Sterile Blow Molding Ejection Sluice for Defect Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In sterile blow molding processes, the ejection of damaged containers poses a challenge as it disrupts the sterility of the process, necessitating a solution that maintains cleanliness without re-sterilization.
Innovation Solution
An ejection device integrated within the clean room or at its boundary allows for the removal of plastic preforms or containers from the transport path, utilizing a region where blow molds are open and gravity for ejection, with a sealing mechanism to maintain sterility and a suction device to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If damaged containers are ejected from the transport path in a sterile blow molding process, then the defective containers can be removed from the system, but the sterility of the blow molding process may be disturbed or interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
A suction device acts as an intermediary to remove damaged containers from the clean room through a suction line without direct physical contact by operators. The suction device creates a controlled airflow that extracts defective containers while maintaining the sterile barrier, thus resolving the contradiction between removing defects and preserving sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual ejection mechanisms with a suction-based system. Instead of mechanical ejection devices that require opening clean room barriers, the suction device uses airflow to remove damaged containers through sealed connections, eliminating the need to compromise the sterile environment for ejection operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the ejection device is integrated into the clean room or clean room boundary, then sterility can be maintained during ejection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is designed to serve multiple functions: it can eject damaged containers from various positions along the transport path, can be activated on demand, and can handle different types of defects. This multi-functionality justifies the integration complexity by providing a versatile solution that maintains sterility across multiple operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction line acts as an intermediary channel that connects the clean room interior to the exterior ejection point without creating direct openings in the sterile barrier. This intermediary pathway allows the ejection system to be integrated into the clean room while maintaining the integrity of the sterile environment through sealed connections.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If damaged containers are not removed from the transport path, then the sterility is maintained, but problems arise in the system after production or during production
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device enables continuous operation of the blow molding process by removing damaged containers in real-time during production. This prevents interruptions that would otherwise be necessary to clear defects, allowing the sterile environment to remain intact while maintaining continuous defect removal and system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device serves as an intermediary mechanism that resolves the conflict between maintaining sterility and ensuring system reliability. By providing a sealed, controlled method for defect removal, it allows damaged containers to be extracted without compromising either the sterile environment or the continuous operation of the production system.
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 sterile ejection of defective containers without disrupting the clean room environment, ensuring continuous operation without the need for re-sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
the apparatus has a suction device to suck air from the clean room through a suction line
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers has a rotatable transport carrier on which a plurality of forming stations is arranged. The forming stations each have blow molding devices within which the plastic preforms are formed by application of a flowable medium into the plastic containers. The apparatus has a clean room, within which the plastic preforms are expanded into the plastic containers, a feed device to feed plastic preforms to be formed, and a discharge device for discharging formed containers from the transport device. The apparatus also has an ejection device for ejecting plastic preforms or plastic containers from the transport path, being arranged between the discharge device and the feed device.