DE2926044A1 - Blow moulding PET containers with configured surfaces - by using a blank with a configured surface the configuration of which is retained during the blowing - Google Patents

Abstract

A blown polyethylene terephthalate container having a configured surface is made by providing a parison having a configured surface and then blowing the parison under such conditions as to strain harden the parison and thereby pressure the configured surface, but proportionately longer, in the blown article. An article with a configured surface is formed without having to configure the mould surface.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for

Triggering crystallization in a blown thermoplastic Object. More specifically, the invention relates to thermal conditioning a blown article made of polyethylene terephthalate, so that nu the parts of the Objects that have been molecularly oriented can be heated to clear To obtain an article with improved physical properties.

In various patents, methods of manufacture are biaxial oriented polyethylene terephthalate films suitable for crystallization by a thermosetting treatment (heat setting treatment) are described. Examples are: U.S. Patents 3,177,277, 2,995,779, 3,107,139 and 2,823,421; and British Patents 851 874, 915 805 and 1 803 665.

Even in recently published U.S. Patent No. 3,733,309, there is a blown one Polyethylene terephthalate bottle described that can be heat treated. All The aforementioned publications are incorporated by referring to them.

So far it has not been considered that a blown Polyethylene texephthalate object, like a bottle, along its axial Au #distance shows different degrees of molecular orientation Heat treatment of the whole object would cause the growth of spherulitic crystals in non-molecularly oriented parts of the object. The resulting article would have opaque brittle parts and would be economical and structurally unsuitable. In addition, the state of the art does not reveal how blown objects, such as bottles, are to be treated in order to avoid their deformation as a result Prevent shrinkage of the material during heat treatment.

The invention has for its object to be the potential difficulties that occur during the heat treatment of thermoplastic objects such as bottles and to eliminate the deleterious effects it brings and a device and a method of heat treating blown thermoplastic articles to create that belong to items with improved properties. The solution the object is stated in the preceding claims.

The device according to the invention can have one, two or three forms be executed. More specifically, the blow molds can either be self or separate Die body can be provided with heating devices to achieve the desired heat treatment to effect. In each embodiment, the device has a pair of profile bodies on, which cooperate to define a blow mold cavity of the size and shape corresponds to the desired glass object. Each profile body has thermal isolated parts along the mold cavity axis, with means comprising at least one corresponding part in each of the profile bodies for heat treatment these corresponding parts of the blown object can heat.

Means for applying a fluid pressure are preferred on the inside of the blown object while heat treatment is being carried out, to improve the heat transfer and the shrinkage of the thermoplastic material to counteract. In addition, means for axially stretching the blank can either be provided during or before blowing.

In the method according to the invention, a blank is made from essentially amorphous material, d. H. a crystallinity below about 5%, thermally at a Temperature in a range that induces molecular orientation, conditioned.

For polyethylene terephthalate this temperature is in the range of about 75 to 1100 C. Then the blank is expanded in the blow mold cavity while the material has a temperature in the desired range, around a blown Obtain object with parts that are molecularly oriented to different degrees. For example, the body of a bottle becomes stronger during expansion (blow molding) stretched as the end and the borjient part. The degree of expansion of the material can be selected within suitable ranges, but preferably so that by Elongation triggered crystallization is achieved.

After the blow molding process, the blown object is subjected to a heat treatment process subject to which the strong molecularly oriented parts of the Object, e.g. the body of a bottle, are brought to a temperature, which promote crystal growth to a great extent. Other less oriented parts of the Object, such as the end section and the bottom of a bottle, can either be cooled or heated to a temperature that promotes crystal growth in them Areas limited.

The blown and heat-treated articles obtained in accordance with the present invention include differently crystallized areas according to the nature of the Orientation and the heat treatment to which the areas have been subjected. For example, the area that is most strongly molecularly oriented during expansion became the most crystallized after the heat treatment process Be area. The crystalline obtained in the particular area by this procedure Structure has a strain crystallized morphological structure in contrast to a spherulitic thermally crystallized morphological structure as a result that the area has been molecularly oriented prior to heat treatment. Other less molecularly oriented parts of the object become after expansion and thermal conditioning be little crystallized or largely amorphous. For example, the thermoplastic material of a bottle neck is made during blow molding not significantly expanded and therefore not molecularly oriented. "or preferably this part of the object is cooled during the heat treatment in order to develop or to avoid the formation of spherical> -litic crystals, which lead to an opaque brittle structure would lead. Other parts of the object, e.g.

the bottle base or foot, may have a moderate molecular orientation lock in; They are only weakly heated to prevent the formation of the unwanted ones Avoid spherulitic crystals. Of course, the heat treatment temperatures depend and times of the particular thermoplastic material, the degree of molecular orientation and the desired degrees of crystallinity achieved by the treatment, away.

The invention leads to the following before share compared to the prior art of the technique.

First, the invention leads to thermoplastic materials with many improved properties such as improved yield stress, density, increased impermeability and greater barrier resistance, greater creep resistance, dimensional stability and heat resistance. These property improvements are not caused by deterioration bought at the cost of the clarity of the thermoplastic material.

The property improvements lead to numerous advantages. So has a bottle made in accordance with the present invention and is of the same thickness has like a bottle, di. auq an identical preform according to the known techniques has been obtained, greater strength and crystallinity.

The crystallinity is for containers that are used for carbonated beverages should be used, with a view to reducing the kdtendioxyd permeability of highest importance.

In addition, given the requirements, the invention allows placed on bottles or containers, the use of a thinner bottle, which is more useful because a) less material is needed, b) the blank is simpler is to be shaped and c) reheating the blank more quickly before expanding and takes place with less energy consumption.

These and other advantages and benefits of the invention are evident from from the detailed description below.

Reference is made to the attached figures genorual, of which 1 to 3 show a blank in a blow mold cavity during the stretching and Blowing process, Fig. 4 a blown bottle between the opened parts of the blow mold, which is shown enlarged to show the various thermally isolated areas for suitable thermal conditioning of the blown object do, FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic representations of an embodiment, where a blown article is molded in a first blow mold and then in a A large number of sectional bodies is transferred for thermal conditioning, Fig. Figure 7 is a cross-section through the plane 7-7 of Figure 6, with the blown article between showing the opened moldings before the heat treatment stage.

The invention relates to a method and a device for heat treatment a blown thermoplastic article after blow molding or expanding. The heat treatment stage can either be in the blow mold itself, as in the case of the Fig. 1 to 4 shown embodiment, or in a separate die form, such as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4: In this embodiment the expanded object is heat-treated in the moldings shown in FIG. These parts 12, 15 include four thermally insulated sections 12A to 12D or 16A to 16D. The sections are covered by suitable insulating material 13A, 13B, 13C, 17A, 17B and 17C separated from each other. A suitable material is a glass ceramic (e.g. that from Corniiig Glass Works under the Macor trademark in d-en Trade brought). Alternatively, the Shape on shape blocks with air gaps instead of the insulation shown. The molded parts 2 and 16 are made of suitable metallic material, as usual, and can be used on Mold blocks and presses (not shown) may be assembled.

Each section of the moldings can have suitable means for thermal Have conditioning the blown articles after blow molding. As shown, the thermal conditioning means may include internal fluid channels 14A-D and 1 8A-D. Suitable means (not shown) guide the conditioning fluid in a well-known manner to supply passages and these into the fluid channels.

The shape sections 12A and 1 6A delimit a neck section, the will grip the open part of the blank. The mold sections 12B and 16B delimit collectively the main body part of the mold cavity, which is the tubular body part of the blown object. Sections 12C and 16C delimit together an annular end portion of the article that includes the expanded body portion integrally connects the bottom formed by the form sections 12D and 16D. As will become more apparent from the following, the fluid channels 14A and 18A are preferably supplied with coolant to maintain the temperature of the plastic material reduce in the bottle neck. The fluid channels 14B, 14C, 18B and 18C heated fluid is preferably supplied, e.g. an eluting temperature silicone oil, around the corresponding bottles heat treat. The canals 14D and 18D are supplied with either heated or cooled fluid, depending on the morphological structure of the customer material in this area of the object after widening.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3. In Fig. 1 is a inflatable blank 10 on a mandrel 21 of a blow mandrel mechanism 20 in one Shown by the mold halves 12 to 16 bounded mold cavity. Before placing in the shape of the blank is thermally conditioned to a temperature in the range in which molecular orientation takes place, brought. A blank made of polyethylene terephthalate is preferably heated to a temperature in the range of about 75 to 110 ° C; the exact temperature depends on the inherent viscosity of the material.

Before the heat treatment, the thermoplastic material is essentially essential amorphous, i.e. it has a crystallinity of less than about 5 t. Of course you can also other thermoplastic material than polyethylene terephthalate according to the invention Procedures are dealt with.

In this embodiment of the invention, the blank 10 is initially by means of an axially movable blowing mandrel 22, as shown in FIG. Of the The degree of stretching or the stretching speed can be selected as desired in order to achieve a To get molecular orientation and to care for that caused by stretching Initiate crystallization. The degree of stretching depends on the particular thermoplastic Material, the temperature of the material, the desired crystallization and the degree of molecular orientation. For example, polyethylene terephthalate can be used in Range from about 10 to about 500% per second, preferably about 100% per second be stretched. This means that a blank with a length of 5.08 cm has a length of 5.08 cm after one second a length of 10.16 cm when stretched at a stretching rate of 100% per second will. Other thermoplastics have different degrees of stretching; Polyethylene e.g. in the order of magnitude of 1000% per second.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the initial axial stretching of the material determines the axial molecular orientation and in the materials that allow the formation of such morphological structures caused by elongation Crystallization initiated. The axial stretching can either be before or at the same time be made with the introduction of the blowing medium into the interior of the blank.

In order to complete the expanding or blowing process, the blowing medium under pressure into the interior of the blank via radial passages 23 in the stretching and Blow pin 22 inserted. This pressure can be selected for the different thermoplastics will. For example, for polyethylene terephthalate, the blowing medium is preferably at pressure between about 2067-10 to about 4-134-103 Pa, preferably from about 2067-103 to 3445-103 Pa when inserted into the blank prior to adiabatic expansion will. Alternatively, the blowing medium can also be used with one pressure about 689 ~ 10 to 1378 ~ 103Pa are introduced during the beginning of the expansion; then he can. Pressure to about 20G7 ~ 103 to 3445 ~ 103 Pa just before the material touches the mold wall surfaces. The expansion results in molecular orientation achieved and also developed crystallization triggered by De # -nung.

In this embodiment of the invention, item 25 is used for the heat treatment was retained in the blow mold. Due to the shape of the bottle and the different expansion of the material during the stretching and blowing stages the material in the different parts of the bottle becomes different morphological Have structures. More precisely, the material in the bottle neck becomes largely amorphous and during the initial thermal conditioning and des Blowing process, but if at all, then only slightly crystallized and molecularly oriented The body part of the object will have the highest degree of molecular orientation because this part of the blank has been stretched more than any other is. The ring-shaped end part or the rounded part of the bottle becomes somewhat molecular be oriented, but probably less than the body part. The bottom of the bottle will have a very low molecular orientation or at least one be molecularly oriented to a certain extent. So it is proposed by the invention, that the blown article is differently thermally conditioned to the crystallized morphological structure caused by elongation in the body of the bottle Further to amplify, while other parts of the bottle are cooled, so that spherulitic morphological structure in these parts is avoided.

For example, a bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate the neck part is cooled by coolant circulating in the inner channels 14A and 18A, to maintain the substantially amorphous state of the material. For the Elitz treatment process will bring the body part of the bottle to a temperature within Range from about 150 to 2200 C. Besor, which is preferred, is this part of the bottle to a temperature of about 1800 C, where the rate of crystallization is maximum. The annular end portion of the bottle can be set to a temperature in the range has been heated from about 100 to 2000 C, depending on that during stretching and Molecular orientation caused by expansion in the bottle part, with the lower Temperatures are appropriate where the part of the bottle is not noticeably oriented is. The bottom of the bottle can be cooled in the event that a very low molecular orientation has taken place or alternatively to a temperature be heated in the range of 100 to 2000 C if heat treatment is appropriate.

The duration of the heat treatment can be determined accordingly variable, including the inherent value of the material, the material thickness and the desired extent Kr 1 stall inity can be selected. For polyethylene terephthalate, the heat treatment cycle can be chosen so that it falls in the range of about 10 seconds to 10 minutes, depending primarily the degree of crystallinity and the passage of crystallization through the Wall thickness. For example, the surface of the blown object could be heated quickly to cause crystallization only near the surface, resulting in a Improvement in properties would result. Preferably the body part is the Bottle have a crystallinity between about 10 and 50% after heat treatment. U.S. Patent 2,823,241, which is hereby incorporated, can be used to determine the appropriate Heat treatment time can be used for the desired degree of crystallinity. The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is preferably for relatively short Flitz treatment times, seen from the point of view of the cycle time. For longer heat treatment times to be expedient to cool the blown bottle in the blow mold and then for the heat treatment in a separate mold cavity, which is made up of sections is formed as shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 should the Blow pressure is maintained inside the blown item to prevent shrinkage of the material during the heat treatment and to avoid the material against the Cavity wall for delimitation and heat: to keep transmission. If the material When the heat set is clipped, the moldings are opened: and the bottle thrown out. The material the bottle should be at the different Bottle parts largely self-supporting due to the heat treatment and cooling be. After the heat treatment process, of course, in the channels 14B, 14C, 18B and 18C circulate coolant to cool the bottle when brought and ensure that the material is self-supporting.

The items made by this process are largely free of spherulitic crystals, but crystallized in the areas where strong molecular orientation has been caused to one caused by elongation to obtain crystallized morphological structure.

Embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 7: In this embodiment the object is first placed in a mold cavity made by a pair of mold parts 110 and 120 is limited, expanded. These molded parts are essentially the same that shown in FIG. 4 without the thermally isolated areas; they close too inner coolant channels. In this embodiment of the invention, an im essentially amorphous thermoplastic blank first at a temperature in the range in which molecular orientation is favored, thermally conditioned. Then it will be the blank is brought into the mold cavity formed by the mold parts 110 and 120, will- # h P. #. asmedium is introduced into the interior of the blank under pressure in order to to shape the blown article. Then the material of the blank is in the Blow mold halves cooled until it is self-supporting.

When the blank is adequately cooled, it is placed on a blow pin 130 from the first blow molding station to a position between one of several Mold cavity # i loading mold halves transported around the circumference of a rotatable Tower 140 are attached. These pairs of mold halves are identified by the reference number 141 to 148 (Fig. 6) and should preferably be designed like those shown in Fig. 4 be. A suitable sliding structure (not shown) can be used around a plurality of blow pins 130 one after the other between the blow station and the rotatable table 140 to convey. A suitable sliding construction is in the U.S. Patent 3,599,280.

After the blown article and the blow mandrel 130 are in the position shown in Fig. 7 have been brought into position, the mold 141 forming the mold Blow mold halves closed on the item to complete the heat treatment process initiate. At substantially the same time, the blow mold halves become the mold 148 opened to prevent the ejection of an object that has already been heat-treated, to enable. Then the blow pin connected to the blow halves 148 can be used for blow molding withdrawn to receive a next parison for blow molding. then the turntable 140 is adjusted clockwise so that the mold halves 141 the position previously occupied by the pair 142. As a result will be the mold halves of the Mold 148 with the blow mold halves 110 and 120 aligned to pick up the next blown item. The object in the pair of mold halves 141 is then heat-treated when the turntable subsequently is switched. It is particularly preferred to inject blowing medium under pressure into the Irmere of the blown article via the blow pin 130 from a source (not shown) to be added during the heat treatment process in order to counteract material shrinkage. As can be seen, in the lig. 5 to 7 shown embodiment achieve greater crystallinity, if desired, by increasing the duration of the heat treatment is extended. The total blow molding time is not in this embodiment extend- ~! since the blow molding process is independent of the heat treatment process.

The resulting bottles thin- be shaped to suit the body part Has a thickness that would otherwise be if there was a carbonated drink in the bottle would be permeable to carbon dioxide, but as a result of stretching caused crystallized morphological structure of the material in this area is impermeable to carbon dioxide. In other words, a permeability to carbon dioxide Resistant bottle can be made thinner according to the invention than according to the prior art of the technique.

The embodiments given above are only exemplary, but the invention is not limited to them. Numerous modifications are made possible. For example, other thermoplastics as polyethylene terephthalate are used, the cycle times being different than those disclosed here. It it is also not necessary to stretch the material before blowing, as shown in the Fig. 5 to 7, and the blank can be heated to the appropriate blowing temperature thermally conditioned by cooling the blank after an injection molding process will.

L e r s e i t e

Claims (1)

Method and device for heat treating blow molded then'noplastic Items P a t e n t a n 5 p r ü c he 1. Process for crystallizing a blown article made of thermoplastic material that is at elevated temperature the crystallization is accessible, characterized in that after blow molding a molecularly oriented blown article of thermoplastic material is enclosed in a mold cavity the size and shape of the article corresponds to, at the same time (a) pressure is applied inside the object, so that the thermoplastic material is held to the cavity walls and shrinkage is prevented and (5) only those portions of the object that are strongly molecularly organized have been heated to a temperature at which the crystallization is promoted to form a morphological structure crystallized by stretching to bring about these strongly molecular-oriented sections of the object. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the blown Article is enclosed in the blow molding cavity after blow molding to the Apply pressure inside the object and carry out the heat treatment. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the object is blown in a first mold cavity, in this blow mold to a temperature is cooled, in which the thermoplastic material is largely self-supporting, and then the blown article into a second mold cavity for application of pressure and heat treatment is promoted. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that such sections of the object, which are not essentially molecularly oriented, at the same time as heating the other sections. 5. The method of claim 1, in which the object is a bottle is with a neck, a convex circular blank that is in a annular End part passes, and a substantially tubular body between the end part and the neck, characterized in that the tubular body is attached to a first Temperature T1 and the end part heated to a temperature Tz and the neck cooled becomes, where T1> = T2. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the convex Floor is cooled. 7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the convex Floor is heated. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the thermoplastic material Polyethylene terephthalate is characterized in that the body is at a temperature is in the range from about 150 to about 2000C and the end part at a temperature in the range is heated from about 100 to about 2000C and a pressure inside the object between approximately 2067-103 to 3445-103 Pa. (300 to 500 psi) 9. A method of blow molding, characterized in that (a) the parts of a blow mold on a blown blank made of essentially an #rphen polyethylene terephthalate getting closed; (b) the blank (i) is axially stretched to axial molecular Achieve alignment and initiate elongation-induced crystallization and (ii) blowing air is introduced into the stretched blank under a pressure, around the polychylene terephthalate radial to the shape of a blown object to widen and biaxial orientation and the development of stretching caused To further increase crystallization, and (c) only those parts of the blown article are heated, in which a large amount of biaxially oriented crystals develop to achieve temperature induced growth of the oriented crystals. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the heating is performed in the Blasfcrm while at the same time a fluid pressure maintained between about 2067 ~ 103 and 3445 ~ 10³ Pa inside the article will. 11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the blown Object is cooled in the blow mold cavity until it is self-supporting, then off the blow mold is removed and enclosed in a mold cavity, that of the outer Allow the object and in this mold cavity the heat treatment is carried out while at the same time means of a pressure inside the object a gaseous flow rate is applied. 12. Method with different heat treatment of a blown Object by knefchet that (a) a blow moldable thermoplastic Blank in a blow mold cavity at a temperature, the molecular orientation causes expanded into an object of the shape and size of the mold cavity becomes, (b) when performing step (a) parts of the blank will be different are greatly expanded to include areas of different molecular orientation get in the item; and thereafter (e) separate and isolated portions of the blown counter country un. Heated and cooled differently during the riot is closed in a mold cavity under an internal pressure, with the parts of the object with the greatest molecular orientation at an elevated temperature in the Area where crystal growth is effected will be exposed to those parts of the Objects that are not strongly molecularly orieninert at a lower temperature conditioned, and those parts of the counter stand that are largely free of molecular orientation are to be cooled. 1 3 method for shaping a hit2-treated article from polyethylene terephthalate, characterized in that (al the parts of a blow mold on a blow moldable A blank made of essentially amorphous polyethylene terephthalate can be closed, one end of the blank being gripped by a neck mold cavity and the main part the blank is wrapped around a @ bottle cavity; (b) while there. Polyethylene terephthalate at one of the molecular bring about orientation Temperature is located, the blank to shape the cavity to form a bottle mG t a bottom, a substantially tubular body part, an annular End part, which completely connects the base and body, and a neck has widened calar orientation than the end or end part and the neck The blown antagonist is largely free of molecular orientation in one Mold cavity is only enclosed by the shape of the object and simultaneously (i) pressure applied to the inside of the bottle and (ii) the blown Body part is heated for heat treatment of the polyethylene terephthalate. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the body part the bottle to a temperature in the range of about 150 to 2000C, the end part a temperature iia ber @@@ n of about 100 to about 2000C and the throat is cooled. @@ V @ rfahren 51hYOs according to claim 14: characterized in that aie @@@@@@ benand @ ung da @ g @ blas @@ en bottle i @ @@ Blasform @or - @@@@ mmen. @hren according to claim 1 @. characterized in that in (b) the blank zue @@@ axially stretched and the stretched one Blank by blowing medium under Pressure is expanded radially. 17. Product obtained according to claim 12. 18. Blown thermoplastic container that, integral with each other connected, comprises a neck, a body part and a base and in which the Material of the body part a crystallized morphological caused by stretching Has structure number that was created by (a) expanding the material in a blow molding process, to effect molecular orientation and an initial stretch crystallized initiate morphological structure and then (b) heating the treated material for further expansion crystallization; the material of the neck is essentially amorphous is and the material of the soil has a morphological structure between amorphous and the stretch-crystallized morphological structure of the body. 19th to. Polyethylene terephthalate bottle with a neck, a body, an end part and a bottom, characterized in that all parts largely are free of spherulitic crystals, the material in the neck is essentially amorphous, the material in the body is molecularly oriented and has an increased crystallinity of at least about 10 and no more than 95%, and the end portion and the Soil are less crystalline than the body. 20. polyc'thylentereph ## alat-container that has a neck, a body and having a bottom, characterized in that all parts substantially are free of spherulitic crystals, the neck is essentially amorphous and thicker than the body and the ground to prevent significant CO 2 permeation; the material of the body is molecularly oriented and a strain crystallized has a morphological structure of a crystallinity of at least about 10% and has a thickness which, if not a morphological structure crystallized by stretching if there were, a significant C02 permeation would allow. 21. Apparatus for the heat treatment of a blown thermoplastic Object, characterized by molded parts (12, 16; 141 to 148) which cooperate a cavity having a longitudinal axis substantially of the size and Conforming to the shape of a blown thermoplastic article; each molded part (12, 16; 141 to 148) thermally insulated parts (12A to B; 16A to B) along the longitudinal axis of the mold cavity; and means (14B, 14C; 18B, 18C) for heating at least one corresponding part in each of the mold parts (12; 16) for heat treatment of an annular portion ds enclosed in the mold blown articles. (22 22. Device according to claim 21, characterized in that that a blow pin mechanism (20-23) for applying fluid pressure on the inside of the article while it is being heat treated is. 23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that the Molded parts (12, 16) serve as blow mold halves for shaping the blown object. 24. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that the Moldings (141 to 148) from a blow mold (110, 120) which is blow molded in the / object are spatially separated. 25. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that the Moldings (12, 16) delimit an inner mold cavity of the size and shape corresponds to a bottle that has a neck, a body part, a bottom and a has end portion fully interconnecting the bottom and the body; the molded parts (12, 16) four thermally insulated parts (12A to D; 16A to D) the corresponding to the bottle parts, include the means for heating internal flow channels (14B, 14C; 18B, 18C) in the parts (12B, 12C; 16Rt 16C) that correspond to the body part and corresponding to the end part, as well as means for supplying a heated Stmungsraittels to the channels (14B, C; 18B, C). 26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the lial and bottom parts (12A, 12D; 16A, 16D) of the molded parts (12, 16) inner fluid channels (14A, 14D; 18A, 18D) and means for supplying coolant to these channels lock in.