Air Transport Coupling for Ordered Preform-to-Bottle Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing processes for transforming preforms into containers are logistically complex, expensive, prone to disruption, and suffer from damage and microbial contamination due to bulk handling, requiring complex sorting equipment and long transport times that affect quality and hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A container treatment plant integrating a manufacturing machine, distribution device, and air conveyor that receives and transfers preforms in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement, eliminating the need for bulk handling and sorting, ensuring orderly and aseptic processing directly at the same location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If preforms are manufactured and stored as bulk material at a separate location, then production flexibility is improved, but handling complexity and risk of damage and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the preform manufacturing location with the container production location, eliminating separate bulk storage and handling. The injection molding machine and stretch blow molding machine are integrated at the same site, with direct transfer of preforms between processes, removing the need for complex bulk material handling and sorting equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an air conveyor as an intermediary transport mechanism that directly conveys preforms from the injection molding machine to the stretch blow molding machine. This intermediary system enables seamless transfer without bulk handling, maintaining production flexibility while eliminating damage and contamination risks.
2Loss of energy
If preforms are transported and stored as bulk material, then logistics cost is reduced, but quality and hygiene deteriorate due to damage and microbial contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes continuous production where preforms are manufactured and immediately processed into containers without interruption. The air conveyor enables continuous transfer of preforms directly between machines, eliminating storage and rehandling operations that cause damage and contamination, while maintaining cost-effective logistics.
3Ease of operation
If complex sorting equipment is used to sort bulk preforms, then organization of preform flow is improved, but device complexity and susceptibility to malfunctions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the sorting equipment from the production system by implementing ordered preform transfer directly from injection molding to stretch blow molding. The air conveyor system naturally maintains preform organization without requiring separate sorting mechanisms, simplifying the overall device while improving operational ease.
4Volume of stationary object
If preforms are handled in bulk, then storage space efficiency is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming sorting and reorganization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by organizing preforms in a structured manner during injection molding, with preforms arranged in a matrix pattern on the injection mold. This preliminary organization allows direct transfer to the stretch blow molding machine without subsequent sorting, eliminating time losses while maintaining space-efficient handling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution significantly reduces transport and storage costs, minimizes damage and contamination, enhances traceability, improves quality and hygiene, and simplifies logistics by directly linking preform production with container manufacturing, enabling aseptic production and efficient use of manufacturing heat.
Implementation Method 1
at least one air conveyor (403) for the orderly feeding of the preforms produced by the manufacturing machine (401) to the at least one unit (404) for manufacturing containers from the preforms
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention relates to a container treatment plant (400) for the production of containers, comprising: a production machine (401), e.g. an injection molding machine for producing preforms, at least one unit (404) for producing containers from the preforms, at least one distribution device (402) for the orderly distribution of the preforms produced by the production machine, at least one air transporter (403) for the orderly feeding of the preforms produced by the production machine (401) to the at least one unit (404) for the production of containers from the preforms, wherein the distribution device (402) is configured to receive a plurality of the preforms produced by the production machine (401) in an orderly manner in the form of a two-dimensional matrix arrangement and to transfer them in an orderly manner to the air transporter (403).