Apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container

• US 8,734,709 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Talon Limited
• Original Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: Pennington, Garrett R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US12/754,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20100252952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 264/219, 264/515, 264/171.27, 264/293, 264/173.16, 264/540, 425/182, 425/384, 425/392, 425/462, 425/532, 294/53
• US Class Current: 264/521
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0811 using induction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0816 using eddy currents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/1608 using Peltier-effect
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/002 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/16 Cooling cooling extruded material B29C48/911; cooling preforms for blow moulding B29C49/6427; cooling blown articles B29C49/66; cooling tyres during post cure inflation B29D30/0643
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4273 Auxiliary operations after the blow-moulding operation not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4283 Deforming the finished article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 57/00 Shaping of tube ends, e.g. flanging, belling or closing; Apparatus therefor , e.g. collapsible mandrels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/0048 Local deformation of formed objects
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49352 Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit

Abstract

An apparatus for converting a refurbishing machine into a reforming machine. The apparatus reforms a portion of a plastic container using induction heating. The apparatus includes a reform heating assembly that achieves a temperature of above about 500° F., heats the container via radiant and convection heating without contacting the container, and has a power and thermocouple connection to a first controller. The apparatus also includes a reform cooling assembly that has a forming die which contacts and reforms the container portion, a support housing a Peltier thermoelectric cooler, a heat sink facilitating heat transfer away from the forming die, and a power and thermocouple connection to a second controller. The method includes the steps of replacing heating assemblies of the refurbishing machine with the reform heating assembly and the reform cooling assembly, respectively, using the existing equipment utilities of the refurbishing machine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container using induction heating, comprising a reform heating assembly comprising

a mount adapted to engage a frame;

and

an insulated body fastened to the mount and having a body, a top, and a centrally disposed buttress extending from the top, and housing a heat dispersion block having a groove into which is disposed an induction heater comprising a thermocouple connector and a power connector, and heated to a temperature above about 500 degrees F. and heating the portion of the plastic container to be reformed without contacting the container; and

a reform cooling assembly comprising a forming die maintained at a temperature below the set point of the plastic used to form the container and adapted to contact and reform the portion of the container, a support that houses a Peltier thermoelectric cooler above the forming die and, a heat sink above the support for removing heat from the Peltier thermoelectric cooler.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover plate engaging the heat dispersion block to form a single, monolithic unit and sandwich the induction heater within the groove.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an air gap exists between the top of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block on either side of the buttress and between the body of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insulated body has an information-providing color.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reform cooling assembly is operably connected to a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller that controls the Peltier thermoelectric cooler to maintain the forming die at the temperature below the set point of the plastic used to form the container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount has an aperture in communication with a central passage for routing connections that connect with the power connector and the thermocouple connector through the mount.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove of the heat dispersion block is a helical or spiral groove.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an air gap exists between the body of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulated body has a side hole adapted to route connections through the insulated body.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reform heating assembly has a lower heated surface located proximate the portion of the container to be reformed, and the lower heated surface is heated to a temperature between approximately 1,200 to 1,400°

F.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises one or more thermal pins for removing heat from the Peltier thermoelectric cooler.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of heat pipes.

13. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container using induction heating, the apparatus comprising:

a reform heating assembly including a mount adapted to engage a frame;

an insulated body fastened to the mount and having a body, a top, and a centrally disposed buttress extending from the top, and housing a heat dispersion block having a groove into which is disposed an induction heater comprising a first thermocouple connector and a first power connector operably connected to a first proportional-integral derivative (PID) controller and, heated to a temperature above 500 degrees F. and heating the portion of the plastic container to be reformed without contacting the container and a reform cooling assembly having a forming die maintained at a temperature below the set temperature of the plastic used to form the container and adapted to contact and reform the portion of the container, a support housing a Peltier thermoelectric cooler comprising a second thermocouple connector and a second power connector operably connected to a second PID controller that controls the Peltier thermoelectric cooler to maintain the forming die at the temperature below the set point of the plastic used to form the container, and a heat sink facilitating heat transfer away from the forming die.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a cover plate engaging the heat dispersion block to form a single, monolithic unit and sandwich the induction heater, the first power connector, and the first thermocouple connector within the groove.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an air gap exists between the top of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block on either side of the buttress and between the body of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the insulated body has an information-providing color.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the groove of the heat dispersion block is a helical or spiral groove.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein an air gap exists between the body of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the heat sink comprises one or more thermal pins for removing heat from the Peltier thermoelectric cooler.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of heat pipes.

21. An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container using induction heating, the apparatus comprising:

a reform heating assembly including a mount adapted to engage a frame, an insulated body having a body, a top, and a centrally disposed buttress extending from the top and housing a heat dispersion block having a groove into which is disposed an induction heater comprising a first thermocouple connector and a first power connector operably connected to a first proportional-integral derivative (PID) controller and, heated to a temperature above 500 degrees F. and heating the portion of the plastic container to be reformed without contacting the container, a cover plate engaging the heat dispersion block to form a single monolithic unit and sandwich the induction heater, the first power connector, and the first thermocouple connector within the groove, an air gap between the top of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block on either side of the buttress and between the body of the insulated body and the heat dispersion block and

a reform cooling assembly having a forming die maintained at a temperature below the set temperature of the plastic used to form the container and adapted to contact and reform the portion of the container, a support housing a Peltier thermoelectric cooler comprising a second thermocouple connector and a second power connector operably connected to a second PID controller that controls the Peltier thermoelectric cooler to maintain the forming die at the temperature below the set point of the plastic used to form the container and, a heat sink facilitating heat transfer away from the forming die.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the heat sink comprises one or more thermal pins for removing heat from the Peltier thermoelectric cooler.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of heat pipes.