System for the manufacture of plastic products
The system automates mold configuration and recipe selection using identification codes, reducing setup time and errors in plastic product manufacturing by ensuring compatibility and optimizing format changes.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024570985
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-17
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing systems for manufacturing plastic products, such as preforms, require complex manual data entry and setup times for format changes, especially when producing similar preforms with different necks, leading to increased operator intervention and error risk.
A system with movable half-molds, a reading device, control device, and storage means that utilize identification codes on markers to automate the management of mold configurations and recipe selection, ensuring compatibility and reducing setup time.
The system significantly reduces setup time and minimizes operator intervention and errors by automating mold configuration and recipe selection, enhancing the efficiency of plastic product manufacturing.
Smart Images
Figure 2025520306000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for manufacturing preforms for the manufacture of plastic products, such as plastic containers.
Background Art
[0002] Apparatuses for molding plastic products, such as preforms, are known and these are associated with take-out storage apparatuses which are typically constituted by a cooling plate defining a plurality of receiving portions arranged in an array and designed to accommodate each still-hot preform for at least the time necessary to cool it at least partially.
[0003] Typically, such preforms are supplied directly from an injection press to the cooling plate and remain in each receiving portion for a preset time.
[0004] Specifically, when the injection process, which means the stage where the male and female mold parts remain in the closed position, is completed, the mold is opened and the preform is moved to the cooling plate, as a result of which the receiving portions of the cooling plate can engage with each portion of the preform emerging from and then being withdrawn from the mold part, and it becomes possible to close the mold and perform a new molding cycle.
[0005] Removing the preform from the cooling plate is done after an extrusion action that can be obtained by pneumatic means, mechanical means, or a combination thereof.
[0006] Apparatuses for injection molding of preforms, especially those used for making plastic containers, are constituted by a first part associated with a plurality of cavities or female mold parts and a second part supporting each male plug or male mold part.
[0007] To manufacture the preform, male plugs are inserted into respective cavities. In the mold, the cavities and male plugs are configured and arranged such that after the male plug of the mold is inserted into the cavity, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the cavity and the surface of the male plug, and the shape of the gap corresponds to the shape of the preform desired to be obtained.
[0008] The gap is externally defined by the cavity and internally defined by the male plug of the mold.
[0009] To obtain the preform, a liquid polymer, typically PET, is injected under high pressure into the gap between the cavity and the male plug.
[0010] As soon as the molten mass is sufficiently cooled and thus solidified, the mold is opened and the solidified molten mass is removed from the cavity as the preform.
[0011] The mold and related formatting parts have a very complex shape that affects the setup time.
[0012] In fact, every time the operator changes the format, a large amount of data related to the type of preform being manufactured and related to the corresponding movements (strokes) of various parts of the machine has to be manually entered.
[0013] These operations are often further complicated by the fact that, for example, when manufacturing similar preforms having the same body but different necks, the operator has to intervene in the machine and change only a few parts such as the mold instead of the entire mold.
[0014] The manufacture of similar preforms is further associated with one or more "recipes" that need to be correctly identified and selected by the operator.
[0015] The term "recipe" means a set of machine settings that can be obtained and optionally programmed using its interface and that are required to obtain the technical parameters adapted to the manufacture of a given preform.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0016] The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least significantly reduce the above-mentioned drawbacks.
[0017] Within the scope of this object, the object of the present invention is to provide a system for the manufacture of plastic products that enables the management of format change operations in a very practical way.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to make available a system for the manufacture of plastic products that enables the optimal management of the selection of recipes according to the configuration of the product to be molded and the mold.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0019] This object and these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by the system for the manufacture of plastic products according to claim 1.
[0020] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the system for the manufacture of plastic products according to the present invention, which are shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0021]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 3a
Figure 3b
Figure 4
Figure 4a
Figure 4b
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to the figures, a system for manufacturing a plastic product generally designated by reference numeral 1 includes molding equipment 3 having a mold composed of a first half mold 10 and a second half mold 11. Both the first half mold 10 and the second half mold 11 can be moved relative to each other by command between a mold closed position where at least one molding cavity having a shape corresponding to the product to be molded is defined and a mold open position where the product molded by the molding equipment 3 can be removed.
[0023] The system 1 further includes a reading device 20, a control device 30, and a storage means 21. The reading device 20 and the storage means 21 are functionally connected to the control device 30.
[0024] The first half mold 10 and the second half mold 11 are associated with at least one respective marker 10a, 11a.
[0025] The markers 10a, 11a are readable by the reading device 20 and include at least one respective identification code.
[0026] Each identification code corresponds to a record included in the storage means 21. In particular, the control device 30 is configured to check at least the compatibility between the first half mold 10 and the second half mold 11 based on a combination of records included in the storage means 21.
[0027] The storage means 21 can comprise a centralized memory or can be at least partially distributed within each marker 10a, 11a.
[0028] Advantageously, the control device 30 is further configured to generate at least one operating configuration of the molding device 3 based on a combination of records corresponding to the identification codes of the respective markers 10a, 11a of the first half mold 10 and the second half mold 11.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the molded article includes a preform 200. Referring to the embodiment shown in the figure, the first half mold 10 comprises a first plate 100 supporting a plurality of male plugs 101, and the second half mold comprises a second plate 110 defining a plurality of cavities and a third plate 120 comprising a plurality of elements that can approach and further separate from each other to define the mouth of the preform, generally called "necking" in technical terms.
[0030] In particular, the second half mold comprises a plurality of matrices intended to define the respective cavities. The matrices are provided by two bodies: the first body carried by the third plate 120 is intended to provide the mouth of the preform and is formed from two "neckings" that can approach and further separate from each other, and the second body, which is generally monolithic, is supported by the second plate 110 and is intended to define the substantially cylindrical portion of the cavity and its bottom wall.
[0031] The first and second half-molds 10, 11 can be moved relative to each other by command between a mold-closed position in which at least one male plug is arranged in each cavity along one of its molding longitudinal ends to define a molding cavity having a shape corresponding to the preform to be molded, and a mold-open position in which the male plug is arranged outside each cavity to enable removal of the molded preform from the apparatus.
[0032] The molding apparatus 3 further comprises an injection device 12 configured to send liquid plastic to the first half-mold 10 and the second half-mold 11.
[0033] The injection device 12 is also associated with at least one respective marker 12a that can be read by a reading device 20.
[0034] The system 1 for manufacturing plastic products further comprises a take-out cooling device 40 functionally associated with the molding apparatus 3.
[0035] According to a possible practical embodiment, the take-out cooling device 40 comprises a carry-out plate 41, a cooling plate 42, and a gripper plate 43.
[0036] The carry-out plate 41, the cooling plate 42, and the gripper plate 43 are associated with at least one respective marker 41a, 42a, 43a that can be read by the reading device 20.
[0037] The system 1 for manufacturing plastic products further comprises a support structure 2 adapted to support the molding apparatus 3 and the reading device 20 and maintain their positions relative to each other.
[0038] The support structure 2 is further adapted to support the control device 30 and the remote storage means 21 and maintain their positions.
[0039] The control device 30 and / or the storage means 21 are each associated with the support structure 2, can be supported by the support structure 2, and thus can be close to the molding device 3 and the reading device 20, and they can also be outside the support structure 2 and thus can be separated from the molding device 3 and the reading device 20 (e.g., beside it, using a wired connection, or remotely, using a connection via a telematics communication network).
[0040] The use of the system 1 according to the present invention is as follows. The various components constituting the system 1, such as the first plate 100, the second plate 110, the third plate 120, the injection device 12, the transfer plate 41, the cooling plate 42, and the gripper plate 43, are fixed to the support structure during the step of setting up the system.
[0041] Each of the above-described components, more generally at least two, is associated with a respective marker that can be read by the reading device 20.
[0042] Each individual marker 100a, 110a, 120a, 12a, 41a, 42a, 43a includes at least one respective identification code corresponding to a record contained in the storage means 21, and each identification code can be associated with the respective marker or can be contained in the memory.
[0043] For illustrative purposes, the record associated with the identification code can contain the following information: - Serial number, - Number of cavities and pitch, - Volume of the preform part corresponding to the individual component, - Dimensions of the parts of each component necessary to define the various "recipes" and the positions of the moving axes, - Length of the preform part corresponding to the individual component, - Diameter of the preform body.
[0044] The term "recipe" means a set of settings of the system 1 that can be obtained and optionally programmed using its interface or control system 30 and that are necessary to obtain the technical parameters adapted to the production of a given preform.
[0045] The control device 30, which is functionally connected to the storage means 21, is configured to check at least the compatibility between all components provided with respective markers 20, based on a combination of records contained in the storage means 21.
[0046] Specifically, referring to what is shown in FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b, the control device 30 searches for records corresponding to markers 100a, 110a, 120a, 12a, 41a, 42a, 43a and verifies the compatibility between the respective components based on a combination of records contained in the storage means 21.
[0047] At the same time, as schematically shown in FIG. 3a, the control device 30 supplies a profile of the product to be formed, containing, for example, the following data (which can be obtained from the received records): - preform parameters, - parameters for opening the mold, - data regarding the drawing stroke, - positioning.
[0048] Furthermore, the control device 30 provides the possible "recipes" (in the case shown in FIG. 3a, recipes 7, 8 and 9) associated with that configuration of the system.
[0049] If the operator needs to intervene in the system 1 because it is necessary to provide different preforms using the molding equipment 3, specifically preforms having the same preform body but different necks, the operator replaces the third plate 120, which is then associated with the marker 120a'.
[0050] When the shaping machine 3 is reassembled, one or more reading devices 20 read the identification codes of the components of the system.
[0051] At this point, the control device 30 checks that the record associated with the new marker 120a’ is compatible with all the other records of the other components that have not been changed.
[0052] At the same time, as schematically shown in Figure 4a, the control device 30 supplies a profile of the new product to be shaped, including, for example, the following data (which can be obtained from the received record): - preform parameters, - parameters for opening the mold, - data regarding the extraction stroke, - positioning.
[0053] Furthermore, the control device 30 provides the possible “recipes” (recipes 4, 5 and 6 in the case shown in Figure 4a) associated with that configuration of the system.
[0054] In fact, the present invention has been found to fully achieve the intended goals and purposes by providing a system for shaping plastic products that can reduce the setup time during the intervention on the various components of the mold, especially during format changes.
[0055] The proposed solution further makes it possible to significantly reduce the operator's intervention and thus the risk of errors during the setup of the device.
[0056] The system further makes it possible to easily and quickly display the recipes available for the product to be shaped.
[0057] The present invention thus conceived is capable of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, all details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.
[0058] In practice, the materials used may be arbitrary according to the requirements and the state of the art, as long as they are suitable for the specific application and the conditional dimensions and shapes.
[0059] The disclosure of Italian Patent Application No. 102022000012836, for which this application claims priority, is incorporated herein by reference.
[0060] If reference signs follow the technical features recited in any claim, they are included only for the purpose of enhancing the understanding of the claim, and thus such reference signs have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element specified by way of example by such reference signs.
Claims
1. A system (1) for the manufacture of plastic products, comprising molding equipment (3) having a mold composed of a first half mold (10) and a second half mold (11), wherein both the first half mold (10) and the second half mold (11) can be moved relative to each other by command between a mold closed position in which at least one molding cavity having a shape corresponding to the product to be molded is defined and a mold open position in which the product molded by the molding equipment (3) can be removed, the system (1) further comprising a reading device (20), a control device (30), and a storage means (21), the reading device (20) and the storage means (21) being functionally connected to the control device (30), the first half mold (10) and the second half mold (11) being associated with at least one respective marker (10a, 11a), the marker (10a, 11a) being readable by the reading device (20) and including at least one respective identification code, the respective identification code corresponding to a record included in the storage means (21), the control device (30) being configured to check at least the compatibility between the first half mold (10) and the second half mold (11) based on a combination of records included in the storage means (21), the control device (30) being further configured to determine at least one operating configuration of the molding equipment (3) based on the combination of records corresponding to the identification codes of the respective markers (10a, 11a) of the first half mold (10) and the second half mold (11), and the control device (30) being configured to supply a "recipe" associated with the at least one operating configuration. A system (1) for the manufacture of plastic products, characterized by the above.
2. The system (1) for the manufacture of plastic products according to claim 1, characterized in that the molded product includes a preform.
3. The first half mold (10) includes a first plate (100) that supports a plurality of male plugs (100a), and the second half mold includes a second plate (110) that defines a plurality of cavities, and a third plate (120) that includes a plurality of neck rings that can approach and further separate from each other to define the mouth of the preform. The system (1) for manufacturing a plastic product according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises the above.
4. The molding equipment includes an injection device (12) configured to send liquid plastic to the first and second half molds, and the injection device (12) is associated with at least one respective marker (12a) that can be read by the reading device (20). The system (1) for manufacturing a plastic product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has the above configuration.
5. It includes a take-out cooling device (40) functionally associated with the molding equipment (3), and the take-out cooling device (40) includes a carry-out plate (41), a cooling plate (42), and a gripper plate (43). Each of the carry-out plate (41), the cooling plate (42), and the gripper plate (43) is associated with at least one respective marker (41a, 42a, 43a) that can be read by the reading device (20). The system (1) for manufacturing a plastic product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has the above configuration.
6. The system (1) for manufacturing a plastic product according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterized by further comprising a support structure (2) that supports the molding equipment (3) and the reading device (20) and is adapted to maintain their relative positions.
7. The support structure (2) supports the control device (30) and the remote storage means (21) and is further adapted to maintain their positions. The system (1) for manufacturing a plastic product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has the above configuration.