A nozzle is provided for engaging with lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle includes a seal configured to engage with a stepped interior of the finish portion and enables stretching and/or blow-molding the preform into a container. The seal tightly engages a smooth surface inside the finish portion without damaging the surface or a sidewall of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seal includes a profile shape that mates with a transitional surface comprising the stepped interior of the finish portion. The profile shape distributes the contact force of the seal over a maximal area of the transition surface so as to minimize the total pressure exerted onto the finish portion. The profile shape reduces potential cracking of a thin-walled region of the finish portion during stretching and/or blow-molding the preform to form the container.

A blow molding apparatus including: a mold; a blow nozzle; a pressurized fluid supply unit; and a blow nozzle moving unit configured to cause a relative movement of the blow nozzle between a connected position and a standby position, wherein a preform is molded into a container by supplying a pressurized incompressible fluid into the preform. The blow molding apparatus includes: a drawing member including a drawing port; a drawing pump configured to be connected to the drawing member; and a drawing member moving unit configured to move the drawing member so that the drawing port is positioned below the blow nozzle, after the container has been molded and the blow nozzle has been moved from the connected position to the standby position.

A nozzle for forming a container preform into a plastic container includes a nozzle body and a sealing portion proximate an end of the nozzle body. The sealing portion is configured to engage with a stepped interior of a finish portion of a preform having a longitudinal axis to seal without the use of an O-ring and to preclude any portion of the nozzle body from contacting the sealing surface.

A blow molding apparatus including: a mold; a blow nozzle; a pressurized fluid supply unit; and a blow nozzle moving unit configured to cause a relative movement of the blow nozzle between a connected position and a standby position, wherein a preform is molded into a container by supplying a pressurized incompressible fluid into the preform. The blow molding apparatus includes: a drawing member including a drawing port; a drawing pump configured to be connected to the drawing member; and a drawing member moving unit configured to move the drawing member so that the drawing port is positioned below the blow nozzle, after the container has been molded and the blow nozzle has been moved from the connected position to the standby position.

A nozzle is provided for engaging with lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle includes a seal configured to engage with a stepped interior of the finish portion and enables stretching and/or blow-molding the preform into a container. The seal tightly engages a smooth surface inside the finish portion without damaging the surface or a sidewall of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seal includes a profile shape that mates with a transitional surface comprising the stepped interior of the finish portion. The profile shape distributes the contact force of the seal over a maximal area of the transition surface so as to minimize the total pressure exerted onto the finish portion. The profile shape reduces potential cracking of a thin-walled region of the finish portion during stretching and/or blow-molding the preform to form the container.