Systems and methods for making a reduced material container are provided that hold a preform adjacent to an open end of the preform, stretch the preform, close a mold about the stretched preform to form a truncated preform, and introduce a pressurized fluid into the truncated preform to expand the truncated preform and form the reduced material container. A stretch rod can be inserted into the preform to mechanically stretching the preform. The mold accepts the preform at a first end thereof, has an open state and a closed state, and the closed state forms a cavity defining an internal surface having a second end located remotely from the first end. A first length is defined by a distance between the first end and the second end, the stretch rod mechanically stretching the preform to a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.

In a blow/fill/seal packaging machine, aseptic environment is provided by a telescoping fill station shroud through which a sterile curtain gas flows. The telescoping fill station shroud includes an open-ended lower sleeve, an open-ended upper sleeve slidably coacting with the open-ended lower sleeve, and a manifold plate mounted over a proximal end portion of the upper sleeve.

Provided is an aseptic filling apparatus which performs sterilization on preforms, and which includes a bottle inspection unit capable of maintaining asepticity with certainty. An aseptic filling apparatus includes an inspection unit where inspection equipment, which inspects a bottle is accommodated in an airtight container so as to prevent the inspection equipment from coming into contact with sterilizer.

An apparatus (1) for producing sterile receptacles (2), comprising: a molding unit (13) for molding parisons (4) starting from granules of thermoplastic material; a stretch-blowing forming unit (3) which receives the parisons (4) from the molding unit (13), the forming unit (3) having a plurality of forming stations (5) in each of which there is a mold (6) and a sterilization device (12) so as to form and sterilize the corresponding parison (4).

A fill assembly sterilization method and system for a blow/fill/seal machine utilizes a closed loop circulation of sterilant containing gas. A typical sterilant is nitrogen dioxide in humidified air. The closed loop includes a shroud that defines a plenum and encloses the fill system. Optionally, at least one high efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filter is provided in the closed loop. Sterility assurance level of 10.sup.6 can be achieved by subjecting the fill system to the sterilizing gas for at least 20 minutes at a temperature in the range of about 18 C. to about 30 C. Preferred sterilant gas is humidified air containing about 10 to about 20 milligrams of nitrogen dioxide per liter.

A fill assembly sterilization system for a blow/fill/seal machine utilizes a closed loop circulation of sterilant containing gas. A typical sterilant is nitrogen dioxide. The closed loop includes a shroud that defines a plenum and encloses the fill system. Optionally, at least one high efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filter is provided in the closed loop. Sterility assurance level of 10.sup.6 can be achieved by subjecting the fill system to the sterilizing gas for at least 20 minutes at a temperature in the range of about 18 C. to about 30 C.

A method for handling at least sectionally sterile workpieces having a filiable inner volume, wherein the workpieces are each connected to a closure device, and by which the workpieces are guided through a plurality of treatment stations. One of the stations is a sterilization unit, wherein in at least one of the treatment stations, a treatment member is moved through a passage opening of the closure device all the way into the inner volume of the workpiece. The passage opening of the closure device is closed off by a closure element, which opens when the treatment member moves through and closes again upon removal of the member, wherein the closure device sealingly closes the inner volume of the workpiece with respect to an external region.

An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, has a plurality of forming stations each having application devices that apply the plastic preforms with a flowable and gaseous medium for their expansion. The apparatus has at least one first compressed air reservoir configured to store compressed air at a first predefined pressure. Each forming station has a valve arrangement with a plurality of valve devices configured to apply the plastic preforms with at least two pressures, wherein at least one of the valve devices is a pneumatically-controlled valve device. This valve device has a working chamber for receiving gaseous medium, used to act upon the plastic preforms, and a valve piston that can be moved between at least two positions. The valve device further has a control chamber that can be applied with a gaseous control medium for moving the valve piston.

An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a transport device which transports the plastic preforms to be formed along a predetermined transport path, wherein the transport device has a rotatable transport carrier wherein a plurality of forming stations are arranged. The forming stations each have blow-molding devices within which the plastic preforms can be formed into the plastic containers by applying a flowable medium. The forming stations each have application devices for applying the flowable medium to the plastic preforms, and the apparatus has a feed device for feeding plastic preforms to be formed to the transport apparatus, and a discharge device for discharging formed containers from the transport device. The apparatus has a clean room within which the plastic preforms or the plastic containers are transported at least sectionally. The apparatus has an ejection device to eject plastic preforms or plastic containers from the transport path.

Systems and methods for making a reduced material container are provided that hold a preform adjacent to an open end of the preform, stretch the preform, close a mold about the stretched preform to form a truncated preform, and introduce a pressurized fluid into the truncated preform to expand the truncated preform and form the reduced material container. A stretch rod can be inserted into the preform to mechanically stretching the preform. The mold accepts the preform at a first end thereof, has an open state and a closed state, and the closed state forms a cavity defining an internal surface having a second end located remotely from the first end. A first length is defined by a distance between the first end and the second end, the stretch rod mechanically stretching the preform to a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.