A molding apparatus and method for the combined manufacturing and filling of plastic containers in a one step process. The molding apparatus and method utilize a mold having an inner cavity with surfaces presenting hydrophobic properties thereby enabling a resultant container to have flawless appearance.

A container-fabricating apparatus having an injection head establishing fluid communication between an injection fluid port disposed therein and a preform disposed in communication with a nozzle of the injection head. The apparatus also including a stretching rod moveable between a position projecting from the injection head through the nozzle and a substantially retracted position. The apparatus further includes a cleaning chamber at least partially defined by a hollow, elongate housing contiguous with and extending from the injection head, a plurality of cleaning chamber ports in a wall of the housing establishing fluid communication with the cleaning chamber, the stretching rod being substantially disposed within the cleaning chamber when disposed in the substantially retracted position.

A liquid blow molding method molds a bottomed tubular-shaped preform into a liquid-containing container in which a content liquid is held. The liquid blow molding method includes: a first molding step of liquid blow molding the preform into a halfway shape by supplying, into the preform that has been heated to a predetermined temperature, a first liquid at a predetermined pressure through a nozzle unit; and a second molding step, performed after the first molding step, of liquid blow molding the preform by supplying a second liquid into the preform at a predetermined pressure through the nozzle unit.

A method and device for supplying an inert gas in a beverage filling plant are provided. The method includes feeding surplus process heat from the beverage filling plant to a heat exchanger, feeding an inert gas from an inert gas source to the heat exchanger, heating the inert gas in the heat exchanger, and supplying the heated inert gas for use in the beverage filling plant.

A method for operating a forming device for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein in a working mode of the apparatus, the plastic preforms are transported by means of a plurality of forming stations along a predefined transport path, and by loading with a fluid medium are expanded into plastic containers, wherein to expand the plastic preforms, blow-moulding devices are used, inside which the plastic preforms are expanded into plastic containers, wherein in a change mode, at least one of the blow-moulding devices is removed from the apparatus and/or one of the blow-moulding devices is arranged on a blow-mould carrier of the apparatus, wherein to change the blow-moulding devices, a change device is used which has a gripper device for gripping the blow-moulding device. According to the invention, in a working mode, the forming device is operated in a first protected area which is not accessible to a machine operator, and the change device is arranged at least partially in a second protected area which is accessible for the machine operator for at least part of the time in working mode, wherein a connection can be created between the first protected area and the second protected area.

Systems and methods for making a reduced material container are provided that hold a preform adjacent to an open end of the preform, stretch the preform, close a mold about the stretched preform to form a truncated preform, and introduce a pressurized fluid into the truncated preform to expand the truncated preform and form the reduced material container. A stretch rod can be inserted into the preform to mechanically stretching the preform. The mold accepts the preform at a first end thereof, has an open state and a closed state, and the closed state forms a cavity defining an internal surface having a second end located remotely from the first end. A first length is defined by a distance between the first end and the second end, the stretch rod mechanically stretching the preform to a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.

A method using an injection device having an outlet through which a liquid is injected into a preform and includes the steps of placing a preform in a malleable state in fluidic communication with an outlet of the injection device, forming the container by expanding the preform during a forming step, the forming step including at least an injection step, wherein pressurized liquid is injected into the preform through the outlet of the injection device such that the liquid expends expands the preform into a container and fills the container. The method includes a step of heating the wall of the preform during at least a part of the forming step by vibrating the wall of the preform.

A mold cleaner for in-line cleaning of a mold cavity of a blow mold of a blow molding machine. The cleaner has a mount attaching the cleaner to the collet of the machine, enabling the feed belt of the machine to transport the collet and the cleaner to and from the blow mold to be cleaned. An air-powered motor engages the mount, has a motor shaft, and receives air from the blow seal of the machine, which activates the motor and rotates the motor shaft. A bearing carrier surrounds the motor and engages the mount. A cleaning unit is carried by the bearing carrier and rotated by the motor shaft, and contacts the mold cavity to clean the mold cavity. A related method is also provided of using the mold cleaner to perform in-line cleaning of a mold cavity of a blow mold of a blow molding machine.

An apparatus (500) for fabricating containers (511) comprises a plurality of mold segments (501A-501I) each with two substantially opposite faces (510A-510I) that form a mold cavity (509A-509I) when abutted against another mold segment (501A-501I), and a guiding means (502) to conduct them along a closed path (503) of length greater than the total length of the mold segments (501A-501I); being characterized in that it comprises at least one injecting head configured to inject a volume of liquid into a cavity of a preform (507) disposed within the mold cavity (509A-509I) and expand it into a container (511), and being further characterized in that each mold segment (501A-501I) is conducted along the closed path (503) through at least one manipulation zone (505, 506) of said closed path (503) at an increased speed relative to the immediately adjacent mold segments (501A-501I), said apparatus (500) comprising a positioning manipulation zone (505) where the preform (507) is inserted into said apparatus (500), and an extracting manipulation zone (506) where the container (511) is extracted.

A forming station comprising a source of pressurized forming fluid, and an injection device comprising an inlet, in fluidic communication with the source of pressurized forming fluid, and an outlet in fluidic communication with the inlet and through which the forming fluid is intended to be injected in the preform and further comprising a stretch rod movable in translation according to the axis of the stretch rod relative to the outlet and arranged to assist the axial deformation of the preform during a stretching phase. The forming station further comprises a vibratory device connected to the stretch rod, arranged to vibrate the stretch rod when said vibratory device is actuated, and a control device arranged to actuate the vibratory device during at least a part of the stretching phase.