The invention relates to a method for reducing the microbiological loading of container products consisting at least partially of at least one plastic material, in which, as part of a first production process, a plastic granulate (29) is fed to an extruder device (19), which melts the granulate (29), which, as part of a further subsequent production process, is forwarded onto a blowmolding, filling and sealing machine for obtaining the respective container product, characterised in that, at least in parts of the first production process, the respective used plastic material undergoes at least one of the following treatment steps: high-energy radiation and/or plasma treatment and/or a gas having a sterilizing effect.

The invention relates to a device for reducing the microbiological contaminants of container products which consist predominantly of plastics materials. In said device a plastics granulate is fed to an extruder assembly (19) which melts the granulate, said granulate being subsequently supplied to a form fill seal machine for producing the relevant container product. The device also comprises a guide assembly (35) for the targeted guidance of the plasticated plastics material from the extruder assembly (19) to said machine. The device is characterised in that at least one guide assembly (35) has at least one flow or channel guide (41) for the melted plastics material, so that microbiological contaminants are guided predominantly into the interior of the wall of the polymeric tube, said interior being enclosed by regions of the plastics material that are less contaminated.

Apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers with a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predefined transport path, wherein the transport device has a movable station carrier on which a plurality of forming stations are arranged, wherein these forming stations each have blow-moulding devices, each forming cavities within which the plastic preforms can be formed into plastic containers, and the blow-moulding devices are arranged on respective blow-mould carriers, wherein the apparatus has a clean room inside which the plastic preforms can be formed into the plastic containers, isolated from a non-sterile environment by at least one wall. The apparatus has a change device which is suitable and intended for at least removing the blow-moulding devices from their blow-mould carriers and/or arranging blow-moulding devices on the blow-mould carriers, wherein this change device is integrated in a module which can be separated from the clean room.

A blow molding machine is simply sterilized. The blow molding machine is sterilized by filling a preform (1) with a liquid sterilizer (P) containing an ethanol constituent or both an ethanol constituent and a hydrogen peroxide constituent, and blasting blow air into the preform (1) in a state where the liquid sterilizer (P) remains in the preform (1) to diffuse the liquid sterilizer (P).

A method for operating an apparatus for sterilizing containers where the containers are each held and are transported along a predefined path by means of a movable carrier, and a plurality of sterilization units are arranged on the carrier, each having rod-like bodies that are introduced into the containers and apply charge carriers onto an internal wall of the containers. The charge carriers exit through an exit window of the rod-like bodies, as the charge carriers move in a longitudinal direction relative to the rod-like bodies.

To sterilize a container during blow molding thereof.

After a preform (1) is put in a molding die (6), the molding die (6) is clamped, and a mist or gas of a sterilizer or a mixture thereof is blasted into the preform (1), a blow molding air is blasted into the preform (1) to expand the preform (1) into a container (2) as a finished product, and the used blow molding air is discharged from the container (2) to remove the sterilizer in the container (2).

Disclosed are a device for reshaping preforms to plastic containers (2), a transport device (1), as well as a method for transporting plastic containers (2) or preforms. The device (100) for reshaping preforms into plastic containers (2) comprises at least two blow moulds (81) in which the preforms are expanded into plastic containers, arranged on a circumferentially driven blowing wheel (80), a heater (50) for heating the preforms, and a transport device (1) for the plastic containers (2) or preforms. The transport device (1) comprises a motor drive (5) having a drive shaft (15) that drives a support (17) with at least two gripping and/or support elements (4) for the respective plastic containers (2) or preforms to be transported in a rotary fashion, wherein the gripping and/or support elements (4) are mounted with a linear bearing (21) so as to be movable relative to the support, wherein the linear bearing has at least one rail, which is surrounded at least in sections by a cage (71), and that a plurality of rollers (72), in particular more than 50 rollers, which roll on the rail (73), is arranged in the cage (71).

A method for the production of blow-molded containers that are sterile at least in certain regions, and a blow-molding machine configured to carry out the method. In accordance with the method, blowing stations are arranged on a rotating blowing wheel. A preform of a thermoplastic material is first heated and then stretched in a blowing station by a stretching rod and subjected to a pressurized blowing fluid via a blowing nozzle. A sterilizing fluid is supplied to the preform in the blowing station to perform a sterilization. The sterilizing fluid is fed into the preform from an outlet and is carried away again via an inlet and in between follows a flow path. The sterilizing fluid is made to pass through or pass by the stretching rod on its flow path, and the sterilizing fluid is supplied while the blow-molding machine continues to operate.

Moulding device (1) for moulding a container starting with a parison (3) in plastic material, comprising: two half-moulds (4a, 4b), which may be joined to define at least one housing cavity (5) for the parison (3); a blowing nozzle (6) applicable on the neck (3b) of the parison (3); a plasma generator (8) receiving a blowing fluid at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure and supplying plasma at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure to the blowing nozzle (6), so that the plasma is blown into the parison (3) placed in the housing cavity (5) to mould it and to decontaminate it.

(1) for moulding a container starting with a parison (3) in plastic material, comprising: two half-moulds (4a, 4b) defining at least one housing cavity (5) for the parson (3); a stretching rod (23), made of metal material and insertable into said parson (3) to stretch it; a hollow body (25), made of metal material, sized so as to envelop at least partially the parison (3) placed in said housing cavity (5), a voltage difference being applied between the stretching rod (23) and the hollow body (25) so as to generate a plasma inside said housing cavity (5), said plasma having a pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure.