HOLLOW BODY MANUFACTURING FACILITY WITH A CAVITY FOR COLLECTING EJECTED HOLLOW BODY FEATURES

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation (10) for manufacturing hollow bodies (12) made of thermoplastic material, comprising: - a system (32) for conveying the hollow bodies (12); - at least one controlled ejection mechanism (76) for selectively ejecting hollow bodies (12); - a collection cavity (80) into which the ejected hollow bodies (12) are intended to fall, the collection cavity (80) having a lateral outlet bay (82) through which the collected hollow bodies (12) are intended to be discharged; characterized in that the collection cavity (80) is delimited at the bottom by a belt conveyor (100) which, when activated, conveys the collected hollow bodies (12) towards the outlet bay (82). Figure for the abstract: Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: INSTALLATION FOR MANUFACTURING HOLLOW BODY BODY FEATURING A CAVITY COLLECTION OF EJECTED HOLLOW BODY TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an installation for manufacturing hollow bodies made of thermoplastic material, in particular bottles, comprising:

[0002] - a system for conveying hollow bodies equipped with a neck along a path of production up to an exit point for hollow bodies from the manufacturing facility,

[0003] - at least one controlled ejection mechanism for selectively ejecting bodies trough in the production path before reaching the exit point;

[0004] - a collection cavity into which the hollow bodies ejected by the mechanism ejection ports are designed to fall through, the collection cavity having a lateral outlet bay through which the collected hollow bodies are intended to be evacuated.

[0005] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is known to produce containers from thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), by a stretch-blowing process of preforms implemented in a container manufacturing facility.

[0007] Generally, a preform comprises a neck already possessing its final shape, while a body of the preform is intended to be deformed during the forming process. To enable its deformation, the body of the preform is heated above a glass transition temperature that makes the body wall malleable. Conversely, the neck is maintained at a temperature below the glass transition temperature to prevent its deformation.

[0008] In order to produce containers with a wall of substantially constant thickness, it is known to carry out a so-called biaxial drawing of the material constituting the wall of the preform in order to deform it plastically by injecting a compressed forming fluid into the body of the preform.

[0009] In the remainder of this description and in the claims, the term "hollow body" shall be used interchangeably to refer to a preform, an intermediate container, or a finished container. The invention is here more particularly suited to a finished container.

[0010] In a manufacturing plant for thermoplastic containers, in particular bottles, a conveying system is used to ensure successive transfer of preforms and then of containers, respectively between the different units of the manufacturing plant.

[0011] Occasionally, some containers do not meet the quality requirements of the manufacturer. When such a container is detected, it is necessary to remove it from the production flow so that only containers meeting the manufacturer's quality criteria reach the end of the production process.

[0012] It also happens that in the event of a malfunction of a processing unit of the manufacturing installation, some containers must be ejected to avoid breakage or clogging of the processing units located downstream.

[0013] It may also happen, for example for maintenance reasons, that certain units of the manufacturing installation must temporarily produce containers that will then be discarded. This is particularly the case when certain machines in the manufacturing installation need to be sterilized or decontaminated.

[0014] To prevent non-conforming containers from causing the grippers to break in the event of desynchronization, it is known to eject the containers successively one by one before they reach the exit of the production path.

[0015] The ejected containers are generally received in a collection cavity. When the collection cavity is full, it is necessary to empty it. However, the number of containers received in the collection cavity can be very high, for example, several hundred containers.

[0016] The emptying of the collection cavity can be carried out manually by an operator who transfers, by hand, the containers from the collection cavity to a transport tray or bag.

[0017] However, this operation is long and tedious.

[0018] It has also been proposed to equip the collection cavity with a removable collection bin or bag. Thus, when the bin or bag is full, the operator can take it and empty the collected containers in a single operation.

[0019] However, given the number of containers collected, the weight of the full bin or bag is very high and risks endangering the physical integrity of the operator.

[0020] In addition, the collection cavity may be located in a hard-to-reach place which prohibits the use of handling machines such as a forklift.

[0021] Furthermore, reducing the capacity of the collection tray or bag necessitates more frequent maintenance. When the collection cavity is located in a sterile area, production must be interrupted each time maintenance is required.

[0022] There is therefore a need to be able to evacuate the ejected containers easily, without danger to the operator, and quite quickly and less frequently.

[0023] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The invention proposes an installation for manufacturing hollow bodies made of thermoplastic material, in particular bottles, comprising:

[0025] - a system for conveying hollow bodies equipped with a neck along a path of production up to an exit point for hollow bodies from the manufacturing facility,

[0026] - at least one controlled ejection mechanism for selectively ejecting bodies trough in the production path before reaching the exit point;

[0027] - a collection cavity into which the hollow bodies ejected by the mechanism ejection ports are designed to fall through, the collection cavity having a lateral outlet bay through which the collected hollow bodies are intended to be evacuated;

[0028] characterized in that the collection cavity is delimited downwards by a belt conveyor which, when activated, transports the collected hollow bodies to the exit bay.

[0029] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, the belt conveyor has a belt equipped with transverse cleats to push the collected hollow bodies towards the exit bay.

[0030] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, the collection cavity is arranged in a sterile area of ​​the manufacturing installation.

[0031] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, it includes a closing flap to close the exit bay.

[0032] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, it includes a transport bin for the collected hollow bodies which is independent and which is external to the collection cavity, the transport bin having a lateral opening which is capable of being arranged in correspondence with the exit bay to receive the collected hollow bodies evacuated by the belt conveyor.

[0033] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, the transport bin is mounted on wheels, the belt of the belt conveyor being arranged at the right of a step.

[0034] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, the collection cavity is equipped with a compactor allowing the collected hollow bodies to be compressed before their evacuation by the belt conveyor.

[0035] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, it includes a crusher for crushing the ejected hollow bodies before they are poured into the collection cavity.

[0036] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, the ejected hollow bodies are guided towards the collection cavity by at least one slide.

[0037] According to another feature of the manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention, the collection cavity is arranged in an enclosure which contains a hollow body forming unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the reading of the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the attached drawings.

[0039] Fig. 1 is a top view which schematically represents a container manufacturing installation made according to the teachings of the invention.

[0040] Figure 2 is a side view representing a preform intended to be processed by the installation of the [Fig.l].

[0041] Fig. 3 is a top view which represents an individual gripping clamp of a hollow body having a neck similar to that of the preform shown in Fig. 2 and which equips at least one wheel of a conveying system of the installation of Fig. 1.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a larger-scale top view that represents two wheels of the conveying system of the [Fig.l] which are equipped with a container ejection mechanism made according to the teachings of the invention.

[0043] Fig. 5 is a perspective view representing a processing unit equipped with one of the conveyor wheels of Fig. 4 and comprising a cavity for receiving hollow bodies ejected by the ejection mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0044] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along section plane 6-6 of Fig. 8 which represents the collection cavity and a transport tray for the ejected hollow bodies.

[0045] Fig. 7 is a detail view of the collection cavity of Fig. 5 in which the cavity is closed by a flap.

[0046] Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 in which a transport tray is arranged in front of an exit bay of the collection cavity.

[0047] Figure 9 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a collection cavity according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0048] Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a collection cavity according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0049] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0050] In the following description, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron (L, V, T) represented in the figures.

[0051] By convention, the longitudinal and transverse orientations are fixed relative to the transfer wheel of the conveying system so that the position of the transfer arms including the grippers has no effect on said orientations.

[0052] The terms "front" and "rear" will also be used, without limitation, with reference to the longitudinal orientation, as well as "upper" and "lower" or "top" and "bottom" with reference to the vertical orientation, and finally "left" and "right" with reference to the transverse orientation.

[0053] The terms "upstream" or "downstream" are used respectively with respect to the direction of flow of hollow bodies, preforms or containers, conveyed by the wheels of the conveying system through the manufacturing installation.

[0054] Figure [Fig.1] shows an example of the realization of an installation 10 for manufacturing containers 12B made of thermoplastic material.

[0055] The manufacture of containers 12B, such as bottles, is carried out from preforms 12A, notably obtained by injection molding. Hereafter, the preforms 12A and the containers 12B will be referred to by the common term "hollow body 12".

[0056] An example of a preform 12A intended for use with the manufacturing installation 10 is illustrated in [Fig. 2]. Such a preform 12A is made of thermoplastic material, here polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is conventionally obtained by injection molding. It has a substantially axisymmetric shape around a principal axis "A" shown vertically in [Fig. 2].

[0057] It comprises a body 14 in the form of an elongated tube along the main axis "A", having a closed axial end and having at its opposite end, shown at the top in [Fig. 2], an axially open neck 16. In the example shown in [Fig. 2], the base of the neck 16, at the junction with the body 14, has a collar 18 which extends radially in projection relative to the rest of the preform 12A.

[0058] The neck 16 has its final shape, while the body 14 is intended to be stretched in a subsequent forming operation to form the body of the finished container 12B.

[0059] The manufacturing installation 10 mainly comprises a heating unit 20, a forming unit 22, and a processing unit 24 arranged directly downstream of the forming unit 22. This processing unit 24 is here a filling unit, but it could also be a labeling unit or any other unit suitable for processing the containers 12B immediately after they have been formed.

[0060] The manufacture of the containers is achieved in a manner similar to that described previously.

[0061] The heating unit 20 is intended to thermally condition the body 14 of the preforms 12A by means of heating elements 26 such as infrared lamps or laser diodes. The preforms 12A thus heated are then introduced into molds 28 of the forming unit 22 in which their transformation by blow or by stretch-blow into containers 12B is carried out.

[0062] The forming unit 22 here includes a rotating carousel 27 around the periphery of which the molds 28 are arranged so that the forming operation takes place during the movement of the hollow bodies 12.

[0063] In the embodiment example, the containers 12B obtained are transferred to the processing unit 24 arranged directly downstream.

[0064] In this manufacturing installation 10, the hollow bodies 12 are moved in a line along a common path, called the production path 30, to an exit point 31 of the manufacturing installation 10. Along this production path 30, each hollow body 12 is held individually by its neck 16, and in particular by means of its collar 18, by gripping means of a conveying system 32. Indeed, the preforms 12A and the containers 12B are identical objects to be conveyed because they are equipped with the same neck 16.

[0065] During their conveying by such a conveying system 32 through the manufacturing installation 10, the hollow body 12 is either supported by means of its collar 18, or grasped by its neck 16 by a clamp, for example at the level of an annular groove located vertically above the collar 18.

[0066] To ensure the conveying of the hollow bodies 12, the conveying system 32 comprises a plurality of conveying devices which are arranged to successively transport said hollow bodies 12 through the manufacturing installation 10, along the production path 30.

[0067] By way of non-limiting example, the conveying system 32 here includes rotary conveying devices, schematically represented in [Fig.1].

[0068] In the example, the conveying devices of the conveying system 32 are suitable for conveying the hollow bodies 12 from one unit to the next.

[0069] Two main types of conveying devices are distinguished depending on whether the hollow body 12 is supported via its collar 18 or whether a grip is made at the neck 16.

[0070] In the embodiment example, each device of the conveying system 32 is driven in rotation by a motor (not shown).

[0071] Whatever their type, conveying devices are driven in rotation around a vertical axis by motorized drive means, which is why said conveying devices are also called "wheels".

[0072] The first type of conveying device comprises at least one circumferentially movable platform 34 provided at its periphery with a plurality of notches 36 having, for example, a radially open "U" shape.

[0073] The hollow bodies 12 are inserted radially into the notches 36 and supported by means of their collar 18 resting on the periphery of the notch 36. Such a device is sometimes called for this reason a "notched wheel 38".

[0074] The second type of conveying device comprises at least one movable wheel 40 provided at its periphery with a plurality of clamps 42 each comprising two jaws 43.

[0075] Generally, each clamp 42 is mounted on the wheel 40 by means of a transfer arm 44. The transfer arm 44 can be articulated on the wheel 40.

[0076] There are different types of pliers 42 depending in particular on the part of the hollow body 12 with which the jaws 43 of the pliers 42 cooperate. Thus, pliers 42 are distinguished according to whether the jaws 43 are positioned below the collar 18 or whether the jaws 43 ensure a grip with a clamping force of the neck 16 above the collar 18.

[0077] The jaws 43 are mounted to move between at least one open position and one closed position

[0078] The open position corresponds to a position in which the hollow body 12 can be inserted into or extracted from the clamp 42. The opening is controlled by means of a mechanism, for example a cam and cam follower 46 type actuation mechanism, in particular a roller type.

[0079] The jaws 43 of the clamp 42 are generally automatically returned by return means, such as a spring, to the closed position.

[0080] In the example shown in [Fig. 1], the conveying system 32 also includes a conveying device 45 that forms part of the heating unit 20. The conveying device 45 is, for example, a flexible conveying chain that carries the individual supports, sometimes called "turntables".

[0081] In an alternative (not shown) of the conveying device 45, the individual supports are carried by independent shuttles. The conveying device 45 then includes at least one linear motor to control the movement of each shuttle independently of the others along the closed circuit.

[0082] Figure 4 shows only part of the conveying system 32 according to Figure 1, located straddling the forming unit 22 and the next processing unit 24, here the filling unit.

[0083] For hygiene reasons, the forming unit 22 is generally enclosed in a chamber 58 which is kept under positive pressure relative to the surrounding pressure to prevent the entry of dust and polluting particles.

[0084] When the subsequent processing unit 24 is a filling unit, it can also be enclosed in a separate enclosure 60, distinct from the enclosure 58 of the forming unit 22. The enclosure 60 of the subsequent processing unit 24 is kept sterile by overpressure compared to that of unit 22 of forming because the filling operation must be carried out under very strict hygiene and sterilization conditions.

[0085] The containers 12B pass from the forming unit 22 to the next processing unit 24 through a window 62 whose dimensions are adjusted to allow the containers 12B to pass through while minimizing the risk of entry of polluting particles.

[0086] Inside the enclosure 58 of the forming unit 22 is arranged an output wheel 64 for the containers 12B which is equipped with grippers 42 carried by transfer arms 44 and which grasp the containers 12B as they exit the mold 28.

[0087] The conveying system 32 comprises at least one first upstream conveying wheel 66 and a second downstream conveying wheel 68, respectively referred to below as first wheel 66 and second wheel 68.

[0088] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, the first wheel 66 is arranged downstream of the carousel 27, here directly after the exit wheel 64, and the second wheel 68 is located immediately downstream of the first wheel 66.

[0089] The hollow bodies 12 conveyed by the first wheel 66 and the second wheel 68 are therefore made up of containers 12B, for example bottles.

[0090] The first wheel 66 is arranged inside the enclosure 58 of the forming unit 22.

[0091] The second wheel 68 is arranged outside the enclosure 58 of the forming unit 22.

[0092] The first wheel 66 is provided with a plurality of grippers 42 for gripping a hollow body 12 which are distributed circumferentially in a regular manner on a rotating plate 70.

[0093] Figure 3 shows a non-limiting example of the realization of such a clamp 42. The clamp 42 can be made according to different kinematics from the moment that its opening is controlled by the cam follower 46.

[0094] The clamp 42 here comprises a plate 48 on which the two jaws 43 are pivotally mounted about an axis "B" by one end. The other free end of the jaws 43 comprises a gripping member 49 for the neck 16 of the hollow bodies 12. The two jaws 43 are pivotally linked by means of two gears 50 meshed with each other.

[0095] The jaws 43 are controlled between a closed position, represented in solid lines, in which the gripping organs 49 are brought together so as to be able to grasp a collar 16, and an open position, represented in dashed lines, in which the gripping organs 49 are spread apart to release a collar 16 or to introduce a collar 16.

[0096] The jaws 43 are elastically returned to their closed position by means of an elastic element 52, such as a spring.

[0097] The jaws 43 are actuated in their open position, against the elastic return force, by a lever 54 which is pivotally mounted on the plate 48 about an axis "C" parallel to the axes "B" of the jaws 43. One end of the lever 54 is connected to one of the jaws 43 by means of a connecting rod 56. A second end of the lever is equipped with a cam follower 46, formed here by a roller. When the cam follower 46 is pushed towards the free end of the jaws 43, the lever 54 pivots, pulling the jaw 43 towards its open position via the connecting rod 56.

[0098] The first wheel 66 is driven around a first axis DI of rotation by first drive means comprising at least one motor (not shown).

[0099] The second wheel 68 is of similar design to that of the first wheel 66.

[0100] The second wheel 68 comprises a movable plate 74 equipped at its periphery with a plurality of 42 clamps for grasping a 12 hollow body.

[0101] The second wheel 68 is driven by second (not shown) drive means around a second axis D2 of rotation, the second wheel 68 being driven in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the first wheel 66.

[0102] The first drive means and the second drive means respectively motorized are electronically synchronized to operate, at a transfer point 73, a clamp-to-clamp transfer of the hollow bodies 12 from the first wheel 66 to the second wheel 68 located downstream.

[0103] The manufacturing installation 10 includes at least one controlled ejection mechanism 76 to selectively eject hollow bodies 12 from the production path 30 before reaching the exit point 31.

[0104] As explained in the preamble, this situation can occur in particular, but not exclusively, when a hollow body 12 has a defect, during certain maintenance operations of the manufacturing installation 10, when it is desired to take samples of hollow bodies 12 or during a malfunction of the manufacturing installation 10.

[0105] This is an individual ejection mechanism 76 allowing the ejection of one hollow body 12 at a time.

[0106] Alternatively, the ejection mechanism is capable of ejecting several adjacent hollow bodies 12.

[0107] Such an ejection mechanism 76 could be installed on any conveying device of the conveying system 32. By way of non-limiting example, the ejection mechanism 76 is here arranged on the first upstream wheel 66, when the hollow bodies 12 are in the finished container 12B state.

[0108] Preferably, the individual ejection mechanism 76 is arranged fixed under the rotating plate 70 of the first wheel 66 so as to eject the preforms into an individual ejection zone 78.

[0109] The individual ejection mechanism 76 is designed to eject the hollow bodies 12 one by one and one after the other when they pass through the individual ejection zone 78.

[0110] The ejection mechanism 76 is selectively controlled between a passive state, in which the hollow bodies 12 are not ejected, and an active ejection state.

[0111] According to the embodiment schematically illustrated by [Fig.4], the ejection mechanism 76 comprises ejection means which are mounted to move between at least one passive position and one active ejection position corresponding to said states.

[0112] The ejection means of the individual ejection mechanism 76 are here formed by an ejection cam 86 which is movably mounted between at least:

[0113] - a passive position in which the ejection cam 86 is retracted out of the path 46 cam followers, and

[0114] - an active ejection position in which the ejection cam 86 presses on a unique follower 46 of cam at a time to cause the successive ejection of the hollow bodies 12 conveyed by the first wheel 66 when they pass through the individual ejection zone 78.

[0115] The individual ejection mechanism 76 includes an actuator 88 for the individual ejection cam 86 to move it into at least one of said passive and active ejection positions.

[0116] Alternatively, the ejection mechanism 76 includes a barrier which is movably mounted between the active position in which it interferes with the path of the body of the hollow bodies 12 to make them fall from their grasping member and a passive position in which the barrier is retracted so as to be located outside the path of the hollow bodies 12.

[0117] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the manufacturing installation 10 also includes a collection cavity 80 into which the hollow bodies 12 ejected by the ejection mechanism 76 are intended to fall by gravity. In this respect, the collection cavity 80 is arranged below the level of the production path 30.

[0118] The collection cavity 80 is arranged in a fixed manner relative to a frame 84 which supports the associated conveying device, here the first wheel 66. The frame 84 rests in a fixed manner on the floor 90.

[0119] In the example shown in Figures 5 and 6, the collection cavity 80 is arranged in the enclosure 58 which contains the forming unit 22. In [Fig. 5], the forming unit 22 is shown with a protective shroud, but the enclosure 58 is shown open to allow its interior to be seen.

[0120] The collection cavity 80 has a lateral outlet bay 82 through which the collected hollow bodies 12 are intended to be evacuated. The outlet bay 82 is here formed in a wall 92 of the enclosure 58.

[0121] The collection cavity 80 is here closed upwards by a ceiling 93, laterally by two lateral walls 96 and, opposite the bay 82, by a back wall 98.

[0122] As shown in [Fig. 6], the collection cavity 80 here has an opening 94 for the entry of the ejected hollow bodies 12. The opening 94 is arranged here in the bottom wall 98.

[0123] In an unrepresented variant of the invention, the inlet opening 94 is made at least partly in the ceiling of the collection cavity 80.

[0124] The hollow bodies 12 ejected by the ejection mechanism 76 fall into a receiving area 99. The receiving area 99 is arranged directly opposite the individual ejection zone 78. The receiving area 99 must extend over a sufficient space to receive the hollow bodies 12, which are likely to move at high speed and follow a parabolic curve rather than a straight line when ejected. However, the receiving area 99 is located inside the enclosure 58.

[0125] In the example shown in [Fig.6], the ejected hollow bodies 12 which fall into the receiving area 99 are guided towards the inlet opening 94 of the collection cavity 80 by at least one slide 101 on which the hollow bodies 12 slide by gravity.

[0126] In an unrepresented variant of the invention, the inlet opening 94 is made in the ceiling of the collection cavity and the receiving area is arranged directly opposite the inlet / outlet opening so that hollow bodies fall directly into the collection cavity.

[0127] The collection cavity 80 is delimited downwards by a belt conveyor 100 which, when activated, conveys the collected hollow bodies 12 to the exit bay 82.

[0128] More specifically, the belt conveyor 100 comprises a belt 102 mounted around at least two rollers 104 which are capable of driving the belt 102 as they rotate. The rollers 104 are rotatably mounted about two parallel transverse axes "A1; A2". The axes "A1; A2" are arranged to drive the belt 102 in a longitudinal direction towards the bay 82. At least one of the two rollers 104 is driven by a motor (not shown).

[0129] The band 102 thus has an upper strand 102A which delimits downwards the collection cavity 80 and a lower strand 102B which is located below the collection cavity 80.

[0130] The upper strand 102A extends here in a horizontal plane.

[0131] The belt 102 is equipped with transverse cleats 105 to push the collected hollow bodies 12 towards the bay 82. The cleats 105 prevent the collected hollow bodies 12 from sliding on the belt 102.

[0132] The belt 102 extends longitudinally from the bottom wall 98 to the bay 82. It also extends transversely from one of the side walls 96 to the other of the side walls 96. Thus, there is no dead zone in which a hollow body 12 could remain stationary in the collection cavity 80 when the belt conveyor 100 is activated.

[0133] In addition, the end of the band 102 which is arranged near bay 82 extends to the same level as a lower threshold 103 of bay 82.

[0134] The exit bay 82 can be closed by a closing shutter 106 to close the exit bay. The closing shutter 106 is controlled between an open position, as shown in [Fig. 5], in which the exit bay 82 is fully open, and a closed position, as shown in [Fig. 7], in which the exit bay 82 is fully closed.

[0135] The closing flap 106 prevents the collected hollow bodies 12 from falling unintentionally from the collection cavity 80.

[0136] The collection cavity 80 is arranged here in a sterile area of ​​the manufacturing installation 10. It is therefore preferable to be able to close the outlet bay 82 in a hermetic manner.

[0137] The closing shutter 106 is here a roller shutter which has a curtain which is mounted to slide in guides 108 fixed to each lateral wall 96.

[0138] Furthermore, to allow for the easy and rapid removal of the hollow bodies 12 collected in the collection cavity 80, a transport container 110 is used to collect and transport the collected hollow bodies 12. The transport container 110 is an independent element that can be moved freely relative to the frame 84. The transport container 110 is external to the collection cavity 80.

[0139] The transport bin 110 has at least one lateral opening 112 which can be arranged against the exit bay 82 to receive the hollow bodies 12 collected and evacuated by the belt conveyor 100.

[0140] The lateral opening 112 here has a shape and dimensions substantially complementary to those of the exit bay 82.

[0141] The transport container 110 here has a parallelepiped shape delimited transversely by two lateral walls 114, longitudinally by a front wall 116 and a rear wall 118 and vertically at least downwards by a floor wall 120. The lateral opening 112 is here arranged in the front wall 116.

[0142] The transport container 110 is here delimited vertically upwards by a ceiling wall 122.

[0143] To lighten the transport container 110, it is possible to perforate the various walls with openings smaller than those of a collected hollow body 12. The walls of the transport container 110 are, for example, made of wire mesh.

[0144] To facilitate the movement of the transport bin 110, especially when it is filled with collected hollow bodies 12, it is mounted on casters 124.

[0145] The upper strand 102A of the belt 102 of the conveyor 100 is arranged at the right of a step 126 allowing the lower limit of the lateral opening 112 of the transport bin 110 to be arranged below or at the same level as the threshold 103 of the exit bay 82.

[0146] In an alternative to the invention schematically represented in [Fig. 9], the manufacturing installation 10 comprises a crusher 128 arranged at the inlet of the collection cavity 80 to crush the ejected hollow bodies 12 before they are emptied into the collection cavity 80. The crusher 128 is here arranged at the bottom of the chute 101.

[0147] In a variant of the invention schematically represented in [Fig. 10], the collection cavity 80 is equipped with a compactor 130 for compressing the collected hollow objects 12 before their removal by the conveyor belt 102. By way of non-limiting example, the compactor 130 here comprises movable side plates 132 arranged against the lateral walls 96 of the collection cavity 80 and a movable upper plate 134. The movement of the plates 132, 134 is controlled by a motor 136 such that the side plates 132 move closer together to laterally compact the hollow objects 12, and the upper plate 134 is lowered to compress the hollow objects 12 vertically.

[0148] These two variants can also be combined for the same collection cavity 80.

[0149] The crusher 128 and / or the compactor 130 save space and store a larger number of hollow bodies 12 ejected into the collection cavity 80 before it is emptied into the transport bin 110.

[0150] During the operation of the manufacturing installation 10, hollow bodies 12 are ejected so as to fall into the collection cavity 80. During this collection period of the ejected hollow bodies 12, the exit bay 82 is closed by the shutter 106, and the belt conveyor 100 remains inactive, i.e. the belt 102 remains stationary.

[0151] When it is decided that the collection cavity 80 must be emptied, for example during a maintenance operation or when it is full, the transport tray 110 is brought until its lateral opening 112 is positioned against the output bay 82. The contours of the lateral opening 112 are arranged here to correspond substantially with the contours of the output bay 82. Then the flap 106 is opened so as to connect the collection cavity 80 with the interior of the tray 110 transport. The conveyor belt 100 is then activated so that the upper strand 102A of the belt 102 moves towards the exit bay 82 to convey the collected hollow bodies 12 to the transport bin 110.

[0152] When all the collected hollow bodies 12 have been transferred inside the transport bin 110, the conveyor belt 100 is deactivated and the flap 106 can be closed. The collected hollow bodies 12 can be transported effortlessly by simply rolling the transport bin 110 along the floor 90.

Claims

Demands

1. Installation (10) for manufacturing hollow bodies (12) of thermoplastic material, in particular bottles, comprising: - a system (32) for conveying the hollow bodies (12) having a neck (16) along a production path (30) to a point (31) for exiting the hollow bodies (12) of the manufacturing installation (10), - at least one ejection mechanism (76) controlled to selectively eject hollow bodies (12) from the production path (30) before reaching the exit point (31); - a collection cavity (80) into which the hollow bodies (12) ejected by the ejection mechanism (76) are intended to fall, the collection cavity (80) having a lateral exit bay (82) through which the collected hollow bodies (12) are intended to be discharged; characterized in that the collection cavity (80) is delimited downwards by a belt conveyor (100) which, when activated, conveys the collected hollow bodies (12) to the outlet bay (82).

2. Manufacturing installation (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the belt conveyor (100) has a belt (102) equipped with transverse cleats (105) to push the collected hollow bodies (12) towards the exit bay (82).

3. Manufacturing installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collection cavity (80) is arranged in a sterile area of ​​the manufacturing installation (10).

4. Manufacturing installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a closing flap (106) for closing the exit bay (82).

5. Manufacturing installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a container (110) for transporting the collected hollow bodies (12) which is independent and external to the collection cavity (80), the container (110) having a lateral opening (112) which is capable of being arranged in correspondence with the exit bay (82) to receive the collected hollow bodies (12) evacuated by the belt conveyor (100).

6. Manufacturing installation (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the transport bin (110) is mounted on wheels (124), the belt (102) of the conveyor (100) being arranged at the right of a step (126).

7. Manufacturing installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collection cavity (80) is equipped with a compactor (130) allowing the collected hollow bodies (12) to be compressed before their evacuation by the belt conveyor (100).

8. Manufacturing installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a crusher (128) for crushing the ejected hollow bodies (12) before they are poured into the collection cavity (80).

9. Manufacturing installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ejected hollow bodies (12) are guided towards the collection cavity (80) by at least one slide (101).

10. Manufacturing installation (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collection cavity (80) is arranged in an enclosure (58) which contains a unit (22) for forming hollow bodies (12).

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