Mold for a container manufacturing facility, and container manufacturing facility
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KHS GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-03
Smart Images
Figure EP2024071274_30012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description:
[0002] Description
[0003] Format part for a container production line and container production line
[0004] The present invention relates to a format part for a container manufacturing plant with a marking arrangement arranged on a surface, which has a machine-readable identification feature.
[0005] The invention relates in particular to format parts for container production lines used in the beverage industry. Against this background, these format parts are components of the container production line used to manufacture beverage containers. The format parts must be selected depending on the container type and / or size to be manufactured. In particular, these are format parts for blow molding lines, especially stretch blow molding lines.
[0006] In such blow molding systems, the containers, especially beverage containers, are manufactured by inflating so-called preforms. These are first heated and then inserted into blow molds, which form a cavity corresponding to the shape of the beverage container to be manufactured. In particular, this is the shape of a beverage bottle. By introducing compressed air, the preform is then expanded and pressed against the surfaces of the cavity. The blow molds are usually formed from at least two blow mold parts, whereby such blow mold parts are understood to be format parts within the meaning of the invention.If, for example, different sized beverage containers are to be produced one after the other within a container blow molding plant, the format parts must first be removed after the first type of container has been produced in the container blow molding machine of a blow molding plant and replaced with other format parts, which can then be used to produce a second type of container.
[0007] It is known from the prior art to exchange the format parts in an automated manner by means of a changing robot, whereby machine-readable identification features must then be provided by means of which the changing robot can recognize the format parts intended for insertion or removal.
[0008] For example, EP 3 294 522 A1 discloses equipping the format parts of a container blow-molding machine with so-called RFID chips. Using an identification device, the changeover robot can then identify the individual format parts and position the appropriate format carriers in the container blow-molding machine depending on the container to be produced.
[0009] WO 2017 / 103281 A1 also proposes a similar design for the molded parts, whereby instead of RFID chips, markings are described that have machine-readable identification features. These can be, for example, barcodes, which can then also be read by an identification device of a robotic changer.
[0010] Such designs have proven successful in practice for enabling automated changeover of format parts in container production systems. Accordingly, it is possible to carry out the changeover entirely via a changeover robot, thus reducing the personnel required for this while simultaneously ensuring the changeover is carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
[0011] However, practice has also shown that it is disadvantageous in many respects that inspection and evaluation are only possible via a separate identification device or a connected evaluation device, making it difficult for operating personnel to easily determine whether incorrect format carriers have been installed in individual positions. This is particularly disadvantageous because, especially in the beverage industry, corresponding container production systems are increasingly being integrated into beverage filling lines in a block-like manner.
[0012] Blocked integration means that the containers are removed directly from the container production line and then filled in subsequent steps without any buffering of the containers. Therefore, if incorrect format parts are used, this can have adverse effects not only on the production of the beverage containers but also on the subsequent processing steps.
[0013] Against this background, the object of the invention is to create a possibility to check the arrangement of the format parts in a container production plant without the need for a separate identification device.
[0014] The subject matter and solution to this problem is a format part according to patent claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided that the marking arrangement additionally comprises a human-readable identification feature. The invention is based on the realization that the use of machine-readable identification features allows for greater information depth. However, this information depth is not absolutely necessary for the operation of the system. Rather, it is sufficient for control purposes if the use of human-readable identification features enables verification by the operating personnel.
[0015] The type of human-readable identification features is not limited to a specific design. Rather, any marking applied to the surface of the format part can serve as a human-readable identification feature, provided it is associated with a specific assignment for the user.
[0016] Particularly suitable in this context are human-readable identification features selected from the group of color coding, symbol coding, text coding and / or numeric coding. For example, it is conceivable to provide the format parts that enable the production of a specific container size with an identical color coding. This makes it possible, for example, to quickly check, once installed, whether all installed format parts are intended for the same container size. Of course, this can also be achieved using digits, characters or numbers. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to combine the individual identification features within the marking. For example, the size of the container could be identified with a first human-readable identification feature, and the assigned position within the container production system could be identified with a further identification feature.This is conceivable, for example, in the context of blow molding systems, whereby the blow mold is always formed from several format parts, which, for example, have an identical first human-readable identification feature (e.g. color) and a different second human-readable identification feature (e.g. number, symbol or character).
[0017] With regard to machine-readable identification features, barcodes or data matrix codes have proven particularly advantageous.
[0018] A further development of the invention provides that the marking arrangement has at least two separate markings, with a first marking containing the human-readable identification feature and a second marking containing the machine-readable identification feature. Accordingly, two separate markings are arranged on the surface of the format part, which offers the advantage that the arrangement on the surface can be aligned so that they can be particularly easily detected either by an identification device of the changing robot or by the operating personnel.
[0019] In principle, it is also possible to combine the two identification features. This could be achieved, for example, using colored barcodes or data matrix codes. However, division into separate markings is preferred, particularly since the format carriers generally have a sufficiently large surface area to accommodate multiple markings. Furthermore, the human-readable identification features in particular can be applied over a particularly large area to enable easy identification from the outside, while the machine-readable identification features require a comparatively small surface section in order to be evaluated by an identification device. A further development of the invention provides that the identification features each have at least one piece of identification information.In this context, identification information refers to information regarding the properties of the format part. This can include, for example, the type of format part, its size and / or shape, its assignment to a group, its positioning within the container production system, or even simply a component number.
[0020] By combining human-readable and machine-readable identifiers, it is also possible that the amount of identification information differs between the machine-readable and the human-readable identifier.
[0021] Based on such a design, it is specifically intended that the machine-readable identification feature contains a greater amount of identification information than the human-readable identification feature. As previously explained in this context, the human-readable identification feature should enable the correct assignment of the individual format parts as easily as possible, while the machine-readable identification feature allows for significantly greater information depth.
[0022] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the format part is a blow molded part. In this context, a blow molded part means that the format part can be used within a blow molding system, in particular a stretch blow molding system, and is designed to determine the shape and configuration of the container to be produced. For this purpose, the blow molded part has a configuration which, in combination with other blow molded parts, forms a blow cavity corresponding to the shape of the container to be produced. Typically, at least two format parts or at least two blow molded parts then form a common blow mold, although it is also possible within the scope of the invention to provide separate format parts designed as base parts, so that a blow mold is then typically formed from a total of three format parts which are arranged so as to be pivotable relative to one another.
[0023] In this context, it should also be noted that, depending on the embodiment of the invention, the format part itself can be designed as a blow mold. This is usually useful when the blow mold is removed as a whole or inserted into the blow molding system as a whole. For example, it is conceivable for the blow mold to consist of two blow mold parts that can be pivoted relative to one another, which are not removed or inserted individually but together. In such a case, the two blow mold parts together form a format part within the meaning of the invention.
[0024] The invention further relates to a container production system according to claim 9, comprising a container production machine and at least a first set of format parts according to the invention arranged in the container production machine. The container production system is preferably a blow molding system, in particular a stretch blow molding system, so that the container production machine is accordingly also designed as a blow molding machine. The operation of such a machine has already been explained above. The format parts are then designed either as blow molds or as blow mold parts of a blow mold.
[0025] Based on such an embodiment, it is preferably provided that the format parts of the first set each have an identical human-readable identification feature or that the format parts are arranged in the container production machine with a pattern formed by the human-readable identification features. An identical identification feature on all format parts can then, for example, provide information about whether format parts for the same type of container or for the same container size are arranged at each intended position in the container production machine. In such a case, for example, all format parts of the first set can have identical color coding, so that the user can easily recognize from the color coding whether the intended format parts are arranged within the container production machine or whether individual format parts are incorrectly assigned.
[0026] Using a pattern, it is then also possible to provide greater depth of information based on human-readable identification features. This is useful, for example, when several format parts must interact with one another, as is the case with blow-molded parts. Accordingly, additional information about the type of format part could then be transmitted, for example, via color coding and character, number, or symbol coding. Of course, two separate markings can also be provided, each with a human-readable identification feature. In this case, the first identification feature is identical for all format parts and the second identification feature forms a pattern.In this context, a pattern means that the corresponding human-readable identification feature forms a structure on the format parts that is characterized by repeated or parallel uniform occurrence.
[0027] A further development of the invention provides for a second set of format parts, which is arranged outside the container manufacturing machine. The format parts of the second set are also format parts according to the invention, whereby the second set of format parts differs from the first set of format parts. This distinction can be, for example, in the container type, the container size, and / or the container shape.
[0028] A further development of the invention further provides that an identification device is assigned to the container production machine, wherein the identification device is configured to capture and evaluate the machine-readable identification features on the format parts. The identification device can, in particular, be a camera system that optically captures the machine-readable identification features. Furthermore, the identification device preferably has an evaluation unit that evaluates the information captured by the camera and, if necessary, transmits it to associated output devices.
[0029] Such a design is particularly useful when a changeover robot is provided, which is connected to the identification device as an output unit. This changeover robot is configured to remove the format parts of the first set from the container production machine and / or to arrange the format parts of the second set in the container production machine.
[0030] Based on such a configuration, the changing robot is then preferably configured to arrange the format parts in the container production machine based on the identification information of the machine-readable identification features of the second set detected by the identification device in such a way that the format parts have an identical human-readable identification feature or the format parts form a pattern formed by the human-readable identification features. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.
[0031] Fig.1 an isometric view of a blowing wheel as part of a container production plant designed as a blowing plant
[0032] Fig. 2 a format part designed as a blow-molded part
[0033] Fig. 3 two format parts designed as blow-molded parts, which together form a blow mold
[0034] Fig. 1 shows the blowing wheel 1 of a container production plant 2 designed as a blowing machine. The blowing wheel has a rotatably drivable carrier 3 and a plurality of blowing devices 4 arranged on the rotatable carrier 3.
[0035] The blow-molding devices 4, in turn, consist of mold carriers 5 that can be pivoted relative to one another, in which format parts 6a, 6b designed as blow-molded parts are arranged. These format parts 6a, 6b together form a cavity 7 that corresponds to the shape of a container to be manufactured, in particular a beverage container. Such machines are used in particular to form beverage bottles made of plastic, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
[0036] Although not all intended positions of the blowing wheel 3 are occupied by a blowing device 4, it is clear from Fig. 1 that a plurality of blowing devices 4 can be arranged along the circumference, each of which has two format parts 6a, 6b according to the example in Fig. 1, so that a large number of format parts 6a, 6b are formed, which must be replaced in the course of a conversion.
[0037] The format parts 6a, 6b are detachably arranged in the mold carriers 5, whereby the change of these format parts 6a, 6b is increasingly to be carried out in an automated manner, although it is still common practice to carry out a manual exchange, which is comparatively complex and time-consuming.
[0038] To enable automated changing of the format parts 6a, 6b, the format parts 6a, 6b have a marking arrangement 9 on a surface 8, which has a machine-readable identification feature 10. According to Fig. 2, the exemplary embodiment involves a so-called data matrix code, which can be optically detected by an identification device, e.g., a camera system, and evaluated in an evaluation unit connected to it. With the aid of the machine-readable identification feature 10, it is possible to store a great deal of information, which, however, is often not required for the operating personnel. Rather, the aim is for the operating personnel to be able to identify incorrect assignments, e.g., with an incorrect shape or size. However, this is not easily possible due to the design of the machine-readable identification feature 10 in the form of a data matrix code.Against this background, the marking arrangement 9 on the format part 6a according to Fig. 2 has a human-readable identification feature 11, wherein the human-readable identification feature 11 provides two separate identification possibilities.
[0039] Firstly, the hatching makes it clear that a specific color coding is provided. Furthermore, the identification feature 11 also has a round shape, so that a color coding is combined with a symbol coding. Overall, it is thus possible to provide two separate pieces of information.
[0040] This is particularly advantageous in a configuration according to Fig. 1, in which two separate format parts 6a, 6b form a common blow mold. These two format parts 6a, 6b are shown side by side in Fig. 3, with both format parts 6a, 6b each having a marking arrangement 9 with two separate markings, these markings being designed as a machine-readable identification feature 10 and a human-readable identification feature 11.
[0041] What is striking in this context is that the human-readable identification feature 11 according to Fig. 3 has the same round shape on both format parts 6a, 6b, so that the operating personnel are thereby informed that these are format parts 6a, 6b for the production of the same type of container. At the same time, however, different hatching is also provided. This makes it clear that these are format parts 6a, 6b which are differently designed and must therefore be used in different mold carriers 5 of the blow molding devices 4. Accordingly, all format carriers 6a, 6b have a human-readable identification feature 11, whereby the round shape is consistent for all format parts 6a, 6b. The hatching forming a color coding, however, always alternates, so that the format parts 6a, 6b form a pattern.
[0042] List of reference symbols
[0043] 1 blowing wheel
[0044] 2 Container manufacturing plant 3 Carrier
[0045] 4 Blowing device
[0046] 5 mold carriers
[0047] 6a, 6b format parts
[0048] 7 Cavity 8 Surface
[0049] 9 Marking arrangement
[0050] 10 machine-readable identifier
[0051] 11 human-readable identifier
Claims
Patent claims 1 . Format part (6a, 6b) for a container manufacturing plant (2), in particular for a container blow-molding plant, with a marking arrangement (9) arranged on a surface, which has a machine-readable identification feature (10), characterized in that the marking arrangement (9) additionally comprises a human-readable identification feature (11).
2. Format part (6a, 6b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the machine-readable identification feature (10) is a data matrix code or a bar code.
3. Format part (6a, 6b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the human-readable identification feature (11) is selected from the group consisting of color coding, symbol coding, text coding and / or numeric coding.
4. Format part (6a, 6b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the marking arrangement (9) has at least two separate markings, wherein a first marking has the human-readable and a second marking has the machine-readable identification feature (11, 10).
5. Format part (6a, 6b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification features (10, 11) each have at least one piece of identification information, wherein the number of pieces of identification information differs between the machine-readable and the human-readable identification feature (10, 11).
6. Format part (6a, 6b) according to claim 5, characterized in that the machine-readable identification feature (10) has a larger number of identification information items than the human-readable identification feature (11).
7. Format part (6a, 6b) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the identification information of the machine-readable identification feature (10) is selected from the group format part type, format part group, product group and positioning.
8. Format part (6a, 6b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the formation of a blow-molded part.
9. Container manufacturing plant (2) with a container manufacturing machine, in particular a container blow-molding machine, and at least a first set of format parts (6a, 6b) arranged in the container manufacturing machine according to one of the preceding claims.
10. Container manufacturing plant (2) according to claim 9, wherein the format parts (6a, 6b) of the first set each have an identical human-readable identification feature (11) or the format parts (6a, 6b) in the container manufacturing machine with a pattern formed by the human-readable identification features (11).
11. Container manufacturing plant (2) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a second set of format parts (6a, 6b) is arranged outside the container manufacturing machine.
12. Container manufacturing plant (2) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein an identification device is assigned to the container manufacturing machine and wherein the identification device is designed to detect and evaluate the machine-readable identification features (10) on the format parts (6a, 6b).
13. Container manufacturing plant (2) according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein a changing robot is configured to remove the format parts (6a, 6b) of the first set from the container manufacturing machine and / or to arrange the format parts (6a, 6b) of the second set in the container manufacturing machine.
14. Container manufacturing plant (2) according to claim 13, wherein the changing robot is configured to arrange the format parts (6a, 6b) in the container manufacturing machine on the basis of the identification information of the machine-readable identification features (10) of the second set in such a way that the format parts (6a, 6b) have an identical human-readable identification feature (11) or the format parts (6a, 6b) form a pattern formed by the human-readable identification features (11).