A method of operating a container treatment system, wherein a plurality of parameters of the container treatment system, which are characteristic for the treatment of containers in the container treatment system, are variable and wherein the parameters are each linked to at least one value characteristic of the containers to be treated, wherein for each parameter a plurality of reference parameter values are stored in a storage device, wherein at least one characteristic value of the containers to be treated is entered at a user interface and, on the basis of this entry and the stored reference parameter values, a combination of parameter values for the parameters is calculated.

Provided is a device for treating containers, comprising a heating device for heating plastic preforms, wherein the heating device has a plurality of heating stations which are suitable for individually heating the plastic preforms, and wherein the heating device has a transport device which transports the plastic preforms individually through the heating device, and comprising a reshaping device which is suitable and intended for reshaping the plastic preforms heated by the heating device into plastic containers. This reshaping device is arranged downstream of the heating device in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, and the reshaping device has a movable support, on which a plurality of reshaping stations are arranged for reshaping the plastic preforms into the plastic containers. The device also comprises a transport device, for transporting the heated plastic preforms individually from the heating device to the reshaping device, and a decorating device.

A storage system for storing objects of plastic material processed in a bottling line (45) comprises: a plurality of drawers (4) configured to contain groups of objects (5); a frame (2) which defines a plurality of compartments (3) configured to house the drawers (4); a conveyor (8) movable in the storage system (1) itself and configured to access the compartments (3) in such a way as to withdraw and place drawers (4) from and into the compartments (4); a loading bay (11) having one or more loading compartments for receiving corresponding drawers (4) and having a loading manipulator (28) configured to place in the drawers (4) the loose objects (5) received from an infeed conveyor (29); an unloading bay (12) having at least one unloading compartment for receiving a corresponding drawer (4) and having an unloading manipulator (41) configured to place onto an outfeed conveyor (43, 44) the loose objects (5) stored in the drawer (4).

Disclosed is a maintenance method for an installation for production of containers from blanks made of plastic material, which includes: a blow-molding machine including a rotating carousel and a plurality of forming stations, each including a mold; a primary power unit connected to the carousel; a transfer device suitable for inserting a blank into a mold or for withdrawing a container therefrom; and a secondary power unit connected to the transfer device. The method includes the detection of a misalignment of the transfer device with the carousel, and, therefore, operations for desynchronization of the power units, for realigning and then for resynchronization of the transfer device and of the carousel.

Provided is a method for verifying holding members in a heating station equipped with a device for transporting the preforms. The device includes a plurality of movable supports circulating in a closed circuit and members for individually holding the preforms by their neck, where each of the holding members is borne by a movable support. The method includes setting the movable supports in movement to bring them successively into an acquisition zone, acquiring an image of each individual holding member in the acquisition zone, and automatically verifying the presence of a holding member on each of the images taken.

A continuous cycle bottling line (1) for containers of thermoplastic material, comprises: a parison (4) moulding unit (3), a thermal conditioning unit (6) for the parisons (4); a blow-moulding unit (10); a filling unit (12) configured to receive the blow-moulded containers (11) from the blow-moulding unit (10) and to fill them with liquid or semi-liquid food products; a moulding unit (13) for making caps (14) of plastic material; a capping unit (15); a storage system (2) which is configured to contain the parisons (4) and the caps (14), which is interconnected with the units making up the line, and which defines inside it a controlled-atmosphere environment; the line defines an integrated system where the connections of the different units with each other and with the storage system (2) are located in a controlled-atmosphere environment.

Provided is a thermal conditioning method of preforms. The method includes heating each preform by transport along a heating path exposed to heating radiation with a determined production rate; transporting the preforms (in line along a diffusion path; transforming the preforms in forming units at the determined production rate. The diffusion path includes a final buffer section along which the preforms travel for an adjustable duration.

Disclosed is an apparatus for heating plastic preforms, having a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path, the transport device having a circulating transport and a plurality of holding devices for holding the plastic preforms, having a plurality of heating devices which are arranged stationarily along the transport path, in such a way that the plastic preforms transported along the transport path are heated by these heating devices, the heating devices each having a plurality of heating lamps, and the apparatus having a detection device which is configured to detect a failure of the heating lamps, wherein the apparatus has a control device which is configured to control the apparatus in dependence on a number of heating lamps detected having failed.

An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, including a rotatable carrier on which a plurality of forming stations for forming the plastic preforms into plastic containers are arranged. The forming stations each have application devices for applying a flowable medium to expand the plastic preforms. The forming stations each have blow mold carriers on which blow molds are arranged, within which the plastic preforms are formed into plastic containers. A first movement mechanism is provided for opening and/or closing the blow molds, and wherein a locking mechanism is provided for locking the blow molds together at least temporarily during the expansion process. The apparatus has at least one sensor device which detects a locking state of the locking mechanism of at least one forming station and which outputs at least one signal which is characteristic of said locking state.

A storage system for storing objects of plastic material processed in a bottling line (45) comprises: a plurality of drawers (4) configured to contain groups of objects (5); a frame (2) which defines a plurality of compartments (3) configured to house the drawers (4); a conveyor (8) movable in the storage system (1) itself and configured to access the compartments (3) in such a way as to withdraw and place drawers (4) from and into the compartments (4); a loading bay (11) having one or more loading compartments for receiving corresponding drawers (4) and having a loading manipulator (28) configured to place in the drawers (4) the loose objects (5) received from an infeed conveyor (29); an unloading bay (12) having at least one unloading compartment for receiving a corresponding drawer (4) and having an unloading manipulator (41) configured to place onto an outfeed conveyor (43, 44) the loose objects (5) stored in the drawer (4).