MOLDING AND FILLING STATION OF A SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING FILLED CONTAINERS FROM PREFORMS BY MEANS OF FILLING MATERIAL INTRODUCED INTO THE PREFORM UNDER PRESSURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a molding and filling station of a system for manufacturing filled containers from preforms (10) by means of liquid filling material (15) introduced into the preform (10) under pressure, said molding and filling station comprising a stretch rod (11) and a liquid duct (16) which can be controlled by means of a filling valve (14) and which is designed to surround the stretch rod (11) at least partially and ends in at least one outlet opening (17) which can be placed on the orifice (18) of the preform (10), the molding and filling station being characterized in that a gas barrier (20) is arranged in the liquid duct (16) between the filling valve (14) and the outlet opening (17).

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A molding and filling station of a system for manufacturing filled containers from a preform by introducing a liquid filling material into the preform under pressure, said molding and filling station comprising: a stretch rod; and a liquid duct in fluid communication with a filling valve; wherein the liquid duct at least partially surrounds the stretch rod and ends in at least one outlet opening that is configured for placement on an orifice of the preform, and wherein a gas barrier is arranged in the liquid duct between the filling valve and the outlet opening.

8. The molding and filling station according to claim 7, wherein the gas barrier subdivides a cross section of the liquid duct into a plurality of gas barrier ducts.

9. The molding and filling station according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of gas barrier ducts have round or polygonal cross-sectional areas.

10. The molding and filling station according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of gas barrier ducts have triangular or hexagonal cross-sectional areas.

11. The molding and filling station according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of gas barrier ducts have a coaxial arrangement.

12. The molding and filling station according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of gas barrier ducts has a length that is greater than a diameter of its cross-sectional area.

13. The molding and filling station according to claim 7, wherein the gas barrier is arranged proximal to the outlet opening.

Description

[0020] The invention is explained in greater detail below in reference to a FIGURE. The basic design of such a machine can here be implemented as described in DE 10 2010 007 541 A1, to which and to the disclosure of which as a whole explicit reference is made to avoid another repeated description, reference being made in particular to FIG. 1 and its description in paragraphs [0028] to [0035].

[0021] The single FIGURE diagrammatically shows the essential elements of a molding and filling station in the context of a machine for simultaneously molding and filling containers.

[0022] The FIGURE is understood to be an illustration of the principle of the invention. It is represented simplified and comprises only the components necessary for illustrating the invention. Based on his/her knowledge, a person skilled in the art can vary the size relationships of the individual components with respect to one another without problem or adapt then to the concrete needs.

[0023] In the FIGURE, a longitudinal section through a preform 10 into which a stretch rod 11 is introduced is shown. The stretch rod 11 is used for the at least temporary guiding and stretching of the preform 10 while it is being reshaped into a container. Typically, contact between the free end 12 of the stretch rod 11 and the bottom 13 of the preform 10 occurs first. When the stretch rod 11 is introduced farther into the preform 10, a longitudinal stretching of the preform 10 is brought about. After the completion of the stretching process or also already during the performance of the stretching process, a filling material 15 is introduced into the preform 10 via a filling valve 14 through a liquid duct 16 surrounding the stretch rod 11. The liquid flow can be controlled by the filling valve 14.

[0024] The liquid duct 16 surrounding the stretch rod 11 in the form of an annular duct comprises an outlet opening 17 which can be placed on the orifice 18 of the preform 10. Between outlet opening 17 and orifice 18, a seal 19 is provided, which ensures that, when the filling material 15 is introduced into the preform 10, no liquid exits between outlet opening 17 and orifice 18.

[0025] In the case represented, the seal 19 is formed as an O-ring.

[0026] A degassing of the preform 10 can occur using a degassing valve, not represented.

[0027] As mentioned, when the filling valve is open, the filling material 15 flows through the outlet opening 17 into the preform 10. In order to ensure that, after closing the filling valve 14, filling material 15 no longer leaves the liquid duct 16, that is to say that no dripping from the line which is then at zero pressure occurs, a gas barrier 20 is arranged according to the invention before the outlet opening 17.

[0028] The gas barrier 20 surrounds the stretch rod 11 and comprises multiple ducts 21 with, for example, round cross section.

[0029] In the embodiment example shown, the length of the ducts 21 in each case is a multiple of its diameter, which, as explained above, clearly increases the effectiveness of the gas barrier 20 in comparison to a sieve, for example, which is also conceivable as gas barrier.

[0030] Which dimensions and relationships between duct diameter and duct length are suitable depends to a crucial extent on the filling material and its surface tension. The person skilled in the art can easily determine suitable dimensions theoretically or experimentally.

[0031] In a manner not represented, the supply of the filling material into the preform can in addition also occur through the stretch rod 11 in order to increase the available supply cross section. This supply also occurs under valve control and, with regard to the supply duct for the filling material within the stretch rod as well, it is advantageous if said stretch rod is provided on the outlet side with the gas barrier, such as the gas barrier described and claimed with regard to the liquid duct surrounding the stretch rod. The claimed features can also advantageously be provided for this gas barrier in the supply duct in the stretch rod.