An apparatus (1) for the inspection of parisons (2) comprises: an inspection zone (10), configured to receive an unordered plurality of parisons (2); an illuminator (3), configured to emit a beam of light directed at the plurality of parisons (2); a detector (4) comprising a camera (41) configured to capture an image of the plurality of parisons (2), wherein the inspection zone is interposed between the illuminator (3) and the detector (4); a control unit (5) configured to process the image captured by the camera (41) to derive an item of diagnostic information regarding the defectiveness of one or more parisons (2) of the plurality of parisons (2), wherein the illuminator (3) includes an emission-polarizing filter (32) and the detector (4) includes a receiving polarizing filter (42).

An apparatus for the manufacture and unloading of preforms for the manufacture of plastic containers includes a device for the injection molding of preforms and a device for the cooling and extraction of the preforms from the molding device, and further includes a device for the selective extraction of a predetermined subset of preforms supported by the unloading plate in an orderly manner along at least one pickup direction. The apparatus also includes a component for the orderly transfer of the predetermined subset of preforms to a control and inspection device adapted to perform at least one control on the predetermined subset of preforms.

Provided is a method for heating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic parison are transported along a predetermined transport path and are heated during this transport, wherein at least one first heating section with at least one first heating element as well as at least one second heating section with at least one second heating element is arranged along the transport path, by a first temperature measuring device an actual temperature of the plastic preforms is measured in or before a start region of the transport path, and as a function of this actual temperature of the plastic preforms the at least one first heating element is controlled in such a way that the plastic preforms reach a predetermined target temperature after heating by this at least one first heating element.

Disclosed is a method for producing at least one molded, filled and sealed container product (10) comprising at least the method steps listed below: extruding a hose (32) by means of an extrusion device (12) using supporting gas in vertical extrusion direction in a preforming position; sealing the hose (32) at its lower end and cutting it at its upper open end; transporting of the parison (22) thus cut to length by means of a gripper device (20) in linear transport direction transverse to the extrusion direction from the preforming position into an opened molding tool (18); transferring the parison (22) into the opened molding tool (18) by means of the gripper device (20) in a main forming position; sealing the molding tool (18) for further forming of the parison (22) by a pressure gradient; filling and sealing the parison (22); and returning the gripper device (20) to the preforming position for a repeated sequence of the above method steps

An apparatus (1) and a method for optical inspection of parisons (2) made of thermoplastic material comprises: a conveyor (3) comprising a pair of lateral, under-flange guides 31A for holding each parison by its flange, and configured to transport the parisons (2) in succession along an inspection path; an inspection station (41, 42, 43, 51, 52), located along the inspection path and including at least one inspection camera (410, 411, 412, 413, 421, 431, 510, 511, 520, 521, 522), configured to capture image data of a parison (2) positioned in the inspection station (41, 42, 43, 51, 52), wherein the conveyor (3) has a first operating configuration for transporting parisons (2) of a first size and a second operating configuration for transporting parisons (2) of a second size, different from the first size, the conveyor (3) including at least one adjustment actuator (7), configured to move the conveyor (3) between the first and the second operating configuration.

The present disclosure relates to a measuring arrangement and a method for measuring a molten tube of an extrusion blow-molding process, including at least the following process steps: positioning or providing a THz measuring device including a THz sensor comprising an optical axis, extruding a molten tube by a blow-molding extruder along an extrusion axis, emitting a THz transmission beam from the THz sensor along its optical axis in such a manner that the front wall of the molten tube lies in a divergent beam area of the THz transmission beam behind the focus or in a convergent beam area before the focus, receiving a reflected beam reflected from the molten tube and evaluating a measuring signal in the reflected beam.

A device and method tests preforms that are rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation during their conveyance along a conveyance path. The device and method tests only a statistically relevant number of produced preforms, thus allowing substantial reduction in the constructive complexity required for aligning the preforms prior to being tested. A certain number of preforms that have not been correctly aligned are allowed to continue along the conveyance path without being tested.

Provided is a method for heating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic parison are transported along a predetermined transport path and are heated during this transport, wherein at least one first heating section with at least one first heating element as well as at least one second heating section with at least one second heating element is arranged along the transport path, by a first temperature measuring device an actual temperature of the plastic preforms is measured in or before a start region of the transport path, and as a function of this actual temperature of the plastic preforms the at least one first heating element is controlled in such a way that the plastic preforms reach a predetermined target temperature after heating by this at least one first heating element.

Provided are methods for automatically positioning ramps in a station for the heating of preforms. The method includes acquiring an image of a preform traveling along a slot delimited by a pair of ramps, where at least one of the ramps is transversely mobile to vary the width of the slot (56) and where a motorized device transversely moves the at least one mobile ramp and is controlled automatically by an electronic control unit. The method further includes automatically determining the diameter below the neck of the preform by computer processing the image and automatically adjusting the width of the slot by moving the at least one mobile ramp according to the determined diameter below the neck.

A method of analyzing preforms for potential bursting during forming and filling by injecting an incompressible liquid to shape the successive heating preforms into containers and fill the containers. The method defines at least one stress parameter correlated to the internal stress of the thermoplastic material of the preform and defines a range of acceptable values for the stress parameter. The method includes analyzing each successive initial preform and each successive heated preform, determining a value of the stress parameter, comparing the determined value to a range of acceptable values, and emitting an output signal when the determined value is outside the acceptable range of values.