A process for the manufacturing and filling of plastic containers, the process comprising the steps of: positioning a preform with relation to a mold assembly of two or more components, the preform generally being fabricated from a plastic and being provided with a longitudinal axis and presenting a stretchable portion and a non-stretchable portion; stretching the preform along its longitudinal axis; injecting a fluid into the interior volume of the preform, the fluid being under such pressure as to cause the preform to plastically deform until achieving the desired size and shape; and releasing the container from the mold assembly and sealing the container, and in which at least a portion of the stretchable portion of the perform is at a temperature below its vitreous transition temperature (Tg) and, preferably, at ambient temperatures.

An apparatus (1) for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms (10) into plastics material containers (20) with a movable carrier (2) on which is arranged at least one shaping station (4), wherein the shaping station has a blow molding device (6), and wherein the shaping station additionally has a stressing device (12) which acts upon the plastics material pre-forms with a flowable medium for their expansion, wherein the shaping station additionally has a rod-like body (14) which is capable of being inserted into the plastics material pre-forms in order to stretch them in the longitudinal direction (L) thereof, wherein the shaping station has a drive device (24) which moves the rod-like body (14) with respect to the plastics material pre-form. According to the invention a coupling device (30) is provided which couples a movement of the rod-like body (14) with respect to the plastics material pre-form to a movement of the stressing device (12) with respect to the plastics material pre-form (10)in particular in a mechanical mannerat least for a time, and the apparatus has an influencing device (40) which influences a supply movement of the stressing device (12) towards the plastics material pre-form at least locally.

The invention relates to a device for delivering a beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform, the preform being approximately cylindrical and positioned in a mold, characterized in that it includes injection unit for injecting at least one beverage into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold, the mold defining the shape of the container, the injection unit comprising an injection head designed to inject at least one beverage through a mouth of the recess, the injection head being integrated into the mold.

A stretch blow molding system (200) is provided. The stretch blow molding system comprises a cylinder (201) including a movable stretch rod (202) and a blow-mold valve (204). The blow-mold valve (204) comprises a first fluid port (204a) in fluid communication with a first pressurized fluid source (364a). The blow-mold valve (204) also includes a second fluid port (204b) in fluid communication with a second pressurized fluid source (364b). A third fluid port (204c) of the blow-mold valve is in fluid communication with the cylinder (201) and selectively in fluid communication with the first fluid port (204a) and the second fluid port (204b).

A system for pre-stretching a preform utilized in forming a container. The system including an oven, a conveyor system configured for transporting preforms through the oven a blow molding station having at least one mold with interior surfaces defining the shape of the container, and a transfer station configured to transfer a preform from the oven into the blow molding station. The system also includes a stretch rod and an actuator. The stretch rod is movable between retracted and extended positions such that, when in the extended position, the stretch rod is positioned interiorly of the preform and the preform is elongated by the stretch rod to form a pre-stretched preform. The stretch rod is located to form the pre-stretched preform prior to the blowing medium being introduced into the preform in the blow molding station.

An apparatus for forming a thermoplastic container from a cylindrical preform and for delivering a predetermined volume of a beverage component into the container. The apparatus includes: a mold defining a shape of the container; a member configured to inject at least one beverage component into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold into the shape of the container, the member being further configured to inject the at least one beverage component in a first volume intentionally greater than the predetermined volume; and the member also being configured to remove a fraction of the first volume of the beverage component until a second volume of beverage component remaining in the container is equal to the predetermined volume.

The invention relates to a method of delivering a predetermined volume of beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform positioned in a mold, characterized in that the product includes a step of injecting at least some beverage into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mold, the mold defining the shape of the container, a volume of beverage introduced during the injection step being at least equal to said predetermined volume, and, in addition, the method includes a step of sucking out a fraction of said volume of the beverage introduced until the volume of beverage remaining in the container is approximately equal to said predetermined volume.

A molding unit (10) for forming a container made of thermoplastic material, includes:a mold bottom (16) that is movable between a low position, an intermediate boxing position and a high position;a carriage (24) that supports the mold bottom (16) and is mounted in a movable manner in a fixed holder (26);actuation elements for moving the carriage (24) into its intermediate boxing position;the actuation elements including a cylinder (32) that houses a piston (98) liable to push the mold bottom (16) through a boxing travel; characterized in that the mold bottom (16) is supported in a fixed manner by the carriage (24), the cylinder (32) being fixed with respect to the fixed holder (26). A method for employing the molding unit is also described.

A method for forming and filling a container with liquid. The container being formed from a preform located within a mold and the method utilizing a hydraulic blow molding device that is coupled to a source of the liquid, which is used as the blow molding medium. The hydraulic blow molding device has a blow nozzle and a member that is extended from a retracted position to a position within the preform. A blow nozzle engages in fluid tight communication with an open end of the preform so as to provide a sealing engagement of the blow nozzle with the preform. The liquid blow medium is injected into the preform so as to form the container after sealing engagement of the blow nozzle with the preform. The member initiates its advancement into the preform prior to the time of sealing engagement of the blow nozzle with the preform.

The method and the device are used for blow-molding containers. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first subject to a thermal conditioning operation along a transport path in the region of a heating section. Thereafter, the preform is formed into the container inside a blowing mold by applying blowing pressure. While the preform is shaped into the container, at least one parameter (49, 50) characterizing the shaping is measured and evaluated by a control unit. Depending on said evaluation, at least one controlled variable (48, 46) influencing the shaping operation inside a closed loop is varied in order to match the measured parameter to an associated target value. In this way, it becomes possible to subject the container parison developing during the blow-molding operation to a predetermined defined development.