Extrusion Head Deflects Inner Layer Material for Viewing Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing blow-molded multilayer plastic containers with viewing strips are complex and require additional extrusion equipment, making them costly and difficult to integrate with existing production lines, especially for containers with colored outer layers where fill level identification is necessary.
Innovation Solution
An extrusion head with a housing and fittings for distributing molten plastic materials, featuring a hollow tube that deflects colorless plastic material from the inner layer to the colored outer layer to create a viewing strip, eliminating the need for an additional extruder and allowing for easy retrofitting of existing machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to produce multilayer plastic containers with viewing strips, then viewing strip functionality is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to additional extrusion equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the viewing strip material supply with the existing inner layer extrusion system by integrating a take-off device into the inner layer extruder. This allows the colorless plastic material for the viewing strip to be withdrawn from the inner layer stream and redirected to the outer layer, eliminating the need for a separate viewing strip extruder and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining viewing strip functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The take-off device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the inner layer extruder and the outer layer extruder. It withdraws material from the inner layer stream and transfers it to the outer layer stream, enabling the viewing strip to be formed from inner layer material without requiring direct connection or separate equipment
2Ease of manufacture
If additional extruder and material supply lines are added for viewing strip production, then viewing strip is produced, but manufacturing cost and apparatus complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inner layer extruder is given multiple functions: it not only supplies material for the inner layer but also serves as the material source for the viewing strip through the take-off device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated viewing strip extrusion equipment, reducing apparatus complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture
3Ease of manufacture
If colorless plastic material is continuously supplied to form viewing strip in outer layer, then viewing strip is formed, but material distribution control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control where the take-off device continuously adjusts the amount of material withdrawn from the inner layer based on the requirements of the outer layer. This ensures proper material distribution for forming the viewing strip while maintaining control over the multilayer structure, preventing excessive complexity in material distribution
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
Enables simple and cost-effective production of colored plastic containers with viewing strips, improving fill level visibility without compromising mechanical performance, and allowing for production of containers with or without viewing strips using the same apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
plastic material can be deflected and incorporated from the inner layer in the colored outer layer for providing the viewing strip
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for the production of blow-molded two- or multi-layer containers made of thermoplastic, and a plastic container produced accordingly, having view strips, particularly for storage and for transport of contents. To this end, molten plastic material is deflected in an extrusion head (10) from the inner, natural-colored layer (34) of the tubular preform (18) into the outer layer (36) in a process technical step, and incorporated there, whereby a view strip (24) is formed in the colored outer plastic layer (36).