Provided is an apparatus for processing containers, in particular plastic containers and plastic parisons, including at least one processing device which processes the containers in a predetermined manner, and including at least one transfer device, which transfers the containers, individually, to the processing device in a transfer region and/or to which the containers are transferred from the processing device in a transfer region. At least one inspection device is provided, which is suitable and intended for visually inspecting at least a part of the processing device and or the transfer region at least at sections and completely, at least temporarily during a transfer process of a container.

A method for forming containers from preforms. The method includes loading successive preforms into successive molds at a mold loading station, each mold having a mold cavity in the shape of the containers to be produced. The containers being formed in a forming station by injecting a gaseous or liquid fluid into the preform in order to expand the preform and acquires the shape of the container defined by the mold cavity. The steps performed at the mold loading station and the forming station are distinct from each other, and a transferring step occurs at a transferring station arranged between the mold loading station and the forming station where successive molds containing the preforms are transferred from the mold loading station to the forming station.

Plastic preforms are transported during their heating along a predetermined transport path and rotated with respect to their longitudinal axis during transport along a first transport path section to achieve uniform heating of the plastic preforms in the circumferential direction. The plastic preforms remain at least in sections in a predetermined first rotational position with respect to their longitudinal axis during their transport along a second transport path section so that first predetermined circumferential sections of the plastic preforms are heated differently from second predetermined circumferential portions of the plastic preforms. The plastic preforms remain at least in sections in a predetermined second rotational position with respect to their longitudinal axis during their transport along the second transport path section, the first and the second rotational position differing from one another by a predetermined differential angle.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a production facility of a series of containers from a series of preforms made of plastic materials. The method includes a first step of producing a preliminary series of individual containers from a preliminary series of preforms made of plastic materials. For each individual container produced during a tracking period, the method records (i) a marking that distinguishes said container other containers produced during said tracking period, and (ii) data relative to the production facility, its operation, and/or the preform or container. The method also includes a second step during which one or more physical values of each of the individually identified containers are measured during the first step, and a third step of compiling a database that matches, for each individually identified container, the measurement(s) of the second step, and the series of data acquired during the first step.

The invention concerns a method for managing captive preforms immobilized in a heating station during an interruption of production, the preforms following a production stream, the heating station including a device for conveying preforms and a heating cavity bordered by at least one row of emitters of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. The method consists in ejecting from the production stream the cold captive preforms that have been immobilized before they have been exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitters to a recycling stream and rejecting from the production stream the hot captive preforms that have been at least partly exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitters to a reject stream separate from the recycling stream.

Method for the production of containers from a series of plastic preforms heated in a container production facility having at least one heating station, a forming machine with a number of forming stations, one or more treatment machines with a number of treatment stations. The method includes: forming the preforms in the forming machine; treating the individual containers in the treatment machine; and circulating each container held individually between the forming machine and the treatment machine(s). The method also includes individual identification of each container that is produced during a predetermined tracking period, an individual identification phase including a marking step during which each individual container that is produced during the tracking period receives a marking that matches the container, making it possible to identify individually the container by distinguishing it from all of the other containers produced by the production facility during the tracking period.

The invention relates to a gripper system (10) comprising a gripper module carrier (12) and a gripper module (14) for holding workpieces (22), in particular containers or container preforms, the gripper module (14) having a gripper base (16) and two gripper arms (18) with gripping elements (20) for at least partially gripping around a holding region (24) of containers or container preforms, the gripper arms being mounted on the gripper base (16) such that they can pivot relative to one another, the gripper module (14) being releasably connected to the gripper module carrier (12), wherein the gripper system (10) further comprises a locking device (26) for locking the gripper module (14) to the gripper module carrier (12), and wherein the locking device (26) is movable into a locking position for locking the gripper module (14) to the gripper module carrier (12).

The present invention relates to a heating system for preforms upstream of a blowing or stretch-blowing machine, in particular a heating system using monochromatic infrared radiation, preferably laser-generated. In particular, the invention relates to a heating system (301) for preforms (P), comprising a carousel for treating the preforms (P) comprising a plurality of heating elements (304) configured to be inserted either inside or outside each preform (P) and to radiate electromagnetic radiation in the infrared field which forms, in such a device, a disc of radiation according to a radial symmetry which departs from the center of the axis of the preform and which appropriately converges and diverges.

A preform orienting apparatus for a preform having an integral handle is disclosed. The preform orienting apparatus has a stationary outer guide comprising a friction strip configured to contact a portion of the preform and pick up the preform by the portion of the preform, and configured to rotate the preform, and a moving starwheel assembly comprising a plurality of lugs disposed on an underneath side of the moving starwheel, wherein at least one lug of the plurality of lugs is configured to stop rotation of the preform at a predisposed position of the integral handle.

Apparatus for treating plastic preforms, having a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path, having a first application device which loads the plastic preforms with a first flowable medium through their mouth during their transport along a first transport path section,

wherein
the apparatus has a second application device which acts upon the plastic preforms with a second flowable medium during their transport along a second transport path section through their mouth.