Method for pre-treating preforms and blow molding apparatus for pre-treating and blow molding preforms into containers

{
  "publication_number": "US2011272861A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Method for pre-treating preforms and blow molding apparatus for pre-treating and blow molding preforms into containers",
  "abstract": "A method for pre-treating preforms (12) made of thermoplastic plastic, before they are shaped into containers (13) by means of a stretch blow molding process and filled with liquid. The preforms (12) are tempered and sterilized for the subsequent stretch blow molding process. Tempering of the preforms (12) is carried out by means of microwave radiation and by sterilization of the preforms (12) during the pre-treatment.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for pre-treating preforms of thermoplastic synthetic material, before the preforms are formed into containers by a blow molding process, comprising: tempering and sterilizing the preforms for the blow molding process, the tempering of the preforms being carried out by radiation and by the sterilizing of the preforms. 2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the preforms are sterilized by introduction of liquid and/or gaseous sterilizing medium into the preforms. 3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the sterilization of the preforms is performed before and/or during and/or immediately following the radiation with microwaves. 4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein liquid and/or gaseous hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid is used as a sterilizing medium. 5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a mixture of hot air and hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid is used as a sterilizing medium. 6. The method as recited in claim wherein a sterilizing medium is introduced into the preform with at least one nozzle. 7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a sterilizing medium is vaporized by the microwave radiation and develops a sterilizing effect on a surface of the preforms. 8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising rinsing the performs with a washing medium to remove remaining sterilizing medium after the sterilizing. 9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the tempering and sterilizing of the preforms is done in a continuous process. 10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the continuous process is on a rotary machine. 11. A blow molding apparatus for the pre-treatment and blow molding of preforms made of thermoplastic plastic into containers, comprising: handlers for handling and continually treating and transporting performs; a temperer for heating the performs and comprising a microwave radiator; and a sterilizer, the sterilizer at least partially integrated in the handler. 12. The blow molding apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the handler comprises retaining thorns for holding the preforms in their neck region, the retaining thorns comprising nozzles for introduction of a sterilizing medium. 13. The blow molding apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the nozzles of the retaining thorns can each be provided with the sterilizing medium by inlet and/or outlet pipes and wherein the sterilizing medium can be aspirated. 14. The blow molding apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the blow molding apparatus is designed as rotary apparatus and/or as a stretch blow molding apparatus, wherein the preforms are continuously transformed into sterilized containers."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This is a continuation of prior International Application PCT/EP2009/062532, filed Sep. 28, 2009, which claims priority to German Patent Application DE 10 2008 056 346.3, filed Nov. 7, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.\n\nThe present invention relates to a method for pre-treating preforms. The invention furthermore relates to a blow molding apparatus for pre-treating and blow molding preforms into containers.\n\nWhen producing beverage containers in a blow molding process, the so called preforms are first heated to an adequate temperature. The preforms are then fixed in blow molds and transformed into the desired container shape by controlled injection of air. Only when they have the desired container shape, they have the necessary volume to be filled with liquid. The containers usually have to be sterilized before filling to guarantee a long shelf life of the bottled liquid. With sufficient sterilization the addition of preservatives in beverages can be reduced.\n\nMethods have been developed whereby the preforms are sterilized after tempering and before blow molding. These methods have been developed due to increasingly higher demands on the cleanness of the containers and due to the desired minimization of preservatives in beverages. Thereby a largely sterile process up to filling can be achieved and maintained.\n\nEP 1 056 481 B1 describes a method for sterilizing hollow bodies, whereby a vaporized sterilizing medium is applied on the surfaces to be sterilized. The evaporation of the sterilizing agent is done outside the hollow body close to its opening.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61L 2/12",
    "A61L 2/22",
    "A61L 2103/23",
    "B29C 2035/0855",
    "B29C 2949/0715",
    "B29C 49/06",
    "B29C 49/12",
    "B29C 49/36",
    "B29C 49/42408",
    "B29C 49/42418",
    "B29C 49/64"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B28B 17/02",
    "B29C 49/64",
    "A61L 2/12",
    "A61L 2/22",
    "B29C 49/42",
    "H05B 6/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Krones AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Heinz Humele"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-05-06",
  "publication_date": "2011-11-10",
  "priority_date": "2008-11-07",
  "application_number": "US-201113102266-A",
  "family_id": "41435295",
  "cited_by_count": 26,
  "citations": [
    "US6692684B1",
    "WO2008055685A1",
    "US20080152538A1"
  ]
}