Container handling apparatus and method for manufacturing and handling preforms

Abstract

The invention relates to a container treatment device and method for manufacturing and treating preforms. The invention relates to a container handling device comprising a manufacturing machine, in particular an injection molding machine, for manufacturing preforms, at least one container handling machine arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine in the transport direction of the preforms, and a control unit, the manufacturing machine and the at least one container handling machine being blocked from each other, the control unit is configured to synchronize a first operation of the manufacturing machine and a second operation of the at least one container handling machine with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a container handling device for producing and handling preforms according to independent claim 1 and to a corresponding method according to independent claim 9 . Background Art

[0002] Container processing devices are well known in the prior art. For the production of containers, container processing devices usually include a blow molding machine, by which preforms can be formed into containers. In order to produce preforms, injection molding methods have been established.

[0003] Until now, the manufacture of preforms by injection molding and the shaping of the preforms into containers by blow molding have been carried out separately in time and space. Therefore, container handling machines of the prior art usually include a storage unit in which the finished preforms are stored as bulk material and can be supplied to the blow molding machine as required. The preforms stored in the storage unit are first supplied to a sorting device, where they are separated in order to be subsequently supplied to the blow molding machine in an ordered form. The preforms can then be shaped into containers by the blow molding machine. In downstream processes in the container handling device, the containers can be subjected to further processing steps, such as coating, labeling, printing, filling and / or sealing the containers.

[0004] However, the separation of the time and place of preform manufacturing and processing into containers, as well as the transport of the preforms to the container handling machine and the storage of the preforms as bulk material, all bring about certain disadvantages. Storage and transportation can therefore result in damage to the preforms and additional costs. Unnecessary contamination of the preforms due to long storage times or transportation cannot be ruled out. Summary of the invention

[0005] Purpose

[0006] From the prior art, the problem to be solved is to make the operation of a container processing device more efficient while at the same time improving the quality of the manufactured containers.

[0007] Solution

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by a container treatment device according to independent claim 1 and a corresponding method according to independent claim 9. Preferred developments of the invention are contained in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the present invention, the container handling device comprises a manufacturing machine for manufacturing preforms, in particular an injection molding machine, at least one container handling machine arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine in the transport direction of the preforms, and a control unit, wherein the manufacturing machine and the at least one container handling machine block each other, and the control unit is configured to synchronize a first operation of the manufacturing machine and a second operation of the at least one container handling machine with each other.

[0010] The manufacturing machine may be an injection molding machine. Alternatively, it may also be a device for manufacturing preforms by compression molding, or a device for manufacturing preforms by injection compression molding. However, it may also be any other device suitable for manufacturing preforms.

[0011] The container handling machine can be any type of container handling machine suitable for manufacturing containers from preforms and / or for processing containers manufactured from preforms. For example, the container handling machine can be a blow molding machine, which can be designed as, for example, a stretch blow molding machine or an extrusion blow molding machine, and / or a heating device, which can be designed as, for example, an infrared heating device or a microwave heating device. A thermal buffer path can optionally be provided between the manufacturing machine and the heating device. However, for example, the container handling machine can be a container handling machine designed for pre-treating containers, for example by flame pyrolysis, plasma or corona methods, a labeling machine, a direct printing device, a filler and / or a sealer. In particular, a plurality of container handling machines can also be arranged in series downstream of the manufacturing machine in the transport direction of the preforms. Any possible combination of the above can be provided, as can any other container handling machine.

[0012] The container handling machine can manufacture and process various types of containers from preforms, wherein the containers are preferably bottles used in the beverage industry. However, any other type of container can also be manufactured from preforms, such as cans, glasses, cups or tubes for the beverage, pharmaceutical, health or food industries, or any other container suitable for containing any liquid or pasty medium.

[0013] The blocking of the manufacturing machine and the at least one container handling machine means that the manufacturing machine and the at least one container handling machine form a unit. Thus, the preforms can be manufactured in the same device, where they can also be further processed into containers. For example, the manufacturing machine and the container handling machine can be connected to each other by a transport device such as a conveyor belt or a rotating star, so that the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine can be further transported directly and orderly to the at least one container handling machine. The transport device can be designed to be sterile, so that contamination of the containers during transport from the manufacturing machine to the at least one container handling machine can be avoided.

[0014] The first operation may be a number of preforms that can be manufactured by the manufacturing machine per time interval, for example per hour, or a number of preforms that can be applied to a container handling machine arranged downstream in the transport direction per time interval, for example per hour. For example, when the manufacturing machine performs an optional preform inspection and is formed to perform defective preforms so that only non-defective preforms are output to at least one container handling machine, the number of preforms that can be manufactured by the manufacturing machine per time interval and the number of preforms that can be applied per time interval may be different. Alternatively, for example, the first operation may also be the distance over which the preforms are output by the manufacturing machine. The first operation may be regulated, for example, by a first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine, such as a cycle or injection duration.

[0015] However, the first operation may also be an operation of the manufacturing machine that has no direct relation to the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine in each time interval. In this case, the first operating parameter may also be an operating parameter that may parameterize any component of the manufacturing machine and does not directly affect the preform throughput through the manufacturing machine. For example, in this case, the first operating parameter may be a tool temperature of a manufacturing tool of the manufacturing machine. The first operating parameter may also indicate a wear state of the manufacturing machine and / or a component of the manufacturing machine.

[0016] Furthermore, the first operating parameter can also be a material-specific parameter of the material processed by the manufacturing machine, such as granules or melt, or of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine. For example, the material-specific parameter can be the preform temperature, an infrared characteristic value of the preform, an intrinsic viscosity value of the preform, the color of the preform or any other material property of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine. For example, the material-specific parameter can be detected by means of measurement technology by at least one sensor device, which can be assigned to the manufacturing machine or included in the manufacturing machine.

[0017] For example, the first operation may be described by at least one first operating parameter. It may be provided that the first operation may include a plurality of first operating parameters of the manufacturing machine, which parameters may be partially related to the number of preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine in each time interval, or may be partially independent of the number of preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine in each time interval.

[0018] In the second operation, the throughput of preforms or containers available to the container handling machine in each time interval, for example per hour, can be adjusted in particular, or the number of containers passed or applied by the container handling machine in each time interval can be adjusted. For example, the second operation can be adjusted by a second operating parameter of the container handling machine.

[0019] However, the second operation may also be an operation of the at least one container handling machine which has no direct relation to the throughput of preforms or containers obtainable by the at least one container handling machine. For example, the second operation may also be a parameterization of a processing step performed by the at least one container handling machine on the preforms or containers which results in a change in the material properties of the preforms or containers but does not necessarily affect the throughput of containers obtainable by the container handling machine. If the container handling machine is a blow molding machine, for example, the second operating parameter may be a heating profile of the blow molding machine.

[0020] Corresponding to the first operation, the second operation can also be described by at least one second operating parameter. For example, it can be provided that the second operation can include a plurality of second operating parameters of at least one container handling machine, which parameters can be partially related to the number of preforms processed by the container handling machine in each time interval and can also be partially independent of the number of preforms processed by the container handling machine in each time interval.

[0021] Synchronization of the first and second operations may generally be understood as the first operation and the second operation being coordinated with each other. For example, a first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine and a second operating parameter of at least one container handling machine may be coordinated with each other. Here, for example, it may be understood as adjusting the first operating parameter based on the second operating parameter or adjusting the second operating parameter based on the first operating parameter.

[0022] For example, synchronization of the first and second operations can be understood as a first operation of the manufacturing machine and a second operation of the container handling machine being coordinated with each other so that, for example, preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine do not need to be temporarily stored and can be directly further processed by at least one container handling machine arranged downstream in the transport direction, in particular, the throughput (also called output power) of the manufacturing machine and the container handling machine is the same. For example, synchronization of the first and second operations can be performed when the manufacturing machine and / or at least one container handling machine are started by the control unit. Alternatively, synchronization of the first and second operations can also be performed during operation, for example at defined time intervals.

[0023] Furthermore, synchronization can also be understood to mean, for example, that a second operation, for example a heating line of a blow molding machine, is also regulated based on material-specific parameters of the preforms produced by the production machine, for example preform temperature or infrared characteristic values.

[0024] Thus, by means of the container handling device according to the invention, preforms can be manufactured and further processed into containers in the same device, wherein, by synchronizing the first and second operations, the most efficient operation of the container handling device is allowed and the quality of the manufactured preforms is improved. This makes it possible in particular to prevent damage to the preforms due to storage and / or transport, which usually occurs with preforms manufactured externally or with temporary storage of preforms, and to save storage and transport costs. Furthermore, contamination of the preforms due to transport or storage can be prevented. Thus, by blocking the manufacturing machine and at least one container handling machine, and synchronizing the first and second operations, the quality of the containers manufactured from the preforms can be improved and the manufacturing or handling processes can be designed more efficiently.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first operation may comprise an output power of the manufacturing machine, a first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine, which may affect the properties of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine and / or the properties of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine and the second operation comprises a throughput power of at least one container handling machine and / or a second operating parameter of at least one container handling machine, which may affect the properties of the preforms and / or containers processed by the at least one container handling machine. The output power or throughput power refers to the number of preforms / containers output or processed by the manufacturing machine or at least one container handling machine per time interval, for example per hour. For example, under the properties of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine, material-specific parameters of the preforms may be understood, such as the preform temperature, the infrared characteristic value of the preform, the characteristic viscosity of the preform, the color of the preform or any other material property of the preform. This also applies to the properties of the processed preforms and / or containers, which may also be the wall thickness distribution, for example. The output power or throughput power is easy to determine and flexibly adjust, and can therefore be synchronized in a simple manner by the control device.

[0026] In another embodiment, the control unit can be designed to regulate a second operation of the at least one container handling machine based on the first operation of the manufacturing machine. This can be provided in particular when the second operation of the at least one container handling machine is easier to control or regulate than the first operation of the manufacturing machine, or when the manufacturing machine is used as a pilot machine for the container handling devices.

[0027] In a modification of the previous embodiment, the control unit may be configured to determine the first operation based on a cycle time, a number of cavities of a manufacturing tool of the manufacturing machine, a temperature of the preform, an infrared characteristic value of the preform, a characteristic viscosity of the preform and / or a color of the preform. The cycle time refers to the time required to manufacture a preform using a manufacturing machine. A cavity refers to a cavity of a manufacturing tool of the manufacturing machine, into which a liquid material, such as liquid plastic, is injected to manufacture a preform, wherein the shape of the cavity determines the shape of the finished preform. The cycle time and the number of cavities are directly related to the output power of the manufacturing machine and are therefore suitable dimensions for determining the output power.

[0028] In one embodiment, the manufacturing machine may comprise an inspection machine for identifying and sorting defective preforms, and the control unit is formed to adjust the first or second operation based on the number of sorted preforms. Thus, even if the number of containers manufactured by the manufacturing machine per unit time remains constant, the first operation or the output power of the manufacturing machine (as the number of preforms delivered to the next container handling machine per unit time) varies over time due to the sorting of defective preforms, ensuring a synchronized operation between the manufacturing machine and the container handling machine.

[0029] In one embodiment, the control unit can be formed to adjust the first operation of the manufacturing machine based on the second operation of the at least one container handling machine. This can be provided when the first operation of the manufacturing machine is easier to control than the second operation of the at least one container handling machine, or when the at least one container handling machine is intended to be used as a lead machine for the container handling machines.

[0030] In a development of this embodiment, the at least one container handling machine comprises a transport element, and the control unit is designed to determine the second operation based on the receiving capacity of the transport element and / or the container throughput power available by the transport element. The receiving capacity of the transport element and / or the container throughput power of the transport element are directly related to the second operation or the throughput power of the at least one container handling machine and are therefore suitable dimensions for determining the second operation.

[0031] In a modification of one of the two previous embodiments, the adjustment of the first operation of the manufacturing machine includes the adjustment of at least one of the cycle time, the lock-to-lock time, the injection duration, the drying parameter, the manufacturing tool temperature, the multiple post-cooling units assigned to the manufacturing machine and / or the post-cooling duration. The injection duration describes the duration of inserting the material, such as liquid plastic, into the cavity of the manufacturing tool, and the manufacturing tool temperature is the temperature of the manufacturing tool before the material is inserted into the cavity of the manufacturing tool. For example, the post-cooling unit can be designed as a blower and is set to cool the preform to a specific target temperature, and the post-cooling duration describes the duration of the preform being cooled by the post-cooling unit. The lock-to-lock time refers to the time required for the manufacturing tool to be opened and closed. During this period, the manufacturing of the preform cannot be carried out in the manufacturing machine, so the lock-to-lock time can be equivalent to the downtime. The drying parameter can be understood as an operating parameter of the manufacturing machine, which has an impact on the drying process of the manufactured preform. Since the above-mentioned dimensions are directly related to the first operation of the manufacturing machine, they are suitable for adjusting the first operation of the manufacturing machine.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the invention, a method for controlling the operation of a container handling device is provided, wherein the container handling device comprises a manufacturing machine for manufacturing preforms, in particular an injection molding machine, at least one container handling machine arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine in the transport direction of the preforms, and a control unit, wherein the manufacturing machine and the at least one container handling machine block one another, and wherein a first operation of the manufacturing machine and a second operation of the at least one container handling machine are synchronized with one another via the control unit.

[0033] Thus, by means of the method according to the invention, preforms can be manufactured in the same device and further processed into containers. Furthermore, by means of the synchronous operation of the manufacturing machines, temporary storage of the preforms before they are supplied to at least one container processing machine can be avoided. Thus, in particular, storage and transport costs as well as possible damage during storage, transport or temporary storage in a container processing device can be avoided and the quality of the containers produced from the preforms can be improved. Furthermore, the method according to the invention makes it possible to save energy, since the waste heat of the preforms present after the manufacturing process can be used for subsequent processing steps, for example for a blow-molding process.

[0034] In one embodiment, the first operation may include an output power of the manufacturing machine, a first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine, which may affect the properties of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine and / or the properties of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine and the second operation may include a throughput power of at least one container handling machine and / or a second operating parameter of at least one container handling machine, which may affect the properties of the preforms and / or containers handled by the at least one container handling machine. Since the output power, the throughput power, the first and second operating parameters and the specified material-specific parameters may be determined and adjusted relatively easily, these dimensions are particularly suitable for achieving coordination of the first and second operations of the manufacturing machine and the at least one container handling machine.

[0035] In one embodiment, a second operation of at least one container handling machine is adjusted based on a first operation of the manufacturing machine. This can be provided in particular when the first operation of the manufacturing machine is more difficult or less flexible to adjust than the second operation, or when the manufacturing machine is used as a guide machine for container handling devices.

[0036] In a refinement of this embodiment, the first operation is determined based on the cycle time, the number of cavities of a manufacturing tool of a manufacturing machine, the temperature of the preform, the infrared characteristic value of the preform, the intrinsic viscosity of the preform and / or the color of the preform. Since the first two dimensions are directly related to the output power of the manufacturing machine, the output power can be determined simply and accurately via these parameters. The material-specific parameters can in turn influence the processing steps performed on the preforms and / or containers by at least one container handling machine and are therefore suitable for coordinating the first and second operations.

[0037] In one embodiment, the manufacturing machine comprises an inspection machine for identifying and sorting defective preforms, and the first or second operation is adjusted based on the number of sorted preforms. Thus, when sorting defective preforms, a synchronized first and second operation, and an associated time-varying first operation, or a time-varying first output power, can also be ensured.

[0038] In one embodiment, the first operation of the manufacturing machine is regulated based on the second operation of the at least one container handling machine. This can be particularly advantageous when the second operation of the container handling machine is only difficult to regulate or when the at least one container handling machine is intended to be used as a lead machine. Thus, even in this case, a synchronized operation between the manufacturing machine and the at least one container handling machine can be ensured.

[0039] In a refinement of this embodiment, at least one container handling machine comprises a transport component, and the second operation is determined based on the receiving capacity of the transport component and / or the container throughput power available via the transport component, and / or the first operation is adjusted based on the cycle time, the lock-to-lock time, the injection duration, the drying parameters, the temperature of the manufacturing tool, the number of post-cooling units assigned to the manufacturing machine and / or the post-cooling duration. Since the above-mentioned dimensions are directly related to the first or second operation, a simple and accurate determination or a simple and accurate adjustment of the first or second operation can be achieved by determining or adjusting these dimensions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 : A container processing device, comprising a manufacturing machine according to an embodiment and at least one container processing machine DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Figure 1 A container handling device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown, comprising a manufacturing machine 101 and at least one container handling machine 102 arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine 101 in a transport direction 108 of the preforms, wherein the manufacturing machine 101 and the container handling machine 102 block each other, thereby forming a unit. According to the invention, the container handling device 100 further comprises a control unit 103, which is formed to synchronize a first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 and a second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102.

[0042] The manufacturing machine 101 can be formed to manufacture preforms 104. In particular, the manufacturing machine 101 can be arranged to process any type of plastic. However, preferably, these are plastics suitable for manufacturing the preforms 104. For example, the manufacturing machine can be designed to process polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or to manufacture preforms 104 made of PET. Alternatively, the manufacturing machine 101 can also be formed, for example, for processing polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) and for manufacturing preforms 104 made of PE or PP. However, these examples should not be understood as limiting, so any other suitable plastic can also be processed into preforms 104 by the manufacturing machine 101.

[0043] The manufacturing machine can be an injection molding machine. Alternatively, it can also be a device for manufacturing preforms by compression molding, or a device for manufacturing preforms by injection compression molding. However, it can also be any other device suitable for manufacturing preforms. The manufacturing machine 101 can include a manufacturing tool. The manufacturing tool can in turn include a cavity or a cavity, wherein the cavity or cavity can represent a negative impression of the preform 104 to be manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101. For example, the manufacturing tool can also include a plurality of cavities, such as two, five or ten cavities. Therefore, in one process step, a plurality of preforms 104 can be manufactured simultaneously using the manufacturing tool, thereby increasing the output power of the manufacturing machine 101. The manufacturing machine 101 can also include a plurality of post-cooling units for cooling the preforms 104 manufactured by the manufacturing tool to a specific temperature.

[0044] Optionally, the manufacturing machine 101 may include a repository for various different manufacturing tools, wherein different manufacturing tools include cavities or chambers of different shapes, so that different types of preforms 104 can be manufactured using the manufacturing machine 101 as needed.

[0045] In one embodiment, the preforms may be provided sequentially by a manufacturing machine.

[0046] In combination Figure 1 In the embodiment under discussion, at least one container handling machine 102 is designed as a blow molding machine 102. For example, the blow molding machine can be a stretch blow molding machine or an extrusion blow molding machine. The individual steps of the forming process (stretching, blowing) can be performed independently of the geometric position of the preform.

[0047] The blow molding machine 102 can be designed to form the preform 104 provided by the manufacturing machine 101 into any type of container 105. In a preferred embodiment, the container 105 is a bottle used in the beverage industry. However, this design type of the container 105 produced by the blow molding machine should not be understood as being restrictive. Alternatively, the blow molding machine 102 can also be configured to form the preform 104 into a can, glass, cup or tube, such as for beverage, pharmaceutical, health or food industry, or any other container that can be suitable for accommodating any liquid or pasty medium.

[0048] The design type of the at least one container handling machine 102 just discussed as a blow molding machine 102 is to be understood as exemplary. The at least one container handling machine 102 can also be designed as any other type of container handling machine, which is formed to manufacture containers from preforms and / or for processing containers. For example, the container handling machine can also be a container handling machine for pre-treating containers, for example by flame pyrolysis, plasma or corona methods, a filler, a labeler, a direct printing device and / or a sealer. The possible design types of the at least one container handling machine just discussed are to be understood as exemplary and not restrictive.

[0049] In one embodiment, it is also possible to provide a plurality of container handling machines 102 arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine 101 in the transport direction 108 of the preforms 104. For example, a blow molding machine can be arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine 101 in the transport direction 108, a filler can be arranged downstream of the blow molding machine in the transport direction 108, a sealer can be arranged downstream of the filler in the transport direction 108, and a labeler can be arranged downstream of the sealer. However, any other combination or any other number of container handling machines arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine is also conceivable.

[0050] According to the invention, a manufacturing machine 101 and at least one container handling machine 102 are provided, i.e. Figure 1 The blow molding machines 102 discussed in this connection are blocked from each other. Here, in particular, blocking means that the manufacturing machine 101 and the at least one container handling machine 102 form a unit and are connected to each other so that the preforms 104 manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101 can be transferred to the at least one container handling machine 102 for further processing. Figure 1 In the process, a preform 104 manufactured in a manufacturing machine 101 is transferred to a blow molding machine 102 where it is formed into a container 105 .

[0051] Optionally, a first transport device 106 may be provided between the manufacturing machine 101 and the blow molding machine for transferring the preforms to the blow molding machine 102 .

[0052] Optionally, a second transport device 107 downstream of the blow molding machine 102 can also be provided, by means of which the containers 105 formed by the blow molding machine 102 can be transported away from the blow molding machine 102 or can be transferred via another container handling machine arranged in a transport direction 108 downstream of the blow molding machine, which container handling machine is arranged in a transport direction 108 downstream of the blow molding machine. Figure 1 In an alternative embodiment, as described above, for example, a further container handling machine for pre-processing, filling, labeling, printing and / or sealing of the containers 105 may be provided downstream of the blow molding machine 102 .

[0053] In combination Figure 1 In the described embodiment, the optional transport devices 106 and 107 are designed as linear transport devices. This type of design should be understood as an example and not as a limitation.

[0054] Alternatively, it can also be provided that the optional first transport device 106 and the optional second transport device 107 are designed as a rotating star. In this case, for example, at least one of the container handling machines 102 designed here as a blow molding machine 102 can also be designed as a truncated cone machine. In the case of a blow molding machine 102, when designed as a truncated cone machine, it can include a plurality of blow molds for accommodating preforms, wherein the blow molds can be arranged along the circumference of the truncated cone machine. In this case, each blow mold can be assigned a blow molding unit, by which the preforms can be formed in the blow mold by applying compressed air to the container 105.

[0055] According to the invention, the control unit 103 is formed to coordinate a first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 with at least one container handling machine 102 or with Figure 1 A second operation of the blow molding machine 102 discussed in connection therewith is synchronization.

[0056] The first operation may be a number of preforms 104 that can be manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101 per time interval, for example per hour, or may be a number of preforms 104 that can be output, for example per hour, to a transport direction 108 arranged downstream of the container handling machine 102 per time interval, for example per hour. For example, when the manufacturing machine 101 performs an optional preform inspection and is formed to perform defective preforms so that only non-defective preforms are applied to at least one container handling machine 102 or blow molding machine 102, the number of preforms 104 that can be manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101 per time interval and the number of preforms 104 that can be applied by the manufacturing machine 101 per time interval may be different. Alternatively, the first operation may also be, for example, the distance between two preforms, whereby the preforms are output by the manufacturing machine 101. For example, the first operation may be adjusted by a first operating parameter such as a cycle or injection duration or a post-cooling time.

[0057] However, the first operation may also be an operation of the manufacturing machine 101 that is not directly related to each time interval of preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101. In this case, the first operating parameter may also be an operating parameter that may parameterize any component of the manufacturing machine and does not necessarily affect the preform throughput through the manufacturing machine. In this case, the first operating parameter may be, for example, a tool temperature of a manufacturing tool of the manufacturing machine. The first operating parameter may also indicate a wear state of the manufacturing machine and / or a component of the manufacturing machine.

[0058] Furthermore, the first operating parameter may also be a material-specific parameter of the material, such as granules or melt, processed by the manufacturing machine 101, or of the preform manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101. For example, the material-specific parameter may be the preform temperature, the infrared characteristic value of the preform, the intrinsic viscosity value of the preform, the color of the preform or any other material property of the preform manufactured by the manufacturing machine. For example, the material-specific parameter may be detected by means of a measuring technique by at least one optional sensor device. Thus, the optional sensor device may be, for example, a device separate from the manufacturing machine, or may be comprised by the manufacturing machine 101.

[0059] For example, the first operation may be described by at least one first operation parameter.

[0060] It may also be provided that the first operation may comprise a plurality of first operating parameters of the manufacturing machine, which parameters may partly be related to the number of preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine in each time interval and may partly be independent of the number of preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine in each time interval.

[0061] The second operation may be the throughput of preforms or containers obtainable by the container handling machine 102 per time interval, for example per hour, or the number of containers that can be processed by the container handling machine 102 per time interval. For example, the second operation may be regulated by a second operating parameter of the container handling machine. In the case of a blow molding machine, the second operating parameter may be, for example, the preheating duration of the preforms 104 before performing the blow molding operation or the blow molding time.

[0062] However, the second operation may also be an operation of the at least one container handling machine which is not directly related to the throughput of preforms or containers achievable by the container handling machine. For example, the second operation may also be a parameterization of a processing step performed by the container handling machine on the preforms or containers, which parameterization results in a change in the material properties of the preforms or containers but does not necessarily affect the throughput of containers achievable by the at least one container handling machine. If the container handling machine is a blow molding machine, for example, the second operating parameter may be a heating profile of the blow molding machine.

[0063] Corresponding to the first operation, the second operation may also be described by at least one second operation parameter.

[0064] For example, a second operation may also be provided which may include a plurality of second operating parameters of the container handling machine, which parameters may be partially related to the number of preforms and / or containers processed by the container handling machine in each time interval, or may be partially independent of the number of preforms and / or containers processed in each time interval.

[0065] In one embodiment, the first operation may include the output power of the manufacturing machine 101, the first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine, which may affect the characteristics of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101 and / or the characteristics of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101, and the second operation includes the throughput power of at least one container handling machine 102 and / or the second operating parameter of at least one container handling machine, which may affect the characteristics of the preforms and / or containers handled by the at least one container handling machine. The output power of the manufacturing machine 101 and the throughput power of at least one container handling machine 102 are easy to determine and flexibly adjust, and are therefore particularly suitable for synchronizing the first and second operations of the manufacturing machine 101 and the at least one container handling machine 102. The synchronization of the first and second operations can generally be understood as the first operation and the second operation being coordinated with each other. For example, the first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine and the second operating parameter of the at least one container handling machine can be coordinated with each other. Here, for example, it can be understood as adjusting the first operating parameter based on the second operating parameter or adjusting the second operating parameter based on the first operating parameter.

[0066] In a more specific embodiment, for example, synchronizing the first and second operations may mean that the first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 and the second operation of the container handling machine 102 are coordinated with each other so that the preforms produced by the manufacturing machine 101 can be transferred in an orderly manner to the container handling machine arranged in the transport direction 108 downstream of the preforms and further processed there directly without the need to temporarily store the preforms produced by the manufacturing machine in an intermediate buffer unit. Since the preforms are usually stored as bulk material in the intermediate buffer unit and must be separated again before being supplied to at least one container handling machine 102, by synchronizing the first and second operations, the container handling device 100 can not only be operated more efficiently, but also possible damage to the preforms 104 due to the intermediate storage can be avoided. Optionally, such an intermediate buffer device can still be provided.

[0067] Furthermore, it can be provided, for example, that a second operation, for example a heating profile of a blow molding machine, is also regulated based on material-specific parameters of the preforms produced by the manufacturing machine, for example the preform temperature or an infrared characteristic value. Furthermore, it can be provided, for example, that a first operation of the manufacturing machine, which can influence the properties of the preforms produced by the manufacturing machine 101, for example tool cooling of a tool of the manufacturing machine 101, can be regulated based on a second operation of at least one container handling machine 102. In this case, the second operation can be, for example Figure 1The heating profile or any other second operating parameter of the blow molding machine is shown.

[0068] The control unit 103 can be designed as a computer or a computing system and is formed to determine and regulate a first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 and a second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102. To this end, the control unit 103 can be connected to the manufacturing machine 101, for example, via a first cable connection 112 and to the at least one container handling machine 102 or blow molding machine 102 via a second cable connection 109, wherein the control unit 103 can send data to the manufacturing machine 101 and the at least one container handling machine 102 and can also receive data from the machines. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the control unit 103 communicates wirelessly with the manufacturing machine 101 and the at least one container handling machine 102, for example via a wireless connection.

[0069] The control unit 103 may further include a storage unit. The storage unit may store a database, which may include a plurality of first operating parameters for controlling a first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 and a plurality of second operating parameters for controlling a second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102. Specifically, in the database, at least one first operating parameter value may be assigned to a specific first operation of the manufacturing machine 101, and at least one second operating parameter value may be assigned to a specific second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102. Therefore, the control unit 103 may retrieve at least one first operating parameter value necessary to implement a specific first operation of the manufacturing machine based on the data stored in the database, and set at least one operating parameter of the manufacturing machine 101 based on the value to implement the specific first operation of the manufacturing machine 101.

[0070] The same applies analogously to at least one second operating parameter value and a second operation of at least one container handling machine 102. Furthermore, in the database, a corresponding second operation of at least one container handling machine can be assigned to at least one first operation of the manufacturing machine 101, and vice versa, wherein the assignment is selected such that the first and second operations are synchronized. Then, based on the information stored in the database, the control unit 103 can adjust the other operation, for example based on the first or second operation, so that the first and second operations are synchronized. To this end, for example, the control unit 103 can adjust at least one operating parameter of the other operation so that a synchronized operation is achieved. Here, the adjustment can include, for example, setting the first or second operating parameter based on the first or second operating parameter value obtained from the database.

[0071] In an alternative embodiment, for example, it may also be provided that the control unit 103 is connected to the Internet and has access to an external server, wherein the server comprises a database of the just described information stored thereon.

[0072] In one embodiment, the control unit 103 can be connected to the first transport device 106 and / or the second transport device 107 via a cable or wireless connection 110, 111 and is formed to control the first transport device 106 and / or the second transport device 107. For example, the control unit 103 can be formed to control the transport speed of the first and / or second transport device. In the case where the first transport device 106 and / or the second transport device 107 are designed as a rotating star, it can also be provided that the control unit 103 is formed to control the rotation speed of the first and / or second transport device. In one embodiment, it can be provided that, in order to synchronize the first and second operations, the control unit can also control the first and / or second transport device, which can include, for example, controlling the transport speed and / or the rotation speed of the first and / or second transport device.

[0073] In a more particular embodiment, it can be provided that the control unit 103 is formed to regulate a second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102 based on a first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 .

[0074] This can be the case in particular when the manufacturing machine 101 is designed as a lead machine for the container handling device 100. Alternatively, this can also be the case, for example, when the maximum output achieved by the manufacturing machine 101, i.e. the maximum number of preforms 104 that can be output by the manufacturing machine 101 per time interval, for example per hour, is less than the maximum number of preforms 104 that can be processed or output by at least one container handling machine 102 or blow molding machine 102 arranged downstream in the transport direction 108 in the same time interval.

[0075] In order to regulate the second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102, in one embodiment it may be provided that the control unit 103 first determines the first operation based on a first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine 101. If the first operating parameter is a material-specific parameter of the material used to manufacture the preform or a material-specific parameter of the manufactured preform, this may be determined by means of the above-mentioned optional sensor device.

[0076] The control unit 103 can determine the first operation, for example, based on the number of cavities of a manufacturing tool of the manufacturing machine or the cycle time of the manufacturing process. To this end, the control unit 103 can access a database, for example stored in a storage unit, in which a specific first operation is assigned a specific cycle time value and / or a specific number of cavities of the manufacturing tool. For example, such a specific first operation can be the output power of the manufacturing machine, which output power can have a value of, for example, 1000 preforms per hour, 5000 preforms per hour or 200000 preforms per hour. The control unit 103 can then determine the set value of the second operation based on this specific first operation, based on the data stored in the database of the storage unit, and adjust the second operation of the blow molding machine or generally at least one container handling machine 102 accordingly, so that the first operation and the second operation are synchronized. Accordingly, any other first operation parameters can be processed.

[0077] The regulation of the second operation may, for example, comprise the regulation of at least one second operating parameter of the blow molding machine 102 or at least one container handling machine 102. To this end, the at least one second operating parameter may be set to a set value determined using a database. Alternatively, it may also be provided that the regulation is performed by a regulation circuit.

[0078] Furthermore, in one embodiment, it can be provided that the manufacturing machine 101 comprises an inspection machine, by means of which defective preforms can be identified and sorted. To this end, the inspection machine can comprise a first recognition device, which can be designed, for example, as at least one camera. For example, scratched, deformed or otherwise damaged preforms can be identified and sorted directly in the manufacturing machine 101 by means of the recognition device. Thus, it can be ensured that only non-defective preforms 104 are supplied to at least one container handling machine 102 or a blow molding machine arranged downstream in the transport direction, so that the quality of the containers handled by the at least one container handling machine 102 or the quality of the containers manufactured by the blow molding machine 102 can be improved.

[0079] Since in the embodiment just discussed, the output power of the manufacturing machine 101, i.e., the number of defect-free preforms output within a specific time interval, may be less than the number of preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine 101 under specific operating parameters, for example, as described above, it can be determined by at least one operating parameter and / or characteristic of the manufacturing machine, such as the number of cavities of the manufacturing tool, in this embodiment, the number of defective or sorted preforms can be provided for consideration when determining the first operation.

[0080] Thus, in one embodiment, N preforms can be manufactured per unit time by the manufacturing machine. On average, M defective preforms can be sorted out per unit time by the manufacturing machine (e.g., depending on the inspection results as described above), and thus, N to M preforms can be effectively output per unit time by the manufacturing machine. N and M are natural numbers. Then, the control unit can be configured to determine a first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 based on the N to M preforms output per unit time. Then, based on this specific first operation, the control unit 103 can adjust a second operation of at least one container handling machine 102 so that the first and second operations are synchronized with each other.

[0081] In one embodiment, for example, it can be provided that the manufacturing machine 101 is designed to manufacture 2000 (N) preforms per hour and to sort out an average of 30 (M) defective preforms per unit time. Thus, the manufacturing machine effectively outputs 1970 preforms per hour. The operation of the slave container handling machine 102 is then adjusted based on this number, i.e., the 1970 preforms actually output from the manufacturing machine 101 to the slave container handling machine 102. In particular, this embodiment should not be understood as limiting for the specified number of manufactured / or sorted preforms, so any other number of preforms per unit time or any other number of sorted preforms and any other ratio of sorted to manufactured preforms can also be used here. In an alternative embodiment, for example, it can also be provided that 500, 1000 or 5000 preforms are manufactured by the manufacturing machine per hour, and 5, 10 or 40 defective preforms are sorted out per hour. However, N and M can also take any other arbitrary values.

[0082] In order to determine the first operation, in one embodiment, it can also be provided that a second recognition device is arranged at the outlet of the manufacturing machine 101, by which a non-defective preform of at least one container handling machine 102 arranged downstream in the transport direction is provided, which container handling machine 102 can also be designed as at least one camera to determine the number of preforms actually applied within a given time interval. Or, for example, it can also be provided that a second recognition device determines the distance between two preforms 104 output by the manufacturing machine 101, and the first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 is determined based on the distance between the two applied preforms 104. For example, if a defective preform is sorted out by the inspection machine, the distance between the preforms manufactured before and after the defective preform will be twice the distance between two non-defective preforms produced directly in succession. Then, based on this, the regulation of the second operation can be performed so that the first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 and the second operation of the blow molding machine 102 or at least one container handling machine are also synchronized in this case.

[0083] In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 is controlled based on the second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102. This may be the case when the at least one container handling machine 102 is designed as a lead machine of the container handling device 100. Alternatively, it may also be provided, for example, if the maximum throughput achieved by the at least one container handling machine 102, i.e. the maximum number of preforms that can be processed by the container handling machine 102 per time interval, for example per hour, is less than the maximum number of preforms that can be output by the manufacturing machine 101 arranged upstream in the transport direction in the same time interval. However, this may also be provided even when material-specific parameters of the material used for manufacturing the preforms, material-specific parameters of the manufactured preforms or first operating parameters of the manufacturing machine 101 may influence the properties of the preforms manufactured with the manufacturing machine 101, which parameters will be coordinated to the second operation of the at least one container handling machine 102. For example, by appropriately coordinating the first and second operations, the quality of the manufactured containers may be improved. In a more specific embodiment, it can be provided that at least one container handling machine 102 comprises a transport element, and the control unit is formed to determine the second operation based on the receiving capacity of the transport element and / or the container throughput achievable by the transport element. In one embodiment, the transport element can be designed, for example, as a linear transport element, such as a conveyor belt. In an alternative embodiment, the transport element can be designed as a rotating star or a sawtooth star.

[0084] In the case of a linear transport element, for example, the receiving capacity can be given by the width of the linear transport element, in the case of a rotating star by the number of gripper arms of the rotating star, in the case of a sawtooth star by the number of bags of the sawtooth star.

[0085] The container throughput of the linear transport element may also depend on the transport speed at which the linear transport element is operated. In the case of a rotating star or sawtooth star, the container throughput may in turn depend on the rotation speed of the rotating star or sawtooth star.

[0086] Then, based on the second operation of at least one of the container handling machine 102 or the blow molding machine 102 thus determined, the control unit 103 can be formed to adjust the first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 in such a way that the first and second operations are synchronized. As described above, in the relationship of the adjustment of the second operation based on the first operation, the control unit 103 can access a database stored in the storage unit for this purpose. Based on this, the control unit 103 can then, for example, adjust at least one first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine 101 to synchronize the first and second operations.

[0087] Here, the regulation can in particular include the control unit setting at least one first operating parameter to a setpoint value determined according to a database. For example, the regulation can also be performed by a regulating circuit.

[0088] In one embodiment, the adjustment of the first operation may include, for example, the adjustment of at least one of the cycle time, the lock-to-lock time, the injection duration, the drying parameter, the manufacturing tool temperature, a plurality of post-cooling units assigned to the manufacturing machine, and / or the post-cooling duration. The injection duration refers to the duration of inserting the material, such as liquid plastic, into the cavity of the manufacturing tool. The drying parameter can be understood as an operating parameter of the manufacturing machine, which has an impact on the drying process of the manufactured preform. The manufacturing tool temperature is in turn understood as the temperature of the manufacturing tool before the material is inserted into the cavity of the manufacturing tool. For example, the post-cooling unit can be designed as a blower and is arranged to cool the preform to a specific target temperature after it is removed from the manufacturing tool. On the other hand, the post-cooling duration describes the duration of the preform being cooled by the post-cooling unit. The lock-to-lock time refers to the time required for the manufacturing tool to be opened and closed. During this period, no preform can be manufactured in the manufacturing machine, so the lock-to-lock time can be equivalent to the downtime. Since these dimensions are directly related to the first operation and are simple and accurate to control, they are particularly suitable for the adjustment of the first operation.

[0089] In one embodiment, it can be provided that in the event of a malfunction of a component of a container treatment device, such as a container treatment machine or a transport device, the control unit is designed to recognize the malfunction and to adjust the speed of a component of the container treatment device, which is arranged upstream of the malfunctioning component. Thus, in the event of a malfunction, in particular the output power of the component can be adjusted and a regulated continued operation of the container treatment device is allowed. For example, the malfunction may be a bottle breakage in the filler or excessive foaming of the liquid in the filler. However, it may also be any other malfunction of any other component of the container treatment device.

[0090] Then, according to the newly set speed, the operating parameters of the various components of the container handling device can be adjusted individually. For example, the operating parameters can be heating power, pre-blow time, injection parameters, buffer power, rectangular speed, etc.

[0091] As mentioned above, the first operation of the manufacturing machine can also be a material-specific parameter of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine. In this case, for example, it can be provided that the second operation is controlled based on the material-specific parameter of the preforms. By controlling the second operation based on the material-specific parameter, the material-specific parameter can be taken into account in the subordinate processing and in this way the quality of the preforms processed by the at least one container handling machine can be improved.

[0092] For example, if the material-specific parameter is the preform temperature or the infrared characteristic value of the preform, and if Figure 1If the at least one container handling machine 102 is a blow molding machine, the heating profile or any other machine parameter of the blow molding machine can be controlled based on the preform temperature or infrared characteristic value. The control can also be based on any other material-specific parameters of the preform.

[0093] Furthermore, it can be provided that a first operation of the manufacturing machine 101 is controlled based on a second operation of at least one container handling machine, such as a blow molding machine, for example a tool cooling of the manufacturing machine 101. The second operation can be, for example, a speed adjustment of the at least one container handling machine 102 or any other second operating parameter of the at least one container handling machine.

[0094] Generally, any second operation of one of the container handling machines 102 subordinate to the manufacturing machine can be provided to be synchronized with the first operation of the manufacturing machine. For example, this can also include coordinating the drying of granules in the manufacturing machine with the second operation subordinate to at least one container handling machine, up to coordinating the second operation of the labeling machine or packaging machine with the first operation of the manufacturing machine.

[0095] In one embodiment, determining the adjusted operating parameters by a neural network may be provided. The neural network may be a trained neural network. For example, the neural network may access a data set that may be stored locally in the control unit or on an external server (e.g., a cloud) to determine the adjusted operating parameters.

[0096] Alternatively, the adjusted operating parameters may also be determined by a deterministic operating algorithm (e.g., a program with fixed variables and functions). The deterministic operating algorithm may be stored locally on the control unit or externally on a server (e.g., a cloud).

Claims

1. A container handling device (100), comprising a manufacturing machine (101), in particular an injection molding machine, for manufacturing preforms (104), at least one container handling machine (102) arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine (101) in a transport direction (108) of the preforms (104), and a control unit (103), wherein: The manufacturing machine (101) and the at least one container handling machine (102) are blocked from each other, wherein the control unit (103) is configured to synchronize a first operation of the manufacturing machine (101) and a second operation of the at least one container handling machine (102) with each other.

2. The container processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The first operation comprises an output power of the manufacturing machine (101), a first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine (101), which may affect the characteristics of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine (101) and / or the characteristics of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine (101), and the second operation comprises a throughput power of the at least one container handling machine (102) and / or a second operating parameter of the at least one container handling machine, which may affect the characteristics of the preforms and / or containers handled by the at least one container handling machine (102).

3. The container processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The control unit (103) is formed to regulate the second operation of the at least one container handling machine (102) based on the first operation of the manufacturing machine (101).

4. The container processing device according to claim 3, wherein: The control unit (103) is formed to determine the first operation based on the cycle time, the number of cavities of a manufacturing tool of the manufacturing machine (101), the preform temperature, the infrared characteristic value of the preform, the intrinsic viscosity of the preform and / or the color of the preform.

5. The container processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The manufacturing machine (101) comprises an inspection machine for identifying and sorting defective preforms, and the control unit (103) is formed to adjust the first or second operation based on the number of sorted preforms.

6. The container processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: The control unit (103) is formed to regulate the first operation of the manufacturing machine (101) based on the second operation of the at least one container handling machine (102).

7. The container processing device according to claim 6, wherein: The at least one container handling machine (102) comprises a transport component, and the control unit (103) is formed to determine the second operation based on a receiving capacity of the transport component and / or a container throughput achievable by the transport component.

8. The container processing device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: The adjustment of the first operation of the manufacturing machine (101) comprises adjustment of at least one of a cycle time, a lock-to-lock time, an injection duration, a drying parameter, a manufacturing tool temperature, a plurality of post-cooling units assigned to the manufacturing machine and / or a post-cooling duration.

9. A method for controlling the operation of a container handling device (100), wherein: The container handling device (100) comprises a manufacturing machine (101), in particular an injection molding machine, for manufacturing preforms (104), at least one container handling machine (102) arranged downstream of the manufacturing machine (101) in a transport direction (108) of the preforms (104), and a control unit (103), wherein the manufacturing machine (101) and the at least one container handling machine (102) block each other, wherein a first operation of the manufacturing machine (101) and a second operation of the at least one container handling machine (102) are synchronized with each other via the control unit (103).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The first operation comprises an output power of the manufacturing machine (101), a first operating parameter of the manufacturing machine, which may affect the characteristics of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine (101) and / or the characteristics of the preforms manufactured by the manufacturing machine (101) and the second operation comprises a throughput power of the at least one container handling machine (102) and / or a second operating parameter of the at least one container handling machine, which may affect the characteristics of the preforms and / or containers handled by the at least one container handling machine.

11. The method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein: The second operation of the at least one container handling machine (102) is adjusted based on the first operation of the manufacturing machine (101).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein: The first operation is determined based on the cycle time, the number of cavities of a manufacturing tool of the manufacturing machine (101), the preform temperature, the infrared characteristic value of the preform, the intrinsic viscosity of the preform and / or the color of the preform.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein: The manufacturing machine (101) comprises an inspection machine for identifying and sorting defective preforms, and adjusting the first or second operation based on the number of sorted preforms.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein: The first operation of the manufacturing machine (101) is adjusted based on the second operation of the at least one container handling machine (102).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: The at least one container handling machine (102) comprises a transport component, and the second operation is determined based on a receiving capacity of the transport component and / or a container throughput achievable by the transport component, and / or the first operation is adjusted based on a cycle time, a lock-to-lock time, an injection duration, a drying parameter, a manufacturing tool temperature, a number of post-cooling units assigned to the manufacturing machine and / or a post-cooling duration.

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