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EP2771167A1 - Tige de liaison à contre-étirement et tige de contrôle de niveau de remplissage positif - Google Patents

Tige de liaison à contre-étirement et tige de contrôle de niveau de remplissage positif

Info

Publication number
EP2771167A1
EP2771167A1 EP12843561.7A EP12843561A EP2771167A1 EP 2771167 A1 EP2771167 A1 EP 2771167A1 EP 12843561 A EP12843561 A EP 12843561A EP 2771167 A1 EP2771167 A1 EP 2771167A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
preform
mold
rod
mold cavity
plastic container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12843561.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2771167A4 (fr
Inventor
George David Lisch
Bradley Wilson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Discma AG
Original Assignee
Discma AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Discma AG filed Critical Discma AG
Priority claimed from PCT/US2012/062210 external-priority patent/WO2013063461A1/fr
Publication of EP2771167A1 publication Critical patent/EP2771167A1/fr
Publication of EP2771167A4 publication Critical patent/EP2771167A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D22/00—Producing hollow articles
    • B29D22/003—Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/08—Biaxial stretching during blow-moulding
    • B29C49/10—Biaxial stretching during blow-moulding using mechanical means for prestretching
    • B29C49/12—Stretching rods
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/08—Biaxial stretching during blow-moulding
    • B29C49/10—Biaxial stretching during blow-moulding using mechanical means for prestretching
    • B29C49/14—Clamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/46—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations characterised by using particular environment or blow fluids other than air
    • B29C2049/4602—Blowing fluids
    • B29C2049/465—Blowing fluids being incompressible
    • B29C2049/4664—Blowing fluids being incompressible staying in the final article
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/78—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C49/783—Measuring, controlling or regulating blowing pressure
    • B29C2049/7831—Measuring, controlling or regulating blowing pressure characterised by pressure values or ranges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/78—Measuring, controlling or regulating
    • B29C49/786—Temperature
    • B29C2049/7861—Temperature of the preform
    • B29C2049/7862—Temperature of the preform characterised by temperature values or ranges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/076—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape
    • B29C2949/0768—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform
    • B29C2949/078—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform characterised by the bottom
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
    • B29C49/06—Injection blow-moulding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
    • B29L2031/7158—Bottles

Definitions

  • This disclosure generally relates to forming a container for retaining a commodity, such as a solid or liquid commodity. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a centering device for use with a forming apparatus for forming blown plastic containers that minimizes contamination and maintains a preform in a desired orientation.
  • PET containers are now being used more than ever to package numerous commodities previously supplied in glass containers.
  • PET is a crystallizable polymer, meaning that it is available in an amorphous form or a semi-crystalline form.
  • the ability of a PET container to maintain its material integrity relates to the percentage of the PET container in crystalline form, also known as the "crystallinity" of the PET container.
  • Container manufacturers use mechanical processing and thermal processing to increase the PET polymer crystallinity of a container.
  • Mechanical processing involves orienting the amorphous material to achieve strain hardening. This processing commonly involves stretching an injection molded PET preform along a longitudinal axis and expanding the PET preform along a transverse or radial axis to form a PET container. The combination promotes what manufacturers define as biaxial orientation of the molecular structure in the container.
  • Manufacturers of PET containers currently use mechanical processing to produce PET containers having approximately 20% crystallinity in the container's sidewalk
  • preforms can become damaged or unsanitized during mechanical processing. That is, in some configurations, it has been found that preforms can become misaligned with the mechanical device during stretching and consequently lead to premature contact with the mold cavity and/or contact with other mechanical devices. This misalignment thus can lead to defects and wastage.
  • thermal processing which involves heating the material (either amorphous or semi-crystalline) to promote crystal growth.
  • thermal processing of PET material results in a spherulitic morphology that interferes with the transmission of light. In other words, the resulting crystalline material is opaque, and thus, generally undesirable.
  • thermal processing results in higher crystallinity and excellent clarity for those portions of the container having biaxial molecular orientation.
  • the thermal processing of an oriented PET container typically includes blow molding a PET preform against a mold heated to a temperature of approximately 250°F - 350°F (approximately 121 °C - 177*0), and holding the blown container against the heated mold for approximately two (2) to five (5) seconds.
  • Manufacturers of PET juice bottles which must be hot-filled at approximately 185°F (85 °C), currently use heat setting to produce PET bottles having an overall crystallinity in the range of approximately 25% -35%.
  • a mold device and a method related thereto for forming a plastic container from a preform comprises a mold defining a mold cavity, a stretch initiation rod system for engaging an interior portion of the preform to define a stretch initiation area, and a centrally disposed pressure source positionable within the preform for introducing a pressurized fluid.
  • the present teachings provide an apparatus for forming a plastic container from a preform, the preform having an upper portion with an opening, a body, and an internal volume accessible through the opening.
  • the apparatus comprises: a mold having a mold cavity for expanding the preform, the mold cavity having an upper end, a lower end and a central portion extending from the upper end to the lower end along a longitudinal axis, the mold having a first aperture for accessing the mold cavity through the upper end, the first aperture being adapted for holding the preform at its upper portion while the body of the preform is placed into the central portion of the mold cavity; a liquid supply means for supplying a pressurized liquid through the opening and into the internal volume of the preform; and a centering rod disposed adjacent to the lower end of the mold cavity and telescopically extendable along the longitudinal axis into the central portion of the mold cavity.
  • the centering rod comprises a tip portion at its upper end, the tip portion being adapted to engage with an exterior feature disposed on the outer surface of the body of the preform.
  • the tip portion of the centering rod comprises a protrusion, the protrusion being adapted to engage an indentation disposed on the outer surface of the body of the preform.
  • the tip portion of the centering rod comprises an indentation, the indentation being adapted to engage a protrusion extending from the outer surface of the body of the preform.
  • the centering rod is telescopically extendable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position the centering rod does not extend into the central portion of the cavity.
  • the centering rod is disposed below the lower end of the mold cavity, the centering rod is telescopically extendable into the central portion of the mold cavity through a second aperture in the lower end of the mold cavity.
  • the centering rod is integrated into a bottom portion of the mold.
  • the apparatus comprises a stretch rod being movable along the longitudinal direction through the first aperture and into the internal volume of the preform.
  • the present teachings provide a method for forming a plastic container from a preform comprising the steps of: heating a preform having an internal volume; placing the preform into a mold cavity of a mold; expanding the preform by introducing a liquid at a pressure into the internal volume of the preform; and holding the preform within a central volume of the mold cavity with a telescopically expandable centering means.
  • the telescopically expandable centering means extends to a fully extended position when no opposing longitudinal force is applied and retracts when an opposing longitudinal force is applied to the telescopically expandable centering means.
  • the step of holding the preform within the central volume of the mold cavity comprises the step of engaging a tip portion of the telescopically expandable centering means with an exterior feature disposed on the outer surface of the preform.
  • the step of holding the preform within the central volume commences no later than the step of expanding the preform.
  • the preform is held within the central volume of the mold cavity for at least the first half of the step of expanding the preform by introducing a pressurized liquid into the internal volume of the preform.
  • the method further comprises the step of stretching the preform by applying a stretching force to an internal surface of the preform.
  • an apparatus for forming a plastic container from a preform adapted to performing the steps of the aforementioned method.
  • FIGS. 1 A-1 C illustrate a series of schematic side views illustrating a central rod guiding a preform during the forming process (not to scale);
  • FIG. 1 D illustrates a schematic side view illustrating a slipped condition of a central rod
  • FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a plurality of locating features according to the principles of the present teachings
  • FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a stretch initiation rod being withdrawn from a container to create a fluid headspace
  • FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate a stretch initiation rod being inserted into a container to create a fluid pressure spike
  • FIG. 5A illustrates a mold device having a central rod according to the present teachings
  • FIG. 5B illustrates a mold device having a centering feature coupled with the central rod according to the present teachings
  • FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate a series of schematic side views illustrating a central rod guiding a preform during the forming process (not to scale);
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a manufacturing process according to some embodiments of the present teachings.
  • Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure.
  • first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
  • Spatially relative terms such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
  • the present teachings provide for a stretch blow molding machine having a centering device operable for engaging a preform container during the molding process and a stretch initiation device operable to create a stretch initiation area on the preform container.
  • the stretch initiation device unlike molding machines, can be used to initiate the stretching of the preform and encourage the preform to engage the centering device.
  • the centering device of the present teachings unlike conventional molding machines, provides improved control for maintaining the preform in a predetermined orientation to minimize contact of the stretch rod to the preform, which could result in contamination of the finished container.
  • the shape of the container described in connection with the present teachings can be any one of a number of variations.
  • the container of the present disclosure can be configured to hold any one of a plurality of commodities, such as beverages, food, or other hot-fill type materials.
  • the present teachings relate to the forming of one-piece plastic containers.
  • these containers after formation, generally define a body that includes an upper portion having a cylindrical sidewall forming a finish. Integrally formed with the finish and extending downward therefrom is a shoulder portion.
  • the shoulder portion merges into and provides a transition between the finish and a sidewall portion.
  • the sidewall portion extends downward from the shoulder portion to a base portion having a base.
  • An upper transition portion in some embodiments, may be defined at a transition between the shoulder portion and the sidewall portion.
  • a lower transition portion in some embodiments, may be defined at a transition between the base portion and the sidewall portion.
  • the exemplary container may also have a neck.
  • the neck may have an extremely short height, that is, becoming a short extension from the finish, or an elongated height, extending between the finish and the shoulder portion.
  • the upper portion can define an opening.
  • the finish of the plastic container may include a threaded region having threads, a lower sealing ridge, and a support ring. The threaded region provides a means for attachment of a similarly threaded closure or cap (not illustrated).
  • closure or cap engages the finish to preferably provide a hermetical seal of the plastic container.
  • the closure or cap is preferably of a plastic or metal material conventional to the closure industry and suitable for subsequent thermal processing.
  • the container can be formed according to the principles of the present teachings.
  • a preform version of the container can include a support ring, which may be used to carry or orient the preform through and at various stages of manufacture.
  • the preform may be carried by the support ring, the support ring may be used to aid in positioning the preform in a mold cavity, or the support ring may be used to carry an intermediate container once molded.
  • the preform may be placed into the mold cavity such that the support ring is captured at an upper end of the mold cavity.
  • the mold 300 can comprise a mold cavity 302 having an interior surface 304 corresponding to a desired outer profile of the blown container. More specifically, the mold cavity according to the present teachings defines a body forming region, an optional moil forming region and an optional opening forming region. Once the resultant structure, hereinafter referred to as an intermediate container, has been formed in some embodiments, any moil created by the moil forming region may be severed and discarded. It should be appreciated that the use of a moil forming region and/or opening forming region are not necessarily in all forming methods or according to all embodiments of the present teachings.
  • a machine places the preform heated to a temperature between approximately 190°F to 250 °F (approximately 88 °C to 121 °C) into the mold cavity.
  • the mold cavity may be heated to a temperature between approximately 250°F to 350°F (approximately 121 °C to 177°C).
  • An internal stretch rod apparatus can stretch or extend the heated preform within the mold cavity to a length approximately that of the intermediate container thereby molecularly orienting the polyester material in an axial direction generally corresponding with the central longitudinal axis of the container. While the stretch rod extends the preform, fluid (e.g.
  • liquid such as the final liquid commodity; air; and the like
  • a centrally disposed pressure source having a pressure between 300 PSI to 600 PSI (2.07 MPa to 4.14 MPa)
  • the pressurized fluid holds the mostly biaxial molecularly oriented polyester material against the mold cavity for a period of approximately two (2) to five (5) seconds before removal of the intermediate container from the mold cavity. This process is known as heat setting and results in a heat-resistant container suitable for filling with a product at high temperatures.
  • stretch blow molding systems can employ a central interior stretch initiation rod system 20 that can engage an interior feature or surface of a preform 1 12 and/or a central exterior rod system 100 that can engage an exterior feature 1 10, or other portion, of the preform 1 12. It should be appreciated that according to the principles of the present teachings, central interior stretch initiation rod system 20 and central exterior rod system 100 can be used separately or in combination. Moreover, central interior stretch initiation rod system 20 and central exterior rod system 100 can be used independently and/or simultaneously.
  • stretch initiation rod system 20 can be raised and lowered relative to preform 1 12 to provide a mechanical urging force against an interior surface of preform 1 12.
  • Stretch initiation rod system 20 can comprise a rod member 22 having a distal tip 24, an elongated shaft 26, and a drive system 28 coupled to the elongated shaft 26 to actuate distal tip 24 between a retracted (see FIGS. 3B and 4A) and an extended (see FIGS. 1 A, 3A, and 4B) position.
  • Drive system 28 can comprise a pneumatic drive system, a servo drive system, or other known system for creating motion of rod member 22.
  • drive system 28 includes a servo or positive stop to provide positioning information. Moreover, in some embodiments, drive system 28 can be used for real-time tracking a position and/or drive speed of rod member 22 to provide realtime control. Still further, it should be appreciated that although rod member 22 is described and illustrated as being cylindrical with a rounded tip, other shapes and tips are envisioned, including but not limited to conical, non-uniform, tapered, pointed, flattened, and the like or can be varied to define a predetermined volume.
  • stretch initiation rod system 20 can be separate from or joined with a typical central rod of a blow molding system. That is, a stretch initiation rod system 20 can be separately formed or integrally formed with the central rod. Stretch initiation rod system 20 can, however, employ distal tip 24 to engage or otherwise contact preform 1 12 to define the stretch initiation area and/or prestretch.
  • prestretches of about 40 mm have been found to be beneficial, however other prestretch lengths, such as the distance X of FIG. 1 A, may be appropriate. This insures a known stretching response and material distribution during molding, rather than the unpredictable stretching response common with conventional molding systems. This material distribution can include non-uniform distribution for predetermined design criteria.
  • central exterior rod system 100 can be used, ideally, to maintain preform 1 12 in a predetermined orientation during the stretch blow forming process as illustrated in FIGS. 1 A-1 C.
  • Central interior stretch initiation rod 20 can be used, ideally, to initiate the forming process.
  • the preform 1 12 is initially stretched to achieve a predetermined molding response using stretch initiation rod system 20 and then centrally maintained by central exterior rod system 100 relative to the stretch rod and/or stretch initiation rod system 20 extending therein, thereby ensuring that the stretch rod(s) does not contact the inside of the preform.
  • Such contact of the stretch rod within the preform can cause contamination of the resultant container, thereby requiring the resultant container to be discarded or sanitized.
  • stretch initiation rod system 20 can be used to achieve a precise headspace within the final filled container. Specifically, as seen in FIGS. 3A-3B, stretch initiation rod system 20 can be actuated and/or sized such that following formation of the preform 1 12 into the final container (which is done with the final fill commodity), retraction of rod member 22 can represent a precise volume (that is, the volume of rod member 22 disposed within the final fill commodity) that when retracted provides the desired headspace for packaging and shipment. Such precise headspace is achieved without complex valve systems and the like.
  • stretch initiation rod system 20 can be used to achieve a fluid pressure spike to aid in the shaping of preform 1 12 or container.
  • stretch initiation rod system 20 can be actuated such that the fluid volume displaced by rod member 22 is greater than a headspace within the preform 1 12 or finished bottle, such that insertion of rod member 22 into the preform 1 12 or container, having a contained and generally fixed volume, causes a pressure spike within the preform 1 12 or container.
  • pressure spikes can be used to define final details within the preform 1 12 or container.
  • preform 1 12 may form in such a way as to slip off or become disengaged from the central exterior rod system 100. This can often lead to damage to the preform by contact with the central exterior rod system 100 and/or contamination with the internal stretch rod.
  • central exterior rod system 100 can comprise a locating feature 120 for engaging or otherwise contacting the preform 1 12.
  • Locating feature 120 can comprise, in some embodiments, a protruding portion 122 defining a first shape.
  • a corresponding depression 124, having a complementary shape to the first shape, can be formed as part of preform 1 12.
  • protruding portion 122 can be positively received within depression 124 to define a reliable connection therebetween.
  • protruding portion 122 is sized and shaped to closely conform to depression 124 to minimize lateral movement (that is, movement in a hoop direction).
  • protruding portion 122 can be cylindrical (FIGS. 2A and 2B), tapered (FIGS. 2C and 2D), wide (FIG. 2C), narrow (FIGS. 2B and 2D), or any other shape/size that provides a reliable connection between central exterior rod system 100 and preform 1 12.
  • locating feature 120 can define a reverse orientation (indicated with similar primed reference numbers) to those already described in that the locating feature 120 can comprise a protruding portion extending from the preform (FIGS. 2C and 2D) for engaging a depression formed in the central exterior rod system 100.
  • central exterior rod system 100 can extend from mold device 200 as a generally cylindrical member (FIG. 5A) or can include a centering feature 210 located along a portion of central exterior rod system 100.
  • centering feature 210 can be an oversized head member 21 1 disposed on distal end 212 of central exterior rod system 100.
  • the oversized member can include a tapered portion 214, such as conical portion, that is sized to be received and/or captured within a conical depression 216 formed in the mold device 200.
  • tapered portion 214 can be centrally received within conical depression 216 to ensure proper aligned of the now-expand preform 1 12 or resultant container.
  • oversized head member 21 1 can be shaped to form part of the mold device and, at least in part, impart a shape upon preform 1 12 during formation of the resultant container.
  • rod member 22, such as a counter stretch rod, and central exterior rod system 100 can be actuated concurrently and independently to effect a predetermined stretch and/or forming process.
  • central exterior rod system 100 can be actuated from the base of mold cavity 302 and can be initially activated to physically touch or contact the preform 1 12 prior to blowing, or it can stop prior to contacting the preform (see FIGS. 1 and 6A).
  • the central exterior rod system 100 can function correctly up to about 20mm from the preform 1 12; however, in many embodiments the central exterior rod system 100 improves quality and insures that the center of the preform engages the center of central exterior rod system 100 and is maintained appropriately positioned within mold cavity 302.
  • a telescoping version of central exterior rod system 100 can be used. That is, in some embodiments, a telescoping counter stretch rod 102 can be employed having a first section 104 slidably receiving within a second section 106. It should be recognized, however, that additional telescoping sections can be used.
  • the central exterior rod system 100 (also known as counter stretch rod in FIG. 7) can engage preform 1 12 at any time prior to or immediately following initiation of the container inflation; however, if central exterior rod system 100 is intended to engage preform 1 12 prior to inflation, it is best to load preform 1 12, then engage or actuate the central exterior rod system 100 (as illustrated in sequence in FIG. 7).
  • the rod member 22 also known as the counter stretch connecting rod in FIG. 7 can be actuated next, and can firmly engage preform 1 12 with central exterior rod system 100. Once preform is fully engaged with central exterior rod system 100, the container inflation can begin.
  • the container can be inflated with the use of high pressure air or liquid, or two steps of low pressure air or liquid, which is followed by high pressure air or liquid.
  • Preform 1 12 can begin to inflate away from the rod member 22, and the rod member 22 can remain in place, or retract from the container.
  • the rod member 22 can be set to the desired depth in the container such that once the seal pin is closed, the fill level will be at the desired height within the container as discussed herein.
  • the central exterior rod system 100 will then be removed from the container, the nozzle raised, and the container removed from the mold, fully formed and filled, with the correct amount of product remaining inside the container.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un dispositif de moulage et sur un procédé associé à celui-ci pour former un récipient en matière plastique à partir d'une préforme. Le dispositif de moulage comprend un moule définissant une cavité de moule, un système de tige d'amorçage d'étirement facultatif pour venir en prise avec une partie intérieure de la préforme afin de définir une zone d'amorçage d'étirement, et une source de pression disposée de façon centrale, pouvant être positionnée à l'intérieur de la préforme pour introduire un fluide sous pression.
EP12843561.7A 2011-10-27 2012-10-26 Tige de liaison à contre-étirement et tige de contrôle de niveau de remplissage positif Withdrawn EP2771167A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161552075P 2011-10-27 2011-10-27
PCT/US2012/062210 WO2013063461A1 (fr) 2011-10-27 2012-10-26 Tige de liaison à contre-étirement et tige de contrôle de niveau de remplissage positif

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
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US12390977B2 (en) * 2020-06-19 2025-08-19 Discma Ag Method of fluid forming and filling containers

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JPS58123029U (ja) * 1982-02-15 1983-08-22 株式会社吉野工業所 ２軸延伸ブロ−成形機における底部金型装置
JPH074848B2 (ja) * 1986-09-22 1995-01-25 株式会社吉野工業所 ２軸延伸ブロ−成形方法
AU641945B2 (en) * 1989-10-23 1993-10-07 Nissei Asb Machine Co., Ltd. Method for manufacturing biaxially oriented blow containers and apparatus for manufacturing the same
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CN110281506A (zh) 2019-09-27

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