OVEN FOR PLASTIC PREFORMS WITH PARTLY TRANSPARENT RADIATOR

• US 20100225029A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: SENN, Konrad
• Granted Patent: US 9,004,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/492
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0822 using IR radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/6418 Heating of preforms
• 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: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material

Abstract

An apparatus for heating plastic receptacles includes a transport device which transports the receptacles along a predetermined transport path and at least one heating device for heating the plastic receptacles. The heating device includes at least one radiation source which directs radiation at the plastic receptacles and at least one first reflector element which reflects radiation emitted from the radiation source. The apparatus includes a proportional reflection device which transmits radiation emitted by the radiation source with wavelengths in a first predetermined wavelength range onto the receptacle and reflects radiation with wavelengths in a second predetermined wavelength range onto the radiation source.

Claims

1. Apparatus for heating plastic receptacles comprising:

a transport device which transports the plastic receptacles along a predetermined transport path;

at least one heating device for heating the plastic receptacles, the heating device including

at least one radiation source which directs radiation at the plastic receptacles, and

at least one first reflector element which reflects radiation emitted by the radiation source; and

a proportional reflection device which transmits radiation emitted by the radiation source with wavelengths in a first predetermined wavelength range onto the receptacle and reflects radiation with wavelengths in a second predetermined wavelength range.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the proportional reflection device reflects the radiation in the second predetermined wavelength range back onto the radiation source.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the proportional reflection device is arranged in a direct beam path between the radiation source and the plastic receptacle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the proportional reflection device is arranged between the radiation source and one of said plastic receptacles.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength range contains wavelengths for which the transmission of the receptacle material is between about 10% and about 90%.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first wavelength range contains wavelengths for which the transmission of the receptacle material is between about 20% and about 80%.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first wavelength range contains wavelengths for which the transmission of the receptacle material is between about 30% and about 70%.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first wavelength range is between about 1700 nm and about 2100 nm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wavelength range contains wavelengths which are shorter than the wavelengths of the first wavelength range.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wavelength range contains wavelengths which are longer than the wavelengths of the first wavelength range.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source is arranged stationary.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has an additional reflector device, where the receptacle is transported between the additional reflector device and the radiation source.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of radiation sources is arranged in a longitudinal direction of the receptacle.

14. Method for heating plastic receptacles comprising:

transporting plastic receptacles along a predetermined transport path; and

heating the plastic receptacles with a first radiation source which directs radiation at the plastic receptacles,

wherein the radiation emitted by the radiation source with wavelengths in a first predetermined wavelength range is directed at the receptacle and radiation emitted by the radiation source with wavelengths in a second predetermined wavelength range is reflected onto the radiation source.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the first wavelength range contains wavelengths for which a transmission of the receptacle material is between about 10% and about 90%.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the first wavelength range contains wavelengths for which a transmission of the receptacle material is between about 20% and about 80%.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the first wavelength range contains wavelengths for which a transmission of the receptacle material is between about 30% and about 70%.

18. Apparatus for heating plastic receptacles comprising:

at least one heating device configured to heat plastic receptacles, the heating device including

at least one radiation source configured to direct radiation at one of the plastic receptacles, and

at least one first reflector element configured to reflect radiation emitted by the radiation source toward said plastic receptacle; and

a proportional reflection device configured to transmit radiation emitted by the radiation source with wavelengths in a first predetermined wavelength range onto the receptacle and reflect radiation with wavelengths in a second predetermined wavelength range.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the proportional reflection device is between the at least one radiation source and said plastic receptacle, the proportional reflection device being configured to reflect said radiation in the second predetermined wavelength range back onto the radiation source.