Provided is an apparatus for processing containers, in particular plastic containers and plastic parisons, including at least one processing device which processes the containers in a predetermined manner, and including at least one transfer device, which transfers the containers, individually, to the processing device in a transfer region and/or to which the containers are transferred from the processing device in a transfer region. At least one inspection device is provided, which is suitable and intended for visually inspecting at least a part of the processing device and or the transfer region at least at sections and completely, at least temporarily during a transfer process of a container.

The invention relates to a method for assisting in the programming of an electronic control unit of a forming station comprising molding units, each of which has an interchangeable mold, the method comprising a manual programming step consisting in selecting a value for determined operating parameters through a data entry interface in the electronic control unit, wherein each mold has fastened thereto a storage component having values compatible with each mold for each determined parameter, is attached to said mold, the method comprising a prior step of reading the values stored in the storage component by means of a reader which automatically transmits the values to the electronic control unit to limit the choice of values of each parameter to the compatible values.

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.

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.

Method for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein a plastic preform is introduced into a blow mould and is expanded into a plastic container by being applied by a flowable medium, wherein the plastic preform is applied by at least two different pressure levels and wherein furthermore preferably a rod-like body is introduced into the plastic preform, in order to expand the plastic preform in its longitudinal direction, wherein a pressure curve and/or a movement curve of the rod-like body being determined by a measuring device during the expansion process, wherein least one of the curves is evaluated by means of a processor device and at least one point or region of this curve which is characteristic of the course is determined.

Described herein is a system including at least one manufacturing machine that has at least one actuator module, a computer, and a first communication means. The system can also include a remote server that has an information storage means, a second communication means connected to the first communication means by a communication channel. For each product to be manufactured, the system includes at least one identifier and means for reading the identifiers. The means are coupled to the computer, the computer is configured to control the actuator module(s) on the basis of a reading of an identifier carried out by a reading means.

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 method for manufacturing a container from a blank in a mold provided with a movable insert, wherein the method includes the following phases: pre-blowing; blow molding; boxing; and the following operations: measuring the prevailing pressure in the blank in real-time and storing the measurement in a memory; measuring the position of the insert in real-time and storing the measurement in a memory; detecting a time t.sub.S2 indicating the actual start of the blowing phase and moment t.sub.B2 indicating the actual start of movement of the insert and storing same in a memory; calculating T1=t.sub.S2−t.sub.B2; comparing T1 with a predetermined non-zero reference T1.sub.ref, as long as T1 is different from T1.sub.ref, and delaying the start of the boxing phase.

Method of manufacturing containers by blow-molding in a mold starting from a plastic blank, involving, when manufacturing a container: —a step of introducing a blank into a mold; —at least a step of placing the inside of the blank in communication with at least one fluid circuit by an solenoid valve associated with the circuit; —at a predetermined moment, referred to as the solenoid valve opening pulse (TEV1; . . . ; TEV4), sending a command to open to the solenoid valve which has a theoretical opening delay (Dt1; . . . ; Dt4), the method including steps involving: —calculating the actual opening delay (De1; . . . ; De4) of the solenoid valve; —calculating a difference (Δt1; . . . ; Δt4) between the actual opening delay (De1; . . . ; De4) and the theoretical opening delay (Dt1; . . . ; Dt4); and—if the calculated difference is greater than a maximum permissible difference, emitting notification that a maximum permissible difference has been exceed.