Apparatus and method for treating a container, in particular for sterilizing it

Abstract

To provide a container processing device, in particular, a container sterilization device having some transport devices for transporting a container along a prescribed transport path in a housing.SOLUTION: A container processing device (1) for transporting a plastic container (10), in particular, a plastic preform along a prescribed transport path, comprises at least one transport device (100) having a plurality of holding elements (140). In the container processing device (1), the transport device (100) is a pitch distribution star wheel that is suitable for enabling movement of the holding elements (140) in at least two planes, and comprises a movement device intended therefor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus, in particular a container sterilization apparatus, having several conveying devices for conveying containers along a predetermined conveying path within a housing. At least one of the conveying devices is an outer surface processing device of the container, and at least one of the conveying devices is an inner surface processing device of the container. Each device has at least one holding device for holding at least one container during container processing and / or during conveyance along the conveying path. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for processing containers, in particular for sterilizing containers.

Background Art

[0002] Various container processing apparatuses are known from the prior art. In many cases, preforms are processed in such container processing apparatuses, and the devices are formed into bottles or other containers, for example, in subsequent steps. This has the advantage that a relatively small area has to be processed. This is particularly advantageous in the sterilization process because a smaller area has to be sterilized and sterilizing agents and / or energy can be saved.

[0003] The sterilization of containers is usually carried out within a housing that is at least mostly closed in order to avoid external contamination. In some systems, at least one sterilization process includes application by radiation. The radiation source provided for this purpose is also usually at least partially arranged within the housing, emits radiation into the interior of the housing, and the housing has shielding properties against this radiation. In this way, people near such a sterilization device can be protected from scattered radiation.

[0004] In particular, when successively sterilizing different regions of a container, there arises the problem that all of these devices need to be arranged within a housing in order to avoid intermediate contamination of surfaces that have already been sterilized. When several such sterilization units are arranged within a common housing, they form a so-called sterilization module. Due to the many sterilization units and the conveying devices for transferring individual containers from one sterilization unit to the next, this is very bulky and often requires a large installation area.

[0005] From the applicant's internal prior art, it is known to sterilize the outer and inner surfaces of a plastic preform after heating in a furnace. The sterilization of the containers to be filled is a central process step in the aseptic filling line in addition to the actual filling process. In more recent developments, the use of ionizing radiation has been used to achieve a reduction in bacteria. In most applications, this radiation consists of accelerated electrons generated in a corresponding system and processing the containers to be sterilized, and the systems used for sterilization consist of an electron generation device and a beam finger for sterilizing the inner surface, and an electron generation device and a surface radiator for sterilizing the outer surface. The processing device for sterilizing the outer surface and the processing device for sterilizing the inner surface are each arranged on a carousel or a conveying star wheel connected to a pitch distribution star wheel.

[0006] The X-ray radiation generated during sterilization must be shielded from the environment by a suitable shield, and as a result, the two processing devices are either embedded or enclosed in a radiation shielding device. Such a shielding device is described in more detail, for example, in European Patent Application Publication No. 2 845 610. Also, the embodiments described in this specification each represent a preferred embodiment of the housing of the present invention. The applicant expressly reserves the right to use the features of this publication also for defining the preferred embodiments of the present invention. In order to ensure radiation shielding also at the inlet window and the outlet window of the enclosed device, an inlet star is connected upstream and an outlet star is connected downstream. Thereby, an entire device with five stars or carousels is obtained.

[0007] However, this results in a very long transfer from the furnace to the blow molding machine, a very long conveying distance, or a long residence time of the container within the processing module. This causes great difficulties in forming a plastic preform into a finished plastic container because the preform is overly cooled on the conveying path. Further, since a timed transfer from the holding clamp to the holding mandrel is performed here, frequent transfers within a radiation shield housing with insufficient access increase the risk of an incomplete transfer, especially during the transition from the feed star wheel to the outer processing module. Errors such as misalignment can lead to loss of the preform or damage to the transfer device during subsequent transfer. At higher outputs, since it increases for each existing star or carousel, the installation area of the system also increases.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to provide a container processing apparatus, particularly a container sterilization device, which can be realized in a more compact manner and still provide a high throughput of containers. Such a container processing apparatus should be as modular as possible and must be compatible with other upstream or downstream container processing apparatuses such as blow molding devices or heating devices. Further, a method for effective container processing on a short conveying path is needed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0010] This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0011] Therefore, the solution to the fundamental problem according to the present invention is solved by a container processing device, in particular a container sterilization device, having several conveying devices for conveying a container along a predetermined conveying path within a housing, wherein at least one of the conveying devices is a container outer surface processing device and at least one of the conveying devices is a container inner surface processing device. Both the container outer surface processing device and the container inner surface processing device each have at least one holding device for holding at least one container during container processing and / or during conveyance along the conveying path.

[0012] For a first solution to this problem, it is essential that the holding devices of the container outer surface processing device and / or the container inner surface processing device can be at least temporarily placed in the region of an opening in the housing wall in order to receive a container that is inserted into the space enclosed by the housing or to discharge a container that is withdrawn from the space enclosed by the housing. In such a container processing device, the possibility of at least temporarily introducing the holding devices of the container outer surface processing device and / or the container inner surface processing device into the region of an opening in the housing wall enables the direct transfer of the container to the container processing device or the acceptance of the container from the container processing device. This can eliminate the need for a conveying device that transfers the inserted container along the conveying path in the housing to a first container processing device and / or takes over the processed container from the last container processing device in the housing and discharges it from the housing.

[0013] Preferably, the holding device of the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device is movable relative to the container treatment device. In addition or alternatively, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the position and / or orientation of the container within the area of the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device can be changed relative to the vertical projection of the transport path. This movement of the container relative to each other or relative to the protrusion of the transport path enables, for example, the introduction of beam fingers or nozzles into the interior of the container for inner container treatment. Similarly, in some applications, the relative movement within the area of the outer container surface treatment device can also be advantageous, for example, for making previously shaded surface areas accessible to the outer container surface treatment device, by rotating and / or tilting the container relative to the nozzle or radiation source.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device each have a rotatable carrier. Such rotatable carriers are often used particularly in the field of bottle handling, and as a result, this embodiment offers particularly good possibilities for equipping existing systems or integrating into systems with a newly equipped container treatment apparatus. Preferably, the axes of rotation of the outer container surface treatment device and the inner container surface treatment device extend essentially parallel, particularly preferably exactly parallel. This configuration enables particularly smooth running of the carriers relative to each other.

[0015] Preferably, the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device have a plurality of holding elements. This enables several containers to be processed during the repeated movement of each treatment device, improving the throughput.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the drive device of at least one conveying device arranged inside the housing is arranged on a different side with respect to the surface covered by the conveying path than the drive device of at least one other conveying device arranged inside the housing. In this way, it is possible to avoid having all drive devices and possibly necessary lines arranged on one side of the surface covered by the conveying path. Instead, for example, the drive devices for one or more conveying devices arranged inside the housing can be arranged above this surface, and the drive devices for at least one other conveying device arranged inside the housing can be arranged below this plane. Thereby, these drive devices can be offset and the space inside the housing can be utilized more efficiently. Thereby, the container processing device can be designed more compactly.

[0017] In particular, at least one drive device of at least one of the conveying devices arranged inside the housing is preferably arranged outside the housing. In particular, this is a drive device arranged above the surface over which the conveying path extends. Thereby, it is possible to access the drive device, for example for maintenance work, without having to open the housing.

[0018] Particularly preferred embodiments have been found in which the drive device of the outer container surface treatment device is on a different side with respect to the plane spanned by the transport path than the drive device of the inner container surface treatment device and at least one further transport device. In particular, the drive device of the outer container surface treatment device is preferably arranged above the plane spanned by the transport path. This has been found to be particularly preferable especially when the holding elements of the outer container surface treatment device are holding elements that grip the respective containers from the inside. In this configuration, the space below the outer container surface treatment device is at least mostly free. Thus, the suspended transport containers are not obstructed by objects that may protrude into the transport path, such as supply lines to the drive unit. Furthermore, this configuration offers the advantage that when the holding elements are controlled by a control cam, for example, by displacement of a holding element relative to another holding element in the height direction, this control cam is preferably the only element arranged under the carrier of the outer container surface treatment device and is thus particularly easily accessible for adjustment.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the inner container surface treatment device comprises a plurality of treatment devices, such as nozzles or beam fingers, each of which can preferably be at least partially introduced into the interior of the container for the treatment of the container. This also enables an improvement in throughput since the treatment of several containers is made possible during repeated movements of the inner container surface treatment device, preferably rotations about a central axis.

[0020] Preferably, in addition to the outer container processing device and the inner container processing device, a maximum of two further conveying devices are arranged inside the housing. In this way, the volume of the space enclosed by the housing can be further reduced, and the container processing apparatus can be designed particularly compactly. In a further preferred embodiment, there is only one further conveying device for conveying the container through the space enclosed by the housing. This embodiment allows for a further reduction in volume. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is possible to deliver the container after processing by the container processing apparatus to a processing device following a conveying path, similar to the case of a processing apparatus known from the prior art having, for example, five conveying devices. In this embodiment, due to the fact that the number of all conveying devices within the space enclosed by the housing is also non-uniform, the rotational directions of the first and last conveying devices along the conveying path within the housing are the same.

[0021] Preferably, at least one further conveying device has a rotatable carrier. In this way, the conveying device can be combined particularly easily with the outer container processing device and / or the inner container processing device, the container can be transferred thereto, and / or the container can be removed therefrom. In particular, it is preferable that the further conveying device is a conveying star wheel. Such conveying star wheels are known from the state of the art, and their integration into the container processing apparatus is possible with reasonable effort.

[0022] Preferably, the housing encloses a clean room. This is particularly preferable when the container processing apparatus is a sterilization device. In this way, at least some areas can be kept sterile within the housing, and contamination of the containers sterilized within the housing can be avoided.

[0023] Alternatively or in addition, the housing is preferably a radiation barrier. When radiation is used to sterilize the container surface, leakage of this radiation or scattered radiation arising from the housing can be prevented. This is particularly useful for protecting people in the vicinity of such a container processing apparatus.

[0024] Preferably, the distance between two containers directly following each other on the transport path can be changed within the area of the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device. Thereby, the containers can be moved through the container treatment device at individually adjustable speeds. Thus, the treatment can be adjusted to the required period without the need to adjust the speed of the entire carrier on which the holding device is arranged. This results in high throughput potential with sufficient container treatment time at the same time.

[0025] Preferably, the holding device of the outer container surface treatment device is a holding device that grips the container internally, and / or the holding device of the inner container surface treatment device is a holding device that grips the container externally. These embodiments enable the container to be held on one side by a holding device on the container surface opposite the container surface to be treated, at least in the container treatment device. This means that the parts of the holding device do not need to contact the container surface to be treated, and as a result, free access to the treatment performed by the container treatment device is possible. Thus, for example, it is possible to apply the entire surface to be treated with a sterilizing medium such as a sterilizing agent solution or sterilizing radiation.

[0026] Hereinafter, it is understood that the container is any container suitable for holding a medium. When referring to a first container and a second container, these may be the same or different. However, the same container may have different contents. For example, if the processing device is a filling device, the first container can contain a gaseous medium and the second container can contain a liquid or another gas. It is also conceivable that the processing device is a sterilization device. In this case, the first container can be, for example, a non-sterile container and the second container can be a sterile container.

[0027] Preferably, the (first and / or second) container to be processed is a bottle and / or a preform. The processing device is preferably a sterilization device or a sterilization module. However, the processing device may also include at least one processing device selected from the group including a closing device, a blowing station, a filling device, a heating device, a cooling device, and a labeling device.

[0028] Preferably, the outer container surface treatment device and the inner container surface treatment device are arranged directly one after another along the transport path. This eliminates the need for an additional transport device between these two container surface treatment devices and enables a more compact design of the container treatment device. Furthermore, additional parts to be maintained in this section are avoided, resulting in reduced maintenance effort that could otherwise cause the container treatment device to stop, the housing to be opened, and possibly contaminate the space enclosed by the housing.

[0029] Preferably, the inner container surface treatment device follows the outer container surface treatment device along the transport path. Therefore, the outer container surface treatment device and the inner container surface treatment device are preferably provided and designed such that the container can be transferred, particularly from the outer container surface treatment device to the inner container surface treatment device. In the case of sterilization, for example, this has the advantage that it is not necessary to grip the container again inside after sterilization of at least a part of the outer surface where the container is preferably held by an inner gripping and holding element. This means that contamination inside the container can be avoided.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device have a rotatable carrier and a plurality of holding elements arranged thereon and guidable on a circular path and / or on a circumferential path at a variable distance from a central point. Hereinafter, the "circular path" should also be understood as a circumferential path around the aforementioned central point with a slight deviation from an ideal circular path in one or more sectors. These can be done, for example, as described below, by individually changing the distance of the individual holding elements from the central point in order to flatten the circular path in a specific area or to enable a substantially linear guidance of the holding elements and the container arranged thereon within the sector. Preferably, the holding elements in the first sector of the circular path where the container is picked up have a height relative to the vertical projection of a conveying path different from that of the holding elements in the second sector where the container is delivered. This makes it possible to take over the container at a height different from its delivery (relative to the vertical projection of the conveying path). This can be advantageous when adjacent conveying devices along the conveying path are at different height levels.

[0031] However, in particular, this provides an advantage when the treatment by the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device gives a height displacement of the container. In this case, it is not necessary to move the container up and down several times in the height direction, for example, back to the starting position. Rather, during the process, the height shift is only carried out over the distance absolutely necessary for the process, and it is conceivable that the holding device is only shifted back to the height at which another container is picked up after the process is completed and the processed container is dispensed. This makes it possible to carry out this displacement of the holding elements not occupied by the container in sectors of the circular path where the container is not being treated and thus remains unused, especially in the case of a rotary container surface treatment device.

[0032] It is advantageous if the outer container treatment device and the inner container treatment device are successively arranged directly along the transport path of the container. Since container surface treatment often causes displacement of the container along the height direction, the container surface treatment device often has a device for displacing the holding element along the height direction anyway, and therefore, this is particularly easy to implement.

[0033] In particular, the outer container treatment device and the inner container treatment device are preferably provided and designed so that the container can be transferred from the outer container treatment device to the inner container treatment device. Therefore, preferably, the inner container treatment device follows the outer container treatment device along the transport path. This is often advantageous when an internal gripping and holding element is used to treat the outer surface of the container. In this case, the container usually hangs below the arm on which the internal gripping and holding element is arranged. Therefore, in order to avoid contact between the arms of different container surface treatment devices, it is desirable that the transfer to the inner container treatment device be performed at a relatively low height level.

[0034] Preferably, the holding element of the inner container treatment device has a lower height in the first sector than in the second sector with respect to the vertical projection of the transport path. As described above, it is convenient for the inner container treatment device to receive the container at a relatively low height level. Therefore, the height of the vertical projection of the transport path in the sector of container pickup is low. Preferably, a displacement of the container occurs in the height direction during the inner container treatment. If it is not necessary to return the container to its original height (i.e., the height at which it was lifted by the inner container treatment device) for the inner container treatment, the fact that the container cannot be completely returned to its original height provides an advantage. This consists of the fact that, at the same rotational speed of the carrier, the treatment of the inner surface of the container can be carried out over a longer part of the circular path, because the return of the holding element, which is not occupied at that time, to its original height can be carried out after the delivery of the internally treated container.

[0035] Preferably, the holding element of the container inner surface treatment device is at least partially arranged at a height higher than that of the first and second sectors with respect to the vertical projection of the transport path in a third sector located along the transport path between the first and second sectors. Thus, in this embodiment, the container held by the holding element in the third sector is arranged at least temporarily at a height higher than both the height at which the container is received by the container inner surface treatment device and the height at which the container is delivered. This is particularly advantageous when the container is guided along the application device to process the inner surface of the container, thereby changing the height of the container. In particular, this enables different height regions of the container to be affected by the application device (which is preferably stationary at its height position).

[0036] In particular, in the third sector, it is preferable that the container treatment device is arranged at least partially inside the container. Such a container treatment device may be, for example, a nozzle that emits sterilizing radiation and irradiates the container surface or a so-called beam finger. Such beam fingers are often very sensitive and are connected to a radiation and / or high voltage source. Although it is possible to make such a beam finger movable with respect to the carrier, it is not preferable in terms of sensitivity and weight. Rather, the container treatment device preferably has a constant height with respect to the vertical projection of the transport path. It is usually much easier to move an inexpensive, usually lightweight, and less sensitive container (fixed to a common support) relative to a container handling device such as a beam finger than to move a complex and expensive container handling device towards the container to generate relative movement between the container handling device and the container required for container handling.

[0037] In particular, the container is preferably moved along its longitudinal axis towards a container treatment device, such as a beam finger, and the container treatment device preferably penetrates at least partially into the interior of the container. The container is then removed again from the container treatment device, so that the container treatment device is again completely outside the container.

[0038] Preferably, the container receptacle or holding device is a passive element, such as a clamp. For example, for transfer and handover, the active devices required, such as pushing a preform into the clamp and pulling it out of the clamp against the holding force of the clamp, are preferably outsourced to a transfer device and a handover device. In a preferred embodiment, the holding device of the container outer surface treatment device and / or the container inner surface treatment device is an active element. In such an active element, it is preferable that the force with which the container is gripped is variable. For example, this change can be sector-dependent. This embodiment is preferable because it can ensure better and safer handover and / or transfer using an active holding element / clamp.

[0039] Furthermore, the object according to the present invention is solved by a method for processing a container, wherein the container is conveyed along a predetermined conveying path through a space surrounded by a housing. The container is at least partially conveyed through a container outer surface treatment device and a container inner surface treatment device and is respectively held by at least one holding device during conveyance and / or during container processing.

[0040] In a first variant of this method, the solution to the aforementioned object is achieved by at least temporarily placing the holding device of the container outer surface treatment device or the container inner surface treatment device in the region of an opening in the housing wall in order to receive a container that enters the space surrounded by the housing or to discharge a container that is withdrawn from the space surrounded by the housing. As described above with regard to the device, this offers the possibility of reducing the number of conveying devices arranged inside the housing and keeping the volume surrounded by the housing small.

[0041] Preferably, the container is transferred between the outer surface processing device of the container and the inner surface processing device of the container. Thereby, the conveying device arranged between the outer surface processing device of the container and the inner surface processing device of the container can be made unnecessary, and the conveying device can also serve to keep the volume surrounded by the housing low. In particular, it is preferable that the container is transferred from the outer surface processing device of the container to the inner surface processing device of the container.

[0042] Preferably, the height of the container on the vertical projection of the conveying path in the space surrounded by the housing is changed at least once, preferably at least twice, more preferably at least three times. Therefore, the conveying path not only extends two-dimensionally, but also uses the third dimension, particularly preferably the height direction. This is advantageous, for example, for bringing different regions of the container to the application region of the processing device. As described above on the device side, the container can be moved relative to the beam finger, for example, to carry the container partially inside the container so that the inner surface of the container is reliably exposed to radiation from a short distance. Displacing the container a plurality of times along the height direction can be advantageous or even necessary, for example, to lower the container that has been raised previously in order to remove the beam finger from the inside of the container again.

[0043] A further solution to the object defined above is that the container is guided at least partially by the holding device of the outer surface processing device and / or the inner surface processing device of the container on a part of the conveying path, the vertical projection of which is a part of a circular path, and the container is received by the holding element in a first sector at a first height with respect to the vertical projection of the conveying path and delivered to a second sector at a second height different from the first height.

[0044] All of these and other solutions shown can be implemented in addition to, or as an alternative to, the aforementioned first solution. The process steps and embodiments of the described apparatus, which are described in the context of the preferred variations, are also not limited to the solutions in the context in which they are first mentioned. Rather, the preferred process steps and embodiments can also provide advantages to processes and / or apparatuses that are not directly related to this variation, provided that this combination is technically feasible.

[0045] For example, one or more changes in the height of the container above the vertical projection of the transport path within the space enclosed by the housing, as described above for the first solution of the task, are also preferred process variations of a further solution for the object, which will only be described later.

[0046] In the aforementioned further solution for the object, changing the height of the container from the height of the first sector to the height of the second sector provides the advantage that a change in the height of the holding element (which is not subsequently occupied by the container) that is not absolutely necessary for container processing can be carried out in the fourth sector of the circular path along which the holding element is moved. In this way, the time required for this displacement can be shifted from the sector defined by the transport speed at which the container processing is carried out and the diameter of the carrier to the fourth sector. The time that the holding element is in this fourth sector is usually referred to as dead time, because no activities required for handling the container can be carried out in this sector. Conversely, the possibility of using this sector to return the holding device to the required height in the first sector enables a reduction in the radius / diameter of the carrier and thus the volume of the space enclosed by the housing.

[0047] Preferably, the holding device for the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device in the first sector receives the container from the outer container surface treatment device or the inner container surface treatment device. This process variant offers the possibility, as already mentioned above, of dispensing with an additional transfer device between the outer container surface treatment device and the inner container surface treatment device, which also results in a reduction of the volume of the space enclosed by the housing. Furthermore, the displacement of the container along the height direction in the region of the outer container surface treatment device and / or the inner container surface treatment device is often advantageous in order to enable treatment of the entire inner or outer surface of the container. Therefore, at least one of these container surface treatment devices has a device for displacing the container along the height direction, which can also be used within the scope of this variant.

[0048] In a preferred variant, the container is conveyed into the second sector at a second height that is greater (with respect to the vertical projection of the conveying path on the plane) than the first height at which the container is picked up within the first sector. In particular, in the case of the transfer of the container from an internal gripping holding element that is normally suspended under an arm to an external gripping holding element, a pick-up at a relatively low height level is suitable in order to avoid contact between the arms and / or holding elements of different container surface treatment devices.

[0049] Preferably, the container treatment device applies a treatment agent to the container in a third sector that is located on the conveying path between the first sector and the second sector. By performing the displacement of the holding elements (not occupied by the container) to the region outside this third sector, which is not directly necessary for container treatment, as explained above, the third sector can be used to a greater extent (preferably almost completely) for the process steps that are directly necessary for container treatment.

[0050] In a preferred variant of the method, the holding device is moved from a second height to a first height in a fourth sector that is not part of the transport path of the container, and the container is picked up in the first sector at the first height. The holding device is preferably not occupied by the container within this fourth sector as described above.

[0051] Preferably, the container is moved in the height direction during the processing of the inner surface of the container. In particular, at least a part of the container preferably moves towards a processing device, such as a nozzle or a radiation source. In particular, in the area of the inner surface of the container being processed, the container is preferably arranged on a (beam) finger (preferably immobile with respect to the carrier) such that the finger projects at least partially into the interior of the container.

[0052] In particular, when the container has to be pulled downward from the inner gripping holding element during the transfer of the container by the inner surface processing device of the container, the distance that the container has to be covered in the height direction to penetrate the container to the area enabling effective sterilization of the bottom of the container is often greater than the distance that the container inevitably has to move when it is pulled out of the beam finger in order for the beam finger to be completely removed from the interior of the container. However, as soon as the beam finger is completely outside the container, the container can be transferred to a transport device following the transport path. After the container has been distributed, the (subsequently unoccupied) holding element can be moved.

[0053] The above-described method with its preferred variant enables shortening of the transport path of the container in the area of the container surface processing device because process steps that are not directly necessary for the container processing are carried out in an area outside the transport path of the container. Therefore, the part of the transport path of the processing device where the container is processed can be increased. In this way, the processing device can be made smaller overall, or the number of possible processes in parallel can be increased. A reduction in weight and diameter is possible with the same performance.

[0054] Preferably, the holding device is guided at least partially on a movable carrier on a circular path. As described above and shown in some of the figures described below, the movable carrier is preferably a transport star wheel rotatable about a central axis. The holding element follows this rotation by being arranged on the movable carrier. However, as described above, the holding element can further move in a direction perpendicular or radial to the movable carrier.

[0055] Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the container extends along a transport path that is essentially perpendicular to the plane defined by the transport path during transport of the container. Thus, the container extends in a height direction perpendicular to the transport path or the plane reached by the transport path. Preferably, the perpendicular to the vertical projection of the transport path is parallel to the height of one, preferably each, container. Thus, the height direction above the vertical projection of the transport path is parallel to the height direction of the container.

[0056] A further solution to the underlying problem of shortening the transport path for plastic containers in a container processing apparatus is a container processing apparatus for transporting plastic containers, in particular plastic preforms, along a predetermined transport path, the container processing apparatus comprising at least a first transport device having a plurality of holding elements, in particular holding clamps, for holding the plastic container during transport, and a second transport device having a plurality of holding elements, in particular a mandrel or a holding mandrel, wherein the plastic container is transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device.

[0057] However, in this solution, which can also supplement further solutions and embodiments presented within the scope of the present invention, the first conveying device and the second conveying device are each a pitch distribution delay star wheel. Preferably, the first conveying device is the (first) pitch distribution star wheel and the second conveying device is the (second) pitch distribution star wheel. The pitch distribution star wheel is suitable and intended to change the pitch of successively or adjacently conveyed plastic containers, in particular to increase and / or decrease it. This is preferably achieved by the holding elements of the first conveying device and the second conveying device being movably and / or rotatably attached to the respective conveying device / the respective pitch distribution star wheel, in particular rotatably attached in a radial or tangential direction with respect to the conveying path of the respective conveying device.

[0058] Accordingly, the pitch distribution star wheel is always used where the pitch is to be changed or modified. If other functions are required, these are usually not performed on the pitch distribution star wheel, but further conveying star wheels or conveying devices are required before and / or after the pitch distribution star wheel. For example, in an apparatus known from the applicant's internal prior art, two conveying star wheels are required to receive containers with a holding mandrel for external processing, and the pitch distribution star wheel is provided only to change the division. According to this, the pitch distribution star wheel known in the prior art can operate only horizontally, i.e., in a radial and / or tangential direction, with respect to the plane of the (pitch distribution) star wheel, more precisely with respect to the circumference, or with respect to the longitudinal direction of the plastic container, but not in other planes, such as perpendicular to the circumference of the (pitch distribution) star wheel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plastic container, i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the (pitch distribution) star wheel. Instead, these movements are usually performed on other or additional conveying units.

[0059] Accordingly, according to the present invention, it is proposed to directly transfer plastic containers from one pitch distribution star wheel to another pitch distribution star wheel without involving an additional feed-in or feed-out star wheel arranged between the pitch distribution star wheel or the first and second conveying devices. This means that the original processing star wheel for external sterilization and the upstream feed-in star wheel are omitted within the housing. Thereby, a processing module is obtained that requires only a total of three (instead of five) conveying devices or star wheels within the housing.

[0060] Preferably, a heating device is connected upstream of the container processing apparatus to heat plastic containers, in particular plastic preforms, to a predetermined temperature. The first conveying device is advantageously arranged downstream of the heating device such that the transfer of plastic containers from the heating device to the container processing apparatus, i.e., from the outlet star wheel (first conveying device) of the heating device to the inlet star wheel (second conveying device) of the container processing apparatus, is carried out using two pitch distribution star wheels without an additional conveying star wheel or conveying device being arranged between these pitch distribution star wheels.

[0061] The housing preferably has a housing in which a clean room is formed inside. The first conveying device is preferably arranged outside the housing and thus outside the clean room, and the second conveying device is preferably arranged inside the housing, in particular inside the clean room. Accordingly, the first conveying device preferably transfers plastic containers to the second conveying device arranged within the housing that shields the environment. Accordingly, the second conveying device or the second pitch distribution star wheel is preferably sterile.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the container processing apparatus comprises a housing and the conveying path is at least partially within the housing.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the container processing apparatus has a container outer surface processing device for processing the outer surface of a plastic container, in particular a container outer surface sterilization device and / or a container inner surface processing device for processing the inner surface of a plastic container, in particular a container inner surface sterilization device.

[0064] The container outer surface processing device and the container inner surface processing device are preferably arranged within a housing. Preferably, at least a second conveying device, the container outer surface processing device, and the container inner surface processing device are arranged inside the housing, so that the processing of the plastic container, in particular sterilization, is preferably carried out inside the housing or inside a clean room formed by the housing.

[0065] The container outer surface sterilization device and the container inner surface sterilization device preferably sterilize the container, in particular the preform, by means of an electron beam. For this purpose, the container outer surface sterilization device is preferably arranged along the conveying path of the container and preferably has at least one so-called surface radiator directed towards their outer surfaces, and the container inner surface sterilization device preferably has at least one, preferably a plurality of beam fingers introduced into the container.

[0066] In an even more preferred embodiment, the container outer surface processing device is arranged on the second conveying device. Thus, the container outer surface processing device, in particular the container outer surface sterilization device, is preferably arranged directly on the (second) pitch distribution star wheel, so that, as is usual in the prior art, a processing star wheel specially provided for external sterilization or external processing is not required. The container inner surface processing device, in particular the container inner surface sterilization device, is preferably arranged on a conveying star wheel following the second conveying device.

[0067] Therefore, the first conveying device or pitch distribution star wheel arranged downstream of the heating device preferably directly transfers the plastic container to a further pitch distribution star wheel where the external treatment of the plastic container is also directly carried out. In the prior art, usually, a feed star wheel is first provided after the first pitch distribution star wheel in the housing, which transfers the container to a subsequent conveying star wheel for external sterilization, and then transfers the container to a second pitch distribution star wheel after the external treatment.

[0068] The transfer from the container processing device according to the present invention or the proposed pitch distribution star wheel to immediately after the pitch distribution star wheel also performs external treatment, and thus eliminates the inlet star wheel and the processing conveying star wheel arranged in the housing. As a result, the housing can be designed to be particularly small as a whole.

[0069] In a preferred embodiment, the housing has a transfer window for transferring the plastic container from a first conveying device arranged outside the housing to a second conveying device arranged inside the housing. Preferably, the transfer window is arranged at the transfer part where the plastic container is transferred from the first conveying device to the second conveying device.

[0070] At the transfer window, it is preferable that the pitch of the plastic container is variable such that the pitch distribution of the first pitch distribution star wheel is optimally designed or adaptable to the requirements of the second pitch distribution star wheel.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment, the transfer window has a width of 250 mm to 320 mm, preferably 270 mm to 310 mm, and particularly preferably 285 mm to 300 mm. Preferably, the transfer window is designed to be as small as possible so that the sterility inside the housing can be maintained, and at the same time, the exit window for radiation that may escape from the housing is reduced. Preferably, the transfer window is variably designed so that its width can be changed. This is advantageous, for example, because the transfer window can be adapted to different preform types and sizes. These transfer windows can also be referred to as inputs or outputs.

[0072] In a more preferred embodiment, the second conveying device has a lifting and rotating device that enables movement of the holding element of the second conveying device in a direction perpendicular and / or horizontal to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container, and rotational movement of the plastic container and / or the holding element along the longitudinal axis. Preferably, each holding element of the second conveying device is associated with its own lifting and rotating device so that the plastic containers can be rotated independently of each other and / or the holding elements can be moved independently of each other. In particular, it is preferable that a drive device is assigned to each lifting and rotating device to perform the rotational movement of the plastic container designed in a known manner. The vertical lifting movement of the holding element is preferably realized by one or more lifting curves and at least one guiding curve.

[0073] Therefore, in order to enable transfer from the first conveying device to the second conveying device, particularly from the first pitch distribution star wheel to the second pitch distribution star wheel, a lifting and rotating device is further arranged on the second conveying device / the second pitch distribution star wheel, which is preferably suitable for receiving the plastic container and is intended to be so.

[0074] The lifting and rotating device, on the one hand, needs to be able to pick up and hold a plastic container inside. The transfer from the holding element, especially the holding clamp of the first conveying device, to the holding element, especially the holding mandrel of the second conveying device, is preferably carried out by moving the holding element of the second conveying device towards the container, and thus preferably in the vertical or longitudinal direction of the container, as a result of which the holding element moves in the direction of the container. On the other hand, the lifting and rotating device functions to rotate the container about its longitudinal axis in front of the container outer surface treatment device, especially the container outer surface sterilization device, so that a uniformly distributed radiation force, and as a result a uniform disinfection force, can be applied to the container.

[0075] The holding element of the first conveying device is preferably a holding clamp that holds the plastic container on the outer wall, especially below or above the support ring of the container. The holding element of the second conveying device is preferably a holding mandrel that is inserted into the container and holds them against the inner wall. Thus, the plastic container is preferably transferred from the outer holding element to the inner holding element, especially from the outer holding clamp to the inner holding mandrel.

[0076] Preferably, the lifting and rotating device also enables the container to be optimally positioned on the holding mandrel. The holding mandrel is preferably rotatable so that the rotational movement of the plastic container can be started, especially during the processing of the container.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, a shielding device that shields the periphery of the housing from the inside of the housing is arranged at least in part within the area of the transfer window. In particular, this is a radiation shielding device for shielding radiation, especially the generated X-rays, from the container outer surface treatment device and / or the container inner surface treatment device. Thus, the plastic container is preferably transferred into the radiation shielding housing.

[0078] Accordingly, it is proposed to arrange the external sterilization of plastic containers, in particular plastic preforms, on a second conveying device, preferably on a second pitch distribution star wheel. To enable this, the container outer surface treatment device or the surface radiator is preferably arranged on the second conveying device or the second pitch distribution star wheel, and the second conveying device or the second pitch distribution star wheel is equipped with an additional lifting and rotating device. Accordingly, the transfer from the outlet star wheel of the furnace (first conveying device) to the radiation shielding area is preferably carried out by the first pitch distribution star wheel. Accordingly, the second pitch distribution star wheel is arranged within the radiation shielding area, i.e., within the housing.

[0079] In a more preferred embodiment, the first conveying device and / or the holding element of the first conveying device at least partially or partially follow and accompany the conveying path of the second conveying device and / or the holding element of the second conveying device while transferring the plastic container to the second conveying device. In other words, the plastic container is preferably at least temporarily and partially simultaneously held by the holding element of the first conveying device, in particular the holding clamp, and the holding element of the second conveying device, in particular the holding mandrel, during transfer or while being transferred.

[0080] During the transfer from the first conveying device arranged outside the housing to the second conveying device inside the radiation shielding housing, the first conveying device or the holding element of the first conveying device preferably at least temporarily accompanies the plastic container. Accordingly, the transfer is preferably carried out in an accompanying manner.

[0081] To improve the transfer from the first pitch distribution star wheel (first conveying device) to the second pitch distribution star wheel (second conveying device) and to make it easier and safer to place on the holding element, particularly on the holding mandrel of the second pitch distribution star wheel, the first pitch distribution star wheel is preferably associated with the transfer of plastic containers, particularly plastic preforms, in a portion on a circular path corresponding to the circular path of the second pitch distribution star wheel.

[0082] As described above, the lifting and rotating device preferably performs the lifting operation of the holding element or the holding mandrel, and the holding mandrel is preferably moved towards the plastic container and inserted into the container to hold the container. In order to enable the lifting operation for attaching the plastic container to the holding mandrel of the lifting and rotating device, the first and second lifting cams and the guide rollers are preferably arranged inside the housing to enable the lifting of the holding mandrel.

[0083] Thereby, the first pitch distribution star wheel preferably deviates from the actual conveying path, which is preferably an essentially circular path, in order to be associated with the conveying path, preferably a circular path, of the second pitch distribution star wheel. The second pitch distribution star wheel preferably moves on a substantially exact circular path, whereby the guide rollers of the lifting and rotating device can roll on the lifting curve without lateral wear or slip. In this connection, substantially means that the conveying path of the second conveying device or the second pitch distribution star wheel deviates minimally from the circular path, which is also due to changes in the distance between the holding elements and the different distances of the holding elements from the axis of rotation of the pitch distribution star wheel. Therefore, the attachment of the container to the holding mandrel is incidental rather than timely.

[0084] The lifting cam is preferably arranged inside the housing on the fixed side wall of the housing. The lower region of the housing is advantageously designed to be movable and can preferably be lowered completely to enable access for adjustment and maintenance work within the housing. Such lowering is described in more detail, for example, in German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2013 109 794. The embodiments described therein each also represent preferred embodiments of the lowerable housing part of the present invention. The applicant expressly reserves the right to use the features of this document to define the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0085] Furthermore, a shielding device, especially a radiation protection wall, is arranged inside the housing, preferably at least partially or partially within the region of the second pitch distribution star wheel, especially within the region of at least the transfer window, preferably shielding the harmful X-rays generated by the outer container processing device and / or the inner container processing device from the outer region of the housing.

[0086] Preferably, one part of the housing, especially the upper part of the housing, is arranged statically, and a further part, especially the lower part which is the bottom, is arranged movably, especially lowerably. The lower part is preferably also a shielding device, especially a radiation protection wall. The arrangement of the two shielding devices is designed such that at least one guide roller of the lifting and rotating device, especially the lifting and rotating device, can move along an orbit through the gap between the two shielding devices.

[0087] In the region of the transfer window, it is preferable that a part of the lower shielding device is arranged on the lifting cam. Therefore, this part is preferably designed to be disassembled during the adjustment work of the container transfer without the need to adjust the fastening of the lifting cam. Preferably, the lower shielding device and the lifting cam can be removed together. This means that the adjustment can be made possible or facilitated without removing the radiation shield and a part of the transfer.

[0088] According to another embodiment, it is also conceivable that the second pitch distribution star wheel moves towards the first pitch distribution star wheel during transfer, or that both move towards each other simultaneously. This can minimize the transfer window within the housing. Preferably, the first pitch distribution star wheel and the second pitch distribution star wheel can also be electrically controlled, for example, by long stator technology.

[0089] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention further relates to a method for transporting plastic containers, particularly plastic preforms, along a predetermined transport path. The plastic container is transported by a first transport device having at least a plurality of holding elements, particularly holding clamps, for holding the plastic container during transport, and a second transport device having a plurality of holding elements, particularly a mandrel, and being transferred from the first transport device to the second transport device.

[0090] However, in this solution, which can also be supplemented by further solutions and embodiments presented within the scope of the present invention, the first transport device and the second transport device are each a pitch distribution star wheel. As a result, the plastic container is transferred from one pitch distribution star wheel to the subsequent pitch distribution star wheel. The first transport device is preferably the first pitch distribution star wheel, and the second transport device is the second pitch distribution star wheel.

[0091] Therefore, on the process side, it is also proposed to directly transfer the plastic container from one pitch distribution star wheel to another pitch distribution star wheel, particularly immediately after the pitch distribution star wheel, without arranging additional transport star wheels, such as additional feed or discharge star wheels, between these pitch distribution star wheels.

[0092] In a preferred method, the second conveying device is suitable and intended to move the holding element (of the second conveying device) along the vertical and / or horizontal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container and to rotate the plastic container or the holding element about their longitudinal axes.

[0093] In an even more preferred method, the treatment of the outer surface of the plastic container, in particular sterilization, is carried out by the second conveying device.

[0094] In particular, the aforementioned device and method are also designed and intended to carry out the described method, i.e., all the features described for the aforementioned device and method are also disclosed for the method described herein, and vice versa.

[0095] A further solution to the problem underlying the present invention is a container treatment device for conveying a plastic container, in particular a plastic preform, along a predetermined conveying path, the container treatment device having at least one conveying device with a plurality of holding elements.

[0096] However, in this solution, which can also supplement other solutions and embodiments presented within the scope of the present invention, the conveying device is a pitch distribution star wheel having a movement device suitable and intended to enable movement of the holding elements in at least two planes.

[0097] In a preferred embodiment, the container treatment device comprises at least a first conveying device and a second conveying device, and the plastic container is transferred from the first conveying device to the second conveying device.

[0098] The combination of direct transmission from the first pitch distribution star wheel to the second pitch distribution star wheel and movement of the holding elements in at least two planes preferably saves space and the conveying path and enables additional functions and additional transmission forms for the pitch distribution star wheel.

[0099] Without moving the aforementioned pitch distribution star wheel to a further pitch distribution star wheel, the movement of the holding elements in several, in particular two planes, can create additional functions on the pitch distribution star wheel, for which a further conveying star wheel was previously necessary, thus shortening the conveyance.

[0100] The movement in at least two planes is preferably a movement of the holding elements in the horizontal and / or vertical direction and / or a rotation of the holding elements. Vertical means perpendicular to the conveying device or the pitch distribution star wheel, to the circumference of the conveying device or to the conveying path of the plastic container along the conveying device, or to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container and / or the holding element, preferably the holding mandrel. Horizontal means in the radial and / or tangential direction with respect to the circumference of the conveying device or to the conveying path of the plastic container along the conveying device, or to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container. The rotation in this context means a rotation or turning of the holding element about its own longitudinal axis, which rotation, in particular, rotates the plastic container held by the holding element about its longitudinal axis.

[0101] Thus, the moving device is preferably the aforementioned lifting and rotating device. Thus, all of the above features can be applied to this embodiment or can be combined with this embodiment, and vice versa.

[0102] In a preferred embodiment, the first conveying device and the second conveying device are each a pitch distribution star wheel, so that even when the holding elements are moved in at least two planes on the pitch distribution star wheel, the transfer from the first pitch distribution star wheel to the second pitch distribution star wheel takes place in the aforementioned manner.

[0103] In a more preferred embodiment, the container processing apparatus also has a container outer surface processing device for processing the outer surface of the plastic container, in particular a container outer surface sterilization device and / or a container inner surface processing device for processing the inner surface of the plastic container, in particular a container inner surface sterilization device, and the container outer surface processing device is preferably arranged on a second conveying device.

[0104] The combination of direct transfer from the first pitch distribution star wheel to the second pitch distribution star wheel and the movement of the holding elements in at least two planes is particularly advantageous for the external processing of plastic containers. In particular, the pitch distribution is necessary to optimize the spacing of the containers for external processing. In particular, the vertical position of the container can be changed during circulation relative to the processing window, for example to optimize irradiation.

[0105] In a more preferred embodiment, the moving device is suitable and intended to enable the movement of the holding elements in three planes. Thus, the holding elements can preferably perform the above-described horizontal and vertical movements and can rotate.

[0106] In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of holding elements are holding mandrels. These internal gripping mandrels are particularly advantageous in external processing because all outer surfaces are accessible for processing and are not covered by the holding elements.

[0107] In a more preferred embodiment, the conveying device comprises at least one lifting cam and at least one guide roller, both of which are suitable and intended to enable at least one movement of the holding element in at least one plane. This movement is a vertical movement. Therefore, it is preferred that at least one lifting cam and at least one guide roller function to effect a vertical movement of the holding element. The guide roller is guided on a rising curve having corresponding higher and lower regions for the vertical movement of the holding element, particularly the up and down movement of the holding element as seen from the center of the ground. The horizontal movement can be effected in a conventionally known manner on a pitch distribution star wheel. For example, it is also conceivable to effect the vertical movement by a drive device.

[0108] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention also relates to a method for conveying a plastic container, particularly a plastic preform, along a predetermined conveying path, wherein the plastic container is conveyed by a conveying device having at least a plurality of holding elements, particularly holding mandrels.

[0109] However, in this solution, which can also supplement further solutions and embodiments presented within the scope of the present invention, the conveying device is a pitch distribution star wheel that enables the holding element to move in at least two planes.

[0110] In a preferred method, the conveying device is suitable and intended to move the holding element in the vertical and / or horizontal directions and / or to rotate the holding element.

[0111] In a more preferred method, the treatment of the outer surface of the plastic container, particularly sterilization, is carried out on the conveying device.

[0112] In particular, the aforementioned apparatus and method are also designed and intended to execute the described method, i.e., all features described for the aforementioned apparatus and method are also disclosed for the method described herein, and vice versa.

[0113] The invention further relates to a container processing apparatus and a corresponding method for performing processing, in particular the sterilization of containers, using a so-called pitch distribution star wheel. The invention will be described again with reference to the sterilization of containers, but it should be noted that the invention can also be applied to other units such as printing units, labeling units or inspection units.

[0114] As described above, the sterilization models known from the applicant's internal prior art may have a number of conveying devices, for example five conveying star wheels. This results in a relatively long residence time within the sterilization module.

[0115] Accordingly, the invention is based on the aim of shortening the residence time of the containers, not only in the case of sterilization, but also during other processing. This is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0116] The container processing apparatus according to the invention comprises a conveying device for conveying containers along a predetermined conveying path, the conveying device comprising at least one conveying device for conveying the containers and at least one container processing device for processing the containers in a predetermined manner. In this case, the conveying device has a (preferably rotatable) carrier on which a plurality of holding devices for holding at least one container are arranged. Instead of this rotatable carrier, the carrier can also be designed as an elongate stator forming a component of a linear motor, and the holding devices are preferably designed on a shuttle movable relative to this elongate stator (these shuttles represent the rotors of the linear motor).

[0117] In a first embodiment according to the present invention, these holding devices are movable relative to the carrier so as to be able to change the distance between two directly successive containers on the transport path. Further, this container processing device is arranged so as to be able to process the containers transported by the transport device.

[0118] In a further embodiment according to the present invention, the holding device is rotatable such that the container held by this holding device is rotatable with respect to its longitudinal direction.

[0119] In a further embodiment according to the present invention, as described above, a linear motor drive device is provided instead of the transport device having a rotatable carrier. In this embodiment, on the opposite side where one or more shuttles can move, a long stator having a plurality of magnetic or magnetizable elements is provided. Also in this case, as before, preferably, this long stator, particularly preferably, has a substantially linear portion where the processing device is arranged. In other words, the transport device preferably has a stator, particularly a carrier designed as a fixed carrier, on which a plurality of holding devices, each preferably having (or forming) a runner, are arranged to hold at least one container.

[0120] It is pointed out that the above-mentioned problems can be achieved by the above-mentioned three embodiments according to the present invention. Nevertheless, it is also possible to combine these embodiments with each other, particularly to combine the change in the distance between the holding devices with the rotatability of the holding devices.

[0121] In a preferred embodiment, the container is selected from the group of containers including plastic preforms, plastic bottles, glass bottles, etc. In particular, the container is a plastic preform.

[0122] Particularly preferably, the holding device is arranged on an arm that is rotatable and / or linearly displaceable. Particularly preferably, the holding device or a component of the holding device is rotatable with respect to these rotating arms. Particularly preferably, the holding device is rotatable with respect to the carrier. In a further preferred embodiment, the holding device is also linearly movable with respect to the carrier.

[0123] In a preferred embodiment, the conveying device is a so-called pitch distribution star wheel, i.e., a conveying device that can change the distribution of the containers to be conveyed. Preferably, the pitch distribution star wheel is designed as described below or above in the context of this application.

[0124] Particularly preferably, the treatment of the container is carried out in a straight part of the conveying path. Particularly preferably, the container treatment device is stationary and the container passes through it.

[0125] Particularly preferably, the distance between two containers directly following each other on the conveying path can be changed during the movement of the containers. Particularly preferably, the containers conveyed by the conveying device can be conveyed at least along a straight part.

[0126] In a further advantageous embodiment, the container treatment device is suitable for and intended to treat the outer surface of the container. In this embodiment, the treatment device can particularly preferably be arranged adjacent to the conveying path of the container in the lateral direction, which is preferred.

[0127] In particular, the treatment device is adjacent to the conveying path in the lateral direction but is arranged at a small distance from the conveying path. The small distance is understood to be less than 10 cm, preferably less than 8 cm, preferably less than 6 cm, preferably less than 5 cm.

[0128] In a further advantageous embodiment, the conveying device has a drive device, preferably a plurality of drive devices, by means of which the containers held by the holding device can be rotated about their longitudinal axes. This can be, for example, an electric motor drive device, but other drive devices are also conceivable.

[0129] Particularly preferably, at least one drive device brings about the rotational movement of the containers and / or their holding devices without contact. For example, a magnetic coupling that can also extend through the housing in which the device is arranged is conceivable. This will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0130] Particularly preferably, the containers, in particular the containers held by the holding device, can be moved in their longitudinal direction. In this way, the processing of the containers can be improved. The containers can be moved together with the holding device that holds them or also relative to the holding device. Each of the containers can be moved individually in its longitudinal direction. However, it is also conceivable that the articulation of the holding device and / or the containers is effected, for example, by a rising curve. Furthermore, a linear motor drive device can also be provided to achieve this movement of the containers in their longitudinal direction.

[0131] In a further advantageous embodiment, the container processing device is selected from the group of container processing devices including a container outer surface processing device, in particular a container outer surface sterilization device, a container inner surface processing device, in particular a container inner surface sterilization device, a container inspection device, a container printing device, a container marking device, etc.

[0132] The following will specifically refer to the sterilization of the containers or plastic preforms to be filled (especially those formed into such containers). The sterilization of the containers to be filled is a central process step in the aseptic filling line, in addition to the actual filling process. In more recent developments, ionizing radiation, especially electron radiation, has been used to achieve sterilization. In most applications, this radiation consists of accelerated electrons (ultraviolet light may also be used, or alternatively), which are generated in the corresponding system and thus reach inside or onto the containers to be sterilized.

[0133] The systems known in the prior art of the applicant used for sterilization also have an electron generating device, as well as beam fingers for sterilizing the inner surface, and an electron generating device, and further, a surface radiator especially for sterilizing the outer surface.

[0134] In the known concept, the sterilization of the outer surface precedes the sterilization of the inner surface. This may be done on a carousel, as already explained above. Usually, such a transport device or carousel is connected to a pitch distribution star wheel. The resulting X-rays should be shielded from the environment by a suitable shield. Thus, the two processing devices are either embedded or encapsulated within a radiation shielding device. In both cases, the inlet star wheel is connected upstream and the outlet star wheel is connected downstream to ensure radiation shielding also at the outlet star wheel. In this way, the prior art of the applicant results in an entire device with five stars or carousels.

[0135] This results in various drawbacks, mainly in an overly long transfer, for example, from the furnace to the blow molding machine, or a long residence time in the processing module. This is due to the five-star configuration. This also causes great difficulties when forming the plastic preform into a finished container, especially when the plastic preform has a somewhat unfavorable draw ratio.

[0136] Furthermore, frequent transfers, especially within a radiation shield housing with insufficient access, increase the risk of incorrect transfers. In the prior art of the present applicant, timely transfer from the clamp star to the insertion mandrel is performed, especially during the transfer from the inlet star wheel to the external processing module. Errors such as misalignment can lead to loss of the plastic preform or damage to the transfer device during subsequent transfers.

[0137] At higher outputs, since all star wheels or carousels grow at higher outputs, the installation area of the plant also increases.

[0138] The present invention proposes to perform external sterilization of plastic preforms with a pitch distribution star wheel. To enable this, it is preferable that a processing device, in particular a surface radiator, is arranged on the pitch distribution star wheel, and the pitch distribution star wheel is equipped with an additional lifting and rotating unit.

[0139] Thereby, the residence time of the plastic preform at the window of the processing device, preferably the surface radiator, can be extended, and thus the radiation dose required to sterilize the plastic preform can be ensured.

[0140] To enable the dose to be evenly distributed around the plastic preform, the pitch distribution star wheel preferably comprises a lifting and rotating device that enables the plastic preform to be rotated in front of the processing device, in particular in front of the window of the surface radiator. The rotation should preferably exceed 360° completely, but multiple rotations are also conceivable and desirable.

[0141] However, since the surface radiator processes the entire side of the plastic preform facing it, even if it is not uniform, it is also conceivable to work with a rotation slightly less than 360°.

[0142] By using a pitch distribution star wheel (TVS) to move the plastic preform in front of the surface blaster, on the one hand, it is possible to increase the processing time or the filling density in front of the processing window, and on the other hand, it is also possible to optimize the running path of the plastic preform in front of the surface radiator.

[0143] Ideally, this means that a straight path or a maximum circular path can be followed in front of the surface radiator, and the distance on the side of the blast window does not increase excessively. This is advantageous because the dose on the plastic preform decreases with the increase in distance during processing. Therefore, the dose distribution across the circumference of the plastic preform is not uniform.

[0144] In a preferred embodiment, the surface radiator has a flat surface or a radiation surface.

[0145] Around at least a part of the inside of the module or housing, particularly the inner part of the pitch distribution star wheel, a radiation protection wall that preferably protects against the harmful X-ray bremsstrahlung of the surface radiator but also against the radiation of the finger emitter is sealed from the outside.

[0146] Preferably, the upper part is fixed to the housing and the lower part is fixed to a bottom that can be lowered. Both radiation shield walls are particularly preferably arranged to overlap, and the gap between the two shield walls is preferably designed such that the lifting and rotating device can move through the gap between the two shield walls fixed on the track, particularly during operation.

[0147] The radiation shield wall of the housing is preferably made of a special radiation shield material, such as lead wrapped in stainless steel or tungsten, or a tungsten sintered composite, or a material having similar properties.

[0148] However, part of the shield is also preferably made of stainless steel or a casting material. By adapting the shield material to better radiation tightness, among other things, the wall thickness of the shield becomes considerably smaller, and thus it is possible to move with the lifting and rotating unit between the two shield walls on the track of the pitch distribution star wheel, or to project into the lifting and rotating device without having to expand or expand the shield excessively.

[0149] The shield wall of the housing preferably follows the track of the TVS or is identical or very similar to the plastic preform track. The track of the TVS can also be adapted to allow movement towards the surface radiator side of the surface radiator in order to improve the radiation shield by the shield following the track of the plastic preform (also called preform).

[0150] This makes it possible to directly shield most of the bremsstrahlung radiation at the surface radiator or in its vicinity without harmful radiation reaching far into the housing. This also makes it possible to quickly reduce the required wall thickness, saving costs and weight.

[0151] A further embodiment is the use of a long stator drive device of the type with a shuttle that can replace the TVS or take over its function. The advantage here is a more freely movable running profile and thus a longer dwell time in front of the surface radiator. In this embodiment, the use of a linear motor is proposed. As mentioned above, this can also have a linear course or a course with a very high radius of curvature within the area of the processing device.

[0152] The rotational movement is preferably introduced into the lifting and rotating unit according to a sterile mode and most preferably transmitted without contact.

[0153] However, all other possibilities up to the driven toothed belt are also conceivable.

[0154] The essential aspect of this form according to the present invention is the attachment of a surface radiator to the pitch distribution star holes, and thus, preferably enables a three-star concept. This brings considerable advantages by shortening the residence time of the plastic preform in the module or device. Furthermore, the residence time of the plastic preform upstream of the processing device, particularly upstream of the surface radiator, can be increased so as to achieve a high sterilization rate.

[0155] The path curve in front of the surface radiator can also be optimized in this way to increase the radiation dose on the side of the surface radiator. Therefore, the distance in front of the surface radiator can be arranged as close as possible to the radiation window or does not rise at the edge.

[0156] In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the surface radiator and the container or the plastic preform is less than 10 cm, preferably less than 8 cm, preferably less than 6 cm, preferably less than 5 cm, preferably less than 4 cm, preferably less than 3 cm, particularly preferably less than 2 cm.

[0157] As described above, the outer surface of the plastic preform is sterilized in partial steps using an electron beam. The plastic preform rotates around its longitudinal axis in front of the electron source so that all surface points on the outside of the plastic preform receive an irradiation dose that is as uniform as possible.

[0158] In the prior art, the plastic preform is rotated in front of the electron source by driving its carrier, for example, by a belt or a pinion. The drawback here is the wear and dirt that inevitably occur due to contact driving. Particularly in a sterile environment, such potential contamination is a major problem.

[0159] A magnetic drive device that starts a rotational movement without contact and thus manages substantially without drive is known from European Patent No. 3 431 402. However, the uniformity of the rotational speed is disadvantageous here because a torque that varies greatly due to magnetic coupling occurs. As a result, the plastic preform does not rotate uniformly in front of the radiation source, and the dose distribution on the outer surface of the plastic preform may not be constant.

[0160] Therefore, it has been proposed to convey the plastic preform not on a conveying star wheel with a constant pitch in front of the electron radiator as in the normal case, but on a pitch distribution star wheel (TVS). This enables variable tangential speeds at different points of the star wheel.

[0161] In order to rotate the plastic preform around its longitudinal axis, it has been proposed to integrate a rotating mandrel into this TVS, and the plastic preform can be arranged on this TVS, especially from below. The mandrel is rotated around their longitudinal axes, at least in the region of the electron source, in order to irradiate the outer shell of the plastic preform as uniformly as possible.

[0162] A magnetic drive device and / or a non-contact drive device is used to drive the rotating mandrel.

[0163] In a preferred embodiment, the drive device has a rotational speed smoothing device that prevents the rotational drive device from being subject to high rotational speed fluctuations. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0164] In a preferred embodiment, the container processing apparatus has a housing in which at least one conveying device is arranged, and this housing preferably forms a clean room that shields the interior of this housing from an (especially non-aseptic) environment. Particularly preferably, the pitch distribution star wheel described in this specification is arranged within this housing. Preferably, further conveying devices are also arranged within this housing.

[0165] Particularly preferably, this housing is at least partially designed as a radiation shield housing for protection against not only beta rays and / or gamma rays, but also X-ray radiation.

[0166] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one wall of the housing extends parallel to a part of the conveying path of the container. Thereby, the miniaturization of the entire housing can be achieved. In particular, this is a wall that extends linearly along the conveying path of the plastic preform.

[0167] In a further advantageous embodiment, the container processing apparatus has at least one further conveying device for conveying the container, preferably at least two further conveying devices, particularly preferably exactly two further conveying devices, and these conveying devices serve to convey the container, particularly the plastic preform.

[0168] In a further preferred embodiment, the container processing apparatus comprises at least one second container processing device, and this second container processing device is particularly preferably an inner surface processing device of the container, particularly an inner surface sterilization device of the container.

[0169] As described above, this second processing device preferably has a plurality of beam fingers that can be introduced into the container to act on the container with electron radiation. Particularly preferably, in any case, an electron acceleration device and preferably an emission window for the emission of the electron beam made of titanium are provided.

[0170] In a further advantageous embodiment, the drive device brings about the rotational movement of the holding device by means of magnetic force. As will be explained in more detail below, a rotor having a plurality of magnets can be arranged on the holding device, and its rotational movement is brought about by a stator which also has a plurality of magnets or magnetic or magnetizable elements.

[0171] In a further advantageous embodiment, the container processing device has a monitoring device for monitoring the rotational movement of the container. Particularly preferably, this monitoring device has an image recording device or at least one coil. For example, a current or voltage can be induced in the coil, which is a means for monitoring the rotational movement. For example, it is possible to provide a plurality of coils arranged between magnets, for example within the stator. Preferably, the monitoring device is suitable for detecting the stoppage of the rotational movement of the plastic preform and / or a deviation in the rotational speed of the plastic preform (or the holding device holding them) and is intended for this purpose.

[0172] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the drive device has a rotor coupled to a holding device on which a plurality of magnets are arranged, and a stator on which preferably a plurality of magnets or magnetic elements are also arranged. In this way, the rotational movement is transmitted by the magnetic force between the stator and the rotor. It is possible to arrange this stator outside or inside the housing and transmit the magnetic force through the housing wall.

[0173] In a preferred embodiment, the stator is linear and / or the magnetic elements of the stator extend along a linear direction. Particularly preferably, the rotor is circular. Thus, in this embodiment, the linear stator interacts with the circular rotor.

[0174] Particularly preferably, the magnets or magnetic elements (or the longitudinal direction of these magnets or the magnetic elements of the rotor and / or stator) extend at least partially obliquely with respect to a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the holding device.

[0175] In the vertical arrangement of magnets shown in European Patent No. 3,431,402, at certain positions, the magnets face each other exactly, so the attractive force varies greatly along the conveying direction. In this case, no torque is transmitted, and at other positions, there is repulsion and attraction, and thus there is high torque. This high variation in torque causes (unintended) speed variations. This problem increases with the increase in the lateral speed of the roller, i.e., the increase in the production speed. When a certain lateral speed is exceeded, the torque variation means that the roller can no longer synchronize with the magnetic pitch and thus no longer performs a continuous rotational operation.

[0176] The improved shape of the permanent magnets described herein in a stator, which is particularly preferably designed as a fixed bar, and a rotor (which is designed, for example, as a magnetic roller) can have a smoothing effect on the torque curve along the conveying path. For example, a helical magnet device can be provided.

[0177] In a preferred embodiment, the magnets and / or magnetic elements are linear but extend at an angle and / or with a skew with respect to the rotation axis. In a more preferred embodiment, the magnets and / or magnetic elements extend at an angle with respect to the rotation axis. In a further more preferred embodiment, the magnet or magnetic element is curved.

[0178] In a more preferred embodiment, the individual magnets are spaced apart in the conveying direction of the plastic preform.

[0179] In a preferred embodiment, only one of the two magnetic partners supports the magnet, and the other has a material with a high magnetic permeability such as iron. By appropriately guiding the magnetic flux, a favorable influence on the torque variation can be exerted. This principle is partially known in reluctance motors where the torque in the rotor is generated solely by the reluctance force and not much by the Lorentz force.

[0180] In a preferred embodiment, the material of the carrier of the magnet (not the magnet material itself) is selected to have as low an electrical resistance as possible. For example, the magnet carrier can be made of aluminum.

[0181] In a further advantageous embodiment, the drive device comprises a rotor and a stator coupled to the holding device, wherein either the rotor or the stator is made of or comprises a material having a high magnetic permeability, said material being preferably selected from the group of materials comprising iron, mu-metal (NiFe), nanocrystalline metals, and amorphous metals, and / or the magnetic permeability of the material is greater than 200, preferably greater than 300.

[0182] If the tangential speed is not equal to the ideal rolling speed in the bar or stator, the opposing permanent magnets induce a voltage in the conductive carrier material, causing eddy currents. These brake or accelerate the rotational movement of the roller and push it in the direction of the ideal speed.

[0183] This idea is similar to the principle of an eddy current brake, i.e., here too the outer circumference of the roller is braked and thus the roller itself is set to rotate.

[0184] Particularly preferably, the device has a cover for covering the magnet. This can be composed of, for example, a material that is a good conductor of electricity here to generate the eddy current effect. For example, the cover can be made of aluminum.

[0185] As described above, in a preferred embodiment, the coil is inserted into a fixed magnetic bar that axially faces at least one of the drive elements, i.e., the stator or the rotor, particularly preferably the rotor, i.e., the roller.

[0186] As long as the rotor rotates at the ideal speed and "rolls" along the bar as required, there is little voltage induced in the coil. However, if the roller slips or vibrates at the rotational speed, a relatively large voltage is induced in the coil due to a large change in the magnetic flux density.

[0187] The induced voltage is measured by an electronic control device (e.g., a PLC) and can be evaluated in the coil or as a series connection of coils.

[0188] The invention further relates to a method for processing containers, wherein the containers are transported by a transport device along a predetermined transport path, the transport device comprising at least one transport device for transporting the containers, at least one container processing device processing the containers in a predetermined manner, and the transport device comprising a rotatable carrier with a plurality of holding devices for holding the container(s).

[0189] In one embodiment according to the invention, these holding devices are moved relative to the carrier such that the distance between two directly successive containers on the transport path is changed. Also, the container processing device processes the containers transported by the transport device.

[0190] In another method according to the invention, the container held by the holding device is rotated at least temporarily, preferably during this processing, relative to the longitudinal direction of the container, in particular during the processing, and the monitoring device monitors, particularly preferably, the rotational movement of the container, in particular monitors it with respect to the rotational speed.

[0191] Therefore, it is also proposed on the process side that the processing is carried out during the rotation of the container. Preferably, the container is a plastic preform.

[0192] In a preferred method, the container processing device processes the outer surface of the container. In particular, the container processing device sterilizes the outer surface of the container. Particularly preferably, for this purpose, a surface radiator is provided which directs radiation, in particular electron radiation, towards the outer surface of the container. This surface radiator can be arranged on the housing of the device such that the radiation reaches the container through an opening in the housing.

[0193] Particularly preferably, the container processing device processes the containers while they are being conveyed along a substantially linear conveyance path portion. Alternatively, it may be a conveyance path portion having a radius of curvature that is substantially larger than the geometric radius of curvature that would occur if all the holding devices on the conveyance device were aligned in the same way. Particularly preferably, this radius of curvature is at least 2 times, preferably at least 3 times, preferably at least 4 times, preferably at least 5 times.

[0194] Particularly preferably, the containers are also processed by a second processing device. In particular, internal sterilization is carried out as described above. For example, an electron beam device can be introduced into the container.

[0195] Preferably, the containers are moved through a fixed processing device. In a further preferred manner, the rotation of the containers arranged on the holding device is transmitted by magnetic force.

[0196] Preferably, the transmission of the rotational movement is carried out such that the rotational speed of the containers and / or the plastic preforms is smoothed.

[0197] In a preferred manner, the rotational movement of the containers is smoothed and / or vibration damping is carried out by eddy currents.

[0198] The present invention further relates to an apparatus for processing plastic preforms, particularly for sterilizing plastic preforms.

[0199] Such apparatuses have been known for a long time from the prior art. In this case, the plastic preforms are supplied through the inlet of a housing in which the processing, particularly the sterilization, is carried out. In these types of apparatuses, a conveyance device for conveying the plastic preforms along a conveyance path is usually attached. After processing, the plastic preforms are removed via the outlet of the device.

[0200] However, the prior art has drawbacks. For example, in order to be able to remove defective plastic preforms or plastic preforms that are not sufficiently processed and in particular do not meet certain requirements such as not being sterilized, the entire process has to be stopped and the housing has to be opened. However, when the device is opened, there is a risk of recontaminating the plastic preforms that meet the requirements. Also, when the housing is opened, its cleanroom characteristics are lost and the housing has to be sterilized again.

[0201] Therefore, the present invention is based on the object of being able to remove plastic preforms or more generally containers without interrupting the operating process and / or without opening the housing.

[0202] According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0203] The device according to the invention for processing containers, in particular plastic containers and in particular for sterilizing plastic preforms, has a housing surrounding the device, and the container or plastic preform is processed inside the housing. At least one conveying device is provided inside this housing for conveying the plastic preform along a predetermined conveying path. The device has an inlet through which the plastic preform can be introduced into the housing and an outlet through which the plastic preform can be removed from the housing.

[0204] According to the invention, the device comprises an airlock device and / or a removal device by means of which the plastic preform can be removed from the housing.

[0205] In a further advantageous embodiment, the apparatus has a holding device for holding the plastic preform. These may be holding mandrels that engage the mouth of the plastic preform.

[0206] It should be noted that the present invention may also be combined with other aspects described within the scope of this application, for example, the presence of exactly three conveying devices within the housing, or the presence of a pitch distribution star wheel, etc.

[0207] In a further advantageous embodiment, the conveying device has a rotatable carrier on which the holding device is arranged. This can be a conveying star wheel.

[0208] Preferably, the conveying device is a pitch distribution star wheel suitable for changing, in particular increasing, the distance between successive plastic preforms. Instead of a pitch distribution star wheel, it is also conceivable to use an elongate stator for changing the pitch of the plastic preforms.

[0209] Preferably, the plastic preform is removable during operation of the apparatus, in particular during the sterilization operation, especially during the conveyance of the remaining plastic preforms.

[0210] In a further advantageous embodiment, the container, in particular the plastic preform, can preferably be removed via a further outlet located between the inlet and the outlet. Particularly preferably, the further outlet is arranged closer to the outlet than to the inlet. In a further preferred embodiment, the apparatus has several conveying devices, and it is particularly preferred that the further outlet is arranged in the last region of these conveying devices.

[0211] In a further advantageous embodiment, the apparatus removes selected and / or defective plastic preforms. Preferably, the apparatus can remove damaged or detached plastic preforms. Furthermore, it is also possible to remove containers, in particular plastic preforms that have been accidentally sterilized.

[0212] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has an inspection device for inspecting containers, in particular plastic preforms. By doing so, the containers, in particular plastic preforms, are inspected for defects and / or for compliance with certain requirements. Preferably, this inspection device sends a signal to the airlock device as to whether the container, in particular the plastic preform, should be removed.

[0213] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a sterilization device for sterilizing plastic preforms. In this case, an electron beam sterilization device is particularly preferred.

[0214] Preferably, the device has an inner container surface treatment device and / or an outer container surface treatment device. As described above, the outer container surface treatment device is preferably designed as a surface radiator, in particular an electron surface radiator.

[0215] In a more preferred embodiment, the inner container surface treatment device is designed as described above, i.e., in particular, it has a rod-shaped body that can be inserted into the plastic preform and sterilizes the inner wall of the plastic preform with an electron beam.

[0216] In a further advantageous embodiment, a discharge star wheel is provided, by means of which the plastic preform can be discharged from the device.

[0217] In a further advantageous embodiment, the housing surrounding the device is an isolator. In this case, it is preferably provided with a clean room, particularly preferably maintained under positive pressure (e.g., sterile air). The housing and / or the housing wall are preferably designed to shield radiation.

[0218] According to the invention, the clean room function can also be maintained when the plastic preform is removed via the airlock device.

[0219] Advantageously, the airlock device is separable from the housing, particularly separable from the housing. This allows the entire device or the area of the electron beam module to be separated from the housing. In particular, this area and / or the airlock device can be separated without compromising the cleanroom characteristics. Preferably, this airlock device can also be separated during operation of the device.

[0220] In a preferred embodiment, the airlock device is manually separable by an operator. The airlock device and / or the said area are preferably separable such that neither the radiation nor the gas generated during manufacture can enter or leave the housing within the separation area, or such that the sterility of the rest of the machine is not put at risk.

[0221] In a preferred embodiment, the device has a conveying device, particularly an outlet star wheel, by which containers, particularly plastic preforms, are discharged from the device. This conveying device and / or the device can have a radiation protection device that prevents radiation, particularly X-rays, from escaping from the housing.

[0222] During operation of the device, particularly when this airlock device is not separated from the device or is disposed on the device or the housing, it is possible for the containers and particularly the plastic preforms to be guided into the area of the airlock device.

[0223] In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a conveying device for conveying containers, particularly plastic preforms, to the airlock device, particularly the aforementioned separable part of the device. Such a conveying device can have, for example, an inclined plane for conveying the container or the plastic preform into the airlock.

[0224] The described procedure enables the discharge of the container or plastic preform during ongoing production, or there is no need to interrupt production. In this way, the plastic preform can be removed for further testing.

[0225] In a preferred embodiment, the airlock device is arranged in the wall of the housing, in particular at the opening of this wall, through which the plastic preform can pass from the housing into the airlock device.

[0226] A movable wall element can be provided on this wall of the housing to close this opening.

[0227] In a further advantageous embodiment, further conveying devices, preferably at least two further conveying devices, are arranged in the housing.

[0228] The present invention further relates to a method for processing a plastic preform, in particular a method for sterilizing a plastic preform. In this process, the plastic preform is processed, in particular sterilized in the housing, and conveyed along a predetermined conveying path by a conveying device. The plastic preform is introduced into the housing through an inlet and removed from the housing again through an outlet at the end of the operation.

[0229] According to the present invention, a predetermined proportion of the plastic preforms are removed from the housing via the airlock device.

[0230] In a more preferred method, the plastic preform is processed, in particular sterilized by a sterilization device. In this process, it is particularly preferred that the plastic preform is processed, in particular sterilized, by an inner surface treatment device of the container and / or an outer surface treatment device of the container.

[0231] Preferably, the airlock device is at least temporarily separated or removed from the housing.

[0232] In summary, the plastic preform can be conveyed along a straight line passing through the processing device. At this distance, the distance between the plastic preform or container and the processing device, particularly the surface radiator, also remains essentially the same. Further, the plastic preform is preferably moved between the processing device and the radiation shield. This radiation shield can be composed of a specially selected material, such as tungsten.

[0233] The pitch distribution star wheel enables the plastic preform to pass through the processing device or the surface radiator for a relatively long time. Preferably, the filling density of the plastic preform can also be increased in front of the surface radiator.

[0234] The radiation shield (inside and / or outside the housing) preferably has a contour that prevents radiation from escaping from the housing or the insulator. The pitch distribution star wheel enables the plastic preform to follow the contour of the radiation shield. As described above, instead of the pitch distribution star wheel, a long stator equipped with a shuttle or a linear motor drive device can also be selected.

[0235] The present invention further relates to a container processing apparatus and a corresponding method comprising a module and a rinser for sterilization by radiation.

[0236] In the beverage manufacturing industry, it has long been known that the containers to be filled are sterilized, especially before being filled. Since the preform is much smaller than the resulting container, it has been found advantageous to sterilize the preform before it is formed into a container rather than sterilizing the inflated container first.

[0237] Therefore, the term "container" particularly includes preforms, especially plastic preforms.

[0238] One method of sterilization used in the prior art is sterilization using a sterilizing gas, particularly hydrogen peroxide. To reduce the use of chemicals in container sterilization, devices and methods for sterilizing containers using other means such as ultraviolet light or electron beams are also known in the state of the art.

[0239] When cleaning a container, in order to avoid contamination of the product during subsequent filling processes, it is also known to act on the container with a flowable medium, particularly such that dust and other impurities located inside the container are removed from the interior of the container.

[0240] According to the current state of the art, it has been found that combinations of different cleaning methods are often difficult.

[0241] Therefore, the present invention is based on the object of providing a device and a method that can achieve the best possible cleaning and sterilization results for containers.

[0242] A container processing device according to the present invention, particularly a container sterilization device, has a plurality of conveying devices for conveying containers along a predetermined conveying path within a housing, at least one of the conveying devices being a container outer surface processing device, at least one of the conveying devices being a container inner surface processing device, and each device having at least one holding device for holding at least one container during container processing and / or during conveyance along the conveying path.

[0243] According to the present invention, the container outer surface processing device and / or the container inner surface processing device comprises at least one radiation source, and the container processing device according to the present invention comprises at least one application device for acting on the container with a flowable medium, particularly ionized air.

[0244] In a preferred embodiment, the radiation source is an electron radiation source. Preferably, the container outer surface processing device and the container inner surface processing device each have a radiation source, preferably an electron beam source. Therefore, it is proposed that radiation, particularly electron radiation, is used for both in-container sterilization and out-of-container sterilization.

[0245] In a preferred embodiment, the inner container surface treatment device has an inner container surface application device. Preferably, the inner container surface application device acts on the inner surface of the container using an electron beam. Preferably, the inner container surface application device is insertable into the interior of the container to be sterilized, particularly through the mouth region. Preferably, the inner container surface application device is suitable for emitting radiation, particularly electron radiation, into the container over a predetermined period.

[0246] Preferably, at least one holding device is provided and is suitable for holding the container during sterilization of the inner container surface. Preferably, the inner container surface application device and / or the holding device is movable. Preferably, the inner container surface application device and / or the holding device is also movable at least in the longitudinal direction of the container. Preferably, the inner container surface application device and / or the holding device is movable in the longitudinal direction of the container at least during sterilization of the inner container surface. Preferably, the container can be moved relative to the inner container surface application device in the longitudinal direction of the container at least temporarily at a relative movement speed for a predetermined period.

[0247] In a preferred embodiment, the outer container surface treatment device has an outer container surface application device. Preferably, the outer container surface treatment device is always arranged laterally, for example along the transport path of the container, outside the container to be sterilized. Preferably, the outer container surface treatment device is arranged stationary relative to the transport path of the container. In this way, the individual containers are guided past the outer container surface treatment device. Preferably, the outer container surface application device has a radiation source, and the outlet window of the radiation source distributes the radiation uniformly over a wide area, particularly over the outer surface of the container to be sterilized.

[0248] In an advantageous embodiment, the application device is preferably a so-called rinser or rinser unit. The fluid medium is preferably a gaseous medium, particularly preferably compressed air, especially purified, prepared and / or sterilized compressed air. Suitably, the flowable medium may also be a liquid medium. It is also conceivable that the flowable medium is a sterile medium, so that no further contamination of the container is caused.

[0249] The combination of the application device with the outer container treatment device and / or the inner container treatment device has a particularly advantageous effect on the disinfection result and the logarithmic rate to be achieved. This applies in particular when the outer container treatment device and / or the inner container treatment device has a radiation source, especially an electron radiation source.

[0250] In a preferred embodiment, the container treatment device has a further conveying device for conveying the container during the treatment process. This conveying device is preferably a serrated star wheel.

[0251] In a preferred embodiment, the application device has at least one rinser nozzle. Preferably, this can be a static or fixed nozzle. In the static arrangement of the rinser nozzle, the preform is preferably moved under the application device and thus rinsed. Using such a fixed rinser nozzle, the containers, especially plastic preforms, are preferably conveyed in an upright position, i.e. with their mouths facing upwards.

[0252] In an even more preferred embodiment, at least one rinser nozzle can move with the container at least temporarily during the conveyance of the container. Compared to a fixed nozzle, a movable nozzle allows a considerably longer treatment or rinsing time and results in overall better rinsing results.

[0253] In an even more particularly preferred embodiment, at least one rinsing nozzle can move with the container and is inserted into the mouth region of the container. Such a moving and inserting rinsing nozzle can achieve the best cleaning results, especially with very fine and light particles.

[0254] When inserting the rinsing nozzle into the container, the nozzle position is preferably controlled by a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or similar device suitable for this purpose. Preferably, the height of the nozzle head is detected at the start of the process, before the actual process, and during the process. Preferably, the insertion depth of the nozzle in the container, preferably at the mouth of the container, is adjusted in a targeted manner to achieve and guarantee the best cleaning results depending on the type of container.

[0255] Thus, compared to a static rinsing nozzle, since the container is rinsed by the nozzle over a longer period of time, the degree of cleaning of the container can be significantly increased by the moving nozzle. In both cases of using a static nozzle and a moving nozzle, the cleaning of the container is preferably carried out during the conveyance of the container.

[0256] Preferably, in the case of a moving nozzle or a moving and inserting nozzle, the container is conveyed upwards, i.e., with the mouth downwards.

[0257] In a preferred embodiment, the application device is arranged outside the housing. Thereby, the housing can be made as small as possible.

[0258] In a more preferred embodiment, the application device is arranged along the transport path upstream of the outer container treatment device and / or the inner container treatment device. Particularly preferably, the application device is arranged upstream of both the outer container treatment device and the inner container treatment device. Thus, preferably, the container is first acted upon by the application device with a flowable medium before being subsequently treated, in particular sterilized, by the outer container treatment device and the inner container treatment device. This is particularly advantageous since the container can be pre-cleaned by the application device before the outer and / or inner surfaces of the container are sterilized.

[0259] Preferably, the application device is not arranged directly in front of the outer container treatment device and / or the inner container treatment device. Suitably, both the transport device and the further container treatment device can be provided between the application device and the outer container treatment device and / or the inner container treatment device.

[0260] In an advantageous embodiment, the container treatment apparatus has a heating device for heating the container. Preferably, the heating device has at least one heating device, particularly preferably several heating devices. Suitably, the heating device can be a radiation source for, for example, infrared or microwave radiation.

[0261] Preferably, the heating device is arranged along the transport path upstream of the outer container treatment device and / or the inner container treatment device. Particularly preferably, the heating device is arranged upstream of both the outer container treatment device and the inner container treatment device. Preferably, the container is thus first heated by the heating device before being treated, in particular sterilized, by the outer container treatment device and the inner container treatment device.

[0262] In a preferred embodiment, the application device is arranged along the transport path upstream of the heating device and / or the application device is arranged immediately upstream of the heating device. Particularly preferably, the application device is integrated into the heating device. Thus, preferably, the container is first filled with the fluid medium by the application device before being subsequently heated by the heating device. This sequence is particularly advantageous when the fluid medium is a liquid medium. In this way, the container in the heating device can evaporate particularly well.

[0263] In a preferred embodiment, the container processing device has another transport device arranged between the heating device and the container outer surface processing device and / or the container inner surface processing device. Preferably, this is exactly one transport device arranged between the heating device and the container outer surface processing device and / or the container inner surface processing device. Whether this transport device is arranged between the heating device and the container outer surface processing device or between the heating device and the container inner surface processing device depends on whether the container outer surface processing device is arranged upstream in the transport direction or the container inner surface processing device is arranged upstream in the transport direction.

[0264] A particularly preferred embodiment is one in which the application device is arranged first in the transport direction, followed by the heating device, then the transport device, particularly a single transport device, and then the container outer surface processing device and the container inner surface processing device are arranged. Thus, preferably, the application device is arranged near the container outer surface processing device and the container inner surface processing device. This minimizes the possibility of recontamination of the container between the application device and the container outer surface processing device and the container inner surface processing device. In this way, better disinfection results can be achieved.

[0265] Preferably, the transport device is arranged between the heating device and the container outer surface processing device or the container inner surface processing device and is arranged outside the housing.

[0266] Preferably, at most two further conveying devices, particularly preferably only one further conveying device, are arranged inside the housing in addition to the container outer surface treatment device and the container inner surface treatment device.

[0267] In addition to the advantages already mentioned, this preferably results in greater geometric flexibility. In the prior art, usually five stars, particularly two processing carousels and three transfer star wheels, are arranged in the housing. In the prior art, this leads to the fact that the heating device and the forming device are essentially arranged at an angle of 90°, and this is essentially the only possible spatial arrangement of the heating device relative to the forming device.

[0268] A 0° setting of the heating device and the forming device cannot be achieved in the state of the art. This can bring considerable restrictions to the customer-side layout planning. Similarly, in the known prior art forms, it is difficult to load the application device integrated at the inlet of the heating device because of collisions caused by the lack of available installation space.

[0269] By reducing the conveying devices in the housing, the positioning of the conveying device or the container outer surface treatment device relative to the container inner surface treatment device becomes easier, and thus the degree of freedom of these arrangements is increased. In this way, the arrangement of the heating device and the forming device can be advantageously realized at a 0° position. All other angular positions from 0° to 90° are also conceivable.

[0270] This also creates sufficient installation space for equipping the heating device with an integrated application device.

[0271] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveying device between the heating device and the container outer surface treatment device or the container inner surface treatment device is a pitch distribution star wheel. This enables a more sophisticated arrangement of the individual upstream and downstream machine modules.

[0272] The present invention further relates to a method for treating containers, in particular plastic preforms, and in particular for sterilizing them. In this process, the containers are conveyed along a predetermined conveyance path that is at least partially located within the housing by several conveyance devices, the containers are treated by at least one conveyance device, in particular sterilized on their outer surface, the containers are treated by at least one conveyance device, in particular sterilized on their inner surface, and the containers are held by holding devices during container treatment and / or conveyance along the conveyance path.

[0273] According to the present invention, the outer surface and / or the inner surface of the container is acted upon by radiation, in particular electron radiation, and / or the container is acted upon by a fluidizable medium by an application device.

[0274] In particular, the described device is designed and intended to carry out the described method, that is, all the features described for the aforementioned device are also disclosed for the method described herein, and vice versa.

[0275] In an advantageous method, a fluidizable medium acts on the container before the outer surface and / or the inner surface of the container is treated with radiation. In particular, it is preferable that the container is first pre-washed with a fluid medium and then sterilized with an electron beam. In this way, particularly good disinfection results can be achieved.

[0276] Preferably, the container is acted upon by a fluidizable medium before the container is heated. Thereby, the residues of the fluidizable medium can be evaporated better.

[0277] Suitably, the container is transferred directly from the application device to the heating device. On the one hand, this advantageously reduces the risk of contamination because the shortest possible path between the application device, the container outer surface treatment device, and the container inner surface treatment device is realized. On the other hand, the application device can be integrated into the heating device.

[0278] The present invention relates in particular to the improvement of the conveyance of containers. In the beverage manufacturing industry, it has long been known that the manufacturing process of containers comprises a plurality of container processing devices and conveyance devices. It is also known that linear and / or rotary conveyance devices are used to convey the containers.

[0279] In the state of the art, a plurality of holding devices for holding the containers during processing and / or conveyance are known. For example, such holding devices for gripping the container below the support ring are known, the support ring being loosely placed on the holding device. Furthermore, such holding devices for gripping the container in the region of the mouthpiece groove (the narrow region between the closure ring and the support ring), or such holding devices for gripping the container in the mouth region, for example by means of a holding mandrel, are known.

[0280] The present invention is described herein with reference to the sterilization of containers, which is also a particularly preferred use of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the present invention is also applicable to other devices in which holding devices are used to hold the containers.

[0281] Within the scope of the known manufacturing processes of containers, these have to be repeatedly transferred between two conveyance devices and / or container processing devices, more precisely between their holding devices, for example between two conveyance star wheels.

[0282] For this purpose, the holding device (clamp) of one conveying star wheel opens at the overlapping point and releases the container, while the holding device of the other conveying star wheel closes and thus clamps or at least surrounds the container and conveys it further. For this, it is necessary to grip the container at different positions by means of the holding device (clamp). A distinction is made between a holding device (clamp) on which the support ring is placed and the container is clamped slightly below the diameter, and a holding device (clamp) that grips between the closing ring and the support ring, i.e., between the so-called mouthpiece groove. The distance between the lower edge of the support ring and the mouthpiece groove is very small, which means that there is hardly any space between the holding devices (clamp pair) during transfer, severely restricting the design of the holding device (clamp).

[0283] Prior art holding devices known for gripping the container under the support ring only place the support ring of the container, and have the drawback that alignment is not guaranteed by the closing ring and the support ring as in the case of a holding device with a mouthpiece groove clamp. In particular, when using a container with a smaller support ring or the like, the container does not necessarily sit straight within the holding device.

[0284] In addition to the problems that can occur during transfer between the two conveying devices, problems can also occur during processing of the container, for example, during internal sterilization by an electron beam in which the beam tube is inserted into the container. If the container is at an angle, the tube will collide and the sterility of the container cannot be guaranteed, which means it has to be removed from the production chain. Furthermore, the collision can also destroy the beam tube and thus the entire electron beam emitter.

[0285] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the object of providing a suitable holding device that simultaneously ensures stable gripping of the container and at the same time ensures safe transfer of the container between two conveying devices. According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the device and method described in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0286] The container processing device according to the present invention, particularly a container sterilization device, has a conveying device for conveying a container along a predetermined conveying path. The conveying device has at least one container processing device, preferably a container outer surface processing device and / or particularly preferably a container inner surface processing device. A container, particularly a plastic preform or a plastic bottle, has a head region having a mouth, a closure ring, a mouthpiece groove, and a support ring.

[0287] Furthermore, the conveying device includes at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device. The first conveying device includes at least one first holding device for holding the container, and the second conveying device includes at least one second holding device for holding the container during container processing and / or conveying along the conveying path.

[0288] According to the present invention, the support ring of the container, particularly the outer surface of the support ring and / or preferably the lower side of the support ring and / or particularly preferably the upper side of the support ring, passes through at least one first holding device and the mouthpiece groove of the container, and directly abuts against the lower side of the closure ring in particular, and can be gripped by at least one second holding device.

[0289] The proposed holding device provides the advantage that the container held in this way is fixed, that is, the support ring or the mouthpiece groove is clamped in a predetermined position, and thus the lateral inclination or diagonal arrangement of the container in the holding device can be effectively avoided.

[0290] Preferably, the container processing device, particularly the container sterilization device, includes at least one container processing device, particularly preferably a plurality of container processing devices. Preferably, at least one container processing device is selected from the group of container processing devices including a container outer surface processing device (particularly a container outer surface sterilization device), a container inner surface processing device (particularly a container inner surface sterilization device), a heating device, a forming device, a filling device, a closing device, an inspection device, and the like.

[0291] Preferably, the conveying device comprises at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device. In an advantageous embodiment, at least one first and / or second conveying device has a rotatable carrier, preferably a conveying star wheel.

[0292] However, here it is also possible to use a long stator with a plurality of shuttles arranged as described above.

[0293] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one first and / or second conveying device is suitable for processing the container during conveyance and is associated with a container processing device intended for this purpose. Particularly preferably, at least one first and / or second conveying device is part of the container processing device.

[0294] Preferably, the container to be processed is a plastic bottle, particularly preferably a plastic preform. The container preferably has a head portion including a mouth, a (male) thread, a closure ring, a mouthpiece groove, and a support ring.

[0295] Preferably, the closure ring has a smaller diameter than the support ring. Particularly preferably, the container has a (so-called) mouthpiece groove between the closure ring and the support ring.

[0296] Preferably, the first conveying device has at least one first holding device for holding the container, particularly preferably a plurality of such holding devices. Preferably, the second conveying device has at least one second holding device for holding the container, particularly preferably a plurality of such holding devices. Particularly preferably, the first and second holding devices differ by the region of the container to be gripped and / or by a contact or receiving region suitable and intended for gripping this region of the container.

[0297] Preferably, at least one of the first and / or second holding devices is suitable for (firmly) gripping the container and is intended to do so, can stabilize the container, and particularly preferably can prevent lateral tilting of the container. Preferably, at least one of the first and / or second holding devices at least partially surrounds the container, particularly a part of the head region of the container.

[0298] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the first holding devices and / or at least one of the second holding devices is designed in a clamp-like manner.

[0299] Preferably, at least the first and / or second holding devices are composed of two parts. Preferably, two holding elements or clamp elements (or clamp arms) are movably arranged on a common axis of rotation. Preferably, at least the first and / or second holding devices can operate in a closed position or gripping position and / or an open position. Preferably, the distance between the two ends of the holding element or clamp element in this position is greater than the diameter of the container and / or the outer diameter of the mouth region of the container.

[0300] In particular, at least one of the first holding devices is suitable for gripping the support ring of the container and is intended to do so. In particular, at least one of the second holding devices is suitable for gripping the mouthpiece groove of the container and is intended to do so. In an advantageous embodiment, the first holding device has a holding groove for gripping the support ring of the container. Preferably, at least one of the first holding devices at least partially grips the lower side of the support ring of the container and / or at least partially the outer side of the support ring and / or at least partially the upper side of the support ring. Particularly preferably, at least one of the first holding devices at least partially surrounds the lower surface, upper surface, and outer side of the support ring. This provides the advantage that the container is (optimally) fixed within at least one of the first holding devices and is fixed against lateral tilting.

[0301] Preferably, at least one second holding device is suitable for and intended to grip the container within the area of the mouthpiece groove. Particularly preferably, the upper area of the mouthpiece groove is gripped and at least one second holding device abuts against the lower surface of the closure ring of the container.

[0302] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device are arranged adjacent to each other within the container processing device.

[0303] In an advantageous embodiment, the container processing device has at least one transfer area in which the container can be transferred between at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device.

[0304] Preferably, the transfer area is designed such that at least one first and at least one second conveying device extend tangentially to each other. Particularly preferably, the conveying path of at least one first holding device arranged on at least one first conveying device and the conveying path of at least one second holding device arranged on at least one second conveying device overlap.

[0305] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device can be arranged in a transfer area that overlaps with each other and / or is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container.

[0306] This means that in the transfer area where the conveying paths of at least one first and second holding devices intersect, the two holding devices are (essentially) parallel to each other and (essentially) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. Since the two holding devices engage both the support ring and the area directly adjacent to the mouthpiece groove, the two holding devices are very close to each other, which is impossible with the holding devices currently used in the state of the art.

[0307] Particularly preferably, the portions of the first holding device and the second holding device overlap within the area of transfer of the container.

[0308] In an advantageous embodiment, the ends of at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device facing the container are in particular tapered complementarily with each other.

[0309] This provides the advantage that the first and second holding devices can be arranged very close to each other without contacting each other. By using the holding device according to the invention, it is possible to firmly grip the container and transfer the container between two conveying devices that protect the container from lateral tilting.

[0310] In the prior art, such a transfer (transfer between a conveying device having a holding device for gripping a support ring and a conveying device having a holding device for gripping a mouthpiece groove) requires an additional conveying device, for example, another transfer star wheel for gripping another area of the container, such as under the support ring.

[0311] The use of the proposed holding device can dispense with an additional transfer star wheel and thus provides the advantage that the technical effort and spatial expansion of the system can be significantly reduced.

[0312] The invention further relates to a method for processing a container. The proposed method can have, individually or in combination with each other, and / or can perform all the features described in connection with the aforementioned container processing apparatus.

[0313] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of processing containers using a container processing apparatus, particularly a container sterilization device. The container processing apparatus includes a conveying device for conveying the containers along a predetermined conveying path, the conveying device includes at least one container processing device, and the containers include a head portion having a mouth, a closing ring, a mouthpiece groove, and a support ring. The conveying device includes at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device, the first conveying device includes at least one first holding device for holding the container, and the second conveying device includes at least one second holding device for holding the container during container processing and / or conveying along the conveying path.

[0314] According to the present invention, at least one first holding device grips the support ring of the container, particularly the outer surface of the support ring, and / or preferably the lower side of the support ring, and / or particularly preferably the upper side of the support ring, and at least one second holding device grips the mouthpiece groove, particularly directly under the closing ring of the container.

[0315] The proposed method provides the advantage that both the first and second holding devices enable a firm grip on the container and at the same time provide protection against lateral tilting.

[0316] In an advantageous embodiment, the transfer of the container between at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device is carried out in a transfer area, and at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device are arranged to overlap during the transfer. In particular, the first and second holding devices are arranged (particularly overlapping) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying path of the container.

[0317] In a preferred method, during the transfer, at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device are arranged directly above each other while the container is being held by one of the two holding devices.

[0318] In an advantageous embodiment, the transfer of the container between at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device is synchronized and / or effected without at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device coming into contact with each other.

[0319] Preferably, the gripping of at least one first holding device or at least one second holding device and the release (unclamping) of at least one second holding device or at least one first holding device are effected simultaneously, preferably in synchronization with each other. Particularly preferably, the transfer (gripping or releasing) of the container is synchronized with the movement of at least one first conveying device and / or at least one second conveying device.

[0320] Furthermore, the invention relates to a holding device for holding a container during container processing and / or conveying along a predetermined conveying path, in particular using at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device, in particular in a transfer area between at least one first conveying device and at least one second conveying device.

[0321] The holding device comprises at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device. Preferably, at least one first holding device is associated with at least one first conveying device, at least one second holding device is associated with at least one second conveying device, and at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device each comprise at least two holding elements, preferably clamp elements, which are suitable for gripping and are intended to grip the head region of the container.

[0322] The head part of the container preferably has a mouth, an optional closing ring, a mouthpiece groove, and a support ring. Each of the at least two holding elements is rotatably mounted about a common axis of rotation and is suitable for being arranged and is intended to be arranged in a position for gripping the container or in a position for releasing the container.

[0323] According to the present invention, at least two holding elements each face the container to be held and have a tapered closing region, and at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device can be arranged to overlap each other.

[0324] Preferably, the container is transferred in the reverse order from at least one first transfer device to at least one second transfer device, or at a transfer position where at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device are arranged directly above each other (overlap). Preferably, at this transfer position, at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device overlap such that the tapered region of the holding element of one holding device overlaps the non-tapered region of the other holding device. Particularly preferably, at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device, especially their holding elements, do not contact each other.

[0325] In an advantageous embodiment, the tapered closing portions of the holding elements of at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device face each other and are complementary to each other.

[0326] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device have the same structure and can preferably be arranged on at least one first transfer device and / or at least one second transfer device, and particularly preferably can be arranged at two different positions. The two positions are formally different by being mirror-imaged on a horizontal plane. Therefore, it is preferable that the tapered region of the holding element can point either upward or downward.

[0327] Preferably, at least one first holding device and at least one second holding device, in particular their holding elements (clamps), are designed such that they can grip both the protruding part of the container, in particular the support ring of the container, and the flat part of the container, in particular the mouthpiece groove, preferably below the closing ring.

[0328] Further advantages and embodiments can be seen in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0329]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0330] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a container processing device 1 in an exemplary embodiment. In the illustrated example, the container processing device 1, which is a container sterilization device, has several conveying devices 100, 200, 300 for conveying the container 10 along a conveying path within the housing 400, although this is not emphasized in this figure. One of these conveying devices 100, 200, 300 is the container outer surface processing device 100, and the other is the container inner surface processing device 200, each of which comprises a plurality of holding devices 140, 240 for holding at least one container 10 during container processing and / or conveyance along the conveying path.

[0331] At least one holding element 140 of the container outer surface processing device 100 can be at least temporarily brought into the region of the opening 420 of the housing wall 400. Thereby, this holding element 140 can receive the container from the conveying device 4 arranged upstream with respect to the conveying path from the space 412 outside the housing 400. This embodiment makes it possible to omit an additional conveying device for picking up the container from the outside and sending it to the container outer surface processing device 100 within the housing.

[0332] In the illustrated embodiment, the conveying device 4 is arranged downstream of the heating device 2 which comprises at least one heating device 5 such as a furnace or a radiation source (for example, infrared or microwave). The conveying device 4 has a plurality of holding elements 40 for holding the container 10, and these are arranged together on a rotatable carrier 20.

[0333] A part of the illustrated container outer surface processing device 100 is the container outer surface application device 150 which is a radiation source 150 in the illustrated example. However, it is also conceivable to design the container outer surface application device as a nozzle or nozzle device for applying a fluid medium such as a sterilizing solution or a sterilizing gas to the surface of the container to be sterilized.

[0334] In the container outer surface treatment device 100, the containers are conveyed through the container outer surface application device 150 by the holding elements 140 within the container outer surface application area 152. During this conveyance, they are acted upon by a sterilizing medium, in this case sterilizing radiation. Preferably, the containers 10 are not only moved along the conveyance path but also, as will be explained elsewhere, moved in at least one further direction. This movement can include rotation (about the longitudinal container axis and / or the transverse container axis) and / or displacement perpendicular to the drawing plane (i.e., in the height direction H). Such individual movement of the containers to be processed enables treatment of all (outer) surfaces that are sterilized by a single container outer surface application device 150. Permanent shading of individual (outer) surfaces of the container 10 by other parts of the same container can be avoided.

[0335] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the containers 10 are directly transferred to the container inner surface treatment device 200 after treatment by the container outer surface treatment device 100. This container inner surface treatment device also comprises a plurality of holding devices 240 arranged on a rotary carrier 220. A container inner surface application device is also provided. The container inner surface application device is designed as a plurality of beam fingers that respectively overlap with positions for receiving the containers 10 and thus cannot be clearly seen in the depicted illustration. Accordingly, each holding element 240 is associated with one such beam finger. During rotation of the carrier 220, the containers are moved relative to the beam fingers associated with the holding elements 240 occupied by the containers 10. This movement takes place in the part between the pickup of the containers 10 by the container inner surface treatment device 200 and the conveyance to the conveyance device 300 along the conveyance path.

[0336] Preferably, the conveying device 300 is a conveying star wheel 300 having a rotatable carrier 320 and a plurality of holding elements 340 arranged thereon. The conveying star wheel 300 receives the containers 10 processed by the container inner surface processing device 200 and transfers them to another conveying device 4 arranged outside the housing 400. Preferably, further conveying is also performed, for example, in a clean room, under conditions that prevent contamination of the containers 10 processed by the container processing device 1.

[0337] As shown in the example shown in FIG. 1, the area 410 surrounded by the housing 400 is particularly small, which can be justified, inter alia, by the fact that there is only one additional conveying device 300 in the housing 400 in addition to the container outer surface processing device 100 and the container inner surface processing device 200.

[0338] As a further treatment of the containers downstream of the treatment in the container treatment device 1, their formation, for example, into other containers 10 such as bottles, can be carried out by a forming device 3 which is only schematically shown. In addition or as an alternative, the containers 10 processed by the container treatment device 1 can be filled (and optionally closed).

[0339] FIG. 2 shows a further schematic view of the container treatment device 1 in a further exemplary embodiment. Different from FIG. 1, a conveying path T along which the containers 10 (not shown in this figure) are guided during their conveyance is shown. The conveying path T is shown in a vertical projection. Accordingly, the displacement of the containers during conveyance in the height direction H is perpendicular to the drawing plane (and thus also to the projection of the conveying path) and is not visible in this figure.

[0340] In the illustrated example of the embodiment, the portion of the illustrated transport path T extends from the heating device 2 into the processing device 1 via the transport device 4, thence via another transport device 4 first to the forming device 3, and then via another transport device 4 discharges the container from the forming device 3. Along the transport path, the containers are guided by holding devices 40, 140, 240, 340 arranged on carriers 20, 120, 220, 320 each of which is rotatable. The distance between two containers 10 or holding devices 40, 140, 240, 340 directly following one another along the transport path can be changed at least once, preferably several times. In particular, this can extend the processing time in the region of the application device (not shown in detail in FIG. 2) and / or in the region of the passage through the wall of the housing 400 in the case of slow movement along the transport direction in these regions, or the window in the housing wall can be made smaller at the same rotational speed of the carrier in either case, which is preferred. This detail is described elsewhere.

[0341] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, exactly three transport devices 100, 200 and 300, namely the container outer surface processing device 100, the container inner surface processing device 200 and the transport star wheel 300, are also arranged inside the housing 400. Different from FIG. 1, the holding element 140 of the container outer surface processing device 100 is designed as an external gripping clamp 140 rather than as a mandrel. The design of the holding element 140 can be adapted to the respective requirements. The preferred design of the holding element 140 of the container outer surface processing device 100 is also explained in more detail elsewhere. As can also be seen from FIG. 2, it may be possible to arrange the holding element 140 of the container outer surface processing device 100 at least temporarily and partially outside the housing in the environment 412 of the housing in order to receive the container outside the housing 400 and then introduce the container into the interior 410 of the housing 400.

[0342] Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a portion of the conveying devices 4, 100, 200, 300 that transfer the container 10 therebetween while it is moving along the conveying path. In the illustrated example, the conveying device 300 is the outer container surface treatment device 100 and the inner container surface treatment device 200. The container outer surface application device or radiation source of the outer container surface treatment device 100 is not shown in this figure. The conveying device 4 is disposed outside a housing (not shown) and is a conveying device that transfers the container to the outer container surface treatment device 100. This conveying device 4 is not described in detail in the description of the figure according to Figure 3.

[0343] The drive devices 160, 260 of the two container surface treatment devices 100, 200 (disposed within a housing not shown) are disposed on the side opposite to the drive device 6 of the conveying device 4 with respect to the conveying path of the container 10 not shown. As a result, the drive device 160 of the outer container surface treatment device 100 and the drive device 260 of the inner container surface treatment device 200 are disposed above the conveying path, and the drive device 6 of the conveying device 4 is disposed below the conveying path. Preferably, those drive devices are disposed outside the housing 400 which is only partially shown so that they can be repaired without opening the housing 400.

[0344] The "suspended" arrangement of the holding device 140 on the carrier 120 of the container outer surface treatment device 100 disposed on the drive device enables a relatively large free space to be provided within a housing (not shown) below the carrier 120. For example, a control cam (not shown) along which the guide roller 108 of the container outer surface treatment device 100 can roll can be disposed within this space. The aforementioned space is particularly advantageous in that easy access to the control cam can be obtained and the control cam can be adjusted. Similarly, when replacing the container 10 to be processed, for example, it is conceivable to remove the control cam unit from the housing and replace it with another control cam unit. Since other components of the container outer surface treatment device 100 are not permanently disposed in the area of the control cam unit below the carrier, such a control cam unit can be removed without the need for disassembly. This enables rapid switching, particularly when repeatedly switching several containers. Each control cam unit can then be used immediately. New adjustments to the container to be processed can be omitted, except for any necessary fine-tuning in some cases.

[0345] As described above, in the vertical direction, i.e., along the height direction H, in addition to the guide rollers 108 that enable partial displacement of the holding device 140 and thus the container 10 guided thereby, the container outer surface processing device 100 also includes a displacement mechanism 110 by which a single holding device 140 can be displaced perpendicular to the height direction H. This displacement can include, for example, circumferential displacement or radial displacement with respect to the carrier 120. Of course, displacements having both circumferential and radial components are also conceivable and are advantageous in some applications. In addition to this, independently of this, displacements along the horizontal direction H as described above are of course also possible, for example, by the interaction between the guide roller 108 and the cam. In particular, a combination of displacements in at least two directions in the region of the container outer surface application device 150 (not shown) is advantageous so that the container 10 can be guided as linearly as possible at a defined distance along the container outer surface application device 150, regardless of the curvature of the circumferential path of the rotating carrier 120. During this guidance, further movement of the container, for example, rotation around a horizontal (tilt) axis or a vertical (rotation) axis, is possible so that permanent light shielding of specific surfaces by other parts of the container can be avoided if necessary.

[0346] The container inner surface processing device 200 is also a conveying device 300 since the container is also conveyed along the conveying path during processing by the container inner surface processing device 200. For this purpose, the container 10 is first taken over by the upstream conveying device 300, in this case by the container outer surface processing device 100. This is done at the first height level. This low height level is necessary because the inner gripping holding device 140 of the container outer surface processing device 100 is arranged between the beam fingers 250 of the container inner surface processing device 200 and the container.

[0347] In the illustrated example, the container 10 to be picked up is picked up by one of the container inner surface treatment devices 200, more precisely its holding device 240, and then lowered to a lower height level. This is advantageous for removing the container from the internal gripping and holding device 140 of the container outer surface treatment device 100. Instead of or in addition to this, it is also conceivable to raise the holding device 140 of the container outer surface treatment device 100, and the available space for this is limited by the beam fingers 250.

[0348] After the container 10 has been pulled out by the holding device 240 of the container inner surface treatment device 200, it is at a lower height level as shown for the container 10.1. Subsequently, the container 10 rises again, thereby moving relative to the container inner surface application device 250, preferably the beam fingers 250. The relative movement is performed such that the beam fingers 250 project at least partially into the interior of the container 10. Thereby, the inner surface of the container 10 can be acted upon over a short distance, which is particularly efficient.

[0349] Preferably, the relative movement between the container 10 and the beam fingers 250 is performed by moving the container towards the beam fingers 250. In this case, the beam fingers 250 or the container inner surface application device 250 can remain in a fixed position relative to the carrier 220. This has the advantage that only relatively lightweight and inexpensive containers need to be moved, and there is no need to move the sensitive beam fingers 250 having the radiation generating device 252 and possibly existing connections and / or supply lines. This radiation generating device 252 and any connections and / or supply lines that may be present are preferably arranged outside the housing 400 shown only in cross-section in order to allow maintenance even when the housing is closed, as shown in the illustrated example. In connection with FIG. 4, the movement of the container 10 or the holding device 240 during rotation of the carrier 220 of the container inner surface treatment device 200 will be described in detail.

[0350] The delivery of the processed container 10.2 to a conveyor device (not shown) continuing along the conveyor path is preferably carried out immediately after the beam finger 250 has completely left the container 10.2. It is not necessary to lower the container 10.1 to the first height level at which the container 10.2 was lifted, but as described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, it reduces the sectors available for container processing.

[0351] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an exemplary profile 280 of the displacement of the holding device 240 and / or the container 10 along the height direction H on the container inner surface processing device 200. In region 270, the container 10 is received by the holding device 240 of the container inner surface processing device 200. As described above, the container is first lowered in order to remove it from the inner gripping holding device 140 of the container outer surface processing device 100. Thus, for a short time, the container 10 is at a height level lower than the height level at which the first contact with the holding device 240 was made. The horizontal axis is marked with both t and θ. This symbolizes that the profile can be both time-dependent and angle-dependent. Since the rotation of the support always takes a certain amount of time, when using the rotary carrier 220, the profile is usually time-dependent and angle-dependent.

[0352] As soon as the container 10 is taken over by the holding device 240 and both are sufficiently separated from the container outer surface processing device 100 by the rotation of the rotary carrier 220, the actual processing process 272 can be started. For this purpose, the container is lifted and lowered, i.e., moved along the height direction H. Then, the container is moved to the highest point. At the highest point, the container inner surface processing device 250, schematically shown as the beam finger 250, is arranged at the inner part of the container. There, and on the way thereto, and on the way away therefrom, a medium or radiation can be applied to the inner surface of the container. As soon as the container is lowered to such an extent that the container inner surface application device 250 is arranged completely outside this container, the container is delivered to a conveyor device arranged downstream within region 274. This delivery takes place at a different, in particular higher, height level than when the container is picked up in region 270.

[0353] The necessary displacement of the holding device 240 to the first height level, i.e., the height level of the container pick-up, not occupied by the container, is carried out in a time interval or angular range 276 during which the processing of the container 10 cannot be carried out. Thus, this time interval 276, usually called the "dead time", is no longer used but can actively contribute to the preparation for the next processing step or the next container pick-up 270. Thus, as shown in particular in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the time 272 available for the actual processing process or the container processing sector 272 can be increased. For a given processing time or the arc length used for this purpose, the circumference of the circle swept by the holding element can be reduced. Thereby, the radius of the rotary carrier 220 can be reduced and thus the dimensions can be reduced.

[0354] FIG. 5a shows an exemplary assignment of different sectors of a circular path to different process steps in a processing device according to the prior art. In sector 270, the container is taken over by the holding device. The insertion of the beam fingers can only be carried out when the holding device 140 of the conveying device arranged upstream has to be completely removed from the movement range of the holding device 240 and the container 10 picked up by the holding device. Therefore, the arc of the circle belonging to this sector necessarily has to have a minimum length. Thus, the insertion of the beam fingers into the container can only start at the point marked θ1 after leaving this sector.

[0355] The following sector 272 is available for container processing. During processing, the container is guided along the arc 290. The point θ2 in this sector indicates the turning point where the beam fingers are guided out of the container. Sector 272 extends to the point θ3 where the beam fingers are completely removed from the container. As soon as this is ensured, the processed container 10 can be delivered to the downstream conveying device 300 in sector 274.

[0356] Since the upstream transfer device and the downstream transfer device 300 each occupy a specific space, the sectors of the dead volume 276 cannot be freely reduced. Depending on the dimensions of the adjacent transfer devices, this sector typically ranges from about 75° to 90°. Therefore, the point θ4 is typically about 270° to 285° with respect to the starting point of the pickup of the container θ0. This sector cannot be used for container processing.

[0357] FIG. 5b shows an exemplary assignment of different sectors of the circular path to different process steps in a processing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are assigned to the sectors and process steps similar to those shown in FIG. 5a. Therefore, in the container inner surface processing device 200 according to the present invention, the transfer of the container 10 starts from the point θ0 and is performed within the sector 270. The lowering of the holding device 240 is preferably performed in this sector where it is not yet possible to raise the holding device 140 to avoid collision with the holding device 240 of the upstream transfer device 100. Therefore, the starting point θ1 of the processing is the same as in the example of the prior art despite the lowering.

[0358] Container processing is performed in the sector 272. The point θ2 also indicates the turning point where the beam finger is guided out of the container. Only a direct comparison shows that the sector 272 is wider than the sectors available for the processing according to FIG. 5a. The subsequent transfer to the downstream transfer device 300 in the sector 272 is performed immediately when the holding device is lowered and the cross-section of the beam finger is no longer inside the container 10, so the width of the sector 274 can be increased. The return of the holding element to the height level that must exist at the point θ0 does not occur until the sector 278, which is part of the sector 276 marking the dead time. In the illustrated example, the sector 278 extends over an angle of 25°, i.e., from θ5 = 310° to θ6 = 335° (both with respect to θ0).

[0359] For a given length L of the arc 290 (e.g., determined by the rotation speed and processing time), as the angle θ increases, the radius r can be decreased according to the formula L = 2π - r - θ / 360. According to the above formula, by increasing the angle by 10° while keeping the arc length L the same, the radius r can be decreased by approximately 20%. The radius is included within r in the circular area required for the carrier 220, so even a slight increase in the angle between the sectors 272 or θ1 and θ3 that can be used for processing results in a significant saving in area as well as the material and weight of the inner surface processing device 200 of the container. 2 Since it is even included in, even a slight increase in the angle between the sectors 272 or θ1 and θ3 that can be used for processing results in a significant saving in area as well as the material and weight of the inner surface processing device 200 of the container.

[0360] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the transfer from the first transport device 4 to the second transport device. In this figure, the second transport device is not visible because it is arranged inside the housing 400. The first transport device 4 is a first pitch distribution star wheel designed to change the pitch between adjacent plastic containers being transported. This is made possible by the rotatable attachment of the holding element 40.

[0361] The first transport device 4 has a rotatable carrier and transfers plastic containers to a second transport device arranged inside the housing 400 through a (transfer) window 420. The reference numeral 152 indicates an outer surface application area for performing outer surface processing of the plastic container.

[0362] Figure 7 shows a further schematic diagram of the transfer from the first transport device 4 to the second transport device 100. For a more accurate representation of this transfer, it is shown in Figure 7 without the housing. In particular, the moment of transfer is shown where the plastic container 10 is held by both the holding element 40 of the first transport device 4 and the holding element 140 of the second transport device 100. The second transport device 100 is also a second pitch distribution star wheel designed to change the division between adjacent plastic containers being transported.

[0363] The second transfer device 100 has at least the lifting curves 402, 403 in the actual transfer area, along which the guide rollers 406 are guided, enabling safe transfer. The reference numeral 105 indicates a lifting and rotating device that enables the lifting movement of the holding element 140 towards the plastic container 10 during transfer, whereby the holding element 140 is inserted into the plastic container 10 to hold it. The reference numeral 120 indicates a rotatable carrier of the second transfer device 100.

[0364] Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the transfer from the first transfer device 4 to the second transfer device 100. As in Figure 7, the plastic container 10 is held in this figure by both the holding element 40 of the first transfer device 4 and the holding element 140 of the second transfer device 100.

[0365] The first ascending curve 402 and the second ascending curve 403, between which the guide rollers 406 of the lifting and rotating device 105 are guided, are clearly visible in this figure. The lifting and rotating device 105 is suitable and intended to move the holding element 140 along the vertical direction v in the direction of the container.

[0366] Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the transfer from the first transfer device 4 to the second transfer device 100, and the time of the transfer shown in Figures 7 and 8 is also shown here. The reference numeral 405 indicates a shielding device that shields the environment from the inside of the housing 400 so that, for example, radiation, particularly X-rays, generated during the sterilization of the container does not reach the environment.

[0367] Figure 10 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. Here too, the transfer device (inside the housing) is shown together with the rotatable carrier 120. For the sake of avoiding repetition, please refer to the above description of Figure 3.

[0368] Reference numeral 150 identifies the entire container outer surface application device. This has an electron generating device 172 that terminates within the vacuum chamber 174. Reference numeral 178 identifies a vacuum pump, particularly for achieving a very rough vacuum. Reference numeral 140 indicates a holding device such as a holding mandrel for holding a plastic preform.

[0369] FIG. 11 shows a further view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Here, in addition to the wall 158, a drive device 160 is provided. Reference numeral 152 indicates the container outer surface application area where outer sterilization of the container is performed. Reference numeral 105 also indicates a lifting and rotating device as before in this case. Reference numerals 182 and 183 refer to upper and lower shields (within a housing not shown). As described above, the upper shield 183 is stationary and the lower shield 182 can be lowered.

[0370] FIG. 12 shows a further view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11. The plastic preform 10 is also shown here, which is held by the lifting and rotating device and is sterilized on its outer surface. It can be seen that the plastic preform is moved very close to the outer sterilization device.

[0371] FIG. 13 shows a further cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12. Reference numeral 176 indicates the radiator surface of the surface radiator 150 (i.e., the outer surface sterilization device). It can be seen that the entire outer surface sterilization device is arranged within a housing, which is preferably a radiation shield housing.

[0372] FIG. 14 shows the sterilization of the outside of the plastic preform. To improve the sterilization effect, a shield area 182 is provided for linearly transporting the plastic preform along line G within the area of the radiator surface.

[0373] Preferably, this part of the shield is modeled on the path of a plastic preform path (not shown). Due to the constrictions on both sides directed towards the surface radiator, an improvement of the radiation shield can be achieved here.

[0374] In addition, in this part, it is also possible to move the plastic preform more slowly than the other parts of the transport path. At the same time, the plastic preform is rotated in this part with respect to its longitudinal axis.

[0375] FIG. 15 shows a detailed view of the figure shown in FIG. 14. Here too, a plastic preform held by a lifting and rotating device and moved through the radiator surface can be seen. Furthermore, the plastic preform is also rotatably attached with respect to its longitudinal direction L or rotated with respect to this longitudinal direction L.

[0376] The arrangement of the upper and lower radiation shields shown in FIG. 11 can also be seen, and they are spaced apart so that a lifting and rotating device having a carrier of the rotating unit can pass through them.

[0377] FIG. 16 shows a more detailed view of a lifting and rotating device 105 comprising a rotor 132 non-rotatably coupled to a holding mandrel 30 and rotatably attached to an arm or boom 134.

[0378] Reference numeral 137 indicates a carrier on which the boom 134 is arranged. This carrier 135 is attached so as to be able to move linearly with respect to the guiding device 135 and is attached to a holder 133. Reference numeral 136 indicates a cam roller that can cause the linear movement of the holding mandrel together with a guide cam (not shown).

[0379] Figure 17 shows the occurrence of the rotational movement of the rotor 132, and thus the plastic preform held thereon. In addition to the rotor 132, a stator 180 is also provided. This stator can be arranged on the inner wall of the housing of the device. The stator has, here, a plurality of magnets, and these magnets are constituted by their magnetic poles NP and their magnetic poles SP.

[0380] Reference numeral 184 indicates the stator carrier on which the magnets are arranged. Figure 17 also shows a problem regarding the transmission of torque M. In the situation shown in the left part of the figure, the transmission of torque to the rotor is maximum, and in the situation shown in the right part of the figure, it is zero. For this reason, there is a non-uniform transmission of torque, and thus, especially at a high conveying speed, the plastic preform no longer rotates continuously.

[0381] Figures 18 to 20 show improved forms of the stator 180 and the rotor 132. Here, it can be seen that the magnets NP and SP do not extend parallel to the axis of rotation as in Figure 17, but extend in a cross-section at an angle. In the embodiment shown in Figure 18, the magnets extend linearly, but extend at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation or the longitudinal direction L of the plastic preform. In the embodiment shown in Figure 19, the magnets take an overall arrow-shaped or serrated course, and in the embodiment shown in Figure 20, the magnets take an arcuate curved course.

[0382] In this way, the magnets are arranged with oblique teeth, which has a smoothing effect on torque transmission (however, the maximum transmission torque may be lower).

[0383] Reference numeral Z indicates the spacing between the individual magnets SP, NP.

[0384] In the embodiment shown in Figure 21, neither the stator 180 nor the rotor 132 (here the stator 180) is provided with magnets, and a material with a high magnetic permeability such as iron (Fe) is used. By appropriately guiding the magnetic flux, a favorable influence can be exerted on torque fluctuations. This principle is also used in a reluctance motor.

[0385] Preferably, the material of the magnet carrier is selected to have as low a specific electrical resistance as possible, as described above.

[0386] Figure 22 shows a further view of this. In this embodiment, the carrier 184 of the stator and the carrier 131 of the rotor are formed of this material with low resistivity.

[0387] The effect of this configuration is shown in Figure 23. Whenever the tangential speed is not equal to the ideal rolling speed on the bar, the opposing permanent magnets induce a voltage in the conductive carrier material, causing eddy currents. These brake or accelerate the roller and push the roller in the direction of the ideal speed.

[0388] Basically, this concept corresponds to the principle of an eddy current brake, that is, here the circumference of the roller is the "brake", and thus the roller itself is set to rotate.

[0389] For corrosion protection, it may be necessary to coat the surface.

[0390] Figure 24 shows an embodiment in which the magnet is covered with a cover 196, for example a plate-shaped body made of aluminum.

[0391] Reference numeral 190 schematically shows a monitoring device that monitors the transmission of the rotational movement to the rotor 132. This monitoring device can be, for example, a camera aligned with the rotor. Furthermore, other non-contact sensors can also be used to monitor the rotational movement. One problem here is that the rotor itself moves along the transport path of the plastic preform.

[0392] FIG. 25 shows a further advantageous form that enables monitoring of the transmitted torque or the rotational movement of the rotor. In this form, as described above, the coil 192 is arranged between the magnets NP and SP, here axially oriented in the direction of the roller. As long as the roller or rotor 132 rotates at an ideal speed and "rolls" along the bar or stator as required, only a slight voltage is induced in the coil. However, if the roller slips or vibrates at its rotational speed, a relatively large voltage is induced in the coil due to the large change in magnetic flux density.

[0393] FIG. 26 shows an advantageous apparatus 1 for processing containers, in particular plastic preforms 10. In this case, the plastic preform 10 is conveyed via a conveying device 4 located outside the housing 400 of the apparatus 1, through an inlet or window 420, or onto a conveying device 100, in particular a conveying star wheel.

[0394] This conveying device 100 is arranged on a rotatable carrier (or having such a carrier) and conveys the plastic preform through or to a container application device 150 for acting on the outer surface. The preform is then transferred onto a rotatable carrier 220 or to another conveying device 200, in particular a conveying star wheel, having such a carrier.

[0395] A plurality of beam fingers for acting on the inner region of the container application device, in particular the plastic preform 10, are arranged on this conveying device.

[0396] The completed plastic preform 10 is transferred via a conveying device 300, in particular a conveying star wheel, through an outlet 440 to another conveying device 4 arranged outside the housing.

[0397] Reference numeral 152 indicates the container application area. The plastic preform 10 is conveyed on the conveying device 100 in this area and acted upon there by the container application device 150. The outer surface of the plastic preform 10 is acted upon.

[0398] Reference numerals 140, 240, and 340 indicate holding elements, particularly a holding mandrel for holding the plastic preform 10. These are designed to enable transfer between conveying devices.

[0399] Reference numeral 460 indicates an airlock device for removing defective plastic preforms 10 or plastic preforms 10 that cannot meet specific requirements from the apparatus 1 via the conveying device 300.

[0400] FIG. 27 shows the apparatus 1 according to the invention with the airlock device 460 in the open state.

[0401] FIG. 28 also shows a schematic view of the container processing apparatus 1 in an exemplary embodiment. In particular, in this figure, the conveying devices 100, 200, 300 for conveying the container 10 along the conveying path within the housing 400 (not particularly emphasized here) can be seen. Also, in FIG. 13, the conveying device 100 is the container outer surface processing device 100, and the conveying device 200 is the container inner surface processing device 200.

[0402] In FIG. 28, a heating device 2 and a further conveying device 4 arranged outside the housing 400 between the heating device 2 and the container outer surface processing device 100 can also be seen. Immediately in front of the heating device 2, there is an application device 8 that can act on the container with a flowable medium.

[0403] Reference numeral 3 denotes a forming device, in particular a blow molding machine for forming a plastic preform into a plastic container. It can be seen that the heating device 2 is arranged at an angle different from that in the case of FIG. 1, for example, with respect to the forming device 3. In FIG. 1, the heating device 2 and the forming device 3 are essentially arranged at an angle of 90° to each other, while in FIG. 28, they are arranged at an angle of 0° to each other. This is particularly advantageous when the application device 8 is integrated with the heating device 2.

[0404] FIG. 29 shows a container 10, in particular a plastic preform, the head region of which includes a mouth 11, a closure ring 12, a mouth groove 13 and a support ring 14.

[0405] The container 10 is held by a first holding device 900 designed as a two-part clamp. The first holding device 900 has a holding groove 903 that abuts against the outer surface of the support ring 14. The first holding device 900 is configured such that the lower surface of the support ring 14 contacts the entire area of the first holding device 900. Further, the first holding device 900 has a region 902 that contacts the upper side of the support ring 14.

[0406] Thus, overall, the support ring 14 of the container 10 is clamped from both the lateral direction and both the upper and lower directions by the first holding device 900, thereby being fixed and secured against an unintended lateral inclination.

[0407] It is also clearly seen that the ends of the first holding device 900 facing the container 10 or both ends of the individual clamps have a tapered region 901. A more detailed description of the tapered region is given in connection with the description of FIG. 2.

[0408] FIG. 30 shows a holding device having a container 10 in which the first holding device 900 and the second holding device 910 are arranged, for example, during transfer between the first and second conveying devices.

[0409] Similar to FIG. 29, it can be seen that the first holding device 900 engages with the support ring 14 of the container 10, and the tapered portion 901 of the first holding device 900 faces the direction of the second holding device 910. The second holding device 910 engages with the mouthpiece groove 13 of the container 10, and the second holding device 910 abuts against the lower surface of the closing ring 12.

[0410] The second holding device 910 also shows a tapered region 911 facing the direction of the first holding device 900. Furthermore, it can be seen that the tapered regions 901 and 911 are complementary to each other. This prevents the two holding devices 900 and 910 from contacting each other.

[0411] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention if they are new compared to the prior art, either individually or in combination. Furthermore, it is pointed out that each individual figure also describes features that may be advantageous in themselves. A person skilled in the art will immediately recognize that the specific features described in the figure may be advantageous without adopting further features from this figure. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will recognize that advantages may result from combinations of some of the features shown in individual figures or different figures.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0412] 1 Container processing device 2 Heating device 3 Container forming device 4 Conveying device, conveying star wheel (outside the housing) 5 Heating device 6 Driving device for the conveying device or the conveying star wheel 4 10 Container, preform 11 Mouth portion of the plastic preform 12 Closing ring 13 Mouth groove 14 Support ring 20 Rotatable carrier 40 Holding element, mandrel 100 Container outer surface processing device, conveying device 105 Lifting and rotating device 110 Displacement device, displacement mechanism 120 Rotatable carrier 131 Rotor support part 132 Rotor of the lifting and rotating device 133 Guide device 134 Boom 135 Guide device 136 Cam roller 137 Carrier 140 Holding element, holding device, mandrel 150 Container outer surface application device, radiation source 152 Container outer surface application area 158 Wall 160 Driving device (for the rotatable carrier of the container outer surface processing device) 172 High-voltage cable with plug 174 Vacuum chamber 176 Radiator surface of the surface radiator 178 Vacuum pump 180 Stator 182 Lower shield 183 Upper shield 184 Stator carrier 190 Monitoring device 192 Coil 196 Shield 200 Container inner surface processing device, conveying device 220 Rotatable carrier 240 Holding element, holding device, clamp 250 Container inner surface application device, beam finger 252 Radiation generation device 260 Driving device (for the rotatable carrier of the container inner surface processing device) 270 Container receiving area, container transfer area, sector 272 Container processing area, sector 274 Container delivery area, container conveying area, sector 276 Dead time Region / Sector of Displacement of the Unoccupied Holding Device 280 Profile, Height Profile 290 Arc (Available for Internal Container Processing) 300 Conveyor Device, Conveyor Star Wheel (Inside the Housing) 320 Rotatable Carrier 340 Holding Element, Holding Device, Clamp, Mandrel 400 Housing 402 First Ascending Curve 403 Second Ascending Curve 405 Shielding Device 406 Guide Roll 410 Space Inside the Housing, Inside of the Housing, Clean Room 412 Space Outside the Housing, Environment 420 Window (For Introducing into the Inside of the Housing) 440 Window (For Discharging from Inside the Housing) 460 Airlock 900 Holding Device 901 Taper Region 902 Region 904 Holding Groove 910 Holding Device 911 Taper Region v Vertical Direction T Conveyor Path L Longitudinal Direction of the Plastic Preform K Circuit t Time S Sector G Linear Movement Direction H Height Direction Θ Angle 1Θ - Θ8 Points on the Circle (- Arc) R Radius M Torque NP (Magnetic) North Pole SP (Magnetic) South Pole<s Z Magnet Gap

Claims

1. A container processing apparatus (1) for transporting a plastic container (10) along a predetermined transport path (T), wherein the container processing apparatus (1) has at least one transport device (100) including a plurality of holding elements (140). In the container processing apparatus (1), the transport device (100) is a pitch distribution star wheel having a movement device suitable and intended to enable movement of the holding elements (140) in at least two planes, the movement device is suitable and intended to enable horizontal and vertical movement of the holding elements (140) and rotation of the holding elements (140), characterized in that it is a container processing apparatus (1).

2. The container processing apparatus (1) has at least a first transport device (4) and a second transport device (100), and the plastic container (10) is transferred from the first transport device (4) to the second transport device (100). characterized in that the container processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

3. Both the first transport device (4) and the second transport device (100) are pitch distribution star wheels, characterized in that the container processing apparatus (1) according to claim 2.

4. The container processing apparatus (1) has a container outer surface processing device (150) for processing the outer surface of the plastic container (10) and / or a container inner surface processing device (200) for processing the inner surface of the plastic container (10). characterized in that the container processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

5. The container outer surface processing device (150) is arranged on the second transport device (100). characterized in that the container processing apparatus (1) according to claim 4.

6. The plurality of holding elements (140) are holding mandrels, characterized in that the container processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

7. The transport device (100) includes at least one lifting cam (402, 403) and at least one guide roller (406), and both of them are suitable and intended to enable at least one movement of the holding elements (140) in at least one plane. characterized in that the container processing apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

8. A method for transporting a plastic container (10) along a predetermined transport path (T), wherein the plastic container (10) is transported by a transport device (100) having at least a plurality of holding elements (140). In the method, at least the transport device (100) is a pitch distribution star wheel that enables movement of the holding elements (140) in at least two planes, The moving device is suitable and intended to enable horizontal and vertical movement of the holding element (140) and rotation of the holding element (140). characterized in that method. **Claim 9** The treatment of the outer surface of the plastic container is carried out on the transport device (100). characterized in that The method according to claim 8.

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