An apparatus is provided for producing plastic containers, comprising a heating device that heats plastic preforms, and including a shaping device provided downstream of this heating device in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, which shaping device shapes the plastic preforms into the plastic containers, wherein a tempering device for tempering the plastic preforms heated by the heating device is provided in the transport direction of the plastic preforms between the heating device and the shaping device, which tempering device has at least one tempering unit provided on a carrier rotatable about a predetermined rotary axis, and which tempering unit has at least two contacting devices, between which at least one section of the plastic preform can be received, which contacting devices can be moved in relation to one another along a predetermined direction.

A method for heating a preform that is rotationally symmetric about its longitudinal axis, has a standard thread, and is made of a thermoplastic material. During heating, the preform is temperature conditioned to be formed into a container having a non-circular cross-section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the container by blow-molding. The preform is provided with a temperature profile along a circumference of the preform such that areas of the preform are differentially heated in a radial direction of the circumference of the preform. The standard thread of the preform is aligned in a predefined target position before the areas of the preform are differentially heated. The preform is rotated into alignment. An alignment element engages in the standard thread of the preform and thereby prevents further rotation of the preform as soon as the alignment element comes in contact with a predetermined contact surface in the standard thread.

A blow moulding machine for producing blown containers with an integrally formed handle; the machine including a preform injection moulding stage wherein the preform comprising a body portion, a neck portion and an integrally moulded handle; the machine further including a handle orientation stage, a preform conditioning stage and a blow moulding stage, and wherein the preform is nested in cavities provided in opposing portions of a conditioning module; the integrally moulded handle nested in cavities lined with an insulating material. Also disclosed is a method of producing a blown container with an integrally formed handle in a blow moulding machine; the blow moulding machine including a preform injection moulding stage for moulding a preform comprising a body portion and an integrally moulded handle; the blow moulding machine further including a handle orienting stage, a preform conditioning stage and a blow moulding stage; the method including the steps of: Injection moulding the preform with an integrally moulded handle, Orienting the handle of the preform into a predetermined orientation, Transferring the preform to a preform conditioning module, Transferring the preform from the preform conditioning module to a die of a blow moulding machine when the preform body and integrally moulded handle are at predetermined temperatures, Blowing the container in the blow moulding machine, and wherein the preform is nested in cavities provided in opposing portions of the conditioning module; the integrally moulded handle nested in cavities lined with an insulating material.

In one embodiment, a system for conditioning a preform for molding includes a heating cavity for receiving the preform, a heater configured to heat a gas, and a blower configured to force the gas heated by the heater into the heating cavity. In another embodiment, a method of conditioning a preform for molding includes positioning the preform in a heating cavity and forcing a heated gas into the heating cavity onto an exterior surface of the preform.

An actuator system for use in a mold system includes a first actuator operatively coupled to a first mold portion and configured to move the first mold portion along an axis in a first direction from a first molding position toward a first ejecting position. The system also includes a second actuator operatively coupled to a second mold portion and configured to move the second mold portion along the axis in the first direction from a second molding position toward a second ejecting position. The system further includes a controller in communication with the first and second actuators and configured to independently activate the first and second actuators.

A system for molding an object includes an articulated mold having an axis and a plurality of mold portions configured to collectively define a molding cavity for shaping the object when arranged in respective molding positions. The system includes a plurality of actuators, each operatively coupled to a respective mold portion and configured to move the respective mold portion along the axis from the respective molding position toward a respective ejecting position for releasing the object. The system includes a controller in communication with each of the plurality of actuators and configured to independently activate each of the plurality of actuators such that one of the plurality of mold portions moves along the axis from the respective molding position toward the respective ejecting position while at least one other of the plurality of mold portions remains stationary relative to the object in order to at least partially support the object.

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 device for processing performs may include at least a holder device for holding at least one preform and for at least temporary contacting arrangement of at least one wall part of the preform on at least one contact device. By the at least one contact device, a temperature of the first wall part can be prespecified, which at least temporarily differs from the temperature of a second wall part that is always spaced from the contact device. The contact device may be releasably held by a carrier device forming at least in parts a holding zone for the contact device.

An apparatus for reheating and conditioning an elongate preform for forming a blow molded container, said apparatus comprising: a receiver including an elongate annular non-cylindrical inner surface portion, wherein the surface portion defines a cavity and is adapted to engage with an elongate outer surface of an elongate preform to transfer heat thereto by conduction from said surface portion, wherein the surface portion includes a three-dimensional relief to provide substantially non-uniform contact between the receiver and the elongate preform; and means for heating said receiver.

A method of forming a blow moulded container in the form of a tub, the method comprising the steps of: providing an injection moulded preform composed of a biaxially-orientable thermoplastic material, the preform being substantially planar; heating the preform; and stretch blow moulding the heated preform within a mould cavity to form a tub having a bottom wall and an annular sidewall having an upper edge, the tub comprising biaxially oriented thermoplastic material in the annular sidewall and at least an outer portion of the bottom wall, the stretch blow moulding step using at least one stretch rod to engage an inner side of the preform and axially to stretch at least a part of the preform prior to blowing a pressurized gas against the inner side which urges the opposite side of the preform radially outwardly against the mould.