Heating plastics via infrared radiation

• US 8,546,277 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidel Participations (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Sidel Participations (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Plantamura, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Calvin
• Application Number:
  US12/526,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.12, 219/121.61, 219/411, 219/553, 438/795, 425/174, 425/445
• US Class Current: 438/795
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/023 Half-products, e.g. films, plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/024 Hollow bodies, e.g. tubes or profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/08 by using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0822 using IR radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0838 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/68 Ovens specially adapted for heating preforms or parisons
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/421 of preforms, specially adapted for thermoforming preheating sheets in general B29B13/023; B29C51/427 takes precedence

Abstract

Process for heating a plastic by means of at least one source of electromagnetic radiation, characterized in that the electromagnetic radiation is emitted in the infrared at a wavelength or in a wavelength spectrum contained in one of the following ranges:

• • 1110-1160 nm;
  • 1390-1450 nm;
  • 1610-1650 nm;
  • 1675-1700 nm;
  • 1880-2100 nm;
  • 2170-2230 nm.

Claims

1. Process for heating a plastic by means of at least one source of electromagnetic radiation, characterized in that the electromagnetic radiation is emitted in the infrared at a wavelength or in a wavelength spectrum contained in one of the following ranges:

1110-1160 nm;

1390-1450 nm;

1610-1650 nm;

1675-1700 nm;

1880-2100 nm;

2170-2230 nm;

in which several radiations are emitted at different wavelengths or over different spectra, each contained in one of said ranges or having one of said values.

2. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength or the spectrum of the infrared radiation is contained in one of the following ranges:

1110-1150 nm;

1400-1430 nm;

1627-1647 nm;

1680-1695 nm;

1890-1906 nm;

1920-1950 nm;

2074-2094 nm;

2188-2216 nm.

3. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 1130 nm.

4. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 1414 nm.

5. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 1637 nm.

6. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 1688 nm.

7. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 1898 nm.

8. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 1935 nm.

9. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 2084 nm.

10. Process according to claim 1, in which the wavelength of the infrared radiation is around 2205 nm.

11. Process according to claim 1, in which the electromagnetic radiation is monochromatic or quasi-monochromatic.

12. Process according to claim 11, in which the source of electromagnetic radiation is a laser.

13. Application of the process according to claim 1 to heating blanks for manufacturing containers from said blanks.

14. Application of the process according to claim 1 to heating foils or sheets for manufacturing objects by thermoforming.

15. The process for heating the plastic according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is emitted in the infrared in the wavelength spectrum contained in one of the following ranges:

1110-1160 nm;

1390-1450 nm;

1610-1650 nm;

1675-1700 nm;

1880-2100 nm;

2170-2230 nm.