DE19547425A1 - Process for producing a plastic container and preform for producing a plastic container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a full, closed plastic container for flowing medium and having a pouring spout. Said method enables operation of simpler filling machines by cancelling complete procedural steps and is characterised in that a tubular section (5) with a threadless part (8) and a part (6) with an internal winding is attached to the plastic-container pouring spout with an external thread. The plastic container is filled through the tubular section (5) and the pouring spout and, when filled, is closed in that the threadless part (8) of the tubular section (5) is sealed by thermoforming.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a filled and closed, a Pouring spout with plastic container for plasticizers. Furthermore, the Invention on a preform made of thermoplastic material with a External thread and a retaining ring attached to the bottom end of the thread Manufacture of a plastic container.

There are numerous systems and processes for making, including molding and filling, of Plastic containers, especially bottles, are known. So there are z. B. a method in which a preform made of plastic in the final form forming the plastic container, especially to the bottle. The bottle is sterilized, dried and then filled. A sealing film or a screw cap is also sterilized and applied  the filled, aseptic bottle sealed. In a last step, most of the time the screw cap attached to the filled bottle. Filling lines, according to the known Process work, require at least two for aseptic filling of the product different sterilization units. One sterilization unit for the bottle and another Sterilization unit for the bottle stopper. There is also a bottle cap sometimes from a multi-layer sealing film and a screw cap.

A bottling plant that operates a bottling plant using a known method must therefore at least two of the three different parts - a preform, a sealing film and one Screw cap - to buy and stock. To process these three different parts a highly integrated filling machine is needed that is capable of these three different parts to form the filled and sealed bottle.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a plastic container for Plasticizer of the type mentioned above and a preform for the production of a To create plastic containers so that the operation of simpler filling machines possible is and entire process steps of the known manufacturing processes are omitted, if necessary warehousing is also simplified.

This object is achieved for the method according to the invention in that the Plastic container, on the pouring spout with an external thread a piece of pipe with a thread-free part and a part with an internal thread is attached through the pipe section and the pouring spout is filled and that the filled container is closed by the fact that the thread-free part of the pipe section is closed by thermoforming.

It is ensured that a plastic container for the inventive method for Is available, on the pouring spouts with an external thread a pipe section of the described Kind is attached, then the filling and closing can be done in a much cheaper manner perform than was previously possible. From the process step of filling only needs nor the container itself to be conveyed and treated, no more other closing parts, such as B. a sealing film or a screw cap. In one piece with the plastic container a piece of pipe attached to its pouring spout is moved. Since it's on the plastic container is appropriate, special transport measures, application devices and the like without interfering with the closing means. The pipe section is namely open, so that the container can be filled through this and through the pouring spout.  

The closure is also surprisingly advantageous because of the thread-free Part of the pipe section is deformed by heat in such a way that afterwards the pipe section is closed or has become a screw cap from the pipe section. Moreover, one can through the thermoforming of the screw cap give ergonomic lid shapes, through which easy opening of the bottle by improving the grip properties of the screw cap is made possible. The screw cap can also be customized due to the thermoforming Give shape in such a way that the consumer can recognize a certain brand. Ultimately this means a simplified recognition of different brands for the consumer providers.

It is possible to unscrew the pipe section, which has a part with an internal thread or spraying onto the pouring spout of the plastic container. In particular, by injection molding the pipe section described to the pouring spout Plastic containers have reliable sealing properties without any additional measures guaranteed. Alternatively, you can manufacture the pipe section separately beforehand and then with the Connect the pouring spout of the plastic container in a preferably aseptically sealed manner.

In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention is used to manufacture the plastic container, on the pouring spout with external thread, a pipe section with a thread-free Part and a part with an internal thread is attached to the external thread of a blower Formlinges a piece of pipe with an internal thread applied, and then the blow molding inflated to a final shape forming the plastic container. This embodiment differs from the former in that the plastic container, on its Pouring spout is attached to the pipe section in the manner described, not as present assuming the process steps of filling and closing, as described above; rather, the measures mentioned last describe here how such a plastic container (with an applied pipe section) is manufactured, namely using a blow molding known per se. It is understood that this is from consists of the desired plastic, from which the container is ultimately formed should. In contrast to known methods, however, according to the invention, the mentioned Pipe piece applied to the blow parison, either by screwing it on after that a pipe section was already manufactured, be it by injection molding, through which the pipe section around the external thread of the blow parison is only manufactured around. The blow molding will So according to the invention with the pipe section to a preferably aseptically sealed unit assembled, and then the inflation measures according to the invention take place, Filling and closing in the manner described above. In first attempts  shown that you can through the plastic container described (with pipe piece applied) Inflation of a blow molding can also be produced when on the external thread of the blow molding, the pipe section is applied. This results in particularly cheap ones Manufacturing process for the ultimately filled and closed plastic container.

For example, if you want to fill aseptic products, e.g. B. milk, then he needs Plastic container, which is made with the inventive method, under certain circumstances not to be subjected to a sterilization process at all. To inflate the blow molding must be heated to a temperature which can also be used for Can use sterilize. In other words, the blow molding preform Completion of the plastic container so hot anyway that it is inside after inflation can be considered sterile. Is this sterilization or a separate sterilization done together with the attached pipe section, then there is no need for additional Sterilization process of a separate screw cap z. B. or an additional Sealing film, as is inevitable in known methods. Again results from the Measures according to the invention the advantage that only a single sterilization process is used becomes.

Plastic containers, e.g. B. bottles or other packaging, from the pack manufacturer and made available to a bottler. Using the According to the method of the invention, the bottler can be used as a single molding Supply part get along. A separate sealing film and separate screw caps will be saved. The fact that the blow parison with an applied pipe section as a unit is delivered, the molding and filling machine can be much easier at the bottler. Only a single sterilization process is required if it is sterile packaging goes. A separate sterilization of a sealing film or a screw cap is not necessary. The bottler no longer needs application devices for screw caps in his machine Filling operation. It goes without saying that the filling machine is considerably simplified as a result.

By placing the pipe piece on the blow parison and thus ultimately filling plastic container is also the fill level in the The container is enlarged because the pipe section, which has not yet been closed, increases the headroom volume men is available for filling the container.

Both of the above-described methods according to the invention allow closing the Bottle by thermoplastic deformation and sealing of the pipe section. The Thermofor  mung of the pipe section can be carried out so that one of the ultimately arising Screw cap gives a special, possibly individual shape. It was already the The advantage of better gripping of such a screw cap and thus an improved one Opening mentioned. Also the visual impact of the special lid shapes and the lighter one Differentiation of different products by such closing devices was mentioned.

It is also expedient according to the invention if the thermoplastic plastic existing containers are sterilized before filling. There are not multiple sterilizations for several parts required separately, but the plastic container or the blow parison is sterilized once because the piece of pipe connected to the container, so to speak is treated as an integral part of the plastic container.

It is also advantageous if, according to the invention, between the blow molding and the Pipe piece a break-open seal or a seal is attached. The Aufbruchver Sealing, like the conventional insertion of a seal, serves for better sealing of the pipe section opposite the pouring spout of the later container, because from the pipe section ultimately becomes a kind of screw cap. The break-open seal is particularly useful ger way between the outer end surface of the pouring spout of the future container on the one hand and the corresponding opposite surface of the pipe section on the other hand. In a special embodiment, the pipe piece is screwed onto the external thread the pouring spout of the container, then there is no need to insert a seal, if it is planned to apply the tamper-evident seal. In this case, a fine one Sealing along the annular gap between the two mentioned interfaces of the two parts (Pouring spout and pipe section) introduced. It is a break-away seal because due to the thin, fine design of the seal, the same can be broken without it is also possible if the end user removes the screw cap which comes from the pipe section molded, rotates relative to the plastic container and thus opens it. Except for the Tightness, which results from such a seal, even if it is fine and thin is designed, results from the application of the break-open seal according to the invention the further advantage that bacteria or similar contaminants do not enter the annular gap of the can penetrate both mentioned parts.

According to the invention, hydrogen peroxide can also be used for the sterilization, especially if you have a subsequent sterilization of the plastic container before Filling wishes. It is also advantageous if the plastic container according to the invention is a PET bottle. The production of PET bottles is well known. The connection  the same with a piece of pipe before filling in the sense of the measures according to the invention but is unexpected. This has the advantage that you can buy blow molded products made of PET and can work with the inventive method with the result that many can make known process steps their own and proven known devices for Has available. Furthermore, initial tests have shown that plastic containers can even be made PET can be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide by the method according to the invention.

Furthermore, the thermoformable pipe section can be made according to the inventive method be ergonomically shaped to the gripping properties of the resulting Improve screw cap so that the plastic container by the consumer can be opened more easily.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a preform is made of thermoplastic material with an external thread and one on the bottom End of the thread attached retaining ring provided that a piece of pipe on the thread is applied from thermoformable material. The pipe section itself is open and can do so be designed so that it is the filling cross section of the pouring spout of the plastic container not reduced. A piece of pipe of the type described can either be separated Injection molding and then by screwing, pressing or the like on External thread of the pouring spout are attached; or the pipe section can immediately on the Pouring spout can be applied by spraying.

It is also advantageous if there is a between the preform and the pipe section Seal is arranged or if in an alternative embodiment between the Preform and the pipe piece a break-open seal is attached. With seal or with break-open sealing becomes a preform by the measures according to the invention created that - without the pipe section - by known manufacturing processes such. B. Injection molding, can be manufactured. Both for the preform itself and for that Known manufacturing technologies can be used in the pipe section itself. It is advantageous according to the invention if the blow parison and the tube piece are by means of a Applicator to be connected. Then you have that for the further and simplified Machining (further process steps) cheap workpiece that after performing the Process steps described ultimately leads to a screw cap that opens several times and can be closed again.

When working on the blow molding, one can do the molding of what is ultimately desired  Plastic container use the known stretch blow molding process. When working from The preform is then inflated together with the applied piece of pipe. It is then the plastic container is ready for filling. Is it due to the temperatures of the Sterilized stretch blow molding process, further sterilization is unnecessary. But this is necessary in the event that one does not work from a preform but from one Plastic container, on which the pipe section is formed after the stretch blow molding process is attached, then you can conveniently the container together with the Sterilize the pipe section, after which the filling and closing is done by thermoforming.

The method according to the invention allows the creation of simpler molding and filling systems. Simpler means that fewer process steps are required and therefore one System with fewer functions and fewer assemblies required. In particular, in the With regard to known functions and devices when using the invention The process of feeding, transport, sterilization, positioning and sealing of sealing foils. Likewise, all functions and devices that are common in conventional Forming and filling systems for feeding, transport, positioning and placement of screw caps. There is also no need to stock up on the bottler Sealing foils and screw caps. Instead of at least two different individual parts, the formed for the finished container and had to be assembled to this, will only a single part is processed in the method according to the invention.

By dispensing with the conventional sealing film, one can use the inventive one Advantageously, form, fill and seal a plastic container that completely is made of recyclable material. It is particularly advantageous that by doing without a sealing film no longer needs to be separated in order to make the container recyclable close.

Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention result from the following description of preferred embodiments in connection with the attached drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1, the cross-sectional view of a Blasvorformlinges which is closed by a circular bottom (hemispherical),

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of a pipe section,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the Blasvorformlinges with attached tubular piece,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the cut of the dashed circle IV in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 of the plastic container as a blown bottle with a mounted tubular piece,

Fig. 6, the sterilization of the plastic container of FIG. 5,

Fig. 7 shows the filling of the plastic container of FIG. 5,

Fig. 8 schematically shows the press and mold for closing off the pipe section,

Fig. 9, the pipe piece in the form of a closed screw cap after removal of the tool and by the method step of closing,

Fig. 10 is a view of the plastic container with a screw cap sealed in a comparison with FIG. 9 by 90 ° rotated state about the longitudinal axis (bottle) of the container,

Fig. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but in even larger scale with the Aufbrechversiegelung,

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, wherein sealing, however, in place of the Aufbrechver a sealing ring is inserted,

Fig. 13 is a similar cross-sectional view of a pipe section as Fig. 2, but of a different embodiment and

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of the section of the solid circle XIV in Fig. 13.

The blow molding generally designated 1 in FIG. 1 has an elongated shape, is provided at the bottom with an approximately hemispherical base 2 and at the top with an external thread 3 , on the bottom end of which a retaining ring 4 is formed. This blow molding is made of PET.

In Fig. 2, the generally designated 5 pipe section is shown in cross section, which has a part 6 with an internal thread 7 and above a part 8 without thread in an approximately cylindrical jacket shape. The pipe section 5 is continuously open, and its internal thread 7 fits the external thread 3 of the blow parison 1 .

It is possible to screw the pipe section 5 onto the external thread 3 of the blow parison 1 , so that the state shown in FIG. 3 results. The blow parison 1 is connected to the pipe section 5 by screwing or pressing on (possibly also by injection molding in situ) in such a way that an integral element consisting of the blow parison 1 and the applied pipe section 5 results. For the purpose of tightness and better sterilization, it is expedient to provide special measures at the point of the arrow 11 of FIG. 4 between the annular surface 9 of the preform 1 and the annular shoulder 10 of the tube piece 5 .

For this purpose, according to an embodiment in Fig. 11 is canceled and greatly enlarged, a similar representation as Fig. 4 is given, but with the longitudinal center line 12 of the Blasvor molding 1 , which coincides in the screwed state of FIG. 3 with the longitudinal center line 12 of the pipe section. A rupture seal 13 is introduced between the annular surface 9 of the blow parison 1 and the annular shoulder surface 10 of the pipe section 5 arranged parallel thereto. It is an annular, fine and narrow, additional sealing seam 13 , which connects the two parts, namely the blow molding 1 and the pipe section 5 . At the same time, these sealing seam 13 is easily breakable and therefore indicated between the surfaces 9 and 10 in Fig. 11 as illustrated measure Aufbrechversiegelung 13.

In another embodiment according to FIG. 12, an annular seal 14 , for example made of silicone rubber, lies between the surfaces 9 and 10 .

The fixedly connected to the sleeve 5 parison 1 according to Fig. 3 (optionally with the features of FIGS. 4, 11 or 4, 12) will now be blown under formation of the bottle-shaped container. This is done with the pipe section 5 in place . The product is shown in cross section in Fig. 5.

In a further process section, the container formed by the stretch blow molding process, which is now designated 14 after blowing, is sterilized together with the applied tube piece 5 . Fig. 6 shows schematically the process in which by a sterilization tube 15 as shown by arrows 16 and hydrogen is blown into the plastic container 14 and 17 guided on the inner walls.

In a further method step, the sterilized container 14 is filled through the pipe section 5 . Fig. 7 shows the filling process with filling tube 18 , the just emerging filling material 19 and the already filled in flow agent 19 '.

Fig. 8 shows schematically (without filling material) the state of the pressing and molding tool 20 , 20 'immediately before thermoforming and thus deforming the pipe section 5th

If the two tool parts 20, 20 'according to the arrows 21, 21' together drive and 8 of the pipe section 5 compress the tubular part without thread, the result is the now designated 22 screw cap at the point marked 23 pouring spout of the container 14, wherein for closing in a transverse sealing seam 24 is introduced into the tube. If the container of FIG. 9 is rotated by 90 ° about the longitudinal central axis 12 (not shown), then the container 14 in FIG. 10 can be seen with a transverse seal 24 lying transversely parallel to the paper plane, ie with a closed screw cap 22 .

The preform 1 made of thermoplastic material with the external thread 3 and the retaining ring 4 attached to the bottom end of the thread 3 is used for the production of a plastic container 14 and represents a tradable element in the manner of an intermediate product. This preform 1 is used in a particularly preferred manner for implementation of the method for producing the plastic container 14 for flow agent described, filled and closed, which has the pouring spout 23 .

Figs. 13 and 14 show a further embodiment of the pipe piece 5. For aseptic sealing, the part 6 with the thread 7 on the shoulder 10 is provided with a sealing lip 25 . Radially outside of this, there is a reinforced shaped shoulder 26 in order to better transmit those forces which arise when applying to the preform or the package which has not yet been filled.

Claims (10)

1. A method for producing a filled and closed, a pouring spout ( 23 ) having plastic container ( 14 ) for flow agent, characterized in that the plastic container ( 14 ), on the pouring spout ( 23 ) with external thread ( 3 ), a pipe section ( 5 ) with a thread-free part ( 8 ) and a part ( 6 ) with an internal thread ( 7 ) is attached, is filled through the pipe section ( 5 ) and the pouring spout ( 23 ), and in that the filled container ( 14 ) is closed in that the thread-free part ( 8 ) of the pipe section ( 5 ) is closed by thermoforming. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that for the production of the plastic container ( 14 ), at the pouring spout ( 23 ) with external thread ( 3 ), a pipe section ( 5 ) with a thread-free part ( 8 ) and a part ( 6 ) with an internal thread ( 7 ) is attached, a pipe section ( 5 ) with an internal thread ( 7 ) is applied to the external thread ( 3 ) of a blow molding ( 1 ) and then the blow molding ( 1 ) is inflated to a final shape forming the plastic container ( 14 ). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container made of thermoformable plastic ( 14 ) is sterilized before filling. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a rupture seal ( 13 ) or a seal ( 14 ) is attached between the blow parison ( 1 ) and the pipe section ( 5 ). 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that for Sterilization using hydrogen peroxide is used. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plastic container ( 14 ) is a PET bottle. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the thermoformable pipe section ( 5 ) is ergonomically shaped. 8. preform made of thermoplastic material with an external thread ( 3 ) and at the bottom end of the thread ( 3 ) attached retaining ring ( 4 ) for producing a plastic container ( 14 ), characterized in that a pipe piece ( 5 ) on the thread ( 3 ) is applied from thermoformable material. 9. Preform according to claim 8, characterized in that a seal ( 14 ) is arranged between the preform ( 1 ) and the pipe section ( 5 ). 10. Preform according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that between the preform ( 1 ) and the pipe section ( 5 ) a break-open seal ( 13 ) is attached.