APPARATUS FOR FORMING PLASTIC PREFORMS INTO PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH PREFORM COOLING

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a blow mould which forms a cavity within which the plastic preforms can be expanded to form the plastic containers, and having an application device which is suitable and intended for acting upon the plastic preforms with a flowable medium in order to expand them, which is suitable and intended for acting upon the plastic preforms with a flowable medium in order to expand them, wherein the application device is placed against a mouth area of the plastic preforms in order to act upon these with the flowable medium. The application device forms at least one first flow channel for the flowable medium, which guides and/or directs at least a portion of the flowable medium to an inner wall of the mouth area in order to temper and, in particular, cool this inner wall.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a blow mould which forms a cavity within which the plastic preforms can be expanded to form the plastic containers, and with an application device which is suitable and intended for acting upon the plastic preforms with a flowable medium in order to expand them, wherein the application device can be placed against a mouth area of the plastic preforms in order to act upon these with the flowable medium, wherein the application device forms at least one first flow channel for the flowable medium which guides and/or directs at least a portion of the flowable medium to an inner wall of the mouth area in order to temper this inner wall.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device forms at least two flow paths for the flowable medium, which are at least partially separated from one another, wherein at least one of these flow paths being designed in such a way that it guides and/or directs at least a portion of the flowable medium to an inner wall of the mouth area.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second flow path is designed in such a way that it does not direct the flowable medium onto an inner wall of the mouth area.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device has a tubular body which projects into the plastic preform during an expansion of the plastic preform and which forms that flow path of the flowable medium which does not reach the inner wall of the mouth region.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tubular body is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the application device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first flow path extends at least partially radially outside the second flow path.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first flow path surrounds the second flow path in a circumferential direction of the application device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path is given by a distance between the tubular body and a wall surrounding this tubular body.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises at least one opening through which the medium can exit in a radial direction, wherein the opening forming a portion of the first flow path.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the opening is an elongated hole.

11. An application device for acting upon plastic preforms with a gaseous medium in order to expand these plastic preforms, having an annular sealing section which is suitable and intended, during the application of the plastic preform with the gaseous medium, to seal off the air flow entering the plastic preform from an environment, and having a tubular body, which during the expansion process projects at least partially into the plastic preform to be expanded, wherein the application device forms at least one first flow channel for the flowable medium, which conducts and/or directs at least a portion of the flowable medium to an inner wall of the mouth area in order to temper this inner wall.

12. A method for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein the plastic preforms are expanded within a blow mould by being acted upon by a flowable medium and are expanded by an application device with the flowable medium, wherein the application device is applied to a mouth area of the plastic preforms, wherein the application device forms at least one first flow channel for the flowable medium which guides and/or directs at least a portion of the flowable medium to an inner wall of the mouth area in order to temper this inner wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0057] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0058] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of a forming station;

[0059] FIG. 2a depicts an illustration of an application device placed on a plastic preform;

[0060] FIG. 2b depicts a representation of the application device with an expanded plastic container arranged thereon;

[0061] FIG. 3 depicts a configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle;

[0062] FIG. 4 depicts another configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle;

[0063] FIG. 5 depicts another configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle;

[0064] FIG. 6 depicts another configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle;

[0065] FIG. 7 depicts another configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle;

[0066] FIG. 8 depicts another configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle;

[0067] FIG. 9 depicts another configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle; and

[0068] FIG. 10 depicts another configuration of an application device or blowing nozzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a representation of a forming station 1, or an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers. This has two blow mould carrier parts 14a, 14b, on which (indirectly or directly) blow mould side parts (not shown) are arranged. These blow mould parts, together with a base part (also not shown), form a cavity within which the plastic preforms are expanded to form the plastic containers. The reference sign 16 indicates a locking mechanism which serves to lock the blow moulds in a closed state, in particular during the expansion process.

[0070] The reference sign 11 identifies a valve block, which in this case has a plurality of valves that serve to apply different pressure levels to the plastic preforms. Reference sign 2 indicates the application device for acting upon the plastic preforms with the flowable and, in particular, gaseous medium. This application device can be fed onto the plastic preforms or placed against a mouth of the plastic preforms.

[0071] The reference sign 12 indicates a rod-like body or a stretching rod which can be inserted into the interior of the plastic preforms in order to stretch them in their longitudinal direction.

[0072] FIG. 2a shows a representation of the application device (also referred to as blowing nozzle in the following) 2, which here is in contact with a plastic preform 10 during the expansion of the plastic preform. This plastic preform 10 has a base body 10a and a mouth area 10b. An external thread or an external contour is arranged on the mouth area 10b, onto which a container closure can be screwed or plugged.

[0073] The reference sign 10c indicates a support ring of the plastic preform and the reference sign 10d indicates a region of the plastic preform arranged below this support ring, which ideally is also to be cooled by the application device 2 described here.

[0074] The blowing nozzle 2 has a sleeve body or circumferential body 44 within which a sealing device 38 is movable in the vertical direction so as to achieve a seal with respect to the support ring 10c of the plastic preform.

[0075] Reference numeral 34 indicates the above-described tubular body that extends into the plastic preform in sections during expansion of the plastic preform. It can be seen here that a lower end 44a of this tubular body lies below the support ring 10c. In an embodiment, during expansion of the plastic preform, the end of the tubular body lies in a region of the support ring.

[0076] In an embodiment, the tubular body has a cross-section sufficient to move a stretching rod within the tubular body. In an embodiment, a stretching rod is therefore guided through the tubular body.

[0077] The reference sign 36 indicates an expansion of the tubular body in the manner of a spoiler, which serves to direct air flowing in through the blowing nozzle to the areas 10d of the plastic preform. Thus, the tubular body has an end portion with a widening and, in particular, continuously widening cross-section. In an embodiment, the tubular body has a circular cross-section.

[0078] The flow path of the blowing air entering the plastic preform is represented by the arrows 22. Thus, the arrows 22 represent the first flow channel that is used to cool the plastic preform or the areas 10d. In particular, a region of the inner wall of the plastic preform is to be cooled, as explained above.

[0079] Thus, in the design of the application device 2 shown in FIG. 2a, the first flow path runs between the tubular body 34 or its inner wall and the mouth area of the plastic preform or its outer wall.

[0080] The reference sign 24 indicates a second flow channel, which here also flows along the tubular body 34 into the interior of the plastic preform. This flow channel reaches the interior of the plastic preform directly and, unlike the air in the flow channel 22, is not guided specifically to the inner wall of the plastic preform. In the design shown in FIG. 2a, the first flow path 22 therefore completely surrounds the second flow path 24.

[0081] FIG. 2b shows a representation of the application device or blowing nozzle 2, which is here applied to an expanded container 20, wherein the base body 20a is already inflated. The reference sign 23 indicates the return flow path via which the air flows back through the application device 2 when the container is discharged. During this backflow, a cooling effect can again be achieved, in particular in the area 10d below the support ring 10c.

[0082] FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of an application device 2, which has a base body 32 on which the tubular body 34 is arranged. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a second circumferential body 39 is shown. Here, the first flow channel is also formed by the space between an inner wall of the circumferential body 39 and the tubular body 34. The reference sign 35 indicates webs, which are also arranged here between the tubular body 34 and the circumferential body 39. These webs project radially outwards with respect to the tubular body 34.

[0083] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the application device 2. Here again the webs 35 are provided, as well as the tubular body 34 and the circumferential body 39. In addition, the carrier 32 is also provided, on which these two bodies are arranged. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the webs in this embodiment also already extend in an upper region of the carrier 32.

[0084] It can be seen that here the first flow channel 22 is again formed by the distance between the tubular body 34 and the inner wall of the circumferential body 39. The second flow channel 24 runs inside the tubular body 34. A stretching rod (not shown) can also be guided in the interior of the tubular body.

[0085] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of an application device 2. Here, too, the carrier 32 is provided, as well as the tubular body 34 arranged on this carrier, which has an upper section 34a and a lower section 34b. Several openings 28 are arranged in the lower section, through which the air (or generally the flowable medium) can also exit in a radial direction in order to cool the inner wall of the plastic preform. Here, too, cooling takes place in particular in the areas below the support ring.

[0086] The reference sign 29 indicates a flattened wall on which the openings 28 are arranged. These walls facilitate the flow of air into the plastic preform.

[0087] Thus, in the embodiment marked in FIG. 5, a splitting of the first and second flow path is only achieved in the lower area of the tubular body 34, namely in the area of the openings. Part of the air exits radially through the openings 28, forming the first flow channel or flow path 22. The first flow channel or flow path 24 can be formed by the central opening in the lower region 34b of the tubular body 34.

[0088] However, in one embodiment, it would also be possible for the tubular body to be closed or, in particular, almost closed on its underside (i.e., essentially only allowing the stretching rod to pass through) and in this way for the air to exit exclusively through the openings 28. Thus, it would also be conceivable that a seal is provided between a stretching rod and the tubular body. It is also conceivable that an inner section of the tubular body is tapered.

[0089] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of an application device according to embodiments of the invention. Here, too, openings 28 are provided on the tubular body, wherein here the tubular body is essentially formed by the webs 35 and an annular section 37.

[0090] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of an application device according to embodiments of the invention. Here, too, several, or more precisely four, openings 28 are provided through which air can escape in a radial direction and thus cool the inner wall of the plastic preform. Below these openings there are again flat surfaces 39, which favour the exit of the flowing air.

[0091] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of webs is again provided. The openings are here in an upper section of the tubular body 34 or in an area where the webs 35 begin and through these openings the air can also escape in the radial direction.

[0092] FIG. 9 shows a further design of an application device according to embodiments of the invention. In this embodiment, the tubular body is formed by a plurality of webs with spaces between them forming the openings 28. Thus, one (namely the second) flow path of the air exits again in a vertical downward direction, while another (namely the first) flow path exits radially outward.

[0093] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the majority of the blown air exits through the openings 28 or the spaces between the webs 35.

[0094] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, openings 28 are also provided, wherein these extend here spirally downwards, i.e., a longitudinal direction of these openings does not extend in a vertical direction here, but in a spirally direction. However, the tubular body 34 is also arranged here on the carrier 32. The spirally design of the openings achieves a twisting of the flow paths.

[0095] In an embodiment, in all the embodiments shown, a carrier is provided (here denoted by the reference signs 32) to which the above-mentioned tubular body is arranged.

[0096] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0097] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0098] 1 transforming station [0099] 2 application device/blowing nozzle [0100] 10 plastic preform [0101] 10a base body [0102] 10b mouth area [0103] 10c support ring [0104] 10d area below the support ring [0105] 11 valve block [0106] 12 rod-like body [0107] 14a, 14b blow mould carrier parts [0108] 16 locking mechanism [0109] 22 arrows air flow direction/first flow channel [0110] 23 return flow path [0111] 24 second flow channel [0112] 28 openings [0113] 29 flattened wall [0114] 32 carrier [0115] 34 tubular body [0116] 34a upper section [0117] 34b lower section [0118] 35 webs [0119] 36 expansion/spoiler [0120] 37 circular section [0121] 38 sealing device [0122] 39 second circumferential body/plane surfaces [0123] 44 sleeve body/circumferential body [0124] 44a end of the tubular body