Preform Temperature Regulation in Integrated Container Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing production process of containers from preforms is inefficient and prone to quality issues due to separate production and processing locations, leading to potential damage, contamination, and increased costs during transportation and storage.

Innovation Solution

A container treatment system that includes a production machine, a heating apparatus, and a blow molding machine, with a control unit that regulates operating parameters to achieve a target temperature of the preform at the blow molding machine, thereby ensuring efficient and high-quality container production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If preforms are transported and stored separately from the blow molding process, then continuous production can be guaranteed, but preform damage and contamination occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous productionVSAvoidpreform quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the preform production line and blow molding line into an integrated system where preforms are processed and molded continuously without separate storage and transportation steps. The production machine and blow molding machine are connected in sequence, allowing preforms to move directly from production to molding, eliminating the storage apparatus and sorting apparatus while maintaining continuous production capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If preforms are stored as bulk material, then supply continuity is ensured, but preform damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply continuityVSAvoidpreform damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary alignment and positioning of preforms using the sorting apparatus integrated into the production line, ensuring preforms are correctly oriented before blow molding. This preliminary action eliminates the need for bulk storage while maintaining supply continuity, as preforms are continuously aligned and fed to the blow molding machine in proper sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If temperature is not regulated during preform processing, then process simplicity is maintained, but wall thickness uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidwall thickness uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a temperature regulation system with sensors that monitor the temperature of preforms during processing. The control unit receives temperature data and adjusts heating or cooling parameters in real-time to maintain optimal temperature ranges, ensuring uniform wall thickness in the final product while keeping the process automated and integrated rather than manually complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If preforms are transported to separate processing locations, then production flexibility is improved, but transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction flexibilityVSAvoidtransportation costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the production machine and blow molding machine into a single integrated system located at one position, eliminating the need for transporting preforms between separate facilities. This integration maintains production flexibility through automated control while eliminating transportation costs and associated energy losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system improves the efficiency and quality of container production by preventing damage and contamination, reducing transportation costs, and ensuring uniform wall thickness distribution in the containers.

Implementation Method 1

a heating apparatus (102) arranged downstream of the production machine (101)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250026066A1Container treatment system for regulating a temperature of a preform

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 KRONES AG

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a container treatment system for regulating a temperature of a preform, wherein the container treatment system comprises a production machine for producing a preform, in particular an injection molding machine, a heating apparatus arranged downstream of the production machine, a blow molding machine arranged downstream of the heating apparatus, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to regulate an operating parameter of at least one component of the container treatment system based on an actual temperature of the preform at a position upstream of the blow molding machine in order to achieve a target temperature of the preform at the blow molding machine.