Blow moulding method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A blow moulding apparatus comprising:
- a blow mould station having a blowpin through which pressurized air is blown during blow moulding;
an air control system dedicated to the blow moulding station;
the air control system comprising;
a supply vessel for holding air at a pressure of at least 8 bar;
the supply vessel having an inlet for air supply and an outlet through which pressurized air is delivered;
a delivery line from the supply vessel outlet to the blowpin of the dedicated blow moulding station;
a control valve on the delivery line for delivery of air on demand from the supply vessel to the blowpin;
an exhaust unit on the delivery line for exhaust of air from the delivery line;
a pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of air in the supply vessel; and
pressure control means for preventing operation of the dedicated blow moulding station if the pressure in the supply vessel is below a preset pressure; and
an exhaust vessel in communication with the exhaust unit and the exhaust vessel being maintained at a negative pressure into which exhaust air is delivered by the exhaust unit before exhausting to atmosphere.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A blow moulding apparatus includes a blowpin 1 and a dedicated air control system for optimizing the blow moulding operation. The air control system comprises an air supply vessel 2 for holding typically 10 liters of air at a pressure of at least 8 bar. Pressurized air is delivered through a control valve 6 to the blowpin 1. A pressure sensing valve 8 senses the air pressure in the vessel 2 and if the pressure falls below a preset value a signal is outputted to a controller 9 which disables operation of the blow moulding station. The temperature of the air is also controlled to be about 8° C. by a temperature sensor 10 which also provides a signal to the controller 9. Air may be exhausted into an exhaust vessel 15 maintained at a negative pressure before exhaust to atmosphere. Cycle time is reduced and product quality is improved.
13 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A blow moulding apparatus comprising:
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a blow mould station having a blowpin through which pressurized air is blown during blow moulding; an air control system dedicated to the blow moulding station; the air control system comprising; a supply vessel for holding air at a pressure of at least 8 bar; the supply vessel having an inlet for air supply and an outlet through which pressurized air is delivered; a delivery line from the supply vessel outlet to the blowpin of the dedicated blow moulding station; a control valve on the delivery line for delivery of air on demand from the supply vessel to the blowpin; an exhaust unit on the delivery line for exhaust of air from the delivery line; a pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of air in the supply vessel; and pressure control means for preventing operation of the dedicated blow moulding station if the pressure in the supply vessel is below a preset pressure; and an exhaust vessel in communication with the exhaust unit and the exhaust vessel being maintained at a negative pressure into which exhaust air is delivered by the exhaust unit before exhausting to atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification