APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING PLASTIC PREFORMS INTO PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH TEMPERATURE MONITORING

Abstract

Method for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20), wherein at least one and preferably a plurality of forming stations (4) for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers (20) is arranged on a movable carrier (2) and these forming stations (4) are moved along a predetermined transport path at least temporarily during the forming process, wherein the forming stations (4) each have blow mould arrangements (6), wherein blow mould parts (62, 64) of these blow mould arrangements (6) are moved for opening and closing the blow mould arrangements (6), and in a closed state of the blow mould arrangement (6) in a cavity formed by the blow mould parts (62, 64) the plastic preforms (10) are formed into the plastic containers (20) by being acted upon by a flowable medium, wherein at least temporarily a value characteristic of the forming station (4) and/or of the blow mould arrangement (6) being measured by means of a measuring device (8). According to the invention, the measurement is carried out by means of a measuring device (8) not arranged on the blow mould arrangement (6).

Claims

1. Method for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20), wherein at least one and preferably a plurality of forming stations (4) for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers (20) is arranged on a movable carrier (2) and these forming stations (4) are moved along a predetermined transport path at least temporarily during the forming process, wherein the forming stations (4) in each case having blow mould arrangements (6), wherein blow mould parts (62, 64) of these blow mould arrangements (6) being moved for opening and closing the blow mould arrangements (6), and in a closed state of the blow mould arrangement (6) in a cavity formed by the blow mould parts (62, 64) the plastic preforms (10) are formed into the plastic containers (20) by being acted upon by a flowable medium, wherein at least temporarily a value characteristic of the forming station (4) and/or of the blow mould arrangement (6) being measured by means of a measuring device (8), characterised in that the measurement is carried out by means of a measuring device (8) not arranged on the blow mould arrangement (6).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the characteristic value is a temperature and in particular a temperature of at least one region of the blow mould assembly (6).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the blow mould arrangement (6) is moved relative to the measuring device at least temporarily during the measurement.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the blow mould arrangements (6) are changed at least temporarily, but the measuring device (8) is not changed during a change.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the measuring device comprises an image recording device and/or a pyrometer.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the measured value is measured without contact.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that several values and in particular several temperature values and in particular several values of the same blow mould arrangements (6) are measured by means of several measuring devices.

8. Apparatus (1) for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20), wherein at least one and preferably a plurality of forming stations (4) for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers (20) is arranged on a movable carrier (2) and these forming stations (4) can be moved along a predetermined transport path at least temporarily during the forming process, wherein the forming stations in each case have blow mould arrangements (6), wherein blow mould parts (62, 64) of these blow mould arrangements (6) can be moved to open and close the blow mould arrangements (6), and in a closed state of the blow mould arrangement (6) in a cavity formed by the blow mould parts (62, 64) the plastic preforms (10) can be formed into the plastic containers (20) by being acted upon by a flowable medium, wherein the apparatus (1) has a measuring device (8) which at least temporarily measures a value characteristic of the forming station (4) and/or the blow-mould arrangement (6), characterised in that the measuring device (8) is not arranged in or on the blow mould arrangement and is preferably at a distance from it.

9. Apparatus (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the measuring device (8) can be aligned at least temporarily with a region of the blow mould arrangement (6) and in particular with a hole (14) formed on or in the blow mould arrangement (6) and in particular a blind hole.

10. Apparatus (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the apparatus (1) has several measuring devices (8) for measuring a blow mould arrangement (6).

11. Apparatus (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the apparatus (1) has a calibration device (12) for calibrating at least one measuring device (8).

Description

[0049] Further advantages and embodiments are shown in the attached drawings.

[0050] In the drawings:

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a representation of an apparatus according to the invention in a first embodiment; and

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a representation of an apparatus according to the invention in a second embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus 1, according to the invention, for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers. Plastic preforms 10 are fed into the apparatus as indicated by the left arrow, the preforms are expanded and discharged as plastic containers or plastic bottles 20 as indicated by the right arrow. The plastic preforms or plastic containers can be fed in and discharged by means of transfer starwheels.

[0054] The reference sign 2 indicates a rotatable carrier, which is rotated in relation to a main shaft 22 or by means of a main shaft. A plurality of forming stations 4 are arranged on this carrier 2. Each of these forming stations can have a blow mould arrangement 6 (only one shown).

[0055] The reference sign 14 indicates a recess or blind hole which can be located in any blow mould. This hole or blind hole 14 can extend into the area of the blow mould arrangement to be checked or measured.

[0056] Furthermore, the apparatus can be equipped with a rotary distributor, which can, for example, distribute a tempering medium to the individual forming stations 4. Such a rotary distributor can also distribute electrical energy to the individual forming stations. In this case this rotary distributor is in particular designed as a so-called slip ring. The reference sign P indicates the direction of rotation of the carrier 2.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a further apparatus according to the invention. Here, the individual forming stations have blow mould arrangements 6 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which here have two side parts 62 and 64. In addition, the blow mould arrangements also have a (not shown) bottom part.

[0058] The measuring devices 8 are also arranged on the carrier 2, but in an area where they are not exchanged. When changing the blow mould arrangements, the measuring devices 8 remain on the carrier.

[0059] At a certain time, for example at the beginning of a production run, these measuring devices are passed through a calibration device and calibrated by means of this calibration device 12.

[0060] 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

[0061] 1 apparatus [0062] 2 rotating carrier [0063] 4 forming stations [0064] 6 Blow mould arrangement [0065] 8 Measuring devices [0066] 10 plastic preforms [0067] 12 calibration device [0068] 14 recess or blind hole [0069] 20 plastic bottles [0070] 22 main shaft [0071] 62 side part of the blow mould arrangement [0072] 64 side part of the blow mould arrangement [0073] P direction of rotation of the carrier