Method for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from blanks made of a thermoplastic material and nozzle for use in such a method

• US 10,668,660 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS Corpoplast Gmbh (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Haesendonckx, Frank, Klatt, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Grun, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US14/900,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20160221247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,174 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/14 with multiple outlet openings B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/656 whereby the flow conduit length is changeable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/465 being incompressible
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4664 staying in the final article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/5896 Centering means therefore
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/14 Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/16 using pressure difference for pre-stretching, e.g. pre-blowing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/46 characterised by using particular environment or blow fluids other than air
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/58 Blowing means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/78 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/783 blowing pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles

Abstract

A method for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from blanks made of a thermoplastic material and to a nozzle for use in the method. In the method, each blank is at least thermally conditioned and is then shaped to form the container in a mold during a shaping phase, by axial and radial stretching, as a result of liquid filling material being introduced under pressure into the blank through a nozzle. The axial stretching is initiated by the pulsed injection of filling material into the blank.

Claims

1. A method for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from blanks made of a thermoplastic material, comprising the steps of:

thermally conditioning a respective blank; and

shaping the blank in a mold during a shaping phase to form and fill the container by introducing liquid filling material under pressure through a nozzle into the blank to axially and radially stretch the blank, the axial stretching being initiated by a pulsed injection of filling material into the blank in a targeted manner against a base of the blank, the blank being stretched only by the liquid filling material.

2. The method according to claim 1, including supplying the filling material in an axial direction of the blank.

3. The method according to claim 1, including supplying the filling material to the blank at a speed of 30 to 100 m/s.

4. The method according to claim 3, including supplying the filling material at 70 to 90 m/s.

5. The method according to claim 1, including supplying the filling material with a jet diameter from 3 to 20 mm.

6. The method according to claim 5, including supplying the filling material with a jet diameter from 5 to 14 mm.

7. The method according to claim 6, including supplying the filling material with a jet diameter of 10 mm.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filling material striking in pulsed injection in the blank exerts a force from 350 to 650N.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the filling material exerts a force from 400 to 600N.

10. The method according to claim 1, including changing a supply speed of the filling material during filling and shaping.

11. The method according to claim 10, including reducing the supply speed of the filling material during filling and shaping.

12. The method according to claim 1, including changing a jet diameter of the filling material during filling and shaping.

13. The method according to claim 1, including guiding the axial stretching at least temporarily by a guiding device that engages externally with the blank.

14. The method according to claim 13, including arranging the guiding device to partially enclose the blank or to interlock with. the blank.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the guiding device limits axial stretching speed at least temporarily.

16. The method according to claim 1, including moving the nozzle axially during shaping.

17. The method according to claim 1, including detecting a position of the base of the blank at least temporarily during shaping using ultrasound or by detecting a thermal profile.

18. The method according to claim 17, including controlling distance between the nozzle and the base of the blank.

19. The method according to claim 16, including measuring pressure of the filling material or pressure in an exhaust air duct or a return flow line and regulating the movement of the nozzle during shaping by the measured values.

20. The method according to claim 1, including controlling the temperature of the filling material.

21. The method according to claim 20, including controlling the temperature of the filling material by heating the filling material.

22. The method according to claim 1, including maintaining a position of the nozzle so that the nozzle does not move laterally at least temporarily during shaping by filling material jets leaving the nozzle in a radial direction.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional surface of a head of the nozzle corresponds substantially to an inner cross-sectional surface of the blank.

24. A nozzle for use in a method according to claim 1, the nozzle comprising:

an opening for a filling jet; and

further openings for auxiliary jets that run substantially at a right angle to the filling jet.

25. A nozzle according to claim 24, wherein the openings for the auxiliary jets are dimensioned so as to substantially offset forces resulting from the auxiliary jets.