Spectral Analysis for Preform Quality Before Container Forming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic container production systems lack precise monitoring and automation, leading to increased defects and waste, particularly in the transition from plastic preforms to containers.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a spectral analysis device and inspection devices to analyze and inspect plastic preforms before and after forming, utilizing multiple sensors and AI for real-time quality control and recipe adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If production units are increased to improve productivity, then output increases, but monitoring precision decreases due to system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction outputVSAvoidmonitoring precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the monitoring system into multiple spectral analysis devices, each assigned to specific production units. This segmentation allows each device to focus on monitoring a subset of preforms, maintaining measurement precision even as the total number of production units increases. The system architecture supports scalable monitoring without sacrificing quality control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements real-time feedback loops where spectral analysis results are immediately used to adjust production parameters. This continuous feedback mechanism ensures that even with increased productivity, any deviations in preform quality are detected and corrected promptly, maintaining monitoring precision across the entire production line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If spectral analysis is implemented for quality control, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality control precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spectral analysis devices are designed to perform multiple functions: identifying production unit origins, detecting preform defects, verifying material composition, and providing real-time feedback for process adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining high manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a central control system that acts as an intermediary between the spectral analysis devices and the production units. This intermediary manages data flow, coordinates analysis results, and implements control decisions, thereby organizing the system complexity in a manageable way while enabling precise quality control across all production units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple spectral analysis devices are deployed, then monitoring coverage improves, but loss of information increases due to data management complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The central control system implements structured feedback loops that systematically collect, correlate, and act upon data from multiple spectral analysis devices. This organized feedback mechanism ensures that information from all devices is integrated without loss, and that the increased monitoring coverage translates into actionable quality control insights rather than overwhelming data complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs digital copying and storage of spectral data and production information in centralized databases. This creates redundant copies of critical information that can be accessed, analyzed, and verified across the system, preventing information loss while managing the complexity of data from multiple sources through systematic digital archiving and retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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

Enhances the precision of plastic container production by reducing defects and optimizing the manufacturing process through real-time quality feedback and adaptive control.

Implementation Method 1

a first spectral analysis device which is suitable and intended for the inspection and/or (in particular spectral) analysis of at least one region of the plastic preforms produced by the production device, wherein this first spectral analysis device is arranged between the production device and the forming device and wherein this first spectral analysis device is suitable and intended for the spectral analysis of the radiation incident on it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpectral analysis: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentEP4585394A1Device and method for producing plastic preforms with spectral analysis device
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 KRONES AG
  • EP4585394A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4585394A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4585394A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Apparatus (101) for producing plastic containers (20), comprising a production device (102) which is suitable and intended for producing plastic preforms (10), and a forming device (110) which is suitable and intended for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers, wherein the production device (102) has a plurality of production units (103) for producing the plastic preforms, and the forming device (110) has a plurality of forming stations (112) for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers, and a transport device (104, 105, 130) which is suitable and intended for transporting the plastic preforms produced by the production device to the forming device (4), characterized in that the apparatus (1) has a first spectral analysis device (220),which is suitable and intended for the inspection and/or analysis of at least one region of the plastic preforms produced by the production device (102), wherein this first spectral analysis device (220) is arranged between the production device (102) and the forming device (110) and wherein this first spectral analysis device (220) is suitable and intended for the spectral analysis of the radiation incident on it.