Parison Transfer Means Patents (Class 425/534)
  • Patent number: 11964415
    Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a support base and a mold carrier removably mounted to the support base. The mold carrier includes a mounting plate with attachment features for engaging the support base. A mold with two mold plates is slidably mounted to the mounting 5 plate. A clamp is operable to move the plates between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the plates abut one another. In the open position, the plates are spaced apart for removing molded articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD
    Inventors: Joaquim Martins Nogueira, Adam Christopher Ulemek, Ralf Walter Fisch, Sven Kmoch, Alex Teng
  • Patent number: 11878456
    Abstract: A process for angular indexing of a pre-form having a body and a neck. The process includes a step of marking the neck of the pre-form which consists of production of at least one reference point on the neck of the pre-form. The process also includes a step of a heating station taking charge of the pre-form, during which the pre-form is transported along a heating course by a support unit, known as a spinner, which makes it possible to turn the pre-form around its axis, and during which the body of the pre-form is heated. The marking step is carried out during the step of taking charge, when the pre-form, supported by a spinner, travels along the heating course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Loïc Bourvellec, Hervé Pasquier, Marc Mouchelet, Pierrick Protais
  • Patent number: 11724434
    Abstract: A temperature adjustment device (2) for thermally conditioning preforms (10) made of a thermoplastic material for subsequent molding including a transport device based on the rotary principle for transporting the preforms along a transport path that has at least one section with two adjacent transport lanes (32, 34) for transporting the preforms in two adjacent rows. Heating elements (36) are arranged between the transport lanes for heating the preforms. Each heating element acts on preforms in both transport lanes. At least one compensation device (22, 22?, 23, 24) for compensating for temperature differences between the preforms is assigned to the two transport lanes, which exclusively or more strongly acts on preforms in one of the two transport lanes for adjusting their temperature. Also, a container manufacturing machine (1) for manufacturing containers (12) from preforms that includes a temperature adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Lewin, Deniz Ulutürk, Arne-Fritz Wiese, Dieter Klatt, Christian Mündel, Daniel Firchau, Karl-Heinz Balkau
  • Patent number: 11642829
    Abstract: A molding device suitable for performing at least one of injection molding of preforms and blow molding of the preforms includes a pitch changing device including: N holding units capable of holding the preforms and arranged at a predetermined pitch in a predetermined direction, N being inter equal to or larger than 2; a coupling unit coupling the holding units adjacent to each other such that the pitch is changeable; a drive unit configured to generate a predetermined drive force; and a drive force transmission unit configured to transmit the drive force to each of one end-side and the other end-side, in the predetermined direction, of the coupled N holding units. The one end-side and the other end-side are configured to be moved in the predetermined direction by the drive force to change the pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Sakabe
  • Patent number: 11426920
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for expanding plastics material parisons into plastics material containers by a liquid medium with at least two transforming stations which fill and expand the plastics material parisons with the liquid medium with at least one common delivery device, which delivers the liquid medium to both transforming stations, wherein the transforming stations in each case have filling devices which fill the liquid medium into the plastics material parisons. According to the embodiments these transforming stations and/or filling devices in each case have a throttle device which are suitable and intended for changing the volume flow of the liquid entering the plastics material parisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kitzinger, Cora Hanesch, Dieter Finger, Dominik Meier, Andreas Pense, Andreas Vornehm, Christian Betz
  • Patent number: 11420378
    Abstract: A core rod assembly (10) for blow molding includes a core rod head (16), a first fluid pathway (A1) extending along a first length of the core rod head (16), and a second fluid pathway (A2) extending along a second length of the core rod head (16). The first and second fluid pathways (A1, A2) may be fluidly isolated from each other and provide selective temperature control of respective first and second portions of the core rod assembly (10) during the blow molding process. At least a portion of the first fluid pathway (A1) may be longitudinally offset from the second fluid pathway (A2) so as to define respective first and second temperature zones (zone 1, zone 2) along the respective first and second portions of the core rod assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Nalge Nunc International Corporation
    Inventor: David F. Voigt
  • Patent number: 11273591
    Abstract: A blow moulding machine for producing blown containers with an integrally formed handle; the machine including a preform injection moulding stage wherein the preform comprising a body portion, a neck portion and an integrally moulded handle; the machine further including a handle orientation stage, a preform conditioning stage and a blow moulding stage, and wherein the preform is nested in cavities provided in opposing portions of a conditioning module; the integrally moulded handle nested in cavities lined with an insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Integrated Plastics Pty Limited
    Inventor: Nick Mellen
  • Patent number: 10471642
    Abstract: A process is provided for making a blow-molded PET container comprising a wall having a density of between about 1.370 g/cc and 1.385 g/cc, a heat-induced crystallinity of from about 18% to about 25%, and a strain-induced crystallinity of from about 55% to about 75%, wherein the PET container, when filled with a liquid having a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 132° C. or when subjected to a pasteurization or retort process, will not experience a change in volume of greater than 3%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry W. Silvers, Mark D. Schneider, Sergey B. Bobrov, Samuel E. Evins
  • Patent number: 10065358
    Abstract: A machine to shape from a preform and fill with liquid successive containers in successive molds. The machine defines a first closed loop and includes a plurality of holding devices adapted to hold a neck of a preform or of a container. The holding devices are distributed along the first closed loop and the machine further includes a conveyor adapted to convey the holding device along the first closed loop. The first closed loop including a forming area along which each holing device is integrated in a forming station. The first closed loop also including one straight portion extending substantially rectilinearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DISCMA AG
    Inventor: Daniel Diesnis
  • Patent number: 9567128
    Abstract: A container and a method for making a container are provided. The method includes injection molding a preform having a body forming region, a neck forming region, and a dome forming region. After forming the preform, the preform is mounted in a mold having a surface, the mold surface having a neck forming surface to form a neck having a snap fit portion or a threaded portion. After mounting the preform, the preform is stretched against the mold surface to form an intermediate article having a dome portion connected to a neck portion of the container. Thereafter, the dome portion is severed from the neck portion to produce a wide mouth container, wherein the ratio of a wall thickness of the neck forming region of the preform to the wall thickness of the neck portion is ranges from 4.8 to 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ring Container Technologies
    Inventors: Douglas Dygert, Dan Gamber
  • Patent number: 9550321
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a molded product delivery apparatus or a blow molding machine includes a first transfer member that includes first paired chucks that hold a portion of an outer wall of a neck portion of a molded product, and a second transfer member that includes second paired chucks that hold another portion of the outer wall of the neck portion of the molded product. From a state where the molded product is held by both of the first paired chucks and the second paired chucks simultaneously, by opening one of the first paired chucks and the second paired chucks without interfering with the other, the molded product is delivered between the first paired chucks and the second paired chucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9278476
    Abstract: The blow molding device includes a heating section that continuously transfers and heats preforms that respectively include a neck along a heating transfer path while supporting the preforms using transfer members in an inverted state, a blow molding section that simultaneously blow-molds N (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) preforms that have been heated by the heating section in an upright state to form N containers, and an intermittent transfer section that intermittently transfers the N preforms from the heating section to the blow molding section. The intermittent transfer section includes a pitch conversion section that converts the arrangement pitch of the N preforms from a first pitch P1 to a second pitch P2 (P2>P1), and an inversion section that includes N inversion arms that respectively invert the N preforms from the inverted state to the upright state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Sato, Atsushi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9149971
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a molded product delivery apparatus or a blow molding machine includes first transfer member that includes first paired chucks that hold a portion of an outer wall of a neck portion of a molded product, and a second transfer member that includes second paired chucks that hold another portion of the outer wall of the neck portion of the molded product. From a state where the molded product is held by both of the first paired chucks and the second paired chucks simultaneously, by opening one of the first paired chucks and the second paired chucks without interfering with the other, the molded product is delivered between the first paired chucks and the second paired chucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150118347
    Abstract: A preform supplying apparatus of the invention includes an alignment guidance chute (80) having a guide member (83, 84) that slides a plurality of preforms (P) under their own weight by inclination and guides the preforms to a preform alignment conveyance unit (39), and the preform alignment conveyance unit (39) that conveys the preforms (P) guided from the alignment guidance chute (80) in an aligned state, and groove parts along an inclination direction are formed to the guide members (83, 84) and inner wall surfaces of the groove parts have shapes which causes the preforms (P) sliding down inside the groove parts to be aligned in a line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Shinya Takeda
  • Patent number: 9004905
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing plastic containers includes a heating module that heats plastic preforms and a molding module for molding the preforms into containers. The heating module includes a first transport unit that transports the preforms during the heating and a first interface. The molding module is downstream of the heating module in the transport direction and includes a blow molding unit for applying a flowable medium onto the preforms for expansion thereof, a second transport unit that transports the preforms during the expansion, and a second interface. The first and second interfaces allow a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the modules such that the molding module may be disposed on the heating module and at least one further module integrated between the heating and molding modules. The further module treats the preforms following the heating and prior to the molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Heinz Humele, Klaus Voth, Johann Zimmerer, Dieter Finger, Martin Seger, Christoph Klenk, Konrad Senn, Frank Winzinger, Alexandra Donhauser
  • Patent number: 8992208
    Abstract: A device for forming containers from heated parisons of thermoplastic material, which includes a heating section and a blow molding unit provided with at least one blow molding station. The parisons are held along at least a portion of a transport path between the heating section and the blow molding unit by a carrying element, which has a head that can be inserted into a mouth section of a parison and which includes at least two positionable clamping elements. At least one of the clamping elements is positioned in a recess provided on a side of the head relative to a longitudinal axis of the carrying element. The recess has upper and lower sliding surfaces that extend obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis for acting on the clamping element. The upper head part and the lower head part are braced relative to each other by at least one spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Rolf Baumgarte
  • Publication number: 20150084244
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow bodies from thermoplastic material and to an apparatus for carrying out the method. The method comprises the molding of at least two sheet-like preforms in web form of thermoplastic material into two complementary shells in a multi-part tool, which in a closed position forms a mold impression, and the joining together of the shells to form an essentially closed hollow body, the preforms being brought between the parts of the tool in an opened receiving position of the parts of the tool and the preforms being placed into the part-cavities by applying differential pressure and being at least partially molded in them into shells. The shells are joined together to form an essentially closed hollow body by closing the tool to form a closed mold impression. The method is distinguished by the fact that the preforms are molded in the part-cavities while the parts of the tool are located in the opened receiving position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Matthias Franke-Maintz
  • Patent number: 8956149
    Abstract: A system for handling objects in rotary machines, and, more particularly, a system for handling preforms in blowing machines. The system picks up a pre-heated preform from a transferring star of the preform and takes it to a mold of a stretch-blowing machine by using movements entailing reduced acceleration values, in particular of the tangential acceleration component, so as to prevent uncontrolled oscillatory movements of the softened preform. In the blowing machine, the preform is blown to obtain a bottle, and the bottle thus obtained is picked up from the stretch-blow molding position and transferred to an unloading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: SMI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Vanni Zacche
  • Patent number: 8951036
    Abstract: The neck crystallization system includes a rectangular stage, a plurality of sprockets that are disposed on the stage, and an endless member that is fitted around the plurality of sprockets. A transfer path that is formed in an area in which the endless member is disposed, includes first to fourth linear transfer paths. A plurality of heating sections provided along at least the first to third linear transfer paths, a cooling section disposed along at least the fourth linear transfer path, a molded article supply section that supplies the molded article at a position on the upstream side of the plurality of heating sections, and a molded article removal section that removes the molded article at a position between the cooling section and the molded article supply section, are provided along the transfer path in which a plurality of transfer members that respectively support the molded article are transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tsuchiya, Yuta Nishio
  • Patent number: 8939749
    Abstract: What is described is a blow-molding machine for plastic containers, comprising a plurality of platens for supporting blow mold halves, wherein at least two of the platens are in the form of movable multi-carriers for simultaneously supporting at least two blow mold halves which are assigned to different blow-molding cavities. Since the multi-carriers are driven in such a manner that at least one of the blow-molding cavities can be opened and at the same time at least one other of the blow-molding cavities can be closed by means of a continuous movement of the multi-carriers, acceleration and deceleration ramps can be reduced upon opening and closing and it is possible to gain process time for the blow molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Frank Winzinger
  • Patent number: 8939746
    Abstract: In a quick-change system for exchangeable machine elements, particularly in a container processing machine in which the machine element (E) can be brought into a target position and can be localized in a target position by a securing unit comprising at least one securing element, at least a second securing unit (P2) is provided with which a machine element that either has not been brought into the target position or that has moved out of the target position (X) can be localized in a securing position. The securing position is detected and evaluated as grounds for a corrective action before commencing an operation or during the operating sequence before a corrective action is initiated and executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Erik Blochmann, Bernhard Sternkopf
  • Patent number: 8926314
    Abstract: A transport device and a transport method for a container treatment plant as well as a blow molding machine is provided. The transport device comprises at least one transport star for transporting receptacles to or away from a treatment station of the container treatment plant, wherein the at least one transport star is arranged obliquely to the treatment station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Jochen Forsthoevel, Franz Gmeiner
  • Patent number: 8871134
    Abstract: A labeler for labeling plastic containers in the blow mold in a rotary blow molder, with a blow wheel having arranged thereon a plurality of blow molds with a lowerable blow mold bottom, and at least one label dispenser used for providing tubular labels. The blow mold bottom is implemented such that a label can be introduced via the blow mold bottom into the blow mold before the blowing process takes place, which facilitates a spatial separation of the label supply from the feeder star wheel of the blow wheel and allows a substantially simultaneous insertion of the label and of the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Werner Britten, Wolfgang Hausladen
  • Patent number: 8858216
    Abstract: Plastic container manufacturing plant comprising devices for injection-compression of plastic in molds and effected by means of at least one rotary carousel actuated by electro-pneumatic actuators, of the single-stage type integrating at least one first rotary carousel (2) for molding of the preforms and a second rotary carousel (7) for stretch blow molding of the preforms. Moreover, the plant comprises a transport system (5) between said first (2) and second rotary carousel (7) comprising further handling wheels, of which at least one (8) comprises means for thermal conditioning of the preforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: S.I.P.A. Societa' Industrializzazione Progettazione e Automazione S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Zoppas, Alberto Armellin, Sandro Serra
  • Patent number: 8852497
    Abstract: A method for providing an internal surface temperature profile of a thermoplastic preform (10, 22) during a stretch blow molding production process comprising at least the steps of: (a) heating a plurality of in-line cold preforms (10) in the production process to provide a plurality of in-line heated preforms (22); (b) diverting at least one of the in-line heated preforms to provide at least one off-line heated preform (30); (c) providing the remaining the in-line heated preforms to one or more stretch blow molds (24) for forming the heated preforms into blow molded products (12); and (d) locating one or more temperature sensors (34, 36) inside the or each off-line heated preform (30) of step (b) to provide an inside surface temperature profile of said preform(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Queen's University of Belfast
    Inventors: Gary Menary, Cecil Armstrong, Yannis Mugurel Salomeia
  • Patent number: 8851881
    Abstract: Ovens for preforms in plastic material, applicable in particular but not exclusively to blowing machines and stretch blowing machines, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: SMI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Vanni Zacche
  • Publication number: 20140271976
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a molded product delivery apparatus capable of delivering a molded product without using a flange support structure limited to erected transfer or an inverted support pin limited to inverted transfer. A first transfer member (720) includes first paired chucks (720A, 720B) that hold a portion of an outer wall of a neck portion (2A) of a molded product 2, and a second transfer member (411) includes second paired chucks (412) that hold another portion of the outer wall of the neck portion (2A) of the molded product (2). From a state where the molded product (2) is held by both of the first paired chucks (720A, 720B) and the second paired chucks (412) simultaneously, by opening one of the first paired chucks (720A, 720B) and the second paired chucks (412) without interfering with the other, the molded product (2) is delivered between the first paired chucks (720A, 720B) and the second paired chucks (412).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Masaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8807986
    Abstract: A blow molding machine for blow molding a container having an integrally formed handle; said container blow molded from a previously injection molded preform; said preform comprising a body portion and said integrally formed handle; said machine including a preform loading station at which said preform is oriented by a preform orienting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: B & R Industries Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Glenn Robert Beale
  • Patent number: 8777606
    Abstract: The injection stretch blow molding device includes an injection molding section that produces N (N is an integer equal to or larger 2) preforms by injection molding, a cooling section that subjects the N preforms transferred from the injection molding section to forced cooling, a heating section that continuously transfers and heats the N cooled preforms, and a blow molding section that subjects the N heated preforms to stretch blow molding in n (n is an integer equal to or larger than 2) operations, the blow molding section simultaneously stretch blow molding M (M=N/n, M is a natural number) preforms among the N preforms into M containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yamaguchi, Masatoshi Ando, Shuichi Ogihara
  • Publication number: 20140167334
    Abstract: A device for transporting plastic preforms to a stretch blow molding machine comprising a feeder device, which transports the plastic preforms to a separating device, which is arranged in transport direction upstream of the stretch blow molding machine, wherein the feeder device comprises a pneumatically actuable blocking device, which in a first position deblocks the path of transport for the preforms and in a second position blocks the path of transport for the plastic preforms, and wherein the blocking device is actuable by means of a cylinder. According to the invention, the valve for controlling the cylinder is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Krones AG
    Inventors: Thomas Spitzer, Wolfgang Schoenberger
  • Publication number: 20140161920
    Abstract: What is described is a blow-molding machine for plastic containers, comprising a plurality of platens for supporting blow mold halves, wherein at least two of the platens are in the form of movable multi-carriers for simultaneously supporting at least two blow mold halves which are assigned to different blow-molding cavities. Since the multi-carriers are driven in such a manner that at least one of the blow-molding cavities can be opened and at the same time at least one other of the blow-molding cavities can be closed by means of a continuous movement of the multi-carriers, acceleration and deceleration ramps can be reduced upon opening and closing and it is possible to gain process time for the blow molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Frank Winzinger
  • Patent number: 8728381
    Abstract: An injection moulding apparatus includes an openable mould (1, 3) having a plurality of cavities for injection moulding articles (6), and, disposed below the mould cavities, a plurality of post cooling cavities (13) into which in use released injection moulded articles (6) may pass at least partially under gravity when released from the mould cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Constantinos Sideris
  • Patent number: 8684724
    Abstract: A plant for blow-molding plastic containers (2), particularly bottles, from respective parisons (3) is equipped with a plurality of molding units (15), each having at least two respective cavities (19) for blow-molding respective containers (2), and with a transfer device (39) for transferring the parisons (3) from a flexible feed conveyor (41) to the respective molding cavities (19). The transfer device (39) is connected to the flexible feed conveyor (41) at a transfer station (40), where the spacing (P1) of the parisons (3) is equal to the distance (D2) between the longitudinal axes (19a) of the molding cavities (19) of one molding unit (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
    Inventors: Maurizio Borgatti, Massimo Morovingi, Fiorenzo Parrinello, Emilio Re, Gabriele Stocchi
  • Patent number: 8684725
    Abstract: An apparatus for tempering plastics material pre-forms with a tempering mould for tempering an outer wall of the plastics material pre-forms, wherein the tempering mould has at least one first mould part which is movable and wherein the first mould part contacts a first wall portion of the plastics material pre-form at least for a time, in order to temper this wall portion. The apparatus has a supply unit in order to supply the plastics material pre-forms to the tempering mould, and this supply unit has a holding device for holding the plastics material pre-forms as well as a movement device which, in order to supply the plastics material pre-forms into the tempering mould, produces a relative movement between the plastics material pre-form and at least one portion of at least one mould part in a longitudinal direction (L) of the plastics material pre-form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Robert Schmitt, Klaus Voth, Gerald Huettner, Michael Foerster, Lothar Martinsen
  • Patent number: 8651853
    Abstract: An equipment (10) for producing vessels (12), includes at least one variable pitch wheel (38) arranged between a blower (14) having a first pitch (P1) and a filler (16) having a second pitch (P2), and that includes transfer elements (40) controlled by control elements adapted for selectively varying the pitch between two successive transfer elements (40) between an initial pitch (P) and a final pitch (P?), the initial pitch (P) being for example equal to once or twice the first pitch (P1) and the final pitch (P?) being equal to the second pitch (P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Pascal Dupuis, Daniel Nguyen Van
  • Patent number: 8632333
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for handling a container product, in particular a container or a preform for producing a container, where the product is provided with an orientation mark and adapted to be rotated to a predetermined rotary angle position relative to a holder by an orienting means. To do so in a structurally simple and reliable manner, the orienting means are arranged at a transfer site between a holder of a first conveying unit and a holder of a second conveying unit, at which the holders move relative to one another in an accompanying movement, and the rotary movement of the product to the predetermined rotary angle position is derived from the relative movement of the holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Christian Holzer, Konrad Senn
  • Patent number: 8613614
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a neck mold assembly includes N rows of holding plates, each of the N rows of holding plates holding a plurality of neck molds. The neck mold assembly also includes a supporting-mechanism that supports the N rows of holding plates. The supporting mechanism includes at least one reinforcement shaft that is provided along a row direction of the N rows of holding plates, and two first securing sections that are secured at either end of the at least one reinforcement shaft. Each of the N rows of holding plates has at least one first through-hole that receives the at least one reinforcement shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horigome, Kazuyuki Yokobayashi, Daisaburo Takehana
  • Patent number: 8602770
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating plastics-material performs includes a conveying device which conveys the plastics-material performs along a pre-determined conveying path. A heating device is arranged along this conveying path and which heats the plastics-material performs. The apparatus has at least one first contacting element arranged downstream with respect to the heating device for acting upon a wall of the plastic-material perform with a temperature profile varying in a peripheral direction and/or longitudinal direction of the plastics-material perform. The contacting element touches with a contact face a pre-determined region— bounded in the peripheral direction and/or longitudinal direction of the plastics-material performs— of a wall of the plastics-material perform in order to act upon this region with a temperature profile different from regions not touched by the contacting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Christian Stoiber, Heinrich Deyerl, Jochen Hirdina, Gerald Huettner
  • Publication number: 20130320599
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that is used for making flexible tubing with annular corrugations from a sleeve of uncured rubber. The sleeve is positioned on a mandrel and radially expanded by fluid pressure into an external forming member that includes a plurality of annular discs loosely connected to a support and positioned in approximate axial alignment. A disc aligning tube is located around an axial length portion of the external forming member. While the sleeve is radially expanded, the aligning tube is slid in an axial direction to engage the discs and to urge any misaligned discs into accurate axial alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: CRUSHPROOF TUBING COMPANY
    Inventors: Vance M. Kramer, JR., Jonathan O. Rodebaugh
  • Patent number: 8591779
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing plastic containers by a blow molding machine, where the blow molding machine is operated such that at least two different plastic containers are output from the blow molding machine within one production cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Konrad Senn, Frank Winzinger, Robert Aust
  • Patent number: 8556620
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first operating machine arranged for processing objects, a second operating machine positioned downstream of the first operating machine and arranged for further processing the objects, an accumulating arrangement interposed between the first operating machine and the second operating machine and arranged for receiving the objects, and a command and control arrangement arranged for detecting a parameter indicating the quantity of the objects contained in the accumulating arrangement and regulating the operation of the second operating machine on the basis of the parameter. A method includes dispensing synthetic plastics in a pasty state, compression-moulding the plastics to obtain a perform, blowing the perform to obtain a container, and filling the container with a product. Each step maintains its own regulated temperature so that the dispensing temperature is greater than the blowing temperature and the blowing temperature is greater than the filling temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
    Inventors: Fiorenzo Parrinello, Zeno Zuffa, Matteo Camerani, Ivan Bonzi, Gabriele Stocchi
  • Patent number: 8544632
    Abstract: A device (10) for conveying at least one preform (12) in a preform heating unit (12), the conveying device (10) including a conveyor belt which includes at least: a main traction belt (14a) which engages with rotary elements (16a, 16b); and a secondary support belt (14b) which is movably connected to the main belt (14a) by a connecting element (24), and to which at least one support device (34) of at least one preform (12) is attached by an attachment element (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Denis Gillet, Patrice Andreux, Damien Muzzolini
  • Patent number: 8512031
    Abstract: The device serves for blow molding containers. Preforms of a thermoplastic material are heated in the area of a heating section and are subsequently transferred to a blow device. The blow device is provided with at least one blow station for deforming the preforms into the containers. The preforms are held along at least a portion of their transport path by a support element which over at least portions is loosely inserted into an opening section of the preform and is tensioned after the insertion within the opening section. Along an outer circumference of the head are arranged at least two clamping elements at a distance relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Michael Litzenberg, Rolf Baumgarte, Frank Lewin, Matthias Grunwald
  • Patent number: 8512623
    Abstract: A labeler for labeling plastic containers in the blow mold as well as to a labeling method for use of the labeler, where due to the fact that the rotating insertion device of the labeler comprises articulated arms having each rotatably supported thereon a gripper, it is possible to remove labels from stationary magazines at a comparatively low relative speed. The articulated arms are able to follow the path of the blow molds during insertion of the labels with high speed. The grippers are rotatably supported which allows an exact radial orientation of the gripper with respect to the axis of rotation of the blow wheel that continues to rotate during insertion of the labels, to thus allow a particularly accurate and reliable labeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hausladen, Christian Popp, Johannes Weiss
  • Patent number: 8449280
    Abstract: A machine (10) for blow molding containers (100). The machine (10) has a stationary flow head (26) located proximate a turntable (12) on which molds (16) are mounted. A dwell cam mechanism (110, 120, 132) on the turntable causes the molds to accelerate ahead of the turntable, stop under the flow head to receive a parison (31), then accelerate to catch up with the turntable. This sequence allows the turntable to rotate continuously. Blow pins (30) mounted on the turntable inject gas into the molds to blow mold the parison while traveling a first path (144). Paddles (142) grip the molded containers and travel a second path (146) radially outward from the first path. The containers blow-molded from the parisons at a first station (18) are retained on the turntable after the turntable completes one full revolution and again passes the first station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Waldemar Boleslaw Kwasniewski, Andrzej Tomasz Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 8431069
    Abstract: Mold (1) for molding a container (2) obtained from a parison (3) of plastic material/ comprising: two half-molds (4); means (5) for moving said half-molds (4) between a closed position in which said half-molds (4) define a cavity (6) for housing the parison (3) or the molded container (2), and an open position in which said half-molds (4) are moved away from each other to enable the extraction of the molded container (2) from the cavity (6) or the insertion of another parison (3) in said cavity (6); two jaws (7) movable between a configuration' of engagement and a configuration of disengagement with the parison (3) or the container (2) located in said cavity (6), said half-molds (4) defining an inner portion (9) of the mold (1) that is complementarily shaped relative to an outer profile (10) of the jaws (7) in such a way that said jaws (7) are enclosed, at least partially, by said half-molds (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: GEA Procomac S.p.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Dordoni, Bernard Troadec
  • Patent number: 8371840
    Abstract: A blow molding apparatus includes an injection molding station (12) that injection-molds preforms (1A) held by N (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) rows of holding plates (30), a temperature control station (14) that performs a temperature control operation on the preforms (1A), a blow molding station (16) that blow-molds the preforms into containers, and a row pitch change section (130) that changes the row pitch of the N rows of holding plates so that P1<P3<P2 is satisfied, P1 being the row pitch of the N rows of holding plates when they hold the performs, P2 being the row pitch of the N rows of holding plates when they hold the containers, and P3 being the row pitch of the N rows of holding plates when they hold the preforms that are transferred to N rows of blow molds that are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Horigome, Kazuyuki Yokobayashi, Daisaburo Takehana
  • Patent number: 8337193
    Abstract: The apparatus for unscrambling and aligning preforms comprises two substantially parallel alignment rollers (121) and rotary pushing means (122) mounted above the said alignment rollers for pushing back incorrectly oriented preforms or nested preforms, and is characterized by at least one of the following characteristics (i) or (ii): (i) it comprises stopping means (30, 31) mounted above the alignment rollers (121) for stopping correctly oriented nested preforms (P2/P3) or an incorrectly oriented preform or incorrectly oriented nested preforms (P4/P5) underneath the rotary pushing means (122) until the rotary pushing means push back the stopped preform(s), said stopping means (30, 31) being adapted for letting a correctly oriented preform slide onto the alignment rollers, (ii) it comprises guiding means (34) for lifting an incorrectly oriented preform or incorrectly oriented nested preforms (P4/P5) into contact with the rotary pushing means (122) said guiding means (34) being adapted for letting a correctly o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: La Seda de Barcelona S.A.
    Inventor: Paul Brown
  • Patent number: 8235698
    Abstract: A blowing machine for containers, in particular bottles, with a preform heating module, to which a blow wheel is assigned and which contains a conveyor chain with exchangeable heating mandrels and optionally exchangeable shielding plates, with a service area provided on the conveyor chain in the heating module, in which an automatic changer for the automatic changeover of at least the heating mandrels is arranged. The automatic changer includes a magazine holder, a turret, which is adjustable and rotatable between the magazine holder and the conveyor chain, with grippers, and movably drivable unlocking components for engaging locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schönberger, Christian Stoiber
  • Patent number: 8206144
    Abstract: A preform transfer device includes at least one clamp including two levers pivoting between an open position and a closed position and elements for the elastic return of the levers to the closed position. The device includes a mechanism for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the clamp, this mechanism including: a lever spreading member driven by a link including at least one free end able to interact with actuating elements to cause the clamp to open against the force of the elastic return elements, and associated locking elements that are able to move between a locked position in which the clamp is held in the open position and a retracted position in which the clamp is free to close, the locking elements being able to interact with second actuating elements designed to cause the locking element to move from the locked position to the retracted position, to trigger the closure of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Kheng Joo Ng, Philippe Freire Diaz