Patent Application
20200156303
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers. Apparatuses and methods for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers have been known for a long time from the prior art. For this purpose the plastic preforms are usually introduced into a blow mould which forms a cavity and in the interior of which the plastic preforms are expanded in a stretch blow moulding process by the application of compressed air against the inner wall of this blow mould and are stretched, simultaneously if appropriate, by means of a stretching rod. In this case it has proved advantageous to control the temperature of the base and the side walls of the blow moulds with cool or warm water during the stretch blow moulding process, even individually in some types of expansion process. Depending upon the chosen type of expansion process an exact temperature control of the temperature of the blow mould is necessary for ensuring a consistently high quality of the plastic container obtained. For this purpose in the various types of process (inter alia in the production of bottles for subsequent hot bottling) for the production of the PET containers the blow moulds are supplied with media by means of a plurality of connections and couplings. In the event of a manual change of blow mould, the blow moulds are changed manually and in this case the connectors are manually uncoupled and coupled again. Single blow moulds for the standard process can currently be changed automatically with a robot system. In the standard process the base mould is supplied with the medium by means of two couplings. In the event of an automatic change of blow mould these couplings are automatically coupled and uncoupled by lifting and lowering of the base.
The apparatuses and methods which are currently known from the prior art give rise to the disadvantage that the blow moulds are uncoupled and coupled again by hand in a time-consuming manner. This requires a substantial setup time and thus a long machine shutdown.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art and to provide an apparatus which further automates and thereby in particular accelerates an operation of the media couplings which is necessary during a blow mould changing operation.
The object is achieved according to the invention by the subjects of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention are the subject of the subordinate claims.
An apparatus according to the invention for transforming plastic preforms into plastic containers has a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predefined transport path, wherein the transport device has a movable station support arranged at least indirectly on a stationary base support on which a plurality of transforming stations are arranged, wherein these transforming stations each have blow mould devices which each form cavities or each form a cavity inside which the plastic preforms can be transformed into the plastic containers and these blow mould devices are each arranged on blow mould supports, wherein the apparatus has a changing device which is suitable and intended in order, in a changing mode of the system, at least to remove the blow mould devices from their blow mould supports and/or to arrange blow mould devices on the blow mould supports, wherein this changing device has at least one gripping device for gripping the blow mould device, wherein the gripping device is suitable for selectively changing a complete blow moulding device or only parts of the blow moulding device, wherein the reshaping station and in particular the blow moulding device and/or the blow mould support has at least one channel for conveying a flowable medium as well as at least one coupling device which can be disconnected from the channel.
According to the invention the changing device is connection suitable and intended to disconnect and/or to connect (or to release and/or to close) the coupling device and/or to break and/or to make a flow connection between the channel and the coupling device. The coupling device can be for instance a connector (which can be disconnected), by means of which a channel can be connected to a further channel suitable for conveying a flowable medium. The coupling device preferably serves as a connection, by means of which a replacement and/or a supply and/or a discharge of flowable medium in the channel can be carried out.
It is therefore proposed according to the invention that the changing device serves not only for changing for receiving blow moulds or blow mould devices, but also for releasing and/or closing media couplings on the blow moulds or the blow mould devices. Thus a device which automatically releases and/or connects the media couplings or the coupling devices during gripping of the mould is preferably located on the changing device, for instance a robot (gripper) or a handling manipulator.
This is advantageous in particular when frequent changes of blow moulds or blow moulding devices must be carried out. The changing device is preferably a semi-automatic and preferably fully automatic robot. However, a manual changing device may also be provided. Thus it would be possible for example that a so-called manipulator is used instead of a robot. A manipulator compensates for the dead weight of a workpiece to be moved, such as for instance a blow mould, in order to simplify the operation. The operator can guide the manipulator which has the mould gripper fastened on its end. Such a change by means of a manipulator is not automatically carried out or carried out without an operator. It is pointed out that the configuration of the changing device as a manipulator can also be used irrespective of whether the changing device also carries out other activities outside the changing mode.
The changing device can preferably be moved or guided along an in particular predetermined movement path or along a line. Even if the changing device is a robot, it is in particular not mobile, but stationary, wherein the gripping device or robot arm thereof and/or an element of the changing device which disconnects and/or connects the coupling device is movable, in particular movable towards and away from at least one reshaping station. It would also be possible that the changing device is preferably a mobile device which can preferably be moved in its entirety, and it is preferably not a stationary device. The changing device is preferably suitable and intended not only to operate the coupling device(s) of a predetermined reshaping station on the apparatus (i.e. to separate them or to connect them), and thus is not associated with precisely one reshaping station, but is suitable and/or intended at least also to operate the coupling device(s) of at least one further reshaping station and preferably of all reshaping stations of the apparatus. However, it is also conceivable that a plurality of changing devices are provided, which for instance operate different reshaping stations simultaneously. This offers the advantage of a further saving of time.
The at least one changing device is preferably used in a changing mode in which at least one blow moulding device is changed, and which differs from an expansion mode, in which the plastic preforms are expanded to form plastic containers. The (temperature control medium) channel is preferably arranged in a base part and/or in a side part and/or in the side parts of the blow moulding device. A plurality of (temperature control medium) channels are provided, so that the individual parts of the blow moulding device can be supplied individually with flowable medium. This offers the advantage that for instance the individual parts can be temperature-controlled separately. Therefore it is conceivable for instance that at least one temperature control medium channel, preferably a coolant channel, is provided as a channel which serves for guiding a flowable temperature control medium for controlling the temperature of the blow moulding device and/or of the blow mould support device, wherein this temperature control medium channel is preferably incorporated in a temperature control circuit. Preferably at least one first fluid circuit is provided in order to control the temperature of the side wall and at to least one further fluid circuit is provided in order to control the temperature of the base.
The base part of the blow moulding device preferably has at least one channel as temperature control medium channel, which is particularly preferably arranged inside the base part. This temperature control medium channel is preferably suitable and intended to cool the base part, in particular the surface thereof facing the cavity, by means of cooling liquid such as cooling water, preferably to temperatures up to 20° C., preferably up to 15° C. and particularly preferably up to 12° C., wherein preferably the temperatures amount to at least 5° C. and particularly preferably at least 8° C. Alternatively or additionally the base part of blow moulding device has at least one temperature control medium channel, via which, for instance by means of heating medium such as hot water, the base part and in particular the surface of the base part facing the cavity can be heated, preferably to temperatures of at least 40° C., preferably at least 50° C., preferably at least 60° C., preferably at least 70° C. and particularly preferably at least 80° C. and/or preferably a maximum of 90° C. and particularly preferably a maximum of 85° C. The base part preferably has at least one coupling device (which can be separated from the changing device and/or connected thereto), by means of which the temperature control medium channel can be supplied with cool water or by means of which a flow connection to cooling water of correspondingly suitable temperature can be produced, and/or at least one coupling device (which can be separated from the changing device and/or connected thereto), by means of which the temperature control medium channel can be supplied with warm water or by means of which a flow connection to warm water of correspondingly suitable temperature can be produced.
Preferably at least one side part of the blow moulding device, and preferably at least one of the two side parts in each case, has at least one channel as temperature control medium channel which is particularly preferably arranged inside the side part. Preferably in each case via this temperature control medium channel, via which, for instance by means of heating medium such as hot water, at least portions of the base part and in particular the surface thereof facing the cavity can be heated, preferably to temperatures of at least 40° C., preferably at least 50° C., preferably at least 60° C., preferably at least 65° C., preferably at least 70° C., preferably at least 80° C. and particularly preferably at least 85° C. and/or preferably a maximum of 90° C., preferably a maximum of 85° C., preferably a maximum of 70° and particularly preferably a maximum of 65° C. Preferably (in each case) the side part has a coupling device (which can be separated from and/or connected to the changing to device), by means of which this temperature control medium channel can be supplied with heating medium such as hot water or by means of which a flow connection to hot water having a corresponding temperature can be produced. Preferably in each case via this temperature control medium channel, by means of heating medium such as oil, the side part and in particular the surface thereof facing the cavity can be heated, preferably to temperatures of at least 80° C., preferably at least 90° C., preferably at least 100° C., preferably at least 120° C., preferably at least 130° C., preferably at least 140° C. and preferably at least 145° C. and/or preferably a maximum of 160° C., preferably a maximum of 155° C., preferably and particularly preferably a maximum of 150° C. Preferably (in each case) the side part has a coupling device (which can be separated from and/or connected to the changing device), by means of which this temperature control medium channel can be supplied with oil or by means of which a flow connection to oil at a corresponding temperature can be produced.
The blow mould support preferably has at least one channel as temperature control medium channel, which is particularly preferably arranged inside the blow mould part and/or at the side of the blow mould support. Preferably in each case via this temperature control medium channel, by means of heating medium such as hot water, at least portions of the blow mould support and in particular at least portions of the surface thereof (facing the cavity) can be heated, preferably to temperatures of at least 30° C., preferably at least 40° C., preferably at least 50° C., preferably at least 55° C., and/or preferably a maximum of 75° C., preferably a maximum of 70° C., and particularly preferably a maximum of 65° C. Preferably (in each case) the base part has a coupling device (which can be separated from and/or connected to the changing device), by means of which this temperature control medium channel can be supplied with heating medium such as hot water or by means of which a flow connection to hot water having a corresponding temperature can be produced.
Preferably the temperature control medium channel of the base part and the temperature control medium channel of at least one side part and preferably the temperature control medium channels of both side parts can be simultaneously supplied, at least at times, with different temperature control medium or with temperature control medium of different temperature. This offers the advantage that the base part as well as the side parts can be temperature-controlled differently and independently of one another. The base part and the side parts preferably each have dedicated or separate coupling devices, by means of which in each case a flow connection to temperature control medium can be produced and/or can be broken.
The base part can preferably have two coupling devices, wherein particularly preferably one coupling device is used for feeding flowable medium and the other is used for discharging flowable medium. However, the base part can also have more than two, preferably at least four coupling devices. Advantageously it has different coupling devices, by means of which for example both cool water and also warm water can be fed in and can be discharged. It is conceivable that by means of the coupling device a flow connection can also be produced in each case between a channel between two different parts of a blow moulding device. The apparatus can be designed in such a way that the base parts and the side parts of the blow mould devices, preferably jointly and particularly preferably individually, can be supplied with flowable medium or temperature-controlled. Alternatively or additionally the apparatus can also be designed in such a way that in each case the blow mould supports can also be individually supplied with flowable medium or temperature-controlled. Consequently at least one side part, preferably the side parts, and/or the base part and/or the blow mould supports can have at least one and preferably at least two (advantageously precisely two) coupling devices. The changing device is preferably designed in such a way as to operate the coupling devices of at least two different parts of the blow moulding device, preferably the coupling device of a base part and of at least one side part and/or of at least one blow mould support.
In an advantageous embodiment the changing device is a changing robot or a handling manipulator and the changing operation preferably takes place automatically or semi-automatically.
In an advantageous embodiment the reshaping station has at least two and preferably a plurality of coupling devices and/or the changing device has at least two and preferably a plurality of interfaces for breaking and/or making a flow connection. Thus for instance the changing device can have a plurality of gripping arms or one gripping arm or one gripping device with a plurality of interfaces. In this case the interfaces are preferably designed in such a way that in each case they can be advanced towards a coupling device and can separate and/or connect this coupling device.
In a further advantageous embodiment the reshaping station has at least two coupling to devices which are arranged at height levels substantially different from one another. Thus for instance the media couplings can be arranged at different height levels. In this case a height level is understood to be one which (by comparison with the base plane) of the apparatus is a horizontal plane. In other words, in the operating state at least two coupling devices which can be operated by the changing device have vertical spacings with respect to the base which differ from one another. Thus the changing device should be able to operate (simultaneously) not only for instance two coupling devices which are symmetrical to one another, of which for instance one is arranged on one side part and the other on the second side part which in particular is symmetrical thereto, but for example the changing device should also be able to operate at least one coupling device on a base part of the apparatus and in addition to this (at least) one coupling device on one side part and/or on a blow mould support.
In a further advantageous embodiment the reshaping station has at least two coupling devices, and the changing device is suitable and intended to separate and/or to connect the two coupling devices successively. This can offer the advantage that fewer interfaces have to be provided on the changing device for simultaneous separation of the different coupling devices. Thus for instance the same interface can operate the coupling device on a base part and a side part and/or a blow mould support.
In a further advantageous embodiment the changing device is suitable and intended to separate and/or to connect the coupling device, in terms of time, before, during or after the gripping of the blow moulding device, and/or to break and/or to make a flow connection between the channel and the coupling device, but preferably still during an individual changing operation of a blow moulding device. Therefore the present invention augments the gripping device for the blow mould devices, preferred on a handling manipulator. The blow mould devices are received in the gripping device as a mould set, for instance the base mould and the two shell moulds (that is to say the base part and two side parts).
A device, which operates or uncouples the media couplings or the coupling devices before, while or after the blow mould devices are received in the (blow) mould support, is preferably located on the said gripping device or preferably on the handling manipulator itself. Thus the operator does not have to uncouple the media couplings or the coupling devices individually one after the other and the setup time decreases. However, the coupling of the media couplings or the coupling devices is preferred again performed by the operator. The individual interfaces of the changing device for operating a coupling device, that is to say for separating or connecting a coupling device, are preferably arranged at least partially and preferably completely on or at the gripping device.
In a further advantageous embodiment it is possible that the changing device couples the media couplings or the coupling devices during or after the insertion of the (new) blow moulding devices into the (blow) mould support.
In a particularly preferred first variant the apparatus or the changing device is preferably suitable and intended such that the changing device, which is preferably a robot, or the gripping device thereof, performs both the changing operation of the blow moulding device and also separates and/or connects at least one coupling device or media coupling (preferably at least all coupling devices or media couplings to be separated for performing the changing operation). In other words, in a first possibility the robot carries out both the change of blow mould and also the coupling. The changing device is preferably suitable and intended for carrying out the change of blow mould fully automatically.
In a preferred second variant the apparatus is suitable and intended, in response to an activating signal, which can preferably be transmitted to the apparatus by an operator for instance by means of actuation of a switching element and/or by a control device, to activate a changing mode which differs from the mode of operation the apparatus. For example, by comparison with the operating mode the transport device can be operated at a reduced transport speed and/or individual devices, such as a feed device which feeds the plastic preforms to the blow moulding station, are not operated. Preferably in response to the activating signal an automatic uncoupling sequence is activated, which preferably includes a step in which by means of a switching element, which is preferably stationary, in particular from the exterior or from outside a housing of the apparatus, at least one coupling device and preferably all coupling devices to be separated are preferably, at least at times, activated or separated simultaneously or successively. The automatic uncoupling sequence preferably also includes the step in which a fully automatic switching of at least one blow moulding device and preferably all blow moulding devices is carried out. Furthermore, the automatic uncoupling sequence preferably includes the following step in which by means of a switching element, which is preferably stationary, in particular from the exterior or from outside a housing of the apparatus, at least one coupling device and preferably all coupling devices to be connected are preferably, at least at times, activated or connected to simultaneously or successively. In other words, in this variant before the actually changing operation with the robot an automatic uncoupling sequence is activated, for example the blow moulding wheel rotates slowly and, by means of a stationary switching element which is movable from the exterior, all couplings or a type of cassette on which the switching element acts are activated. Then a fully automatically change preferably takes place. The coupling takes place in an analogous manner to the uncoupling process.
In a preferred third variant the changing device is preferably a robot. In the change of blow mould an interaction between the operator and the robot is preferably provided. Preferably in this third variant a changing operation of the blow moulding device takes place in substantially three process steps. In a first process step all connections or coupling devices (to be separated) are preferably uncoupled by an operator in a semi-automatic blow moulding wheel movement. In a second (subsequent) process step the blow mould devices are changed fully automatically (by the changing device). In a third process step all coupling devices or connections (to be separated) are preferably again coupled or connected by an operator in a semi-automatic blow moulding wheel movement. The semi-automatic blow moulding wheel movement can preferably be an operation of the reshaping device in a predetermined changing mode, in which for example the blow moulding wheel or the individual blow moulding stations/reshaping stations are rotated at a speed of rotation which is reduced by comparison with an operating mode.
In a preferred fourth variant the changing device is a handling manipulator. The operation of the handling manipulator preferably takes place by an operator, which preferably likewise couples and/or uncouples or disconnects and/or connects the media connections or the coupling device(s) (preferably at least all of them which are to be separated for performing the changing operation).
In a further advantageous embodiment the or at least one coupling device and preferably all coupling devices to be operated by the changing device is/are preferably a plug connection.
In a further advantageous embodiment the or at least one coupling device and preferably all coupling devices to be operated by the changing device is/are preferably configured to be self-sealing. This offers the advantage, that in the event of decoupling of the coupling device there is no dripping of the medium.
In a further advantageous embodiment the or at least one coupling device and preferably all coupling devices to be operated by the changing device is/are a quick-release coupling for gases and/or fluids. As a result a saving of time can also be achieved in the event of a change of blow mould.
In a further advantageous embodiment is a pneumatic connection for releasing a latching of a blow moulding device can be produced by the changing device. In the event of a change of blow mould or a change of the blow moulding devices, preferred by means of a handling manipulator, the blow moulds or the blow moulding devices are preferably latched in the (blow) mould support by a spring-preloaded unit. In order to unlatch the blow moulds or the blow moulding devices, this unit must be supplied with compressed air. This preferably takes place manually with the handling manipulator during the change of blow mould. Docking preferably takes place with a device on the gripping device or on the handling manipulator itself (or on the changing device) at the reshaping station and preferably on a blow mould support, for example by means of a cone and/or a conical hole, preferably in the blow mould support, and preferably the air supply of the blow moulding station is preferably produced by means of a seal. In a further advantageous configuration, such a device for uncoupling or coupling the media couplings or the coupling devices is also conceivable on a mould change robot.
In a further advantageous embodiment the changing device has means for supplying a channel and/or a coupling device with flowable medium and in particular a source of flowable medium. Thus for instance a reshaping station and in particular a blow mould support or a latching of a blow moulding device through can be supplied with compressed air by the changing device. However, the changing device can also produce only one fluid connection between a reshaping station and a stationary or mobile media supply, so that ultimately preferred for instance a latching of a blow moulding device to a blow mould support can preferably be unlatched by application of compressed air.
In a further advantageous embodiment the flowable medium or the temperature control medium is a flowable temperature control medium or temperature control means preferably for temperature control of at least a part of the blow moulding device. The temperature control medium or temperature control means is preferably a liquid, such as for example water or cool water. However, this can also be warm water or both. The temperature control medium or temperature control means is preferably also oil.
In a further advantageous embodiment the apparatus is arranged in a clean room. In particular the production or expansion (and also the filling) of the containers takes place inside a space with a low-contamination environment, which can be in particular a clean room. Advantageously the clean room surrounds the transport path of the containers (at least partially and preferably at least in the region in which the blow moulding wheel is arranged) like a channel. Furthermore, this clean room is delimited by means of at least one wall relative to unsterile surroundings. Advantageously the changing device can likewise be arranged inside the clean room, particularly preferably not only in a changing mode but also in an expansion mode of the apparatus.
Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a method for operating an apparatus for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers with a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path, wherein the transport device has a movable station support arranged at least indirectly on a stationary base support on which a plurality of transforming stations are arranged, wherein these transforming stations each have blow moulding devices which each form cavities or each form a cavity within which the plastic preforms can be transformed into the plastic containers and these blow moulding devices are each arranged on blow mould supports, wherein the apparatus has a changing device which is suitable and intended in order, in a changing mode of the system, at least to remove the blow mould devices from their blow mould supports and/or to arrange blow mould devices on the blow mould supports, wherein this changing device has at least one gripping device for gripping the blow mould device, wherein the gripping device is suitable for selectively changing a complete blow moulding device or only parts of the blow moulding device, wherein the reshaping station and in particular the blow moulding device has at least one channel for conveying a flowable medium as well as at least one coupling device which can be disconnected from the channel.
According to the invention the changing device separates and/or connects the coupling device and/or breaks a flow connection between the channel and the coupling device and/or makes a flow connection between the channel and the coupling device. The separation and/or connection of the coupling decisions preferably takes place in a changing mode of the apparatus which differs from a normal operating mode. The changing device preferably releases at least one coupling device, and preferably all of the coupling devices to be operated during a change of blow mould, independently or automatically and thus preferably without action by an operator. In this case the method can preferably be provided with all features described in connection with the apparatus individually or in combination with several of these features (and also vice versa).
Thus also in the context of the method according to the invention it is proposed that the changing device can not only receive or use a blow moulding device, but also break and/or make a flow connection simultaneously or with a time delay, preferably between a blow moulding device and a further element of the apparatus. The changing device preferably separates and/or connects coupling devices which are arranged at different height levels in the operational state of the apparatus. The changing device preferably separates and/or connects coupling devices, of which preferably one is arranged on a base part of the blow moulding device and at least one is arranged on a side part of the blow moulding device. A separation or a connection of at least one coupling device can preferably be triggered by a gripping movement of the gripping device or can be correlated therewith (over time).
In an advantageous embodiment the changing device separates and/or connects at least two coupling devices successively. This offers the advantage that with one and the same interface the changing device can for instance separate and/or connect different coupling devices.
In a further advantageous embodiment the changing device merely performs a separation of at least one coupling device and/or at least one flow connection between the channel and the coupling device, whilst a connection of the coupling device and/or production of a flow connection between the channel and the coupling device takes place manually.
Further advantages and embodiments are apparent from the appended drawings.
In the drawings:
The reference 40 identifies a changing device which serves to remove the blow mould devices from their blow mould supports or to dispose the blow mould devices on the blow mould supports. The reference 6 identifies a base support on which the station support 12 is rotatably mounted. The changing device 40 is also arranged on or adjacent to the base support 6. Thus the changing device 40 can be integrated in the apparatus. The reference sign 18 identifies a housing, which at least partially surrounds the station support 12, but which can preferably also enclose or house the changeover device 40. The housing preferably disconnects its interior, which is designed as a sterile room or a clean room, from a normal atmosphere. However, at least intermittently and particularly preferably permanently and advantageously also whilst it is performing a changing operation, the changing device 40 is preferably also arranged outside the housing 18 or before or in the periphery of the blow moulding machine or the transforming device 1. In this case the apparatus 1 as well as the changing device 40 are preferably suitable and intended to engage in the blow moulding machine or the transforming device 1 from the exterior of the housing 18, preferably through the housing 18.
The reference W designates a changing position. As mentioned above, the blow moulding devices are preferably replaced at a specific changing position. This means that the transforming stations can be moved successively into this changing position W by a rotation of the support 12 and then in this changing position the old blow moulding devices can be removed and preferably also new blow moulding devices can be delivered. The reference R designates a radial direction. In this radial direction the changing device or a gripping device of the changing device is preferably delivered to the transforming stations or the blow mould devices in order to change them.
For changing the blow moulding devices the user can bring the gripping device to the reshaping device 8 and can connect it to the blow moulding device. Furthermore, by means of the changing device 40 the user B can release a latching of the blow moulding device, for example on the blow mould support 14, by application of compressed air, which is provided for instance by the changing device 40. Then the blow moulding device can be received from the changing device 40. Then the user B can move the blow moulding device 14 by means of the changing device 40 to the magazine and can place it there.
Finally,
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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2017 117 533.4 | Aug 2017 | DE | national |
| 10 2017 117 576.8 | Aug 2017 | DE | national |
| 10 2017 119 816.4 | Aug 2017 | DE | national |
| 10 2017 119 817.2 | Aug 2017 | DE | national |
| 10 2017 129 576.3 | Dec 2017 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/071011 | 8/2/2018 | WO | 00 |
