Post-Treatment Cooling Zone for BFS Containers With Reliable Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing BFS processes for producing containers face challenges in efficiently cooling temperature-sensitive filling materials due to high heat levels, which can lead to condensation and unreliable sealing, especially in intermittent machines, and require high cooling outputs that disrupt cleanroom airflow.
Innovation Solution
A post-treatment zone that allows individual or grouped container products to be treated independently of the BFS machine cycle, with controlled cooling times and temperatures, using a multi-step cooling process involving through shafts and controlled tempering media to minimize heat impact on the filling material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high cooling outputs are applied to cool the container product after BFS production, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the airflow directions in the cleanroom are disrupted uncontrollably
Solution Approach 1:
The container product is divided into two zones: the container body (without top region) that requires cooling, and the top region that must remain hot for sealing. The cooling apparatus applies cooling selectively to the container body zone while excluding the top region, achieving localized cooling that prevents airflow disruption while maintaining sealing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different thermal conditions are applied to different parts of the container product. The container body receives active cooling to reduce heat levels, while the top region is deliberately kept hot through exclusion from cooling. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between cooling efficiency and sealing requirements.
2Temperature
If the container product is cooled for a long duration to reduce heat levels, then the temperature control is improved, but the production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling is applied immediately after the container body is formed and before filling and sealing operations. By performing cooling preliminarily and concurrently with other process steps (rather than as a separate sequential step), the cooling duration is minimized while still achieving the required temperature reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The container body continues to cool during the transfer and filling operations through continuous exposure to the cooling environment. This eliminates idle cooling time and maintains continuous heat reduction throughout the production sequence, reducing total cooling duration.
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
Achieves efficient cooling of less than 10 seconds per chamber with low cooling outputs, maintaining the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the BFS process while ensuring reliable sealing and preserving the quality of temperature-sensitive contents.
Implementation Method 1
cooled by convective cooling of the container product
Implementation Method 2
controlled cooling times and temperatures, using a multi-step cooling process involving through shafts and controlled tempering media
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for the follow-up treatment, in particular cooling, of container products, which are produced by means of a blow-moulding, filling and closing process, and which can be fed to a follow-up treatment zone, which has an influencing effect, in particular a cooling effect, on the respective container product. The container products enter the follow-up treatment zone singly separate from one another or together in individual groups separate from one another comprising multiple container products. The follow up treatment zone is provided with at least one control means, acting on the container products and determining the time for which they stay in the follow-up treatment zone.