Adaptable blow mould

Abstract

The invention relates to a blow mould for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers, having a base part, a first side part and a second side part, wherein, in the assembled state of the blow mould, this base part together with the side parts form a hollow space, within which the plastic parisons can be expanded to form the plastic containers. According to the invention, at least one element of the blow mould has a first fastening section to which a first adapter element can be attached, which adapter element facilitates changing of the blow mould by means of a robot device, wherein this fastening section is formed in such a way that this adapter element can be attached releasably to this fastening section, and wherein this fastening section is formed in such a way that the blow mould can be arranged both with this adapter element and also without this adapter element on a transforming device for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers.

Claims

1. A blow mould, comprising: a base part; a first side part; and a second side part, wherein: in an assembled state of the blow mould, the base part together with the first and second side parts form a hollow space within which plastic parisons are expanded to form plastic containers; and at least one of the first and second side parts comprises: a fastening section constructed and arranged for the blow mould to have a first configuration for a manual change operation; and an adapter element removably coupled to the fastening section for the blow mould to have a second configuration for a robot-assisted operation, the fastening section further constructed and arranged for installing the blow mould in a transforming device absent the adapter element.

2. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section includes at least one interface to the transforming device selected from a group including flange surfaces, threads, centering diameters, and peg holes.

3. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section has a stepped construction and/or a stepped shoulder.

4. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein the adapter element facilitates changing of the blow mould by a robot device.

5. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein the base part and/or a side part has a second fastening section to which a second adapter element can be attached.

6. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein at least one adapter element can be attached by means of at least one screw connection to the associated fastening section.

7. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein at least one fastening section has at least one bearing surface in the form of a circular segment for application of the adapter element.

8. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein at least one fastening section is arranged in an upper third of the blow mould.

9. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein the blow mould has at least one third fastening section in order to fasten a third adapter element to a circumferential surface of at least one side part.

10. The blow moulding arrangement with a blow mould according to claim 1 and with at least one adapter element, which is suitable and intended to grip the blow mould by means of a robot device.

11. The blow mould arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the blow mould arrangement has a second adapter element which can be arranged spaced apart from the first adapter element on the blow mould.

12. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein at least one fastening section is arranged in an upper quarter of the blow mould.

13. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein the blow mould has one or more fastening devices configured to mate with one or more adapters, in order to fasten the side parts and/or the base part on a side part support and/or on a base part support.

14. The blow mould according to claim 1, wherein at least one side part of the blow mould has the fastening section.

15. A blow mould for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers, having a base part, a first side part and a second side part, wherein, in the assembled state of the blow mould, this base part together with the side parts form a hollow space, within which the plastic parisons can be expanded to form the plastic containers, wherein at least one element of the blow mould to which an adapter element can be attached has a fastening section including a first fastening section, the adapter element facilitating a fully automatic and/or semi-automatic and/or manual changing of the blow mould, wherein this fastening section is designed in such a way that this adapter element can be releasably attached to this fastening section, and wherein this fastening section is formed in such a way that the blow mould can be arranged both with this adapter element and also without this adapter element on a transforming device for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers and wherein the fastening section is placed so that the blow mould, with or without adapter, can be installed in a transforming device, wherein in this case, without the adapter element the blow mould is designed for a manual change of blow mould and wherein with an adapter element the blow mould is designed for the automatic change of blow mould, the fastening section further constructed and arranged for installing the blow mould in a transforming device absent the adapter element.

16. A blow mould for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers, having a base part, a first side part and a second side part, wherein, in the assembled state of the blow mould, this base part together with the side parts form a hollow space, within which the plastic parisons can be expanded to form the plastic containers, wherein at least one element of the blow mould to which an adapter element can be attached has a fastening section including a first fastening section, the adapter element facilitating a fully automatic and/or semi-automatic and/or manual changing of the blow mould, wherein this fastening section is designed in such a way that this adapter element can be releasably attached to this fastening section, and wherein this fastening section is formed in such a way that the blow mould can be arranged both with this adapter element and also without this adapter element on a transforming device for transforming plastic parisons to form plastic containers and wherein the adapter element which is suitable and intended to facilitate changing of the blow mould is selected from a group of adapter elements which facilitate an automatic and/or robot-assisted release of fastening mechanisms and adapter elements which facilitate cohesion of elements of the blow mould, the fastening section further constructed and arranged for installing the blow mould in a transforming device absent the adapter element.

Description

(1) Further advantages and embodiments are apparent from the appended drawings.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1a shows a blow mould according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 1b shows adapter elements for the blow mould shown in FIG. 1a;

(5) FIG. 1c shows a blow mould with adapter elements arranged thereon;

(6) FIG. 2 shows a blow mould side part according to the prior art;

(7) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a blow mould.

(8) FIG. 1a shows a representation of a blow mould 1 according to the invention. In this case this blow mould 1 has a first side part 4 and a second side part 6. In addition, the blow mould has a base part located in the interior. These side parts 4, 6 and the base part 2 together form the hollow space inside which the plastic parisons are expanded.

(9) The reference numeral 12 designates a fastening section which in each case is arranged on the two side parts. This fastening section is formed here as an annular (and stepped) edge which has a plurality of bores 16 which serve for screwing to an adapter element.

(10) The reference numeral 18 designates a further fastening section, on which for example couplings can be arranged. These couplings can be for example facilitate an automatic release of parts of the blow mould and in particular release of the blow mould from the mould support. The reference numeral 14 designates a third fastening section which may serve for arrangement of a further adapter element. The reference numeral 26 designates a base support which serves to support the base part 2.

(11) FIG. 1b shows the individual adapter elements. In this case the reference numeral 22 relates to the first adapter element which is arranged on the fastening section 12. In this case this first adapter element 22 has a centring pin 38 which engages in a corresponding bore of the side part. In addition two gripping projections 32 which can be gripped by a robot arm are provided. Furthermore, the adapter element has two lateral projections 34 which likewise serve for handling by a robot.

(12) In a preferred embodiment the adapter element 22 has two sections 22a, 22b which can be fastened in each case to the two side parts 4, 6. In this case these two sections 22a, 22b in each case preferably have a semi-circular construction.

(13) For the purpose of transporting the blow moulds, these sections 22a, 22b can be connected to one another (in particular by positive engagement), in order thus also to connect the two side parts 4, 6 to one another.

(14) The reference 28 designates a further adapter element which is arranged in particular on the fastening section 18 which is located on the external circumference of the blow mould. Fastening mechanisms can be closed and/or released automatically in particular by means of this adapter element.

(15) The reference 24 designates the second adapter element which can be fastened in particular to the underside of the side parts. This adapter element serves primarily in order to arrange the unit consisting of side parts 4, 6 and base part on a support in the blow moulding station. In this case this adapter element 24 can produce a positively engaged connection between the two side parts. In this case it will be recognised that this second adapter element 24 is also formed in two parts, wherein one part 24a is fastened to a side part and the other part 24b is fastened to a further side part 6. In this case this second adapter element can be formed in such a way that both parts 24a, 24b thereof can be connected to one another and/or in such a way that these parts produce an in particular positively engaged connection between the side parts 4, 6 and the base part 2.

(16) FIG. 1c shows a blow mould 1 which is equipped with the individual adapter elements 22, 24 and 28. Thus the above-mentioned blow moulding arrangement 10 is illustrated here.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a blow mould according to the prior art. It will be recognised that this blow mould has no possibility for fastening of an adapter element to it.

(18) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a blow mould. This has two side parts 4 and 6 as well as a base part 2. In this case this base part 2 is held by the two side parts, which can take place in particular by form fitting. In this case fixing means for holding the base part 2 are integrated in each case into the side parts 4, 6.

(19) The applicant reserves the right to claim all the features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention in so far as they are individually or in combination novel over the prior art. Furthermore it is pointed out that features which may be advantageous per se have also been described in the individual drawings. The person skilled in the art recognises immediately that a specific feature described in a drawing may also be advantageous without the incorporation of further features from this drawing. Furthermore the person skilled in the art recognises that advantages may also result from a combination of several features shown in individual drawings or in different drawings.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(20) 1 blow mould 2 base part 4 first side part 6 second side part 10 blow moulding arrangement 12 first fastening section 14 second fastening section 16 bores 18 third fastening section 22 first adapter element 22a section of the first adapter element 22 22b section of the first adapter element 22 24 second adapter element 24a part of the second adapter element 24b part of the second adapter element 26 base support 28 further adapter element 32 gripping projections 34 lateral projections 38 centring pin 44 blow mould shell element, support shell 46 fastening section 50 locking mechanism 52 temperature control media connection 54 media connection 55 further locking element 56 media connection 58 media connection