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).

A preform is easily and promptly sterilized. Superheated steam (S) generated from water, and having a temperature of 200 C. to 500 C. and a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is blasted to entire inner and outer surfaces of a preform (1) including a mouth portion (1a) thereof.

Bottles are appropriately sterilized in an inline system. While continuously traveling preheated preforms (1), the preform is preliminarily heated, hydrogen peroxide mist (M) or gas is blasted to the preheated preform, the preform is heated to a temperature suitable for molding the preform, the preform is molded in a blow-molding mold (4), which is continuously traveling together with the preform, into a container (2), the container taken out of the mold is filled with drink while being continuously traveled and then applied with a lid to seal the container.

The invention relates to an assembly (1) composed of at least one preform (12) and of a device (10) for decontaminating the interior of a preform (12) by irradiation with at least one type of ultraviolet radiation emitted by components (22) of the semiconductor type, relates to an installation (100) for producing a sterile recipient (120) including at least one decontamination device (10) and relates to a method for fabricating a sterile recipient (120) starting from a decontaminated preform (12).

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.

A method and apparatus for the sterilization of plastics material pre-forms, wherein the plastics material pre-forms are conveyed by a conveying device along a pre-determined conveying path and are sterilized at least for a time during this conveying by being acted upon with a flowable sterilization agent, wherein the plastics material pre-forms are conveyed at least for a time inside a housing. According to the method and apparatus, at least one portion of the housing is heated at least for a time and/or during the sterilization procedure by a heating source independent of the sterilization agent.

(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.

Method for moulding and sterilizing a container made of plastic material, comprising the steps of: opening a mould (4) made of metal material; inserting a parison (3) into the mould (4); closing the mould (4); inserting a stretching rod (23) made of metal material into the parison (3); blowing and stretching the parison (3) in such a manner as to obtain the container; keeping the stretching rod (23) inside the moulded container; evacuating the blowing fluid; applying a voltage difference between the stretching rod (23) and the closed mould (4) in such a manner as to transform the fluid at atmospheric pressure remaining inside the moulded container into plasma.

The invention relates to a device (100) for sterilizing plastic parisons (1), with a sterilization chamber (3) and a transport device (2) disposed at least partially inside the sterilization chamber (3) for moving the plastic parisons (1) within the sterilization chamber (3), wherein the transport device (2) has at least one gripping system (4) for engaging round and supporting the plastic parisons (1) by means of a gripping clamp (41), wherein the gripping system (4) has a displacement means (5) for displacement during sterilization within the sterilization chamber of contact surfaces (1A) of the plastic parisons (1) which are shielded by the gripping system (4) from a sterilizing medium and/or sterilizing radiation.