Device and method for producing a plastic preform and measuring the temperature of the produced plastic preform

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for producing plastic preforms and for measuring the temperature of the produced plastic preforms. The invention relates to a device (101) for producing plastic containers (20), comprising: a production device (102) for producing plastic preforms, the production device (102) having a plurality of production units (103), each suitable and designed for producing a plastic preform (10) in a plastic mass; the invention relates to a device (101) for producing plastic preforms (10) from a production device (102), a forming device (110), the forming device (110) having a plurality of forming stations (112), the device (101) having at least one transfer device (104, 105, 130), which is suitable and designed to transfer the plastic preforms (10) from the production device (102) to the forming device (110) at least in sections, the device (101) further having a first temperature detection device (120, 121), the invention relates to a device for detecting the temperature of individual plastic preforms (10) produced by a production device (102), which is suitable and designed to detect the temperature of individual plastic preforms (10) produced by the production device (102), characterized in that the device also has at least one dispensing device (114), the device is suitable and designed to be used for distributing a manufacturing unit (103) for manufacturing the plastic preforms and / or a forming station (112) for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers (20) for the plastic preforms (10) which are detected to be over-temperature, wherein the manufacturing unit (103) is used for manufacturing the plastic preforms and / or the forming station (112) is used for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for manufacturing plastic containers (especially plastic bottles). Background Art

[0002] Such devices and methods have long been known from the prior art. It is well known that plastic preforms are first heated and then formed into plastic containers in equipment such as blow molding machines.

[0003] Some machines have been disclosed in between, and their production equipment also has manufacturing devices for manufacturing these plastic preforms, such as injection molding machines. The purpose is to directly further process the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device to save the energy required for heating the plastic preforms.

[0004] A method and a device for testing preforms are known from DE 10 2016 118 670 A1. Among them, the preforms or plastic preforms are conveyed, and the thermal images of these preforms are recorded.

[0005] An optical inspection system for plastic preforms is known from WO 2018 / 036857 A1. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to improve the control of such devices. According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and improvements are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the present invention, a device for manufacturing plastic containers has a manufacturing device for manufacturing plastic preforms, wherein these plastic preforms are adapted and designed to be formed into plastic containers. In addition, the manufacturing device also has a plurality of manufacturing units, and each of these manufacturing units is adapted and designed to manufacture plastic preforms from plastic masses or plastics (especially in a flowable state).

[0008] Each of these manufacturing units preferably is adapted to manufacture a single plastic preform. Therefore, the manufacturing unit is preferably a molding die adapted and designed to manufacture a single plastic preform. Specifically, the manufacturing device is an injection molding machine.

[0009] The device also has a forming device, which is adapted and designed to form the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device into plastic containers, wherein the forming device has a plurality of forming stations, and each of them is adapted and designed to apply a flowable medium, especially a gaseous medium, especially compressed air, to the plastic preform in order to form the plastic preform into a plastic container.

[0010] Furthermore, the device has at least one conveying device which is adapted and designed to convey plastic preforms from the manufacturing device to the forming device at least in segments individually, wherein the device also has a first inspection device and / or a temperature detection device which is adapted and designed to detect the temperature of the individual plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device (in particular in a spatially resolved manner).

[0011] The temperature detection device or the inspection device is preferably adapted and designed to detect the temperature of a first region of the plastic preform in a spatially resolved manner.

[0012] According to the invention, the device also has at least one distribution device which is adapted and designed to assign the manufacturing unit that manufactured the temperature-detected plastic preform and / or the forming station that will form the plastic preform into a plastic container to the plastic preform.

[0013] For example, images of a plurality of plastic preforms can be recorded and the plastic preforms in the images can be assigned to the respective manufacturing units or forming stations. It is also possible to assign images of individual plastic preforms and then assign these plastic preforms to the manufacturing units and / or forming stations.

[0014] The device preferably has a storage device in which the images recorded by the image recording device are stored at least temporarily.

[0015] Therefore, the invention proposes: detecting the temperature of the plastic preform and in particular using this temperature to control the manufacturing device and / or the forming device, in particular to control the parameters characterizing the manufacturing and / or forming process.

[0016] This enables dynamic control of the parameters of the forming device and / or the manufacturing device. For example, the parameters of the forming device can be the pre-blowing pressure, the intermediate blowing pressure or the final blowing pressure, the time characteristics of the pressure profile near a certain / some temperature and / or the temperature profile / distribution before and after the movement of the stretching rod, or the cooling in the heating module, etc.

[0017] For example, the parameters of the manufacturing device can be the holding pressure time, the injection pressure, the injection flow rate, the injection profile, the injection temperature, the switching volume, the injection speed, the mass temperature, the mold temperature, the screw rotation speed, the holding pressure or the switching point, the temperature regulation of the re-cooling unit, etc.

[0018] Generally speaking, targeted utilization of the waste heat generated during the injection molding process can reduce the energy consumption of the heating module of the stretch blow molding machine. In addition, since fluctuations can be compensated, a larger process window can be obtained, thereby obtaining more stable operating performance. This provides more possibilities for the lightweighting of plastic containers made by the stretch blow molding process.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the forming device is a blow molding machine, in particular a stretch blow molding machine. Preferably, the forming device has a movable, in particular rotatable, carrier on which the forming stations are arranged.

[0020] Preferably, each of the forming stations has a rod-shaped body, in particular a so-called stretching rod, which can be inserted into the plastic preform to cause longitudinal expansion of the plastic preform. In addition, the forming stations preferably each have a valve block, so that a flowable medium, in particular compressed air, especially different pressures, can be applied to the plastic preform.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the temperature detection device is arranged along the transfer path along which the plastic preform is transferred from the manufacturing device to the forming device. Therefore, the (first) temperature detection device is preferably arranged between the manufacturing device and the forming device. Particularly preferably, the transfer device is adapted and designed to detect the temperature of the plastic preform and / or at least one value characterizing the temperature of the plastic preform, especially during the movement of the plastic preform.

[0022] In addition, the device preferably also has a temperature control device for tempering the manufactured plastic preforms, in particular a cooling device for cooling the manufactured plastic preforms. The cooling device is preferably adapted and designed to cool a predetermined number of plastic preforms simultaneously.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the manufacturing device has at least 20, preferably at least 30, preferably at least 40, preferably at least 50, preferably at least 80, preferably at least 100 manufacturing units. Preferably, the manufacturing device has at most 200, preferably at most 180, preferably at most 160 manufacturing units.

[0024] Among them, these manufacturing units can be arranged on a common carrier. These manufacturing units are preferably oriented in the same way, so that the plastic preforms manufactured therein are preferably also oriented in the same way and / or oriented parallel to each other.

[0025] In another advantageous embodiment, the forming device has at least 4, preferably at least 8, preferably at least 10, preferably at least 20 forming stations. In another preferred embodiment, the forming device has at most 100, preferably at most 80, particularly preferably at most 60 forming stations.

[0026] In another advantageous embodiment, the first temperature detection device has at least one image recording device, in particular a camera, especially a thermal imaging camera. Particularly preferably, the first temperature detection device has a plurality of first thermal imaging cameras. These image recording devices, especially thermal imaging cameras, are preferably arranged along a line inclined to or especially perpendicular to the transfer path of the plastic preform.

[0027] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a second temperature detection device which is adapted and designed to detect the temperature of a second region of the plastic preform, wherein the first region of the plastic preform and the second region of the plastic preform are different from each other.

[0028] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has an inspection device which is adapted and designed to detect at least one characteristic value characterizing the plastic preform and / or in particular a characteristic value characterizing the second region of the plastic preform.

[0029] The characteristic value is preferably selected from a group of characteristic values including the geometry of the plastic preform, the color of the plastic preform, the humidity of the plastic preform, the intrinsic viscosity (IV value of the plastic preform), the temperature of the plastic preform, the stress pattern, etc.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the first region of the plastic preform is the mouth region of the plastic preform. Particularly preferably, the second region of the plastic preform is the base body of the plastic preform, preferably the region formed by the forming device. The above-mentioned mouth region is preferably not formed by the forming device.

[0031] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a heating device between the manufacturing device and the forming device, which is adapted and designed to heat the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device, in particular at least in sections.

[0032] The heating device preferably has a conveying device for conveying the plastic preform and at least one heater for heating the plastic preform.

[0033] The conveying device is preferably designed as an endless conveying chain, on which a plurality of holding devices for holding the plastic preform, in particular holding mandrels, are arranged. The heating device preferably also has a rotating device which rotates the plastic preform relative to its longitudinal axis during the heating process.

[0034] The heater is preferably an infrared heater which applies infrared radiation to the plastic preform for heating purposes. However, a microwave heating device can also be used to heat the plastic preform by microwaves.

[0035] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has other second inspection devices and / or temperature detection devices which are adapted and designed to detect the temperature of the plastic preform heated and / or heated by the heating device between the manufacturing device and the forming device, wherein the other temperature detection device is preferably adapted and designed to detect the temperature of the plastic preform in a spatially resolved manner at least in the longitudinal direction of the plastic preform.

[0036] In particular, the other temperature detection device is adapted and designed to detect the temperature of a single plastic preform.

[0037] The other temperature detection device can be designed as a plurality of pyrometers stacked longitudinally along the plastic preform. However, particularly preferably, the other temperature detection device is also designed as an image recording device, in particular a thermal imaging camera, which records and / or is adapted and designed to record an image or a thermal image of the plastic preform.

[0038] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has another dispensing device for dispensing a forming station, in particular a forming station that will heat these plastic preforms, to the plastic preforms that are being conveyed and / or heated by the heating device. In addition, the dispensing device can also dispense a manufacturing unit to the plastic preforms detected by the other temperature detection device.

[0039] In another preferred embodiment, the conveying device for conveying the plastic preform from the manufacturing device to the forming device or in the direction of the forming device has a movable carrier, which has a plurality of receiving devices for receiving the plastic preforms in the same orientation.

[0040] For example, the conveying device can have a tray, which has a number of grooves each adapted and designed to accommodate a single plastic preform.

[0041] Particularly preferably, the conveying device has at least two different conveying members for conveying the plastic preforms. At least one of the conveying members is preferably selected from a group of conveying members including a conveying star wheel, a conveying chain, a conveyor belt, etc.

[0042] At least one of the conveying members preferably has a grasping device for grasping the plastic preforms. These grasping devices can be, for example, grasping clips or holding mandrels.

[0043] Preferably, at least one temperature detection device is arranged on the conveying path of the carrier, preferably both temperature detection devices are arranged on the conveying path of the carrier, and preferably can perform individual temperature detection on a single plastic preform.

[0044] In another advantageous embodiment, at least one conveying device is adapted and designed to continuously and individually convey the plastic preforms from the manufacturing device to the forming device. This means that, in particular, on the conveying path between the manufacturing device and the forming device, each conveyed plastic preform can always be assigned to the manufacturing unit that manufactures the plastic preform and / or the forming station that will form the plastic preform into a plastic container.

[0045] In this way, specific plastic preforms can be assigned to the manufacturing units and / or the forming stations. Thus, it is possible to control the manufacturing device and / or the forming device while taking into account the individually detected temperatures of the respective plastic preforms. Here, it is possible to detect the temperature of each single conveyed plastic preform, but it is also possible, for example, to detect only the temperature of every nth plastic preform.

[0046] In another advantageous embodiment, the manufacturing units each have a marking device which is adapted and designed to set a mark on the manufactured plastic preform or the plastic preform to be manufactured, the mark at least characterizing the manufacturing unit which has manufactured the relevant plastic preform. Such a mark can be placed, for example, on the carrier ring of these plastic preforms. This can be done in particular during the manufacturing process of the plastic preforms.

[0047] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has at least one inspection device which is adapted to determine at least one characteristic value characterizing the plastic preform, where the characteristic value can preferably also be assigned to the manufacturing unit which manufactures the plastic preform and / or the forming station which will form the plastic preform into a plastic container.

[0048] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing plastic containers, in which a manufacturing device manufactures plastic preforms, which are adapted and designed to be formed into plastic containers. Furthermore, the manufacturing device has a plurality of manufacturing units, each of which manufactures a plastic preform from a plastic mass (and / or plastic which is flowable during the manufacturing process).

[0049] Preferably, the plastic is PET.

[0050] Furthermore, a forming device forms the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device into plastic containers, in particular plastic bottles, where the forming device has a plurality of forming stations, each of which applies a flowable medium (in particular gaseous) to the plastic preform to form it into a plastic container.

[0051] Furthermore, at least one conveying device conveys the plastic preforms from the manufacturing device to the forming device at least in segments individually. In addition, a first temperature detection device is provided which detects the temperature of the individual plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device (and / or a characteristic value characterizing such a temperature).

[0052] The first temperature detection device preferably detects the temperature of a first region of the plastic preform (in particular in a spatially resolved manner, especially at least in the longitudinal direction of the plastic preform in a spatially resolved manner).

[0053] According to the present invention, there is also provided at least one dispensing device that dispenses a manufacturing unit that manufactures the plastic preform whose temperature has been detected by the first temperature detection device and / or a forming station that will form the plastic preform into a plastic container. Among them, the (average) temperature of each plastic preform or a certain area of each plastic preform can be detected, but the temperature within this area (such as the mouth area or the base) can also be detected in a spatially resolved manner.

[0054] Particularly preferably, the second temperature detection device detects the temperature of the second area of the plastic preform. Preferably, at least one temperature detection device, preferably two temperature detection devices, both detect the temperature of the first area and / or the second area of the plastic preform during the transfer movement of the plastic preform.

[0055] Particularly preferably, other heating devices heat the already manufactured plastic preform before it reaches the forming device. Description of the Drawings

[0056] Further advantages and embodiments can be derived from the drawings:

[0057] Among them:

[0058] Figure 1 is a rough schematic diagram of the device of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 2 is a first view of a manufacturing device for manufacturing plastic preforms; and

[0060] Figure 3 is Figure 2 another view of the shown manufacturing device. Detailed Embodiments

[0061] Figure 1 A rough schematic diagram showing a device 101 for manufacturing plastic containers is shown. The device 101 has a manufacturing device 102 for manufacturing plastic preforms 10. Preferably, the manufacturing device 102 is an injection molding machine. The manufacturing device 102 has a plurality of manufacturing units, in particular molding dies, each of which is adapted and designed to manufacture a single plastic preform 10.

[0062] The reference numeral 104 schematically represents a take-out device that takes out the completed injection-molded plastic preform 10 from the manufacturing unit 102.

[0063] The reference numeral 106 represents a cooling device, in particular a cooling device in the form of a recooling unit, which regulates the temperature of the manufactured plastic preform 10, especially for cooling. The plastic preform is preferably directly placed in the cooling device 106 and / or sent to the cooling device after manufacturing.

[0064] Along the conveying path of the conveying device 104, there is an inspection device, in particular a first temperature detection device 120, which detects the temperature of the plastic preform or its characteristic values, in particular by non-contact detection. The first temperature detection device 120 is particularly adapted and designed to detect the temperature of each individual plastic preform 10. As a supplement or alternative to the temperature detection device, an inspection device may also be provided here, which detects at least one characteristic value of the plastic preform. The reference numeral 123 denotes an evaluation device, which is used to evaluate the values measured by the temperature detection device.

[0065] The reference numeral 130 denotes a distribution device, which assigns the manufacturing unit 103 that manufactures each plastic preform 10 whose temperature has been detected. The manufacturing device 101 preferably has at least one control device, which is adapted and designed to control each manufacturing unit according to the measured temperature of each plastic preform.

[0066] The reference numeral 105 denotes a conveying device, in particular a handling unit that takes over the plastic preform 10 from the conveying device 104.

[0067] As a supplementary solution or an alternative solution, the distribution device 130 can also assign a forming station 112 to each plastic preform, and the forming station forms the plastic preform into a plastic container.

[0068] Therefore, the first temperature detection device is preferably arranged between the manufacturing device and / or individual manufacturing units and the cooling device 106 and / or the conveying device 105.

[0069] The reference numeral 121 denotes other inspection devices, which detect at least one value characterizing the inspected plastic preform. Here, the value can preferably also be a value selected from a group of values, which includes the geometry of the plastic preform, the color of the plastic preform, the humidity of the plastic preform, the IV value of the plastic preform, the temperature of the plastic preform, etc.

[0070] These values are preferably provided to a superior controller in order to control the parameters of the entire device.

[0071] A rejection device may be further provided, and its function is to prevent individual plastic preforms from being transferred to the forming device 112 (especially according to the above characteristic values).

[0072] In addition, a void closing device (not shown) may be provided, which closes the voids generated by rejecting individual plastic preforms again.

[0073] The reference numeral 110 as a whole denotes a forming device that forms the plastic preform into a plastic container 20.

[0074] Among them, it is preferred to first set up a heating device, which heats the plastic preform to a temperature suitable for forming, in particular a temperature suitable for expanding to form the plastic container 20.

[0075] The forming device 110 preferably has a rotatable carrier 114, on which a plurality of forming stations 112 are provided. These forming stations are preferably controllable individually. The reference numeral 111 denotes a heating device for heating the plastic preform.

[0076] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The first view showing the manufacturing device 102 for manufacturing the plastic preform is presented. Among them, the reference numeral 103 denotes a plurality of manufacturing units, each of which manufactures a single plastic preform.

[0077] The reference numeral 106 denotes a cooling device for cooling the plastic preform. The reference numeral 106a denotes a light box. Opposite it is a removal device for removing the plastic preform after the end of the manufacturing process. The reference numeral 106b denotes a single receiving device for receiving the plastic preform.

[0078] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features essential to the present invention disclosed in the application documents, provided that these features are novel compared to the prior art either individually or in combination. Further, it should be noted that features that may be advantageous in themselves are also described in a single drawing. A person skilled in the art will directly recognize that a certain feature described in the drawing may be advantageous even if other features in the same drawing are not adopted. Additionally, a person skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can also be obtained by combining several features shown in a single drawing or in different drawings.

Claims

1. An apparatus (101) for manufacturing a plastic container (20), comprising: Manufacturing device (102) for manufacturing plastic preforms (10), wherein these plastic preforms (10) are adapted and designed to be formed into plastic containers (20), and wherein the manufacturing device (102) has a plurality of manufacturing units (103) each adapted and designed to manufacture plastic preforms (10) from plastic masses; a forming device (110) adapted and designed to form the plastic preforms (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device (102) into the plastic containers (20), wherein the forming device (110) has a plurality of forming stations (112) each adapted and designed to apply a flowable medium to the plastic preforms (10) in order to form them into the plastic containers (20), and wherein the device (101) has at least one conveying device adapted and designed to convey the plastic preforms (10) from the manufacturing device (102) to the forming device (110) at least in segments individually, and wherein the device (101) further has a first temperature detection device (120) adapted and designed to detect the temperature of the individual plastic preforms (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device (102), characterized in that, the device further has at least one distribution device (114) adapted and designed to assign the manufacturing unit (103) that manufactured the temperature - detected plastic preform (10) and / or the forming station (112) that will form the plastic preform (10) into a plastic container (20) to the temperature - detected plastic preform (10).

2. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the first temperature detection device (120) is arranged along the conveying path of the plastic preform from the manufacturing device (102) to the forming device (110).

3. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the device (101) has a cooling device (106) for cooling the manufactured plastic preforms.

4. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the manufacturing device (102) has at least 20 manufacturing units (103), and / or the forming device has at least 4 forming stations (112).

5. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the first temperature detection device (120) has at least one camera.

6. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the device (101) has a second temperature detection device (121) and / or a second inspection device adapted and designed to detect the temperature or characteristic values of at least a second region of the plastic preform (10), wherein the first region of the plastic preform and the second region of the plastic preform are different from each other.

7. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transfer device for transferring the plastic preform from the manufacturing device (102) to the forming device (110) has a movable carrier, which has a plurality of receiving devices for receiving the plastic preforms in the same orientation.

8. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one transfer device is adapted and designed to transfer the plastic preforms from the manufacturing device (102) continuously and individually to the forming device (110).

9. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the manufacturing units (103) has a marking device, which is adapted and designed to set a mark on the manufactured plastic preform, and the mark at least characterizes the manufacturing unit (103) that has manufactured the relevant plastic preform (10).

10. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has at least one inspection device, which is adapted to determine at least one characteristic value characterizing the plastic preform.

11. A method for manufacturing a plastic container, wherein a manufacturing device (102) manufactures plastic preforms (10), wherein the plastic preforms (10) are adapted and designed to be formed into plastic containers (20), wherein the manufacturing device (102) has a plurality of manufacturing units (103), each of which manufactures the plastic preforms from a plastic mass, a forming device (110) forms the plastic preforms (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device (102) into the plastic containers (20), wherein the forming device (110) has a plurality of forming stations (112), each of which applies a flowable medium to the plastic preform (10) to form it into the plastic container (20), in addition, at least one transfer device transfers the plastic preforms (10) from the manufacturing device (102) at least in sections and individually to the forming device (110), and at least one first temperature detection device (120) is provided, which detects the temperature of the individual plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device (102) and / or a characteristic value characterizing such a temperature, characterized in that the first temperature detection device detects the temperature of a first region of the plastic preform, and in addition, at least one distribution device assigns the manufacturing unit (103) that has manufactured the plastic preform and / or the forming station (112) that will form the plastic preform (10) into a plastic container (20) to at least one plastic preform whose temperature has been detected by the first temperature detection device (120).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that a second temperature detection device (121) detects the temperature of a second region of the plastic preform (10).

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one temperature detection device detects the temperature of the first region and / or the second region of the plastic preform during the transfer movement of the plastic preform.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, other heating devices heat the made plastic preform before it reaches the forming device (110).

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