Preform Heating Module Layout for Individual Temperature Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container manufacturing machines face challenges in implementing special applications like preferential heating and producing containers with an oval cross-section due to disturbances from ambient temperature, preform quality, and temperature variations, leading to reduced machine productivity and increased rejects.

Innovation Solution

A modular design for the container manufacturing machine with a second heating device positioned independently of the first heating device, allowing flexible placement and individual thermal conditioning of preforms, enhancing flexibility and ease of implementation of special applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single integrated heating device is used for thermal conditioning of preforms, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot flexibly implement special applications like preferential heating or oval cross-section production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility for special applicationsVSAvoidheating device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating device is divided into a first heating device for base heating and a second heating device for individualized temperature profile adjustment. This segmentation allows each heating device to have specialized functions, enabling flexible implementation of special applications like preferential heating and oval cross-section production while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If ambient temperature and preform quality variations are not compensated, then the heating device operation is simple, but temperature variations reduce machine productivity and increase rejects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine productivityVSAvoidthermal conditioning control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A temperature measurement is performed between the first and second heating stages to detect variations in preform temperature. This feedback information is used to individually adjust the temperature profile in the second heating stage, compensating for ambient temperature and preform quality variations, thereby maintaining high productivity and reducing rejects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The second heating device adjusts heating parameters (temperature profile) based on measured preform temperature variations. By changing heating parameters individually for each preform, the system compensates for ambient temperature and material variations, ensuring optimal thermal conditioning for forming while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple preforms are thermally conditioned simultaneously in the second heating device, then processing efficiency is high, but individualized temperature profile control is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual temperature profile precisionVSAvoidprocessing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The second heating device is designed to thermally condition only one preform at a time, allowing dynamic adjustment of the temperature profile for each individual preform based on measured variations. This dynamic, individualized approach ensures precise thermal conditioning for special applications while the modular design integrates smoothly into the overall production flow to maintain acceptable productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The modular design improves machine flexibility, reduces rejects, and enhances the quality of manufactured containers by ensuring precise thermal conditioning, regardless of ambient conditions and preform variations.

Implementation Method 1

a first heating device (12) for thermally conditioning at least one preform (13) according to a first heating profile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

at least one second heating device (28) arranged in the transport section for individually thermally conditioning the at least one preform (13) according to a second heating profile individual for each preform

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4464502B1Container manufacturing machine and method for manufacturing containers from preforms
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 KHS GMBH
  • EP4464502B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4464502B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~2
  • EP4464502B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a container manufacturing machine (10) for producing containers from preforms (13), comprising a first heating device (12) for thermally conditioning at least one preform according to a first heating profile, at least one forming device (14) for forming the thermally conditioned preform into a container, a transport section with a plurality of transport devices (16, 18, 22, 24, 34, 48, 50, 52) for transporting preforms at least from the first heating device to at least the forming device, and at least one second heating device (28) arranged in the transport section for individually thermally conditioning the preform according to a second heating profile individual for each preform (13), which is based on the first temperature profile measured for the preform, wherein the second heating device is arranged along the transport section downstream of the first measuring device.wherein the second heating device is designed as a module of the container manufacturing machine positioned independently of the first heating device. The invention provides a container manufacturing machine that allows for the implementation of special applications for the thermal conditioning of preforms in a flexible and simple manner, without significant effort.