A method for forming plastic preforms into containers, wherein a transport device transports the preforms along a transport path. The transport device has a rotatable transport carrier where forming stations are arranged for forming the preforms into containers. The forming stations each have devices which apply a flowable medium to the preforms, and the apparatus has three pressure reservoirs which store the flowable and gaseous medium to expand the preforms. The preforms are applied to a first operating mode with a first pressure level stored in the first pressure reservoir, and at least one second and one third pressure levels stored in the second and third pressure reservoirs. The second pressure level is higher than the first, and the third pressure level is higher than the second. The apparatus is operated in a second operating mode, which differs from the first mode by pressure level prevailing in the second pressure reservoir.

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.

Method for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein a preform is expanded into the container by exposure to a flowable medium, wherein the medium is stored under a first pressure in a first pressure reservoir and is stored under a second pressure higher than the first pressure in a second pressure reservoir, and the preform is subjected to a first blowing pressure via a flow connection between the first pressure reservoir and the preform and is subjected to the second blowing pressure via a flow connection between the second pressure reservoir and the preform and wherein at times the flowable medium is returned to the first pressure reservoir, and first values characteristic of the action of the medium on the preforms are predetermined taking into account the first values, second values are determined which are characteristic for a point or period in time of the return of the mediums into the first pressure reservoir.

An apparatus for shaping plastic preforms into plastic containers is disclosed. Said apparatus comprises a conveying device on which a plurality of blowing stations are arranged. Each of said blowing stations encompasses a blow mold, within which a plastic preform can be shaped into a plastic container. The apparatus further comprises a clean chamber, within which the plastic preforms can be conveyed. According to the invention, the zone of the conveying device in which the blowing stations are arranged is located in the clean chamber, and at least one additional zone of the conveying device is located outside the clean chamber.

An apparatus for forming plastic material preforms into plastic material containers has a transport device which transports the plastic material preforms along a predetermined transport path, wherein this transport device has a plurality of transport devices preferably adjoining one another for transporting the plastic material preforms, with a heating device, which heats the plastic material preforms, and with a forming device which is arranged along the transport path of the plastic material preforms downstream of the heating device, wherein the apparatus has a first transport device which feeds the plastic material preforms individually to the heating device, wherein the heating device has a second transport device which transports the plastic material preforms during their heating. The first transport device has a first drive device and the second transport device has a second drive device and the first drive device and the second drive device can be controlled independently of one another.

An apparatus for producing plastic bottles includes a molding machine to receive and mold the preforms into bottles; a labeling machine to label the bottles; a filler to fill the bottles; a packer to package the bottles; and a distributor arranged at an outfeed of the labeling machine or the filler to transfer the bottles to the packer. No buffers are positioned between at least one of the molding machine, the labeling machine, and the filler and at least one of the packer and the distributor to bloc-synchronize the at least one of the molding machine, the labeling machine, and the filler with the at least one of the packer and the distributer. The at least one of the molding machine, the labeling machine, and the filler being spaced a distance from the at least one of the packer and the distributor via one or more transfer starwheels.

A synchronization system for a container-processing plant, including a container-forming machine configured to form a container, the container-forming machine having a first rotating wheel for rotating the container about a first rotation axis; a container-filling machine operatively coupled to the container-forming machine and configured to fill the container, the container-filling machine having a second rotating wheel for rotating the container about a second rotation axis; and at least one electric motor configured to cause the first rotating wheel and the second rotating wheel to rotate, the synchronization system comprising: a position sensor provided in the container-forming machine and configured to detect a rotating position of the first rotating wheel and to generate a position detection signal; at least one control unit configured to: receive information associated with the position detection signal; synchronize the rotation of the second rotating wheel to the rotation of the first rotating wheel based on the information associated with the position detection signal; and synchronize the rotation of the container-forming machine and container-filling machine from a zero speed up to a full operating speed of the container forming machine at which processing operations are designed to be performed.

An apparatus for heating plastic preforms includes a first transport device that transports the plastic preforms in a separated manner, wherein said first transport device has a plurality of recesses for receiving the plastic preforms, and a second transport device that takes over the plastic preforms transported by the first transport device and transports said plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path. The second transport device has a plurality of holding elements for holding the plastic preforms. The apparatus also includes at least one heating device that heats the plastic preforms transported by the second transport device, wherein at least the first transport device is a circulating transport device, wherein a relative position of the recesses of the first transport device in the circulation direction of the first transport device relative to a position of the holding elements in respect of the transport path can be changed.

A preform has a flange that protrudes outward at a neck, and is supplied in an inverted state. A preform handling device includes a star wheel that is configured so that the preform is supplied to each of a plurality of depressions that are formed in an outer circumferential part of a wheel, and pushes the preform to rotationally transfer the preform from an upstream region to a downstream region, an end face guide member that is provided in the upstream region so as to be situated under the preform and that support and guide an open end face of the preform, and a pair of flange guide members that are provided in the downstream region and that support and guide a lower side of the flange of the preform.

Disclosed is an installation for producing thermoplastic containers including: a container coating station including an input wheel and an output wheel; an upstream transfer wheel that is tangent with the input wheel in an input tangential zone; and a downstream transfer wheel that is tangent with the output wheel in an output tangential zone. The installation includes a bypass wheel that is directly tangent with the upstream transfer wheel in an upstream tangential zone and the bypass wheel that is directly tangent with the downstream transfer wheel in a downstream tangential zone.