered by the volumeter. The supply line provides the product to the vessel at a first flow rate. Discharge of the product through the switching valve and into the filling element occurs at a second flow rate that exceeds the first flow rate, the first and second flow rates being volumetric flow rates.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a PET container in a coating chamber includes a lance that introduces material and energy into the container while it is in the coating chamber. This results in a reaction that coats the bottle's interior with a silicon oxide. Before reaching the coating chamber, the bottle will have passed through a cooling system connected to coating chamber. The cooling system passes cooled gas through a feed, thereby cooling said bottle before it reaches the coating chamber.

Abstract: A pack includes at least four containers, each of which is in one of two container groups. Intragroup bonds hold containers in the same container group together. Intergroup bonds hold together the first and second groups. A carrying handle spans at least two containers from different groups.

Abstract: A container-treatment machine includes a foaming unit that introduces foaming medium into a container that is filled with a foamable liquid. This causes a foam to form in the container. A sensor downstream obtains an image of the foam and provides it to a controller. The controller decides whether or not to eject the container based on the extent of a foam nose that forms on the container's outer surface.

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: A filling method includes executing a pre-stressing phase, during which, at plural time intervals, gas is drawn from a gas space that lies above the filling material in a tank. The gas pre-stresses a container up to a second pressure that is below the pressure in the gas space. During a filling phase, a liquid valve opens to allow the filling material in the tank to enter into the container. This valve is above the level of the filling material, thus preventing gravity from driving the flow.

Abstract: A cutting unit comprising a cutting drum, a drum knife, a counterpart knife, and a double-joint controller that controls swiveling about a first joint, which swivels the counterpart knife between a cutting position and a waiting position, and swiveling about a second joint, which permits adjustment of a knife gap that forms between the counterpart knife and the drum knife in the cutting position. The drum knife is disposed on a circumference of the drum such that rotation of the drum guides the drum knife past the counterpart knife to cut a label when the counterpart knife is in the cutting position. In the waiting position, the counterpart knife is out of active engagement with the drum knife. The second joint permits adjustment of the knife gap such that the knife gap remains adjusted independently of swiveling about the first joint.

Abstract: A filling method includes sealing a container against a filling element of a filling system, after the container has been sealed against the filling element and before beginning a filling phase, connecting the container to an annular vacuum duct, while the container is connected to the vacuum duct, carrying out an evacuation-and-flushing step in which the container is evacuated and flushed with flushing gas that comprises steam from an annular steam duct that carries pressurized steam, connecting the container to an annular pre-tensioning duct, pre-loading the container with inert gas from the pre-tensioning duct, filling the container with the liquid, and relieving pressure into the vacuum duct.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a multipack includes forming groups on opposite sides of a transport section. The first forming group comprises a sliding carriage that moves along and transverse to a transport direction, a format part that forms a contact surface for engaging a container, and a guiding-and-holding element that detachably secures the format part to the sliding carriage. The first and second forming groups are movable along the transport direction and transverse to the transport direction such that contact surfaces of the first and second forming groups that are opposite each other are brought into contact with containers to move the containers along the transport direction and to press the containers against each other by moving transverse to the transport direction.

Abstract: The application relates to a device and method for attaching handles to packages or containers, such as bottles, cans, boxes, pouches, and similar containers, or to groups of packages or containers.

Abstract: A method for operating a heating device for thermal conditioning preforms made of a thermoplastic material in which each respective one of the preforms is prepared for a subsequent forming process during which the preforms are formed into containers with a forming fluid fed under pressure into the preforms. The heating device is operated in at least a first operating state and a second operating state. The second operating state is a startup phase of the heating device during which a temperature of the heating device approaches an equilibrium temperature of a thermodynamically stable equilibrium state of the heating device. The first operating state is a continuous operation state following the startup phase. The second operating state is operated with a heating output value that varies over time. Furthermore, the invention relates to a heating device and a machine having a heating device, which are configured to implement the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an plant for the production and treatment of sterile plastic containers, in which preforms made of a thermoplastic material are heated in the region of a heating section and then formed into containers by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and wherein the preforms or the containers or both are sterilized and pass through at least one low-germ zone which is surrounded by an enclosure, characterized in that the enclosure 2, 2? has an outer housing 3, 3? and an airlock chamber 4, 4? through which treatment medium is extracted from the low-germ zone 1, 1? and at the same time air is extracted from the outer environment of the outer housing 3, 3?.

Abstract: A vacuum drum for container labeling includes vacuum holders for holding a label. Each holder has a bistable rotational switch that switches between operating positions as a result of its switch actuator interacting with stationary switches during the drum's rotation. In one operating position, a label receives glue from a glue station. In the other, the holders avoid engagement with the glue station.

Abstract: Controlling application of adhesive on a substrate includes using a gas sensor, obtaining a first sensor signal. The first sensor signal indicates a partial pressure of a gas that arises from a constituent of the adhesive. Based at least in part on this partial pressure, the controller either controls an applicator's delivery of the adhesive to a substrate or causes an error signal indicative of the adhesive's unsuitability for adhesion.