A stretch blow moulding system for PET containers with PET integral handles: the containers blown from injection moulded preforms: each preform having the integral handle projecting from a junction point on a body portion of the preform: containers blown in a continuously rotating stretch blow moulding machine of the system. In a preferred form the preforms are progressed continuously at a substantially constant speed: the containers blown therefrom progress at the same substantially constant speed through to the filling and capping machine: and wherein the containers progress continuously through the filling and capping machine at the same substantially constant speed. Also described is a continuous stretch blow moulding system applied to specified integral handle PET preform and PET blown container structures stretch blown from the preforms thereby to obtain variable wall thickness of the preforms and/or variable wall thickness of the containers.

A heating unit for heating preforms made of plastics material and having a flange separating a body and neck. The heating unit comprising a plurality of supports, each bearing a gripping member for gripping the preforms. The supports are movable in the heating unit such that each gripping member moves along a conveying path of the preforms. The heating unit also comprises a plurality of shells secured to the supports, where each shell is connected to one or more supports by an actuating member. The actuating member is mounted on said support to pivot about an axis situated at a distance from the conveying path of the preforms. The heating unit further comprising means for pivoting the actuating member to drive the shell from an open position to a protection position when the support to which said shell is connected is passing from an admission/releasing zone to a holding zone.

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.

The invention relates to a heating device (H) comprising a heating section (24) for thermally conditioning preforms (1) consisting of thermoplastic material, comprising an upper orifice portion (21) having an opening, a collar-like support ring (54) arranged below the orifice portion (21), and a bottom portion (56) closed at the lower end, to a temperature profile suitable for blowmolding, wherein the heating device (H) has transportation means (33) for the transportation of the preforms (1) along a transportation path (55) of the heating device (H), and wherein the transportation means (33) each bear at least one handling means (41) for holding and handling the preforms (1), wherein a radiation screen (52), which follows the transportation path of the preforms (1), and which has a recess (53) at least on one end face to partially enclose a preform (1) held in the handling means (41) adjoining the recess (53), is provided in an intermediate space between two handling means (41) each provided for handling a preform (1), wherein the radiation screen (52) is arranged such that a surface region of the radiation screen (52), viewed in the longitudinal direction of the preform (1), at least temporarily overlaps on its side facing away with the orifice portion (21) with a surface region of the support ring (54) during the transportation of the preforms (1).

Disclosed is a method and a system for producing an ampoule filled with a medical liquid. A preform is produced by plastic injection moulding that is then inhomogeneously heated and blown to form an ampoule body. Further disclosed is an ampoule produced by means of stretching and blowing, which comprises a connector with a break-off part in which the predetermined breaking point is aligned with the septum of the connector.

A blow molding machine for blow molding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow molded from a previously injection molded 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.

A blow molding machine for blow molding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow molded from a previously injection molded 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.

Disclosed is a method and a system for producing an ampoule filled with a medical liquid. A preform is produced by plastic injection moulding that is then inhomogeneously heated and blown to form an ampoule body. Further disclosed is an ampoule produced by means of stretching and blowing, which comprises a connector with a break-off part in which the predetermined breaking point is aligned with the septum of the connector.

A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A stretch blow moulding system for PET containers with PET integral handles; the containers blown from injection moulded preforms; each preform having the integral handle projecting from a junction point on a body portion of the preform; containers blown in a continuously rotating stretch blow moulding machine of the system. In a preferred form the preforms are progressed continuously at a substantially constant speed; the containers blown therefrom progress at the same substantially constant speed through to the filling and capping machine; and wherein the containers progress continuously through the filling and capping machine at the same substantially constant speed. Also described is a continuous stretch blow moulding system applied to specified integral handle PET preform and PET blown container structures stretch blown from the preforms thereby to obtain variable wall thickness of the preforms and/or variable wall thickness of the containers.