Automatic exchange device for replacing mold inserts of a bottle blow molding machine

Abstract

Automatic exchange device for exchanging at least one mold insert (6) of a bottle blow molding machine, which is designed for adjusting the geometry of a bottle neck of a bottle blank, with a carrier designed to transport the at least one mold insert (6) along a conveying section (26) of the bottle blow molding machine, wherein the exchange device is designed and configured to exchange the mold insert (6) in a transition zone between a heating area and a blow molding area of ​​the bottle blow molding machine by means of an exchange mold insert (36), characterized in that the exchange device comprises a locking assembly (2) connected to the carrier, which is designed to decouple the mold insert (6) from the carrier and to couple the exchange mold insert (36) to the carrier, and an exchange assembly (20;60) which is configured to remove the decoupled mold insert (6) from the locking assembly (2) and to supply the interchangeable mold insert (36) to the locking assembly (2).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of bottle blow molding machines, in particular an automatic exchange device for at least one mold insert / neck insert / thread insert of a bottle blow molding machine. This device is adapted to the production process of the bottle blow molding machine, which consists of the mold insert feeding area, heating area, transition area, and blow molding area. The device can efficiently solve the problems of low efficiency, complex operation, and poor adaptability when exchanging the mold insert used to shape the neck of (bottle) blanks during the production of blanks of different sizes, and can meet the automated production requirements of the bottle blow molding machine. Background of the invention

[0002] In conventional bottle blow molding machines, bottle blanks undergo the following steps in the production process: The bottle blank is fed from a feed area, transported to the heating area by a star wheel, loaded onto a mold insert, which is in turn coupled to a mandrel for subsequent heating, transported to the transition area, and then shaped in the blow molding area of ​​the bottle blow molding machine. Due to the variety of mouth sizes and closure threads of the bottle blanks (for example, common diameters of 28 mm or 38 mm, etc.), it is necessary to replace the mold insert, which allows the size of the bottle blank mouth to be adjusted or changed in order to ensure the processing quality of the bottle blank.The conventional method for replacing the mold insert relies on manual disassembly and installation, which is not only time-consuming and leads to extended machine downtime, but can also easily result in machine damage or inaccurate mold insert installation due to human error or inaccuracies, thereby compromising product quality. Furthermore, some existing semi-automatic or automatic mold insert replacement devices suffer from issues such as complex structure, high costs, low replacement efficiency, and poor adaptability. Although the transition area at the end of the heating section of the bottle blowing machine is a natural location for mold insert replacement, conventional technology does not fully utilize this area to implement an efficient and automated replacement process. Brief description of the present invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention aims to avoid or at least mitigate the disadvantages described above and, in particular, to provide an automatic exchange device for replacing at least one mold insert of a bottle blow molding machine, the special design of which, adapted to the transition zone, enables automated decoupling (disassembly), removal, feeding, and coupling (installation) of a corresponding mold insert. This is intended to reduce the exchange time of the mold inserts as well as the downtime of the bottle blow molding machine, while simultaneously ensuring exchange accuracy and operational stability.

[0004] By designing a special structure adapted to the transition zone, automated decoupling (disassembly), removal / feeding (transfer), and coupling (installation) of the mold insert can be achieved. This reduces changeover time, minimizes downtime of the bottle blow molding machine, and simultaneously ensures exchange accuracy and operational stability. It is adaptable to the exchange requirements of mold inserts with different specifications, thus improving production flexibility and the overall efficiency of the bottle blow molding machine.

[0005] This problem is solved by an automatic exchange device according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims and / or are explained below.

[0006] The invention therefore relates initially to an automatic exchange device for replacing at least one mold insert / threaded insert / insert head of a bottle blow molding machine, which is designed for adjusting the geometry of a bottle neck of a bottle blank / bottle preform. The exchange device has a carrier designed to transport the at least one mold insert along a conveyor section of the bottle blow molding machine. The exchange device is designed and configured such that it replaces the mold insert with a changeable mold insert in a transition zone between a heating area and a blow molding area of ​​the bottle blow molding machine.The exchange device includes a locking assembly connected to the carrier, which is designed to decouple the mold insert from the carrier and couple the interchangeable mold insert to the carrier, and an exchange assembly which is designed to remove the decoupled mold insert from the locking assembly and to feed the interchangeable mold insert to the locking assembly.

[0007] In other words, the inventive exchange device for mold inserts on a bottle blow molding machine comprises two structural arrangements: a locking assembly, which is a structure connected to the carrier for the releasable fixing of the mold insert, and an exchange assembly, which includes an arrangement for handling and transporting the mold inserts to be replaced as well as the new interchangeable mold inserts. The exchange process of the mold inserts takes place in a defined area, the so-called transition area, between a heating area, in which the bottle blanks attached to the respective mold inserts are heated, and a blow molding area, in which the heated bottle blanks are blown or formed into the final bottle shape.

[0008] This allows for the advantageous implementation of complete automation of the process chain involved in exchanging the mold inserts, encompassing the steps of disassembly, transfer / transport, and installation. Consequently, manual intervention is eliminated, and machine downtime can be reduced by approximately 60%. The structural division into a locking assembly for securing the respective mold inserts and an exchange assembly for logistics enables a clear functional separation, which increases operational reliability and minimizes potential sources of error.

[0009] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the locking assembly can comprise at least one mandrel configured to receive the mold insert or the interchangeable mold insert and to couple it to the carrier of the bottle blow molding machine, a locking sleeve axially displaceable along the mandrel and movable between a locked and an unlocked position, and at least one detent element arranged radially on the mandrel, in particular in the form of a push-button detent. The detent element can be arranged between the locking sleeve and the mandrel, and the locking sleeve can be configured, in the locked position, to press the detent element into a circumferential groove of the mold insert or the interchangeable mold insert in order to firmly couple the mold insert or the interchangeable mold insert to the mandrel.

[0010] In other words, the mandrel is designed as the central mounting bracket for the mold insert, running along the conveyor / chain track as part of the carrier. The mechanism utilizes axial movement of the sleeve and radial movement of the locking elements, specifically steel balls, to secure the mold inserts. This ensures that the mold insert remains securely fixed during rapid movement through the heating zone and does not loosen due to vibrations, yet can still be quickly and, in particular, automatically unlocked by a simple axial sliding movement of the sleeve. More precisely, the respective mandrel is attached to the carrier of the bottle blow molding machine and runs along the conveyor track, serving as a mounting bracket for the mold insert.The locking sleeve attached to the mandrel is slidably displaceable along the axial direction of the mandrel, thereby pressing the locking elements into the circumferential groove of the respective mold insert and forming a mechanical lock of the mold insert. This prevents the mold insert from detaching during the heating process in the heating zone and during the molding process in the blow molding zone.

[0011] In other words, the mold insert is fixed to the mandrel by a releasable locking mechanism. This locking function is achieved by a radially movable locking element and an axially displaceable locking sleeve. In the active, locked position, the locking element is pressed by the sleeve into a specially designed circumferential groove in the mold insert to create a secure connection, similar to the principle of a snap fastener.

[0012] In a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the locking sleeve can also be pre-tensioned into the locked position by a spring and can also have a release device coupled to the carrier, which is designed to press the locking sleeve of the corresponding mandrel against the pre-tension force of the spring, thereby moving the detent element out of the circumferential groove of the mold insert and decoupling the mold insert.

[0013] In other words, the use of a spring in the locking assembly creates a mechanism in which the normal state of the locking assembly is locked, i.e., in a coupled state. Preferably, the spring is mounted externally on the mandrel, with one end bearing against the locking sleeve and the other end fixed to the mandrel's limiting structure. The spring continuously presses against the locking sleeve through its spring force, holding it in the locked state (under preload) under normal conditions and ensuring the stability of the mold insert outside of the exchange phase.

[0014] The unlocking process is only actively initiated at a specific point in the transition zone by the unlocking device, which mechanically acts on the mandrel. This prevents the mold insert from accidentally detaching during the production line and simultaneously allows for quick, tool-free unlocking by simply applying mechanical pressure against the spring force, thus reducing maintenance complexity and enabling automation. In other words, the unlocking device actuates the mandrel to perform the unlocking action. When the mandrel carries the mold insert to the appropriate position in the transition zone, the unlocking device triggers the mandrel's release, allowing the mold insert to be removed.

[0015] According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, in the locked position of the locking sleeve the spring can have a preset compression of about 5 to 8 mm and a distance between the detent element and a groove base / bottom of the circumferential groove of the mold insert can be about ≤ 0.1 mm.

[0016] These specific parameters can advantageously define the necessary precision for high-speed industrial operation. The pre-compression of approximately 5 to 8 mm ensures sufficient holding force to keep the mold insert stable even at high process speeds. A minimal clearance of ≤ 0.1 mm between the locking element and the groove base guarantees a play-free fit, which is essential for the precise formation of the bottle neck during the blow molding process and for the quality of the final product.

[0017] According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the exchange assembly can comprise a rotating main disk with a plurality of gripping devices arranged radially and uniformly distributed on the rotating main disk, a first rotary disk configured to drive a first belt-like mold insert carrier for receiving and storing the decoupled mold inserts (in the production chain), and a second rotary disk configured to drive a second belt-like mold insert carrier for storing the interchangeable mold inserts, i.e., the new mold inserts to be exchanged. The gripping devices can be configured to receive the respective decoupled mold inserts via a gripper on the locking assembly and transfer them to the first mold insert carrier, and to receive the respective interchangeable mold inserts on the second mold insert carrier and transfer them to the locking assembly.

[0018] In other words, a first and a second rotary disc can be provided as part of the exchange unit, each driving a corresponding mold insert carrier. Specifically, the first mold insert carrier has multiple receiving structures for the replaced mold inserts, which can be accommodated side-by-side within the belt-like mold insert carrier. The second mold insert carrier is similarly designed to hold new, interchangeable mold inserts of varying dimensions for forming different mouth sizes of the bottle blanks. The first mold insert carrier thus serves as a collection point for the replaced mold inserts, and the second mold insert carrier serves as a new receiving point for storing the interchangeable mold inserts.The first rotary disc at the collection position drives the first mold insert carrier to receive the replaced mold insert, which has been removed by the respective gripping device located on the main disc, and to ensure orderly storage. In contrast, the second rotary disc at the new receiving position is designed to drive the second mold insert carrier of the same structure to store the new interchangeable mold inserts.

[0019] The belt-like carriers, which serve as storage locations for the replaced and incoming mold inserts, enable a high storage capacity. The rotating main disc acts as a central distributor, efficiently and at a high rate moving the mold inserts back and forth between the mandrel on the conveyor and the mold insert carriers, thus enabling a continuous, automated exchange process.

[0020] In a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the gripping devices can each be rotatably mounted on a first section of the main disk via a pivoting device. The gripping devices each have a pneumatic lifting device configured to move a lifting section of the gripping device, which includes the gripper, linearly up and down.

[0021] In other words, the respective gripping device can preferably be equipped with a pneumatic lifting device, which is in particular separately driven, which can perform a linear up and down movement in order to adapt to the height requirements when loading and unloading the corresponding mold insert on the mandrel and to implement the dismantling of the old mold insert to be replaced and the installation of the new interchangeable mold insert.

[0022] The version with a separate pneumatic lifting device enables the necessary vertical up and down movement of the gripper of the corresponding gripping device. This vertical movement of the gripper allows the respective mold insert to be vertically attached to, coupled with, removed from, or decoupled from the mandrel, depending on the design. The combination of pivoting and lifting movements gives the gripping device the necessary degrees of freedom to manage the complex spatial conditions in the narrow transition zone and to precisely position itself against the respective mandrel.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the gripping devices can each have at least one cam roller which is guided within a cam profile curve of a second section of the main disk. The cam profile curve is designed such that, during the guidance of the cam roller within the cam profile curve, the lifting section of the gripping device is raised or lowered.

[0024] In other words, the gripping devices are each mounted on the main disc. The loading and unloading of the respective mold insert is achieved by a rolling or sliding movement of a cam roller, preferably two separate cam rollers, within a corresponding cam profile. A pneumatic lifting device is arranged on each gripping device, designed to translate the up / down movements of the grippers and to perform the loading and unloading of the respective mold insert.

[0025] Guiding by means of such a cam profile curve enables a mechanically guided and thus highly precise motion trajectory. Preferably, the cam profile curve can be designed as a sinusoidal acceleration curve, thereby avoiding jerky movements and shock vibrations of the components. This ensures low-wear operation, precise positioning of the gripper without complex electronic individual axis control, and guarantees process stability. Preferably, the rotational speed of the first and second rotary discs is adjustable in the range of 5 to 10 rpm. In addition, the spacing of the positioning grooves on the belt-like mold insert carrier is specifically matched to the outer diameter of the mold insert. According to this first preferred embodiment, the changeover or replacement process of a corresponding mold insert with an interchangeable mold insert can take approximately ≤ 30 seconds.

[0026] According to a further alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the exchangeable assembly can comprise an annular electromagnetic rail, a plurality of magnetic carriages, each of which is movable along the rail via a respective carriage-internal drive motor and a drive coil arranged in the rail, and a belt-like mold insert carrier. The mold insert carrier is driven by two rotary wheels and is designed to support the decoupled mold inserts on / in a first mold insert carrier section and to support the interchangeable mold inserts on / in a second mold insert carrier section.The carriages each have a pneumatic gripping device designed to pick up the respective decoupled mold inserts via a gripper on the locking assembly and feed them to the belt-like mold insert carrier on the first mold insert carrier section, as well as to pick up the respective interchangeable mold inserts on the second mold insert carrier section of the belt-like mold insert carrier and feed them to the locking assembly.

[0027] In other words, a plurality of magnetic carriages are arranged on the annular electromagnetic rail, which is attached, in particular, to a frame of the support in the transition zone. Each carriage has a carriage drive motor and a drive coil as its drive system and can move independently in a circular motion along the rail (similar to the Maglev principle). Each carriage is equipped with a pneumatic gripping device, in particular in the design according to the gripping devices of the first embodiment described above, for gripping and releasing the corresponding mold insert. According to the first embodiment, the exchange unit also has two rotary discs, each of which drives a belt-like mold insert carrier, each corresponding to a collection position and a new receiving position.The exchange unit is designed, driven by the electromagnetic rail, such that the carriage first moves to the corresponding position of the mandrel, removes the mold insert to be replaced by the pneumatic gripping device, and then transports it to the belt-like mold insert carrier at the collection position for storing the decoupled mold insert. Subsequently, the corresponding carriage can move to the mold insert carrier at the new receiving position to grip the new exchange mold insert, transport it to the corresponding position of the mandrel, and perform the installation or coupling.

[0028] Advantageously, the magnetic carriages of this second embodiment of the interchangeable assembly are independently movable, and the electromagnetic rail can be adapted to complex, curved spatial layouts of the transition zone, thus facilitating retrofitting into existing machines. Furthermore, this principle allows for the parallel use of multiple carriages, increasing throughput and improving system efficiency at high production rates. The gripping devices can be adapted to various nozzle specifications. Moreover, it is not necessary to replace the entire (interchangeable) assembly, thus meeting diverse production requirements. This also allows the interchangeable assembly to be integrated into the transition zone without requiring additional production space in the bottle blow molding machine.In particular, the electromagnetic rail according to this embodiment can be adapted to complex spatial curves, which facilitates the retrofitting of existing machines. The changeover or exchange process of a corresponding mold insert with an interchangeable mold insert can take approximately ≤ 25 seconds according to this second preferred embodiment.

[0029] To the extent that process steps or sequences are described in the following description or in the drawings, this information serves only to explain the functionality of the exchange device. These process steps are not the subject of the patent application as an independent process, but rather illustrate the configuration of the device (e.g., the control unit) that is set up to carry out these steps.

[0030] Furthermore, a method for exchanging at least one mold insert of a bottle blow molding machine with an exchange device is disclosed, comprising the steps of transporting the at least one mold insert into a transition zone between a heating area and a blow molding area of ​​the bottle blow molding machine by a carrier of the bottle blow molding machine, decoupling the mold insert to be exchanged from the carrier via a locking assembly of the exchange device, removing the decoupled mold insert from the locking assembly by an exchange assembly of the exchange device, feeding an exchange mold insert to the locking assembly by the exchange assembly, and coupling the exchange mold insert to the carrier, in particular the corresponding mandrel of the carrier, by the locking assembly.

[0031] The step of decoupling the mold insert from the carrier can preferably include the additional step of pressing a locking sleeve, axially displaceably arranged on a mandrel of the locking assembly, against the tension force of a spring from a locked position to an unlocked position, by means of an unlocking device, in particular coupled to the carrier. In the locked position, the locking sleeve presses a detent element, in particular in the form of a push-button detent, arranged radially on the mandrel and between the mandrel and the locking sleeve, into a circumferential groove of the mold insert, causing the detent element to move out of the circumferential groove of the mold insert and releasing the mold insert for decoupling.

[0032] Preferably, the step of removing the decoupled mold insert can comprise the additional steps of picking up the decoupled mold insert at the locking assembly by a gripping device which is arranged at the exchange assembly, and transferring the decoupled mold insert to a first belt-like mold insert carrier or to a first mold insert carrier section by the gripping device, and the step of feeding an exchange mold insert can comprise the additional steps of picking up the exchange mold insert at a second belt-like mold insert carrier or at a second mold insert carrier section by the gripping device, and transferring the exchange mold insert to the locking assembly by the gripping device.

[0033] The following section describes an exemplary procedure for installing and commissioning the respective components. Regarding the installation of the locking assembly, the corresponding mandrel is first mounted on the frame along the conveyor track. The respective release device is then fixed at the correct distance (preferably with a tolerance of ≤ 0.5 mm). Following this, the spring, locking sleeve, and detent elements, particularly in the form of steel balls, are mounted. More precisely, the spring and the locking sleeve are successively placed onto the mandrel, and then the steel balls are inserted as detent elements. The diameters of the steel balls are adjusted according to the size of the circumferential groove of the mold insert.A spring compression of preferably 5 to 8 mm is then preset to ensure that the locking sleeve can fully clamp the steel balls into the circumferential groove of the mold insert under normal conditions, thus guaranteeing reliable locking. Finally, the locking and unlocking operations are preferably tested manually three to five times to ensure that no blockages or loosening occur.

[0034] Regarding the exchange assembly according to the first embodiment, the rotating main disk and the cam mechanism are installed first. Specifically, the main disk with a variable tilt angle is installed via the bearing seat on the central support of the transition area, and the height of the rotary disk and the starting position of the corresponding gripping devices are aligned with the central axis of a mold insert on the mandrel, particularly with a coaxiality error ≤ 0.3 mm. The cam roller mechanism is then attached, ensuring that the rollers are firmly in contact with the corresponding cam profile cam. Subsequently, the belt-like mold insert carriers and the rotary disks, including the stepper motors for driving the respective mold insert carriers, are installed at the collection and removal positions of the exchange mold inserts.The positioning grooves of the mold insert carriers are matched to the required mold insert diameters. The center height of the rotary tables is then adjusted so that the surface of the carrier aligns with the height of the gripping devices. Following this, the control system is connected, and a rotational speed of the rotary tables is set, typically between 5 and 10 rpm. A idling test is then performed to ensure coordination between the gripping devices and mold insert carriers. This means that when the gripper of the gripping device releases the mold insert, the positioning grooves of the mold insert carriers must be precisely aligned.

[0035] Regarding the exchangeable assembly according to the second embodiment, the electromagnetic rail is first fixed or mounted according to the available size of the transition area. The gap at the rail connection is, in particular, ≤ 0.2 mm to ensure smooth operation of the carriages. Subsequently, the majority of magnetic carriages, which have pre-assembled pneumatic gripping devices, are mounted on the rail. The speed of the carriages, in particular adjustable between 0.1 and 0.3 m / s, is tested after connecting the drive circuit and the pneumatic air source, preferably with a positioning accuracy of ≤ 0.2 mm. This is done separately for each carriage via the control system to ensure that each carriage can park precisely at the corresponding points on the mandrel, the collection position, and the new picking position.Finally, a gripping force of preferably 5 to 15 N is set for the grippers of the gripping devices, in combination with an opening / closing time of preferably 0.5 s. A idling cycle test is then performed, followed by a mold insert exchange. This ensures that the timing of the carriage movement, gripper movement, and transfer is executed correctly. Brief description of the characters

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments and the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B Schematic partial sectional views of a locking assembly of an exchange device, with a mandrel and a mold insert in the coupled state, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B Schematic partial sectional views of the locking assembly of the exchange device, with the mandrel and the corresponding mold insert in the decoupled state, according to the embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B; Fig. 3 a schematic top view of an exchange assembly of the exchange device, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 a schematic side view of the exchange assembly of the exchange device, according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 3; Fig. 5A a schematic side view of a gripping device of the exchange assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5B a schematic top view of the gripping device of the exchange assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 5A; Fig. 6 a schematic top view of an exchange assembly of the exchange device, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 a schematic side view of the exchange assembly of the exchange device, according to the second preferred embodiment Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 An exemplary schematic flowchart of a method for exchanging at least one mold insert of a bottle blow molding machine using an exchange device.

[0037] The figures are purely schematic and serve solely to illustrate the present invention. It should be noted that the features of the individual embodiments are interchangeable and may occur in specific combinations. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0038] The present invention is described below with reference to the preferred embodiments. Fig. 1 to 8 described.

[0039] Fig. 1A and Fig. Figure 1B shows schematic partial sectional views of a locking assembly 2 of an exchange device, with a mandrel 4 and a mold insert 6 in a coupled state, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2A and Fig. Figure 2B shows schematic partial sectional views of the locking assembly 2 of the exchange device, according to the embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, each in the decoupled state. Here, the carrier of the bottle blow molding machine has a plurality of locking assemblies 2 for transporting the mold inserts 6 and the bottle blanks through the production line. Subsequently, a corresponding locking assembly 2 is described with reference to the figures. The locking assembly 2 has a mandrel 4, which is fixedly attached to the carrier. A corresponding mold insert 6 is in the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B is coupled to the mandrel 4. The coupling is achieved via a locking sleeve 8, which is fitted over or slid onto the mandrel 4, and detent elements 12, in particular in the form of steel balls. In the coupled state, the detent elements 12 are arranged within a circumferential groove 14 of the mold insert 6. More precisely, the detent elements 12 are pressed radially from the locking sleeve 8 through the inside of the locking sleeve 8 into the circumferential groove 14. The locking sleeve 8 is pre-tensioned at its upper end by a spring 10, so that the detent elements 12 are pressed through the locking sleeve 8 into the circumferential groove 14 of the mold insert 6 in the normal state. In this state, the respective mold insert 6 is thus coupled to the respective mandrel 4.

[0040] To decouple the mold insert 6 from the mandrel 4 in order to replace it with a new interchangeable mold insert 36, which in particular has a different diameter, a release device 16 is provided. This release device 16 is designed to automatically press against a sleeve projection 18 of the locking sleeve 8, thereby pushing the locking sleeve 8 upwards along the mandrel 4 away from the mold insert 6, in particular against the spring force of the spring 10. The release device is controlled by a control unit. The locking sleeve 8 has a larger inner diameter at one end section, so that this movement of the locking sleeve 8 allows detent elements 12 to snap out of the circumferential groove 14 of the mold insert 6, thereby decoupling the mold insert 6 from the mandrel 4. The decoupling process described above is described in the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B is shown.

[0041] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of an exchange assembly 20 of the exchange device, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The exchange assembly 20 according to this first preferred embodiment has a main disk 22 on which a plurality (in Fig. 3, in particular six, of gripping devices 24, each with a gripper 25, are arranged radially at equal intervals from one another. The gripping devices 24 and the grippers 25 are designed to grip a mold insert 6, which is moved by a conveyor 26 and is decoupled, in particular as described above. The rotational movement of the main disk 22 (shown here in a clockwise direction) also rotates the gripping devices 24 and guides them to a first rotary disk 28, which drives a first mold insert carrier 30. The first mold insert carrier 30 is designed to receive and support the decoupled mold inserts 6. Furthermore, the gripping devices 24 are designed to receive interchangeable mold inserts 36, which are supported in a second mold insert carrier 34, and to feed them to the conveyor 26.The second mold insert carrier is driven via a second rotary disk 32, which preferably has the same structure as the first rotary disk 28. In particular, the receiving or transfer of the mold inserts 6 to be exchanged or the new exchangeable mold inserts 36 takes place in a transition area before the mold inserts 6 or the bottle blanks are transported from the conveyor line 26 into the heating area. Fig. Figure 3 also shows the already replaced or exchanged interchangeable mold inserts 36 within the heating area.

[0042] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of the exchange assembly 20 of the exchange device, according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3. The main disk 22, driven by a rotary disk shaft 38, is shown from the side. A plurality of gripping devices 24 are arranged on or attached to the main disk 22 (two of these gripping devices 24 are shown from the side in this figure). Each gripping device 24 has a gripper 25 designed to grip a mold insert 6 or an interchangeable mold insert 36. In particular, each gripper 25 is connected to the rest of the gripping device 24 via a pneumatic lifting device 44, enabling the gripper 25 to perform an up-and-down movement to grip or transfer a corresponding mold insert 6 or an interchangeable mold insert 36. The gripping devices 24 have cam rollers 43, 45, each guided in a cam profile of a second section of the main disk 22.The cam profile curves are designed such that, during the guidance of the corresponding cam rollers 43, 45 within the respective cam profile curve, a lifting section of the gripping device 24, driven by the lifting device 44, is raised or lowered. The first rotary disk 28, driven by a rotary disk shaft 40, is shown laterally to the main disk 22. Furthermore, holding devices 42, as parts of the first mold insert carrier 30, are shown, designed to receive and support the decoupled mold inserts 6. More precisely, the transfer of the mold insert 6 from the gripping device 24 to the holding device 42 of the first mold insert carrier 30 is effected by the upward and downward movement of the lifting device 44 and the subsequent release of the gripper 25.

[0043] Fig. Figure 5A shows a schematic side view of a gripping device 24 of the exchangeable assembly 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and Fig. Figure 5B is a schematic top view of the gripping device 24 of the exchange assembly 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5A. The gripping device 24 has a pivoting device 46 by means of which the gripping device 24 can be rotatably coupled to the main disk 22 (not shown), in particular to a first section of the main disk 22. Furthermore, the cam rollers 43, 45 are arranged on the underside of the gripping device 24. The gripping device 24 has a pneumatic lifting device 44 by means of which a lifting section of the corresponding gripping device 24, which includes the gripper 25, can be moved linearly up and down.

[0044] Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of an exchange assembly 60 of the exchange device, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. The exchange assembly 60 according to this second embodiment has an annular, in particular stadium-shaped, electromagnetic rail 62. A plurality (in this figure, a plurality of four) of carriages 64 are movably arranged along the electromagnetic rail 62. Adjacent to the electromagnetic rail 62 is a belt-like mold insert carrier 66, which is driven by a first rotary disk 68 and a second rotary disk 69. This belt-like, also annular, mold insert carrier 66 is configured to hold a plurality of decoupled mold inserts 6 on a first mold insert carrier section and a plurality of interchangeable mold inserts 36 on a second mold insert carrier section, in particular side by side.Also adjacent to the electromagnetic rail 62 is the conveyor section 26 for transporting the mold inserts 6 and the bottle blanks attached to them through the heating area and the blow molding area. The carriages 64 are each designed to receive the respective decoupled mold inserts 6 at the corresponding locking assembly 2 of the conveyor section 26, transport them via the electromagnetic rail 62 and feed them to the belt-like mold insert carrier 66 at the first mold insert carrier section, and to receive the respective interchangeable mold inserts 36 at the second mold insert carrier section of the mold insert carrier 66, transport them via the electromagnetic rail 62 and feed them to the locking assembly 2.

[0045] Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of the exchange assembly 60 of the exchange device, according to the second preferred embodiment. Fig. 6. The electromagnetic rail 62, which is attached to a rail support 70, is shown. Also shown are two carriages 64, which are movably coupled to the electromagnetic rail 62. The electromagnetic rail 62 has a drive coil 74, which is arranged continuously along the rail 62. Each carriage 64 has an internal drive motor 72. A propulsive force is generated by the electromagnetic interaction between the stationary drive coil 74 in the rail 62 and the drive motor 72 in the respective carriage 64. This enables the carriages 64 to move independently of one another along the electromagnetic rail 62. Each carriage 64 forms an independent drive system and can be individually controlled by a control unit according to a preset program.This allows, for example, a carriage 64 to stop at a locking assembly 2 while another moves to the mold insert carrier 66. Furthermore, each of the carriages 64 has a gripping device 124, shown here in simplified form, which preferably has the same structure as a gripping device 24 of the exchange assembly 20 according to the first embodiment. The first rotary disk 68, which is configured to drive the mold insert carrier 66, is also shown schematically in this figure. The carriage 64 shown here is thus configured to transfer a mold insert 6 to the mold insert carrier 66 for storage or to remove an exchange mold insert 36 from the mold insert carrier 66, transport it via the electromagnetic rail 62, and then transfer it to the conveyor line 26.

[0046] Fig.Figure 8 shows an exemplary schematic flowchart of a method for exchanging at least one mold insert 6 of a bottle blow molding machine with an exchange device according to the invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0047] The method comprises the (main) steps of transporting S1 of the at least one mold insert 6 into a transition zone between a heating area and a blow molding area of ​​the bottle blow molding machine by means of a carrier of the bottle blow molding machine, decoupling S2 of the mold insert 6 to be exchanged from the carrier via a locking assembly 2 of the exchange device, removing S3 of the decoupled mold insert 6 from the locking assembly 2 by means of an exchange assembly 20, 60 of the exchange device, feeding S4 of an exchange mold insert 36 to the locking assembly 2 by means of the exchange assembly 20, 60, and coupling S5 of the exchange mold insert 36 to the carrier, in particular the corresponding mandrel 4 of the carrier, by means of the locking assembly 2. Preferably, the unlocking device 16 is simultaneously retracted or reset so that the locking assembly 2 couples the new exchange mold insert 36 with the mandrel 4.

[0048] The decoupling step S2 of the mold insert 6 from the carrier preferably includes the additional (sub-)step S2.1 of pressing a locking sleeve 8, axially displaceably arranged on the mandrel 4 of the locking assembly 2, against the clamping force of a spring 10 from a locked position to an unlocked position by means of an unlocking device coupled to the carrier. In the locked position, the locking sleeve 8 presses the detent element 12, arranged radially on the mandrel 4 and simultaneously between the mandrel 4 and the locking sleeve 8, in particular in the form of a push-button detent, into a circumferential groove 14 of the mold insert 6. This causes the detent element 6 to move out of the circumferential groove 14 of the mold insert 8 during the decoupling process and releases the mold insert 6 for decoupling. Furthermore, the removal step S3 of the decoupled mold insert 6 preferably includes the additional steps Pick up 3.1 of the decoupled mold insert 6 at the locking assembly 2 by a gripping device 24, 124, which is arranged on the exchange assembly 20, 60, and transfer S3.2 of the decoupled mold insert 6 to a first belt-like mold insert carrier 30 or to a first mold insert carrier section by the gripping device 24, 124, and the step feeding S4 of an exchange mold insert 36 the additional (sub-)steps picking up S4.1 of the exchange mold insert 36 at a second belt-like mold insert carrier 34 or at a second mold insert carrier section by the gripping device 24, 124, and transfer S4.2 of the exchange mold insert 36 to the locking assembly 2 by the gripping device 24, 124. Reference symbol list 2 Locking assembly 4 mandrel 6 Mold insert 8 Locking sleeve 10 springs 12 locking elements 14 circumferential groove 16 Release device 18 Sleeve projection 20; 60 Exchange module 22 Main disc 24; 124 Gripping device 25; 125 grippers 26 Conveyor route 28; 68 first turntable 30 first mold insert carrier 32; 69 second turntable 34 second mold insert carrier 36 Interchangeable mold inserts 38 Main disc shaft 40 Turntable shaft 42 Holding device 43; 45 Curve roller 44 Lifting device 46 Swivel device 62 rail 64 trolleys 66 mold insert carriers 70 rail supports 72 drive motors 74 Drive coil Step S1: Transporting the mold insert Step S2 Decoupling the mold insert by the locking assembly S3 Removal of the mold insert through the exchange assembly S4 Feeding the interchangeable mold insert through the exchange assembly S5 Coupling the interchangeable mold insert by the locking assembly S2.1 Pressing the locking sleeve through the release device S3.1 Picking up the mold insert by the gripping device S3.2 Transfer of the mold insert by the gripping device S4.1 Picking up the interchangeable mold insert by the gripping device S4.2 Transfer of the interchangeable mold insert by the gripping device

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