Facility and method for producing containers

• US 9,073,251 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Hahn, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDERS, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US12/989,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 264/40.1, 264/40.6, 264/535, 425/161, 425/168, 425/526, 425/404
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 49/42 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4205 Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means handling of inserts or reinforcements B29C49/20; handling of linings or labels B29C49/2408
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42109 keeping temperature of accumulated preforms or articles, e.g. the accumulator being an oven
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42362 Electric drive means, e.g. servomotors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42378 Handling malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4238 Ejecting defective preforms or products
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42808 Filling the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/6409 Thermal conditioning of preforms B29C49/68 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/78 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/26 Scrap or recycled material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/712 Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 2003/227 Additional apparatus related to blow-moulding of the containers, e.g. a complete production line forming filled containers from preforms
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 7/0013 Synchronising

Abstract

A facility and process for processing containers includes a container production device for producing containers and at least one processing device which is disposed downstream from the container production device, for further processing of the containers. The container production device is synchronized with the processing device during regular operation. However, upon recognition of a malfunction in the processing device, synchronization of the container production device with the processing device is at least temporarily canceled.

Claims

1. A method for eliminating faults and/or preventing faults in a facility for processing containers having a container production device for producing containers, wherein the container production device comprises a heating device for heating preforms for the containers to a transformation temperature and a blow molding device for transforming the preforms into containers, and the heating device and the blow molding device are coupled in synchronisation with one another in regular operation, wherein the facility includes at least one processing device arranged downstream of the container production device for further processing the containers, wherein the container production device is synchronised with the processing device in regular operation, wherein synchronisation between the container production device and the processing device can be at least temporarily suspended, and a mechanical blocking placed between components of the container production device and components of the processing device, wherein reactions to the fault will be carried out automatically and are a function of the fault including whether the fault will be eliminated in a short period of time or whether the elimination of the fault will take more time, and wherein the heated preforms are conveyed from the heating device to the blow molding device using a conveying device, and the transport path on which the preforms are conveyed from the heating device to the blow molding device remains fixed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when a fault in the processing device is detected or foreseen, this processing device is at least temporarily stopped or slowed.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a transport path between the blow molding device and a downstream processing device remains fixed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after a fault in the processing device has been detected or foreseen, a supply of preforms to the heating device and/or to the blow molding device is interrupted.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when a fault in the processing device is detected, the operation of the heating device and/or the operation of the blow molding device is continued.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, once the supply of preforms to the heating device and/or to the blow molding device has been interrupted, preforms are ejected after the heating device and/or containers are ejected after the blow molding device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after elimination of a fault, the processing device is run up until the processing rate of the container production device is reached and then the processing device is synchronised with the container production device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein after a temporary suspension of synchronization between the container production device and the processing device, the blow molding device is run at minimum speed so as not to damage any molds that are not closed, whereupon subsequent empty running of the blow molding device can then take place at regular operation rate.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein after temporary suspension of synchronization between the container production device and the processing device, upon detection of a restart, synchronized preform supply to the heating device and a mechanical block to the blow molding machine are opened, and the heater and the blow molding device are freshly filled with preforms.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein once the processing devices reach a processing rate corresponding to regular operation, the processing devices are resynchronized with the blow molding device and with the container production device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein synchronization of the processing devices and synchronization with the container production device takes place at least partially at the same time as supply to the heater is restarted and the heater is filled with preforms.