Process for manufacturing a container by injection blow moulding, manufacturing installation and container obtained directly by said process
The process of marking cores and containers with reference marks facilitates rapid identification of defective cores, addressing high rejection rates and enhancing manufacturing efficiency in injection blow moulding.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LOREAL SA
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing injection blow moulding processes fail to identify defective cores during the manufacturing of plastic containers, leading to high rejection rates and environmental waste, necessitating improved methods to quickly identify and address defective cores.
A process involving core reference marks and position reference marks on preforms and containers, allowing for rapid identification of defective cores by correlating these marks during injection and blow moulding steps.
Enables quick identification of defective cores, reducing waste and improving the efficiency of the manufacturing process by distinguishing between series and positions of cores.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025083422_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE: Process for manufacturing a container by injection blow moulding, manufacturing installation and container obtained directly by said process
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of processes for manufacturing containers, in particular for cosmetic products, using an injection blow moulding technique.
[0004] The term "cosmetic product" is understood, notably within the meaning of the present invention, to mean a product as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1223 / 2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 relating to cosmetic products.
[0005] More particularly, the invention relates to a container obtained directly by the manufacturing process.
[0006] Conventionally, it is known practice to produce containers made of plastics materials using an injection blow moulding process in which use is made of a core around which material is injection moulded in a first, injection moulding station so as to form a preform, and then the preform is blow moulded in a second, blow moulding station.
[0007] Nowadays it is not possible to identify defective cores used to manufacture the preform at the injection moulding station.
[0008] This causes a lot of defective containers to be rejected.
[0009] Proposing ecologically responsible, environmentally friendly solutions, the design and development of which take into account environmental issues, has become a major concern in terms of tackling global challenges.
[0010] It is therefore essential to design products that allow the amount of materials used to be reduced and / or that allow them to be replaced with more environmentally friendly materials and / or that allow recyclable materials to be used, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the product.
[0011] Within this context, it has become important to limit to the greatest possible extent the amount of defective containers rejected and to quickly identify whether it is the mould and / or the core that has a defect, in particular at the injection moulding station.
[0012] There is therefore a need to improve processes for manufacturing containers by the injection blow moulding technique. An object of the present invention is therefore to alleviate the above disadvantages and improve the processes for manufacturing containers by the injection blow moulding technique while making it possible to quickly identify at least the series of defective cores, and preferably the defective core in the series of cores.
[0013] The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a container, comprising a step of injection moulding a plastics material, this step being configured to produce a preform around a core of a series of cores, a step of blow moulding said preform, this step being configured to produce a final container, and a step of ejecting said final container.
[0014] The injection moulding step is carried out in an injection moulding station of a manufacturing installation comprising a mould having at least one cavity of which the bottom is connected to a conduit for supplying a plastics material injection moulded under pressure to produce a preform.
[0015] The injection moulding step comprises a first step of placing a core of a series of cores into a cavity of the injection mould.
[0016] The injection moulding step further comprises a second step of injection moulding a plastics material into the injection mould so as to cover the core of the corresponding series of cores to produce a preform of a first series of preforms by means of the first series of cores.
[0017] Said second, injection moulding step comprises a step of marking the corresponding preform with a core reference mark.
[0018] The injection moulding step makes it possible to obtain a neck with a precise geometry for allowing it to be assembled with the closure member and a core reference mark for quickly determining the series of cores that comprises a possible defective core.
[0019] The core reference marks of one series of cores are different from the core reference marks of the other series of cores.
[0020] Each series of cores comprises, for example, between one and ten cores.
[0021] Advantageously, the process comprises a step of moving and in particular rotating the series of cores in order to position the corresponding preform produced in the injection moulding step in a corresponding cavity of a blow mould.
[0022] The blow moulding step makes it possible to stretch each preform and thus obtain the final container.
[0023] For example, the blow moulding step of blow moulding a preform of a first series of preforms is carried out at the same time as the injection moulding step of injection moulding a preform of a second series of preforms by means of a second series of cores.
[0024] With preference, the core reference mark is formed on the rim or on an entry chamfer of the neck of the preform.
[0025] Advantageously, the process comprises a step of moving and in particular rotating the series of cores in order to position the preform of the second series of preforms produced in the injection moulding step in the corresponding cavity of the blow mould and to position the final container obtained in the blow moulding step in the ejection station.
[0026] For example, the ejection step is carried out at the same time as the blow moulding step of blow moulding a preform of a second series of preforms and at the same time as the injection moulding step of injection moulding a preform of a third series of preforms by means of a third series of cores.
[0027] Advantageously, the process comprises a step of marking the container with a position reference mark during the injection moulding step or the blow moulding step, where "i" is the number of positions corresponding to the number of cores.
[0028] As a result, in the case of a possible defective core in a series of cores, it is possible to identify the position of the defective core of a given series of cores by crossreferencing both the marking of the core reference mark indicating the series of cores during the injection moulding step and the marking of the position reference mark during the injection moulding or blow moulding step.
[0029] According to another aspect, the invention relates to an installation for manufacturing a container, comprising at least an injection moulding station, a blow moulding station and an ejection station, the injection moulding station comprising a mould having at least one cavity of which the bottom is connected to a conduit for supplying a plastics material injection moulded under pressure to produce a preform.
[0030] The blow moulding station comprises a mould having at least one cavity for receiving the preform.
[0031] The installation comprises at least three series of at least one core, said series being configured to pass in succession from one station to the next.
[0032] Each core of a series of cores has at least one core reference mark so as to form a core reference mark on the corresponding preform during an injection moulding step of the process as described above, in particular its neck, and thus on the neck of the final container.
[0033] Advantageously, the mould of the blow moulding station has a position reference mark, where "i" is the number of positions corresponding to the number of cores, for example at the bottom of each cavity, so as to form a position reference mark on the final container during the blow moulding step of the manufacturing process.
[0034] In a variant, the position reference mark could be situated at the inlet of each cavity of the mould of the blow moulding station in order to form a reference mark on the outer surface of the neck of the final container.
[0035] In a variant, the position reference mark could be situated on the injection moulding station.
[0036] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a container obtained directly by the process as described above. The container delimits an internal volume containing a product and comprising a body which extends axially from an upper end forming a neck provided with an opening for accessing the internal volume to a lower end forming the bottom of the container.
[0037] The neck of the container has at least one core reference mark produced during the injection moulding step, where x is the number of the series of cores.
[0038] For example, the core reference mark is formed on the rim of the final container or on a chamfer of the neck of the final container, in such a way that it is situated in the demoulding direction of the preform, along the longitudinal axis thereof.
[0039] For example, the core reference mark is recessed or raised.
[0040] For example, the bottom of the container comprises a position reference mark produced during the blow moulding step.
[0041] For example, the neck of the container has a position reference mark produced during the injection moulding step.
[0042] For example, the position reference mark is recessed or raised.
[0043] Further aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0044] [FIG 1] is a perspective view of a product packaging assembly, comprising a container obtained by an injection blow moulding manufacturing process according to the invention;
[0045] [FIG 2] is a view of details of Figure 1;
[0046] [FIG 3], [FIG 4], [FIG 5], [FIG 6], [FIG 7] and [FIG 8] illustrate the steps implemented by the injection blow moulding manufacturing process according to the invention; and
[0047] [FIG 9] shows the flow chart for the injection blow moulding manufacturing process according to the invention.
[0048] In the rest of the description, reference will be made to an orthonormal basis X, Y, Z, where Z corresponds to an elevation or elongation axis representing the vertical direction, in which there can be seen:
[0049] - a longitudinal axis X, which is horizontal;
[0050] - a transverse axis Y, which is horizontal, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X; and
[0051] - a vertical axis Z, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X and transverse axis Y and extends from bottom to top in Figure 1.
[0052] The expressions “upper” and “lower” refer to the upper part and the lower part of the figures, when the product packaging assembly is in the assembled position.
[0053] The terms "inner" or "internal" and "outer" or "external" are used with reference to the inside of the product packaging assembly, the inner or internal parts being closer to the elevation axis Z-Z’ than the outer or external parts.
[0054] Figure 1 shows a first example of an assembly 1 for packaging a fluid product, notably a fluid cosmetic product, that is configured for packaging the cosmetic product.
[0055] A "product" means a cosmetic product, for example a liquid product, that is intended to be applied, for example, to the user’s epidermis. In an entirely non-limiting manner, the product may be a care serum, or any fluid product intended to be withdrawn in order to be dispensed.
[0056] The assembly 1 for packaging the fluid product comprises a reservoir or container 10, for example in the form of a hollow body, delimiting an internal volume 12 containing a product, for example a fluid product. The reservoir 10 extends axially along an extension axis Z-Z’ that is presumed to be vertical in the figures, from an upper end 14 forming a neck provided with an opening 16 for accessing the internal volume 12 to a lower end 18 forming the bottom of the reservoir. The body of the reservoir 10 may be made, for example, of rigid synthetic material. The neck 14 is in this instance connected to the body 12 of the container 10 by a shoulder 13.
[0057] As illustrated, the neck 14 has an outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the body of the reservoir 10 and comprises, on its outer surface, a screw thread 14a onto which a closure member 20, for example a cap, is screwed.
[0058] The closure member 20 is configured to close off the opening 16 of the reservoir 10 and is removable with respect to said reservoir.
[0059] In a variant, provision could be made for the closure member 20 to be mounted on the container 10 by means other than screw-fastening, such as for example by clip-fastening.
[0060] The closure member 20 is known per se and will not be described further.
[0061] The container 10 is produced by a process 100 of injection moulding followed by blow moulding that will be described with reference to Figure 9 and is implemented by the manufacturing installation 200 described with reference to Figures 3 to 8.
[0062] The manufacturing installation 200 comprises at least an injection moulding station 210, a blow moulding station 220 and an ejection station 230.
[0063] The injection moulding station 210 comprises a mould 211 having a plurality of, in this case six, cavities 212 of which the bottom is connected to a conduit 213 for supplying a plastics material injection moulded at high temperature and under pressure to produce a first series of preforms 250a.
[0064] The number of cavities 212 corresponds to the number of cores. It is, for example, comprised between one and ten.
[0065] The injection moulding step is carried out in standard conditions known to those skilled in the art.
[0066] The blow moulding station 220 comprises a mould 221 having a plurality of cavities 222 each intended to receive a preform 250a of the first series of preforms.
[0067] The mould 221 of the blow moulding station 220 has a position reference mark 223_i, in this case at the bottom of each cavity 222, so as to form a reference mark on the bottom 18 of the final container 10 during the blow moulding step 120. The number "i" is equal to the number of cavities 212 of the mould 211 of the injection moulding station 210.
[0068] As illustrated, the first cavity 222 has a first position reference mark 223_1, the second cavity 222 has a second position reference mark 223_2, the third cavity 222 has a third position reference mark 223 3, the fourth cavity 222 has a fourth position reference mark 223_4, the fifth cavity 222 has a fifth position reference mark 223_5 and the sixth cavity 222 has a sixth position reference mark 223_6.
[0069] In a variant, the position reference mark 223_i could be situated at the inlet 224 of each cavity 222 of the mould 221 of the blow moulding station 220 in order to form a reference mark on the outer surface of the neck 14 of the final container 10.
[0070] The position reference mark 223_i can be recessed or raised.
[0071] Each preform of the first series of preforms 250a is blow moulded at between 5 and 40 bar against the wall 222 and will be imprinted with the corresponding position reference mark 223_i.
[0072] Provision could also be made for the position reference mark 223_i to be situated on the mould 212 of the injection moulding station 210 and to be located on the preform during the injection moulding step.
[0073] The ejection station 230 makes it possible to eject the final containers 10.
[0074] The installation comprises in this case three series 240a, 240b, 240c of a plurality of, in this case six, cores. The series of cores are configured to pass in succession from one station to the next.
[0075] Each core of a series of cores has a core reference mark 241a, 241b, 241c, in this case on one end of each core 240a, 240b, 240c, so as to form a core reference mark 241 on the neck 14 of the corresponding preform 250a, 250b, 250c and thus of the final container 10 during the injection moulding step 110.
[0076] As illustrated in Figure 2, the core reference mark 241 is formed on the rim 16 of the final container 10 or on the chamfer 16a of the neck 14 of the final container 10, in such a way that it is situated in the demoulding direction of the preform, in other words in the direction of movement of the core away from the preform, along the longitudinal axis thereof.
[0077] In any case, the core reference mark 241 is in the demoulding direction.
[0078] The core reference mark 241 can be recessed or raised.
[0079] The core reference mark 241 may, for example, take the form of a number, such as the number " 1 " for the first series of cores 240a, the number "2" for the second series of cores 240b and the number "3" for the third series of cores 240c; a letter, such as the letter "A" for the first series of cores 240a, the letter "B" for the second series of cores 240b and the letter "C" for the third series of cores 240c; or a symbol, such as the symbol "I" or a period for the first series of cores 240a, the symbol "II" or two periods for the second series of cores 240b and the symbol "III" or three periods " . . . " for the third series of cores 240c.
[0080] The manufacturing process 100 illustrated in Figure 9 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8.
[0081] The manufacturing process 100 comprises an injection moulding step 110, a blow moulding step 120 and an ejection step 130.
[0082] The injection moulding step 110 is carried out in the injection moulding station 210 and comprises a first step 111 of placing a core 240a of a series of cores into a cavity 212 of the injection mould 210, as illustrated in Figure 3.
[0083] The injection moulding step 110 further comprises a second step 112 of injection moulding a plastics material into the injection mould 210 so as to cover the core 240a of the corresponding series of cores, as illustrated in Figure 4, and form a preform 250a.
[0084] The process 100 comprises a step 112a of marking the corresponding preform 250 with the core reference mark 241 during the second, injection moulding step 112.
[0085] The process 100 then comprises a step 113 of moving, in this case rotating, the series of cores in order to position each preform 250a of the first series of preforms produced by means of the first series of cores 240a in the injection moulding step 110 in the corresponding cavity 222 of the blow mould 220, as can be seen in Figure 5.
[0086] Subsequently, the process 100 comprises a blow moulding step 120 during which pressurized air is injected into each preform 250a of the first series of preforms produced by means of the first series of cores 240a, in order to stretch the preform 250a against the corresponding cavity 222 of the blow mould 221 and to obtain the final container 10.
[0087] The injection moulding step 110 makes it possible to obtain a neck 14 with a precise geometry for allowing it to be assembled with the closure member 20.
[0088] The blow moulding step 120 makes it possible to stretch the preform and thus obtain the final container 10.
[0089] The blow moulding step 120 of blow moulding a preform 250a of a first series of preforms may be carried out at the same time as the injection moulding step 110 of injection moulding a preform 250b of a second series of preforms by means of a second series of cores 240b, as can be seen in Figure 6.
[0090] The process 100 then comprises a step 114 of moving, in this case rotating, the series of cores in order to position each preform 250b of the second series of preforms produced by means of the second series of cores 240b in the injection moulding step 110 in the corresponding cavity 222 of the blow mould 220, and to position the final container 10 obtained in the blow moulding step 120 in the ejection station 130, as can be seen in Figure 8.
[0091] The process 100 then comprises a step 130 of ejecting the final container 10, as can be seen in Figure 9.
[0092] The ejection step 130 can be carried out at the same time as the blow moulding step 120 of blow moulding a preform 250b of a second series of preforms by means of the second series of cores 240b and at the same time as the injection moulding step 110 of injection moulding a preform 250c of a third series of preforms by means of a third series of cores 240c.
[0093] In the example illustrated, the installation comprises three series 240x of cores, where x is the number of the series of cores, in this case equal to a, b or c.
[0094] In an entirely non-limiting manner, each series 240x of cores comprises in this case six cores.
[0095] After the injection moulding step 112, six preforms of a series of preforms 250_x bearing a core reference mark 24 lx are obtained.
[0096] The blow moulding station 220 has a number of position reference marks 223_i equal to the number of cores of each series of cores.
[0097] At the end of the process 100, when a possible defective core is detected, it is possible to ascertain the series of cores 240x to which it belongs, and the position i of the blow mould 220 at which it is situated.
[0098] According to a first example, when a core bearing the core reference mark 240a and the position reference mark 223 5 is defective, the user knows that this core originates from the first series of cores 240a and is situated in the fifth position.
[0099] According to a first example, when a core bearing the core reference mark 240c and the position reference mark 223 1 is defective, the user knows that this core originates from the third series of cores 240c and is situated in the first position.
[0100] Thus, cross-referencing the reference mark 24 lx of cores of the series of cores with the position reference mark 223_i of the blow mould makes it possible to identify which core of which series of cores is defective, if a tightness defect is identified.
[0101] When the blow mould does not bear a position reference mark, it is possible to identify at least the series of cores from which a possible defective core originates when a defect, in particular a tightness defect, is detected on a final container.
Claims
CLAIMS1. Process (100) for manufacturing a container (10), comprising an injection moulding step (110) of injection moulding a plastics material, this step being configured to produce a preform (250a, 250b, 250c) around a core of a series (240a, 240b, 240c) of cores, a blow moulding step (120) of blow moulding said preform (250a, 250b, 250c), this step being configured to produce a final container (10), and an ejection step (130) of ejecting said final container (10), the injection moulding step (110) being carried out in an injection moulding station (210) of a manufacturing installation (200) comprising a mould (211) having at least one cavity (212) of which the bottom is connected to a conduit (213) for supplying a plastics material injection moulded under pressure to produce a preform (250a, 250b, 250c), the injection moulding step (110) comprising a first step (111) of placing a core (240a, 240b, 240c) of a series of cores into a cavity (212) of the injection mould (210), characterized in that the injection moulding step (110) further comprises a second step (112) of injection moulding a plastics material into the injection mould (210) so as to cover the core (240a, 240b, 240c) of the corresponding series of cores, said second step (112) comprising a step (112a) of marking the corresponding preform (250a, 250b, 250c) with a core reference mark (241).
2. Process (100) according to claim 1, wherein the core reference mark (241) is formed on the rim or on an entry chamfer of the neck of the preform.
3. Process (100) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a step (113) of moving the series of cores in order to position the preform (250a, 250b, 250c) produced in step (112) in a corresponding cavity (222) of a blow mould (220).
4. Process (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blow moulding step (120) of blow moulding a preform (250a) of a first series of preforms is carried out at the same time as the injection moulding step (110) of injection moulding a preform (250b) of a second series of preforms by means of a second series of cores (240b).
5. Process (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step (114) of moving the series of cores in order to position the preform (250b) of the second series of preforms produced in the injection moulding step (110) in the corresponding cavity (222) of the blow mould (220) and to position the final container (10) obtained in the blow moulding step (120) in the ejection station (130).
6. Process (100) according to claim 5, wherein the ejection step (130) is carried out at the same time as the blow moulding step (120) of blow moulding a preform (250b) of the second series of preforms and at the same time as the injection moulding step (110) of injection moulding a preform (250c) of a third series of preforms by means of a third series of cores (240c).
7. Process (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of marking the container (10) with a position reference mark (223_i) during the injection moulding step (110) or the blow moulding step (120), where "i" is the number of positions corresponding to the number of cores.
8. Installation (200) for manufacturing a container (10), comprising at least an injection moulding station (210), a blow moulding station (220) and an ejection station (230), the injection moulding station (210) comprising a mould (211) having at least one cavity (212) of which the bottom is connected to a conduit (213) for supplying a plastics material injection moulded under pressure to produce a preform (250a, 250b, 250c), the blow moulding station (220) comprising a mould (212) having at least one cavity (222) for receiving the preform (250a, 250b, 250c), the installation (200) comprising at least three series (240a, 240b, 240c) of at least one core, said series being configured to pass in succession from one station to the next, characterized in that each core of a series of cores (240a, 240b, 240c) has at least one core reference mark (241a, 241b, 241c) so as to form a core reference mark (241) on the corresponding preform (250a, 250b, 250c) during an injection moulding step (110) of the process (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. Installation (200) according to claim 8, wherein the mould (212) of the blow moulding station (220) has a position reference mark (223_i), where "i" is the number of positions corresponding to the number of cores, so as to form a reference mark on the final container (10) during the blow moulding step (120) of the manufacturing process (100).
10. Container (10) obtained directly by the process (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, delimiting an internal volume (12) containing a product and comprising a body which extends axially from an upper end (14) forming a neck provided with an opening (16) for accessing the internal volume (12) to a lower end (18) forming the bottom of the container, the neck (14) of the container (10) having at least one core reference mark (241x) produced during the injection moulding step (110), where x is the number of the series of cores.
11. Container (10) according to claim 10, wherein the core reference mark (24 lx) is formed on the rim (16) of the final container (10) or on a chamfer (16a) of the neck (14) of the final container (10).
12. Container (10) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the core reference mark (24 lx) is recessed or raised.
13. Container (10) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the bottom (18) of the container (10) comprises a position reference mark (223_i) produced during the blow moulding step (120).
14. Container (10) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the neck (14) of the container (10) comprises a position reference mark (223_i) produced during the injection moulding step (110).
15. Container (10) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the position reference mark (223_i) is recessed or raised.