Apparatus for producing injection-molded parts

Abstract

Apparatus for producing injection-molded parts, particularly PET preforms, includes a twin-screw extruder or multi-screw extruder for preparing and / or plasticizing material, preferably in granular form, which is transferred to a transfer reservoir. A piston unit further processes the material. The extruder has a plurality of processing zones, whereby at least two process zones are configured as degassing zones.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of prior filed copending PCT International application no. PCT / EP2005 / 052870, filed Jun. 21, 2005, which designated the United States and has been published but not in English as International Publication No. WO 2006 / 024553 A1 and on which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120, and which claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2004 041 689.3, filed Aug. 27, 2004, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates, in general, to an apparatus for producing injection-molded parts, in particular PET preforms. [0003] Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art. [0004] An apparatus for producing injection-molded parts, in particular PET preforms, typically includes an extrude...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention resolves prior art problems by recognizing the advantages of using a twin-screw extruder with dual vacuum extraction and a suitable processing part for PET plasticizing as well as a combination of the direct plasticizing process with the shot pot of a PET preform injection molding machine via an intermediate component. Thus, injection-molded parts can be produced of particular high quality, without employing a complex pre-drying step. On one hand, energy costs are reduced by eliminating pre-drying. On the other hand, the apparatus can be constructed in a compact form due to the elimination of the drying system, thus allowing a low AA content of the plastic parts. The energy of approximately 0.55 kWh / kg PET required by conventional plants for pre-drying and plasticizing can thus be reduced to about 0.26 kWh / kg PET by the apparatus according to the invention. Considering that energy consumption represents the second largest cost factor after material consumption in the fabrication of preforms, significant benefits are obtained for the customer.

[0027] For a particularly effective pre-drying and / or degassing, one of the processing zones may be configured as degassing zones. In a particularly advantageous manner, at least two processing zones may be constructed as degassing zones, thereby realizing a particularly effective pre-drying. It is of particular advantage, when the admixture of additives provides barrier properties of the processed material.

Problems solved by technology

Because PET is hygroscopic and because moisture causes a hydrolytic decomposition of polymer chains, the material is pre-dried in a most complex process, in particular when material in granular form is involved.

In this single-screw plasticization with pre-drying, energy consumption is significantly increased in relation to the temperature increase of the material, typically to 0.55 kWh / kg.

In addition, drying plants require significant installation space, which considerably increases the vertical dimensions of the apparatus for producing injection-molded parts.

This plasticizing approach without pre-drying, is not applicable however in certain fields, like for example PET preforms, because there are concerns with respect to hydrolytic decomposition and a possible increase of the acetaldehyde content—M content—in the melt.

A high M content hereby adversely affects the taste of the beverages.

Using a twin-screw extruder for producing PET preforms also poses problems with the synchronization of the cyclic operation of an injection molding machine and the continuously operating twin-screw extruder.

Processing such additives with a single screw extruder is presently not possible at all or only with insufficient quality.

Even incorporating 50% titanium dioxide—TiO2-PET master batches—for achieving a 10% TiO2 fraction in a milk bottle, as required for adequate O2 barrier characteristics, is not possible because of the insufficient mixing effect of a single-screw extruder.

Powdered TiO2 cannot be processed with a single-screw extruder, at least not in the required quantity.

However, this requires additional facilities which is time consuming and therefore expensive.

Images