Blown Container Base Cooling Apparatus for Deformation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the stretch blow molding of plastic containers, the short residence time in the blow mold leads to inadequate cooling of the base region, resulting in undesired subsequent deformation due to reheating and deformation issues, which existing after-cooling methods struggle to prevent effectively without increasing air consumption.
Innovation Solution
Initiating the cooling of the container bases within a time interval of 0.1 to 2 seconds after pressure release from the blow molding machine, using an external face cooler with water or air as the cooling medium, applied via atomizing spray, sprinkler, or sponge elements, and optionally combining with fan cooling or liquid pre-metering to ensure efficient and uniform cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the residence time in the blow mold is reduced to increase ejection performance, then production speed is improved, but the cooling of the base region becomes inadequate leading to subsequent deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary cooling action by introducing cooling air to the base region immediately after ejection from the blow mold, before the container is fully removed. This preliminary cooling prevents the base region from reheating and deforming during the subsequent handling and transport, thus resolving the contradiction between high ejection performance and base region stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by directing cooling air specifically to the base region of the container rather than cooling the entire container uniformly. This localized cooling approach efficiently addresses the thermal issue in the critical base region without requiring excessive cooling resources, maintaining manufacturing precision while supporting high productivity
2Reliability
If air recycling is implemented to cool the base region, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but air consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers and reuses the cooling air after it has passed through the base region. The cooling air is collected and redirected back to the base region for continued cooling, maximizing the utilization of the cooling medium and significantly reducing overall air consumption while maintaining effective cooling
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 method effectively prevents undesired deformation of the container bases while maintaining high production throughput by starting cooling promptly after pressure release, using inexpensive and readily available cooling media, and allowing for pre-set duration to ensure thorough cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling of the bases of the containers is carried out by means of at least one apparatus for cooling the bases
Implementation Method 2
an outer edge layer just in the base region, in which thicker weakly stretched or non-stretched material is always situated, can frequently be cooled only with difficulty
Data Source
AI summary
A method of after-cooling of the bases of blown out containers, wherein after the transfer of the blown out containers from a blow molding machine to a run-out star wheel which directly follows the blow molding machine along a conveying direction of the containers a cooling of the bases of the containers is carried out by at least one apparatus for cooling the bases. The cooling of the bases of the containers starts immediately during a time interval of at least 0.1 seconds and at most 2 seconds after a pressure release of the containers by the blow molding machine after the blowing out.