WO2005110850A1

WO2005110850A1 - A system for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2005110850A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/002698
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rinaldo Piva
Original assignee: Plastic Systems S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-05-18
Filing date: 2005-03-14
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: ITMO20040119A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like, which comprises at least one dwell station (2) for a corresponding empty container (C), at least one filling station (3) for filling the container with a plurality of preforms, at least one holding station (4) for the filled container, and moving means (5) for moving said container from one station to another.

Description

"A SYSTEM FOR THE STORAGE OF PREFORMS FOR FORMING RECEPTACLES, PARTICULARLY BOTTLES AND THE LIKE". DESCRIPTION The subject of the present invention is a system for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like.

In numerous industrial fields there is a particular need for packing/packaging/storing manufactured items inside containers, boxes and cases in general, in order to collect and subdivide the products into predefined quantities, facilitate the conveyance thereof to the corresponding destinations, and guarantee that they are preserved correctly during storage or during transport. In the field of processing of plastics materials, in particular, various systems and machines are known for use in the storage of preforms, the term preform to be understood as a semimanufactured product which has dimensions comparable to those of the corresponding finished product, but has a simplified form compared with the latter, so as to facilitate the subsequent forming operation.

The preforms for the production of bottles, for example, have an internally hollow, elongate shape, one end of which is closed while the opposite end is open and provided with a threaded neck; they are generally manufactured by injection-moulding of pieces of polymeric material, such as

PET or other, and are formed, for example, by blowing so as to obtain receptacles of established shape and dimensions. The steps of moulding and blowing of the preforms are generally carried out at different times and in different places, frequently by different organizations, one of which deals with the manufacture of the preforms in order then to distribute them to one or more purchasers who proceed with the forming of the actual receptacle; it is consequently necessary for the semimanufactured products obtained on the moulding presses to be removed from the dies and collected inside industrial containers, of the conventional large box type, to be stored and warehoused while awaiting subsequent processing. The collection of the preforms in the containers is commonly effected by means of machinery constituted by a filling station in which a container, open at the top, can be arranged. The station is provided with a feed line, of the conventional conveyor belt type or the like, suitable for transporting the preforms over the container; the end portion of the line normally projects over the container itself, so that the latter is filled simply by the fall of the preforms. The machinery of known type may, if necessary, provide for the use of a hopper with a bottom that can be opened/closed as required, movable in a vertical direction and operationally interposed between the feed line and the container; this hopper, in practice, fulfils the task of being filled with the preforms coming from the feed line in order then to be lowered to the bottom of the container so as to set them down without causing them to drop from excessive heights which would damage them irreparably. The filling station is generally further equipped with vibratory means, capable of shaking the container slightly so as to cause the preforms contained within it to be distributed uniformly, occupying almost all of the space available, and with a balance, capable of registering the weight of the container in order to stop the filling thereof when a preset value is reached. Once the container is filled, it is substituted with an empty one; the substitution is conventionally carried out by means of lift trucks, manual or motor-driven, provided with movable forks capable of grasping the conventional pallets on which the containers may conveniently be arranged. These machines of known type are not devoid of drawbacks, including the fact that their operation is substantially discontinuous and intermittent, inasmuch as it is interrupted by periodic operations of substitution of the containers. It should be noted that such operations involve frequent machine stoppages and related costs of loss of use, in addition to not inconsiderable problems of management of the system due to the need to carry out the substitution of the containers promptly and suddenly as soon as the filling of the containers is completed, in order to prevent the aforesaid machine stoppages from being unduly protracted. In order to overcome these drawbacks, the feed line of the machinery of known type may be equipped with a double discharge capable of permitting the filling of two containers instead of only one. Such machines, in practice, are provided with two substantially identical filling stations, each of which is assigned to receive a corresponding container and generally equipped with a corresponding hopper, a corresponding balance and corresponding vibratory means. By means of this machinery, the filling of the containers takes place alternately and selectively, in other words, once the filling of a first container is completed, the filling of the second is started, while the first can be removed and substituted with another that is still empty. Even this latter solution is not, however, devoid of drawbacks. The doubling-up of the filling stations, in fact, is accompanied by a considerable increase in the overall costs of the machinery and the related costs of installation, management and maintenance thereof. In this regard, it is emphasised that a fact which weighs heavily on the aforesaid costs and the aforesaid expenses is the presence of a double number of vibratory means, balances and hoppers, which are components that are notably sophisticated and complex and, as such, not particularly economic. It should further be noted that the machinery of known type provided with two filling stations, although providing more flexible operation, without machine stoppages compared with those with only one station, they nevertheless necessitate frequent substitution of the containers, requiring the repeated intervention of skilled personnel. The principal objective of the present invention is that of eliminating the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by devising a system for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like, the operation of which will not be subject to inconvenient machine stoppages but, in addition, will permit the filling of numerous containers continuously in an easy and practical manner. Within the scope of this technical objective, another aim of the present invention is that of simplifying the operations of feeding empty containers and removing the full ones. Not the least aim of the present invention is that of proving to be particularly convenient from an economic point of view, being able to be implemented with particularly reduced costs of manufacture, installation, management and maintenance. A further advantage of the present invention is that of fulfilling the aforesaid objectives with a simple structure, relatively easy to implement in practice, safe in use and efficient in operation, and also having a relatively contained cost. This objective and these aims are all achieved by the present system for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like, characterized in that it comprises at least one dwell station for a corresponding substantially empty container, at least one filling station for filling said container with a plurality of preforms, at least one holding station for said substantially filled container, and moving means for moving said container from one station to another. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a system for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like, illustrated by way of non- limiting example in the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a first embodiment of the system according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partial, diagrammatic, axonometric view of the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial diagrammatic plan view of the system of Figure i; Figure 4 is a partial diagrammatic view in side elevation of a detail of the system of Figure 1 with the pallet disposed on the moving means; Figure 5 is a partial diagrammatic view in side elevation of a detail of the system of Figure 1 with the pallet disposed on the vibratory means; Figure 6 is a partial diagrammatic view in side elevation of a detail of the system of Figure 1 with the pallet disposed on the weighing means; Figure 7 is a partial, diagrammatic, axonometric view of a second embodiment of the system according to the invention; Figure 8 is a partial diagrammatic plan view of the system of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a partial, diagrammatic, axonometric view of a third embodiment of the system according to the invention; Figure 10 is a partial diagrammatic plan view of the system of Figure 9; Figure 11 is an axonometric view of a fourth embodiment of the system according to the invention; Figure 12 is a plan view of the system of Figure 11. With particular reference to the figures, a system for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like, is indicated overall by 1. The present invention, in particular, may be used for arranging the preforms within conventional containers C, of the large box type or similar, handled together with corresponding support pallets B, capable of being grasped and lifted by means of conventional lift trucks. In the present description, where reference is made to the containers

C, these are understood as being disposed on corresponding pallets B; similarly, where in the aforesaid figures only the pallets B are shown, it should be understood that one of the containers C will be disposed on each one. According to the invention, the system 1 comprises one or more dwell stations 2 for corresponding empty containers C, a filling station 3 for filling one of the containers C with a plurality of preforms, one or more holding stations 4 for the filled containers C, and moving means 5 for moving the containers C from one station to another. The system 1 may provide for multiple embodiments in which the number of stations and their relative arrangement are different, according to the various requirements for use which they fulfil. For example, in a first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the system 1 is provided with three stations: a dwell station 2, a filling station 3 and a holding station 4, arranged in line. Each of these stations is provided with a support framework 6 for the moving means 5, which usefully comprise three flexible members 7, of the belt, cable, chain or similar type, closed on themselves in a ring and wound between at least one corresponding pair of wheels, one a drive wheel and the other a driven wheel. The flexible members 7, in particular, are disposed parallel to one another and are capable of defining a movable support surface for the containers C, making it possible to move the containers themselves from the dwell station 2 to the filling station 3 and thence to the holding station

4. Usefully, the filling station 3 is provided with distribution means 8 for distributing the preforms within the container C which is being filled. The distribution means 8, for example, comprise a conventional feed line 9 for the preforms, capable of transporting same over the container C, and a conventional loading and discharge hopper 10, movable in a vertical direction between a loading configuration in which it is disposed in proximity to the feed line 9 so as to be filled with the preforms, and a discharge configuration in which it is disposed in proximity to the container C so as to deposit the preforms therein. The bottom of the hopper, in particular, is defined by two movable doors 11 pivoting between an open position and a closed position. In order to facilitate the filling operation, the filling station 3 may provide for the presence of vibratory means 12 capable of causing the container C to oscillate; such means, for example, comprise two oscillating bars which are disposed substantially parallel and alternately to the flexible members 7 and on which the container C may be placed when arranged beneath the hopper 10. Advantageously, the filling station 3 may also be equipped with weighing means 13, of the known conventional balance type, capable of registering the weight of the container C and actuating a device for stopping the filling thereof, not illustrated inasmuch as it is known, when a limit value of the measured weight is reached. In more detail, the weighing means comprise a plurality of points of support for the container C, at which one or more load cells are arranged. In the particular embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, the flexible members 7 and the oscillating bars 12 are movable in a vertical direction, while the support points 13 are substantially fixed; this, in practice, makes it possible to raise the container C and arrange it so that it rests on the moving means 5 at the moment when the container is to be moved from one station to the other (Figure 4), or on the vibratory means 12 during the filling step (Figure 5), or to leave it on the support points 13 at the moment when it is necessary to register its weight (Figure 6). Not to be excluded, however, are alternative embodiments of the present invention in which either the flexible members 7 or the oscillating bars 12 are not provided with mobility in a vertical direction, whereas either the support points 13 and the oscillating bars 12, or the support points 13 and the flexible members 7 are capable of being raised. The operation of the system 1 described here is as follows: once a container C is filled, the present invention provides for the moving means 5 to be actuated in order to move the container itself into the holding station

4 and transport the empty container from the dwell station 2 to the filling station 3. At this point, the system 1 begins a new filling step and, in the meantime, it is possible to arrange for the dwell station 2 to be resupplied with a fresh container C to be filled, and for the holding station 4 to be freed of the filled container C. The embodiment of the present invention which provides for three stations in line is not to be regarded as exclusive or limiting and, as already anticipated, alternative embodiments are also possible in which the number of stations and their arrangement are different. Each of these alternatives is provided with frameworks 6, distribution means 8, flexible members 7, vibratory means 12 and weighing means 13 analogous to those described previously and which, similarly, reproduce the function thereof. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate, for example, a second embodiment of the present invention which comprises four different stations: a dwell station 2, a filling station 3 and two holding stations 4; these are disposed with respect to one another such as to define, in plan, the shape of a square (Figure 8), but the possibility of their being distributed along a line is also not excluded. It is important to emphasize that, in this second embodiment, the holding stations 4 are substantially adjacent to each other so as to be able to be simultaneously freed of the corresponding full containers C by utilising particular lift trucks, for example provided with extensions for the forks capable of grasping two pallets B side by side instead of only one. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the flexible members 7 bring the filling station 3 into communication with the adjacent holding station 4. In order to move the containers C between the other stations, however, the moving means 5 comprise a plurality of motor-driven rollers 14, rotatable about their own axis and disposed parallel to the flexible members 7. The rollers are placed on each station of the system 1 and, in practice, constitute two platforms on which the containers C can slide, and one of which places the dwell station 2 in communication with the filling station 3, while the other connects the two holding stations 4. The operation of this second embodiment of the present invention is analogous to the preceding one, with the difference that the presence of two holding stations 4 makes it possible to pick up two full containers C at once. In a third embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the system 1 provides five different stations: two dwell stations 2, one filling station 3 and two holding stations 4, the relative disposition of which is such as to assume, in plan, a C-shape (Figure 10); it is also possible, however, for the five stations to be arranged differently, for example in line. Advantageously, both the two dwell stations 2 and the two holding stations 4 are adjacent to one another in a manner analogous to that provided for in the second embodiment, so as to obtain similar benefits therefrom. In this embodiment, the flexible members 7 extend through the filling station 3, bringing it into communication with the adjacent dwell station 2 and holding station 4. Both of the dwell stations 2 and both of the holding stations 4 are further provided with rollers 14 similar to those described with reference to the second embodiment, so as to permit the movement of the empty, or full, containers C from one dwell station 2, or holding station 4, to the other. The operation of the third embodiment can easily be deduced from what has already been described and illustrated; it should be emphasized, however, that such a system is capable of autonomously carrying out the filling of two containers C before requiring the resupply/removal thereof. In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the system 1 comprises nine stations: four dwell stations 2, one filling station 3 and four holding stations 4. Both the dwell stations 2 and the holding stations 4 are adjacent to one another and are disposed such as to occupy, in plan, the vertices of a corresponding square (Figure 12); in particularly, a pair 2a of dwell stations is aligned with a pair 4a of holding stations, and the filling station 3 is interposed between them. Such a distribution makes it possible, in practice, to arrange the empty containers, or the full ones, compactly, so that they can be grasped and raised simultaneously by using special lift trucks, provided, for example, with four or more forks. Analogously to the preceding embodiments, however, the possibility of the stations being arranged in line is not excluded. In this fourth embodiment, the flexible members 7 extend from the pair 2a of dwell stations to the pair 4a of holding stations, passing through the filling station 3; the movement of the containers C between the other stations, however, is effected by means of rollers 14 similar to those described previously. Analogously to the other embodiments, the system 1 illustrated in

Figures 11 and 12 is capable of proceeding autonomously with the filling of the containers C previously disposed on the dwell stations 2; in that embodiment, however, the feeding of the new empty containers and the removal of the full containers may be effected after the filling of four containers C. It is established in practice that the invention described fulfils the proposed aims and in particular the fact is emphasized that it exhibits regular and continuous operation and facilitates the operations of feeding empty containers and removing the full containers, which operations may be performed in an easy, practical and deferred manner. Compared with the systems of known type, in fact, the present invention may exhibit even much greater autonomy of operation, especially in the embodiments comprising more dwell stations and more holding stations. It should further be noted that the present invention is considerably more economic compared with the known machines provided with two filling stations, inasmuch as the costly components of the loading and discharge hopper type, and vibratory means and weighing means type are present in single quantities. The invention thus conceived is capable of numerous modifications and variants, all coming within the scope of the inventive concept. In addition, all the details may be substituted with other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent forms and dimensions, may be any whatever, depending on the requirements, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims

C L A I M S 1. A system for the storage of preforms for forming receptacles, particularly bottles and the like, characterized in that it comprises at least one dwell station (2) for a corresponding substantially empty container (C), at least one filling station (3) for filling said container with a plurality of preforms, at least one holding station (4) for said substantially filled container, and moving means (5) for moving said container from one station to another.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises three stations, one of which is a dwell station (2), one a filling station (3) and one a holding station (4).

3. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises four stations, one of which is a dwell station (2), one a filling station (3) and two are holding stations (4).

4. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises five stations, two of which are dwell stations (2), one is a filling station (3) and two are holding stations (4).

5. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises nine stations, four of which are dwell stations (2), one is a filling station (3) and four are holding stations (4).

6. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dwell stations are substantially adjacent to one another and are capable being loaded simultaneously with corresponding substantially empty containers.

7. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said holding stations are substantially adjacent to one another and are capable of being freed simultaneously of the corresponding substantially filled containers.

8. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stations are arranged in line.

9. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that said four stations assume, in plan, a square conformation.

10. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that said five stations assume, in plan, a C-shaped conformation.

11. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that said four dwell stations (2) and said four holding stations (4) assume, in plan, a square conformation.

12. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said moving means (5) comprise at least one flexible member (7) closed on itself in a ring and wound between at least one pair of wheels, one of which is a drive wheel and the other a driven wheel, said flexible member being capable of defining a movable support surface for said containers.

13. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flexible member is of the belt, cable, chain or similar type.

14. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said moving means (5) comprise a plurality of motor- driven rollers (14), rotatable about their own axis and disposed substantially parallel to one another, on which said container is slidable.

15. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said filling station (3) comprises weighing means (13) for weighing said container.

16. A system according to claim 15, characterized in that said weighing means comprise a plurality of support points (13) for said container, at at least one of which at least one load cell is arranged.

17. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said filling station (3) comprises vibratory means (12) for vibrating said container.

18. A system according to claim 17, characterized in that said vibratory means comprise a plurality of oscillating bars (12), oriented substantially parallel to said flexible member (7), on which said container can be placed during the filling step.

19. A system according to claims 12, 13, 16 and 17, characterized in that at least two among said flexible member (7), said oscillating bars (12) and said support points (13) are movable in a substantially vertical direction in order to dispose said container on said flexible member during the moving step, on said oscillating bars during the filling step and on said support points during the weighing step.

20. A system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said filling station (3) comprises distribution means (8) for distributing said preforms in said container.

21. A system according to claim 20, characterized in that said distribution means (8) comprise a feed line (9) for said preforms, capable of transporting the same over said container.

22. A system according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that said distribution means (8) comprise at least one loading and discharge hopper (10), movable in a substantially vertical direction between a loading configuration in which it is disposed in proximity to said feed line in order to be filled with said preforms, and a discharge configuration in which it is disposed in proximity to said container in order to deposit said preforms inside the container.