APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING PLASTIC PREFORMS

Abstract

An apparatus for transporting plastic preforms having main body and a mouth region, has a first roller rotatable with respect to a first axis of rotation and a second roller rotatable with respect to a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation run parallel to each other and a gap is formed between the first roller and the second roller, which gap is dimensioned such that the main body can pass through this gap and the mouth region cannot pass through this gap, wherein the plastic preforms are transportable along this gap and with at least one application device which applies a gaseous medium, and in particular air, to the plastic preforms, wherein the application device is arranged in such a way as to apply the gaseous medium to the plastic preforms in their mouth region.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting plastic preforms, which have a main body and a mouth region, having a first roller rotatable with respect to a first axis of rotation and a second roller rotatable with respect to a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation run parallel to each other and a gap is formed between the first roller and the second roller, which gap is dimensioned such that the main body can pass through this gap and the mouth region cannot pass through this gap, wherein the plastic preforms are transportable along this gap and with at least one application device which applies a gaseous medium to the plastic preforms, wherein the application device is configured to apply the gaseous medium to the plastic preforms in their mouth region.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device is configured such that the gaseous medium emerging from the application device emerges also at least in the transport direction of the plastic preforms.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device has a plurality of outlet openings for the gaseous medium, through which the gaseous medium can be directed onto the plastic preforms.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the outlet openings are gill-shaped.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device is arranged at least in sections above the first roller and the second roller and/or the application device is arranged in an end section of the rollers relative to the transport direction of the plastic preforms.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application device has a collection chamber for collecting the gaseous medium.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a hold-down device arranged above the rollers, which is configured to prevent the plastic preforms from escaping from the gap.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a guide blade for guiding the transported plastic preforms.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an ejection device which is suitable and intended to eject incorrectly oriented plastic preforms.

10. A method for transporting plastic preforms, which have a main body and a mouth region, wherein a first roller rotating with respect to a first axis of rotation and a second roller rotating with respect to a second axis of rotation are provided, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation run parallel to each other and a gap is formed between the first roller and the second roller, which gap is dimensioned such that the main body passes through this gap and the mouth region does not pass through it, wherein the plastic preforms are transported along this gap and at least one application device applies a gaseous medium to the plastic preforms, wherein the application device is configured to apply the gaseous medium to the plastic preforms in their mouth region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Further advantages and embodiments can be seen in the accompanying drawings.

[0064] in which:

[0065] FIGS. 1a,b show two partial representations of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a detailed representation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

[0067] FIG. 3 shows a further detailed representation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] FIGS. 1a,b show two partial representations of an apparatus according to the invention. This apparatus comprises a first roller 2 rotatable with respect to a first axis of rotation D1 and a second roller rotatable with respect to a second axis of rotation D2. A gap is formed between these two rollers 2 and 4, in which gap the main bodies of the plastic preforms (not shown) are transported.

[0069] Reference sign 62 denotes first outlet openings, which here are arranged above the two rollers 2, 4 and which serve to convey the plastic preforms.

[0070] Reference sign 72 denotes second outlet openings, which here are also arranged above the plastic preforms to be transported, but in particular before the two rollers 2, 4.

[0071] Reference signs 32 and 34 denote guide rails which serve to guide the plastic preforms (not shown). Preferably, the upper edges of these guide rails terminate in such a way that the plastic preforms can be transferred to the gap between the two rollers 2 and 4 at the correct height.

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a detailed representation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. A first application device 6 and a second application device 7 are provided. They are preferably arranged one after the other in the transport direction of the plastic preforms. Both serve to transport or push the plastic preforms (not shown) in the transport direction T.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a detailed representation of the application devices 6,7. The first application device 6 and second application device 7 can be seen once again. They serve to apply compressed air to a plastic preform 10, which has a main body 10a and a mouth region 10b, so that it is moved more quickly in the transport direction T.

[0074] Reference sign 8 denotes a hold-down device on which a plurality of outlet openings 62 are formed, through which the air can emerge in order to be applied to the plastic preforms. The application device 6 forms a collection chamber 64 for receiving the air which serves for application to the plastic preforms. The application device 7 also forms a collection chamber for collecting the air used for application to the plastic preforms.

[0075] A plurality of outlet openings 72 are also provided on the device 12 which is a guide blade. These too are gill-shaped and ensure that compressed air is applied to the plastic preforms in the transport direction.

[0076] Reference signs 14 and 16 denote connections via which compressed air is to be supplied in the application devices six and seven. Reference sign 40 denotes an optional ejection device which is suitable and intended for ejecting in particular incorrectly oriented or defective plastic preforms.

[0077] It is to be noted that all features which have been described with reference to the method are also disclosed in a corresponding manner for the apparatus, which means in particular that the corresponding apparatus has devices which are suitable and intended for carrying out the particular methods. Furthermore, features which were described with reference to the apparatus are also correspondingly applicable to the method or methods. This means that the methods are carried out using the corresponding apparatus features.

[0078] 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

[0079] particular feature described in a figure can be advantageous even without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, a 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.