Electrically driven blow molding machine

A device for molding plastic preforms into plastic containers, comprising:

• at least one blow mold;
• a plurality of closure members interacting with each other to transfer the blow mold between an open state and a closed state, wherein the blow mold includes a cavity within which the plastic preforms may be molded into the plastic containers, wherein the closure members comprise:
• at least one first mold part;
• at least one second mold part, wherein the at least one first mold part and the at least one second mold part are moveable with respect to one another between the closed state and the open state;
• and
• a blow nozzle unit which is moveable with respect to the first and second mold parts and which is positioned over the cavity in the closed state of the blow mold;
• at least one first drive unit that moves the first and second mold parts with respect to one another;
• a second drive unit that moves the blow nozzle unit with respect to the at least one first and second mold parts, wherein at least one of the first and second drive units moves at least one of the closure members to transfer the blow mold between the closed state and the open state;
• at least one treatment unit that treats the preforms during the molding operation, wherein at least one third drive unit for moving at least one of the closure members for transferring the blow mould between the closed state and the open state or at least one drive unit for operating the treatment unit is an electric drive unit;
• and
• a locking unit which locks the first and second mold parts to one another in the closed state of the blow mold, wherein the device further comprises at least one fourth drive unit for moving the locking unit, and wherein the device has a control unit for controlling the first through fourth drive units and which controls the locking unit independent of the movement of a further closure member.

A method for molding plastic preforms to plastic containers, comprising:

• positioning the plastic preforms in a blow mold;
• providing a plurality of closure members that interact with each other in order to transfer the blow mold from an open state to a closed state, wherein the blow mold forms a cavity, inside of which the plastic preforms are expanded into plastic containers, wherein the closure members comprise at least one first mold part, at least one second mold part, and a blow nozzle unit;
• moving the at least one first mold part and the at least one second mold part with respect to each other between the closed position and the open position;
• moving the blow nozzle unit with respect to the first and second mold parts in order to close the cavity in one direction;
• providing at least one first drive unit that moves the mold parts with respect to one another;
• providing a second drive unit that moves the blow nozzle unit with respect to the mold parts;
• operating, by at least one closure member of the plurality of closure members or at least one third drive unit, a treatment unit for treating the preforms during a molding operation, the at least one closure member moved by an electric drive unit comprising an electric motor;
• and
• applying, by an electrically operated pressure mechanism comprising a lever element, a mechanical load to the blow mold.

A device for molding plastic preforms into plastic containers, comprising:

• at least one blow mold;
• a plurality of closure members interacting with each other to transfer the blow mold between an open state and a closed state, wherein the blow mold includes a cavity within which the plastic preforms may be molded into the plastic containers, wherein the closure members comprise:
• at least one first mold part;
• at least one second mold part, wherein the at least one first mold part and the at least one second mold part are moveable with respect to one another between the closed state and the open state;
• and
• a blow nozzle unit which is moveable with respect to the first and second mold parts and which is positioned over the cavity in the closed state of the blow mold;
• at least one first drive unit that moves the first and second mold parts with respect to one another;
• a second drive unit that moves the blow nozzle unit with respect to the at least one first and second mold parts, wherein at least one of the first and second drive units moves at least one of the closure members to transfer the blow mold between the closed state and the open state;
• at least one treatment unit that treats the preforms during the molding operation, wherein at least one third drive unit for moving at least one of the closure members for transferring the blow mould between the closed state and the open state or at least one fourth drive unit for operating the treatment unit is an electric drive unit;
• and
• at least one valve unit that supplies a gaseous medium to the containers, wherein:
• the device has a control unit for controlling at least one of the at least one valve unit and the at least one of the first through fourth drive units;
• the device has at least one stretching rod for stretching the plastic preforms, the stretching rod being driven by an electric motor;
• the device has at least one sensor device which detects a condition which is characteristic for at least one of a molding condition and a condition which is characteristic for a occupation state with a preform;
• and
• the control unit controls at least one drive unit of the first through fourth drive units in response to the condition.