A production system for producing and/or filling containers, including beverage bottles, includes modular processing units. Each of the modular processing units includes a stationary operating module configured to produce or process the containers and handling devices. The handling devices are configured to handle the containers between a container entry of the processing unit and a container exit of the processing unit and to position the containers in the operating module. The handling devices are configured such that the processing units are individually replaceable. Alternatively or additionally to this, at least two processing units of a same kind are provided to which the containers are specifically distributable.

A method of controlling a preform for stretch blow-moulding a container with an integrally formed handle; the preform comprising, a body portion and the integrally formed handle; the preform transferred from a perform supply source to a blow moulding die for blowing the container; the method including the steps of passing the preform through a preform handle orientating apparatus, transferring the preform to a preform transportation system, maintaining orientation of the preform handle imposed by the perform handle orientating apparatus during transfer to the perform transportation system and transfer to the blow moulding die, rotating the preforms during transport along the transportation system past an array of preform heating elements while shielding the integrally formed handle from excessive exposure to the heating elements, transferring the preform from the transportation system to the blow moulding die, and wherein the handle comprises a loop of orientable material extending between an upper connection region and a lower connection region on the body portion of the preform; characterised in that the handle has a generally uniform cross section from proximate the lower connection region to a gradually widening cross section approaching the upper connection region; the cross section reaching and maintaining a maximum width proximate the upper connection region.

An apparatus (1) for producing sterile receptacles (2), comprising: a moulding unit (13) for moulding parisons (4) starting from granules of thermoplastic material; a stretch-blowing forming unit (3) in aseptic conditions which receives the parisons (4) from the moulding unit (13); a plurality of picking organs (14, 15) of the parisons (4) which are operatively active only on the neck (4b) of the parisons (4) for handling and transferring them inside the apparatus (1).

A grip device for the support and movement of preforms which extends along a longitudinal axis and is of the type provided with an access port which forms, at a rim, an annular radial flaring which lies on a surface of arrangement that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The grip device includes a supporting element which is functionally associated with an air supply conduit and is connected to at least one air exit nozzle which is adapted to generate at least one respective air flow which is designed to arrange itself parallel to at least one portion of the radial flaring of a preform to be held in order to enable the preform to be supported without contact.

Provided is an apparatus for heating plastic parisons, including a transport device or transporter, which transports the plastic parisons at least in sections along a predefined transport path, wherein the transport device or transporter has a plurality of holding devices or holders for holding the plastic parisons, with a heating device or heaters for heating the plastic parisons at least at times, while they are being transported by the transport device or transporters, wherein the apparatus has at least one heat shielding device or heat shield which is suitable and intended to counteract the heating of mouth regions of the plastic parisons.

Provided is a device for treating containers, comprising a heating device for heating plastic preforms, wherein the heating device has a plurality of heating stations which are suitable for individually heating the plastic preforms, and wherein the heating device has a transport device which transports the plastic preforms individually through the heating device, and comprising a reshaping device which is suitable and intended for reshaping the plastic preforms heated by the heating device into plastic containers. This reshaping device is arranged downstream of the heating device in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, and the reshaping device has a movable support, on which a plurality of reshaping stations are arranged for reshaping the plastic preforms into the plastic containers. The device also comprises a transport device, for transporting the heated plastic preforms individually from the heating device to the reshaping device, and a decorating device.

Objects, such as, for example, preforms for producing PET bottles, are feedable to silo as bulk material by a bulk material feeding device. A fill level sensor of the silo is connected to the control device. The control device actuates the feed drive in order to refill the silo with objects in dependence on the determined fill level of the silo. Connected downstream of the silo is an overhead conveyor and downstream of the overhead conveyor a separating-into-singles system. Both the overhead conveyor and the separating-into-singles system comprise sensors and drives, all the sensors being connected to the control device and the control device controlling all the drives.

A blow molding device of the invention includes a pair of blow cavity split molds (50A, 50B), a chuck member (80) that chucks a mouth portion (20) and conveys a preform (10A), a blow core mold (70) that includes a tubular portion (71) which surrounds circumferences of the mouth portion and a flange (25) and introduces blow air into the preform, and a pair of projecting members (60A, 60B) which have a halved ring shape and are provided detachably on each upper surface of the pair of blow cavity split molds. Each of the pair of projecting members includes an airtight sealing portion (61) which is in contact with a lower end face of the tubular portion of the blow core mold, and a positioning portion (62) which positions the flange of the preform.

Apparatus for producing plastic material preforms, includes at least two preform manufacturing devices configured for producing the plastic material preforms from a plastic material, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each having preform transport devices. The apparatus includes a main transport device which is configured for transporting the plastic material preforms produced by the preform manufacturing devices and transported by the preform transport devices continuously along a predetermined main transport path, wherein the plastic material preforms are transferred to the main transport device by the production devices after their production.

The present invention is aimed at an adjustment system, in particular for adjusting the distance apart of at least two guide mechanisms for the transport of, for instance, preforms for plastics containers, wherein the at least two guide mechanisms are respectively connected to a setting unit, and wherein the setting unit comprises in each case at least one piston-like element, which is pneumatically movable to and fro between a first stop and a second stop within the setting unit.