A method of sterilizing a preform includes steps of: sterilizing bacteria adhering to a preform (1) made of resin by gasifying a sterilizer, discharging a sterilized gas (G) from a nozzle (6) toward a preform (1), now traveling, so as to adhere to the preform (1); activating the sterilizer adhering to the preform (1) by blasting hot air (P) to the preform; and sterilizing bacteria adhering to the preform, and removing the sterilizer adhering to the preform (1), wherein the above steps are performed sequentially in order. According to the above-mentioned steps, the sterilizer does not enter a blow-molding machine.

A blow molding machine is subjected to a sterilizing treatment in a simple manner. A liquid sterilizer is filled into preforms of at least the same number as the number of spindles. In a heating unit that heats the preforms to a molding temperature, some of the liquid sterilizer is caused to diffuse, and blow air is blasted into preforms in which the liquid sterilizer remains to cause the liquid sterilizer to diffuse in a molding unit, and molded bottles are discharged.

Mold filling machine for producing and filling containers made from preforms, comprising a mold filling station with a mold for receiving a preform, wherein the mold has an opening, such that an opening region of the preform in the mold is accessible, the mold filling station having a treatment unit with at least two treatment subunits, which are arranged movably in the treatment unit in such a way that the treatment subunits can be positioned alternately over the opening and the treatment unit has a sealing element, which can be positioned over the opening of the mold in such a way as to form a gastight space, which includes the interior space of the preform and/or container and the treatment subunits.

A gas dispensing canopy positionable over open parisons in a Blow/Fill/Seal machine prior to container forming, filling and sealing minimizes likelihood of particulate contamination of open parisons while the open parisons are transported to a container forming, filling and sealing station.

An apparatus for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers, with a plurality of shaping stations which are arranged on a movable carrier, wherein the shaping stations have blow molds which are used for receiving the plastic pre-forms and inside which the plastic pre-forms are shaped into the plastic containers, and wherein the shaping stations have stressing devices which are movable relative to the plastic pre-forms and which act upon the pre-forms arranged in the blow molds with a sterile flowable medium to expand them, with a clean room, inside which the shaping stations are conveyed, wherein this clean room is arranged or demarcated from the environment by means of at least one wall. At least one supply device is provided for supplying a flowable control medium to at least one shaping station), wherein this supply device (60) is sealed off from the clean room.

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.

A facility (10) for producing containers (12), especially bottles, includes a device (100) for disinfecting a transfer wheel (30), which is controlled from outside the enclosures (14, 15) of the facility (10), for the disinfection of at least the upper container (12)transfer part (30A) of the wheel (30), which occupies a retracted position, by spraying at least one disinfecting agent.