Transport arrangement, blow-moulding machine arrangement and method for transporting containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport arrangement for transporting containers (3), comprising a separating device (12) and a transfer device (19) connected thereto, wherein the separating device (12) has a conveyor lane (14) formed from two conveyor rollers (13) which are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction and are designed to be rotatable in opposite directions, and wherein the transfer device (19) has different transport directions (R1, R2) on at least two transport sections (22a, 22b) arranged one behind the other. According to the invention, the transfer device (19) has a vacuum belt device comprising a vacuum belt (21) for conveying the containers (3) along the transport sections (22a, 22b).

Description

[0001] Transport arrangement, blow-molding machine arrangement and method for transporting containers

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to a transport arrangement for transporting containers with a separating device and a transfer device connected thereto, wherein the separating device has a conveyor lane formed by two conveyor rollers spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction and arranged to rotate in opposite directions, and wherein the transfer device has different transport directions on at least two transport sections arranged one behind the other.

[0004] The invention relates in particular to transport arrangements used in the food industry, especially in the beverage industry. Accordingly, the containers are preferably beverage containers, which can be used directly to hold beverages or other liquid or pasty foodstuffs. Accordingly, the containers are preferably beverage bottles.

[0005] These beverage bottles are usually made of glass or plastic. The invention particularly relates to beverage bottles made of plastic. In addition, the containers can also be designed as so-called preforms. These are containers which are only fully formed in the area of ​​the container mouth and have a corresponding external thread there for receiving a closure cap. The container body, which essentially defines the container interior, is comparatively small and is initially plastically deformed during a forming process so that beverage bottles are formed from the preforms by forming. This takes place, for example, during blow forming or stretch blow forming, wherein a blowing fluid is introduced into the container interior and plastically deforms it under the influence of pressure.For this purpose, the containers are usually heated beforehand in a heating device so that the material of the containers, which is preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), first softens so that the plastic deformation process can then be carried out in a simple manner.

[0006] The preforms are usually delivered prefabricated and then have to be fed into the blow molding machine assembly. The preforms are generally located in a random order within a collection container, meaning they first have to be separated and aligned. For this purpose, corresponding transport arrangements are known from practice, in which the preforms are first arranged in a row one behind the other within a separating device and at the same time the container mouth is oriented upwards. This usually takes place within a so-called roller sorter. This roller sorter has two conveyor rollers that rotate in opposite directions and are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction so that the container can be guided between the conveyor rollers. At the same time, one section of the containers rests on the conveyor rollers; this section is usually a so-called retaining ring orThis is a neck ring that protrudes in the area of ​​the container mouth opposite the external thread. The counter-rotating roller sorter is set so that the conveyor rollers in the area of ​​the conveyor aisle cause an upward movement of the preforms, so that they are continuously thrown upward and can be positioned within the conveyor aisle. Furthermore, the conveyor rollers are usually tilted so that the containers can be transported along the conveyor aisle.

[0007] Following separation, the containers are either transferred directly to a blow molding machine or transferred to another transport device. This transport device usually has a transport aisle that is arranged at an angle to the conveyor aisle of the separating device. The containers must therefore be tilted along their axis. This takes place within a transfer device, which in practice is designed as a neck ring guide, in which the containers rest via their neck ring on two spaced-apart linear struts and are guided by these. The linear guide has at least two transport sections arranged one behind the other with different transport directions. These transport sections adjust the transport direction accordingly and thus align the conveyor aisle and transport aisle, which are set at an angle to one another.The linear guide usually has a curved profile.

[0008] Although such a design has proven itself in principle, in practice it has been shown that the linear guide design with linear struts in the area of ​​the curve can cause the containers to slide over one another, causing them to wobble. This can lead to the containers becoming jammed, disrupting operations.

[0009] Against this background, the invention is based on the object of providing a transport arrangement that enables a simple, reliable and trouble-free adjustment of the transport direction. The subject matter and solution of this object are a transport arrangement according to claim 1, a blow-molding machine arrangement according to claim 13, and a method for transporting containers according to claim 14.

[0010] Accordingly, the invention provides that the transfer device, instead of a linear guide, has a vacuum belt device with a vacuum belt for conveying the containers along the transport sections. The vacuum belt of the vacuum device is typically designed to move the containers in a suspended position. Accordingly, the vacuum belt is placed on the containers at the container mouth.

[0011] The invention is based on the finding that such a guide determines the position of the containers on the vacuum belt, so that even during changes in transport direction, the containers cannot tilt relative to each other in such a way that they slide over each other, particularly in the area of ​​the neck ring. Accordingly, the containers can be transferred in a predetermined manner to a subsequent device, with the position of the preforms being determined by the vacuum belt.

[0012] According to a conventional embodiment, the vacuum belt has a plurality of openings arranged one behind the other, which are operatively connected to a vacuum channel. These openings serve to bring the container interior into operative connection with a vacuum channel, so that the containers in the container interior are subjected to a negative pressure, which presses the containers against the vacuum belt via the container mouth. Accordingly, the openings must have a diameter that is smaller than the container mouth. In particular, the openings have a diameter between 1 mm and 5 mm. At the same time, it is fundamentally sufficient within the scope of the invention if the openings are arranged at a distance from one another which, in an operating state, only provides one opening per container.In particular, two openings arranged one behind the other have a distance of between 20 and 50 mm from each other.

[0013] To generate the negative pressure, the vacuum channel can be connected to a vacuum pump. This is, in particular, a suction pump designed to generate a negative pressure of between 0.05 and 0.2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is sufficient for the vacuum belt to have only one row of perforations arranged one behind the other, since only one row of preforms needs to be moved along the transfer device.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the transport sections are formed on the vacuum belt, wherein a plane extending in the transverse direction and in the transport direction in the transport sections is arranged at a transfer angle to one another. Accordingly, transport sections can be provided on the conveyor belt, on which planes can be defined from the transport direction and transverse direction, which planes are arranged at a transport angle to one another. In principle, a first transport section can relate to the inlet and a second transport section to an outlet of the transfer device or the vacuum belt device. In particular, the transfer angle relates directly to the inlet and the outlet of the vacuum belt device, wherein the inlet defines the area of ​​the vacuum belt device at which the containers first rest on the vacuum belt.Accordingly, the outlet defines the area where the containers no longer rest on the vacuum belt for the first time. It is assumed that the separating device is angled, particularly relative to downstream transport devices, with the transfer device between the inlet and the outlet adjusting the position of the containers accordingly. Thus, the transfer angle essentially defines the angle at which the conveyor lane of the separating device is angled relative to downstream transport lanes. Such an angle is also referred to as the transport angle within the scope of the invention.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the transfer angle is between 5 and 25°.

[0016] A preferred development of the invention further provides that the vacuum belt is designed to be circumferential and is guided over at least two spaced-apart deflection rollers. Accordingly, the vacuum belt is an endless belt which is divided into two sections by the deflection rollers. In a first section, the vacuum belt is moved between the inlet and the outlet in the transport direction, wherein the transport sections are also formed accordingly in this section. After reaching the outlet, the vacuum belt is deflected accordingly and guided back to the inlet in the opposite direction to the transport direction. Based on this consideration, the first section is defined below as the transport section and the second section as the return section, wherein according to a preferred embodiment the return section is arranged above the transport section.This refers to a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the transport direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction, and which, in an operating state, essentially coincides with the container axis. The arrangement of the return area above the transport area makes it clear that the containers are guided in a suspended position and are thus only secured at one upper end or in the area of ​​the container mouth.

[0017] A further development of the invention further provides that the vacuum belt has a curved, in particular concave, shape, at least at the transport sections. It is assumed here that the different transport directions are adapted over a certain transfer distance, so that a continuous course is achieved. This has the advantage of ensuring that the preforms lie completely against the vacuum belt during transport in the transfer device, so that a sufficient sealing effect is created between the container mouth and the vacuum belt and the negative pressure can thus be maintained within the container interior. An excessive curvature or an almost instantaneous change of direction would result in the container becoming detached from the vacuum belt, at least in some areas, and the negative pressure could therefore no longer be maintained.In particular, the invention provides for the curved, particularly concave, shape to extend over a length of 10 to 300 mm of the vacuum belt. Naturally, this assumes that this curved area is present in the transport area and thus at the transport sections. Naturally, it is also within the scope of the invention for a corresponding shape to be provided in the return area. However, this has no significance for the transport of the containers.

[0018] A preferred development of the invention further provides that the vacuum belt device is arranged at least partially above the conveyor lane. In particular, it is provided that the vacuum belt of the vacuum belt device is arranged in the inlet region above the conveyor lane, so that the singling device and the transfer device overlap at least partially. While the containers thus rest on the conveyor rollers via the retaining ring in the region of the singling device, the vacuum belt is now guided towards the containers from above and placed on the container mouth. This allows the containers to be taken over from the transport lane by the vacuum belt, so that the containers are transferred from a neck ring holder in the singling device to a holder above the container mouth.In this context, it should be noted that the conveyor aisle in the area of ​​the separating device is limited at the top by the position of the containers with the retaining ring on the conveyor rollers. Accordingly, the vacuum belt can generally be guided between the conveyor rollers, with the preform being positioned below the vacuum belt during normal use. According to a typical preform design, the neck ring or retaining ring has a diameter between 20 and 50 mm, so that the conveyor aisle is also limited at the top by the distance between the conveyor rollers, which is between 20 and 50 mm.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a stripping element is arranged at an outlet of the transfer device and / or the vacuum belt is not operatively connected to the vacuum channel. According to such an embodiment, the containers are separated from the vacuum belt in an outlet by a stripping element detaching the containers from the vacuum belt. This can be done, for example, via a mechanical finger which pushes the containers away from the vacuum belt via the neck ring, whereby the force is sufficient to overcome the opposing negative pressure. Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided in an outlet that the openings and thus also the container interior are no longer operatively connected to the negative pressure channel, so that the containers essentially fall off the vacuum belt.This can be achieved, for example, by terminating the vacuum channel before the outlet, so that the vacuum belt and thus also the perforations are directed to an area that is not connected to the vacuum channel. This could be, for example, a wall. The negative pressure at the perforations drops abruptly, so that the containers fall from the vacuum belt by gravity alone.

[0020] A further development of the invention further provides that a transport device for transporting the containers is connected to the transfer device, wherein the transfer device is designed to transfer the containers from the separating device to the transport device. This transport device can, for example, be a transport wheel, which enables transfer to a blow molding machine. In the context of the invention, a transport wheel is understood to be a rotatably arranged carrier which has a plurality of container receptacles arranged in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the transfer device serves to transfer the containers between the separating device and the transport device.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the transport device is designed, at least in sections, as an air transport device. Here, the containers are moved along a transport path by applying compressed air. The transport path is formed on a transport guide. This transport guide is typically a linear guide consisting of two spaced-apart linear struts, which are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction such that they form a transport lane, with the containers being guided via their retaining ring.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transport aisle is arranged at a transport angle to the conveyor aisle, wherein the transport angle is in particular between 5 and 25°. Accordingly, the transport angle can coincide with the transfer angle.

[0023] A further development of the invention further provides for a control device to be provided which is designed to control the transport of the containers at least in the transfer device. For example, a conveying speed of the transfer device, in particular the speed of the vacuum belt, can be adjusted via the control device. The control device can also be connected to a fill level detection device which is designed to detect the occupancy of the transport device. In this context, occupancy means that the number of containers within at least one section of the transport route is detected. For this purpose, the fill level detection device can have one or more sensors which are designed, for example, as a light barrier or a camera.Accordingly, the control device can be configured to control, in particular to vary, the conveying speed of the transfer device, in particular the speed of the vacuum belt, taking into account the detected occupancy level.

[0024] The invention further relates to a blow-molding machine arrangement comprising a blow-molding machine and a transport arrangement according to the invention for transferring the containers into the blow-molding machine, in which the transfer device is connected to the blow-molding machine either directly or via a transport device.

[0025] The blow molding machine is preferably designed as a stretch blow molding machine. In this case, the forming process is carried out either with a gaseous blowing fluid (e.g., compressed air) or with a liquid blowing fluid, which in this case is primarily a liquid filling material, particularly a beverage. This type of process is also referred to as a form-fill process. At the same time, the container can be stretched along its axis using a stretching rod.

[0026] The plastic forming preferably takes place in a blow molding wheel, which has a plurality of blow molds arranged in the circumferential direction, into which the containers are placed, and wherein the blow molds have an inner contour that corresponds to the shape of the container to be manufactured. At the same time, each blow mold is assigned a blow module, via which the blowing fluid can be introduced into the container interior. During blow molding, the blow molding wheel rotates so that the containers can be transported further during plastic forming. Preferably, an inlet arrangement and an outlet arrangement are assigned to the blow molding wheel, wherein the containers can be introduced into the blow molding wheel via the inlet arrangement and removed again via the outlet arrangement.

[0027] Furthermore, the blow molding machine can also have a heating device, via which the containers are warmed up before being introduced into the blow molding wheel. The heating device is preferably arranged between the blow molding wheel and can be connected to the transfer device either directly or via the transport device. The invention further relates to a method for transporting containers, in particular preforms, in a transport device according to the invention, wherein the containers are fed in and, during transport along the conveyor lane, are separated and aligned by counter-rotating conveyor rollers. Accordingly, an ascending conveyor, via which the containers are fed to the transport device, can be arranged upstream of the transport arrangement.

[0028] The conveyor rollers rotate in opposite directions, with the direction of rotation at the conveyor aisle being vertically upwards. This means that the containers are continuously thrown upwards and are lined up one behind the other within the conveyor aisle. Accordingly, the containers are arranged in a row one behind the other in the conveyor aisle, at least at the end of the conveyor aisle. The vacuum belt of the vacuum belt device is then placed onto the container mouth and the containers are held to the vacuum belt by applying a negative pressure to the container interior. Accordingly, the vacuum belt rests in the area of ​​an opening at the container mouth so that a negative pressure can be generated in the container interior via the opening and at the same time the container mouth is pressed sealingly against the vacuum belt.

[0029] The vacuum belt then transports the containers in the transport direction along the transport sections, tilting the container axes in the process. In this context, the container axis refers to the axis along which the preforms are arranged. This is usually a rotationally symmetrical axis of the container or at least the container mouth. By tilting this container axis, the container is aligned accordingly during transport, with the aim of compensating for a transport angle between the system components adjacent to the transfer device. The tilt angle is typically between 5 and 25°.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the container interior is subjected to a negative pressure of between 0.05 and 0.2 bar relative to atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, this is a differential pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, with the pressure inside the container being lower than atmospheric pressure. This ensures that a sufficient force is generated to press the containers against the vacuum belt.

[0031] Furthermore, a further development of the method provides that the containers are subsequently transferred to a blow-molding machine, either directly or via a transport device, in particular an air transport device, and the containers are then plastically deformed by applying excess pressure to the container interior. The transport device can be designed as previously described. In an air transport device, the containers are guided via their neck ring, in particular resting on linear struts, which are simultaneously subjected to an air stream for movement along the transport direction. The blow-molding machine can also be of the type previously described and, in particular, enable plastic deformation using the stretch blow-molding process.

[0032] A further development of the method provides that a conveying speed of the transfer device, in particular the speed of the vacuum belt, is varied during operation. In particular, the occupancy of the transport device can be detected, and the conveying speed of the transfer device, in particular the speed of the vacuum belt, can be controlled, in particular varied, taking into account the detected occupancy level.

[0033] The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments. The figures show:

[0034] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a blow molding machine arrangement according to the invention

[0035] Fig. 2 an isometric representation of a transport arrangement known from practice

[0036] Fig. 3 a detailed view of a transport device with a transfer device known from the prior art

[0037] Fig. 4 the transport device according to Fig. 3 with transfer device according to the invention

[0038] Fig. 5 an alternative representation of the transport arrangement according to Fig. 4

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a blow molding machine arrangement which can also be used within the scope of the present invention. The blow molding machine arrangement has a blowing wheel 1 with a plurality of blow mold halves 2 arranged in the circumferential direction, via which containers 3 in the form of preforms are formed into beverage containers. This takes place by introducing a blowing fluid, which in this case is compressed air or the filling material already to be filled. In order to be able to introduce the preforms 3 into the blow molds 2, they are first fed via a transport device 4 to a feed wheel 5, which introduces the preforms 3 into a heating device 6. Within this heating device 6, the preforms 3 are heated via associated heating elements 7 and at the same time fed via receptacles 8 to a dividing warping star wheel 9, which introduces the preforms 3 into the blow molds 2.

[0040] The preforms 3 are usually provided in a prefabricated form to the blow molding machine assembly, wherein they are initially arranged in a random manner within a collecting container 10, which is shown in Fig. 2. Accordingly, the containers 3 must first be arranged in a row one behind the other or separated and, at the same time, aligned with their container mouth 4 facing upwards.

[0041] This takes place within a transport arrangement shown in Fig. 2. Here, the containers 3 are removed from the collecting container 10 via an ascending conveyor 11 and then fed to a separating device 12. This separating device 12 has, in accordance with Fig. 3, two conveyor rollers 13 which are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction and are arranged to rotate in opposite directions to one another and, due to the spacing, together form a conveyor aisle 14. The conveyor rollers 13 have a rotational speed oriented in the vertical direction V in the region of the conveyor aisle 14. As a result, the containers 3 are continuously thrown upwards during conveyance along the conveyor aisle 14 and align themselves with their container mouth 4 facing upwards and at the same time are arranged one behind the other within the conveyor aisle 14.The preforms 3 then rest on the conveyor rollers 13 with a neck ring 15, with the container body 16 extending through the conveyor lane 14 formed by the conveyor rollers 13. In practice, so-called air transport devices are used as the transport device 4 that conveys the containers 3 into the blow molding machine. In contrast to a feed chute, these devices do not overcome any height difference and are thus arranged essentially parallel to the floor. In contrast, the separating device 12 is inclined, so that the preforms are guided along different transport directions within the separating device 12 and the transport device 4, or the container axis 18 must be tilted to make a corresponding angle adjustment.

[0042] In order to enable the container axes 8 to be tilted accordingly, a transfer device 19 is typically provided, which in practice consists of a simple linear guide 20 in which the containers 3 rest on the linear struts with the neck ring 15. The linear guide 20 is curved to enable a corresponding adjustment of a transport angle T, with the transport angle T typically being between 5 and 25° and corresponding to the inclination of the separating device 12.

[0043] However, this curved design has the consequence that the containers 3, as shown in Fig. 3, can partially slide over each other, causing the containers 3 to swing and jam, which inevitably leads to a standstill in production.

[0044] According to the invention, the transfer device 19 is designed as a vacuum belt device with a circumferentially rotatable vacuum belt 21 for tilting the container axis 18. This vacuum belt 21 has two transport sections 22a, 22b arranged one behind the other, wherein the transport sections 22a, 22b are arranged in a lower region between two deflection rollers 23, and wherein the transport sections 22a, 22b each have planes extending in the transport direction R1, R2 and in the transverse direction, which are arranged at a transfer angle. In particular, the transfer angle corresponds to the transport angle T, which is between 5 and 25°.

[0045] The advantage of such a configuration lies in particular in the fact that the containers 3 rest against the vacuum belt 21 via the container mouth 4, thus fixing their position. Accordingly, the container axes 18 can be easily tilted without the containers 3 swinging or otherwise sliding over one another.

[0046] In particular, in accordance with Fig. 5, it becomes clear that the function of the vacuum belt device is enabled by a plurality of successively arranged openings 24, which are introduced in a row into the vacuum belt 21 and through which a negative pressure from a vacuum channel (not shown in detail) can be transmitted into the container interior. As a result, the containers 3 are pressed against the vacuum belt 21 and can thus be transported along the transport direction R1, R2. Furthermore, the vacuum belt 21 has a curved, in particular concave, profile in a lower region.

[0047] 4 and 5, it is further clear that the vacuum belt 21 is arranged in particular in an inlet above the transport lane 14. Accordingly, the vacuum belt 21 rests on the container mouth 4, whereby the vacuum belt device can remove the containers 3 from the separating device 12. At the outlet, the vacuum belt 21 then connects to the transport device 4. In this case, the vacuum belt device is designed such that in the outlet, the vacuum belt 21

[0048] or the openings 24 are not in operative connection with the vacuum channel, so that the containers 3 fall from the vacuum belt accordingly.

[0049] List of reference symbols

[0050] 1 blowing wheel

[0051] 2 blow mold halves

[0052] 3 containers

[0053] 3 preforms

[0054] 4 Transport facility

[0055] 5 Feed wheel

[0056] 6 Heating device

[0057] 7 heating elements

[0058] 8 recordings

[0059] 9 Pitch delay star

[0060] 10 collection containers

[0061] 11 Inclined conveyors

[0062] 12 Separation device

[0063] 13 conveyor rollers

[0064] 14 Fördergasse

[0065] 15 Neckring

[0066] 16 container bodies

[0067] 17 Container mouth

[0068] 18 Container axis

[0069] 19 Transfer device

[0070] 20 linear guide

[0071] 21 Vacuum belt

[0072] 22a, 22b Transport sections

[0073] 23 pulleys

[0074] 24 breakthroughs

[0075] V vertical direction

[0076] T Transport angle

[0077] R1 , R2 transport directions

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Transport arrangement for transporting containers (3) with a separating device (12) and an adjoining transfer device (19), wherein the separating device (12) has a conveying lane (14) formed from two conveying rollers (13) which are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction and are arranged to rotate in opposite directions, and wherein the transfer device (19) has different conveying directions (R1, R2) on at least two conveying sections (22a, 22b) arranged one behind the other, characterized in that the transfer device (19) has a vacuum belt device with a vacuum belt (21) for conveying the containers (3) along the conveying sections (22a, 22b).

2. Transport arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport sections (22a, 22b) are formed on the vacuum belt (21), wherein in each case a plane extending in the transport sections (22a, 22b) in the transverse direction and in the transport direction (R1, R2) are arranged at a transfer angle to one another.

3. Transport arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the transfer angle is between 5 and 25°.

4. Transport arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum belt (21) is designed to be circumferential and is guided over at least two deflection rollers (23) spaced apart from one another.

5. Transport arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum belt (21) has a curved, in particular concave, shape at least at the transport sections (22a, 22b).

6. Transport arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum belt (21) has a plurality of successively arranged openings (24) which are in operative connection with a vacuum channel.

7. Transport arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum belt device is arranged at least in sections above the conveyor lane (14).

8. Transport arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stripping element is arranged at an outlet of the transfer device (10) and / or the vacuum belt (21) is not in operative connection with the vacuum channel (21).

9. Transport arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transport device (4) for transporting the containers (3) is connected to the transfer device (19), wherein the transfer device (19) is designed to transfer the containers (3) from the separating device (12) to the transport device (4).

10. Transport arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the transport device (4) is formed at least in sections as an air transport device.

11. Transport arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the transport device (4) has a transport guide for guiding the containers (3), which is arranged at least in one outlet of the vacuum device below the vacuum belt (21).

12. Transport arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the transport guide is arranged at a transport angle (T) to the conveyor lane (14), wherein the transport angle (T) is in particular between 5 and 25°.

13. Blow-molding machine arrangement with a blow-molding machine and a transport arrangement for transferring the containers (3) into the blow-molding machine, wherein the transport arrangement is designed according to one of the preceding claims and wherein the transfer device (19) is connected to the blow-molding machine directly or via a transport device (4).

14. Method for transporting containers (3), in particular preforms (3), in a transport arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers (3) are fed and separated and aligned during transport along the conveyor lane (14) by counter-rotating the conveyor rollers (13), wherein the container mouth (17) is then brought into operative connection with a vacuum belt (21) and in the course of which the containers (3) are held on the vacuum belt (21) by applying a negative pressure to the container interior, wherein the vacuum belt (21) transports the containers (3) along the transport sections (22a, 22b) and in the course of which the container axes (18) tilt.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the container interior is subjected to a negative pressure of between 0.05 and 0.2 bar compared to atmospheric pressure.

16. Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the containers (3) are then transferred directly or via a transport device (4), in particular an air transport device, to a blow-molding machine and the containers (3) are then plastically deformed by applying an overpressure to the container interior.

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