Device and method for producing plastic containers with inspection of plastic parisons

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for producing plastic containers with inspection of plastic parisons. The invention relates to a device (101) for producing plastic containers (20), comprising: a production device (102) for producing a plastic parison (10); a forming device (110) for forming the plastic parisons (10) into the plastic containers, the manufacturing device (102) having a plurality of manufacturing units (103) and the forming device (110) having a plurality of forming stations (112); the invention relates to a device (1) for producing plastic parisons, comprising a production device (2) for producing plastic parisons, a forming device (4) for forming plastic parisons, and transport means (104, 105, 130) suitable and intended for transporting the plastic parisons produced by the production device to the forming device (4), the device (1) further comprising a cooling device (106) for cooling the plastic parisons produced by the production device (2), characterized in that the device (1) comprises a first inspection device (120) for inspecting the plastic parisons produced by the production device (2), and a second inspection device (120) for inspecting the plastic parisons produced by the forming device (4). The first inspection device (120) is adapted and intended to inspect at least one region of the plastic parisons produced by the production device (102), the first inspection device (120) being arranged between the production device (102) and the cooling device (106), and wherein the first inspection device (120) has an image capturing device, the image capturing device is suitable and intended to capture spatially resolved images of a plurality of plastic parisons.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for manufacturing plastic containers, in particular plastic bottles. Background Art

[0002] Many such devices and methods are known from the prior art.

[0003] Typically, a so-called plastic preform is heated herein, and it is formed, in particular expanded, into a plastic container by a forming device such as a blow molding machine, in particular a stretch blow molding machine. In recent years, such devices and methods have also become known, in which the plastic preform itself is also manufactured, for example by means of an injection molding machine, and then formed.

[0004] The advantage of doing so is that less heating is required when expanding the plastic preform later, because they have already been heated during the manufacturing process. However, such devices and methods require more precise monitoring of the plastic preform in order to reduce errors or scrap during the manufacture of plastic containers.

[0005] WO 2016 / 020 683A1 describes an optical inspection system for inspecting plastic preforms. A device and a method for processing plastic preforms using an inspection device are known from DE 102020 121 425 A1. DE 10 2009011 269 B3 describes a method and a device for removing recycled samples from the manufacturing process of consistent molded parts. An inspection device, an inspection method, and a machine for marking plastic preforms are known from WO 2018 / 051227 A1.

[0006] DE 10 2018 102 299 A1 describes a method and a component for controlling at least one process parameter of an injection molding machine. Herein, early automatic intervention in the control of at least one process parameter should be allowed. An optical inspection system for plastic preforms is known from WO 2018 / 036857A1. A camera is used for inspection herein. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to improve the automation and / or error handling of such equipment. 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.

[0008] According to the present invention, a device for manufacturing plastic containers has: a manufacturing device that is suitable and intended for manufacturing plastic preforms; and a forming device that is suitable and intended for forming a plastic preform (in particular a plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device) into a plastic container, wherein the manufacturing device has a plurality of manufacturing units for manufacturing plastic preforms, and the forming device has a plurality of forming stations for forming a plastic preform into a plastic container. In addition, a transport mechanism is provided that is suitable and intended for transporting the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device to the forming device, and wherein the device also has a cooling device for cooling the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device.

[0009] According to the present invention, the device has a first inspection device that is suitable and intended for inspecting at least one area of the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device, wherein the first inspection device is arranged between the manufacturing device and the cooling device, and wherein the first inspection device has an image capture device that is suitable and intended for capturing at least one spatially resolved image of a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0010] Preferably, the inspection device arranged between the manufacturing device and the cooling device is an inspection device that is suitable and intended for inspecting the plastic preforms after they are manufactured, and in particular directly after they are manufactured but still before they are cooled. For this purpose, a carrier can be provided that carries (directly) a plurality of plastic preforms after manufacture, such that the image capture device can capture an image of the plastic preforms held or carried by the carrier (in particular at least one area of these plastic preforms).

[0011] Preferably, the first inspection device is integrated into the manufacturing device.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment, the inspection device is implemented such that it has the function of inspecting the mouth of the plastic preform directly at the extraction device or enables such an inspection function, and the extraction device extracts the manufactured plastic preforms from the manufacturing device.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the transport device has an extraction device that is suitable and intended for extracting a group of the manufactured plastic preforms from the manufacturing device.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, the transport device has a mobile carrier that is configured to hold a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0015] Preferably, the first area of the plastic preform is the mouth area of the plastic preform. Preferably, the mouth area has a thread, in particular an external thread.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment, the forming device has a movable, in particular rotatable, carrier, where the forming stations are preferably arranged at this carrier. Particularly preferably, each forming station has a blow mold, and preferably, each of these forming stations has a rod-shaped body, in particular a so-called stretching rod, which can be inserted into the plastic preform to stretch these plastic preforms.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, each forming station has an application device for applying a gaseous medium to the plastic preform, and preferably also has a valve assembly, such as a valve block. This valve assembly preferably has a plurality of valves, which control the pressure application to the plastic preform. The application device preferably has a so-called blow nozzle, which can be placed against the mouth of the plastic preform.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the manufacturing device is an injection molding machine. Particularly preferably, this injection molding machine has at least 10, preferably at least 20, and particularly preferably at least 30 manufacturing units.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the manufacturing device, in particular the injection molding machine, has at most 200, preferably at most 180, preferably at most 160 manufacturing units.

[0020] It is feasible here that these manufacturing units are arranged at a common carrier. Preferably, each of these manufacturing units is suitable and intended to manufacture exactly one plastic preform. Preferably, these manufacturing units are each forming tools.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment, the manufacturing units each have a marking device, which is suitable and intended to apply a mark to the plastic preform to be manufactured, where these marks preferably at least characterize the corresponding manufacturing unit.

[0022] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a distribution device, which is suitable and intended to assign the manufacturing unit or forming tool that manufactured the plastic preform to each inspected plastic preform.

[0023] Preferably, it is feasible to assign the cavity of the tool or manufacturing unit to the plastic preform by the definite position of the plastic preform in the extraction device or take-off device (TakeOff) / picker device (Picker).

[0024] Preferably, it is feasible to transfer the evaluation and / or handover of the identified cavity or manufacturing unit or forming tool to the control device of the manufacturing device for trend identification / evaluation, and preferably also to visualize it.

[0025] The image-capturing device of the first inspection device can be pivoted (rotated in) here to capture an image. It may also be feasible to transport the plastic preform beside and / or above the first inspection device and / or the second inspection device, which will be described in detail below.

[0026] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a distribution device that is adapted and intended to assign a forming station for forming the plastic preform into a plastic container to each inspected plastic preform.

[0027] In another advantageous embodiment, the manufacturing device has a control device. Preferably, the control device is adapted and intended to control the manufacturing unit using at least one value characterizing the inspection result of inspecting the plastic preform using the first inspection device.

[0028] Particularly preferably, the device also has a control device for controlling the forming device, wherein the control device is adapted and intended to control each forming station individually and / or independently of other forming stations. Particularly preferably, the control device is adapted and intended to also control the forming station based on the value obtained by inspecting the plastic preform using the first inspection device and / or the value characterizing the inspection result of inspecting the plastic preform using the first inspection device.

[0029] Preferably, the first inspection device is adapted and intended to inspect several plastic preforms and / or output at least one value characterizing each individual plastic preform among these inspected plastic preforms.

[0030] That is, the inspection device can, for example, capture images of multiple plastic preforms, and can output at least one value characterizing the relevant plastic preform and / or the inspection value of the relevant plastic preform for each individual plastic preform from these images.

[0031] In another preferred embodiment, the inspection device has an evaluation device that is adapted and intended to evaluate the images captured by the inspection device. Particularly preferably, the evaluation device is adapted and intended to individualize the individual plastic preforms from the image showing multiple plastic preforms captured by the image-capturing device, and preferably also determine the values characterizing these plastic preforms.

[0032] In another familiar embodiment, the transport device is adapted and intended to transport the plastic preform from the manufacturing device to the forming device individually. Here, "individually" means transporting the plastic preform in an individualized manner, so that each individual plastic preform can also be individualized. That is, the transport device can, for example, have at least one or preferably several transport wheels and / or transport chains. Preferably, the transport device is constructed to keep the transported plastic preforms in a predetermined order.

[0033] Even if plastic preforms are transported at a common carrier and there are defined positions between these individual plastic preforms, this is still considered separate transport, which is achieved, for example, by the construction of the carrier, such as the carrier having a plurality of receiving means for individually holding the single plastic preforms. Preferably, the transport device has at least one transport unit that transports the plastic preforms in a single row. Preferably, the transport device has at least one transport unit that transports the plastic preforms in an array, in particular the above-mentioned transport carrier that accommodates a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0034] An example of non-separate transport is when a plurality of plastic preforms are placed in a common receiving container, where the plastic preforms are randomly positioned relative to each other.

[0035] By means of this separate transport, it is also possible to assign a forming station or a manufacturing unit to the individual plastic preforms to be inspected.

[0036] In another embodiment, the transport device has a carrier that is suitable for accommodating a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0037] Preferably, the transport device has a carrier that is suitable for accommodating a plurality of plastic preforms each having the same orientation. Particularly preferably, the plastic preforms are transported by the carrier in an orientation parallel to each other.

[0038] Particularly preferably, the carrier is capable of being transported within the framework of the transport device in two directions independent of each other, in particular in two mutually perpendicular directions.

[0039] Preferably, the transport device has a pick-up device that is suitable and intended to receive plastic preforms, preferably from a cooling device. Preferably, the pick-up device is suitable and intended to receive individual plastic preforms and convey them further along a subsequent transport path. Further preferably, the pick-up device is also suitable and intended to receive individual plastic preforms and / or discharge them from the transport path.

[0040] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a second inspection device that is suitable and intended to inspect plastic preforms, and the second inspection device is arranged between the cooling device and the forming device. Preferably, the second inspection device is also suitable for inspecting a predetermined area of the plastic preforms, where the predetermined area is preferably different from the predetermined area inspected by the first inspection device.

[0041] Preferably, the second inspection device is suitable and intended to inspect cooled plastic preforms and / or inspect them during and / or after the cooling of the plastic preforms.

[0042] In another preferred embodiment, the device has at least one lighting device which is adapted and intended to illuminate the preform inspected by the first inspection device and / or by the second inspection device. It is also possible here to position the preform beside and / or below and / or above the lighting device in order to inspect the preform.

[0043] Preferably, the second inspection device is adapted and intended to inspect the body of the preform.

[0044] Particularly preferably, the second inspection device has an image capture device which is adapted and intended to capture spatially resolved images of a plurality of preforms.

[0045] Particularly preferably, the device has a further allocation device which is adapted and intended to allocate to each preform inspected by the second inspection device the production unit which produced the preform.

[0046] In another preferred embodiment, the device has a further allocation device which is adapted to allocate to each preform among the preforms inspected by the second inspection device the forming station which forms the preform into a plastic container.

[0047] Preferably, the control device for controlling the production device is adapted and intended to control the production unit using at least one value characterizing the inspection result of the preform by means of the second inspection device.

[0048] Particularly preferably, the control device for controlling the forming device is adapted and intended to control the forming station also based on the values obtained by inspecting the preform by means of the second inspection device and / or the values characterizing the inspection result of the preform by means of the second inspection device.

[0049] Preferably, the second inspection device is adapted and intended to inspect several preforms and / or output for each individual one of the inspected preforms at least one value characterizing these individual preforms.

[0050] That is, the second inspection device can, for example, capture images of a plurality of preforms and can output from the images for each individual one of the preforms at least one value characterizing the relevant preform and / or the inspection value of the relevant preform.

[0051] In another preferred embodiment, the second inspection device has an evaluation device which is adapted and intended to evaluate the images captured by the inspection device. Particularly preferably, the evaluation device is adapted and intended to individualize the individual preforms from the images captured by the image capture device showing a plurality of preforms.

[0052] In this design, it is set that there are at least two inspection devices for inspecting the plastic preform. In this way, the relationship between the states of the plastic preform before and after cooling can also be established.

[0053] It is also possible here that these two inspection devices inspect different regions of the plastic preform. Preferably, the first inspection device inspects the mouth region of the plastic preform, while the second inspection device inspects the body of the plastic preform. Preferably, the mouth region of the plastic preform is the region of the plastic preform that is not formed by the forming device, while the body of the plastic preform is the region formed, especially expanded, by the forming device.

[0054] In another advantageous embodiment, at least one inspection device, preferably the first and second inspection devices, is adapted and intended to detect at least one, preferably a plurality of, values characterizing the physical properties of the plastic preform.

[0055] Particularly preferably, these characteristics are selected from a group of characteristics that includes the geometry of the plastic preform, the cross-section of the plastic preform, the length of the plastic preform, the color of the plastic preform, the transparency of the plastic preform, the moisture value of the plastic preform, the IV value of the plastic preform, the temperature of the plastic preform, the damage of the plastic preform, etc.

[0056] In another preferred embodiment, at least one inspection device is adapted and intended to inspect the plastic preform during its movement. Preferably, both the first and second inspection devices are adapted and intended to inspect the plastic preform during its movement.

[0057] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a heating device for heating the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device. The heating device can be, for example, an infrared furnace or a microwave oven.

[0058] Particularly preferably, the heating device is arranged between the cooling device and the forming device. Particularly preferably, the heating device also has a transport device that transports the plastic preform individually. In addition, the heating device preferably also has a rotating device for rotating the plastic preform relative to its axis during heating.

[0059] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a discharging device that is adapted and intended to remove or discharge individual plastic preforms from the transport path of the plastic preforms located between the manufacturing device and the forming device. Here, "discharging" means that these plastic preforms are no longer conveyed to the forming process.

[0060] Particularly preferably, the discharge device is arranged after the second inspection device and / or before the forming device. Particularly preferably, the discharge device is adapted and intended to discharge individual plastic preforms in response to the inspection result of at least one of the inspection devices in the inspection device. However, it is also conceivable that a third inspection device is provided and the discharge device discharges individual plastic preforms taking into account the inspection result of the third inspection device.

[0061] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a gap closing device which fills the gap created by the discharge of the individual plastic preforms. The gap closing device can have a buffer here which refills the existing gap.

[0062] In another advantageous embodiment, the device, in particular the transport device, has a turning device which changes the orientation of the transported plastic preforms.

[0063] Preferably, the device has a carrier at which a plurality of manufactured plastic preforms can be arranged, and the turning device is adapted and intended to turn the carrier with the plastic preforms arranged thereon.

[0064] Here, the turning device is preferably adapted and intended to turn the plastic preform by a predetermined angle, preferably 90°. Preferably, the turning device is adapted and intended to turn the plastic preform from a horizontal orientation (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the plastic preform is horizontal or parallel to the ground) to a vertical orientation (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the plastic preform is vertical or perpendicular to the ground).

[0065] Preferably, the first inspection device is adapted and intended to take an image of the plastic preform in its horizontal orientation.

[0066] Preferably, the second inspection device is adapted and intended to take an image of the plastic preform in its vertical orientation.

[0067] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has at least one vacuum holding device which is adapted and intended to hold an individual plastic preform at a holding body using negative pressure.

[0068] By means of this vacuum holding device, it is possible to release an individual plastic preform from its carrier.

[0069] Particularly preferably, one such vacuum device is assigned to each plastic preform. Thus, an individual plastic preform can be released from its holding device by removing the vacuum. Preferably, the vacuum device is adapted and intended to release an individual, but in particular a specific, plastic preform from its holding device using at least one inspection result of the inspection device.

[0070] Preferably, the vacuum device is part of the discharge device.

[0071] In another advantageous embodiment, the device has a third inspection device for inspecting the plastic preform, wherein the third inspection device is preferably arranged behind the second inspection device.

[0072] The third inspection device is particularly suitable and intended to detect impurities (such as so-called black specs) in the manufactured plastic preform.

[0073] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a plastic container, wherein a manufacturing device manufactures a plastic preform, and a forming device forms the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device into a plastic container, wherein the manufacturing device has a plurality of manufacturing units, each of which manufactures a plastic preform, and the forming device has a plurality of forming stations, each of which forms a plastic preform into a plastic container, wherein these forming stations are preferably arranged at a mobile, in particular rotatable, carrier, and wherein a transport mechanism transports the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device to the forming device.

[0074] Furthermore, the device has a cooling device that cools at least sectionally the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device.

[0075] According to the invention, the device has a first inspection device that inspects at least one area of the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device, wherein the first inspection device is arranged between the manufacturing device and the cooling device, and wherein the first inspection device preferably has an image capturing device that captures at least one spatially resolved image of a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0076] Preferably, the first inspection device captures spatially resolved images of a plurality of, in particular each individual, transported plastic preforms. In a preferred method, the plastic preforms captured by the image capturing device are at least partially individually detected. Preferably, all plastic preforms are individually detected.

[0077] Preferably, the first inspection device records a plurality of values, wherein each of these values characterizes exactly one plastic preform captured by the inspection device.

[0078] Preferably, the first inspection device captures an image of the plastic preform during the movement of the plastic preform.

[0079] In another preferred method, a manufacturing unit that manufactured the plastic preform is assigned to at least one, preferably a plurality of, plastic preforms.

[0080] In another preferred method, a forming station that forms the plastic preform into a plastic container is assigned to at least one plastic preform inspected by the first inspection device, preferably several plastic preforms inspected by the first inspection device, and preferably all plastic preforms inspected by the first inspection device.

[0081] Preferably, the plastic preforms are transported separately, at least sectionally.

[0082] Particularly preferably, the plastic preforms are transported, at least sectionally, by a carrier suitable for accommodating a plurality of plastic preforms.

[0083] In another preferred method, the plastic preforms are heated again after cooling. Here, in particular, the main body of the plastic preforms is heated so that these plastic bottles can be formed. Description of the Drawings

[0084] Further advantages and embodiments can be derived from the drawings:

[0085] Wherein:

[0086] Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of the device according to the invention;

[0087] Figure 2 shows a first view of an illustration of a manufacturing device for manufacturing plastic preforms;

[0088] Figure 3 shows Figure 2 another view of the manufacturing device shown in

[0089] Figure 4 shows an illustration for explaining the method according to the invention. Detailed Description

[0090] Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of a device 101 for manufacturing plastic containers. The device 101 has a manufacturing device 102 that manufactures plastic preforms 10. Preferably, the manufacturing device 102 is an injection molding machine. The manufacturing device 102 here has a plurality of manufacturing units, in particular molding tools, each of which is suitable and intended to manufacture a single plastic preform 10.

[0091] Reference numeral 104 schematically represents an extraction device that extracts the injection-molded plastic preforms 10 from the manufacturing unit 102.

[0092] Reference numeral 106 denotes a cooling device, in particular in the form of a recooling unit, which cools the manufactured plastic preforms 10. Preferably, the plastic preforms are directly placed in the cooling device 106 after manufacturing and / or transported to the cooling device.

[0093] Inspection devices, in particular a first temperature detection device 120, are arranged along the transport path of the transport device 104. The first temperature detection device detects the temperature of the plastic preform or a value characterizing this temperature, in particular in a non-contact manner. Here, the first temperature detection device 120 is particularly suitable and intended to detect the temperature of each individual plastic preform 10. In addition to or instead of the temperature detection device, an inspection device can also be provided at this position, which detects at least one value characterizing the plastic preform.

[0094] Reference numeral 130 denotes a distribution device, which assigns the production unit 103 that produced the plastic preform to each plastic preform 10 for which the temperature has been detected. The production device 101 preferably has at least one control device, which is suitable and intended to also control the individual production units based on the measured temperature of the individual plastic preforms.

[0095] Reference numeral 105 denotes a transport device, in particular a handling unit, which receives the plastic preform 10 from the transport device 104.

[0096] Additionally or alternatively, the distribution device 130 can also assign a forming station 112 for forming the plastic preform into a plastic container to each plastic preform.

[0097] Therefore, the first temperature detection device is preferably arranged between the production device and / or the individual production units and the cooling device 106 and / or the transport device 105.

[0098] Reference numeral 121 denotes a further inspection device, which detects at least one value characterizing the respective inspected plastic preform. Here, it can again preferably be a value selected from a group of values that 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.

[0099] Preferably, these values are provided to a higher-level control system in order to control the parameters of the entire device.

[0100] Furthermore, a discharge device can be provided, which (in particular based on the above characteristic values) prevents individual plastic preforms from being handed over to the forming device 112.

[0101] Furthermore, a (not shown) gap closing device can be provided, which fills the gap generated due to the discharge of individual plastic preforms.

[0102] Reference numeral 110 denotes the entire forming device, which forms the plastic preform into a plastic container 20.

[0103] Here, preferably, a heating device is first provided, which heats the plastic preform to a temperature suitable for forming, in particular for expanding into a plastic container 20.

[0104] The forming device 110 preferably has a rotatable carrier 114, at which a plurality of forming stations 112 are arranged. These forming stations are preferably controllable independently of one another.

[0105] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A first view of a manufacturing device 102 for manufacturing a plastic preform is shown. Here, the reference numeral 103 denotes a plurality of manufacturing units, each of which manufactures an individual plastic preform.

[0106] The reference numeral 106 denotes a cooling device for cooling the plastic preform. The reference numeral 106a denotes a discharging device for discharging the plastic preform after the manufacturing process.

[0107] Figure 4 A diagram for explaining the device and method of the present invention is shown.

[0108] Here, a manufacturing device 102 is provided, which has a plurality of (not shown in detail) manufacturing units, each of which manufactures a plastic preform. It is recognized that the mouth 10b of an individual plastic preform.

[0109] The reference numeral 120 denotes a first inspection device, which particularly takes an image of the mouth 10b here, whereby individual mouths, and thus individual plastic preforms, can be individualized.

[0110] The reference numeral 140 denotes a turning device, which turns the carrier with the plastic preform arranged thereon, here by 90°. In addition, the plastic preform is cooled in this area by a (not shown here) cooling device.

[0111] The turned carrier 142 together with the plastic preform arranged thereon is transported, and a second inspection device 121 takes at least one image of the plastic preform, more precisely, now takes an image of the body 10a of the plastic preform.

[0112] The reference numeral 125 denotes a third inspection device, which also inspects the plastic preform arranged in the carrier. Preferably, material defects are inspected here, such as so-called BlackSpecs, etc.

[0113] In the area of the carrier 142, a vacuum holding device (not shown) is provided, which holds each individual plastic preform at its own carrier. In this way, defective plastic preforms can be separated from qualified plastic preforms.

[0114] In Figure 4 the embodiment shown, first of all, the defective plastic preforms are still held at their (vacuum) grippers, while the qualified plastic preforms fall onto a further transport unit 150.

[0115] The preforms can be made to fall from this further transport unit in the form of the carrier 150 onto a further transport unit 144, which further transport unit here has two rollers arranged parallel to one another, between which the plastic preform 10 is guided. For this purpose, the carrier 150 with a single plastic preform can be pushed relative to this further transport unit in the direction of the arrow P1.

[0116] Precisely, the carrier with the plastic preform is laterally displaced above the transport unit 144. For this purpose, a gap 155 can be opened at the carrier as Figure 4 shown below, and the plastic preform can be made to fall between the rollers.

[0117] The defective plastic preforms still held at the carrier 142 by means of vacuum grippers can be discarded by means of selective control when the carrier 142 returns.

[0118] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents that are essential to the invention, provided that these features are novel, individually or in combination, compared with the prior art. Further, it is to be noted that features that may in themselves be advantageous are also described in a single figure. A person skilled in the art will immediately recognize that a certain feature described in a figure may be advantageous even if other features in that figure are not employed. Additionally, a person skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can also be achieved by combining several features shown in a single figure or in different figures.

Claims

1. An apparatus (101) for manufacturing a plastic container (20), the apparatus having a manufacturing device (102) adapted and intended to manufacture a plastic preform (10); and a forming device (110) adapted and intended to form the plastic preform (10) into the plastic container, wherein the manufacturing device (102) has a plurality of manufacturing units (103) for manufacturing the plastic preform, and the forming device (110) has a plurality of forming stations (112) for forming the plastic preform (10) into the plastic container; and a transport mechanism adapted and intended to transport the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device to the forming device (4), wherein the apparatus (101) further has a cooling device (106) for cooling the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device (2). Characterized in that the apparatus (101) has a first inspection device (120) adapted and intended to inspect at least one area of the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device (102), wherein the first inspection device (120) is arranged between the manufacturing device (102) and the cooling device (106), and wherein the first inspection device (120) has an image capturing device adapted and intended to capture spatially resolved images of a plurality of plastic preforms.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, Characterized in that the apparatus has a dispensing device (108) adapted to assign to each inspected plastic preform the manufacturing unit (103) that manufactured the plastic preform, and / or the apparatus has a dispensing device (108) adapted to assign to each inspected plastic preform the forming station (112) that forms the plastic preform into a plastic container.

3. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, Characterized in that the transport device is adapted and intended to transport the plastic preform (10) from the manufacturing device to the forming device (110) individually.

4. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, Characterized in that the transport device has a picking device (105) adapted and intended to receive the plastic preform.

5. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, Characterized in that the apparatus has a second inspection device (121) adapted and intended to inspect the plastic preform, and the second inspection device is arranged between the cooling device (106) and the forming device (130).

6. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, Characterized in that at least the first or second inspection device (120, 121) is adapted and intended to detect at least one value characterizing a physical property of the plastic preform.

7. The apparatus (101) according to claim 1, Characterized in that the apparatus has a heating device for heating the plastic preform manufactured by the manufacturing device.

8. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has a discharge device (140) which is adapted and intended to remove individual plastic preforms from the transport path between the manufacturing device and the forming device (130).

9. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (101) has a turning device which changes the orientation of the transported plastic preform.

10. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has at least one vacuum holding device which is adapted and intended to hold individual plastic preforms at a holding body using negative pressure.

11. The device (101) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (101) has a third inspection device for inspecting the plastic preform.

12. A method for manufacturing a plastic container (20), wherein a manufacturing device (102) manufactures plastic preforms (10), and a forming device (110) forms the plastic preforms (10) manufactured by the manufacturing device into plastic containers, wherein the manufacturing device (102) has a plurality of manufacturing units (103), each manufacturing unit manufactures a plastic preform, and the forming device (110) has a plurality of forming stations (112), each forming station forms the plastic preform (10) into the plastic container, and wherein a transport mechanism transports the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device to the forming device (4), wherein the device (101) further has a cooling device (106) which cools the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device (2), characterized in that the device (101) has a first inspection device (120) which inspects at least one area of the plastic preforms manufactured by the manufacturing device (102), wherein the first inspection device (120) is arranged between the manufacturing device (102) and the cooling device (106), and wherein the first inspection device (120) has an image capturing device which captures spatially resolved images of a plurality of plastic preforms.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that a manufacturing unit that manufactured the plastic preform is assigned to at least one plastic preform inspected by the first inspection device, and / or a forming station that forms the plastic preform into a plastic container is assigned to at least one plastic preform inspected by the first inspection device.

Images