METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PLASTIC PREFORMS INTO PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH PRE-HEATING OF BLOW MOULDS

Abstract

Method for operating an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein in a working mode a plurality of forming stations are moved along a predetermined transport path by a movable carrier, wherein these forming stations in each case having blow mould arrangements which in a closed state in each case form cavities, within which the plastic preforms are formed into the plastic containers and the plastic preforms are supplied to these forming stations in order to be formed by supplying a flowable medium to the plastic containers, wherein this forming takes place at least temporarily during the transport of the forming stations along the transport path, and wherein at least temporarily at least components of the blow moulding arrangement are tempered. At least parts of the blow mould are pre-heated in a standstill of the carrier or a movement of the carrier, which is slower with respect to a movement of the carrier in the working mode.

Claims

1. A method for operating an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein in a working mode a plurality of forming stations are moved along a predetermined transport path by a movable carrier, wherein these forming stations in each case having blow mould arrangements which, in a closed state, in each case form cavities within which the plastic preforms are formed into the plastic containers and the plastic preforms are fed to these forming stations, in order to be formed by supplying a flowable medium to the plastic containers, wherein this forming takes place at least temporarily during the transport of the forming stations along the transport path, and wherein at least temporarily at least components of the blow mould arrangement being tempered, wherein at least parts of the blow mould are pre-heated in a standstill of the carrier or a movement of the carrier which is slower with respect to a movement of the carrier in the working mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least temporarily during the working mode a further temperature control of the blow mould arrangements is carried out.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pre-tempering is carried out at least temporarily with a higher heating power than a further tempering.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least temporarily during the standstill at least one supply line is connected for supplying energy for a pre-tempering.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the feed line is an electrical line or a fluid line.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pre-tempering and/or further tempering is carried out by electrical heating elements.

7. according to claim 1, wherein during the working mode, blow moulds of different forming stations are at least partially temperature-controlled with a time delay.

8. An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers and in particular plastic bottles, with a movable carrier on which a plurality of forming stations are arranged, wherein each of these forming stations has a blow mould arrangement which is configured for forming the plastic preforms into the plastic containers and wherein this blow mould arrangement can be arranged in an open and a closed state and form a cavity in the closed state, within which the plastic preforms can be expanded to the plastic containers by being acted upon by a flowable medium, and wherein the forming stations in each case comprise temperature controllers for at least temporarily tempering at least a portion of the blow mould arrangement, wherein the apparatus comprises connections for attaching supply lines in a stationary or slowly rotating state of the carrier in order to supply the temperature control with energy.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus has a supply device for tempering at least a section of the blow mould arrangement also in a working mode.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the forming devices in each case have electrically operable heating elements for heating the blow mould arrangements and preferably switching devices for controlling these heating elements.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein a pre-tempering is carried out at least temporarily with a higher heating power than a further tempering.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least temporarily during the standstill at least one supply line is connected for supplying energy for a pre-tempering.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the feed line is an electrical line or a fluid line.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein a pre-tempering and/or further tempering is carried out by electrical heating elements.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein during the working mode, blow moulds of different forming stations are at least partially temperature-controlled with a time delay.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the forming devices in each case have electrically operable heating elements for heating the blow mould arrangements and preferably switching devices for controlling these heating elements.

17. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least temporarily during the standstill at least one supply line is connected for supplying energy for a pre-tempering.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the feed line is an electrical line or a fluid line.

19. The method according to claim 3, wherein a pre-tempering and/or further tempering is carried out by electrical heating elements.

20. The method according to claim 3, wherein during the working mode, blow moulds of different forming stations are at least partially temperature-controlled with a time delay.

Description

[0070] Further advantages and embodiments are shown in the attached drawings.

[0071] In the drawings:

[0072] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0073] FIG. 2 shows an apparatus according to the invention in a second embodiment;

[0074] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus according to the invention in a third embodiment.

[0075] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 in according to the invention for forming plastic preforms 10 into plastic containers and in particular plastic bottles 20. As shown by the right arrow, plastic preforms 10 are fed to the apparatus and these are formed into the plastic containers 20 by application with a flowable medium, which are then discharged from the machine.

[0076] For this purpose, the apparatus has a rotatable carrier 2 on which a plurality of forming stations 4 are arranged, which move with it along circular transport path along the arrow P. The individual forming devices or forming stations 4 in each case have (only one shown) blow mould arrangements 6, as well as temperature control devices 12.

[0077] The reference sign 16 identifies a drive shaft for driving the carrier 2. The reference sign 5 identifies a rotary distributor with the aid of which electrical energy or a tempering medium can be distributed to the individual forming stations. This rotary distributor can, for example, distribute a tempering medium to the stations or also electrical energy (in this case the rotary distributor can be a slip ring in particular).

[0078] The reference sign 14 identifies a heating unit which is connected to the apparatus in a particularly stationary state of the carrier. As shown here, this can be an electrical unit which is connected to the individual forming stations via a connecting line 18. For this purpose the blowing wheel or carrier 2 can have a central power supply which in turn distributes the currents for pre-tempering or pre-heating the blowing mould arrangements 6 to the individual forming stations.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. The essential difference here is that not only one feed line 18 is provided, but a plurality of feed lines, which connect a power supply unit with the individual forming stations. In this way, the individual forming stations or blow mould arrangements are heated separately.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. Here again a supply line 18 is provided, which can supply the forming stations with electrical energy during operation. In addition or alternatively, a central supply line 28 can also be provided, which in turn centrally supplies the forming device, for example, with a flowable medium or with electrical energy. In addition, the apparatus here has a power supply line 24, which maintains the temperature of the individual blow mould arrangements 6 during operation. For this purpose, a semiconductor relay 22, which is only shown here schematically, is provided, which can optionally control the individual forming stations or heating elements (or in this case a forming station) of the forming stations. In this way, as mentioned above, the energy requirement for heating the individual blow mould arrangements can be reduced.

[0081] It is possible that this heating element 34 is permanently located at the forming station 4, but it is also conceivable that the heating element is fed to the forming station specifically for the temperature control process. The temperature control device 12 can also be fed for the pre-tempering process or it can also be permanently arranged at the forming station and/or blow mould arrangement and/or carrier shell.

[0082] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as being essentially inventive, 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 recognises immediately that a certain feature described in a figure can be advantageous even without adopting further features from this figure. Furthermore, the skilled person recognises that advantages may also result from a combination of several features shown in individual or different figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0083] 1 apparatus [0084] 2 rotating carrier [0085] 4 forming stations [0086] 5 rotary distributor [0087] 6 blow mould arrangements [0088] 10 plastic preforms [0089] 12 temperature control devices [0090] 14 heating unit [0091] 16 drive shaft [0092] 18 connecting line [0093] 20 plastic bottles [0094] 22 semiconductor relay [0095] 24 energy supply line [0096] 28 central supply line [0097] 34 heating elements [0098] P arrow