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 devices and to methods for transporting preforms in the region of a blow-molding machine, in particular a sorting device (10) for transporting preforms (20) composed of a thermoplastic material in the region of a blow-molding machine for the blow-molding of containers, comprising a transportation wheel (12), which has a plurality of accommodating recesses (18) for accommodating and conveying the preforms (20), which accommodating recesses are arranged on the circumference of the transportation wheel in such a way that the accommodating recesses are distributed in the circumferential direction, a guide collar (16), which extends circumferentially around the transportation wheel (12) in some regions in such a way that the guide collar is radially spaced apart from the transportation wheel, wherein the preforms (20) are transported in suspension between the transportation wheel (12) and the guide collar (16) in the region of the sorting device (10), and a selection unit for selectively r

Abstract: The invention relates to a stretch rod for the form-and-fill head of a machine for forming and filling of containers produced from preforms. The object of the invention is to devise a stretch rod of this type which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without being disassembled and without any other intervention. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a stretch rod (5) for the form-and-fill head (3) of a machine for forming and filling (molding and filling) of containers produced from preforms (2), which rod comprises a drive unit for axially moving said stretch rod (5). At least the part (6) of the drive unit which is connected to the stretch rod (5) is arranged in a drive chamber (11) which is sealed off from the regions of the form-and-fill head (3) which come into contact with the filling material (the material with which the container is being filled). The inventive stretch rod is characterized in that the sealing action is achieved by a seal (12) which surrounds the stretch rod (5).

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 device and method for producing a filled container from a preform using liquid contents introduced under pressure into the preform that includes a molding and filling station having a mold in which the preform is converted into the filled container and a molding and filling head to which the liquid contents are supplied under pressure via a supply line. The molding and filling head has a filling valve for controlling a supply of the liquid contents to the preform that includes a first and a second pipe stub of substantially identical diameter arranged at a distance from one another, a valve body arranged between the stubs having a largest diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the pipe stubs, and a sleeve that is displaceable along and bridges the distance between the pipe stubs in a leak-tight manner.

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 relates to a heating apparatus (H) having at least one heating line (24) for the thermal conditioning of preforms (1) made of thermoplastic material to a temperature profile which is suitable for blow shaping, wherein the heating apparatus (H) comprises a transport device for transporting the preforms (1) along a transport path (T) of the heating apparatus (H), said transport device comprising a revolving conveyor chain (F) having a plurality of pivotably interconnected chain links (33), and wherein the transport device comprises handling means (39) for holding and manipulating a single preform (1) each, wherein the transport device is embodied and configured such that the preforms (1) are guided in a single row in at least a first section of the transport path (T), and are guided in two adjacent rows in at least a second section of the transport path (T), and wherein each chain link (33) comprises a bracket (41) on which a first handling means (39) and a second handling means (39?) are arranged

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor of an apparatus for forming and/or filling containers made from preforms. The object of the invention is to propose a rotor of such an apparatus, that allows the preforms or the filled containers to be transferred with reduced forces to a processing station downstream. This object is achieved by a rotor 100 of such an apparatus having a rotational axis A and having processing stations that rotate about the rotational axis for receiving preforms or containers, wherein the processing stations move along a closed path 1 about the rotational axis A, which is characterized in that the distance of path 1 from the rotational axis A varies depending upon the position on path 1, and the radius of curvature of path 1 in at least one section 12 is greater than the greatest distance of path 1 from the rotational axis A.

Abstract: A machine for producing containers filled with a liquid product from preforms made from a thermoplastic material that includes a heating section (1) for thermal conditioning of the preforms in a drying region (2) of the machine, a molding and filling section (3) for simultaneous molding and filling of the containers within a mold by a filled product inserted into the preform under pressure in a wet region (4) of the machine and transport wheels (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) for transporting the preforms or the molded containers through the machine. A distance of adjacent preforms is smaller in the heating section (1) than in the molding and filling section (3). An enlarging of the distance of adjacent preforms between the heating section (1) and the molding and filling section (3) is performed by a transfer wheel (11) and the drying region (2) is separated from the wet region (4) by a lock (13) having a lock chamber (14).

Abstract: The device is used for the blow-molding of containers. A preform made of thermoplastic material, following a thermal conditioning within a blow-mold, is stretched by a stretching rod and is reshaped by effects of blowing pressure into the form of a container. A specification for the positioning of the stretching rod occurs through the use of a linear drive. Blowing pressure is created through the use of at least one positionable blowing gas supply. The linear drive is at least intermittently mechanically coupled with the positionable blowing gas supply and the stretching rod in such a way that coordinated movement kinetics are carried out. The coupling means and the coupled elements are constructed in such a manner that the axis of motion and the resulting force-effect axis form a common spatial axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston assembly for pumping a liquid, in particular in a bottle filling system. The object of the invention is to propose a piston assembly for pumping a liquid, which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without dismantling of the piston or performing any other external interventions into the assembly. The object is achieved by a piston assembly for pumping a liquid, which comprises a piston 1 that travels within a cylinder 2 and has a working path A between a first inversion point U1 and a second inversion point U2, with the piston 1 forming a tight seal with respect to the cylinder 2 in the region of the working path. The assembly is characterized in that beyond one of the two inversion points U1, U2, outside of the working path A, the diameter of the cylinder 2 is enlarged in one section 8 such that the sealing closure is eliminated there, and the piston 1 can be moved into this area for a cleaning and/or disinfection process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor of an apparatus for forming and/or filling containers made from preforms. The object of the invention is to propose a rotor of such an apparatus, that allows the preforms or the filled containers to be transferred with reduced forces to a processing station downstream. This object is achieved by a rotor 100 of such an apparatus having a rotational axis A and having processing stations that rotate about the rotational axis for receiving preforms or containers, wherein the processing stations move along a closed path 1 about the rotational axis A, which is characterized in that the distance of path 1 from the rotational axis A varies depending upon the position on path 1, and the radius of curvature of path 1 in at least one section 12 is greater than the greatest distance of path 1 from the rotational axis A.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for filling and closing containers. The problem of the present invention is to develop an apparatus for filling and closing containers such that the risk of the apparatus being contaminated by spilled contents is effectively prevented. This problem is solved by an apparatus for filling and closing containers which comprises a first process wheel (1) for filling a container and a second process wheel (2) for closing a filled container and also a transfer device (3) for transferring the filled containers from the first process wheel (1) to the second process wheel (2). The transfer device (3) has a linear transfer route (4).

Abstract: A synchronous running safeguard for transfer stations or devices for handling containers, in particular for handling bottle-like containers made of glass or plastic, having a first and a second rotary element, which each have holding elements for the containers and each have a motor drive. The rotary elements are disposed in relation to one another such that the containers can be transferred in a transfer area from one of the first holding elements to one of the second holding elements. The rotary elements, each rotationally connected, have a control element having engagement elements, and the control elements are in meshing engagement with one another. The control elements are disposed in such a way that, during operation the control elements are interengaged without contact during the rotary movement of the rotary elements and that, in the event of a fault, the control elements are interengaged with contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating apparatus (H) having at least one heating line (24) for the thermal conditioning of preforms (1) made of thermoplastic material to a temperature profile which is suitable for blow shaping, wherein the heating apparatus (H) comprises a transport device for transporting the preforms (1) along a transport path (T) of the heating apparatus (H), said transport device comprising a revolving conveyor chain (F) having a plurality of pivotably interconnected chain links (33), and wherein the transport device comprises handling means (39) for holding and manipulating a single preform (1) each, wherein the transport device is embodied and configured such that the preforms (1) are guided in a single row in at least a first section of the transport path (T), and are guided in two adjacent rows in at least a second section of the transport path (T), and wherein each chain link (33) comprises a bracket (41) on which a first handling means (39) and a second handling means (39?) are arranged

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 invention relates to a device for pumping a liquid in a liquid line, in particular in a bottling system. The object of the invention is a device for pumping a liquid in a liquid line, the liquid-guiding areas of which device can be cleaned and/or disinfected without disassembling the piston assembly or performing any other interventions from the exterior. According to the invention, a device for pumping a liquid in a liquid line (1) comprises a pump element (2) and two valves (3, 4) which are disposed in the liquid line upstream of and downstream from the pump element, said pump element (2) comprising a pump piston (6) operating in a cylinder (5). The inventive device is characterized in that said pump element (2) comprises a closed chamber (7) having a constant volume of a secondary liquid on which the pump piston (6) acts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stretch rod for the form-and-fill head of a machine for forming and filling of containers produced from preforms. The object of the invention is to devise a stretch rod of this type which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without being disassembled and without any other intervention. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a stretch rod (5) for the form-and-fill head (3) of a machine for forming and filling (molding and filling) of containers produced from preforms (2), which rod comprises a drive unit for axially moving said stretch rod (5). At least the part (6) of the drive unit which is connected to the stretch rod (5) is arranged in a drive chamber (11) which is sealed off from the regions of the form-and-fill head (3) which come into contact with the filling material (the material with which the container is being filled). The inventive stretch rod is characterized in that the sealing action is achieved by a seal (12) which surrounds the stretch rod (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for production of containers that are filled with a liquid product from preforms made from a thermoplastic material. The problem addressed by the invention is the proposing of such a machine which is easy to clean and disinfect. This problem is solved in that a machine comprises a heating section (1) for thermal conditioning of the preforms in a drying region (2) of the machine, a molding and filling section (3) for simultaneous molding and filling of the containers within a mold by a filled product inserted into the preforms under pressure in a wet region (4) of the machine and transport wheels (5, 6, 7, 8, 10) for transporting the preforms or the molded containers through the machine, wherein the distance of adjacent preforms is smaller in the heating section (1) than in the molding and filling section (3).

Abstract: A device for blow molding containers. Preheated preforms made of a thermoplastic material are transferred within a blow molding machine to a blowing device. In the region of the blowing device, the preforms are shaped into containers by the blow molding by a blowing pressure. In the region of the device for blow molding containers, a blowing nozzle seal is arranged, which is brought against a support ring of the preform. The blowing nozzle seal is formed by a sealing element and a support sleeve. The blowing nozzle seal is first mechanically preloaded in relation to the support ring after contact with the support ring and then is further loaded pneumatically. An accommodating space that surrounds the mouth section of the preform is thereby provided, which accommodating space has substantially the same pressure as the interior of the preform in order to avoid deformation of the mouth section.