Injection moulding machine for continuous production

Abstract

Apparatus for producing plastic material preforms, includes at least two preform manufacturing devices configured for producing the plastic material preforms from a plastic material, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each having preform transport devices. The apparatus includes a main transport device which is configured for transporting the plastic material preforms produced by the preform manufacturing devices and transported by the preform transport devices continuously along a predetermined main transport path, wherein the plastic material preforms are transferred to the main transport device by the production devices after their production.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing plastic material preforms, having at least two preform manufacturing devices which are configured for producing the plastic material preforms from a plastic material, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each having preform transport devices, wherein the apparatus has a main transport device, which is configured for continuously transporting the plastic material preforms produced by the preform manufacturing devices and conveyed by the preform transport devices along a predetermined main transport path, wherein the plastic material preforms being transferable to the main transport devices by the perform manufacturing devices after their production, and wherein the preform manufacturing devices each have at least one stationary manufacturing station which is configured for production of the preforms.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preform transport devices are for transporting the plastic material preforms in a clocked manner and/or are configured for transporting the plastic material preforms in such a way that the plastic material preforms are produced during a standstill.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preform manufacturing devices comprise at least two manufacturing stations which are configured for manufacturing the plastic preforms.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a reservoir for flowable plastic material and at least one supply line configured to conduct the plastic material from the reservoir to the preform manufacturing devices.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the preform manufacturing devices comprise at least two manufacturing stations which are configured for manufacturing the plastic preforms.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus comprises a reservoir for flowable plastic material and at least one supply line configured to conduct the plastic material from the reservoir to the preform manufacturing devices.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each have at least one stationary manufacturing station which is configured for producing the preforms.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus comprises a reservoir for flowable plastic material and at least one supply line configured to conduct the plastic material from the reservoir to the preform manufacturing devices.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each have at least one stationary manufacturing station which is configured for producing the preforms.

10. A plant for producing containers with an apparatus according to claim 1, and a further manufacturing device for producing plastic material containers arranged in a transport direction of the plastic material preforms after this apparatus, wherein this further manufacturing device comprises a device configured for forming plastic material preforms into plastic material containers.

11. The plant according to claim 10, wherein the further manufacturing device is a sterile forming device configured for forming plastic material preforms into plastic material containers.

12. A method for producing plastic material preforms, wherein at least two preform manufacturing devices produce plastic material preforms from a plastic material, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each have preform transport devices configured to transport the plastic material preforms, wherein apparatus has a main transport device configured to continuously conveys the plastic material preforms produced by the preform manufacturing devices and conveyed by the preform transport devices along a predetermined main transport path (P), wherein the plastic material preforms are transferred to the main transport device by the preform manufacturing devices after their production, and wherein the preform manufacturing devices each have at least one stationary manufacturing station which is configured for producing the preforms.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the preform transport devices transport the plastic material preforms in a clocked manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and embodiments are shown in the attached drawings:

(2) Show in it:

(3) FIG. 1 an apparatus according to the invention in a schematic representation;

(4) FIG. 2 an illustration to show the transfer of the plastic material preforms to the main transport device;

(5) FIG. 3 four illustrations of different machine configurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus 1 according to the invention for the production of plastic material preforms. This apparatus has a plurality, i.e. in the present case 6 manufacturing devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, which each produce plastic material preforms.

(7) Each of these individual manufacturing devices has a preform transport device 42, which is designed here as a carrier wheel. The reference sign 44 indicates (for simplification only one is shown) manufacturing units for plastic material preforms.

(8) The preform transport device 42 transports the plastic material preforms produced in the treatment or manufacturing devices 44 and transfers them to a main transport device 2. This main transport device can be designed here as a handling chain on which a plurality of holding devices (not shown) for holding the plastic material preforms is arranged.

(9) The reference sign 6 indicates an extrusion unit or reservoir for a plastic melt. This is conveyed via a main channel 62 and fed to the individual manufacturing devices via a plurality of secondary channels 64. The reference sign P (FIG. 2) indicates the transport path along which the manufactured plastic material preforms are transported.

(10) The reference sign 8 identifies a transport star wheel which is connected to the main transport device 2. As mentioned above, the main transport device 2 continuously transports the produced plastic material preforms.

(11) The reference sign 50 identifies a plant in its entirety. This is followed by a transport device 8 and another device, such as a stretch blow-moulding machine 52.

(12) FIG. 2 illustrates the transfer of plastic material preforms to the main transport device 2. It can be seen that the main transport device 2 has a plurality of receiving and holding devices for the plastic material, and the individual manufacturing devices 4a to 4f (but in the reverse order 4f to 4a) can each transfer the plastic material preforms 10 to the main transport device 2. This transfer can be controlled in such a way that the respective preform transport devices of the manufacturing devices 4a to 4f can transfer the produced plastic material preforms to the main transport device in a clocked manner.

(13) It is preferable that in a state of motion the preform transport devices are synchronised to a transport speed of the main transport device. In this way, a smooth transfer of the plastic material preforms to the main transport device is possible.

(14) FIG. 3 shows four illustrations of different machine sizes. These machine sizes differ in particular in the number of the respective manufacturing devices 4a. As shown in the FIGS. 6, 10, 14 and 18 manufacturing devices may be provided.

(15) The main transport device 2 is particularly preferred segmented in each case and can be lengthened or shortened if necessary. If a transport chain is provided, this can be done by lengthening a distance between the two deflection wheels and also by lengthening the length of the transport chain. If the main transport device is a linear stator unit, additional segments can also be used to extend the main transport device.

(16) It is therefore particularly preferred that the main transport device is at least in sections segmented, so that it can be changed or adapted in terms of transport length.

(17) 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

(18) 1 apparatus 2 main transport device 6 extrusion unit 8 transport star wheel 10 plastic material preforms 42 preform transport device 44 manufacturing units 50 plant in its entirety 64 secondary channels 4a-4f manufacturing devices P transport path