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

A method for pre-treating preforms of thermoplastic synthetic material, before the preforms are formed into containers by a blow molding process and filled with liquid, the method comprising:

• tempering and sterilizing the preforms for the blow molding process, the preforms being treated in a continuous process, a sterilizing unit performing the sterilizing being at least partially integrated into a tempering unit performing the tempering, the sterilizing unit and the tempering unit integrated in single treatment stations, the sterilizing unit and tempering unit mounted together on a moving carrier capable of attaching further components, wherein the tempering and the sterilizing of the respective preform occur at a same time, wherein the sterilizing unit together with the tempering unit and the preforms run around a common axis, and wherein the preforms are handled by a handling device with retainers for holding the preforms in a neck region, the retainers having nozzles for introducing a sterilizing medium into the preforms.

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, a preform retaining unit retaining the preforms during the tempering, sterilizing medium being introduced into the preform via a hole in the preform retaining unit, wherein the retaining unit is a retaining thorn and wherein an integrated section of a sterilization unit moves together with a handling unit, wherein the tempering and the sterilizing of the respective preform occur at a same time, wherein the sterilizing unit together with the preform and the retaining thorn run around a common axis A.

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 performed by microwave radiation and the sterilization of the preforms by introduction of a liquid and/or gaseous sterilization medium into the preforms, the sterilization of the preforms occurring before and/or during the tempering by microwave radiation, the sterilization medium being vaporized by the microwave radiation.

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, a handling unit handling the preforms during the tempering by a tempering unit, a sterilization unit performing the sterilization being integrated at least partially in the handling unit, the preforms being transported by the handling unit, the handling unit including retaining thorns, each retaining thorn for holding a respective preform in a preform neck region, and each retaining thorn having at least one pipe for introduction of sterilizing medium into the respective preform, and aspiring the sterilizing medium from the respective preform.

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, a handling unit handling the preforms during the tempering by a tempering unit, a sterilization unit performing the sterilization being integrated at least partially in the handling unit, the preforms being transported by the handling unit, the handling unit including retaining thorns, each retaining thorn fitting into and holding a respective preform in a preform neck region, and each retaining thorn having at least one pipe for introduction of sterilizing medium into the respective preform, the at least one pipe also aspiring the sterilizing medium from the respective preform.