Blow Mold Cleaning System for Continuous Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blow molding machines face challenges with frequent contamination from oligomers, leading to dull and rough blow mold surfaces, which affect bottle quality and safety, especially in hot-fill processes, requiring frequent and hazardous cleaning.
Innovation Solution
An automated cleaning process for blow molds that allows for regular cleaning during operation without stopping the machine, using a cleaning device with outlet openings for applying cleaning media to the inner and outer surfaces, including a reservoir and distribution system for sterilization, enabling CIP cleaning with suitable agents like caustic soda or ozone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If blow molds are cleaned at regular intervals to remove oligomer contamination, then bottle quality and mold surface appearance are improved, but production downtime increases and cleaning safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is integrated into the blow mold assembly such that cleaning media can be applied to the mold surfaces before contamination becomes severe. The outlet openings positioned within the blow mold allow cleaning agents to reach contaminated surfaces during the molding cycle, preventing rather than just treating the dulling and roughness caused by oligomer buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system operates continuously during the blow molding process rather than requiring separate cleaning cycles. The cleaning media is applied through outlets positioned within the closed blow mold, allowing simultaneous molding and cleaning operations, thus eliminating production downtime while maintaining bottle quality.
2Ease of manufacture
If blow molds are cleaned while hot to remove accelerated oligomer contamination, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but safety hazards increase due to burn risks
Solution Approach 1:
A cleaning medium acts as an intermediary substance that can be applied to hot mold surfaces without exposing operators to direct contact with hot surfaces. The cleaning device delivers cleaning agents through outlet openings positioned within the blow mold, allowing the media to chemically or physically remove oligomers from hot surfaces while keeping personnel safe from burn hazards.
3Reliability
If blow molds are cleaned frequently to maintain hygiene and prevent germ spread, then hygiene standards are improved, but production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is merged with the blow molding process itself. The cleaning device with outlet openings integrated into the blow mold allows cleaning media to be applied during the molding cycle, combining production and hygiene maintenance into a single continuous operation, thereby maintaining hygiene standards without sacrificing production efficiency.
4Ease of operation
If outlet openings are arranged within the closed blow mold for cleaning, then cleaning accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blow mold assembly serves multiple functions: it forms the plastic containers during molding and simultaneously provides access points for cleaning media application. The outlet openings are integrated into the existing blow mold structure, allowing the same component to fulfill both molding and cleaning functions, thereby improving cleaning accessibility without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
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
Facilitates efficient and safe cleaning of blow molds, reducing contamination, maintaining bottle quality, and ensuring hygiene, especially in hot-fill systems, by allowing continuous operation and preventing corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
An automated cleaning process for blow molds that allows for regular cleaning during operation without stopping the machine, using a cleaning device with outlet openings for applying cleaning media to the inner and outer surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a pressurization device to apply a medium to the plastic preforms in order to press them against a cavity delimiting to expand the inner wall of the respective blow mold
Implementation Method 3
a stretching rod in order to stretch the plastic preforms in their longitudinal direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~8
AI summary
A device for forming plastic preforms into containers, comprising at least one blow mold which forms a cavity within which the plastic preforms can be formed into containers, a pressurizing device for pressurizing the plastic preforms with a medium to expand them against an inner wall of the blow mold that defines the cavity, and a stretching rod for stretching the plastic preforms in their longitudinal direction. The device also includes a cleaning device for cleaning areas of the blow mold. According to the invention, the cleaning device (10) has at least one outlet opening (14) for a cleaning medium for cleaning the blow mold, and this outlet opening is arranged at least temporarily within the blow mold (2).