WO2011030208A2

WO2011030208A2 - Method and apparatus for the forming of a container of the type incorporating at least one pre-inserted handle before the making thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2011030208A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/002254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elio Andreon
Original assignee: Siapi Srl
Priority date: 2009-09-11
Filing date: 2010-09-10
Publication date: 2011-03-17
Also published as: WO2011030208A3; ITRM20090461A1; IT1395879B1

Abstract

The invention provides a process and an apparatus for the forming of a container (1) of the type incorporating at least one pre-inserted handle (2) during the forming thereof, the apparatus includes a press (3) having two half molds (31) to move the latter toward and away each to the other, and transporting and supporting means (22) for supporting said handle (2) mounted onto a single half mold (31), and it Is characterized by that said transporting and supporting means (22) support said handle (2) within said half molds (31) at the same time they are closed.

Description

"METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE FORMING OF A CONTAINER OF THE TYPE INCORPORATING AT LEAST ONE PRE-INSERTED HANDLE BEFORE THE MAKING THEREOF"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing containers that incorporate at least one pre-inserted handle and, more specifically to a process and an apparatus for producing containers that incorporate at least one pre-inserted handle during the forming stage of the container.

The present invention finds particular application in the field of linear blow molding machines for PET and/or polypropylene containers.

Prior Art

To date, several methods and relevant apparatuses for the molding/blow molding of containers starting from plastic preforms and incorporating pre-inserted inserts into the blow molds, i.e. such as handles or the like, are already known.

For example, the document WO 0107233 describes an apparatus for blow molding of containers starting from a plastic preform (i.e., the preform being a plastic unit produced by injection molding and after blowing the same it will subsequently constitute the blown container), wherein the molding unit consists of two half-molding dies, and wherein the container includes a pre-inserted handle into the same. According to this apparatus, there is a supporting area of the handle or cavity inside the mold cavity, and at least one holding device to grip the handle from the supply area to bring the same into the mold. This technical solution is characterized by the fact that the holding device of the handle is embedded in the same supporting arm for the transfer of the preforms.

This solution has some disadvantages, however. A first disadvantage lies in the fact that the presence of an additional device for the handling of the handle is mounted onto the same device for transferring the preform, therefore the whole assembly travels from one point to another

l in the production line, resulting in being cumbersome and showing an increased inertia.

A second disadvantage is that the handle is provided through the transfer arm in the corresponding cavity in said half mold, the coupling of the same with the latter has a low precision coupling, thus sometimes forming imperfections or related problems during after blowing of the preform are shown.

On the other hand, according to the document EP 0482203 B1 there is disclosed an alternative production method, and there is described a method of producing a bottle with a handle, wherein a synthetic resin preform and handle are previously arranged in an molding apparatus which consists of two molds, and it is characterized by the fact that the preform is placed in the half molds in their mutual open condition, while the handle is temporarily mounted onto a further supporting frame mounted on one of the two half molds, thereafter the half mold are closed for the blow molding of the preform.

This solution provides that the handle be mounted onto one of said two half molds and travelling together the same. However, this solution has the disadvantage of providing an additional supporting frame and, therefore, the relevant assembling step of the latter. This leads to an increased time needed for forming the container starting from the further step related to the assembling of the handle onto the frame, a more complex assembly/preparation of the molding components, and higher production costs.

Brief description of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve these problems by providing an apparatus for producing containers that incorporate at least one pre-inserted handle, wherein the apparatus includes two half molds for forming a container starting from a preform, one of two half molds having a movable supporting means for the handle, and wherein the arrangement is such that during the closing of said two half molds said handle is approached inside said two half molds at the same time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for the production of containers that incorporate at least one pre-inserted handle which provides a logical improvement of the sequence of steps for the assembling of said molds and the subsequent steps of forming the container.

Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus for producing containers that incorporate at least one pre-inserted handle according to the annexed claims.

Further, the present invention provides a method for the production of said containers that incorporate at least one pre-inserted handle according to annexed claims.

Detailed description of the invention

A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for the production of containers that incorporate at least one pre-inserted handle according to the present invention will now be provided, given as an example and without limitation, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a general elevational view of a container that incorporates a pre-inserted handle during its formation, and obtained according to the method of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a elevational view of a handle for the container of Figure

1 , and

Figure 3 is a schematic and partial view of the apparatus for the production of the container of Figure 1 and according to the present invention.

With reference now to Figure 1 , there is shown a container incorporating a pre-inserted handle according to the present invention.

As can be seen from the figure, there is provided a container 1 having a shape which results from a blow molding step of a preform in a mold, and according to a method of blow molding which it is already known to the skilled man of the relevant field. For example, the container can be obtained upon the blowing of a polypropylene or PET preform inside a forming mold.

The container 1 has a handle 2, the latter being made with different material which is generally more rigid, and having the purpose of providing adequate mechanical strength during the transportation of the container 1 by the user. Typically, such application is directed to containers having medium and/or large volumes (from one gallon and up), and where the blowing of only the material constituting the container as a single material of the handle would result in a too weak solution. Therefore, it is preferred the inclusion of one insert or sometimes another strong material, which once inserted the latter into the container the final assembly provides adequate mechanical strength for the transport of the same.

With reference now to Figure 2, there is shown an handle 2 for the use with the container 1 as above described. ore specifically, the handle 2 includes a connecting region 20 for the connection with the container 1 (the latter not being shown in the figure) and wherein the connecting region 20 has two end regions 21 shaped for cooperating with respective regions provided in the hollow container 1 after shaping thereof (the latter not shown in the figure).

As is evident from the figure, the shape of the end regions 21 is such that once the handle 2 is pre-inserted into the container 1 , the former would not disconnect from the latter since the connecting region has an undercut shape. This arrangement allows to provide a reliable connection between handle 2 and container 1 , and at the same time the handle 2 provides a high strength gripping for the transportation of the container 1.

With reference now to Figure 3, it is partially illustrated therein the apparatus for the forming of a container according to the present invention.

As can be understood in the figure, according to the invention there is provided an apparatus which incorporates a press 3, which includes two supporting members 30, each of which typically supporting two half molds 31.

Here it should be noted that each half mold 31 respectively represents half of the final shape of the container 1 , the final shape of which being obtained when the said two molds 31 are joined at a blowing plane X. In the example shown in the figure, each half mold includes two cavities 31 for respectively molding two containers 1 (only one of which being shown in the figure).

In addition, it is provided is a further portion of apparatus (not shown in the figure for clarity sake) which is responsible for the transporting and positioning of preforms 10 at the molding plane X. The preforms 10 once positioned within the two molds 31 and after closing the latter at the blowing plane X are blown, therefore shaping the container 1 formed within the half molds 31.

According to the invention, a further device 22 is provided to further supporting and transporting of the handle 2, the device 22 being mounted onto a single half mold 31 and better illustrated herebelow.

As can be seen in the figure, the supporting and transporting device 22 includes a cylinder 23 connected with a supporting clamp 24 for the handle 2. The arrangement is such that when the handle 2 is mounted onto the supporting clamp 24 the former is positioned outside the associated half mold 31 , and at hollow housings 32 realized on both half mold 31. With this arrangement, the handle 2 it is accurately positioned with respect to each housing 32 for a respective half mold 31 , and at the same time the handle support 24 is traveling together with the associated half mold 31 , therefore no inertia is considered which could interfere with the exact mating in the relevant housing 32, thus ensuring an extremely precise mating and also a precise closing of the two molds 31.

The production process realized with the above described apparatus according to the present invention will now be illustrated.

According to the invention, there is first provided the positioning of the preforms 10 at the blowing plane X, and the positioning of the handles 2 onto the related supporting devices 22. In this embodiment, two handles 2 are positioned outside the half mold 31 to which they are associated.

Then, the press 3 approaches to closing the two half molds 31 at the blowing plane X with a speed V in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3. Obviously, the two molds 31 move at the same speed in the direction of the junction at the blowing plane X.

When the half mold 31 associated with the handle 2 reaches the plane X, i.e. when the handle 2 is upon entering into its corresponding housing 32 of the relevant half mold 31 (which is the mold arranged in front of the handle 2), the cylinder 23 starts moving the supporting clamp 24 in the direction approaching the half mold 31 to which the handle 2 is associated (i.e., the same half mold 31 where the cylinder 23 is mounted thereto) at a speed V2, the speed V2 being equal in magnitude to the speed V of the half mold 31 , but opposite direction of the speed V of the associated half mold 31. Figure 3 shows the speed with V2 arrow with broken line.

More specifically, when the handle 2 is inserted into the housing 32 of the relevant half mold 31 (opposite to the mould onto which the handle is traveling) the cylinder 23 is then operated, the latter retracting the clamp 24 with a speed which is equal to the speed of the half mold 31.

In this manner it is obtained the inclusion of the handle 2 inside the housings 32 simultaneously with the closing of the half mold 31.

Then, the blowing step of the preforms 10 contained within the half molds 31 is started, and the subsequent forming of the container having a pre-inserted handle 2 is obtained.

Thereafter, and as shown in Figure 3, the opening of half molds 31 is realized, thus allowing the extraction of shaped container 1 and the delivery of the same to the next production line.

The apparatus in this condition is ready to re-start a new forming cycle for forming the container 1 as explained above.

To the men skilled in the relevant arte will be evident that the apparatus and the production process of the present invention has many advantages.

A first advantage is the fact of providing a device that is extremely compact and extremely precise, and that greatly improves the tolerances of the mounting of the handle 2 onto the associated half mold 31 with respect to the state of the art.

Another advantage is relevant to the process of the present invention, wherein positioning time for all the components (i.e., the preforms 10 and the handles 2) are reduced, thereby forming the container 1 according to the present invention, and also forming time for the forming of the container 1 is reduced due to the fact that the handle 2 is positioned in half mold 31 during and at the same time the closing step thereof.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but it further includes all variants that fall within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the forming of a container (1) of the type incorporating at least one pre-inserted handle (2) during its formation, the apparatus comprising:

a press (3) that includes two supporting members (30) each of which supporting an half mold (31), said half mold (31) being capable of moving toward and moving away from each other with reference to a molding plane (X), and each half mold (31) incorporating half of the final shape of said container (1 );

a transporting and positioning region for positioning said preforms (10) at said forming plane (X), and

transporting and supporting means (22) for said handle (2), said transporting and supporting means (22) being mounted onto a single half mold (31),

characterized in that

said transporting and supporting means (22) for said handle (2) arranges said handle (2) within said half molds (31) at the same time the latter are closed.

2. Apparatus for forming a container (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said transporting and supporting means (22) for said handle (2) includes a cylinder (23) connected to supporting clamp (24) for supporting said handle (2), said cylinder (23) being mounted onto a single half mold (31), the arrangement being such that said handle (2) when mounted on said the supporting clamp (24) is positioned outside the associated half mold (31) and at a corresponding position to a hollow housing (32) of both said half molds (31).

3. Apparatus for forming a container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cylinder (3) is capable of moving said supporting clamp (24) toward and away from the associated half mold (31) and parallel to the forming plane (X).

4. Apparatus for forming a container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each half mold (31) has a housing (32) for housing said handle (2) and designed to cooperate for the supporting and the positioning of said handle (2) during the mutual closing of said half molds (31).

5. A process for the forming of a container (1) of the type incorporating at least one pre-inserted handle (2) during its formation, the process comprising the following steps:

- Positioning at least one preform (10) at a molding blowing plane (X) where a pair of half molds (31) join together;

- Positioning at least one handle (2) on relevant transporting and supporting means (22) for transporting said at least one handle (2), said means (22) being associated to a single half mold (31) of said pair of half molds (31), and

- Approaching to the closing of said two half molds (31) at said blowing plane (X) with a speed (V), and

characterized in that it further comprises the step of:

- moving said transporting and supporting means (22) in the direction of approaching the associated half mold (31) with a speed (V2) that is equal in magnitude to the approaching speed (V) of the half molds (31) but has an opposite direction of said speed (V) of the relevant mold (31) to which said means (22) are associated.

6. Process for the forming of a container (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said step of moving said transporting and supporting means (22) in the direction υΓ approach of said half mold (31 ) to which said means (22) are associated occurs upon closing of said two molds (31).

7. Process for the forming of a container (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said at least one handle (2) is inserted into the respective housing (32) within said half mold (31) at the same time of the closing of the same.

8. Process for the forming of a container (1) according to claim 5 or 6 or 7, wherein said at least one handle (2) is positioned outside the associated half mold (31) prior to the closing of said pair of_rhalf molds (31).