Apparatus and method for producing plastics material containers with inspection of plastics material preforms

Abstract

An apparatus for producing plastics material containers has a production device having a plurality of production units, a forming device having a plurality of forming stations, a transport apparatus that is configured for transporting the plastics material preforms produced by the production device to the forming device, and a cooling device for cooling the plastics material preforms produced by the production device. An inspection device that is configured for inspecting at least one region of the plastics material preforms produced by the production device, is arranged between the production device and the cooling device, and has an image recording device that is configured for recording a spatially resolved image of a plurality of plastics material preforms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing plastics material containers with a production device which is configured for producing plastics material preforms and with a forming device which is configured for forming the plastics material preforms into the plastics material containers, wherein the production device has a plurality of production units configured for producing the plastics material preforms and the forming device has a plurality of forming stations configured for forming the plastics material preforms into the plastics material containers and with a transport apparatus which is configured for transporting the plastics material preforms produced by the production device to the forming device, wherein the production device has a first control device which is configured for controlling the production device and the forming device has a second control device which is configured for controlling the forming device, wherein the apparatus has a first inspection device which is configured for inspecting at least one area of the plastics material preforms produced by the production device, wherein this first inspection device is arranged between the production device and the forming device, and wherein this first inspection device has an image recording device which is configured for recording a spatially resolved image of a plastics material preform or of a plurality of plastics material preforms.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control device is configured for controlling the individual production units independently of one another and/or the second control device is configured for controlling the individual forming stations independently of one another.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has an assignment device that is configured for assigning to each inspected plastics material preform the production unit that has produced this plastics material preform and/or the apparatus has an assignment device that is configured for assigning to each inspected plastics material preform the forming station that will form this plastics material preform into a plastics material container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first inspection device has an evaluation device which is configured and intended for evaluating the images recorded by the inspection device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with at least one further treatment device, arranged downstream of the forming device in the transport direction, for treating the plastics material containers.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport device is configured for transporting the plastics material preforms individually from the production device to the forming device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the first inspection device has an optical sensor device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport device has a removal device which is configured to take the plastics material preforms from the production units.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a second inspection device which is configured for inspecting the plastics material preforms.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least the first or the second inspection device is configured for detecting at least one value which is characteristic of physical properties of the plastics material preforms.

11. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and/or the second control device and/or a control device of the at least one further treatment device is controlled and/or is controllable as a function of the values detected by the first inspection device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a heating device configured for heating the plastics material preforms produced by the production device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a discharge device that is configured for ejecting individual plastics material preforms from the transport path between the production device and the forming device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a third inspection device configured for inspecting the plastics material preforms and/or the plastics material containers.

15. A method of producing plastics material containers wherein a production device produces plastics material preforms and a forming device forms the plastics material preforms produced by the production device into the plastics material containers, wherein the production device has a plurality of production units, each of which produces plastics material preforms, and the forming device has a plurality of forming stations, each of which forms the plastics material preforms into the plastics material containers, and wherein a transport apparatus transports the plastics material preforms produced by the production device to the forming device, wherein the apparatus has a first inspection device which inspects at least one area of the plastics material preforms produced by the production device, wherein this first inspection device is arranged between the production device and the forming device, and wherein this first inspection device has an image recording device which records at least one spatially resolved image of a plurality of plastics material preforms.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one plastics material preform inspected by the first inspection device is assigned to the production unit that has produced this plastics material preform and/or at least one plastics material preform inspected by the first inspection device is assigned to the forming station that will form this plastics material preform into a plastics material container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0131] Further advantages and embodiments can be seen in the accompanying drawings.

[0132] In the drawings:

[0133] FIG. 1 shows a roughly schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0134] FIG. 2 shows a representation of a production device for producing plastics material preforms in a first view;

[0135] FIG. 3 shows a further view of the production device shown in FIG. 2; and

[0136] FIG. 4 shows a representation for illustrating the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0137] FIG. 1 shows a roughly schematic representation of an apparatus 101 for producing plastics material containers. This apparatus 101 has a production device 102 that produces plastics material preforms 10. Preferably, this production device 102 is an injection molding machine. This production device 102 has a plurality of production units and, in particular, forming tools, which in each case are suitable and intended for producing individual plastics material preforms 10.

[0138] The reference sign 104 schematically designates a removal device that removes the injection-molded plastics material preforms 10 from the production units 102.

[0139] The reference sign 106 designates a cooling device, in particular in the form of a post-cooling unit, which cools the produced plastics material preforms 10. Preferably, the plastics material preforms are inserted into this cooling device 106 and/or supplied to the cooling device directly after their production.

[0140] An inspection device and, in particular, a first temperature detection device 120 is arranged along the transport path of the transport device 104, which temperature detection device detects a temperature of the plastics material preforms or a value characteristic thereof and, in particular, detects it without contact. This first temperature detection device 120 is in particular suitable and intended to detect the temperature of each individual plastics material preform 10. In addition to or instead of the temperature detection device, an inspection device can also be provided at this point, which detects at least one value characteristic of the plastics material preform.

[0141] The reference sign 130 designates an assignment device that assigns a production unit 103, which has produced this plastics material preform, to each plastics material preform 10 whose temperature has been detected. The production device 101 preferably has at least one control device that is suitable and intended for controlling the individual production units also as a function of the measured temperatures of the individual plastics material preforms.

[0142] The reference sign 105 designates a transport device and, in particular, a handling unit that picks up the plastics material preforms 10 from the transport device 104.

[0143] Additionally, or alternatively, the assignment device 130 is able to assign to each plastics material preform the forming station 112 that will form this plastics material preform into a plastics material container.

[0144] Preferably, therefore, the first temperature detection device is arranged between the production device and/or the individual production units and the cooling device 106 and/or the transport device 105.

[0145] The reference sign 121 designates a further inspection device that detects at least one value that is characteristic of the particular inspected plastics material preform. Here as well, it can preferably be a value that is selected from a group of values that includes a geometry of the plastics material preforms, a color of the plastics material preforms, a moisture of the plastics material preforms, an IV value of the plastics material preform, a temperature of the plastics material preforms or the like.

[0146] Preferably, these values are made available to a higher-level control system in order to control parameters of the overall apparatus.

[0147] Furthermore, a discharge device can be provided, which (in particular depending on the characteristic values mentioned) has the effect that individual plastics material preforms are not transferred to the forming device 112.

[0148] Furthermore, a gap-closing device (not shown) can be provided, which closes any gaps created by the discharge of individual plastics material preforms.

[0149] The reference sign 110 designates in its entirety a forming device that forms the plastics material preforms into plastics material containers 20.

[0150] Initially, a heating device is preferably provided, which heats the plastics material preforms to a temperature that is suitable for forming and, in particular, expanding them into the plastics material containers 20.

[0151] The forming device 110 preferably has a rotatable carrier 114, on which a plurality of forming stations 112 are arranged. These forming stations are preferably controllable independently of one another. The reference sign 115 schematically identifies a control device for controlling the forming device 110.

[0152] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a first view of a production device 102 for producing the plastics material preforms. The reference sign 103 designates a plurality of production units, which in each case produce individual plastics material preforms.

[0153] The reference sign 106 designates a cooling device for cooling the plastics material preforms. The reference sign 106a designates a removal device for removing the plastics material preforms after the production process.

[0154] FIG. 4 shows a representation for illustrating the apparatus according to the invention and the method according to the invention.

[0155] The production device 102 is provided, which has a plurality of production units (not shown in detail), which in each case produce the plastics material preforms. One can see the mouths 10b of the individual plastics material preforms.

[0156] The reference sign 120 designates the first inspection device, which here in particular records an image of the mouths 10b, wherein the individual mouths and thus the individual plastics material preforms can be individualized.

[0157] The reference sign 140 designates a turning device that turns the carrier with the plastics material preforms arranged thereon, in this case by 90. In addition, the plastics material preform is cooled in this region by a cooling device (not shown here).

[0158] The turned carrier 142 is transported with the plastics material preforms arranged thereon and a second inspection device 121 records at least one image of the plastics material preforms, more precisely, now of the main bodies 10a of the plastics material preforms.

[0159] The reference sign 125 designates a third inspection device, which also inspects the plastics material preforms arranged in a carrier. Preferably, an inspection for material defects such as so-called black specs takes place here.

[0160] A vacuum holding device (not shown) is provided in the region of the carrier 142 and ensures that each individual plastics material preform is held on its own carrier. In this way, defective plastics material preforms can be separated from correct plastics material preforms.

[0161] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, defective plastics material preforms are initially still held by their (vacuum) grippers, while correct plastics material preforms are dropped onto a further transport unit 150.

[0162] From this further transport unit in the form of a carrier 150, the preforms can in turn be dropped onto a further transport unit 144, which in this case comprises two rollers arranged parallel to one another, between which the plastics material preforms 10 are guided. For this purpose, the carrier 150 with the individual plastics material preforms can be displaced along the arrow P1 relative to the further transport unit.

[0163] Strictly speaking, the carrier with the plastics material preforms is moved laterally over the transport unit 144. For this purpose, gaps 155 can open on the carrier, as shown in FIG. 4 below, and the plastics material preforms can be dropped between the rollers.

[0164] The defective plastics material preforms, which are still held on the carrier 142 by vacuum grippers, can be ejected by selective control when the carrier 142 is retracted.

[0165] The forming device 110 is followed by a filling device 40, shown only schematically, which fills the containers produced by the forming device with a liquid, in particular a beverage.

[0166] This filling device is preferably assigned an inspection device 42 downstream of this filling device 40, which inspects the filled containers. For example, the fill level of the liquid in the containers can be checked.

[0167] The reference sign 50 refers to a closing device which closes the plastics material containers filled with the liquid with a container closure.

[0168] An inspection device 52, which inspects the plastics material containers provided with container closures, is also preferably arranged downstream of (and also associated with) this closing device 50.

[0169] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided that they are novel over the prior art individually or in combination. It is also pointed out that features which can be advantageous in themselves are also described in the individual figures. A person skilled in the art will immediately recognize that a particular feature described in a figure can be advantageous even without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual or in different figures.