apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing container products from plastic material, which container products can be manufactured by means of a mold device (1) having individual mold parts (7) which are arranged in pairs in succession one behind the other along a forming section (24) in a manner moving toward and away from one another, each pair of mold parts (7) being guided movably along two spatially separate guide tracks (22), characterized in that each guide track (22) has at least three track sections (26, 28, 30) which differ from one another, which track sections each extend linearly over a predetermined length, so that a plurality of mold parts (7) of one track section (26, 28, 30) are arranged in succession one behind the other extending in a common plane (E1, E2, E3); and / or each guide track (22) with all its track sections (26, 28, 30) itself forms a kinematic chain (36) which has a total of eighteen mold parts (7) as chain links (32) which are connected to one another in a hinged manner (34).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing container products from plastic materials, the container products being manufactured by means of a mold device having individual mold components that are arranged in pairs along a forming section to form corresponding container products in a manner that moves toward and away from each other, each pair of mold components being guided to move along two spatially separated guide tracks. Background Technology

[0002] According to DE 10 2014 001 446 A1, an apparatus of the type described above is known for manufacturing at least one container product from a plastic material. The container product is formed by means of a mold device, filled with a predetermined container contents by means of a filling device, and sealed by means of a sealing device. The manufactured container product is then supplied to a post-processing zone where a temperature-influencing effect is applied to the container product and / or the container contents. The mold device has individual mold components that are arranged in pairs, moving towards and away from each other, sequentially along a forming zone or forming section to form the container product. Each pair of mold components is synchronously and cyclically guided along two spatially separated guide tracks. Each guide track, constituting a kinematic chain as a chain drive, has a total of fifteen mold components, and three mold components of each guide track sequentially extend along a vertically extending straight track section along the forming section, forming a manufacturing area for the container product to be formed. The guide rail sections extend in a straight line along the actual forming section, while the outer sections of each guide rail are arranged in a basically curved or curvilinear manner.

[0003] Through WO2023 / 0391236A1 ( Figure 2 A) A similar apparatus for manufacturing container products from plastic materials is known, wherein each of the two guide tracks has a total of fourteen mold components, and the actual forming section is formed by two pairs of opposing mold components, which, along a straight track section, sequentially form only the container. On the opposite side of the forming section of each guide track, another straight track section is formed, along which multiple mold components, particularly three mold components, are arranged sequentially in a common plane extending parallel to the plane containing the forming section. Alternatively, a corresponding chain track moves in this region via two guide rollers along a circular track and synchronously with another chain track. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Starting from this prior art, the object of the present invention is to produce individual container products with high productivity while maintaining the advantages of known solutions, and to further improve these container products, particularly minimizing operational stability and, consequently, minimizing wear. This object is achieved by an apparatus having all the features of claim 1.

[0005] By having at least three distinct track segments in each guide rail according to claim 1, each track segment extending linearly for a predetermined length, such that multiple mold components of a track segment are arranged sequentially in a common plane, a uniform and balanced load distribution for each guide rail and its circulating mold components can be achieved. Furthermore, the sequential arrangement of multiple mold components in a linear track segment provides mutual support. Thus, even if the circulation or chain speed of each guide rail is the same (as shown in the prior art), higher operational smoothness and lower wear on key components of the equipment (e.g., mold components and mold component housings) are achieved. Each linearly extending track segment of a guide rail is continuously supported by a preceding and / or following linear track segment after passing the reversing section, which specifically enables a uniform load distribution within each guide rail.

[0006] The object of the invention is also achieved by a device having all the features of claim 2. Starting from the same prior art, the invention is further and importantly defined as follows: each guide rail, with all its rail sections self-closing / self-contained, constitutes a kinematic chain, with a total of eighteen mold components as links, these mold components being hinged to each other. Although each guide rail has up to eighteen mold components, and although this results in a larger mold weight for each guide rail or each chain drive, a uniform and balanced load distribution of the mold components for the circulation of each guide rail is achieved, thereby distributing, in a particularly advantageous manner, six mold components in half-mold form on each side along the configurable guide rail. However, the mutual reinforcement of the mold components along each rail section is also important in this regard, which leads to the homogenization of chain movement. Due to the eighteen molds or mold components arranged in pairs and circulating synchronously, a higher productivity of the container products to be manufactured is achieved using this device, even if the device operates at the same circulation or chain speed as the prior art solution with fifteen or fourteen mold components per guide rail.

[0007] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least four mold components of each guide rail are guided sequentially along straight track segments. A specially reinforced overall configuration for the device is achieved when each straight track segment of each guide rail defines a right triangle in an imaginary extension, preferably configured as isosceles, thereby generating a balanced force triangle.

[0008] In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the straight track segment of each guide rail transitions at its end to a curved track segment, the curvature of which is chosen such that the straightness of the respective leading track segments is maintained as long as possible. Preferably, the curved track segment has a gentler curve than an imaginary curved circle that intersects at the ends of an imaginary triangle with straight track segments. In particular, the curved track segment has a radius of curvature smaller than the radius of curvature of the circumcircle of the triangle formed by the three ends of the straight track segments. Particularly advantageously, the respective guide rail is supported in the region of its reversing portion with curved track segments by support devices that follow the corresponding curved contour. At least one of these support devices serves as a tensioning device for a transmission device, particularly a chain drive device, including a movablely hinged mold component that follows the deployable guide rail. This results in a generally smooth and low-wear cycle for the corresponding chain drive device with the mold component along a predetermined loop of the triangle.

[0009] In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, a portion of the straight track section surrounding the forming section of the corresponding guide rail is guided, and in particular supported, on its side away from the forming section by an integral guide rail extending linearly in its middle region, wherein adjacent mold components in the forming section abut against each other in pairs at their end sides. Due to the continuous track extension, a transitionless guide is thus created in the region of the forming section, enabling unobstructed operation.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the number of mold components for each guide rail is selected such that the distance between adjacent manufactured container products is minimized, thereby making the connecting pieces located therebetween as small as possible, preferably having a width of less than 0.7 cm when viewed in the direction of the container product's movement path. For standard ampoules as container products, particularly those for containing eye drops, inhalants, and injections, which have a generally standardized typical height, with differences between different types of ampoules only a few millimeters, the width of the connecting pieces, which are typically components of the waste material from which the ampoule can be detached, particularly by stamping, can be minimized. Advantageously, to reduce waste, the corresponding connecting pieces can now be configured to be less than 0.7 cm in width, as is possible according to the invention, thus proving particularly suitable for a large number of mold components of eighteen mold components per guide rail.

[0011] In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, particularly for further reducing wear, a mold positioning element is provided between the guide rails on the molding inlet side before the start of the molding section. This mold positioning element, located on the inlet side between the two guide rails, allows for precise orientation or positioning of the mold within the molding zone, both towards and away from the moving mold component pairs.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, particularly for further reducing wear and improving production safety, a spreading element is provided between the guide rails at the end of the forming section on the forming exit side. This spreading element ensures that the mold component pair or half-mold is reliably opened once it leaves the forming section in the form of the forming zone on the exit side. Safe operation is also achieved in this respect.

[0013] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is specified that, due to the homogenization of the straight and curved extensions of each track segment having the same number of mold components, uniform and low-wear chain movement is achieved with the chain extension being approximately balanced. This is generally not possible when each guide track has an odd number of mold components, and preferably each guide track has only eighteen mold components as an even number. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The device according to the present invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

[0015] Figure 1 shows an end-side view of the solution in the prior art (DE 10 2014 001 446 A1);

[0016] Figure 2The illustration corresponding to FIG1 is shown and is now used to explain the device according to the invention;

[0017] Figure 3 Showing according to Figure 2 The component of the device is in the form of two closed chains having a mold component receiving portion along a guide track;

[0018] Figure 4 Showing according to Figure 2 A perspective view of the mold positioning element set on the molding inlet side; and

[0019] Figure 5 Shown in accordance with Figure 2 A perspective view of the support element used on the forming outlet side of the equipment. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates a possible embodiment of a known apparatus as part of a non-cycle rotational molding machine (not shown), wherein the actual mold assembly 1 works in conjunction with a demolding device 3, which assists in the demolding process of the container or container product (e.g., an ampoule) formed in the mold assembly 1. The mold assembly 1 is an apparatus for performing a blow molding method, particularly as part of a known blow molding, filling, and sealing method (BFS method), which is known in the patentee's trademark as the botelpack® system and, more precisely, in the present case, in one embodiment where different molding sections are performed at different stations, particularly three stations, along a vertical manufacturing line 5. In a rotary or cyclic configuration, multiple individual mold components 7 or mold halves (only a few are labeled in Figure 1) move in pairs toward each other along a guide section 8 of the sealing implementation to form a sealed manufacturing mold for the corresponding container product, and then move apart to open the mold. In addition to molding, the corresponding container product is fluid-filled and then aseptically sealed. The relevant manufacturing steps are common within the scope of the BFS method, and therefore will not be discussed in detail here.

[0021] As can be seen from Figure 1, the container chain 9 formed by means of the mold device 1 emerges from the mold release device 3 at the exit point marked 2 on the molding exit side along the manufacturing line 5. As is common, the container chain 9 has a wide shape, with multiple individual container products (in the present case, ampoule-like shapes) placed side by side in the container chain 9. The container chain 9 may, for example, have eight container products, such as ampoules, placed side by side, and in order to assist in supporting the container chain 9 with container products to detach from the mold walls of the individual mold components 7 that move in opposite directions after the molding process, the mold release device 3 of the container chain 9 deflects in opposite directions, as indicated by double arrows 13. Within the container chain 9, the individual container rows are arranged sequentially, one above the other, and are each surrounded by a card-type plastic material 15 manufactured by means of which defines connecting pieces 18 of a predetermined width between adjacent container rows. In order to obtain the actual container product, the container product is finally separated from the card-type plastic material 15, in particular stamped out, and the associated plastic material is then left as card scrap in a common manner.

[0022] Then, looking downwards along the transport direction of container chain 9, a post-processing zone 20 is connected below the demolding device 3. This post-processing zone can exert a temperature-influencing effect on the corresponding container product or the corresponding container contents. More detailed information on this can be found in DE 10 2014 001 446A1.

[0023] The descriptions of the prior art to date also apply to [the art / technology] based on [the prior art]. Figure 2 And subsequent devices according to the invention, and in this regard, the same reference numerals according to the prior art are used for the same components used in the devices according to the invention. However, for the sake of simpler illustration, in Figure 2 and Figure 3 Mold component 7 is omitted, and only mold component receiving portions 10 are shown, on which mold component 7 is correspondingly placed and fixed. In this regard, the following description of mold component 7 also applies to the mold component receiving portions 10 that can be directly disposed separately.

[0024] according to Figure 2 The device according to the invention also has a mold assembly generally marked 1, which has a plurality of individual mold parts 7, similar to the solution according to FIG. 1, wherein only the mold part receiving portion 10 is shown for simplicity, and which is also referred to in technical terms as a mold receiving shoe. Figure 2For simplicity, not all mold component receptacles are provided with reference numeral 10, and there are a total of eighteen mold component receptacles 10 and therefore eighteen individual mold components 7 that can move along guide rails 22 (currently guide section 8). Each mold component 7 and its associated mold component receptacle 10 can move in pairs towards and away from each other along two guide rails 22, so that the corresponding container products 10 can be formed sequentially along a common intermediate forming section 24 or forming zone. Relatedly, as shown in the prior art according to FIG1, the mold component 7 or mold half also closes along the manufacturing line 5, simultaneously forming the container mold, which in... Figure 2 The equipment is shown vertically in the middle. In this respect, manufacturing line 5 also divides the equipment symmetrically into two essentially identical molding halves.

[0025] Such as especially Figure 3 As shown, each guide rail 22 has three distinct track sections 26, 28, and 30 in the same manner. These track sections extend linearly for a predetermined length, such that multiple mold components 7 or mold component receptacles 10 of a corresponding track section 26, 28, or 30 are arranged sequentially in a common plane E1, E2, and E3. Each mold component receptacle 10 has a mold link 32 on its bottom side, and these mold links are hinged to each other at their ends via hinge portions 34. The adjacent mold links 32, connected to each other via their respective hinge portions 34, collectively constitute a chain drive device 36, having components according to... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a mold chain formed by the closure of each mold component 7 following the corresponding guide rail 22. In this regard, according to... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The illustration is only a snapshot, and the chain drive 36 ensures that the respective mold chains guiding the guide rail 22 circulate continuously during mold assembly operation, and more precisely, in the direction of... Figure 2 and Figure 3 Looking from the direction of observation, the mold chain on the right circulates counterclockwise, while the mold chain on the left circulates clockwise. The two chain drives 36 move synchronously, causing the opposing mold components 7 to close within the forming section 24 and at least form part of the container mold.

[0026] For example, especially from Figure 3Further, it is deduced that in the first track section 26, essentially along a common plane E1, four individual mold links 32 are arranged in a row, and thus also abutting the mold component receiving portion 10 and the mold component 7. In the second track section 28, along a common plane E2, at least three adjacent mold links 32 are abutting in a row, and in the third track section 30, along a plane E3, at least two adjacent mold links 32 are abutting with the same construction. Here, the first track section 26 defines the edge of the forming section 24 or forming area. The corresponding track section construction, including the respective planes E1, E2, and E3, is directed towards... Figure 3 The same applies to the chain drive 36 on the left side when viewed from the same direction. Because the mold chain links 32 are flatly joined together without offset at the hinge point 34 in the respective planes E1, E2, and E3 along the straight track sections 26, 28, and 30, a robustly constructed motion chain is locally achieved. This motion chain allows for the seamless transmission of large kinetic forces, thus ensuring safe motion guidance of the corresponding chain drive 26 along the provided guide rail 22 despite the use of numerous mold components 7.

[0027] Understandably, at each start and end point of track segments 26, 28, 30, one mold component 7 is continuously replaced with a subsequent or preceding mold component 7 in that row, generally maintaining the straight length of the corresponding track segments 26, 28, 30. Generally, each guide rail 22, with all its straight-extending track segments 26, 28, 30, including the curved or bent-extending track segments 38 connected at their ends to the straight-extending track segments 26, 28, 30, generates a self-closing kinematic chain or mold chain, corresponding to the described chain drive 36. Each straight track segment 26, 28, 30 of each guide rail 22, viewed in an imaginary extension, defines a right-angled or substantially right-angled triangle 40, which is determined according to... Figure 3 The left half of the diagram is configured as isosceles. In this way, the chain drive 36 of each guide rail 22 is generally provided with a right-angled support structure, and the straight-line extending sides of the triangle 40 are reinforced by the support structure along the straight-line extending track sections 26, 28, 30 (including their respective mold components 7 together with the bottom structure in the form of the respective mold component receiving part 10 and the mold chain link 32 provided on the support side).

[0028] As from Figure 2 and Figure 3Furthermore, it is found that the straight track segments 26, 28, and 30 of each guide track 22 transition to a curved or bent track segment 38 at their ends. The curve or bend of this track segment is chosen to maintain the straightness of the track segments 26, 28, and 30 located at the front for as long as possible, thus achieving a high degree of reinforcement. In particular, the bent track segment 38 has a gentler bend than the bend of the imaginary curved circle at the end of the imaginary triangle 40 correspondingly connected to the straight track segments 26, 28, and 30. Therefore, according to... Figure 2 The illustration shows two opposing guide or drive rollers 42 for each guide rail 22, which can guide or drive the corresponding chain drive 36, and the circular diameter of the guide or drive rollers is, in any case, greater than the bend formed above the mold component 7 that guides it when the track extension is weakly curved along the guide rail 22. In particular, the curved track segment 38 has a radius of curvature smaller than the circumcircle of the triangle 40.

[0029] Each guide rail 22 is supported in the reversing region of its stationary, curved track section by support devices 44 that follow the corresponding curved profile. These support devices consist of individual guide and drive rollers 42 and segment-shaped tensioning devices 46 for transmission devices (here in the form of a chain drive 36 with movablely hinged mold components 7), which follow the respective guide rails 22. Tensioning the tensioning segment 46 is achieved by a rod 47 connected to it, which is pivotally supported at a pivot point 49 at the lower part of the frame 60, and its preload is obtained by an accumulator in the form of a tension spring 51 configured as a compression spring. Such tensioning transmission devices are constructed identically for both chain drives 36.

[0030] The corresponding guide rail 22, a straight track section 26 surrounding the molding section 24 (in which adjacent mold components 7 are molded and abutted against each other at their ends), is guided on its side away from the molding section 24 for the container by an integral guide rail 48 extending straight in its middle region, particularly supporting it during the molding process. Figure 2 The guide rail 48 shown on the left in the direction of observation can—in contrast to the fixed right guide rail 48—move back and forth in the direction of the molding section 24 by means of multiple individual hydraulic cylinders 50 and thereby determine the clamping force of the mold component 7 on the plastic hose (not shown) located therebetween.

[0031] The number of mold components 7 for each guide rail 22 is chosen to be so large that the distance between adjacent manufactured container products within the forming section 24 is minimized, thereby minimizing the size of the connecting piece 18 (FIG. 1) located therebetween, preferably having a width of less than 0.7 cm in the direction of the downward movement path of the container product, so as to minimize possible jamming waste when stamping out the container product.

[0032] Figure 2 The device shown has a mold positioning element 54 between the guide rails 22 before the start of the molding section 24 and therefore on the molding inlet side, as in Figure 4 As shown in more detail below. Such a mold positioning element 54 ensures the precise orientation or positioning of the mold component 7 in the transition area from the curved track section 38 to the adjacent straight track section 26, which together define the molding section 24. Figure 4 The mold positioning element 54 shown has a support plate 56, which carries a threaded fixing device 58 comprising four individual bolts on its rear side. These bolts secure the support plate 56, and thus the mold positioning element 54, to the frame 60 of the equipment. Furthermore, a receiving portion 59 for a cross pin 64 is mounted on the front side of the support plate 56. The cross pin is held at least on one side by a locking ring 61 and has two guide or support rollers 63 at its two end regions. These guide or support rollers rest supportively against the rear region of the adjacent mold component 7 within the forming section 24.

[0033] Between the guide rails 22 at the end of the forming section 24 and therefore on the forming exit side, there is a so-called spreading element 62, as shown in the figure. Figure 5The illustrations are shown in more detail. Due to the opening element 62, the two half-molds, or mold components 7, are reliably opened. These half-molds or mold components, in the region of the forming section 24, rest with their free ends against a plastic hose (not shown) for forming the container. A negative pressure is at least partially applied in the mold components 7 to achieve the forming of the corresponding container product within the range of vacuum forming. The opening element 62 is particularly suitable for ensuring the opening of the half-mold components 7 if this vacuum pressure cannot be completely eliminated throughout the mold or if the mold components 7 adhere to the plastic. For this purpose, the opening element 62 has two upwardly projecting opening bows 65 that protrude in a clamping manner toward the outlet of the forming section 24, and these opening bows define a gap 66 through which an energy storage device (particularly in the form of a compression spring 68) passes. The expansion element 62 is also connected to the frame 60 of the equipment via the connecting part 70 on the support leg side. Furthermore, the two expansion arches 65 are accommodated approximately in the middle at a common connecting part 77, allowing the two expansion arches 65 to move slightly toward or away from each other under the action of the compression spring 68 and the corresponding chain drive 36, thereby enabling the expansion of the mold components 7 of each mold component pair (Fig. 1). There is no equivalent in the prior art.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing container products from plastic materials, the container products being manufactured by means of a mold device (1) having individual mold components (7) which are arranged in pairs, moving towards and away from each other, sequentially along a forming section (24) to form corresponding container products, each pair of mold components (7) being guided to move along two spatially separated guide tracks (22), characterized in that, Each guide rail (22) has at least three different rail segments (22, 28, 30), each rail segment extending in a straight line over a predetermined length, such that multiple mold components (7) of a rail segment (26, 28, 30) are arranged sequentially in a common plane (E1, E2, E3).

2. An apparatus for manufacturing container products from plastic materials, the container products being manufactured by means of a mold device (1) having individual mold components (7) that are arranged in pairs, moving towards and away from each other, sequentially along a forming section (24) to form corresponding container products, each pair of mold components (7) being guided to move along two spatially separated guide tracks (22), characterized in that, Each guide rail (22) forms a motion chain (36) by closing all its rail sections (26, 28, 30) on its own, the motion chain having a total of eighteen mold parts (7) as links (32), the links being hinged (34) to each other.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Along the track section (26) extending in a straight line surrounding the molding section (24), at least four, preferably five, mold components (7) of each guide track (22) are guided one after the other in succession.

4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each straight section (26, 28, 30) of each guide track (22) defines a right triangle (40) in an imaginary extension, which is preferably configured to be isosceles.

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The straight track segments (26, 28, 30) of each guide track (22) transition to curved track segments (38) at the end, the curvature of which is selected such that the straightness of the track segments (26, 28, 30) 3 located in front is kept as long as possible.

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The curved track segment (38) has a radius of curvature smaller than the radius of the imaginary circumcircle, which is correspondingly inserted into the end of the imaginary triangle (40) of the track segment (26, 28, 30) with the straight line.

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The corresponding guide rail (22) is supported in the region of the turning part of the curved section of the track for the chain drive (36) by a support device (44) that follows the corresponding curved profile. At least one of these support devices serves as a tensioning device (46) for the drive, in particular the chain drive (36), which has a movablely hinged mold component (7) and follows the configurable guide rail (22).

8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The corresponding guide rail (22) includes a straight track section (26) of the forming section (24), which is guided, and in particular supported, on its side away from the forming section (24) by an integral and at least partially straight guide rail (48), in which adjacent mold components (7) are paired and abut against each other at their ends.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The number of mold components (7) for each guide rail (22) is chosen to be so large that the distance between adjacent manufactured container products within the forming section (24) is minimized, so that the connecting piece (18) located therebetween is also minimized in size, preferably having a width of less than 0.7 cm when viewed along the direction of the movement path of the container product.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, A mold positioning element (54) is provided on the molding inlet side between the guide rails (22) in front of the starting point of the molding section (24).

11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At the end of the forming section (24), a spreading element (62) is provided on the forming outlet side between the guide rails (22).

12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The number of mold components (7) for each guide rail (22) is even, preferably the number of molding components for each straight track segment (26, 28, 30) of the guide rail (22) and in the region of the curved segment (38) is the same or substantially the same, and it is particularly preferred that eighteen mold components (7) are used for each guide rail (22).

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