An apparatus (500) for fabricating containers (511) comprises a plurality of mold segments (501A-501I) each with two substantially opposite faces (510A-510I) that form a mold cavity (509A-509I) when abutted against another mold segment (501A-501I), and a guiding means (502) to conduct them along a closed path (503) of length greater than the total length of the mold segments (501A-501I); being characterized in that it comprises at least one injecting head configured to inject a volume of liquid into a cavity of a preform (507) disposed within the mold cavity (509A-509I) and expand it into a container (511), and being further characterized in that each mold segment (501A-501I) is conducted along the closed path (503) through at least one manipulation zone (505, 506) of said closed path (503) at an increased speed relative to the immediately adjacent mold segments (501A-501I), said apparatus (500) comprising a positioning manipulation zone (505) where the preform (507) is inserted into said apparatus (500), and an extracting manipulation zone (506) where the container (511) is extracted.

A method for the fabrication of a container (802), comprising the steps of: providing a preform (705), said preform being substantially tubular in form and being provided with a closed end (709), a cavity (707), and an open end (710) communicating with said cavity (707); positioning at least one restriction device (711, 714) relative to the preform (705) so as to define at least one restriction zone and restrict expansion of the preform (705) therein; injecting a pre-determined volume of an incompressible fluid (800) into the cavity (707) of the preform (705) via the open end (710), provoking the preform (705) to plastically deform by expansion, said preform (705) expanding freely in at least one expansion zone outside said at least one restriction zone; and Using for the fabrication of a beverage container (802).

A method and system for hydraulic blow molding a container from a preform 24. A molding medium is injected into the preform from a nozzle 12 during a first molding stage. In the first molding stage, the molding medium is injected so as to be specifically directed at a closed end of the preform 24. During the first molding stage, the preform is axially stretched in response to the force exerted on the preform by the molding medium. The molding medium is also injected into the preform during a second molding stage, where the molding medium is injected at a flow rate greater than a flow rate during the first molding stage. During the second molding stage, the preform is radially expanded into the shape of the container.

A system and method for hydraulic blow molding a plastic preform into a container. The system includes a nozzle having a nozzle body with a main bore extending therethrough and an outlet for ejecting molding medium into a preform positioned within a mold. A minimum internal diameter is defined within the body of the preform, which is bound on opposing ends between an open end and a closed end. To form the container, a liquid stream is injected into the preform. The liquid stream is defined by the outlet so as to have an external diameter that is less than the minimum inner diameter of the preform, allowing the stream to impinge upon the close end of the preform without impinging upon a transition of the preform, where the minimum inner diameter of the preform is reduced from the diameter of the finish.

A method of hydroforming a container from a preform. During the method, an injection nozzle is moved from a retracted position, where the nozzle is spaced away from the neck of the preform, to an intermediate position, where contact is established between a first contact surface of the nozzle and the finish of the preform. The nozzle is then moved from the intermediate position to an injection position, where a second contact surface of the nozzle abuts an abutment surface and the neck is axially compressed. With the nozzle in the injection position, a liquid is injected from the nozzle into the preform causing the preform to expand and form the container.

A liquid blow-molding apparatus in which a liquid circulates between a feed path formed in a support block, when a valve mechanism is in a closed state, and a pressurized liquid feed unit, and pressurized liquid is fed from the feed path through a blow nozzle into a preform when the valve mechanism is in an open state. The feed path has a shape including a flow path body, a dome chamber that is formed in a domed shape and that is continuous with an upper end of the flow path body, a first port that has the same upper end as the dome chamber and which extends horizontally from the dome chamber, and a second port connected to the flow path body.

A method and device for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from preforms made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the respective preform is at least thermally conditioned and subsequently re-formed during a forming and filling phase into the container with at least one liquid filling material as a pressure medium having a filling pressure p.sub.2. The filling material or portions of the filling material is/are supplied at at least two points in time and/or during at least two process phases having different carbon dioxide contents and/or different temperatures. The filling pressure p.sub.2 of the container formed in the first process phase is reduced to a pressure p.sub.1 and filling material is supplied in the second process phase, after which the pressure of the container is reduced to atmospheric pressure p.sub.0. In the first process phase filling material that has been previously degassed and/or uncarbonated is supplied.

A blow molding device is provided with a mold in which a preform is disposed, a cylindrical nozzle that is inserted into a mouth part of the preform, a pressurized fluid supply part for supplying a pressurized incompressible fluid to the nozzle, a sealing body that is movable between a closed position that blocks the nozzle and an open position that opens the nozzle, a plurality of suction holes provided on an inner peripheral surface of the nozzle, a vertical hole provided extending along the axial direction of the nozzle for connecting a plurality of suction holes to each other, and a suction pump connected to the vertical hole via a suction path for applying suction force to a plurality of the suction holes for suctioning incompressible fluid adhered to the nozzle.

Assembly (30) of a preform (32) and a station (34) for hydroforming a container from the preform, wherein: the preform has a neck (44) extending along an axial direction (D), the neck comprising a support ring (46), and a finish (48), the station comprises a mold (36) in which the preform is placed, the support ring being in contact with a support surface (56) of the mold, the station comprises an injection nozzle that is movable along the axial direction with respect to the mold from a retracted position to an intermediate position, wherein a contact is established between a first contact surface (72) of the nozzle and the finish, and further to an injection position, wherein a second contact surface (74) of the nozzle abuts on an abutment surface (76) and the neck is axially compressed between the support surface and the first contact surface, the first contact surface being less deformable than the neck in the axial direction, and the station is adapted for injecting a liquid from the nozzle into the preform when the nozzle is in the injection position, and the abutment surface is fixed along the axial direction with respect to the mold at least during the injection.

A container manufacturing device having a preform manufacturing portion, a conveyor, a blow molding device, where the preform is to the blow molding device while maintain the residual heat from the preform manufacturing portion. The preform manufacturing portion includes a molding die and a feeder for supplying a molten thermoplastic resin to a cavity of the molding die. In the blow molding portion, liquid is used to mold the preform into a container of a predetermined shape.