LIQUID OR HYDRAULIC BLOW MOLDING

• US 20110135778A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discma Ag (Amcor)
• Original Assignee: Discma Ag (Amcor)
• Inventors: ANDISON, DAVID, Corn, James R., Cooper, Robert A., Maki, Kirk Edward, Patcheak, Terry D., Eberle, Theodore F., Lisch, George David
• Granted Patent: US 8,573,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/524
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4635 being sterile
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/465 being incompressible
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4652 hot liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4658 oil
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4664 staying in the final article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7831 characterised by pressure values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7832 Blowing with two or more pressure levels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7862 characterised by temperature values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7863 Cold blow-moulding, e.g. below Tg
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/78645 characterised by temperature values or ranges
• 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 49/12 Stretching rods
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4236 Drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42802 a closure or a sealing foil to the article or pincing the opening
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/46 characterised by using particular environment or blow fluids other than air
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/78 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/783 blowing pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/022 Making containers by moulding of a thermoplastic material

Abstract

An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container is provided. A mold cavity defines an internal surface and is adapted to accept a preform. A pressure source is a servo motor system that includes an inlet. The servo motor system is operable to draw liquid through the inlet and urged it into the preform. A blow nozzle may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at high pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and create a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.

Claims

1. A system for simultaneously forming and filling a container comprising:

a mold cavity defining an internal surface and adapted to accept a preform;

a pressure source having a servo motor system operable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn from an inlet and urged toward the preform; and

a blow nozzle adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at a pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and create a resultant container, wherein the liquid remains within the container as an end product.

2. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo motor system comprises at least one servo motor and a controller, wherein the at least one servo motor is variably controlled.

3. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the blow nozzle defines a shape adapted to form a seal with a finish of the preform.

4. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is transferred into the preform during a hot-fill process.

5. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 4 wherein the liquid is transferred into the preform at a temperature between approximately 185°

F. (85°

C.) and 205°

F. (96°

C.).

6. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is transferred into the preform at an ambient temperature.

7. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 6 wherein the liquid is transferred into the preform at a temperature between approximately 32°

F. (0°

C.) and 90°

F. (32°

C.).

8. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the mold cavity accepts a preform heated to a temperature between approximately 190°

F. (88°

C.) and 250°

F. (121°

C.).

9. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the mold cavity is heated to a temperature between approximately 250°

F. (93°

C.) and 350°

F. (177°

C.).

10. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the mold cavity is at temperature between approximately 32°

F. (0°

C.) to 90°

F. (32°

C.).

11. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is transferred into the preform at a pressure between approximately 100 PSI and 600 PSI.

12. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1, further comprising a stretch rod adapted to extend into the preform and mechanically stretch the preform prior to the liquid being urged into the preform.

13. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 12 wherein the stretch rod is vented to atmosphere.

14. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the preform is initially expanded outwardly under a first pressure and subsequently expanded outwardly under a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure.

15. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 14 wherein the first pressure is between approximately 100 PSI and 150 PSI, and the second pressure is between approximately 500 PSI and 600 PSI.

16. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 15 wherein the servo motor system generates the first pressure and the second pressure.

17. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo motor system is operable in a second direction, opposite of the first direction, wherein liquid is drawn out of the preform to define a headspace therein.

18. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo motor system is operable in a second direction, opposite of the first direction, wherein a vacuum is created within the preform to disengage the preform from the internal surface of the mold cavity.

19. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller operably coupled to the servo motor system monitoring an operational status of the servo motor system.

20. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller operably coupled to the servo motor system detecting a blowout of the preform.

21. A system for simultaneously forming and filling a container comprising:

a plurality of mold cavities each defining an internal surface and adapted to accept a preform;

a pressure source having a single servo motor system operably coupled with the plurality of mold cavities to supply a liquid to at least one of the plurality of mold cavities, the single servo motor system operable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn from an inlet and urged toward the preform associated with the at least one of the plurality of mold cavities; and

a blow nozzle adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at a pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and create a resultant container, wherein the liquid remains within the container as an end product.

22. The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein said single servo motor system is operably coupled with the plurality of mold cavities to supply said liquid to at least two of the plurality of mold cavities, the single servo motor system operable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn from said inlet and simultaneously urged toward the preform associated with the at least two of the plurality of mold cavities.