Method and device for plasma treatment of containers

Abstract

A method and a device for plasma treatment of containers by means of a plurality of treatment segments each having at least one plasma station on a plasma module comprising a plasma wheel, wherein, during an operational malfunction and/or a cut-out in at least one of the plasma stations, the process gas, before being supplied to the plasma station in question, is carried off into the respective plasma chamber and/or the container held therein, by means of at least one bypass line.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A device for the plasma treatment of containers, comprising a plurality of plasma stations arranged on a plasma wheel, with each plasma station comprising at least one plasma chamber having at least one treatment place and in which at least one container can be inserted and positioned with a container interior on the treatment place, the respective plasma chamber being configured so that it can be at least partially evacuated, with the plasma stations being set up to at least partially apply a process gas to the at least one container interior of the respective container such that the at least partial application is effected at at least two treatment places simultaneously, with the plasma stations also being set up to configure at least the container interior inside the at least partially evacuated plasma chamber an internal coating by means of plasma treatment, and with the plasma stations comprising at least one venting line for the at least partial venting of both the plasma chamber and of the at least one container interior at the treatment place after the plasma treatment, wherein the plasma stations each comprise at least one bypass line so that in the event of an operational malfunction and/or cut-out of at least one of the treatment places of the plasma stations the process gas can be carried off by means of one or a plurality of bypass lines before it is supplied to the plasma chamber and/or to the treatment place. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein a first end of the bypass line opens out in a fluid-tight manner into a central process gas line and a second end opens out in a fluid-tight manner into a central vacuum device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the bypass line comprises at least one variable and/or controllable valve mechanism as well as a throttle device. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the bypass line configures a vacuum guide value which is approximately the same as the vacuum guide value of a process gas line.