Container processing device for producing containers from parisons

Abstract

The utility model relates to a container treatment device for producing containers from parisons, comprising a production machine, in particular an injection molding machine, for producing the parisons, a heating device for heating the parisons, and a blow molding machine for shaping the parisons into containers, a first transport device for transporting the parisons to the heating device in a first transport direction and a second transport device for transporting the heated parisons from the heating device to the blow molding machine, the manufacturing machine, the heating device and the blowing machine each occupy an imaginary rectangular component base surface, the length of the longest side of the base surface being smaller than the sum of the length of the longest side of the component base surface and the length of the first and second transport devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a container processing device for producing containers from parisons. Background Art

[0002] Container handling systems are well-known in the prior art. They typically consist of a series of machines that are synchronized with one another in terms of container throughput, and between which parisons and / or containers can be transported by means of one or more transport devices (e.g., linear or star-shaped conveyors). Parisons are typically transported to the container handling system via a sorting device. The parisons are typically purchased from a parison manufacturer and thus delivered to the container handling system as "bulk material." The sorting device is then used to feed the parisons into the container handling system.

[0003] This requires that the production of the preforms be separated in space and time from their further processing into containers. This has disadvantages in terms of deterioration of the preform quality during storage and the sterility requirements that the preforms or the containers produced therefrom may need to meet, which complicates the further processing of the preforms.

[0004] On the other hand, efforts are made in the prior art to reduce the space requirement of container handling systems as much as possible. Utility Model Content

[0005] Purpose

[0006] Based on the known prior art, the object of the present invention is to produce containers from preforms and to further process them as efficiently as possible while minimizing the space requirement of the container processing system.

[0007] Solution

[0008] The solution for achieving the above-mentioned object is the container processing equipment according to the present invention. Advantageous improvements of the present invention will be further described below.

[0009] The container processing equipment of the present invention for manufacturing containers from preforms includes a manufacturing machine for manufacturing preforms, in particular an injection molding machine, a heating device for heating the preforms, a blow molding machine for molding the preforms into containers, a first transport device for transporting the preforms along a first transport direction to the heating device, and a second transport device for transporting the heated preforms from the heating device to the blow molding machine, wherein the container processing equipment occupies an imaginary rectangular base area, and the manufacturing machine, the heating device and the blow molding machine each occupy an imaginary rectangular component base area, wherein the length of the longest side of the base area is less than the sum of the longest side of the component base area and the length of the first and second transport devices.

[0010] According to the present invention, any machine suitable for producing preforms can be used as a production machine. In particular, the production machine can be designed as an injection molding machine or include such an injection molding machine. However, other embodiments are also possible in which the preforms are produced from solid and / or partially liquid or liquefied starting materials. Accordingly, as an alternative to an injection molding machine, for example, a compression molding machine or an injection compression molding machine can also be used as a production machine.

[0011] The imaginary base surface is an imaginary base surface occupied by the container handling system. This imaginary base surface can, for example, be a minimally sized rectangle into which the container handling system can be virtually placed. The same applies to the imaginary component base surfaces, which can also be imagined as rectangles and are preferably designed in such a way that one of the sides of the base surface coincides with or is parallel to the outlet or inlet of the corresponding machine (i.e., the blow molding machine, the production machine, and the heating device) for the preforms or containers.

[0012] The transport device can be of any design and can, in particular, comprise several conveying devices, for example for suspended transport of the containers along a linear, optionally straight, section and / or one or more star-shaped transport devices. In this context, the first or second transport direction refers to the transport direction of the containers extending tangentially on the respective transport device at the point of transfer of the parisons and / or containers from one of the machines (blow molding machine, production machine or heating device) to the transport device or from the transport device to one of the respective machines.

[0013] Due to the layout of the machines and the transport devices in the container handling system, it is possible to achieve a very space-saving design of the container handling system, while at the same time achieving short transport paths for the parisons and / or containers between the individual machines. This allows the production machine to be integrated into the container handling system in a space-saving manner, while also making it easier to meet the hygiene requirements for container production.

[0014] Another container processing device according to the present invention for producing containers from preforms includes a manufacturing machine for producing preforms, in particular an injection molding machine, a heating device for heating the preforms, a sterile block for producing containers from the preforms in an aseptic manner, and for aseptic filling and sealing the containers, a first transport device for transporting the preforms along a first transport direction to the heating device, and a second transport device for transporting the heated preforms from the heating device to the sterile block, wherein the container processing device occupies an imaginary rectangular base area, and the manufacturing machine, the heating device and the sterile block each occupy an imaginary rectangular component base area, wherein the length of the longest side of the base area is less than the sum of the longest side of the component base area and the length of the first and second transport devices.

[0015] With regard to the fictitious component base, base and transport device, the description of the previous embodiment still applies. Based on this design concept of the container processing device, aseptic processing of containers can also be achieved in a space-saving manner using an integrated production machine.

[0016] The aseptic block may include an aseptic room, a blow molding machine arranged in the aseptic room for molding parisons into containers, a filling machine arranged downstream of the blow molding machine for filling containers, and a sealing machine arranged downstream of the filling machine for sealing containers.

[0017] The sterile room can be a chamber that meets certain hygiene or other physical requirements (humidity, number of pollutant particles per cubic meter of air, temperature, or the like). In this respect, it can be a clean room. By arranging the blow molding machine, filler, and sealer in the sterile room, a closed process is achieved for the production, further processing, and even sealing of the containers, thus meeting hygiene requirements. The sterile room or its outer boundaries can, but need not, be identical to the imaginary component base.

[0018] In one embodiment, the shortest side of the base area has a second length that is smaller than the sum of the shortest side of the component base area and the lengths of the first and second transport devices, thereby achieving a compact container handling system.

[0019] The outlet of the production machine can be at an angle of between 0° and 90° or between 30° and 60° to the first transport direction, thereby achieving an efficient and space-saving arrangement of the production machine and the transport device.

[0020] The inlet of the heating device can be at an angle of between 0° and 90° or between 30° and 60° to the first transport direction. With this embodiment, an efficient, in particular space-saving, layout of the production machine and the heating device can be achieved.

[0021] The outlet of the heating device can be at an angle of between 0° and 90° or between 30° and 60° to the second transport direction. This further increases the compactness of the heating device, the manufacturing machine, and the blow molding machine or the sterilization block.

[0022] The container handling system may further comprise a sorting device for removing the parisons from the storage and aligning them, and the sorting device is capable of conveying the aligned parisons to an outlet of the production machine. Optionally, the direction of transport of the parisons from the sorting device to the outlet may be parallel to the direction of transport of the parisons within the production machine to the outlet. This allows the parisons to be transported in a space-saving manner as an alternative in the event of a malfunction of the production machine.

[0023] The sorting device can be arranged at a higher level than the production machine and arranged so as to at least partially overlap the production machine when viewed perpendicular to the component base of the production machine. This design further increases the compactness of the container handling system.

[0024] A preselector can be installed upstream of the outlet to control whether the parisons are fed from the manufacturing machine or the sorting device. This allows for flexible switching between different parison feeding strategies.

[0025] The manufacturing machine can comprise an inspection device for inspecting the parisons. This embodiment ensures the quality of the parisons manufactured for use in the blow molding machine.

[0026] The manufacturing machine may include an extraction device for removing the manufactured parison from the mold of the manufacturing machine, and the extraction device can transport the parison to an outlet of the manufacturing machine, or to the first transport device, or to a receiving portion according to the inspection result.

[0027] With the aid of this embodiment, parisons that do not meet quality standards can be rejected before being conveyed to downstream devices of the container processing system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 An exemplary container handling apparatus is shown;

[0029] Figure 2 One embodiment of a container handling apparatus is shown;

[0030] Figure 3 One embodiment of a manufacturing machine and a sorting device is shown;

[0031] Figure 4 A further embodiment of a container processing device comprising a sterile block is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Figure 1A container processing system 100 is shown for illustrative purposes only and is not the subject of the present invention. The container processing system 100 includes a production machine 101. This production machine can produce parisons from starting materials (e.g., plastic pellets). The production machine can, for example, be or include an injection molding machine. However, other embodiments of the production machine are also possible.

[0033] The preforms are transported from the manufacturing machine in a first transport direction T1 via a first transport device 104 to a heating device 102. In this heating device 102, the preforms are heated to the desired temperature for subsequent molding and are then transported from the heating device 102 in a second transport direction T2 to a blow molding machine 103 by means of a transport device 105. In this blow molding machine, the preforms are molded into containers, which can then be further processed (e.g., filled and sealed).

[0034] The blow molding machine 103 can be configured, in particular, as a rotary device having a row of blow molds arranged around its periphery, into which parisons can be placed and formed into containers (e.g., by applying pressurized air and / or stretching with stretch rods). The heating device can be configured with a linear conveying section, which can also include one or more convolutions with opposite parison transport directions, and heats at least a portion of the parison surface to heat the parison to a desired temperature for subsequent forming.

[0035] Manufacturing machine 101 corresponds to an imaginary component base, which can be represented as a rectangle having a minimum area sufficient to completely enclose the manufacturing machine. This rectangle has a longer side L1 and a shorter side B1, where L1 is greater than or equal to B1. If L1 is equal to B1, the rectangle is a square.

[0036] The first transport segment 104 has a length L4 that at least partially spans the distance between the inlet of the manufacturing machine 101 (from which the parisons 130 are transferred to the first transport device 104) and the inlet of the heating device 102 (from which the parisons are transferred from the first transport device 104 to the heating device 102). The length L4 can be measured parallel to the first transport direction T1, but this is not required.

[0037] Similar to the manufacturing machine 101 , the heating device has an imaginary rectangular assembly base with a longer side L2 and a shorter side B2. The second transport device 105 has a length L5 (similar to the length L4) and transports the containers along a transport direction T2. Similar to the aforementioned manufacturing machines and heating devices, the blow molding machine 103 has an imaginary rectangular assembly base with side lengths L3 (the longer side) and B3 (the shorter side).

[0038] In the illustrated view, the lengths L1 , L2 , L3 and L4 are parallel and L1 , L2 and L3 have the same orientation, but this is by way of example only.

[0039] In the arrangement of the components of the container treatment system 100 shown here, the imaginary base area 140 of the entire container treatment system 100 can also be represented as a rectangle, preferably a rectangle with a minimum area sufficient to accommodate the entire container treatment system 100 .

[0040] As shown in the figure, this rectangle has a longer side L and a shorter side B, where L and B can also be the same as each other (i.e., the imaginary base surface forms a square). Figure 1 As shown, the length L is the sum of the lengths L1 to L5, ie the sum of the longest dimensions of the production machine, the heating device and the blow molding machine and the lengths of the first transport device 104 and the second transport device 105. This results in a large space requirement for the container handling system.

[0041] Figure 2 An embodiment of a container processing device 200 according to the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the container processing device 200 is similar to Figure 1 The present invention comprises a manufacturing machine 201, a first transport device 204, a heating device 202, a second transport device 205 and a blow molding machine 203, similar to the Figure 1 In the example described in , these components have imaginary component bases, which are all rectangles with corresponding side lengths.

[0042] The container handling system 100 further comprises an imaginary base surface 240, which may be similar to Figure 1 Represented as a rectangle having a minimum area sufficient to accommodate a container handling system containing the corresponding imaginary component base.

[0043] But in Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the first and second transport devices 204 and 205 are connected to the manufacturing machine 201, the heating device 202 and the blow molding machine 203 in a certain manner so that the length L of the longer side of the imaginary base area 240 of the container processing equipment 200 is less than the sum of the longer side of the component base area and the transport device lengths L4 and L5.

[0044] This can be achieved by appropriately arranging the outlet 201 of the production machine or its connection to the first transport device 204, as well as by appropriately selecting or arranging the inlet 221 and outlet 222 of the heating device, and arranging the first transport device 204 and the second transport device 205 relative to the inlet 221 and outlet 222. The outlet of the production machine (in particular, the direction of transport of the containers or preforms from the production machine toward the first transport device, or a straight line tangential thereto) can, in particular, form an angle of between 0 and 90°, i.e., in particular, an acute angle, with respect to the transport direction T1 in the region of the outlet. In other words, the preforms are not transported further from the production machine 201 in a straight line (e.g., parallel to the direction of transport of the preforms near the production machine 201), but rather at an angle α. This angle can preferably be between 30° and 60°.

[0045] Similarly, the angle (denoted by β) between the inlet 221 or the transport direction of the parisons at the inlet and the first transport direction T1 can also be an acute angle (preferably between 30° and 60°). This allows the production machine 201 and the heating device 202 to be arranged at least partially side by side, so that at least one side of the rectangle enclosed by these components is shortened.

[0046] Similarly, the angle between the second transport direction T2 of the second transport device 205 and the outlet 21 of the heating device 201 (in particular, the angle between the direction of movement of the parisons at the outlet 222 and the second transport direction T2) can be an acute angle between 0 and 90°. Here, too, an angle between 30° and 60° is preferred. This makes the layout of the heating device more compact relative to the blow molding machine, thereby further reducing the extent of the container handling equipment in at least one direction.

[0047] By corresponding layout, it can also be ensured that the shorter side B of the imaginary base surface is still smaller than the sum of the shorter sides of the manufacturing machine 201, the heating device 202 and the blow molding machine 203 and the lengths L4 and L5 of the first and second transport devices.

[0048] The angles α, β and γ may be different from each other, or may be the same, for example, all 30° or all 50°. The present invention is not limited in this respect.

[0049] Heretofore, the manufacturing machine 201 has generally been described only as a device that provides parisons.

[0050] Figure 3 A further embodiment of a manufacturing machine constructed as an injection molding machine is schematically shown. This embodiment can be combined with any of the embodiments described above and below, so that a combined Figure 3 The injection molding machine described here replaces the generally mentioned manufacturing machine.

[0051] In the embodiment shown here, the injection molding machine includes a mold 314 in which the parisons are produced. Mold 314 may, for example, include a housing having a plurality of injection molds arranged in a regular pattern, into which heated, and in particular liquid, parison material is injected to produce the parisons. Injection molding machine 301 may also include an extraction device 311 capable of removing the parisons from mold 314 and transporting them to a first transport device 304, or to a transport device extending within injection molding machine 301 and leading to transport device 304. Optionally, injection molding machine 301 may also include an inspection device 312 capable of inspecting the parisons located in mold 314 and / or in extraction device 311. Inspection device 312 may, for example, be configured as a camera or other optical recognition device and capture an image of the parison. The image may then be transmitted, for example, to control unit 380 of injection molding machine 301 (which may be configured as a computer with a corresponding processor and / or memory). The image is then evaluated in the control unit to determine the quality of the parison or an inspection result.

[0052] Determining the inspection results may include, for example, measuring the transmittance of the parison material, or may include this operation. Subsequently, the control unit of the extraction device 311 may control, based on the inspection results, the transport device 304 to transport parisons indicating that the inspection results indicate that the parisons are suitable for further use (e.g., for molding into containers), and transporting parisons indicating that the inspection results indicate that the parison quality is insufficient for further use to a storage portion 313 for parisons. The parisons may be stored in this storage portion for later disposal, or they may be processed (e.g., by crushing) to form the parison material and transported to a mold 314 for manufacturing the parisons.

[0053] Optionally, the injection molding machine 301 further comprises a sorting device, or the injection molding machine 301 may correspond to a sorting device 340. The sorting device may be connected (for example, via a transport device 341) to a storage 342 for parisons and / or to a receiving portion 313 for parisons, and receive the parisons in bulk, thereby aligning and conveying them to a transport device 304 or an outlet of the injection molding machine (see Figure 2 ). This allows for situations where the injection molding machine 301 fails or does not provide parisons for other reasons. In this case, the control unit 380 can be configured to trigger the parisons to be transported through the sorting device.

[0054] Particularly preferably, the sorting device (cf. Figure 3) can be arranged at a higher level H2 than the level H1 at which the injection molding machine 301 or at least the mold 314 is located, so the sorting device 340 can be arranged in particular above the injection molding machine 301. Particularly preferably, the sorting device and the injection molding machine at least partially overlap when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the component base of the injection molding machine 301 (see Figure 3 (dashed layout in the left-hand illustration). This further saves space. The transport device 342 allows the parisons to be transported from the sorting device 340 (e.g., via an inclined plane and / or an air conveyor) to the first transport device 304. The transport direction of the parisons in the transport device 342 can be at least partially parallel to the direction of transport of the parisons from the mold 314 to the transport device 304 within the injection molding machine, particularly within the outlet of the injection molding machine.

[0055] To further save space, a preselector 350 can be provided in the injection molding machine 301 or in the transport device leading to the transport device 304, or in the transport device 304, which selectively controls the transport of the parisons to the transport device 304, so that they are either transported from the injection molding machine 301 or transported from the sorting device 340 via the transport device 342. This control can be implemented by the control unit 380 and can be carried out, for example, in response to a malfunction of the injection molding machine.

[0056] Figure 4 Another embodiment of a container processing device is shown. Figure 4 The embodiment shown is similar to Figure 2 The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs in that, instead of a single blow molding machine, a sterile block 403 is provided, which includes corresponding imaginary component bases with side lengths L3 and B3. The sterile block shown here includes a blow molding machine and at least one further machine, in particular a filler 432, and optionally a further machine, in particular a sealing machine 433.

[0057] Transport devices (e.g., star-shaped rotating devices) 334 and 335 may be provided between these machines. The sterile block 403 may include a sterile chamber, which, for example, completely or partially isolates the space within the sterile chamber from the surrounding environment, so that gas exchange occurs only, or preferably primarily, only through an inlet for containers entering the sterile chamber and an outlet for containers leaving the sterile chamber. This allows, for example, the sterile chamber (via suitable devices such as ventilation and temperature control) to meet specific requirements for container handling (particularly production, filling, and sealing), such as air humidity, temperature, and the number of dust particles per cubic meter. This allows the container handling system to be used in the food industry and / or medical technology, while also achieving a space-saving design.

[0058] In this regard, all combined Figure 2 and Figure 3The embodiments described are applicable, but using a sterile block 403 instead of Figure 2 and Figure 3 Blow molding machine.

Claims

1. A container processing device for manufacturing containers from parisons, characterized in that The container processing equipment includes a manufacturing machine for manufacturing preforms, a heating device for heating the preforms, a blow molding machine for molding the preforms into containers, a first transport device for transporting the preforms along a first transport direction to the heating device, and a second transport device for transporting the heated preforms from the heating device along a second transport direction to the blow molding machine, wherein the container processing equipment occupies an imaginary rectangular base area, and the manufacturing machine, the heating device and the blow molding machine each occupy an imaginary rectangular component base area, wherein the length of the longest side of the base area is less than the sum of the longest side of the component base area and the length of the first and second transport devices.

2. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The manufacturing machine is an injection molding machine.

3. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The shortest side of the base surface has a second length that is less than the sum of the shortest side of the component base surface and the lengths of the first and second transport devices.

4. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The exit of the manufacturing machine makes an angle of between 0° and 90° with respect to the first transport direction.

5. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The exit of the manufacturing machine makes an angle of between 30° and 60° with respect to the first transport direction.

6. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The inlet of the heating device makes an angle of between 0° and 90° with respect to the first transport direction.

7. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The inlet of the heating device makes an angle of between 30° and 60° with respect to the first transport direction.

8. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The outlet of the heating device and the second transport direction form an angle between 0° and 90°.

9. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The outlet of the heating device and the second transport direction form an angle of between 30° and 60° with respect to each other.

10. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The container handling device further comprises a sorting device for extracting the parisons from the reserve and aligning them, wherein the sorting device is capable of conveying the aligned parisons to an outlet of the manufacturing machine, wherein a transport direction of the parisons from the sorting device to the outlet is parallel to a transport direction of the parisons within the manufacturing machine to the outlet.

11. The container processing equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that The sorting device is arranged at a higher height level than the production machine and is arranged in such a way that it at least partially overlaps the production machine when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a component base of the production machine.

12. The container processing equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that A preselector is provided upstream of the outlet, thereby controlling whether the parisons are delivered from the manufacturing machine or from the sorting device.

13. The container processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The manufacturing machine comprises an inspection device for inspecting the parison.

14. The container processing equipment according to claim 13, characterized in that The manufacturing machine comprises an extraction device for removing the manufactured parisons from the mold of the manufacturing machine, wherein the extraction device is capable of conveying the parisons to an outlet of the manufacturing machine, or to the first transport device, or to a receiving portion depending on the inspection result.

15. A container processing plant for producing containers from preforms, comprising a production machine for producing preforms, a heating device for heating the preforms, a sterile block for aseptically producing containers from the preforms and for aseptically filling and sealing the containers, a first transport device for transporting the preforms in a first transport direction to the heating device, and a second transport device for transporting the heated preforms from the heating device in a second transport direction to the sterile block, wherein: The container handling system occupies an imaginary rectangular base area, and the production machine, the heating device, and the sterile block each occupy an imaginary rectangular component base area, wherein the length of the longest side of the base area is less than the sum of the longest side of the component base area and the length of the first and second transport devices.

16. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The manufacturing machine is an injection molding machine.

17. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The aseptic block includes an aseptic room, a blow molding machine arranged in the aseptic room for molding parisons into containers, a filling machine arranged downstream of the blow molding machine for filling containers, and a sealing machine arranged downstream of the filling machine for sealing containers.

18. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The shortest side of the base surface has a second length that is less than the sum of the shortest side of the component base surface and the lengths of the first and second transport devices.

19. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The exit of the manufacturing machine makes an angle of between 0° and 90° with respect to the first transport direction.

20. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The exit of the manufacturing machine makes an angle of between 30° and 60° with respect to the first transport direction.

21. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The inlet of the heating device makes an angle of between 0° and 90° with respect to the first transport direction.

22. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The inlet of the heating device makes an angle of between 30° and 60° with respect to the first transport direction.

23. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The outlet of the heating device and the second transport direction form an angle between 0° and 90°.

24. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The outlet of the heating device and the second transport direction form an angle of between 30° and 60° with respect to each other.

25. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The container handling device further comprises a sorting device for extracting the parisons from the reserve and aligning them, wherein the sorting device is capable of conveying the aligned parisons to an outlet of the manufacturing machine, wherein a transport direction of the parisons from the sorting device to the outlet is parallel to a transport direction of the parisons within the manufacturing machine to the outlet.

26. The container processing device according to claim 25, characterized in that The sorting device is arranged at a higher height level than the production machine and is arranged in such a way that it at least partially overlaps the production machine when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a component base of the production machine.

27. The container processing equipment according to claim 25, characterized in that A preselector is provided upstream of the outlet, thereby controlling whether the parisons are delivered from the manufacturing machine or from the sorting device.

28. The container processing equipment according to claim 15, characterized in that The manufacturing machine comprises an inspection device for inspecting the parison.

29. The container processing device according to claim 28, characterized in that The manufacturing machine comprises an extraction device for removing the manufactured parisons from the mold of the manufacturing machine, wherein the extraction device is capable of conveying the parisons to an outlet of the manufacturing machine, or to the first transport device, or to a receiving portion depending on the inspection result.

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