Search

DE-102024133247-A1 - Device and method for transporting plastic preforms

DE102024133247A1DE 102024133247 A1DE102024133247 A1DE 102024133247A1DE-102024133247-A1

Abstract

Device (1) for transporting plastic preforms (10) comprising a base body (10a) and an outlet area (10b) with a first roller (2) rotatable about a first axis of rotation (D1) and a second roller (4) rotatable about a second axis of rotation (D2), wherein the first axis of rotation (D1) and the second axis of rotation (D2) are parallel to each other and a gap (Sp) is formed between the first roller (2) and the second roller (4), which is dimensioned such that the base body (10a) can pass through this gap and the outlet area (10b) cannot pass through this gap (Sp), wherein the plastic preforms (10) are transportable along this gap and are equipped with at least one actuation device (6, 7) which actuates the plastic preforms with a gaseous medium and in particular with air. characterized by the fact that the actuation device (6, 7) is arranged such that it acts on the plastic preform in its opening area (10b) with the gaseous medium.

Inventors

  • Dieter Wuensche
  • Jürgen Beutl

Assignees

  • KRONES AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241113

Claims (10)

  1. Device (1) for transporting plastic preforms (10) which have a base body (10a) and an opening region (10b) with a first roller (2) rotatable about a first axis of rotation (D1) and a second roller (4) rotatable about a second axis of rotation (D2), wherein the first axis of rotation (D1) and the second axis of rotation (D2) are parallel to each other and a gap (Sp) is formed between the first roller (2) and the second roller (4), which is dimensioned such that the base body (10a) can pass through this gap and the opening region (10b) cannot pass through this gap (Sp), wherein the plastic preforms (10) are transportable along this gap and are equipped with at least one supply device (6, 7) which supplies the plastic preforms with a gaseous medium and in particular with air, characterized in that the supply device (6) is arranged such that it supplies the plastic preforms with a gaseous medium and in particular with air. exposed to the gaseous medium.
  2. Device according to claim (1), characterized in that the actuation device (6,7) is arranged such that the gaseous medium exiting the actuation device also exits at least in the transport direction of the plastic preforms.
  3. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device (6,7) has a plurality of outlet openings (62, 72) for the gaseous medium, through which the gaseous medium can be directed onto the plastic preforms (10).
  4. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the outlet openings are gill-like.
  5. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation device (6,7) is arranged at least sectionally above the first roller (2) and the second roller (4) and/or the actuation device (6,7) is arranged in an end section of the rollers (2, 4) with respect to the transport direction of the plastic preforms.
  6. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device (6,7) has a collection chamber (64,74) for collecting the gaseous medium and preferably the gaseous medium can pass directly from this collection chamber (64,74) to the outlet openings (62,72).
  7. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a hold-down device (8) arranged above the rollers (2, 4), which is suitable and intended to prevent the plastic preforms from escaping from the gap (Sp) and preferably the actuation device (6) is formed on this hold-down device (8).
  8. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a guide tongue (12) for guiding the transported plastic preforms (10) and preferably the actuation device (6) is arranged on this guide tongue.
  9. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has an ejector device (40) which is suitable and intended to eject incorrectly oriented plastic preforms (10) and preferably the or at least one actuation device is arranged in the transport direction of the plastic preforms after this ejector device.
  10. A method for transporting plastic preforms (10) comprising a base body (10a) and an outlet region (10b), wherein a first roller (2) rotating about a first axis of rotation (D1) and a second roller (4) rotating about a second axis of rotation (D2) are provided, wherein the first axis of rotation (D1) and the second axis of rotation (D2) are parallel to each other and a gap (Sp) is formed between the first roller (2) and the second roller (4), which is dimensioned such that the base body (10a) passes through this gap and the outlet region (10b) does not, wherein the plastic preforms (10) are transported along this gap (Sp) and at least one supply device (6, 7) supplies the plastic preforms with a gaseous medium and in particular with air, characterized in that the supply device (6, 7) is arranged such that it supplies the plastic preform with the gaseous medium in its outlet region. charged.

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for transporting plastic preforms used for the production of containers. Such plastic preforms are typically used in the prior art to be formed into plastic bottles by a forming device such as a stretch blow molding machine. These plastic preforms are usually aligned or sorted from a disordered state, for example, from a silo, and then transported. A common method for carrying out this process is the use of roller sorters. These roller sorters have two rollers arranged parallel to each other, between which the base bodies of the plastic preforms are transported, particularly while these rollers rotate, whereby other areas of the plastic preforms, such as their support rings, cannot pass through the gap formed between the rollers. Over time, there have been continuous efforts to increase the throughput of such systems. Current target throughputs are between 80,000 and 100,000 plastic preforms per hour. Internal documents from the applicant reveal a method in which the base bodies of the plastic preforms are pressurized with compressed air to increase their speed. In other words, the plastic preforms in a high-performance assembly area are blown with air from below. This blowing causes the preforms to align themselves with their base body facing forward in the direction of travel. This, in turn, can lead to increased malfunctions and, for example, jamming of the preforms. From the DE 2020 19 104 001 U1 A transport device for transporting plastic preforms is known, comprising a first rail guide and a second rail guide which extend parallel to each other and at a predetermined distance from each other in a predetermined transport direction. Air guides are formed adjacent to and, in particular, above the rail guides. The EP 4 375 046 A1 describes a transport device for transporting preforms, with a conveying lane extending along a conveying direction, wherein the conveying lane has a container guide with a guide slot extending in the conveying direction, and wherein a first group of fluid channels arranged above the guide slot is provided, which is fluidly connected to the conveying lane and the at least one drive channel. The present invention therefore aims to achieve transport and the alignment or sorting described herein even at high throughput rates and, in particular, with reduced susceptibility to malfunctions. This is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. A device according to the invention for transporting containers and in particular plastic preforms, which have a base body and an opening area, has a first roller rotatable with respect to a first axis of rotation and a second roller rotatable with respect to a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation run parallel to each other. Furthermore, a gap is formed between the first roller and the second roller, which is dimensioned in such a way that the base body of the plastic preform(s) can pass through this gap, and the mouth section(s) of the plastic preform(s) cannot pass through this gap. In this way, it is preferably achieved that the plastic preforms are transported hanging, especially from the support rings and/or the mouth areas. The plastic preforms can be transported along this gap and/or are transported along this gap, and at least one actuation device is provided which acts on the plastic preforms with a gaseous medium and in particular with (compressed) air. Preferably, this application of compressed air serves to accelerate or push the plastic preforms in a specific direction, in particular the transport direction. According to the invention, the application device is designed such that it applies the gaseous medium to the plastic preforms or the plastic preform in whose or whose mouth area. Preferably, the application device is designed such that it does not expose at least the lower regions of the base bodies of the plastic preforms to the gaseous medium. A lower region is understood to be at least one lower third of the base bodies (in a vertical orientation with the opening facing upwards), preferably one lower half of the base bodies, and particularly preferably the lower two-thirds and preferably the lower three-quarters of the base bodies. Preferably, the device comprises a first drive unit that drives the first roller to rotate about its axis of rotation. Preferably, the device comprises a second drive unit that drives the second roller to rotate about its axis of rotation. Preferably, the rotation of the first roller and the rotation of the second roller are synchronized. This synchronization can be achieved by a gearbox or by electronic control. Preferably, the drive unit(s) are electric motors, and in particular, servo motors. Preferably, the two rollers are driven in opposite directions of ro