Apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers includes a transport device for transporting the plastic preforms, wherein the transport device has a movable carrier on which a plurality of forming stations are arranged, wherein the forming stations each form a cavity having forming moulds configured to receive plastic preforms which are formable into plastic containers within this cavity when acted upon by a flowable medium and expanded. The forming stations further includes an applicator which acts upon the plastic preforms with the flowable medium, and at least one connecting line configured to guide the flowable medium to the applicator. The apparatus also has a sterilization device, whereby at least a section of this connecting line can be at least temporarily pressurized with a sterilization medium.

The present invention relates to an installation for manufacturing containers made of thermoplastic material, having a sterilizing mode and a production mode. The installation comprising a molding machine, a transfer means, and a decontamination device. The molding machine is equipped with at least one molding device having stretching means, and the molding device is designed to manufacture by stretch blow molding said containers from preforms when the installation is in production mode. The transfer means conveys the manufactured containers between the molding machine and a second downstream machine when the installation is in production mode. The decontamination device introduces the sterilizing agent into at least one sterilizing preform during the sterilizing mode. The installation further comprises removal means that can be actuated in sterilizing mode to remove the hollow bodies from the transfer means upstream from the second machine.

The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing stretching means (12) of a container moulding device (10) fitted to a plant for manufacturing thermoplastic containers obtained by stretch-blow-moulding from production preforms, the said method for sterilizing the stretching means (12) comprises at least the steps consisting in: —introducing a determined quantity of a sterilizing agent into a sterilization preform (30), —during a step referred to as a conversion step, converting said sterilization preform (30) into a hollow body (50) by stretching—blowing into the said moulding device (10), said introduction of the sterilizing agent being performed in the vapour state in a sterilization preform (30) at a temperature that allows a uniform film of mist to be deposited by condensation onto an internal surface (32) of said sterilization preform (30), and in that at least two sterilization preforms (30) are then converted successively into hollow bodies (50) in the one same moulding device (10).

The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing stretching means (12) of a container moulding device (10) fitted to a plant for manufacturing thermoplastic containers obtained by stretch-blow-moulding from production preforms, the said method for sterilizing the stretching means (12) comprises at least the steps consisting in:—introducing a determined quantity of a sterilizing agent into a sterilization preform (30),—during a step referred to as a conversion step, converting said sterilization preform (30) into a hollow body (50) by stretching—blowing into the said moulding device (10), said introduction of the sterilizing agent being performed in the vapour state in a sterilization preform (30) at a temperature that allows a uniform film of mist to be deposited by condensation onto an internal surface (32) of said sterilization preform (30), and in that at least two sterilization preforms (30) are then converted successively into hollow bodies (50) in the one same moulding device (10).

Apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers includes a transport device for transporting the plastic preforms, wherein the transport device has a movable carrier on which a plurality of forming stations are arranged, wherein the forming stations each form a cavity having forming moulds configured to receive plastic preforms which are formable into plastic containers within this cavity when acted upon by a flowable medium and expanded. The forming stations further includes an applicator which acts upon the plastic preforms with the flowable medium, and at least one connecting line configured to guide the flowable medium to the applicator. The apparatus also has a sterilization device, whereby at least a section of this connecting line can be at least temporarily pressurized with a sterilization medium.