Regulating circuit for container cooling

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for manufacturing and processing containers, comprising: a preform manufacturing machine (101), in particular an injection molding machine, for manufacturing preforms; at least one container production unit (102) for producing containers from the preforms; at least one container processing unit (104) downstream of the container manufacturing unit (102) for processing the containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit (102); a cooling unit (103) for cooling the containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit (102), the cooling unit (103) being arranged after the container manufacturing unit (102); and wherein the cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured containers, in particular the bottoms of the manufactured containers, with a cooling medium as a function of the control parameters of the preform manufacturing machine (101) and / or as a function of the control parameters of the container manufacturing unit (102) and / or as a function of the container handling unit (104).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing and processing containers in the food and beverage industry, wherein preforms produced by an injection molding process or by other processes, for example by stretch blow molding, are formed into containers. Background Art

[0002] In known processes for producing containers, in particular plastic containers, the production of the preform and the production of the container from the preform are separated in space and time by stretch blow moulding of the preform.

[0003] For example, the preforms are produced at one location, stored as bulk goods and later transported to a container production plant at another location, where they are sorted and separated again and fed to a stretch blow molding machine.

[0004] These known production processes are logistically complex, expensive and prone to failure.

[0005] Furthermore, the known production processes have a high energy demand in terms of temperature control, ie for heating and cooling the preforms and containers. Together with the long transport paths required from preform production to container production, this leads to a poor carbon balance of the known production processes.

[0006] Furthermore, in known production processes, temperature fluctuations may occur, which may have a negative impact on the stability and quality of the container produced from plastic. Summary of the invention

[0007] Purpose

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and an improved method for manufacturing and processing containers manufactured from preforms by forming in the food and beverage industry.

[0009] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for manufacturing and processing containers produced from preforms by forming in the food and beverage industry that improves efficiency, in particular energy efficiency, economy, environmental compatibility, product quality, hygiene and susceptibility to failure.

[0010] Solution

[0011] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the claimed subject matter.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments and developments are the subject matter of further claims.

[0013] Therefore, the present invention particularly provides an apparatus for manufacturing and processing containers, which may include the following components:

[0014] Preform making machines for making preforms, in particular injection moulding machines;

[0015] at least one container manufacturing unit for manufacturing containers from preforms manufactured by the preform manufacturing machine;

[0016] at least one container processing unit located downstream of the container manufacturing unit for processing the containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit;

[0017] at least one cooling unit, in particular a controllable cooling unit, for cooling the containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit, wherein the at least one cooling unit is arranged after the container manufacturing unit, for example, wherein the at least one cooling unit can be arranged between the container manufacturing unit and the container handling unit, and wherein the cooling unit can be configured to cool, in particular automatically, the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, with a cooling medium as a function of control parameters of the preform manufacturing machine and / or as a function of control parameters of the container manufacturing unit and / or as a function of the container handling unit.

[0018] The containers and preforms described herein may here in particular be understood as containers and preforms which are made of a material comprising or made of a plastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0019] The exemplary cooling unit may be arranged after the container manufacturing unit, for example, the exemplary cooling unit may be arranged between the container manufacturing unit and the container processing unit, or the exemplary cooling unit may be arranged between two container processing units.

[0020] According to the device described above and in this article, a control loop, in particular an automatic control loop, can be formed or realized for cooling containers produced in a container manufacturing unit, in particular for cooling the bottom of the manufactured containers, wherein the preform manufacturing machine, at least one container manufacturing unit, at least one container handling unit located downstream of the container manufacturing unit and at least one cooling unit can be connected to each other, for example can be connected to each other in a block.

[0021] This can lead, among other things, to an optimization of the energy efficiency of the container manufactured from the preform, in particular to an optimized cooling of the container, in particular of the container bottom, which can have a favorable influence on the dimensional stability and stability of the manufactured container. Among other things, insufficient ground clearance of the manufactured container, i.e. a ground clearance that is too low, can be avoided.

[0022] Containers made of PET can be very sensitive to temperature fluctuations and the cooling control circuit described here can be used to optimally control the temperature of the containers.

[0023] As a result, the quality of the manufactured containers can be improved, the rejection rate of defective, for example unstable, containers can be reduced, and the energy requirement for cooling the containers, for example air cooling and / or water cooling, can be reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, automation of the cooling control or automation of the control loop makes it possible that the container cooling system, in particular the container bottom cooling system, requires less manual intervention or manual adjustments, and any faults in the cooling can be identified more easily and automatically and can be eliminated more easily and quickly. This is beneficial, among other things, to increasing production efficiency.

[0025] All exemplary components of the plant, ie the preform manufacturing machine, the at least one container manufacturing unit, the at least one container handling unit located downstream of the container manufacturing unit and the at least one cooling unit, can be connected to one another in one block.

[0026] Due to the direct link or connection of the preform manufacturing process and the production of containers from preforms at the same location, for example, the transport costs and storage costs of the preforms can be significantly reduced or completely saved, since the preforms no longer have to be transported over long transport paths from the plant for producing the preforms to the container production plant.

[0027] The exemplary at least one container handling unit may be or include a labeler or a filler.

[0028] For example, at least one cooling unit for cooling containers produced in a container production unit can be arranged directly or indirectly upstream of at least one container treatment unit for cooling containers before a labeler and / or a filler.

[0029] The apparatus may further comprise a preform processing unit for processing the containers produced by the preform producing machine.

[0030] For example, the optional preform handling unit may be a preform cleaning unit and / or a preform sterilization unit, wherein the preform handling unit may be located upstream of the container manufacturing unit.

[0031] The exemplary cooling unit may then also be configured, for example, to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, depending on control parameters of the preform handling unit.

[0032] The cooling medium that may be used by the exemplary cooling units described above and herein may be a gaseous cooling medium, such as air, and / or the cooling medium may be a liquid cooling medium, such as water.

[0033] For example, the cooling unit can be designed as a blower, which can blow a gaseous cooling medium, such as air, onto or toward the container to be cooled, in particular onto or toward the bottom of the container to be cooled.

[0034] In this case, the cooling medium can be directed from the outside to the outside of the container to be cooled, in particular to the outside of the bottom of the container to be cooled, for example by blowing or spraying.

[0035] The exemplary at least one container manufacturing unit for manufacturing containers from preforms may be a stretch blow molding machine.

[0036] Then, the exemplary cooling unit may also be configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to control parameters of the stretch blow molding machine.

[0037] For example, the exemplary cooling unit can be configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to one or more or all of the following control parameters of the stretch blow molding machine: pre-blowing pressure, intermediate blowing pressure, final blowing pressure, the time curve of the pressure or the time curve of one or more pressure curves of the pressure, temperature, control parameters of the heating module of the stretch blow molding machine, and control parameters of the cooling module of the stretch blow molding machine.

[0038] The exemplary preform making machine for making the preform may be an injection molding machine.

[0039] Then, the exemplary cooling unit may also be configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to control parameters of the injection molding machine.

[0040] In particular, the exemplary cooling unit can also be configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to one or more or all of the following control parameters of the injection molding machine: holding pressure, injection pressure, injection flow, injection curve, temperature, switching volume or switching point.

[0041] In injection molding, the plastic shrinks during cooling. In order to be able to compensate for this shrinkage, the material can continue to be pressed into the cavity after the volumetric mold filling. The phase in which the screw continues to exert pressure on the melt is called the holding pressure or holding pressure phase.

[0042] The exemplary container handling unit may be a filling machine for filling manufactured containers.

[0043] Then, the exemplary cooling unit may also be configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to one or more or all of the following control parameters of the filling machine: filling temperature, filling dosage.

[0044] The device described above and herein by way of example may comprise a superordinate programmable control unit, wherein the control unit may be configured to control and regulate all machines and units of the device described above and herein by way of example.

[0045] In particular, possible exemplary control units may be programmed to control said exemplary cooling units, in particular according to specified control parameters of the machines and units of the apparatus mentioned above and herein.

[0046] The cooling medium can be directed from the cooling unit to the outside of the container to be cooled, in particular to the outside of the bottom of the container to be cooled, for example by blowing or spraying, and its intensity can also depend on the control parameters mentioned above and in this article of the machines and units of the equipment mentioned above and in this article.

[0047] An exemplary method for cooling a container made from a preform may include the following steps:

[0048] cooling the container produced from the preform by means of a cooling unit, in particular cooling the bottom of the container produced from the preform by means of a cooling medium, for example by means of a gaseous cooling medium, for example air, and / or by means of a liquid cooling medium, for example water,

[0049] and wherein the cooling is regulated according to control parameters of a preform making machine for making the preforms,

[0050] and / or wherein the cooling is regulated as a function of control parameters of a container manufacturing unit for manufacturing containers from preforms,

[0051] and / or wherein the cooling is regulated in dependence on control parameters of a container handling unit for handling containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit.

[0052] In this case, cooling control as a function of the control variable may be understood in particular to mean control in a control loop.

[0053] Furthermore, it is conceivable, for example, to regulate the cooling as a function of control parameters of an injection molding machine for producing the preforms and / or as a function of control parameters of a stretch blow molding machine for producing containers from the preforms and / or as a function of control parameters of a filling machine for filling the produced containers.

[0054] Cooling of the container, in particular cooling of the bottom of the container, can be achieved by applying a cooling medium to the outside of the container, for example by blowing or spraying the cooling medium to the outside of the container.

[0055] For example, the cooling medium may be a gaseous cooling medium, such as air, and may be blown to the outside of the container, in particular to the outside of the bottom of the container.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, for example, the cooling medium may be a gaseous cooling medium, such as air, and may be blown towards the interior of the container, in particular the interior of the bottom of the container, during the container filling process.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally, the cooling medium may be a liquid cooling medium, such as water, and may be sprayed or injected to the outside of the container, in particular to the outside of the bottom of the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] Further exemplary aspects or other exemplary aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example by the following drawings:

[0059] Figure 1 : Example equipment

[0060] Figure 2 : Exemplary Methods DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Figure 1 An exemplary apparatus 100 for manufacturing and processing containers having a plurality of machines or units 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 is schematically shown.

[0062] For example, the apparatus 100 may comprise a preform manufacturing machine 101 for manufacturing preforms, in particular an injection molding machine.

[0063] Likewise, the apparatus 100 may comprise a container manufacturing unit 102 for manufacturing containers from preforms, such as a stretch blow molding machine.

[0064] Likewise, the apparatus 100 may comprise a container handling unit 103 downstream of the container manufacturing unit 102 for handling containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit 102, such as a labelling machine, such as a container decorating machine with container printing or other labelling, such as with a laser labelling unit or a filling machine.

[0065] Furthermore, the device 100 may comprise a cooling unit 104 for cooling the containers produced in the container production unit 102 , wherein the cooling unit 104 is arranged, for example, downstream of the container production unit 102 .

[0066] In the example shown, the cooling unit 104 is arranged after the container treatment unit 103. However, it may also be arranged before the container treatment unit 103, for example.

[0067] The exemplary cooling unit 104 can be configured to cool the container manufactured in the container manufacturing unit 102, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, with a cooling medium according to control parameters of the preform manufacturing machine 101 and / or according to control parameters of the container manufacturing unit 102 and / or according to the container handling unit 103.

[0068] As an example, a possible superordinate programmable control unit 105 of the device 100 is also shown, wherein the control unit can be configured to control and regulate the machines and units 101 , 102 , 103 and 104 of the device 100 .

[0069] In particular, a possible exemplary control unit 105 may be programmed to control said exemplary cooling unit 104, in particular according to the mentioned control parameters of the machines and units 101, 102, 103, 104 of the apparatus 100 mentioned above and herein.

[0070] The machines and units 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 of the device 100 may be connected to each other in one block.

[0071] Figure 2 An exemplary schematic flow chart of an exemplary method 200 for cooling a container manufactured from a preform is shown, which may include the following steps:

[0072] cooling 201 the container produced from the preform by means of a cooling unit, in particular cooling the bottom of the container produced from the preform by means of a cooling medium, for example by means of a gaseous cooling medium, for example air, and / or by means of a liquid cooling medium, for example water,

[0073] and wherein the cooling is regulated 202 according to control parameters of a preform manufacturing machine for manufacturing the preforms,

[0074] and / or wherein the cooling is regulated 202 according to control parameters of a container manufacturing unit for manufacturing the container from the preform,

[0075] and / or wherein the cooling is regulated 202 according to control parameters of a container processing unit for processing containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit,

[0076] and wherein cooling of the container, in particular cooling of the bottom of the container, is achieved by applying 203 a cooling medium to the exterior of the container.

[0077] In this case, cooling control as a function of the control variable may be understood in particular to mean control in a control loop.

[0078] Then Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0079] The reference numerals are as follows:

[0080] 100 Exemplary apparatus for manufacturing and processing containers

[0081] 101 Prefabricated Parts Making Machine

[0082] 102 Container Manufacturing Unit

[0083] 103 Container Handling Unit

[0084] 104 Cooling Unit

[0085] 105 Control Unit

[0086] 200 Exemplary method for cooling a container made from a preform

[0087] 201 Methods and Steps

[0088] 202 Methods and Steps

[0089] 203 Methods and Steps

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for manufacturing and processing containers, the apparatus comprising: A preform manufacturing machine (101) for manufacturing preforms, in particular an injection molding machine; at least one container manufacturing unit (102) for manufacturing containers from said preforms; at least one container processing unit (104) located downstream of the container manufacturing unit (102) for processing the containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit (102); a cooling unit (103) for cooling the container manufactured in the container manufacturing unit (102), wherein the cooling unit (103) is arranged after the container manufacturing unit (102); and The cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, with a cooling medium according to the control parameters of the preform manufacturing machine (101) and / or according to the control parameters of the container manufacturing unit (102) and / or according to the container processing unit (104).

2. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein The container handling unit (104) is a labelling machine, for example a container decorating machine with container printing or other labelling, for example with a laser labelling unit or a filling machine.

3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The apparatus further comprises a preform handling unit for handling containers manufactured by the preform manufacturing machine, such as a preform cleaning unit and / or a preform sterilization unit, wherein the preform handling unit is located upstream of the container manufacturing unit (102), and wherein the cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to control parameters of the preform handling unit.

4. The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The cooling medium is a gaseous cooling medium, such as air, and / or wherein the cooling medium is a liquid cooling medium, such as water.

5. The device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein The cooling medium is a gaseous cooling medium, and wherein the cooling unit (103) is designed as a blower.

6. The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The at least one container manufacturing unit (102) for manufacturing a container from the preform is a stretch blow molding machine, and wherein the cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to control parameters of the stretch blow molding machine.

7. The device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein The cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to one or more or all of the following control parameters of the stretch blow molding machine: pre-blowing pressure, final blowing pressure, intermediate blowing pressure, time curve of pressure, temperature, control parameters of the heating module of the stretch blow molding machine, and control parameters of the cooling module of the stretch blow molding machine.

8. The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The preform manufacturing machine (101) for manufacturing preforms is an injection molding machine, and wherein the cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to control parameters of the injection molding machine.

9. The device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein: The cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured container, in particular the bottom of the manufactured container, according to one or more or all of the following control parameters of the injection molding machine: holding pressure, injection pressure, injection flow rate, injection curve, temperature.

10. The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The container processing unit (104) is a filling machine for filling the manufactured containers, and wherein the cooling unit (103) is configured to cool the manufactured containers, in particular the bottom of the manufactured containers, according to one or more or all of the following control parameters of the filling machine: filling temperature, filling dose, filling pressure, pre-pressing time, release time, filling pressure curve, filling temperature.

11. The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a superordinate programmable control unit, wherein: The control unit is configured to control and regulate all machines and units of the device (100), and wherein the control unit is particularly programmed to control the cooling unit (103).

12. A method (200) for cooling a container made from a preform, the method comprising: cooling (201) the container produced from the preform by means of a cooling unit (103), in particular cooling the bottom of the container produced from the preform by means of a cooling medium, for example by means of a gaseous cooling medium, for example air, and / or by means of a liquid cooling medium, for example water, And wherein the cooling is regulated according to control parameters of a preform manufacturing machine (101) for manufacturing the preforms, and / or wherein the cooling is regulated according to control parameters of a container manufacturing unit (102) for manufacturing containers from the preforms, and / or wherein the cooling is regulated according to control parameters of a container processing unit (104) for processing the containers manufactured in the container manufacturing unit (102).

13. The method (200) according to the preceding claim, wherein: The cooling is regulated according to control parameters of an injection molding machine for producing the preforms, and / or wherein the cooling is regulated according to control parameters of a stretch blow molding machine for producing containers from the preforms, and / or wherein the cooling is regulated according to control parameters of a filling machine for filling the produced containers.

14. The method (200) according to any one of the preceding method claims, wherein: The container, in particular the bottom of the container, is cooled by applying (203) the cooling medium to the outside of the container.

15. The method (200) according to the preceding claim, wherein: The cooling medium is a gaseous cooling medium, such as air, and is blown to the outside of the container, in particular to the outside of the bottom of the container; and / or wherein the cooling medium is a gaseous cooling medium, such as air, and is blown to the inside of the container, in particular to the inside of the bottom of the container during the container inflation process.

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