Blow Mold Carrier Layout for Compact Clean Room Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blow molding devices for forming plastic preforms into containers require large clean rooms due to the arrangement of guide curves outside the clean room, leading to inefficient space utilization and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a movable carrier with blow molding devices having movable mold carriers and a stationary main shaft, allowing identical opening and closing movements of the mold carriers, with guide curves and other components located inside the clean room to optimize space usage and reduce costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If guide curves are arranged outside the clean room, then the size of the clean room is reduced, but the clean room must still be large enough for the opening movement of the blow molding device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclean room sizeVSAvoidspace utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of arranging guide curves outside the clean room as in prior art, the patent inverts this arrangement by placing the guide curves inside the clean room. This allows the mold carriers to open and close within the clean room space, eliminating the need for additional external space while maintaining full functionality of the opening movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and internal space of the clean room by positioning guide curves along the longitudinal axis and arranging mold carriers to pivot within the available three-dimensional space. This efficient use of spatial dimensions allows the opening mechanism to function without increasing the clean room's footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If one blow mold side part is designed to be movable and the other immovable, then the opening movement is achieved, but a large part of the interior space of the clean room remains unused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening movement capabilityVSAvoidspace utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains the asymmetric design where one blow mold side part is movable and the other is immovable, allowing the mold carriers to pivot on a longitudinal axis. This asymmetric arrangement achieves the necessary opening movement while compactly utilizing the clean room space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The mold carriers are designed with dynamic movement capability, allowing them to pivot between closed and open positions. This dynamic design enables the system to adapt its configuration during operation, achieving opening movement without requiring excessive static space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a movable shaft is used for opening and closing the blow molding device, then the opening movement is achieved, but the apparatus lacks standardization and synergy with other series

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening and closing functionalityVSAvoidapparatus standardization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a universal main shaft design that serves multiple functions: supporting the mold carriers, enabling opening and closing movements, and providing a standardized mounting structure. This multi-functional shaft design allows the same basic apparatus configuration to be used across different series and ranges, achieving standardization and synergy while maintaining full operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design saves space and costs by optimizing clean room utilization and standardizing the apparatus through a modular principle, while maintaining sterility and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

the blow mold side parts and the base part form a cavity, within which the plastic preforms can be formed into the plastic containers through exposure to a flowable medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS12570034B2Apparatus and method for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 KRONES AG

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a blow molding device with at least two blow mold side parts and a base part movable in a longitudinal direction of the plastic container, wherein the blow mold side parts and the base part form a cavity, within which the plastic preforms can be formed into the plastic containers through exposure to a flowable medium. The apparatus has a movable carrier on which a plurality of blow molding devices are arranged, and the blow mold side parts are arranged respectively on a first mold carrier and a second mold carrier, which are movable with respect to a main shaft that is stationary relative to the carrier for opening and/or closing. An opening and/or closing movement of the first mold carrier takes place by a first angle, and an opening and/or closing movement of the second mold carrier takes place by a second angle, wherein the first angle and the second angle are substantially identical.