APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEATING PLASTIC PREFORMS WITH BLOW-OUT DEVICE

Abstract

Apparatus for heating plastic preforms with a transport device which transports the plastic preforms during their heating along a predetermined transport path, with a first feed transport device which directly transfers the plastic preforms to the transport device in a transfer region, wherein this first feed transport device having a carrier which can be rotated with respect to an axis of rotation and has a plurality of holding devices which hold the plastic preforms, wherein each of these holding devices is in each case assigned an application device, wherein these application devices being arranged on a carrier which can be rotated about an axis of rotation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for heating plastic preforms with a transport device configured to transport the plastic preforms during their heating along a predetermined transport path, wherein the transport device has a plurality of holding devices configured to hold the plastic preforms during their transport, with a first feed transport device which directly transfers the plastic preforms to the transport device in a transfer region, wherein this first feed transport device has a carrier configured for rotation with respect to an axis of rotation and has a plurality of holding devices configured to hold the plastic preforms, and wherein each of the holding devices is in each case assigned an application device configured to act upon the plastic preforms through their mouths with a flowable medium, wherein the application devices are arranged on a carrier configured for rotation about an axis of rotation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application devices are movable relative to the plastic preforms associated with the application devices in a direction which has a component in the radial direction of the rotatable carrier.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the application devices are movable relative to the carrier with respect to the plastic preforms associated with the application devices.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the application devices are movable relative to the plastic preforms associated with the application devices in the transfer region in the direction of the axis of rotation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus has a drive device configured to effect the movements of the application devices relative to the carrier.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the application devices are movable in a longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms relative to the plastic preforms, wherein preferably the apparatus is provided with at least one drive device configured for moving the application devices relative to the plastic preforms in the longitudinal directions thereof.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding devices of the feed transport device are recesses arranged on an outer circumference of the carrier.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a further transport device for transporting the plastic preforms is arranged upstream of the feed transport device in the transport direction, which transport device is configured to transfer the plastic preforms to the feed transport device and which transports the plastic preforms in a row.

9. A feed transport device for feeding plastic preforms to an apparatus for heating the plastic preforms, wherein said feed transport device has a carrier rotatable with respect to an axis of rotation and a plurality of holding devices configured to hold the plastic preforms, wherein said holding devices are formed as recesses formed on an outer circumference of the carrier, and wherein the feed transport device has a guide arch arranged radially outside the carrier, wherein the plastic preforms can be received between this guide arch and the carrier, and wherein this guide arch and/or the carrier is detachably fastened to a carrier by at least one and preferably a plurality of fastening devices, wherein the fastening devices are deteachable and/or fixable by drive devices.

10. A method for heating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic preforms are transported along a predetermined transport path by a transport device during their heating and are held by a plurality of holding devices of the transport device and wherein the plastic preforms are transferred, in particular directly, by a first feed transport device of the transport device in a transfer region, wherein the first feed transport device has a carrier which can be rotated with respect to an axis of rotation and has a plurality of holding devices which hold the plastic preforms, wherein each of the holding devices is in each case assigned an application device which acts upon the plastic preforms through their mouths with a flowable medium, wherein the application devices are arranged on a carrier which can be rotated about an axis of rotation.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the application devices are moved at least temporarily relative to the plastic preforms associated with these application devices in a direction which has a component in the radial direction of the rotatable carrier.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the application devices are movable relative to the plastic preforms associated with the application devices in the transfer region in the direction of the axis of rotation.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus has a drive device configured to effect movements of the application devices relative to the carrier.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the application devices are movable in a longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms relative to the plastic preforms, wherein preferably the apparatus is provided with at least one drive device configured for moving the application devices relative to the plastic preforms in the longitudinal directions thereof.

15. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the application devices are movable relative to the plastic preforms associated with the application devices in the transfer region in the direction of the axis of rotation.

16. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus has a drive device configured to effect movements of the application devices relative to the carrier.

17. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the application devices are movable in a longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms relative to the plastic preforms, wherein preferably the apparatus is provided with at least one drive device configured for moving the application devices relative to the plastic preforms in the longitudinal directions thereof.

Description

[0056] Further advantages and embodiments can be seen in the attached drawings.

[0057] In the drawings:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention for manufacturing plastic containers;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a representation of an embodiment of a feed transport device;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a representation of a feed transport device for an apparatus according to the invention;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a detailed representation of the feed transport device shown in FIG. 3;

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a representation of a part of the feed transport device with pneumatically releasable fastening devices;

[0063] FIGS. 6a-6c show three illustrations of the described fastening device; and

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a partial top view of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a heating device for heating plastic preforms 10. Reference sign 2 refers in its entirety to a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a transport path P and past stationary heating devices 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this transport device is a circulating chain on which a plurality of holding elements 22 are arranged for holding the plastic preforms. These plastic preforms can also be rotated, as indicated by the small arrows.

[0066] The reference sign 4 indicates a feed transport device 4, which is designed here as a clock-in starwheel. It can be seen that the plastic preforms are fed via a feed rail and are separated by the feed transport device 4. The reference sign 42 indicates a carrier which is rotatable with respect to an axis of rotation D and the reference signs 44a and 44b indicate two holding devices which are designed here as recesses which are in turn arranged on the circumference of the rotatable carrier 42.

[0067] The reference sign 30 indicates a downstream transport device with which the now heated plastic preforms are transferred to a device (not shown) for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, such as a blow moulding machine.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a design of a feed transport device. Again, the rotatable carrier is shown as well as a holding device 44a. The reference sign 48 indicates a guide arch, wherein the plastic preforms (not shown) are arranged and guided between this guide arch and the individual recesses 44a. This guide arch 48 is attached to a carrier with a plurality of fastening devices. This guide arch is exchangeable in order to be able to adapt to different plastic preforms. The carrier 42 is also preferably exchangeable.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a feed transport device according to the invention. A plurality of application devices 46a, 46b are provided. These are arranged on a carrier 48 and can be moved in a longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms (not shown), i.e. in a vertical direction in FIG. 3.

[0070] The reference sign 62 indicates a supply line via which, for example, a pressurised gaseous medium can be supplied. Reference signs 44 and 64 indicate valve blocks with which this medium can be distributed to the individual application devices.

[0071] FIG. 4 shows a detailed representation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3. Here you can again see the carrier 42 as well as the guide arch 48.

[0072] The reference sign 52 indicates a fastening device for fastening the guide arch 48 to a further carrier. The reference signs 46a and 46b again indicate application devices, wherein in this case one application device is assigned to each guide device 44a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, three application devices are each attached to a common carrier and can thus be moved in the longitudinal direction of the plastic preforms in order to be inserted into the plastic preforms (not shown).

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a further illustration of the carrier 42 and also of the guide arch 48. The reference signs 52 again indicate clamping devices, more precisely called pneumatic clamps. These are supplied by a central supply device 62 for pneumatic air and could be transferred in this way into a released position. In this position, the guide arch 48, which is segmented in two parts here as shown, can be removed. While in current feed transport devices a starwheel as well as the outer arch 48 are manually screwed, such a structure is rather disadvantageous for the complicated design with application devices.

[0074] Due to the size of this starwheel and also the poor accessibility during a fitting change, a screw connection is not possible or advantageous everywhere. Therefore, as mentioned above, it is suggested that the sawtooth starwheel or the carrier as well as the guide fittings are fixed with pneumatic clamps 52 under spring force. For changing, compressed air, for example 10 bar compressed air, is connected to the clamping devices and thus the spring clamping is unlocked so that the fittings can be changed without tools.

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a corresponding illustration of this assembly. Here, quick-release clamps 52 are provided which hold the outer fitting or the outer arch 48 to its carrier 50. Correspondingly, pneumatic clamps are also provided to hold the carrier or the sawtooth starwheel 42 on a carrier.

[0076] FIGS. 6a to 6c illustrate this tensioning mechanism according to the invention. In the situation shown in FIG. 6A, the carrier 42 is again partially visible. In addition, the carrier 49 can also be seen, on which the (not shown) application devices are arranged. In detail, grooves 54 running in radial direction are also shown, in which the application devices can be shifted radially inwards, as explained above. The reference sign R indicates a radial direction of the carrier 42.

[0077] FIG. 6b shows a representation along the lines A-A from FIG. 6a. Here again the carrier 50 is provided, on which the outer arch 48 is arranged. The inner fitting 42 or the carrier with the holding devices can also be seen. The reference signs 52 and 53 each indicate a pneumatic clamping device for the outer guide arch and a pneumatic clamping device for the carrier 42.

[0078] FIG. 6c shows a representation along the lines B-B from FIG. 6a. Here, one of these pneumatic clamps 52 is shown in more detail. A spring device 84 can be seen which biases a locking bolt or a projection 86 here to the right, i.e. into the fixed position. By applying compressed air via the supply line 80, the piston is moved inwards within the piston chamber 82, thus releasing the lock. The reference sign 88 indicates a carrier.

[0079] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the apparatus according to the invention. The transport device 2 or a transfer wheel of the same can be seen here. The reference sign 62 indicates a feed device for feeding a flowable and, in particular, gaseous medium to the feed transport device 4 or the individual application devices. Reference sign 9 schematically indicates a rotary distributor that transfers this gaseous medium to the rotating part with the application devices. In addition, the outer arc that serves to form the holding devices 44a and 44b can also be seen here.

[0080] The reference sign 100 identifies a clocking-in device at which the plastic preforms are transferred in series to the feed transport device 4.

[0081] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided that they are individually or in combination new compared to the prior art. It is further pointed out that the individual figures also describe features which may be advantageous in themselves. The skilled person immediately recognises that a certain feature described in a figure can also be advantageous without adopting further features from this figure. Furthermore, the skilled person recognises that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual figures or in different figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0082] 1 apparatus [0083] 2 transport device [0084] 4 feed transport device [0085] 9 rotary distributor [0086] 10 plastic preforms [0087] 22 holding elements [0088] 24 heating devices [0089] 30 subordinate transport device [0090] 42 rotatable carrier/feeding device/pneumatic clamp/sawtooth starwheel [0091] 44, 64 valve blocks [0092] 44a recesses/guiding device [0093] 44a, 44b holding devices [0094] 46a, 46b application devices [0095] 48 guide arch/carrier/outer arch [0096] 49, 50 carrier [0097] 52, 53 fastening device/pneumatic clamping device [0098] 54 grooves [0099] 62 feed line/feed device [0100] 80 feed line [0101] 84 spring device [0102] 86 projection [0103] 88 carrier [0104] 100 clocking-in device [0105] P transport path [0106] D axis of rotation [0107] L direction [0108] AA and BB lines from FIG. 6A