INSTALLATION FOR HEATING THE BODIES OF PREFORMS FOR BLOW-MOULDING CONTAINERS

• US 20080305203A1
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidel Participations (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Sidel Participations (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: PLANTAMURA, Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/024 Hollow bodies, e.g. tubes or profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0822 using IR radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0838 using laser
• 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 49/6418 Heating of preforms
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/6445 through the preform length
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/68 Ovens specially adapted for heating preforms or parisons
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/6835 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/685 Rotating the preform in relation to heating means
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material

Abstract

Installation for heating the bodies (1) of thermoplastic preforms (2) with a view to manufacturing containers by blow-moulding or stretch-blow-moulding, while the preforms (2) are being moved along with their bodies (1) following a predetermined path (T), this installation comprising at least one directional source (5) of electromagnetic radiation directed towards a location (E) on the path (T); the source (5) is inclined by an angle (α) of between about 60° and 10° and preferably less than about 45°, with respect to the tangent (6) to the path (T) at the location (E); thus, the electromagnetic radiation can pass through several preform bodies or parts of bodies without being appreciably reflected back towards the source (5).

Claims

1. Installation for heating the bodies of thermoplastic preforms with a view to manufacturing containers by blow-moulding or stretch-blow-moulding, while said preforms are being moved along in such a way that their respective bodies follow a predetermined path, this heating installation comprising at least one source of infrared electromagnetic radiation positioned to the side of the path followed by the bodies of the preforms and directed towards a location on said path, a reflector being positioned on the other side of the path opposite to the side where the source of electromagnetic radiation is positioned,

wherein said source of infrared electromagnetic radiation is a directional source inclined by an angle of between about 60°

and 10°

with respect to the tangent to said path at said location.

2. Heating installation according to claim 1, wherein said angle is less than about 45°

.

3. Installation according to claim 2, wherein said angle is between about 20°

and 31°

.

4. Heating installation according to claim 2, wherein the said angle is between about 12°

and 20°

.

5. Heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the path followed by the bodies of the preforms is substantially straight at said location and wherein the directional source of electromagnetic radiation can be positioned with equal preference on either side of said path.

6. Heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the path followed by the bodies of the preforms is curved at said location.

7. Heating installation according to claim 6, wherein the directional source of electromagnetic radiation is positioned on the convex side of said path.

8. Heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the directional source of electromagnetic radiation faces in the direction of travel of the preforms.

9. Heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the directional source of electromagnetic radiation faces in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the preforms.

10. Heating installation according to claim 9, wherein the directional source of electromagnetic radiation faces in the direction of travel of the preforms, in that it comprises at least two directional sources of electromagnetic radiation, wherein at least one directional source of electromagnetic radiation faces in the direction of travel of the preforms, and wherein at least one directional source of electromagnetic radiation, preferably located downstream of the previous one, faces in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the preforms.

11. Heating installation according to claim 1, wherein said directional source of electromagnetic radiation is a laser source.

12. Heating installation according to claim 11, wherein said directional source of electromagnetic radiation is a laser diode.