Disclosed is an apparatus for expanding and filling plastic parisons to form plastic containers with a liquid medium, with at least one transforming station which has a hollow mould, inside which the plastic parisons can be expanded into plastic containers and can be simultaneously filled by application of a liquid medium, wherein the transforming station is arranged on a carrier and wherein the transforming station has a filling device which feeds the liquid medium to the plastic parisons under pressure, wherein the transforming station has a pressure chamber to which a gas can be applied, wherein for filling of the plastic parisons the filling device can be introduced into the pressure chamber and after the filling can be removed at least partially, and wherein a closing unit can be introduced into the pressure chamber, in order to close the expanded und filled plastic containers.

The invention relates to a stretch rod for the form-and-fill head of a machine for forming and filling of containers produced from preforms. The object of the invention is to devise a stretch rod of this type which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without being disassembled and without any other intervention. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a stretch rod (5) for the form-and-fill head (3) of a machine for forming and filling (molding and filling) of containers produced from preforms (2), which rod comprises a drive unit for axially moving said stretch rod (5). At least the part (6) of the drive unit which is connected to the stretch rod (5) is arranged in a drive chamber (11) which is sealed off from the regions of the form-and-fill head (3) which come into contact with the filling material (the material with which the container is being filled). The inventive stretch rod is characterized in that the sealing action is achieved by a seal (12) which surrounds the stretch rod (5).

A gaiter seal for shielding a functional element of a container-processing machine extends between parts of a working head of the container-processing machine includes axially-adjacent gaiter modules that extend along an axis and support-and-sliding elements at interfaces between adjacent gaiter modules. The support-and-sliding elements radially support and guide the first and second gaiter-modules along the functional element.

A bottling apparatus (200) in aseptic conditions of containers (100) made of a thermoplastic material, comprising: a stretching rod (5) partially located in a contamination-controlled environment (3) isolated from an external environment (4); a linear motor (6) comprising a cylindrical stator (7) and a rotor (8) integrally connected to the stretching rod (5); a first support (107) and a second support (207) for the rotor (8), arranged at opposite ends of the cylindrical stator (7) and integrally connected thereto, in each of the supports (107, 207) at least one passage (707, 807; 107a, 207a) being obtained to allow a sanitising fluid to pass through a separation volume (30) defined between the cylindrical stator (7) and the rotor (8).

A bottling apparatus (200) in aseptic conditions of containers (100) made of a thermoplastic material, comprising: a stretching rod (5) partially located in a contamination-controlled environment (3) isolated from an external environment (4); a linear motor (6) comprising a cylindrical stator (7) and a rotor (8) integrally connected to the stretching rod (5); a first support (107) and a second support (207) for the rotor (8), arranged at opposite ends of the cylindrical stator (7) and integrally connected thereto, in each of the supports (107, 207) at least one passage (707, 807; 107a, 207a) being obtained to allow a sanitising fluid to pass through a separation volume (30) defined between the cylindrical stator (7) and the rotor (8).

An injection device having at least one flexible diaphragm. The injection device for forming a preform into a container and filling the container, and further including a main housing having an inlet, an outlet and an injection chamber, a closing body movable relative to the outlet between a closed position and an opened position, a closing diaphragm attached at least to the closing body, the injection chamber being delimited at least by an inner surface of the closing diaphragm, the closing diaphragm having an outer surface defining an outside area, a bearing surface against which a supported portion of the outer surface of the closing diaphragm is applied. The closing diaphragm further includes a free portion forming with the supported portion the whole outer surface of the closing diaphragm. The bearing surface is arranged such that the surface of the free portion decreases when the closing body moves from the closed position to the opened position.

Disclosed is an apparatus for expanding and filling plastic parisons to form plastic containers with a liquid medium, with at least one transforming station which has a hollow mould, inside which the plastic parisons can be expanded into plastic containers and can be simultaneously filled by application of a liquid medium, wherein the transforming station is arranged on a carrier and wherein the transforming station has a filling device which feeds the liquid medium to the plastic parisons under pressure, wherein the transforming station has a pressure chamber to which a gas can be applied, wherein for filling of the plastic parisons the filling device can be introduced into the pressure chamber and after the filling can be removed at least partially, and wherein a closing unit can be introduced into the pressure chamber, in order to close the expanded und filled plastic containers.

A machine for shaping from a preform and filling with liquid successive containers. The machine includes forming stations comprising a main station and an elementary station. The machine further includes a series of elementary stations moving along a first closed loop and a series of main stations moving along a second closed loop. The first closed loop and the second closed loop including at least one common part wherein the main stations are coupled with the elementary stations and a distinct part wherein the main stations are separated from the elementary stations.

A flexible seal that couples to a rod that translates and also rotates around an axis and that rotates around said axis, wherein said flexible seal has first and second folding-sections. The first folding-section has folds that are oriented to wind around the axis when said rod rotates. The second folding-section has folds that are oriented to cause a change the second folding-section's length in response to translation of said rod.

The invention relates to a stretch rod for the form-and-fill head of a machine for forming and filling of containers produced from preforms. The object of the invention is to devise a stretch rod of this type which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without being disassembled and without any other intervention. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a stretch rod (5) for the form-and-fill head (3) of a machine for forming and filling (molding and filling) of containers produced from preforms (2), which rod comprises a drive unit for axially moving said stretch rod (5). At least the part (6) of the drive unit which is connected to the stretch rod (5) is arranged in a drive chamber (11) which is sealed off from the regions of the form-and-fill head (3) which come into contact with the filling material (the material with which the container is being filled). The inventive stretch rod is characterized in that the sealing action is achieved by a seal (12) which surrounds the stretch rod (5).