Method And Device For Heating Thermoplastic Preforms

• US 20080102148A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidel Participations (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Sidel Participations (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Evrard, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• 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 49/68 Ovens specially adapted for heating preforms or parisons
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/6835 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles

Abstract

A method and device for heating at least one blank which is used to produce a container, such as a bottle, from a thermoplastic material, particularly PET, by means of blow molding or stretch blow molding. The blank is disposed between two opposing lateral walls which are positioned at a distance from one another. One of the walls supports several radiation sources which are disposed one above the other opposite the body of the blank. The space between the two lateral walls is closed at least partially beyond and close to the base of the blank. At least part of the radiation emitted beyond the base of the blank is reflected in the direction of the body of the blank. In this way, losses due to lost radiation are limited.

Claims

1. A device for heating at least one preform intended for the manufacture of a container, such as a bottle, made of a thermoplastic, especially PET, by blow molding or stretch-blow molding, said heating device comprising two lateral walls(3, facing each other a certain distance apart, between which a preform placed, one of said lateral walls supporting several radiation sources placed one above another so as to face the body the preform, at least one transverse plate being placed beyond the closed end of the preform and near the latter and extending at least partly between the two said lateral walls the lower face of this transverse plate that lies facing the closed end of the preform being reflective for the radiation emitted by said sources, and being inclined, characterized in that thewherein said plate (1is supported by esaid wall of the lateral walls that supports Rhesaid radiation sources3, inhwherein said lower face tofhesaid plate (13)is inclined at an angle such that the radiation is reflected toward the preform (4+and toward said lateral wall (6)opposite thesaid lateral wall supporting the radiation sources3, and in thewherein said transverse plate (1is positioned with fastening means v identical to the fastening means for fastening each radiation source O in s_a respective support member, so that said transverse plate can be fitted instead of a radiation source in the support therefor.

2. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angle of inclination of said lower face said plate is between 10°

and 30°

.

4. The heating device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to claim 1, characterized in that thewherein said transverse plate (13)is removably mounted.

5. The device as claimed in an) one of claims 1 to 4Iclaim 1, characterized in that thewherein said radiation sources Dare of tubular general shape and in that thewherein said transverse plate (13)is of elongate shape and has the same length as a radiation sources.

6. The device as claimed in an) one of claims 1 to claim 1, characterized in that thewherein said means (for fastening Resaid transverse plate (are longitudinal projecting fingers of the same conformation as the contact sockets 16 provided for the radiation sources O5and suitable for being engaged in thesaid members (17, 18) for supporting the contact sockets of the radiation sources.

7. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6claim 1, characterized in that thewherein said transverse plate (has a width corresponding to about three-quarters of the space between the two lateral walls(,6).

8. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7claim 1, this heating device being elongate and including transport means for moving the preform between the two walls, parallel to them, eharacterize herein transverse plates (are placed at certain selected locations between Resaid two walls so that the preform (1+moved between thesaid walls is subjected to a predetermined heating profile.

9. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8claim 1, characterized in that thewherein said lower face (4of thesaid transverse plate (facing said closed end of the preform (4His coated with a layer of a ceramic that is reflective for the wavelength of the radiation.

10. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9claim 1, characterized in that thewherein said transverse plate His made of aluminum.

3. The heating device as claimed in claim Ir, characterize herein the preform is placed with its neck Down and its closed end (1o)up, so that the losses due to convection are limited.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)