Provided is an apparatus for processing containers and in particular for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers, including a transport device which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path, wherein this transport device has a movable support, on which a plurality of processing stations are arranged, which in each case are suitable and intended for processing the plastic preforms, with a clean room, which surrounds at least portions of the transport path of the plastic preforms and which is delimited by at least one wall relative to the environment. Further, the apparatus has at least one inspection device for inspecting the containers, wherein this inspection device has an image capturing device, wherein this image capturing device is arranged at least partially outside the clean room and monitors at least one region of the containers through at least one wall of the clean room.

Methods of monitoring and controlling a molding process using a sensed change in strain provided by a strain gauge are provided. A target strain profile is created for a molding process of a molding apparatus. An upper and lower deviation limit from the target strain profile for the molding process is provided. If a sensed change in strain exceeds a deviation limit, an alarm is activated.

Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.

A plastic container manufacturing machine, comprising a chassis having a camway with a cam and a countercam and an element which is movable relative to the chassis, bearing a roller interacting with the camway so as to ensure the displacement of the movable element. The machine also comprising a device for controlling the displacement of the movable element. The countercam has at least one portion which is movable relative to the chassis, and the control device incorporates a distance sensor that continuously measures the distance of a movable portion of the countercam relative to a fixed reference point on the chassis.

An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, with a movable carrier on which at least one forming station is arranged for forming the plastic preforms, wherein the forming station is transported along a predefined transport path, and wherein the apparatus has a clean room inside which the plastic preforms are formed, wherein this clean room is isolated from a non-sterile environment by at least one wall, with a sterilisation device for sterilising the plastic preforms and/or plastic containers, which device acts upon the plastic preforms and/or plastic containers to be sterilised with a flowable sterilisation medium for their sterilisation. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises an ejection device for ejecting containers from the clean room, and this ejection device has a lock chamber from which the ejected containers can be removed, wherein this lock chamber can be acted upon with an atmosphere containing a sterilisation medium.

Disclosed is a for forming a container with multiple walls by blow molding or stretch blow molding of a preform, including a blow-molding phase followed by a degassing phase, beginning at a moment, of the formed container, to bring t:s pressure back to the ambient pressure. The method also includes: a continuous measurement of the pressure prevailing in the neck during the degassing phase; the determination of the length of time that has elapsed between the beginning of the degassing and the attaining of a reference pressure in the neck; the comparison of the length of time that has elapsed with a theoretical length of time that is necessary so that the reference pressure is attained in the neck; and maintaining the locking of the mold if the length of time that has elapsed is less than the theoretical length of time.

A device (1) for optical inspection of parisons (2) comprises: an illuminator (3) configured to emit a beam of light directed at a parison (2) located at an inspection position (10); a detector (4) configured to capture an image (10) of the parison (2) interposed between the illuminator (3) and the detector (4), where the illuminator (3) includes an emission-polarizing filter (32) configured to generate a polarized light beam, and where the detector (4) includes a receiving polarizing filter (41) configured to receive the polarized light beam.

The present invention provides a method of measuring the placement of material forming a blow-molded plastic container after the container is released from a mold of a blow molder having a plurality of molds, wherein each plastic container comprises a continuous sidewall and a base, the method comprising the steps of: detecting with an infrared camera infrared light emitted from the container after the container is released from a mold; converting the detected infrared light into corresponding electrical signals; transmitting the electrical signals to a microprocessor; comparing in the microprocessor the electrical signals with stored data regarding desired material distribution forming the plastic container; and producing output information regarding the placement of material forming the container.

Apparatus for treating plastic preforms, having a reservoir which is configured for receiving a plurality of plastic preforms, having at least one first transport device which transports the plastic preforms out of the reservoir, and having a sorting device which is arranged down-stream of the first transport device in a transport direction of the plastic preforms, and having at least one further transport device which is arranged downstream of the sorting device in the transport direction, wherein the apparatus has an inspection device for inspecting the transported plastic performs, arranged between the reservoir and the sorting device.

The invention relates to a method for controlling confined preforms which are stopped in a heating station during a production interruption, the heating station comprising a device for conveying preforms comprising individual supports which move in a closed circuit and a heating cavity which is bordered by at least one row of transmitters of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. The method includes a step of heating, by the transmitters of the heating cavity, the confined preforms referred to as “cold” preforms which have been stopped before being exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitters.