A sterilization method includes a sterilizer supplying step of supplying a sterilizer to a sterile zone conveyor (23) while the sterile zone conveyor (23) is being rotated, and a sterile water supplying step of supplying sterile water to the sterile zone conveyor (23) while the sterile zone conveyor (23) is being rotated.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing sealed plastic containers having a first headspace pressure. The apparatus may include: an open entry port or tunnel for continuously receiving containers; a sanitizer configured to sanitize outside surfaces of the received containers; a perforator configured to perforate or open a cap or seal of the containers within the apparatus; a sealer configured to seal the perforation or opening formed in the cap or seal of the containers; an open exit port of tunnel for continuously exiting the processed containers; and a conveyor system configured to transporting or convey the containers from the open entry port or tunnel, through and within the apparatus, to the open exit port or tunnel and away from the sanitized environment of the apparatus. The apparatus may be further configured to maintain a sanitized environment within the apparatus, perforator, and/or sealer.

Even when the filling rate is high, the surface temperature of molded bottles is kept at a certain temperature or higher, and the bottles can be adequately sterilized with a sterilizer.

A preform is heated, the heated preform is sealed in a neck portion mold, a trunk portion mold and a bottom portion mold at a predetermined temperature range, and the preform sealed in the molds is blow-molded into a bottle. Any bottle is removed which has been molded in the neck portion mold, the trunk portion mold and the bottom portion mold the temperature of any of which is outside the predetermined temperature range, and a sterilizer is blasted to any bottle for sterilization which has been molded in the neck portion mold, the trunk portion mold and the bottom portion mold the temperature of all of which is in the predetermined temperature range.

The invention relates to a method for processing plastic preforms (10) and/or plastic containers (20) by means of at least one first processing apparatus (2), which processes the plastic containers (10, 20) in a first specified manner, and by means of at least one second processing apparatus (4), which processes the plastic containers (10, 20) in a second specified manner and which is arranged before or after the first processing apparatus (2), wherein the plastic containers (10, 20) are transported from one processing apparatus (2, 4) to the other processing apparatus (2, 4) by means of a transport apparatus (5) and the at least first processing apparatus (2) and the at least second processing apparatus (4) are coupled to each other, the first treatment apparatus (2) is a blow-molding machine (25) for shaping plastic preforms (10) to form plastic containers (20), and the process speed of the blow-molding machine (25) is defined by means of a specification, which contains a plurality of process parameters that are characteristic of the shaping process. According to the invention, the process parameters associated with at least one further process speed are at least partially determined on the basis of at least two key specifications, such that the adaptation of the process speed of the blow-molding machine (25) to a speed of at least one further processing apparatus (2, 4) is enabled and/or adjustment of the speed is possible.

A cap sterilization device (50) includes an introduction unit (52), a sterilant spraying unit (53) that sprays a sterilant onto a cap (33) supplied from the introduction unit (52), an air-rinsing unit (54) that subjects the cap (33) onto which the sterilant has been sprayed by the sterilant spraying unit (53) to air-rinsing, and a conveyance guide (70) that is disposed to extend successively through the introduction unit (52), the sterilant spraying unit (53), and the air-rinsing unit (54) and along which the cap (33) is conveyed from the introduction unit (52) toward the air-rinsing unit (54). The air-rinsing unit (54) is provided with an air-rinsing nozzle (83) that supplies hot air to the cap (33). The air-rinsing nozzle (83) is disposed such that a distal end (83a) thereof is in front of a proximal end (83b) thereof in a conveying direction of the conveyance guide (70).

A plant (1) for filling and closing cans (2) under hygienic conditions which comprises a hygienic compartment (3), a lid applying device (7) and an inlet (30) for a filling material. The lid applying device (7) is arranged in the hygienic compartment (3) and the inlet (30) is formed on the hygienic compartment (3). When used as intended, one or more cans (2) can be assigned to the hygienic compartment (3) and the hygienic compartment (3) can be moved together with the can(s) (2) in the system (1).

An apparatus for treating containers with a first treatment device configured to treat the containers in a predetermined first manner, with a transport device which transports the containers in a predetermined transport direction, wherein the transport device transports the containers in a transport stream extending in the transport direction, and with a reject device arranged after the first treatment device, which is configured to reject a plurality of containers arranged one after the other in the transport direction from the transport stream, wherein the apparatus has a second treatment device which is arranged before the first treatment device in the transport direction of the containers. The apparatus has a gap generating device which is arranged in front of the first treatment device in the transport direction of the containers and which generates at least one gap in the transport stream of the containers.

A container-handling apparatus, in particular a closing machine for closing cans or similar containers with a closure cap. A transfer element is provided between at least two adjacent container-closing positions. The transfer element surrounds at least part of the circumference of the respective container carrier and is provided so as to rotate with, i.e., revolve with, the container-closing positions. Furthermore, the upper side of the transfer element forms a transfer plane for transferring the upright containers in a planar manner from the transport plane onto the transfer plane spanned by the transfer element. The transfer plane and the transport plane are coplanar, spanning a common plane.

Systems and methods for filling and sealing a container can include a housing having an opening for receiving containers, a rotary assembly including mount assemblies disposed in the housing, the rotary assembly operable to rotate the of mount assemblies about a central axis, a washing station, a filling station, a steam injector, and cap setter disposed in the housing.

A cap sterilizer (50) includes an infeed chamber (52), a sterilant atomizing chamber (53), and an air rinse chamber (54). At least the infeed chamber (52) and the air rinse chamber (54) are exhausted. Both an exhaust pressure (E2) in the infeed chamber (52) and an exhaust pressure (E4) in the air rinse chamber are higher than an exhaust pressure (E3) in the sterilant atomizing chamber (53), or the sterilant atomizing chamber (53) is not exhausted.