device

Abstract

2. Device for manufacturing container products made of plastic material, which can be manufactured by means of a molding device (1) comprising individual mold parts (7) which, moving in pairs towards and away from each other in a sequential arrangement along a molding section (24), form the respective container product, wherein the mold parts (7) of each pair are movably guided along two spatially separated guide tracks (22), characterized in that each guide track (22) has at least three different track sections (26, 28, 30), each of which extends in a straight line over a predefinable length such that several mold parts (7) of a track section (26, 28, 30) are arranged in a sequential arrangement in a common plane (E1, E2, E3) and / or each guide track (22) with all its track sections (26, 28,30) forms a self-contained movement chain (36) with a total of eighteen shaped parts (7) as chain links (32), which are articulated (34) to each other.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for producing container products made of plastic material, which can be produced by means of a molding device which has individual molded parts which, when moved in pairs towards and away from each other in a successive arrangement along a molding path, form the respective container product, wherein the molded parts of each pair are each guided movably along two spatially separated guideways.

[0002] DE 10 2014 001 446 A1 discloses a generic device for producing at least one container product made of plastic material, which is formed by means of a molding device, provided with a predeterminable container content by means of a filling device, and closed by means of a closing device. The respective finished container product is fed to a post-treatment zone in which a temperature-influencing effect is exerted on the respective container product and / or the respective container content. The molding device has individual mold parts which, in pairs, are moved towards and away from each other in a sequential arrangement along a molding zone or molding section to form the respective container product. The mold parts of each pair are guided in a synchronous, rotating manner along two spatially separated guideways.Each guideway, which forms a kind of movement chain as a chain drive, has a total of fifteen mold parts. Along the molding line, three mold parts of each guideway, arranged one after the other along a straight, vertically running track section, form the production area for the container products to be molded. While one section of the guideway runs straight along the actual molding line, the outer sections of each guideway are essentially curved or curved.

[0003] By WO 2023 / 0391236 A1 ( Fig. 2A) discloses a comparable device for producing container products from plastic material, wherein each of the two guide tracks has a total of fourteen molded parts, and the actual molding section is formed from two pairs of opposing molded parts, which, in succession along a rectilinear track section, enable exclusively container forming. On the opposite side of the molding section of each guide track, there is again a rectilinear track section, along which several molded parts, in particular three molded parts, are arranged one behind the other in a common plane parallel to the plane of the molding section. Otherwise, the respective chain track is moved via two deflection rollers in this area along a circular path, circulating and synchronously with the other chain track.

[0004] Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of forming individual container products with a high output rate while retaining the advantages of the known solutions, further improving them, in particular minimizing smooth running and the associated wear. This object is achieved by a device having the features of patent claim 1 in its entirety.

[0005] Because, according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1, each guide track has at least three mutually different track sections, each of which runs in a straight line over a predeterminable length such that several molded parts of a track section are arranged one behind the other in a common plane, this allows, on the one hand, a homogeneously balanced load distribution for each guide track with its rotating molded parts, and, on the other hand, several molded parts of a straight track section, arranged one behind the other, support each other. As a result, even with the same rotation or chain speed for each guide track, as demonstrated in the prior art, increased smoothness of operation and reduced wear on essential components of the device, such as molded parts and molded part holders, are achieved.Each straight track section of a guideway is continuously supported by a preceding and / or subsequent straight track section after passing through a deflection, which enables the even load distribution within each guideway.

[0006] The object of the invention is also achieved in its entirety with a device having the features of patent claim 2. Starting from the same generic prior art, it is further provided, essential to the invention, that each guide track, with all its track sections, forms a self-contained movement chain with a total of eighteen molded parts as chain links that are articulated to one another. Despite the large number of eighteen molded parts per guide track and the associated higher mold weight per guide track or chain drive, a homogeneously balanced load distribution for the rotating molded parts of each guide track is achieved, with six molded parts in the form of half-molds being distributed particularly advantageously on each side along the associated guide track.Nevertheless, the mutual stiffening of the molded parts along each track section predominates, resulting in a more homogeneous chain movement. Due to the eighteen molds or molded parts being paired together and rotating synchronously, the device achieves an increased output rate of container products, even when the device is operated at the same rotation or chain speed as prior art solutions with fifteen or fourteen molded parts per guide track.

[0007] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least four molded parts of each guide track are guided in succession along the molding section along a rectilinear track section. A particularly stiffened overall arrangement for the device is achieved if the individual rectilinear track sections of each guide track, in a notional extension, form a right-angled triangle, which is preferably isosceles, thus creating a balanced force triangle.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the straight track sections of each guide track merge at the end into a curved track section, the curvature of which is selected such that the straightness of the preceding track sections is maintained for as long as possible. Preferably, it is further provided that the curved track sections have a flat curvature that is flatter than the curvature of a fictitious circle of curvature inscribed in each end of the fictitious triangle with the straight track sections. In particular, the curved track sections have a smaller radius of curvature than the circumcircle of the triangle formed by the three ends of the straight track sections.A particular advantage is that the respective guideway, in the area of ​​its deflection with the curved track sections, is supported by support devices following the contour of the respective curve, at least one of which serves as a tensioning device for a drive, in particular a chain drive, with the movably hinged molded parts, which follows the associated guideway. This results in a largely smooth and low-wear circulation for the respective chain drive with the molded parts along the triangularly predefined circulation.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, a portion of the linear track section of the respective guideway, which encompasses the molding section, where the adjacent molded parts come into end-to-end contact with one another in pairs, is guided, in particular supported, on its side facing away from the molding section by a single-piece rail that extends linearly in its central region. Thanks to the continuous rail path, a seamless guide is achieved in the area of ​​the molding section, enabling unobstructed operation.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the number of molded parts for each guide track is selected such that the distance between adjacently manufactured container products is minimized such that an intermediate connecting web is as small as possible, preferably having a width of less than 0.7 cm when viewed in the direction of the travel path of the container products. For standard ampoules as a container product, in particular for holding eye drops, inhalation and injection preparations, with a largely standardized typical height with a difference between different ampoule types of only a few mm, the width of the connecting webs can be minimized in this way. These connecting webs are regularly part of a card waste from which the ampoules can be removed, in particular punched out.For this purpose, it is advantageous if, in order to reduce the amount of waste, as is now possible according to the invention, the respective connecting web can be formed with a width of less than 0.7 cm, for which the large number of mold parts of eighteen mold parts per guideway proves to be particularly suitable.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in particular to further reduce wear, a mold positioning element is arranged between the guideways before the beginning of the molding section on the mold inlet side. The mold positioning element arranged between the two guideways on the inlet side allows for precise alignment or positioning of the molds within the molding zone as the pairs of molded parts are moved toward and away from one another.

[0012] In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in particular to further reduce wear and increase production reliability, a spreading element is arranged between the guideways at the end of the molding section on the mold outlet side. This spreading element ensures reliable opening of molded part pairs or half-molds as soon as they have left the molding section in the form of the molding zone on the outlet side. Safe operation can also be achieved in this respect.

[0013] In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that due to the equalization of the individual track sections along the straight and curved course with an equal number of molded parts in each case, a uniform and low-wear chain movement results, with a largely balanced chain course, which cannot usually be achieved with an odd number of molded parts per guide track, and preferably only with eighteen molded parts per guide track as an even number.

[0014] In the following, the device according to the invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1 in front view a solution in the prior art (DE 10 2014 001 446 A1); Fig. 2 one of the Fig. 1 corresponding representation, now to explain the device according to the invention; Fig. 3 Parts of the device according to the Fig. 2 in the form of two closed chains with molded part holders along guideways; Fig. 4 a perspective view of a mold position element arranged on the mold inlet side according to the Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 a perspective view of an expansion element which is arranged on the mould outlet side in the device according to the Fig. 2 is inserted.

[0015] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of a known device as part of a non-clocked rotational molding machine (not shown), in which the actual molding device 1 interacts with a demolding device 3, which supports the demolding process of the containers or container products formed in the molding device 1, such as ampoules. The molding device 1 is a device for carrying out a blow molding process, in particular as part of a known blow molding, filling, and sealing process (BFS process), which is marketed under the trademark of the patent holder as bottelpack ®-System has become known, in the present case in an embodiment in which different forming stages are carried out at different stations, in particular three stations, along a vertical production line 5. In a type of carousel or paternoster arrangement, individual mold parts 7 or mold halves, of which in the Fig. 1, only a few are numbered, are moved toward each other in pairs along a closed guide path 8 to form a closed manufacturing mold for the respective container product, and are moved apart again to open the mold. In addition to the molding process, the respective container product is additionally filled with a fluid and then sealed in a sterile manner. These manufacturing steps are standard within a BFS process, so they will not be discussed in more detail here.

[0016] As from the Fig. 1, a container chain 9 formed by means of the molding device 1 exits along the production line 5 at an exit point designated by 2 on the mold outlet side of the demolding device 3. As is usual, the container chain 9 has a broad shape, with a plurality of individual container products, in this case of ampoule-like shape, lying side by side in the container chain 9. For example, the container chain 9 can have eight adjacent container products, such as ampoules, and in order to assist the detachment of the container chain 9 with the container products from the mold walls of the individual molded parts 7, which move away from one another after the molding process, the demolding device 3 imparts to the container chain 9 a deflection movement in opposite directions, as indicated by a double arrow 13.The individual container rows within the container chain 9 are, as shown, arranged one above the other and are each enclosed by a card-like plastic material 15 due to the manufacturing process, which defines a connecting web 18 of a predetermined width between adjacent container rows, wherein in order to obtain the actual container products, these are finally separated, in particular punched out, from the card-like plastic material 15 and the corresponding plastic material then remains in the usual way as card waste.

[0017] Below the demolding device 3, viewed downwards in the transport direction of the container chain 9, there is a post-treatment zone 20, which can exert a temperature-influencing effect on the respective container product or its contents. Further details can be found in DE 10 2014 001 446 A1.

[0018] The statements made so far regarding the state of the art also apply to the device according to the invention according to the Fig. 2 and in this respect, the same reference numerals according to the prior art are used for the same components for the device according to the invention. However, for the sake of simplicity of illustration, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the molded parts 7 are omitted, so that only molded part receptacles 10 are shown, on whose free end faces the molded parts 7 are correspondingly placed and fixed. In this respect, the following statements regarding molded parts 7 also apply to the directly attributable molded part receptacles 10.

[0019] The device according to the invention according to Fig. 2 again has a molding device designated as a whole with 1, which has individual mold parts 7 comparable to the solution according to the Fig. 1, whereby for the sake of simplicity only the mould part holders 10 are shown, which are also referred to as mould holder shoes. Fig. 2, not all molded part receptacles are provided with the reference numeral 10 for the sake of simplicity, and a total of eighteen molded part receptacles 10 and thus also eighteen individual molded parts 7 are movable along a guide track 22 (previously guide track 8). The individual molded parts 7 with their assignable molded part receptacles 10 can be moved towards and away from each other in pairs along the two guide tracks 22, so that the respective container product 10 can be formed in a series arrangement along a common central molding section 24 or forming zone. Also in this respect, as in the prior art according to Fig. 1, the mold parts 7 or mold halves are closed to form a container shape along the production line 5, which is arranged in vertical alignment in the Fig. 2 is drawn accordingly. In this respect, too, the production line 5 divides the device into two essentially identically designed forming halves in a symmetrical manner.

[0020] As in particular the Fig. 3, each guide track 22 similarly has three mutually different track sections 26, 28, 30, which each run in a straight line over a predeterminable length such that several molded parts 7 or molded part receptacles 10 of a respective track section 26, 28 or 30 are arranged one behind the other in a common plane E1, E2, E3. The molded part receptacles 10 each have a mold chain link 32 on the bottom side, which are each connected to one another in an articulated manner at their ends via articulation points 34. The individual mold chain links 32, which are each connected to one another adjacently via the associated articulation point 34, form as a whole a chain drive 36, with a closed mold chain with the individual molded parts 7, which, according to the illustrations according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 of the respective guideway 22. In this respect, the representations according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 only snapshots and the chain drive 36 ensures that the respective mold chain of a guideway 22 rotates continuously during operation of the molding device, in the direction of view of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the movement is counterclockwise for the right-hand mold chain and clockwise for the opposite left-hand mold chain. Both chain drives 36 move synchronously and in such a way that opposing mold parts 7 are closed within the molding section 24 and form at least parts of a container mold.

[0021] As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 3, in the first track section 26, four individual mold chain links 32 abut one another in series, essentially along the common plane E1, and thus also the mold part receptacles 10 and the mold parts 7. In the second track section 28, at least three adjacent mold chain links 32 abut one another in series, along the common plane E2, and in the third track section 30, at least two adjacent mold chain links 32, each with the same structure, abut one another along the plane E3. The first track section 26 delimits an edge of the molding section 24 or molding zone. The corresponding track section structure, including the individual planes E1, E2 and E3, is shown in the direction of view of the Fig. 3, this is implemented equally for the left chain drive 36. Since, along the rectilinear track sections 26, 28 and 30 in the respectively assigned planes E1, E2 and E3, the shaped chain links 32 abut one another flatly at the joint point 34 without deflection, a solidly constructed movement chain is implemented in sections, which allows the transmission of large movement forces without play, so that despite the high number of shaped parts 7 used, a secure movement guide for the respective chain drive 26 along the assigned guide track 22 is achieved.

[0022] It is understood that at each beginning and each end of a track section 26, 28, 30, a molded part 7 is continuously exchanged with a molded part 7 following or preceding it in the series, whereby the overall straight length of the respective track section 26, 28, 30 is maintained. Overall, each guide track 22 with all of its straight track sections 26, 28, 30, including curved or bent track sections 38, which each adjoin a straight track section 26, 28, 30 at the end, forms a self-contained movement chain or mold chain that corresponds to the described chain drive 36. The individual straight track sections 26, 28, 30 of each guide track 22 form, in a fictitious extension, a right-angled or essentially right-angled triangle 40 which, according to the illustration, extends from the left half of the image Fig. 3 is formed as isosceles. This creates a type of rectangular supporting structure for the chain drive 36 of each guide track 22 as a whole, and the straight legs of the triangle 40 form the stiffening with the supporting structure along the straight track sections 26, 28, 30 with their respective shaped parts 7, along with the substructure in the form of the respective shaped part holder 10 and the shaped chain link 32 arranged at the base.

[0023] As can be seen from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the straight path sections 26, 28, 30 of each guideway 22 each merge at the end into the curved or curved path section 38, the curved path or curvature of which is selected such that the straightness of the preceding path sections 26, 28, 30 is maintained for as long as possible in order to achieve a high degree of stiffening. In particular, the curved path sections 38 have a flat curvature that is flatter than the curvature of a fictitious circle of curvature, which is inscribed in the ends of the fictitious triangle 40 with the straight path sections 26, 28, 30. Thus, the illustration according to the Fig. 2 for each guide track 22, two opposing guide or drive rollers 42, which can guide or drive the respective chain drive 36 and whose circular diameter in any case forms a greater curvature than the molded parts 7 guided above them with a less curved path along the guide track 22. In particular, the curved path sections 38 have a smaller radius of curvature than the circumference of the triangle 40.

[0024] The respective guide track 22 is supported in the area of ​​its stationary deflection with the curved track sections by support devices 44 following the contour of the respective curve, which support devices are formed from the individual guide and drive rollers 42 and from a segment-shaped tensioning device 46 for a drive, here in the form of the chain drive 36 with the movably hinged shaped parts 7, which follow the respectively assignable guide track 22. A lever 47 connected to the tensioning segment 46 is used to tension the tensioning segment 46. The lever 47 is pivotally mounted at a lower point of a machine frame 60 at a pivot point 49 in the form of a pivot axis and receives its pretension from an energy storage device in the form of a tension spring 51 designed as a compression spring. The tensioning drive for this purpose is constructed identically for both chain drives 36.

[0025] The straight track section 26 of the respective guide track 22, which comprises the forming section 24, in which the adjacent molded parts 7 come into contact with each other in pairs at the end face, is guided on its side facing away from the forming section 24 for the containers via a one-piece rail 48 which runs straight in its central region, and is supported in particular during the forming process. Fig. 2 The rail 48 shown on the left can - in contrast to the stationary right rail 48 - be moved back and forth in the direction of the molding section 24 by means of individual hydraulic cylinders 50 and thus determines the contact pressure of the molded parts 7 against the plastic hose in between (not shown).

[0026] The number of molded parts 7 for each guide track 22 is selected to be so large that within the molding section 24 the distance between adjacently manufactured container products is minimized in such a way that an intermediate connecting web 18 ( Fig. 1) is also minimized in size, preferably having a width of less than 0.7 cm in the direction of travel of the container products from top to bottom, in order to minimize any card waste when punching out the container products.

[0027] The Fig. The device shown in Figure 2 has a mold position element 54 between the guideways 22 before the start of the molding section 24 and therefore on the mold inlet side, as is described in more detail in the Fig. 4. The respective mold positioning element 54 ensures precise alignment or positioning of the molded parts 7 in the transition area from the curved path section 38 to the straight adjacent path section 26, which also delimits the molding section 24. The Fig. The mold positioning element 54 shown in Figure 4 has a support plate 56, which has a screw fastening 58 with four individual screw bolts on the rear side, via which the support plate 56 and thus the mold positioning element 54 can be secured to the machine frame 60 of the device. Furthermore, a receptacle 59 for a cross bolt 64 is attached to the front of the support plate 56. The cross bolt 64 is held at least on one side by a retaining ring 61 and has two guide or support rollers 63 at its two end regions, which come into supporting contact with the rear region of the adjacent mold parts 7 within the molding section 24.

[0028] Between the guideways 22 at the end of the molding section 24 and thus on the mold outlet side, a so-called spreading element 62 is arranged, as can be seen in more detail from the illustration according to the Fig. 5. Thanks to the expansion element 62, a reliable opening of the two half-molds or molded parts 7 is ensured, which in the area of ​​the forming section 24 rest with their free end faces against the plastic hose (not shown) for the purpose of forming the container, wherein a negative pressure is applied at least partially in the molded parts 7 in order to enable the forming of the respective container product during vacuum forming. If such a vacuum pressure cannot be completely reduced in an overall mold or if the molded parts 7 stick to the plastic, the expansion element 62 is particularly suitable for opening the half-molded parts 7. For this purpose, the expansion element 62 has two upwardly projecting expansion brackets 65 which project like pincers in the direction of the exit of the forming section 24 and which delimit a gap 66 between them, through which an energy storage device, in particular in the form of a compression spring 68, extends.The spreading element 62 is in turn connected as a whole to the machine frame 60 of the device by means of a coupling point 70 on the base side and, furthermore, the two spreading brackets 65 are received approximately centrally in a common connection point 77 in such a way that slight movements of the two spreading brackets 65 towards or away from each other are possible under the action of the compression spring 68 and the respective chain drive 36 in order to gently spread out the molded parts 7 of the individual molded part pairs (. Fig. 1) away from each other. This has no equivalent in the state of the art. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2014 001 446 A1 [0002, 0014, 0017] WO 2023 / 0391236 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Device for producing container products from plastic material, which can be produced by means of a molding device (1) which has individual mold parts (7) which, in pairs, are moved towards and away from each other in a successive arrangement along a molding path (24), form the respective container product, wherein the mold parts (7) of each pair are each guided movably along two spatially separated guide tracks (22), characterized by that each guide track (22) has at least three mutually different track sections (22, 28, 30), which each run in a straight line over a predeterminable length in such a way that several shaped parts (7) of a track section (26, 28, 30) are arranged one behind the other in a common plane (E1, E2, E3). [2] Device for producing container products from plastic material, which can be produced by means of a molding device (1) which has individual mold parts (7) which, in pairs, are moved towards and away from each other in a series arrangement along a molding path (24), form the respective container product, wherein the mold parts (7) of each pair are each guided movably along two spatially separated guide tracks (22), characterized by that each guide track (22) with all its track sections (26, 28, 30) forms a closed movement chain (36) with a total of eighteen shaped parts (7) as chain links (32), which are connected to one another in an articulated manner (34). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat along a rectilinear track section (26) which comprises the molding section (24), at least four, preferably five molded parts (7) of each guide track (22) are guided in succession. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the individual straight track sections (26, 28, 30) of each guide track (22) form a fictitious extension of a right-angled triangle (40), which is preferably isosceles. [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the straight track sections (26, 28, 30) of each guide track (22) merge at the end into a curved track section (38), the curvature of which is selected such that the straightness of the respective preceding track sections (26, 28, 30)3 is maintained for as long as possible. [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the curved path sections (38) have a radius of curvature which is smaller than the radius of a fictitious circumcircle which is inscribed in each case in the ends of the fictitious triangle (40) with the straight path sections (26, 28, 30). [7] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the respective guide track (22) is supported in the region of its deflection with the curved track sections for the chain drive (36) by support devices (44) following the contour of the respective curvature, at least one of which serves as a tensioning device (46) for a drive, in particular a chain drive (36), with the movably articulated molded parts (7), which follows the assignable guide track (22). [8] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the straight track section (26) of the respective guide track (22), which comprises the molding section (24), in which the adjacent mold parts (7) come into end-to-end contact with one another in pairs, is guided, in particular supported, on its side facing away from the molding section (24) by a one-piece and at least partially rectilinear rail (48). [9] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the number of molded parts (7) for each guide track (22) is selected to be so large that, within the molding section (24), the distance between adjacently produced container products is minimized in such a way that an intermediate connecting web (18) is likewise minimized in size, preferably having a width of less than 0.7 cm when viewed in the direction of the travel path of the container products. [10] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a mold positioning element (54) is arranged between the guideways (22) before the beginning of the molding section (24) on the mold inlet side. [11] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a spreading element (62) is arranged between the guideways (22) at the end of the molding section (24) on the mold outlet side. [12] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the number of shaped parts (7) for each guideway (22) is even, preferably for each straight path section (26, 28, 30) of the guideway (22) and in the region of the curved sections (38) is in each case the same or substantially the same, and that particularly preferably eighteen shaped parts (7) are used per guideway (22).

Images