Abstract: An apparatus for the heating of plastics material pre-forms includes a conveying device, which conveys the plastics material pre-forms along a pre-determined conveying path, and at least one heating device, which heats the plastics material pre-forms during the transportation thereof. The conveying path of the plastics material pre-forms extends at least locally through a sterile room, wherein the sterile room is separated from the environment by a plurality of walls.

Abstract: A method for changeover of a blow molding machine. The blow molding machine has a plurality of blow mold holders and each blow mold holder includes a respective first blow mold with a respective first plurality of parts. The method includes: automatically opening a blow mold holder from the plurality of blow mold holders; removing the respective first blow mold from the blow mold holder; replacing the respective first blow mold with a second blow mold different from the respective first blow mold; and automatically closing the blow mold holder.

Abstract: A multi-piece valve disk of a sliding and/or seat valve, a ring seal with an elastic sealing ring with an external sealing zone is placed in a ring groove of the valve disk onto a dimensionally stable backup ring, and where an elastic restoring region effectively positioned between the backup ring and the external sealing zone is arranged in the backup ring, the restoring region being embodied in one piece with the sealing ring of its material adjacent to the external sealing zone of the sealing ring.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring an evaporator (2), whereby a liquid is applied onto a heating unit (3) and evaporated and the temperature drop caused by the evaporation heat in the heating unit (3) is detected. In the absence of a predetermined temperature drop, a signal is generated. In this way, the evaporation process can be controlled in a simple manner.

Abstract: A method of operating a plant for the treatment of containers may include treating the containers with pre-set treatment parameters by a first treatment unit of the plant. The treatment parameters are capable of being altered at least in part and depend at least in part upon product parameters—characteristic of the container—of the containers to be treated. At least one product parameter characteristic of the container is determined by detecting a recognition mark associated with the container, and at least one treatment parameter is altered on the basis of this characteristic product parameter.

Abstract: A blow mould assembly for moulding plastic preforms into plastic containers may include a blow mould unit forming a cavity, within which the plastic preforms can be expanded into plastic containers. The blow mould unit may be of a design that includes at least two parts. The assembly further includes a blow mould holder for receiving the blow mould unit. The blow mould holder may include at least two mould holder elements for receiving parts of the blow mould unit. The assembly further includes a locking mechanism configured to arrest at least one part of the blow mould unit with respect to at least one mould holder element. The locking mechanism includes an engagement member that exerts a force, in a latched condition of the part of the blow mould unit with respect to a mould holder element, onto a section of the part of the blow mould unit. The force holds the part of the blow mould unit relative to the mould holder element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for formation of a compacted arrangement of articles (14) to be packaged within a packaging machine, whereby the group (12) of articles (14) come into contact with and is guided through the packaging machine by means of at least one profiled bar (30), at least in a partial section (20) of its transport route (18), which comes into contact with an end face of the group (12) of articles (14) and in doing so at least some of the articles (14) of the group (12) are pushed together in the compacted arrangement. The invention also relates to a device for implementation of the method for formation of a compacted group of a plurality of the same type of articles to be packaged. The invention also relates to a symmetrically or asymmetrically profiled thrust bar for transforming a group of articles being conveyed in a horizontal direction into a compacted arrangement.

Abstract: A method of determining viscosity of structurally viscous fluids or beverages containing small pieces, fibers, pulps, fruit cells, cereals, particles or the like, for processing in filling, fruit juice preparation, dairy or brewery process plants, includes providing a tube rheometer having an at least substantially horizontal, straight meter tube with an inner diameter over a length of the meter tube length. At least two different volume flows are generated, exclusively gravimetrically, in the tube rheometer. The at least two different volume flows are adjusted to be substantially constant so as to determine a flow index and a consistency factor of the at least two volume flows. Pressure losses of the at least two volume flows are measured. The viscosity is determined based on the flow index, the consistency factor and the pressure losses.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for sorting piece goods. The apparatus comprises a sorting arrangement which comprises two rollers arranged parallel to one another, wherein these rollers can rotate about their longitudinal direction and wherein the rollers are configured in such a way that the piece goods are transported along the rollers, and comprising a transport device which conveys the piece goods in the direction of the sorting arrangement. According to certain embodiments, arranged above the transport device are displacement devices which make contact with the piece goods at least temporarily and displace said piece goods relative to the transport device.

Abstract: A cleaning assembly for containers, particularly for bottles, having a conveying device on which the containers are arranged by means of a receptacle means. To economically and ecologically improve the cleaning assembly, the receptacle means contains a liquid-tight tubular for an individual cleaning of the containers.

Abstract: An air conveyor for transporting plastic bottles, in which bottles are driven by applying air, in the area of the bottle openings. In a partial area of the air conveyor, means are provided to apply air to the bottle bodies. These means are arranged such that the bottles are essentially oriented vertically with the openings of the bottles facing upwards and the bottom of the bottles facing downwards.

Abstract: A container made from plastic for holding beverages. The container comprises a mouth, a wall section which adjoins the mouth in a longitudinal direction (L) of the container, and a base section which is designed as a standing face. The wall section merges into the base section. The container is formed in one piece. The base section has an injection point located in the interior in a radial direction (R) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L), and a central region which surrounds this injection point, and also a transition section which extends from the central region to the wall section. The transition section has a curvature with a finite radius of curvature in at least one and preferably in every radial direction (R) of the container in every geometric sub-section.

Abstract: A buffer means (1) and a method for buffering containers (2), in particular in a container handling apparatus, like for example bottles in a bottle filling apparatus, is described. The buffer means (1) comprises at least a first conveyor track (31). Furthermore at least a second conveyor track (32) is provided, which is drivable along a second transport direction (TR2). The first conveyor track (31) and the second conveyor track (32) are parallel to each other and form a buffer module (30). A transfer device (36) transfers the containers (2) from an infeed conveyor track (31E) onto an outlet conveyor track (32A) of the buffer module (30). By means of a sliding device the required buffer capacity of the buffer means (1) can be set. Between the infeed conveyor track (31E) and the outlet conveyor track (32A) of a buffer module (30) at least two further drivable transfer conveyors (31, 32) are provided. Thus a closed surface of the buffer module (30) is created.

Abstract: A machine for treating containers, having a plurality of spray tubes which are oriented transversely to a distributor channel, and of which each is secured in a releasable manner, on at least one end, to a cutout of the distributor channel, the spray-tube end and the distributor channel have provided thereinbetween a bayonet lock which can be released by a partial rotary movement about an axis of rotation, essentially parallel to the spray-tube axis. The bayonet lock is provided with a seal and has locking elements which are in mutual engagement with one another on the distributor channel and on the spray-tube end.

Abstract: A mould housing for apparatuses for expanding plastic containers has at least two mould parts which can be assembled together and which in an assembled state have an interior space for accommodating the plastic container that is to be expanded. The housing has at least one insulating element which can be placed against an outer wall of at least one mould part. The insulating element has a curved profile, wherein the curvature of the insulating element is matched to a curvature of the outer wall.

Abstract: A device for discharging granular material, has a receptacle into which the granular material may be introduced, with a separation grid, which is disposed in the receptacle, and an intermediate plate, which is disposed beneath the separation grid. The intermediate plate is equipped with a through-opening for the granular material, and with an aperture, which is provided beneath the intermediate plate and through which the granular material may be removed from the receptacle. The intermediate plate is disposed to be rotatable relative to the separation grid and the separation grid is disposed to be stationary relative to the receptacle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for the labeling of items, such as containers or the like, with at least one carousel, at least one labeling unit for the labeling of the items positioned on its periphery, and synchronously drivable transport elements for the feeding and removing of the items in a manner adjusted to position, whereby the transport elements are supported on a table plate, and the carousel is supported in a rotary bearing positioned outside the table plate.

Abstract: An arrangement of several machine assemblies (34, 38). The machine assemblies are arranged in a way that the material flow between the machine assemblies (34, 38) is at least technically mutually coupled. The machine assemblies are subsequently arranged to form treatment stations and/or processing stations of a machine (10) for processing, treatment and/or filling of containers. A method for coupling several machine assemblies (34, 38). The assemblies are subsequently arranged to form treatment stations and/or processing stations of a machine (10) for processing, treatment and/or filling of containers.

Abstract: A method and a device for leading media in a thermal treatment system for a liquid product where, determining the led-in volume of the expelling medium while a medium is being expelled from the treatment system and by setting the determined volume of the expelling medium in a ratio to a nominal capacity of the treatment system, the shutting off of a product pipe on the outlet side following a medium change on the inlet side can be accomplished independent in time of the performance of the medium change on the inlet side. This reduces product losses and permits the treatment of residual amounts remaining in the treatment system.

Abstract: Method of cleaning containers, in particular bottles of glass or plastics, in a cleaning module with a cleaning machine where at least one cleaning medium is allowed to act on the containers transported through the cleaning machine, and with an inspection unit, including determining at least one control parameter with respect to the degree of soiling of the cleaned bottles, detecting the degree of soiling of the cleaned bottles, evaluating the detected degree of soiling of the cleaned bottles in view of the at least one control parameter with respect to the degree of soiling, returning bottles evaluated to exhibit an excessive degree of soiling to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and automatically controlling the cleaning parameters of the cleaning machine if the number of returned bottles, based on the number of cleaned bottles, exceeds a predetermined target value or target range.