Method for the production of containers from a series of plastic preforms heated in a container production facility having at least one heating station, a forming machine with a number of forming stations, one or more treatment machines with a number of treatment stations. The method includes: forming the preforms in the forming machine; treating the individual containers in the treatment machine; and circulating each container held individually between the forming machine and the treatment machine(s). The method also includes individual identification of each container that is produced during a predetermined tracking period, an individual identification phase including a marking step during which each individual container that is produced during the tracking period receives a marking that matches the container, making it possible to identify individually the container by distinguishing it from all of the other containers produced by the production facility during the tracking period.

The present invention relates to an installation for manufacturing containers made of thermoplastic material, having a sterilizing mode and a production mode. The installation comprising a molding machine, a transfer means, and a decontamination device. The molding machine is equipped with at least one molding device having stretching means, and the molding device is designed to manufacture by stretch blow molding said containers from preforms when the installation is in production mode. The transfer means conveys the manufactured containers between the molding machine and a second downstream machine when the installation is in production mode. The decontamination device introduces the sterilizing agent into at least one sterilizing preform during the sterilizing mode. The installation further comprises removal means that can be actuated in sterilizing mode to remove the hollow bodies from the transfer means upstream from the second machine.

A step of letting a preform made of resin adsorb a sterilizer, a step of sterilizing the preform by heating the preform having adsorbed the sterilizer to a temperature suitable for a blow-molding treatment to activate the sterilizer adsorbed by the preform and a step of shaping the preform into a bottle by blowing aseptic air into the preform in a mold are performed sequentially. According to the above-mentioned steps, the sterilizer does not enter a blow-molding machine.

The invention relates to a method for controlling confined preforms which are stopped in a heating station during a production interruption, the heating station comprising a device for conveying preforms comprising individual supports which move in a closed circuit and a heating cavity which is bordered by at least one row of transmitters of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. The method includes a step of heating, by the transmitters of the heating cavity, the confined preforms referred to as “cold” preforms which have been stopped before being exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitters.

A step of letting a preform made of resin adsorb a sterilizer, a step of sterilizing the preform by heating the preform having adsorbed the sterilizer to a temperature suitable for a blow-molding treatment to activate the sterilizer adsorbed by the preform and a step of shaping the preform into a bottle by blowing aseptic air into the preform in a mold are performed sequentially. According to the above-mentioned steps, the sterilizer does not enter a blow-molding machine.

The invention discloses a preform for a container comprising a polyester, titanium dioxide, and a light absorbing additive. In addition, a process for preparing a polyester-based container from such a preform is disclosed, as well as a polyester-based container obtainable by such a process. The opaque containers can for instance be used for storing light-sensitive solids and/or liquids. The optical properties of the preform result in improved properties during blow-moulding processes.

The invention relates to a heating module and a primary reflector for a heating module of a heating duct of a molding machine for producing containers from preforms, in which preforms made of thermoplastic are heated, which is provided between tubular heating units arranged in parallel and one over another on a side wall of the heating module and the side wall and consists of ceramic material, and is characterized in that the primary reflector is connected via a dovetail connection to the side wall, wherein a connecting region in the form of a dovetail is formed in each case on the reflector, which is fixable in each case with a clip made of steel, in particular spring steel, fastened on the side wall, having dimensions adapted to the dovetail.

The present invention relates to a heating system for preforms upstream of a blowing or stretch-blowing machine, in particular a heating system using monochromatic infrared radiation, preferably laser-generated. In particular, the invention relates to a heating system (301) for preforms (P), comprising a carousel for treating the preforms (P) comprising a plurality of heating elements (304) configured to be inserted either inside or outside each preform (P) and to radiate electromagnetic radiation in the infrared field which forms, in such a device, a disc of radiation according to a radial symmetry which departs from the center of the axis of the preform and which appropriately converges and diverges.

A blow moulding machine for blow moulding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow moulded from a previously injection moulded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.

Facility for the production of bottles of liquid products, the bottles being formed from thermoformable plastic, the facility including a blowing device for blowing bottles from preforms, with a heating tunnel, a filling and finishing line including bottle filling, sealing, and/or capping stations, with a buffer conveyor interposed between the blowing device and the filling and finishing line, formed mainly as an endless conveyor suitable for receiving bottles, the buffer conveyor including a first section used under normal flow conditions, and a second section complementary to the first section and serving as buffer storage space under conditions of unplanned stoppage of the filling line, the bottle storage capacity of the second section being at least equal to the number of bottles and preforms which can be received in the blowing machine including in the heating tunnel.