Device and method for producing plastic particles having controlling production units dependent of

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for producing plastic parisons, having a control of a production unit as a function of inspection results. The invention relates to a device for producing plastic parisons, comprising a production device which is suitable and intended to produce plastic parisons, said production device comprising a plurality of production units for producing the plastic parisons; the invention relates to a device for producing plastic preforms, comprising a production device for producing plastic preforms, and a transport device which is suitable and intended to transport the plastic preforms produced by the production device, the device having a control device for controlling the production device, characterized in that the device has a first inspection device, the first inspection device is suitable and intended to inspect at least one region of the plastic parisons produced by the production device, the inspection device is suitable and intended to output at least one value characterizing a physical property of the plastic parisons, and the device has a distribution device, the distribution device is adapted to distribute, for each inspected plastic parison, a manufacturing unit from which the plastic parison is manufactured, and wherein the control device is adapted and intended to control the manufacturing device, in particular a control unit, as a function of the value.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for manufacturing plastic containers, in particular plastic bottles. Background Art

[0002] Many such devices and methods are known from the prior art.

[0003] Typically, a so-called plastic preform is heated herein and is formed, in particular expanded, into a plastic container by a forming device such as a blow molding machine, in particular a stretch blow molding machine. In recent years, such devices and methods have also become known in which the plastic preform itself is also manufactured, for example by means of an injection molding machine, and then formed.

[0004] The advantage of this is that less heating is required when the plastic preform is subsequently expanded, since they have already been heated during the manufacturing process. However, such devices and methods require more precise monitoring of the plastic preform in order to reduce errors or scrap during the manufacture of plastic containers.

[0005] A method and a device for removing a recycled sample from the manufacturing process of a consistent molded part are known from DE 10 2009 011 269 B3.

[0006] DE 600 28 756T2 describes a method and a device for transporting ejected injection molded parts.

[0007] DE 10 2018 102 299 A1 describes a method and a component for controlling at least one process parameter of an injection molding machine. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to improve the automation and / or error handling of such equipment. According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and improvements are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the present invention, a device for manufacturing a plastic preform has a manufacturing device that is suitable and intended for manufacturing a plastic preform, wherein the manufacturing device has a plurality of manufacturing units for manufacturing the plastic preform, and a transport mechanism is also provided, the transport mechanism being suitable and intended for transporting the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device, wherein the device (1) has a control device for controlling the manufacturing device and / or the manufacturing units.

[0010] According to the present invention, the device has a first inspection device which is adapted and intended to inspect at least one region of a plastic preform produced by a manufacturing device, wherein the inspection device is adapted and intended to output at least one value characterizing a physical property of the plastic preform, wherein the device has an assignment device which is adapted to assign to each inspected plastic preform the manufacturing unit which produced the plastic preform, and wherein the control device is adapted and intended to control the manufacturing device, in particular the manufacturing unit, based on this value.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the inspection device is adapted and intended to output several values characterizing the inspected plastic preform, in particular values characterizing the quality of the bottle neck. Preferably, values regarding the complete forming are output, in particular but not limited to ShortShot, ovality, defect-free bottle neck sealing surface, defect-free support ring.

[0012] Preferably, the device has a removal device which removes the plastic preform from the manufacturing device. Here, the removal device can form part of the above-mentioned transport device.

[0013] Preferably, the removal device has a carrier which is adapted and intended to accommodate a plurality of plastic preforms, wherein the accommodated plastic preforms preferably have a predefined and constant position relative to one another.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, each manufacturing unit has a cavity for forming the plastic preform and / or a forming tool for forming the plastic preform.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, at least one parameter of the manufacturing device and / or the manufacturing unit is controllable, wherein the parameter is selected from a group of parameters which includes needle valve closing time, injection delay / timing, injection curve, pressure curve, holding pressure (in particular pressure curve and time), cooling time, screw speed, melt back pressure, position and pressure of the clamping unit (such as injection die), and temperature of the cavity and / or nozzle (individually treated for each nozzle where appropriate), hot runner for each region, heating region for plasticizing.

[0016] Preferably, the at least one parameter is controllable taking into account the value detected by the inspection device.

[0017] In another advantageous embodiment, the control device for controlling the manufacturing device is an adjustment device which is adapted and intended to adjust the manufacturing device, in particular the manufacturing unit, based on the at least one value.

[0018] Therefore, preferably there is (in particular a closed) control loop which enables the adjustment of the manufacturing unit, in particular the above-mentioned parameters, based on the inspection results of the above-mentioned first inspection device (and preferably also based on the inspection results of the second inspection device which will be described in more detail below).

[0019] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a cooling device for cooling the plastic parisons manufactured by the manufacturing unit.

[0020] Preferably, the (first) inspection device is arranged between the manufacturing device and the cooling device. However, it may also be possible that the first inspection device is arranged after the cooling device.

[0021] In another particularly advantageous embodiment, the first inspection device has an image capturing device which is suitable and intended to capture at least one spatially resolved image of a plurality of plastic parisons. Particularly preferably, the first inspection device is a thermal imaging camera, and / or the first inspection device is suitable and intended to detect a spatially resolved thermal image of the plastic parison or at least one region of the plastic parison.

[0022] Preferably, the wavelength range that can be detected by the thermal imaging camera is between 300 nm and 15,000 nm, preferably between 5000 nm and 12000 nm, and particularly preferably between 8000 nm and 12000 nm.

[0023] Preferably, the device has an evaluation device which is suitable and intended to evaluate the images captured by the inspection device. Here, the evaluation device is preferably suitable and intended to evaluate the images captured by the image capturing device in terms of each individual plastic parison detected in the image.

[0024] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a second inspection device which is suitable and intended to inspect the plastic parisons, and the inspection device is preferably arranged between the above-mentioned cooling device and at least one subsequent device such as a forming device (130).

[0025] Preferably, at least one inspection device, preferably two inspection devices, are suitable and intended to detect and / or output at least one, preferably a plurality of, values characterizing the physical properties of the plastic parisons.

[0026] Preferably, the above-mentioned distribution device is suitable and intended to assign the manufacturing unit that manufactured each plastic parison inspected by the second inspection device.

[0027] Preferably, the control device is suitable and intended to control the manufacturing device, in particular the manufacturing unit, based on this value (the value detected by the second inspection device).

[0028] Preferably, the inspection device refers to such an inspection device that is suitable and intended to inspect the plastic preform after its manufacture, and in particular directly after the manufacture of the plastic preform but still before cooling the plastic preform (however, if appropriate, also after cooling). For this purpose, a carrier can be provided that carries a plurality of plastic preforms (directly) after manufacture, so that the image capturing device can capture an image of the plastic preform (in particular at least one area of these plastic preforms) held or carried by the carrier.

[0029] Preferably, the first inspection device is integrated into the manufacturing device.

[0030] In another preferred embodiment, the inspection device is implemented such that it has the function of directly inspecting the mouth of the plastic preform at the extraction device or enables such an inspection function, and the extraction device extracts the manufactured plastic preform from the manufacturing device.

[0031] In another preferred embodiment, the device has a storage device in which a plurality of data characterizing the plastic preform are stored. That is, in this storage device, for example, a reference image of the plastic preform, such as a reference image of a qualified plastic preform, can be stored. The storage device can be an internal storage device or can also be, for example, the cloud.

[0032] Preferably, a comparison device is provided that compares these data with the data detected by at least one inspection device. In this way, it can be inferred, for example, within the framework of image evaluation whether the corresponding plastic preform is qualified. Here, artificial intelligence (AI) can preferably be used for this evaluation or also for this comparison.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the transport device has an extraction device that is suitable and intended to extract a group of manufactured plastic preforms from the manufacturing device.

[0034] In another preferred embodiment, the transport device has a mobile carrier that is configured to hold a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0035] Preferably, the first area of the plastic preform is the mouth area of the plastic preform. Preferably, the mouth area has a thread, in particular an external thread.

[0036] Preferably, the device has a forming device for forming the plastic preform into a plastic container, in particular a plastic bottle. The forming device can preferably be a component for manufacturing a plastic container described in more detail below.

[0037] In another preferred embodiment, the forming device has a movable, in particular rotatable, carrier, where the forming stations are preferably arranged at this carrier. Particularly preferably, each forming station has a blow mold, and preferably each of these forming stations has a rod-shaped body, in particular a so-called stretching rod, which can be inserted into the plastic preform to stretch these plastic preforms.

[0038] In another preferred embodiment, each forming station has an application device for applying a gaseous medium to the plastic preform, and preferably also has a valve assembly, such as a valve block. This valve assembly preferably has a plurality of valves, which control the pressure application to the plastic preform. The application device preferably has a so-called blow nozzle, which can be applied to the mouth of the plastic preform.

[0039] Particularly preferably, the manufacturing device is an injection molding machine. Particularly preferably, this injection molding machine has at least 10, preferably at least 20, and particularly preferably at least 30 manufacturing units.

[0040] Particularly preferably, the manufacturing device, in particular the injection molding machine, has at most 200, preferably at most 180, preferably at most 160 manufacturing units.

[0041] It is feasible here that these manufacturing units are arranged at a common carrier. Preferably, each of these manufacturing units is suitable and intended to manufacture exactly one plastic preform. Preferably, these manufacturing units are each forming tools.

[0042] In another preferred embodiment, the manufacturing units each have a marking device, which is suitable and intended to apply a mark to the plastic preform to be manufactured, where these marks preferably at least characterize the corresponding manufacturing unit.

[0043] Preferably, it is feasible to assign the cavity of the tool or the manufacturing unit to the plastic preform by the exact position of the plastic preform in the extraction device or the take-off device / picker.

[0044] Preferably, it is feasible to transfer the evaluation and / or handover of the identified cavity or manufacturing unit or forming tool to the control device of the manufacturing device for trend identification / evaluation, and preferably also to visualize it.

[0045] Here, the image capture device of the first inspection device can be pivoted (rotated in) to capture an image. It may also be feasible to transport the plastic preform beside and / or above the first inspection device and / or the second inspection device, which will be described in detail below.

[0046] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a dispensing device which is adapted and intended to allocate a forming station for forming each inspected plastic parison into a plastic container.

[0047] Particularly preferably, the device also has a control device for controlling the forming devices, wherein the control device is adapted and intended to control each forming station individually and / or independently of other forming stations. Particularly preferably, the control device is adapted and intended to also control the forming stations as a function of values obtained by inspecting the plastic parisons by means of the first inspection device and / or values characterizing the inspection results of the inspection of the plastic parisons by means of the first inspection device.

[0048] Preferably, the first inspection device is adapted and intended to inspect several plastic parisons and / or output at least one value characterizing each individual one of the inspected plastic parisons.

[0049] That is, the inspection device can, for example, take images of a plurality of plastic parisons and output at least one value characterizing the relevant plastic parison and / or a value characterizing the inspection of the relevant plastic parison for each individual one of the plastic parisons from the image.

[0050] In another preferred embodiment, the inspection device has an evaluation device which is adapted and intended to evaluate the images taken by the inspection device. Particularly preferably, the evaluation device is adapted and intended to individualize the individual plastic parisons from an image showing a plurality of plastic parisons taken by the image-taking device and preferably also to determine values characterizing the plastic parisons.

[0051] In another familiar embodiment, the transport device is adapted and intended to transport the plastic parisons out of the manufacturing device individually, in particular to the forming device. Here, "individually" means transporting the plastic parisons in an individualized manner, so that each individual plastic parison is also capable of being individualized. That is, the transport device can, for example, have at least one or preferably several transport wheels and / or transport chains. Preferably, the transport device is constructed to keep the transported plastic parisons in a predetermined order.

[0052] Even if the plastic parisons are transported at a common carrier, however with a defined position between the individual plastic parisons, this is still considered individual transport, such a position being achieved, for example, by the construction of the carrier, such as the carrier having a plurality of receiving devices for respectively holding the individual plastic parisons. Preferably, the transport device has at least one transport unit which transports the plastic parisons in a single row. Preferably, the transport device has at least one transport unit which transports the plastic parisons in an array, in particular the above-mentioned transport carrier which accommodates a plurality of plastic parisons.

[0053] An example of non-separate transportation is when multiple plastic preforms are placed in a common receiving container, where the plastic preforms are in random positions relative to each other.

[0054] With such separate transportation, it is also possible to assign a forming station or a manufacturing unit to an individual inspected plastic preform.

[0055] In another embodiment, the transport device has a carrier that is suitable for accommodating multiple plastic preforms.

[0056] Preferably, the transport device has a carrier that is suitable for accommodating multiple plastic preforms that each have the same orientation. Particularly preferably, the plastic preforms are transported by the carrier in an orientation parallel to each other.

[0057] Particularly preferably, the carrier is capable of being transported within the frame of the transport device in two directions independent of each other, in particular in two mutually perpendicular directions.

[0058] Preferably, the transport device has a pick-up device that is suitable and intended to receive plastic preforms, preferably from a cooling device. Preferably, the pick-up device is suitable and intended to receive individual plastic preforms and convey them further along a subsequent transport path. Further preferably, the pick-up device is also suitable and intended to receive individual plastic preforms and / or discharge them from the transport path.

[0059] Preferably, the second inspection device is suitable and intended to inspect the cooled plastic preforms and / or inspect them during and / or after the cooling of the plastic preforms.

[0060] In another preferred embodiment, the device has at least one lighting device that is suitable and intended to illuminate the plastic preforms inspected by the first inspection device and / or by the second inspection device. It is also possible here to position the plastic preforms next to and / or below and / or above the lighting device in order to inspect the plastic preforms.

[0061] Preferably, the second inspection device is suitable and intended to inspect the body of the plastic preform.

[0062] In another preferred embodiment, the device has a further distribution device that is suitable for assigning a forming station for forming each of the plastic preforms inspected by the second inspection device into a plastic container to each of the plastic preforms.

[0063] Preferably, the above control device for controlling the manufacturing device is suitable and intended to control the manufacturing unit using at least one value characterizing the inspection result of inspecting the plastic preforms with the second inspection device.

[0064] Particularly preferably, the control device for controlling the forming device is adapted and intended to also control the forming station based on values obtained by inspecting the preform with the second inspection device and / or values characterizing the inspection result of inspecting the preform with the second inspection device.

[0065] Preferably, the second inspection device is adapted and intended to inspect several preforms and / or output at least one value characterizing each individual preform among the inspected preforms.

[0066] That is, the second inspection device can, for example, take images of a plurality of preforms, and can output at least one value characterizing the relevant preform and / or a value characterizing the inspection of the relevant preform for each individual preform among these preforms from the image.

[0067] In another preferred embodiment, the second inspection device has an evaluation device which is adapted and intended to evaluate the images taken by the inspection device. Particularly preferably, the evaluation device is adapted and intended to individualize the individual preforms from an image showing a plurality of preforms taken by the image-taking device.

[0068] In this design, it is provided that there are at least two inspection devices for inspecting the preforms. In this way, the relationship between the states before and after cooling the preform can also be established.

[0069] It is also feasible here that the two inspection devices inspect different regions of the preform. Preferably, the first inspection device inspects the mouth region of the preform, while the second inspection device inspects the body of the preform. Preferably, the mouth region of the preform is the region of the preform that is not formed by the forming device, while the body of the preform is the region formed, in particular expanded, by the forming device.

[0070] In another advantageous embodiment, at least one inspection device, preferably the first and second inspection devices, is adapted and intended to detect at least one, preferably a plurality of, values characterizing the physical properties of the preform.

[0071] Particularly preferably, these characteristics are selected from a group of characteristics that includes the geometry of the preform, the cross-section of the preform, the length of the preform, the color of the preform, the transparency of the preform, the humidity value of the preform, the IV value (intrinsic viscosity) of the preform, the temperature of the preform, damage to the preform, etc.

[0072] In another preferred embodiment, at least one inspection device is adapted and intended to inspect the preform during its movement. Preferably, both the first and second inspection devices are adapted and intended to inspect the preform during its movement.

[0073] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a heating device for heating the plastic parisons produced by the manufacturing device. The heating device can be, for example, an infrared furnace or a microwave oven.

[0074] Particularly preferably, the heating device is arranged between the cooling device and the forming device. Particularly preferably, the heating device also has a transport device that transports the plastic parisons individually. In addition, the heating device preferably also has a rotating device for rotating the plastic parison relative to its axis during heating.

[0075] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a discharging device that is adapted and intended to remove or discharge individual plastic parisons from the transport path of the plastic parisons located between the manufacturing device and the forming device. Here, "discharging" means that these plastic parisons are no longer conveyed to the forming process.

[0076] Particularly preferably, the discharging device is arranged after the second inspection device and / or before the forming device. Particularly preferably, the discharging device is adapted and intended to discharge individual plastic parisons in response to the inspection results of at least one of the inspection devices. However, it is also conceivable that a third inspection device is provided and the discharging device discharges individual plastic parisons taking into account the inspection results of this third inspection device.

[0077] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a gap closing device that fills the gap created by the discharge of individual plastic parisons. The gap closing device can have a buffer here that refills the existing gap.

[0078] In another advantageous embodiment, the device, in particular the transport device, has a turning device that changes the orientation of the transported plastic parisons.

[0079] Preferably, the device has a carrier where a plurality of manufactured plastic parisons can be arranged, and the turning device is adapted and intended to turn the carrier with the plastic parisons arranged thereon.

[0080] Here, the turning device is preferably adapted and intended to turn the plastic parison by a predetermined angle, preferably 90°. Preferably, the turning device is adapted and intended to turn the plastic parison from a horizontal orientation (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the plastic parison is horizontal or parallel to the ground) to a vertical orientation (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the plastic parison is vertical or perpendicular to the ground).

[0081] Preferably, the first inspection device is adapted and intended to take an image of the plastic parison in its horizontal orientation.

[0082] Preferably, the second inspection device is adapted and intended to take an image of the plastic preform in its vertical orientation.

[0083] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has at least one vacuum holding device which is adapted and intended to hold a single plastic preform at the holding body using negative pressure.

[0084] By means of this vacuum holding device, it is possible to release a single plastic preform from its carrier.

[0085] Particularly preferably, one such vacuum device is assigned to each plastic preform. Thus, a single plastic preform can be released from its holding device by removing the vacuum. Preferably, the vacuum device is adapted and intended to release a single, but in particular specific, plastic preform from its holding device using at least one inspection result of the inspection device.

[0086] Preferably, the vacuum device is part of the discharge device.

[0087] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a third inspection device for inspecting the plastic preform, wherein the third inspection device is preferably arranged behind the second inspection device.

[0088] The third inspection device is particularly adapted and intended to detect impurities (such as so-called black specs) in the manufactured plastic preform.

[0089] The invention also relates to an assembly for manufacturing a plastic container, having a device of the above type and a forming device which forms the manufactured plastic preform into a plastic container, wherein the transport device is also adapted and intended to transport the plastic preform from the manufacturing device to the forming device.

[0090] The forming device has been described in detail above.

[0091] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a plastic preform, wherein a manufacturing device manufactures a plastic preform, and wherein the manufacturing device has a plurality of manufacturing units which each manufacture a plastic preform, and wherein a transport mechanism transports the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device. Furthermore, a control device controls the manufacturing device, in particular the manufacturing units.

[0092] According to the invention, a first inspection device is provided which inspects at least one region of the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device, wherein the inspection device outputs at least one value characterizing a physical property of the plastic preform, and wherein the device has an assignment device which assigns the manufacturing unit which manufactured the plastic preform to each inspected plastic preform, and wherein the control device controls the manufacturing device, in particular the manufacturing units, as a function of this value.

[0093] Preferably, the first inspection device takes a plurality of spatially resolved images, in particular (at least one) of each individual transported plastic preform (where preferably a single image shows a plurality of plastic preforms). In a preferred method, the plastic preforms imaged by the image capture device are at least partially detected individually. Preferably, all plastic preforms are detected individually.

[0094] Preferably, the first inspection device records a plurality of values, where each of these values characterizes exactly one plastic preform imaged by the inspection device.

[0095] Preferably, the first inspection device takes images of the plastic preforms during their movement.

[0096] In another preferred method, a manufacturing unit that manufactured the plastic preform is assigned to at least one, preferably a plurality of, plastic preforms.

[0097] In another preferred method, a forming station for forming the plastic preform into a plastic container is assigned to at least one plastic preform inspected by the first inspection device, preferably several plastic preforms inspected by the first inspection device, and preferably all plastic preforms inspected by the first inspection device.

[0098] Preferably, the plastic preforms are transported individually at least in sections.

[0099] Particularly preferably, the plastic preforms are transported at least in sections by a carrier suitable for accommodating a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0100] In another preferred method, the plastic preforms are reheated after cooling. Here, in particular, the main body of the plastic preforms is heated so that they can be formed into plastic bottles. Description of the Drawings

[0101] Further advantages and embodiments result from the drawings:

[0102] where:

[0103] Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of the device according to the invention;

[0104] Figure 2 shows a first view of a diagrammatic illustration of a manufacturing device for manufacturing plastic preforms;

[0105] Figure 3 shows Figure 2 another view of the manufacturing device shown in

[0106] Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic illustration for explaining the method according to the invention. Detailed Description

[0107] Figure 1 Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of an apparatus 101 for manufacturing plastic containers. The apparatus 101 has a manufacturing device 102 which manufactures plastic preforms 10. Preferably, the manufacturing device 102 is an injection molding machine. The manufacturing device 102 here has a plurality of manufacturing units 103, in particular forming tools, each of which is suitable and intended for manufacturing an individual plastic preform 10.

[0108] Reference numeral 25 denotes a control device for controlling the manufacturing device, in particular also for controlling the individual manufacturing units. Preferably, the control device is a regulating device.

[0109] Reference numeral 104 schematically denotes a pick-up device which picks up the injection-molded plastic preforms 10 from the manufacturing unit 102. The pick-up device can here be part of the above-mentioned control device.

[0110] Reference numeral 106 denotes a cooling device, in particular in the form of a re-cooling unit, which cools the manufactured plastic preforms 10. Preferably, the plastic preforms are placed directly into the cooling device 106 and / or conveyed thereto immediately after manufacture.

[0111] An inspection device, in particular a first inspection device 120, is arranged along the transport path of the transport device 104, which inspects the plastic preforms. Here, the first inspection device 120 is particularly suitable and intended for inspecting each individual plastic preform or for detecting properties characterizing the plastic preform.

[0112] As described above, the inspection device particularly has an imaging device which is suitable and intended for taking images. Reference numeral 123 denotes an evaluation device which evaluates the images taken by the imaging device.

[0113] The inspection device and / or the evaluation device preferably outputs at least one value W1 characterizing the inspected plastic preform. Preferably, the inspection device outputs such a value W1 for each inspected plastic preform.

[0114] Reference numeral 108 denotes a distribution device which assigns to each inspected plastic preform 10 the manufacturing unit 103 which manufactured the plastic preform. The control device is advantageously suitable and intended for controlling the individual manufacturing units also as a function of the measured or output values of the individual plastic preforms.

[0115] Reference numeral 105 denotes a transport device, in particular a handling unit, which receives the plastic preforms 10 from the transport device 104.

[0116] Additionally or alternatively, the distribution device 108 can also assign to each plastic preform the forming station 112 at which the plastic preform is formed into a plastic container.

[0117] Therefore, the first inspection device is preferably arranged between the manufacturing device and / or individual manufacturing units and the cooling device 106 and / or the transport device 105.

[0118] Reference numeral 121 denotes a second inspection device that detects at least one value characterizing the respective plastic preform being inspected. Again, preferably, such a value is selected from a set of values that includes the geometry of the plastic preform, the color of the plastic preform, the humidity of the plastic preform, the IV value of the plastic preform, the temperature of the plastic preform, etc.

[0119] Preferably, these values are provided to a higher-level control system in order to control the parameters of the entire device.

[0120] Reference numeral 220 denotes another inspection device for inspecting plastic preforms.

[0121] Furthermore, a discharge device may be provided that prevents individual plastic preforms from being transferred to the forming device 112 (in particular based on the above characteristic values). Reference numeral 230 denotes a control device for controlling the forming device. Here, the control device can preferably control, preferably adjust, the forming device taking into account the results of individual inspections of the plastic preforms and / or taking into account the individually output values. Reference numeral 240 denotes another optional inspection device that is particularly suitable and intended for inspecting the produced containers.

[0122] Furthermore, a (not shown) gap closing device may be provided that fills the gap created by the discharge of individual plastic preforms.

[0123] Reference numeral 110 denotes the entire forming device that forms the plastic preform into a plastic container 20.

[0124] In this case, preferably, a heating device 111 is first provided that heats the plastic preform to a temperature suitable for forming, in particular expanding it to the plastic container 20.

[0125] The forming device 110 preferably has a rotatable carrier 114 at which a plurality of forming stations 112 are arranged. These forming stations are preferably controllable independently of each other.

[0126] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A first view of a manufacturing device 102 for manufacturing plastic preforms is shown. Here, reference numeral 103 denotes a plurality of manufacturing units that each manufacture an individual plastic preform.

[0127] Reference numeral 106 denotes a cooling device for cooling a plastic preform. Reference numeral 106a denotes a discharging device for discharging the plastic preform after the manufacturing process. Reference numeral 106b denotes a holding element for an individual plastic preform.

[0128] Figure 4 Illustrations are shown for explaining the device and method of the present invention.

[0129] A manufacturing device 102 is provided here, which has a plurality of manufacturing units (not shown in detail), and each of these manufacturing units manufactures a plastic preform. It is recognized that the mouth 10b of an individual plastic preform.

[0130] Reference numeral 120 denotes a first inspection device, which particularly takes an image of the mouth 10b here, whereby an individual mouth, and thus an individual plastic preform, can be individualized.

[0131] Reference numeral 140 denotes a turning device, which turns a carrier with a plastic preform arranged thereon here by 90°. In addition, the plastic preform is cooled in this area by a cooling device (not shown here).

[0132] The turned carrier 142 together with the plastic preform arranged thereon is transported, and a second inspection device 121 takes at least one image of the plastic preform, more precisely, now takes an image of the body 10a of the plastic preform.

[0133] Reference numeral 125 denotes a third inspection device, which also inspects the plastic preform arranged in the carrier. Preferably, material defects are inspected here, such as so-called BlackSpecs, etc.

[0134] A vacuum holding device (not shown) is provided in the area of the carrier 142, which holds each individual plastic preform at its own carrier. In this way, defective plastic preforms can be separated from qualified plastic preforms.

[0135] In Figure 4 the embodiment shown, first, the defective plastic preforms are still held at their (vacuum) grippers, while the qualified plastic preforms fall onto another transport unit 150.

[0136] The preform can be made to fall from this other transport unit in the form of the carrier 150 onto another transport unit 144, which has two rollers arranged parallel to each other here, and the plastic preform 10 is guided between these two rollers. For this purpose, the carrier 150 with the individual plastic preform can be pushed relative to this other transport unit along the arrow P1.

[0137] More precisely, the carrier with the plastic preform is laterally moved above the transport unit 144. For this purpose, a gap 155 can be opened at the carrier as shown Figure 4 below, and the plastic preform can be dropped between the rollers.

[0138] The defective plastic preform still held at the carrier 142 by means of the vacuum gripper can be discarded by selective control when the carrier 142 returns.

[0139] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents that are essential to the invention, provided that these features are novel, either individually or in combination, compared to the prior art. Further, it should be noted that features that may be advantageous in themselves are also described in a single drawing. A person skilled in the art will directly recognize that a certain feature described in the drawing may be advantageous even if other features in that drawing are not employed. Additionally, a person skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can also be achieved by combining several features shown in a single drawing or in different drawings.

Claims

1. An apparatus (101) for manufacturing a plastic preform (10), the apparatus having a manufacturing device (102) suitable and intended for manufacturing the plastic preform (10), wherein the manufacturing device (102) has a plurality of manufacturing units (103) for manufacturing the plastic preform; and having a transport mechanism (104) suitable and intended for transporting the plastic preform (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device (102), wherein the apparatus (101) has a control device (25) for controlling the manufacturing device (102), characterized in that, the apparatus (101) has a first inspection device (120) suitable and intended for inspecting at least one area of the plastic preform (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device (102), wherein the inspection device (120) is suitable and intended for outputting at least one value (W1) characterizing a physical property of the plastic preform, wherein the apparatus has a distribution device (108) suitable for assigning to each inspected plastic preform (10) the manufacturing unit (103) that manufactured the plastic preform (10), and wherein the control device (25) is suitable and intended for controlling the manufacturing device (102) based on the value (W1).

2. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, each of the manufacturing units (130) has a cavity for shaping the plastic preform (10) and / or a shaping tool for shaping the plastic preform (10).

3. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, at least one parameter of the manufacturing device (102) and / or the manufacturing unit (103) is controllable.

4. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the control device (25) for controlling the manufacturing device is an adjustment device suitable and intended for adjusting the manufacturing device (102) based on the at least one value (W1).

5. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the apparatus (1) has a cooling device (106) for cooling the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing unit.

6. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the first inspection device (120) has an image capture device suitable and intended for capturing spatially resolved images of a plurality of plastic preforms.

7. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the apparatus has a second inspection device (121) suitable and intended for inspecting the plastic preform.

8. The apparatus (101) according to claim 7, characterized in that, wherein the apparatus (101) has a distribution device (108) suitable for assigning to each plastic preform inspected by the second inspection device (121) the manufacturing unit (103) that manufactured the plastic preform.

9. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device (101) has an inversion device that changes the orientation of the transported plastic preform (10).

10. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has a storage device (107) in which a plurality of data characterizing the plastic preform (10) are stored.

11. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (101) has a heating device (111) for heating the plastic preform (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device (102).

12. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has a discharging device that is adapted and intended to remove individual plastic preforms (10) from the transport path between the manufacturing device (102) and the forming device (110).

13. A component for manufacturing a plastic container, the component having the device (101) according to at least one of the above claims and a forming device (110), the forming device being adapted and intended to form the manufactured plastic preform into a plastic container, wherein the transport device is also adapted and intended to transport the plastic preform (10) from the manufacturing device (102) to the forming device (110).

14. A method for manufacturing a plastic preform (10), wherein a manufacturing device (102) manufactures a plastic preform (10), wherein the manufacturing device (102) has a plurality of manufacturing units (103) that manufacture plastic preforms, and wherein a transport mechanism transports the plastic preform (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device (102), and a control device (25) controls the manufacturing device (102), characterized in that a first inspection device (120) is provided, the first inspection device inspecting at least one area of the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device (102), wherein the inspection device (120) outputs at least one value (W1) characterizing a physical property of the plastic preform (10), wherein the device has a distribution device (108) that assigns to each inspected plastic preform (10) the manufacturing unit (103) that manufactured the plastic preform (10), and wherein the control device controls the manufacturing device (102) based on this value.

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