An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, includes a transport device, which has a rotatable transport carrier on which a plurality of forming stations is arranged. The forming stations each have application devices for applying fluid medium to the plastic preforms. The forming stations each have stretching devices for stretching the plastic preforms in the longitudinal direction thereof. The stretching devices each have at least one stretching rod which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms. The apparatus has a clean room, within which the plastic preforms are expanded into the plastic containers, and a sealing device in order to seal the clean room from a non-sterile environment. The sealing device has at least one circumferential channel which can be filled with a liquid, characterized in that the clean room is closed with a cover device, and this cover device is fastened at least to at least one stretching device by fastening devices.

Provided is a method for verifying holding members in a heating station equipped with a device for transporting the preforms. The device includes a plurality of movable supports circulating in a closed circuit and members for individually holding the preforms by their neck, where each of the holding members is borne by a movable support. The method includes setting the movable supports in movement to bring them successively into an acquisition zone, acquiring an image of each individual holding member in the acquisition zone, and automatically verifying the presence of a holding member on each of the images taken.

An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path. The transport device has a movable and in particular rotatable transport carrier on which a plurality of forming stations is arranged. The forming stations each having blow molding devices with at least two blow mold side parts and a bottom part which form a hollow space inside which the plastic preforms are formed into the plastic containers by applying a flowable medium. The forming stations each having application devices for applying the flowable medium to the plastic preforms. A diameter of the transport carrier is smaller than 2 m, and 4-16 forming stations are arranged on the transport carrier or a diameter of the transport carrier is smaller than 3 m, and 17 to 35 forming stations are arranged on the transport carrier.

A system for producing filled plastic containers from sterilized plastic preforms, includes a transport device for transporting the plastic preforms and plastic containers produced from the plastic preforms by forming, along a predetermined transport path through the system, a forming apparatus for forming the sterilized plastic preforms into plastic containers, and a filling apparatus for filling the plastic containers during their at least sectional transport substantially along a circular line about a central axis of the filling apparatus. The forming apparatus and the filling apparatus have a maximum distance from one another in relation to their respective central axes of 5.5 m, preferably of 5.3 m, and the forming apparatus has a maximum number of 24 forming stations or of 6.0 m, preferably of 5.6 m, and the forming apparatus has more than 24 forming stations.

A process for angular indexing of a pre-form having a body and a neck. The process includes a step of marking the neck of the pre-form which consists of production of at least one reference point on the neck of the pre-form. The process also includes a step of a heating station taking charge of the pre-form, during which the pre-form is transported along a heating course by a support unit, known as a spinner, which makes it possible to turn the pre-form around its axis, and during which the body of the pre-form is heated. The marking step is carried out during the step of taking charge, when the pre-form, supported by a spinner, travels along the heating course.

Apparatus for producing plastic containers has a heating device having a transport device for transporting the plastic preforms singly along a predefined transport path. The transport device has a plurality of holding devices for holding the plastic preforms, and at least one heating unit for heating the plastic preforms, wherein furthermore a rotating device is provided which rotates the plastic preforms held by the holding devices and is connected to a forming device, which transforms the plastic preforms transported by the heating device into plastic containers. The apparatus has an alignment device which enables alignment of the rotational position of the plastic preforms with respect to their longitudinal direction relative to the holding devices holding these plastic preforms and/or the apparatus has a rotational position alignment device arranged along the transport path which enables alignment of a rotational position of the holding devices with the plastic preforms arranged thereon.

Provided is a thermal conditioning method of preforms. The method includes heating each preform by transport along a heating path exposed to heating radiation with a determined production rate; transporting the preforms (in line along a diffusion path; transforming the preforms in forming units at the determined production rate. The diffusion path includes a final buffer section along which the preforms travel for an adjustable duration.

An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers having a transport device which transports the preforms to be formed along a predetermined transport path, wherein the transport device has a rotatable transport carrier on which a plurality of forming stations are arranged which each have a blow-molding device within which the preforms can be formed into the containers. The forming stations each have a pressurizing device which pressurizes the preforms with a flowable medium, i.e., compressed air, wherein the pressurizing device subjects the preforms to a preblowing pressure, at least one and preferably two intermediate blowing pressures, and a final blowing pressure. The apparatus has a detection device which is configured for detecting at least one value characteristic of the plastic container, wherein depending on this value characteristic of the container, the duration of the pressure rise time of at least one intermediate blowing pressure can be regulated.

Disclosed is an apparatus for heating plastic preforms, having a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path, the transport device having a circulating transport and a plurality of holding devices for holding the plastic preforms, having a plurality of heating devices which are arranged stationarily along the transport path, in such a way that the plastic preforms transported along the transport path are heated by these heating devices, the heating devices each having a plurality of heating lamps, and the apparatus having a detection device which is configured to detect a failure of the heating lamps, wherein the apparatus has a control device which is configured to control the apparatus in dependence on a number of heating lamps detected having failed.

A gravity rail system for transferring wide-mouth preforms comprising a first rail configured to support a first portion of the wide-mouth preform, and a second rail proximate the first rail, where the second rail further comprises a body that defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the wide-mouth preform. The cavity has an inner surface configured to prevent jamming of the wide-mouth preform as the preform is transferred along the gravity rail.