An operation abnormality detection method for detecting an operation abnormality in a molding device having a movable part includes: acquiring a prescribed measured value relating to operation of the movable part and calculating, as statistical information, an average value of prescribed information values based on the prescribed measured values: calculating a first threshold and a second threshold; acquiring a current measured value and comparing a current information value based on the current measured value with the greater of the first threshold and the second threshold; and issuing a warning if the current information value at least exceeds the greater of the first threshold and the second threshold.

Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.

A method for evaluating plastic preforms, wherein said plastic preforms are intended to be heated by a heating device and then expanded by a forming device by application of a flowable medium to form plastic containers, wherein the plastic preforms extending in a longitudinal direction and having several portions in the longitudinal direction, wherein the several portions having at least one threaded portion, a main body portion and a bottom portion, wherein at least the main body portion and the bottom portion being inspected, wherein values characteristic of a material quality of the plastic preforms are output, wherein the values being assigned to different portions and/or at least one property of the container to be produced being taken into account in the evaluation of the characteristic values.

A device and method tests preforms that are rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation during their conveyance along a conveyance path. The device and method tests only a statistically relevant number of produced preforms, thus allowing substantial reduction in the constructive complexity required for aligning the preforms prior to being tested. A certain number of preforms that have not been correctly aligned are allowed to continue along the conveyance path without being tested.

Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.

Disclosed is a maintenance method for an installation for production of containers from blanks made of plastic material, which includes: a blow-molding machine including a rotating carousel and a plurality of forming stations, each including a mold; a primary power unit connected to the carousel; a transfer device suitable for inserting a blank into a mold or for withdrawing a container therefrom; and a secondary power unit connected to the transfer device. The method includes the detection of a misalignment of the transfer device with the carousel, and, therefore, operations for desynchronization of the power units, for realigning and then for resynchronization of the transfer device and of the carousel.

Provided is an apparatus for processing containers and in particular for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers, including a transport device which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path, wherein this transport device has a movable support, on which a plurality of processing stations are arranged, which in each case are suitable and intended for processing the plastic preforms, with a clean room, which surrounds at least portions of the transport path of the plastic preforms and which is delimited by at least one wall relative to the environment. Further, the apparatus has at least one inspection device for inspecting the containers, wherein this inspection device has an image capturing device, wherein this image capturing device is arranged at least partially outside the clean room and monitors at least one region of the containers through at least one wall of the clean room.

Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.

The invention relates to a method for inspecting a container (2) made of plastic material obtained by molding, the method comprising: a step of capturing a thermal image of the container (2) on leaving the mold (31); a step of characterization of the container (2), in which a rule for acceptance or rejection of the quality of the container (2) is applied, as a function of the thermal image of the container (2) on leaving the mold (31),
wherein, prior to the characterization step, the method comprises a step of identification, on the thermal image, of at least critical zone corresponding to a structural part of the container (2),
and wherein the acceptance rule is parameterized to consider a container (2) as acceptable if, for each identified critical zone, the temperature of the container is lower than a predetermined threshold temperature.

A method of analyzing preforms for potential bursting during forming and filling by injecting an incompressible liquid to shape the successive heating preforms into containers and fill the containers. The method defines at least one stress parameter correlated to the internal stress of the thermoplastic material of the preform and defines a range of acceptable values for the stress parameter. The method includes analyzing each successive initial preform and each successive heated preform, determining a value of the stress parameter, comparing the determined value to a range of acceptable values, and emitting an output signal when the determined value is outside the acceptable range of values.