U.S. patent application number 12/506320 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for beverage bottling or container filling plant having a beverage bottle or container handling machine and a method of operation thereof.
Invention is credited to Volker TILL.
Application Number | 20100011712 12/506320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38179693 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100011712 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TILL; Volker |
January 21, 2010 |
BEVERAGE BOTTLING OR CONTAINER FILLING PLANT HAVING A BEVERAGE
BOTTLE OR CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATION
THEREOF
Abstract
A beverage bottling or container filling plant having a beverage
bottle or container handling machine and a method of operation
thereof. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the
specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the
abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and
should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
Inventors: |
TILL; Volker;
(Hofheim/Taunus, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NILS H. LJUNGMAN & ASSOCIATES
P. O. BOX 130
GREENSBURG
PA
15601-0130
US
|
Family ID: |
38179693 |
Appl. No.: |
12/506320 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11690624 |
Mar 23, 2007 |
7571585 |
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12506320 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/467 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 49/42 20130101;
B29K 2067/00 20130101; B29C 49/12 20130101; B29C 49/64 20130101;
B29K 2667/00 20130101; B67C 3/22 20130101; B29C 49/36 20130101;
B29C 49/78 20130101; B29C 2035/0822 20130101; B29C 49/06 20130101;
B29C 2049/4231 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/467 |
International
Class: |
B67C 7/00 20060101
B67C007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 25, 2006 |
DE |
102006013843.0-16 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A method of operating a beverage bottling or container filling
plant for filling bottles or containers with liquid beverage
material, said beverage bottling or container filling plant
comprising: said beverage bottle or container filling machine being
configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles or containers with
liquid beverage material; said beverage bottle or container filling
machine comprising a plurality of beverage bottle or container
filling elements for filling beverage bottles or containers with
liquid beverage material; each of said plurality of beverage bottle
or container filling elements comprising a container carrier being
configured and disposed to receive and hold beverage bottles or
containers to be filled; each of said plurality of beverage bottle
or container filling elements being configured and disposed to
dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles or
containers to be filled; a first conveyor arrangement being
configured and disposed to convey filled beverage bottles or
containers from said beverage bottle or container filling machine
to said beverage bottle or container closing machine; said beverage
bottle or container closing machine being configured and disposed
to close tops of filled beverage bottles or containers; said
beverage bottle or container closing machine comprising a plurality
of closing devices; each of said plurality of closing devices being
configured and disposed to place closures on filled beverage
bottles or containers; each of said plurality of closing devices
comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to
receive and hold filled beverage bottles or containers; a beverage
bottle or container handling machine being configured and disposed
to form and handle beverage bottles or containers; said beverage
bottle or container handling machine comprising a supply
arrangement being configured and disposed to supply unformed
beverage bottle or container structures; said beverage bottle or
container handling machine comprising a treatment arrangement being
configured and disposed to treat unformed beverage bottle or
container structures; said beverage bottle or container handling
machine comprising a forming arrangement being configured and
disposed to form treated, unformed beverage bottle or container
structures in to beverage bottles or containers; said beverage
bottle or container handling machine comprising a transfer conveyor
arrangement being configured and disposed to convey treated,
unformed beverage bottle or container structures from said
treatment arrangement to said forming arrangement; said beverage
bottle or container handling machine comprising a storage
arrangement being configured and disposed to receive treated,
unformed beverage bottle or container structures therein upon an
interruption in the bottling process due to an error in operation
of said forming arrangement, said filling machine, or said closing
machine to minimize loss of or damage to unformed beverage bottle
or container structures and to maintain operation of said supply
arrangement and said treatment arrangement during the interruption;
said transfer conveyor arrangement of said beverage bottle or
container handling machine being configured to convey treated,
unformed beverage bottle or container structures to said storage
arrangement upon an interruption in the bottling process; and a
second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey
beverage bottles or containers to be filled from said beverage
bottle or container handling machine to said beverage bottle or
container filling machine; said method comprising the steps of:
treating unformed beverage bottle or container structures are
treated in a treatment arrangement; forming treated unformed
beverage bottle or container structures in said forming arrangement
into beverage bottles or containers; filling beverage bottles or
containers; closing filled beverage bottles or containers; and upon
an interruption in the bottling process due to an error in
operation of said forming arrangement, said filling machine, or
said closing machine, interrupting the onward transfer of the
treated unformed beverage bottle or container structures to the
forming arrangement station and transferring at least some of the
unformed beverage bottle or container structures outward to said
storage arrangement for reuse.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein in the event of a
problem, at least some of the unformed beverage bottle or container
structures are retained in the treatment arrangement or are moved
into a self-contained holding loop inside the treatment
arrangement.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the unformed beverage
bottle or container structures are transferred outward to a buffer
storage device or to a receiving or collecting container.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein in the event of a
problem, the unformed beverage bottle or container structures are
moved on at least one endless circulating driven transport element
of the treatment arrangement.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein in the event of a
problem, the treatment output of the treatment arrangement is
reduced and/or that the transport line on which the unformed
beverage bottle or container structures are moved through the
treatment arrangement is treated to reduce the treatment output;
and the forming arrangement is run empty and as long as the
problems persist or during the hold time until the problem is
resolved, at least one forming mold is held at the nominal and
operating temperature.
16. A method for the operation of a beverage bottling or container
filling plant for filling beverage bottles or containers with
liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling or container
filling plant comprising: said beverage bottle or container filling
machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles or
containers with liquid beverage material; said beverage bottle or
container filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage bottle
or container filling elements for filling beverage bottles or
containers with liquid beverage material; each of said plurality of
beverage bottle or container filling elements comprising a
container carrier being configured and disposed to receive and hold
beverage bottles or containers to be filled; each of said plurality
of beverage bottle or container filling elements being configured
and disposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage
bottles or containers to be filled; a first conveyor arrangement
being configured and disposed to convey filled beverage bottles or
containers from said beverage bottle or container filling machine
to said beverage bottle or container closing machine; said beverage
bottle or container closing machine being configured and disposed
to close tops of filled beverage bottles or containers; said
beverage bottle or container closing machine comprising a plurality
of closing devices; each of said plurality of closing devices being
configured and disposed to place closures on filled beverage
bottles or containers; each of said plurality of closing devices
comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to
receive and hold filled beverage bottles or containers; a beverage
bottle or container handling machine being configured and disposed
to form and handle beverage bottles or containers; said beverage
bottle or container handling machine comprising a supply
arrangement being configured and disposed to supply unformed
beverage bottle or container structures; said beverage bottle or
container handling machine comprising a treatment arrangement being
configured and disposed to treat unformed beverage bottle or
container structures; said beverage bottle or container handling
machine comprising a forming arrangement being configured and
disposed to form treated, unformed beverage bottle or container
structures in to beverage bottles or containers; said beverage
bottle or container handling machine comprising a transfer conveyor
arrangement being configured and disposed to convey treated,
unformed beverage bottle or container structures from said
treatment arrangement to said forming arrangement; said transfer
conveyor arrangement being configured, upon an interruption in the
bottling process due to an error in operation of said forming
arrangement, said filling machine, or said closing machine, as the
treatment arrangement continues to operate, to block the feed of
the unformed beverage bottle or container structures to the
treatment arrangement and the transfer of unformed beverage bottle
or container structures from the treatment arrangement to the
forming arrangement; and a second conveyor arrangement being
configured and disposed to convey beverage bottles or containers to
be filled from said beverage bottle or container handling machine
to said beverage bottle or container filling machine; said method
comprising the steps of: treating unformed beverage bottle or
container structures are treated in a treatment arrangement;
forming treated unformed beverage bottle or container structures in
said forming arrangement into beverage bottles or containers;
filling beverage bottles or containers; closing filled beverage
bottles or containers; and upon an interruption in the bottling
process due to an error in operation of said forming arrangement,
said filling machine, or said closing machine, retaining at least
some of the unformed beverage bottle or container structures in the
treatment arrangement or moving at least some of the unformed
beverage bottle or container structures into a self-contained
holding loop inside the treatment arrangement.
17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said method further
comprises the step of: upon an interruption in the bottling process
due to an error in operation of said forming arrangement, said
filling machine, or said closing machine, interrupting the onward
transfer of the treated unformed beverage bottle or container
structures to the forming arrangement station and transferring at
least some of the unformed beverage bottle or container structures
outward for reuse.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the unformed beverage
bottle or container structures are transferred outward to a buffer
storage device or to a receiving or collecting container.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein in the event of a
problem, the unformed beverage bottle or container structures are
moved on at least one endless circulating driven transport element
of the treatment arrangement.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the event of a
problem, the treatment output of the treatment arrangement is
reduced and/or that the transport line on which the unformed
beverage bottle or container structures are moved through the
treatment arrangement is treated to reduce the treatment output;
and the forming arrangement is run empty and as long as the
problems persist or during the hold time until the problem is
resolved, at least one forming mold is held at the nominal and
operating temperature.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This application relates to a beverage bottling or container
filling plant having a beverage bottle or container handling
machine and a method of operation thereof.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid
beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling
machine, which is often a rotary filling machine, with a plurality
of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position
having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid
beverage filling material. The filling devices may have an
apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid
beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a
substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling
material.
[0005] Some beverage bottling plants may possibly comprise filling
arrangements that receive a liquid beverage material from a
toroidal or annular vessel, in which a supply of liquid beverage
material is stored under pressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel may
also be connected to at least one external reservoir or supply of
liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In some
circumstances it may even be possible that a beverage bottling
plant has two external supply reservoirs, each of which may be
configured to store either the same liquid beverage product or
different products. These reservoirs could possibly be connected to
the toroidal or annular vessel by corresponding supply lines,
conduits, or other arrangements. It is also possible that the
external supply reservoirs could be in the form of simple storage
tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers.
[0006] A wide variety of types of filling elements are used in
filling machines in beverage bottling or container filling plants
for dispensing a liquid product into bottles, cans or similar
containers, including but not limited to filling processes that are
carried out under counterpressure for the bottling of carbonated
beverages. The apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined flow
of liquid beverage filling material further comprises an apparatus
that is designed to terminate the filling of the beverage bottles
upon the liquid beverage filling material reaching the
predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a
conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example,
from an inspecting machine to the filling machine.
[0007] After a filling process has been completed, the filled
beverage bottles are transported or conveyed to a closing machine,
which is often a rotary closing machine. A revolving or rotary
machine comprises a rotor, which revolves around a central,
vertical machine axis. There may further be provided a conveyer
arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling
machine to the closing station. A transporting or conveying
arrangement can utilize transport star wheels as well as linear
conveyors. A closing machine closes bottles by applying a closure,
such as a screw-top cap or a bottle cork, to a corresponding bottle
mouth. Closed bottles are then usually conveyed to an information
adding arrangement, wherein information, such as a product name or
a manufacturer's information or logo, is applied to a bottle. A
closing station and information adding arrangement may be connected
by a corresponding conveyer arrangement. Bottles are then sorted
and packaged for shipment out of the plant.
[0008] Many beverage bottling plants may also possibly comprise a
rinsing arrangement or rinsing station to which new, non-return
and/or even return bottles are fed, prior to being filled, by a
conveyer arrangement, which can be a linear conveyor or a
combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the
rinsing arrangement or rinsing station, in the direction of travel,
rinsed bottles are then transported to the beverage filling machine
by a second conveyer arrangement that is formed, for example, by
one or more starwheels that introduce bottles into the beverage
filling machine.
[0009] It is a further possibility that a beverage bottling plant
for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can be
controlled by a central control arrangement, which could be, for
example, a computerized control system that monitors and controls
the operation of the various stations and mechanisms of the
beverage bottling plant.
[0010] Some beverage bottling plants also have a bottle or
container manufacturing arrangement or machine or system in which
the bottles or containers are manufactured or formed in the plant
prior to filling and/or cleaning or rinsing. Stretch blow molding
machines for the manufacture of bottles or similar hollow bodies
using preforms made of a thermoplastic plastic material such as
PET, for example, by heating and subsequent stretch blowing (blow
molding) of the respective preforms are known in the beverage
bottling industry. Stretch blow molding machines of this type
essentially comprise a heating station in which the preforms are
heated by a controlled temperature, and of a downstream blowing
station in which the stretch blow molding takes place at a high
rate or production and which, for this purpose, generally comprises
a rotor or blow molding unit with a plurality of blow molds that is
driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis. Both process
steps, namely the preheating of the preforms and the downstream
stretch blow molding are coupled directly to each other. Generally,
the heat output and delivery capacity of the heating station are
adapted to the output of the blow molding station.
[0011] In practice, downstream of the stretch blow molding machine
is an additional part of a total plant, i.e. for example downstream
of a stretch blow molding machine for the manufacture of bottles is
a filling machine, which can then be directly interlocked with the
stretch blow molding machine, for example. One disadvantage
associated with some existing practices, especially relating to the
stretch blow molding machines for the manufacture of bottles, is
that in the event of a stoppage or problem in the downstream
portion of the overall plant or in the machine immediately
downstream, the stretch blow molding machine must continue to run
until the heating station and a transport element that moves the
preforms through the heating station and also the blow molds of the
blow molding station are completely emptied. The number of preforms
and bottles affected by this disadvantage is equal to the number of
preforms and bottles that are normally being processed in two
minutes of normal operation of a stretch blow molding machine. The
bottles that are produced during this idling must be transferred
outward and discarded if such bottles cannot be reused for lack of
a suitable sorting system. A buffer storage of the bottles that are
produced during the idling of the stretch blow molding machine in
separate buffer storage systems is not possible because the bottles
molded by stretch blow molding are extremely sensitive, and
generally can be easily damaged and/or deformed, which means that
they are no longer suitable for reuse.
[0012] There can be many different problems in a part of the
overall plant downstream of the stretch blow molding machine or in
another machine located downstream, and can be caused, for example,
by a lack of operating media, a lack of product to be bottled in a
downstream filling machine, backups in connected transport systems,
mechanical or electrical faults in complex control systems etc. The
idling of either the heating station or the stretch blow molding
station or of both stations that is necessary in some cases during
a shutdown or fault can result in significant material costs, for
example, which on high capacity machines or plants in continuous
operation can add up to approximately a six-figure amount.
OBJECT OR OBJECTS
[0013] An object of at least one possible embodiment of the present
application is to indicate a stretch blow molding machine for the
manufacture of bottles or similar hollow bodies by stretch blowing
that eliminates the above mentioned disadvantage.
SUMMARY
[0014] At least one possible embodiment of the present application
teaches a stretch blow molding machine for the manufacture of
hollow bodies, in particular bottles, by stretch blowing with the
use of preforms made of thermoplastic plastic, with a heating
station for the preheating of the preforms that are fed to this
station, and with a blowing station that has at least one blow
mold, to which the preforms heated in the heating station are fed,
wherein means which, in the event of a problem in the blowing
station and or in a part of the plant that processes the hollow
bodies downstream of the blowing machine, outwardly transfers at
least some of the heated preforms while the heating station remains
in operation. At least one other possible embodiment of the present
application teaches a stretch blow molding machine for the
manufacture of hollow bodies, generally bottles, by stretch blowing
using preforms made of thermoplastic plastic with a heating station
for the preheating of the preforms that are fed to this station, as
well as with a blowing station that has at least one blow mold, to
which blowing station the preforms heated in the heating station
are fed, wherein means, that in the event of a problem in the
blowing station and/or in a part of a plant that processes the
hollow bodies downstream of the blowing machine, as the heating
station remains in operation, block the feed of the preforms to the
heating station and the transfer of preforms from the heating
station to the blower station. At least one additional possible
embodiment of the present application teaches a method for the
manufacture of bottles or similar hollow bodies by stretch blow
molding using preforms made of thermoplastic plastic, whereby the
preforms are heated in a heating station and are deformed in the
heated state in a blow mold of a blowing station into the
individual hollow bodies, wherein in the event of a problem in the
blowing station and/or in a part of the plant that processes the
hollow bodies downstream of the stretch blow molding machine, the
onward transfer of the heated preforms to the blowing station is
interrupted and at least some of the preforms are transferred
outward for reuse. At least one further possible embodiment of the
present application teaches a method for the manufacture of bottles
or similar hollow containers by blow molds using preforms made of
thermoplastic plastic, whereby the preforms are heated in a heating
station and in the heated state are deformed in a blow mold of a
blowing station into the individual hollow bodies, characterized in
that in the event of a problem, at least some of the preforms are
retained in the heating station or are moved into a self-contained
holding loop inside the heating station. Further developments of at
least one possible embodiment of the present application are
described herein.
[0015] The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention
will be described further hereinbelow. When the word "invention" or
"embodiment of the invention" is used in this specification, the
word "invention" or "embodiment of the invention" includes
"inventions" or "embodiments of the invention", that is the plural
of "invention" or "embodiment of the invention". By stating
"invention" or "embodiment of the invention", the Applicant does
not in any way admit that the present application does not include
more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and
maintains that this application may include more than one
patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant
hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include
more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than
one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and
non-obvious one with respect to the other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] At least one possible embodiment of the present application
is explained in greater detail below on the basis of the exemplary
embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying figures. In
the figures:
[0017] FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one
possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers;
[0018] FIG. 1 shows in a simplified schematic view at least one
embodiment of a stretch blow machine for the manufacture of plastic
bottles from preforms by stretch blowing;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows in a simplified schematic view at least one
other embodiment of a stretch blow machine for the manufacture of
plastic bottles from preforms by stretch blowing;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows another possible embodiment of the present
application; and
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a further possible embodiment of the present
application.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one
possible embodiment example of a system for filling containers,
specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles B with
at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one
possible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be
utilized at least one aspect, or several aspects, of the
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0023] FIG. 1A shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101,
to which the containers, namely bottles B, are fed in the direction
of travel as indicated by the arrow A1, by a first conveyer
arrangement 103, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of
a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing
arrangement or rinsing station 101, in the direction of travel as
indicated by the arrow A1, the rinsed bottles B are transported to
a beverage filling machine 105 by a second conveyer arrangement 104
that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that
introduce bottles B into the beverage filling machine 105.
[0024] The beverage filling machine 105 shown is of a revolving or
rotary design, with a rotor 105', which revolves around a central,
vertical machine axis. The rotor 105' is designed to receive and
hold the bottles B for filling at a plurality of filling positions
113 located about the periphery of the rotor 105'. At each of the
filling positions 103 is located a filling arrangement 114 having
at least one filling device, element, apparatus, or valve. The
filling arrangements 114 are designed to introduce a predetermined
volume or amount of liquid beverage into the interior of the
bottles B to a predetermined or desired level.
[0025] The filling arrangements 114 receive the liquid beverage
material from a toroidal or annular vessel 117, in which a supply
of liquid beverage material is stored under pressure by a gas. The
toroidal vessel 117 is a component, for example, of the revolving
rotor 105'. The toroidal vessel 117 can be connected by means of a
rotary coupling or a coupling that permits rotation. The toroidal
vessel 117 is also connected to at least one external reservoir or
supply of liquid beverage material by a conduit or supply line. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, there are two external supply
reservoirs 123 and 124, each of which is configured to store either
the same liquid beverage product or different products. These
reservoirs 123, 124 are connected to the toroidal or annular vessel
117 by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements 121
and 122. The external supply reservoirs 123, 124 could be in the
form of simple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage
product mixers, in at least one possible embodiment.
[0026] As well as the more typical filling machines having one
toroidal vessel, it is possible that in at least one possible
embodiment there could be a second toroidal or annular vessel which
contains a second product. In this case, each filling arrangement
114 could be connected by separate connections to each of the two
toroidal vessels and have two individually-controllable fluid or
control valves, so that in each bottle B, the first product or the
second product can be filled by means of an appropriate control of
the filling product or fluid valves.
[0027] Downstream of the beverage filling machine 105, in the
direction of travel of the bottles B, there can be a beverage
bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 which closes or
caps the bottles B. The beverage bottle closing arrangement or
closing station 106 can be connected by a third conveyer
arrangement 107 to a beverage bottle labeling arrangement or
labeling station 108. The third conveyor arrangement may be formed,
for example, by a plurality of starwheels, or may also include a
linear conveyor device.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage bottle labeling
arrangement or labeling station 108 has at least one labeling unit,
device, or module, for applying labels to bottles B. In the
embodiment shown, the labeling arrangement 108 is connected by a
starwheel conveyer structure to three output conveyer arrangements:
a first output conveyer arrangement 109, a second output conveyer
arrangement 110, and a third output conveyer arrangement 111, all
of which convey filled, closed, and labeled bottles B to different
locations.
[0029] The first output conveyer arrangement 109, in the embodiment
shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled with a first
type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply
reservoir 123. The second output conveyer arrangement 110, in the
embodiment shown, is designed to convey bottles B that are filled
with a second type of liquid beverage supplied by, for example, the
supply reservoir 124. The third output conveyer arrangement 111, in
the embodiment shown, is designed to convey incorrectly labeled
bottles B. To further explain, the labeling arrangement 108 can
comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring
device that inspects or monitors the location of labels on the
bottles B to determine if the labels have been correctly placed or
aligned on the bottles B. The third output conveyer arrangement 111
removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly labeled as
determined by the inspecting device.
[0030] The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central
control arrangement 112, which could be, for example, computerized
control system that monitors and controls the operation of the
various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
[0031] The stretch blow molding machine which is designated 1 in
general in FIG. 1 is used for the manufacture of bottles 2 made of
thermoplastic plastic, for example PET bottles, from preforms 3.
For this purpose, the stretch blow molding machine 1 includes a
furnace or a heating station 4 in which the preforms 3 are heated
until they are at the temperature required for the subsequent
stretch blowing, for example a temperature of approximately
135.degree. C., and a blowing station 5 with a rotor or blow
molding unit 6 that is driven so that it rotates around a vertical
machine axis, on the periphery of which rotor or blow molding unit
a plurality of blow molds 6.1 are provided, in each of which a
preform 3 is molded by blowing into a bottle 2.
[0032] To describe the process in detail, during the normal
operation of the stretch blow molding machine 1, the preforms are
continuously fed by a feeder unit 7 via a conveyor line or feed
line 8 as illustrated by Arrow A in FIG. 1. The feeder unit 7 has,
among other things, a receiving container in which the preforms 3
are received in an unorganized group and from which the preforms 3
are each transferred to the feeder 8 in a specified orientation. In
the feeder 8, the preforms 3 are held in a suspended position in a
guide rail, for example on a projecting flange area 3.1, and are
moved by compressed air in the direction of conveying or transport
A, and specifically to an input 9 of the heating station 4. From
the input 9, the preforms 3 travel to a transport element 4.1, with
which they are each moved, one after another, through the heating
station 4 to an output or transfer conveyor 10. This transfer
conveyor 10 has, for example, at least one transport star wheel
that is driven in rotation or a corresponding transport wheel for
the heated preforms 3 and is realized with a switching function.
The transport element 4.1 can be, for example, an endless
circulating chain conveyor, on which receptacles for the preforms 3
are provided at a specified machine interval. The preforms 3 can be
heated in the heating station 4 by radiant infrared heaters, for
example.
[0033] Adjacent to the transfer conveyor 10 is an inlet or
transport star wheel 11 of the blowing station 5, which star wheel
11 is driven in rotation. During normal operation, the heated
preforms 3 are each transferred by means of this transport star
wheel 11 one after another to a blow mold 6.1 of the blow molding
unit 6 which is driven in rotation. The bottles 2 that are
manufactured leave the blowing station 5 or the stretch blow
molding machine 1 via an outlet star wheel and a downstream
transport line 13, on which the bottles 2 are held suspended in a
guide rail with a flange 2.1 formed by the flange segment 3.1 and
the respective bottle mouth, and are transported by compressed air
in the transport direction B to a downstream machine (not shown),
e.g. to a filling machine.
[0034] To minimize the waste of material in the event of a problem
in the operation of the downstream machine and to prepare bottles 2
for continued use after the resolution of a problem as soon as
possible without any delay at the outlet of the stretch mold
blowing machine 1, i.e. at the outlet star wheel 12 located at that
point, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the
transfer conveyor 10 is realized so that in the event of a problem
in the downstream machine and/or in the event of a backup of
bottles in the transport line 13 caused by such a problem, it stops
the onward transfer of the heated preforms 3 to the blow molding
station 5 by means of a control device 14, and while the heating
station 4 is still in operation--which continues to be loaded with
preforms even in the event of the problem described
above--continuously transfers the heated preforms outward and
forwards them to a buffer storage device 15. This buffer storage
device 15 is in the simplest case formed by a collecting containers
container. The preforms 3 collected there can then be introduced
into the feeder unit 7 or into the receptacle container located
there for reuse. Between the transfer conveyor 10 and the buffer
storage device 15, there can be a cooling line, for example, so
that the outward-transferred preforms 3 can be cooled and therefore
reach the buffer 15 or collecting container without the danger of
deformation.
[0035] The advantage of the stretch blow molding machine 1 is that
in the event of a problem in the downstream machine, only the blow
molds 6.1 run empty and the bottles that are thereby produced must
be outwardly transferred, for example, as well as the fact that the
heating station 4 and the transport element 4.1 located there
continue to be fully loaded with preforms 3, so that after the
problem has been solved, the blowing station 5 is again supplied
with heated preforms 3 via the transfer conveyor 10 and the inlet
star wheel 11 without any delay.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing a stretch blow
molding machine 1 a which differs from the stretch blow molding
machine 1 essentially in that, in the event of a problem with the
downstream machine, for example with the downstream filling
machine, and/or in the case of a bottle backup in the conveyor 13,
the feed of the preforms to the heating station 4 is stopped in a
controlled manner by the control device 14, and simultaneously the
transfer conveyor 10 interrupts the forwarding of the heated
preforms 3 to the blowing station 5, so that the preforms 3 that
are located in the heating station 4 circulate in the heating
station 4 until the problem with the transport element 4.1 is
resolved. To thereby prevent an overheating of the preforms 3, the
heat output of the heating station 4 is reduced and/or the
transport line on which the preforms 3 are moved through the
heating station 4, is at least partly cooled with cooling air. The
reduction of the heat output and/or the cooling of the conveyor
line with cooling air are done, however, so that at least after the
elimination of a problem, the preforms 3 that, during their
circulation in the heating station 4, reach the transfer conveyor
10, are at the temperature required for the stretch blow molding.
When a problem is eliminated, therefore the blow molding of the
bottles 2 can be resumed without any delay.
[0037] Both on the stretch blow molding machine 1 and on the
stretch blow molding machine 1a, in the event of a problem the
blowing station 5 is run empty and the bottles 1 that are thereby
produced are then ejected, for example. During the problem and hold
time, however, the nominal or working temperature of the blow molds
6.1 is maintained.
[0038] At least one possible embodiment of the present application
is explained herein on the basis of exemplary embodiments. It goes
without saying that numerous modifications and variants are
possible without thereby going beyond the teaching of at least one
possible embodiment of the present application. It is possible, for
example, to realize the stretch blow molding machine 1 so that the
preforms 3 that are outwardly transferred in the event of a problem
at the transfer 10 are transported forward for reuse via a buffer
storage device and via a transport system to the feeder unit 7
and/or to a second input of the input 9, which is realized in the
form of a merge point.
[0039] It is also possible on the stretch blow molding machine 1 to
reduce the heat output of the heating station during a problem
and/or to cool the transport line on which the preforms 3 are moved
through the heating station 4 with cooling air.
[0040] In the event of a problem it is also possible to outwardly
transfer any preforms that are already inside the heating device 4
in at least one position of the conveyor line located inside the
heating station 4. This process is generally advantageous, because
certain types of preforms, depending on the material and geometric
configuration, exhibit an undesirable crystallization behavior
above a certain temperature. Because such a crystallization process
begins only when a certain limit temperature is exceeded, such
crystallization can be reliably prevented by outwardly transferring
the preform at a point of the heating station or at such a time
from the heating station 4 at which the preforms are still at a
temperature that is below the limit temperature.
[0041] In the context of present application, the term "limit
temperature" means not only the temperature at which the
crystallization begins, but also the temperature at which the
crystallization rate or the degree of crystallization of the
preform reaches undesirable values.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows another possible embodiment of the present
application. This embodiment is similar to the one shown in FIG. 1.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the stretch blow molding machine
1 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 with additional optional
features. In FIG. 3, the control device 14 is operatively connected
to the stretch blow molding machine 1. In at least one embodiment,
the control device 14 is a computer control device that is
operatively connected to at least one or more components or
machines of the stretch blow molding machine 1, or other components
or machines in the overall beverage bottling plant, such as the
plant in FIG. 1A, to monitor and/or control the operation of such
components or machines. The control device 14, in at least one
other possible embodiment, could be part of or work in conjunction
with another control device or system, such as the central control
arrangement 112 in FIG. 1A. The transfer conveyor 10, according to
one possible embodiment, is designed with a switching function,
that is, the transfer conveyor 10 can be actuated to switch between
conveying preforms 3 to the blowing station 5 and to the buffer or
collecting container 15. This switching can be actuated by the
control device 14 upon the development of a problem in the
operation of the downstream machine and to prepare bottles 2 for
continued use after the resolution of a problem as soon as possible
with minimal delay. The collecting container 15 in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 3 has an output arrangement 18 and a cooling
arrangement 19. In operation, preforms 3 could be conveyed from the
transfer conveyor 10 to the storage arrangement 15 via the output
arrangement 18, which output arrangement 18 has a linear or rotary
conveyor arrangement, or a combination thereof. The output
arrangement 18, in at least one possible embodiment, can also have
a movable transfer arm or other guiding arrangement. The guiding
arrangement can be actuated by a signal from the control device 14
during an interruption in the downstream bottling process to divert
the preforms 3 out of the conveyor 10 and to the storage
arrangement 15. When the interruption has been corrected or
overcome, the guiding arrangement can be taken out of engagement
with the conveyor 10 to permit the preforms 3 to continue on their
normal path to the inlet star wheel 11. Upon removal of the
preforms 3 from the conveyor 10, the preforms 3 are collected in
the storage arrangement 15 and then can be taken to the feeder unit
7 or placed into a receptacle container located by the feeder unit
for reuse. In one possible embodiment, the storage arrangement 15
has a removable container that can be removed when it is
substantially filled with preforms 3. The container could then be
taken, either manually or by mechanical means, such as a forklift,
to the feeder unit 7 or to a storage area where the supply of
preforms 3 is stored. While the full container is being
transported, an empty container could be placed in the storage
arrangement 15 to collect preforms 3 during an interruption in the
bottling process. In addition, between the transfer conveyor 10 and
the buffer storage device 15, there can be a cooling arrangement
19, for example, so that the outward-transferred preforms 3 can be
cooled and therefore reach the buffer 15 or collecting container
without the danger of deformation. The cooling arrangement 19 could
have blowers or other cooling elements to cool the heated preforms
3 prior to their placement in the storage device 15.
[0043] FIG. 4 shows another possible embodiment of the present
application. This embodiment is similar to the one shown in FIG. 2.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the stretch blow molding machine
1 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 with additional features. The
heating station 4 has at least one heater 21 and at least one
cooling device 22. The heater 21 heats the preforms and the cooling
device 22 helps maintain the temperature of the preforms 3 to avoid
overheating during an interruption downstream in the bottling
process.
[0044] At least one possible embodiment of the present application
relates to a stretch blow mold machine for the manufacture of
hollow bodies, generally bottles, by stretch blowing using preforms
made of thermoplastic plastic, with a preheating station for the
preheating of the preforms fed to this station and with a blowing
station that has at least one blow mold.
[0045] This application also relates to a stretch blow molding
machine and method for the manufacture of bottles or similar hollow
bodies.
[0046] One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the
time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside
broadly in a stretch blow molding machine for the manufacture of
hollow bodies, generally bottles 2, by stretch blowing with the use
of preforms 3 made of thermoplastic plastic, with a heating station
4 for the preheating of the preforms 3 that are fed to this
station, and with a blowing station 5 that has at least one blow
mold 6.1, to which the preforms 3 heated in the heating station 4
are fed, characterized by means 10 which, in the event of a problem
in the blowing station 5 and or in a part of the plant that
processes the hollow bodies downstream of the blowing machine,
outwardly transfers at least some of the heated preforms 3 while
the heating station 4 remains in operation.
[0047] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
by means 9, 10 that, in the event of a problem in the blowing
station 5 and/or in a part of the plant that processes the hollow
bodies downstream of the blowing machine, as the heating station 4
continues to operate, block the feed of the preforms 3 to the
heating station 4 and the transfer of preforms 3 from the heating
station 4 to the blowing station 5.
[0048] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a stretch blow molding machine for the
manufacture of hollow bodies, generally bottles 2, by stretch
blowing using preforms 3 made of thermoplastic plastic with a
heating station 4 for the preheating of the preforms 3 that are fed
to this station, as well as with a blowing station 5 that has at
least one blow mold 6.1, to which blowing station the preforms 3
heated in the heating station 4 are fed, characterized by means 9,
10 that in the event of a problem in the blowing station 5 and/or
in a part of a plant that processes the hollow bodies downstream of
the blowing machine, as the heating station 4 remains in operation,
block the feed of the preforms 3 to the heating station 4 and the
transfer of preforms 3 from the heating station 4 to the blower
station 5.
[0049] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
by means 10 which, in the event of a problem in the blowing station
5 and/or in a part of the plant that processes the hollow bodies
downstream of the blowing machine, as the heating station 4
continues to operate, effect an outward transfer of at least some
of the heated preforms 3.
[0050] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
by a transfer conveyor 10 located between an outlet of the heating
station 4 and an inlet of the blowing station 5, which can be
controlled so that in the event of a problem it interrupts the
forward transport of the heated preforms 3 to the blowing station
5.
[0051] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
in that the transfer conveyor 10 outwardly transfers the heated
preforms 3, for example to a buffer 15 or collecting container.
[0052] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
in that in the event of a problem, the transfer conveyor 10 blocks
the heating station 4 for the delivery of the preforms 3 to the
blowing station 5.
[0053] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
in that the heating station 4 has at least one driven endless
circulating transport element 4.1 for the preforms 3.
[0054] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
in that the blowing station 5 has at least one rotor 6 that can be
driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis with a plurality
of blow molds 6 that are provided on the rotor periphery.
[0055] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the stretch blow molding machine, characterized
in that it is interlocked with a downstream machine, generally with
a downstream filling machine.
[0056] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in a method for the manufacture of bottles 2 or
similar hollow bodies by stretch blow molding using preforms 3 made
of thermoplastic plastic, whereby the preforms 3 are heated in a
heating station 4 and are deformed in the heated state in a blow
mold 6.1 of a blowing station 5 into the individual hollow bodies,
characterized in that in the event of a problem in the blowing
station 5 and/or in a part of the plant that processes the hollow
bodies downstream of the stretch blow molding machine 1, 1a, the
onward transfer of the heated preforms 3 to the blowing station is
interrupted and at least some of the preforms 3 are transferred
outward for reuse.
[0057] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, characterized in that in the event of
a problem, at least some of the preforms 3 are retained in the
heating station 4 or are moved into a self-contained holding loop
inside the heating station 4.
[0058] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method for the manufacture of bottles 2 or
similar hollow containers by blow molds using preforms 3 made of
thermoplastic plastic, whereby the preforms 3 are heated in a
heating station 4 and in the heated state are deformed in a blow
mold 6.1 of a blowing station 5 into the individual hollow bodies,
characterized in that in the event of a problem, at least some of
the preforms 3 are retained in the heating station 4 or are moved
into a self-contained holding loop inside the heating station
4.
[0059] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, characterized in that in the event of
a problem in the blowing station 5 and/or in a portion of the plant
that processes the hollow bodies downstream of the stretch blow
molding machine 1, 1a, the onward transfer of the heated preforms 3
to the blowing station is interrupted and at least some of the
preforms 3 are transferred outward for reuse.
[0060] Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, characterized in that the preforms 3
are transferred outward to a buffer storage device 15 or to a
receiving or collecting container.
[0061] Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed
at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, characterized in that in the event of
a problem, the preforms 3 are moved on at least one endless
circulating driven transport element 4.1 of the heating station
4.
[0062] A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, characterized in that in the event of
a problem, the heat output of the heating station 4 is reduced
and/or that the transport line on which the preforms 3 are moved
through the heating station is cooled with cooling air.
[0063] Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at
the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly
reside broadly in the method, characterized in that in the event of
a problem, the blowing station 5 is run empty and as long as the
problems persist or during the hold time until the problem is
resolved, the at least one blow mold 6.1 is held at the nominal and
operating temperature.
[0064] The components disclosed in the various publications,
disclosed or incorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used
in possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as
equivalents thereof.
[0065] Some examples of bottling and container handling systems and
components thereof which may possibly be utilized or adapted for
use in at least one possible embodiment, may possibly be found in
the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,477, entitled "Capping Machine
for Capping and Closing Containers, and a Method for Closing
Containers;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,368, entitled "Beverage Container
Filling Machine, and Method for Filling Containers with a Liquid
Filling Material in a Beverage Container Filling Machine;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,494,238, entitled "A Plant for Filling Beverage into
Beverage Bottles Other Beverage Containers Having Apparatus for
Replacing Remaining Air Volume in Filled Beverage Bottles or Other
Beverage Containers;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,922, entitled "Apparatus
for the Recovery of an Inert Gas;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,964,
entitled "Method of Operating a Plant for Filling Bottles, Cans or
the like Beverage Containers with a Beverage, and a Beverage
Container Filling Machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,473, entitled
"Bottling Plant and Method of Operating a Bottling Plant and a
Bottling Plant with Sections for Stabilizing the Bottled Product;"
U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,762, entitled "A Filling System with
Post-dripping Prevention;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,877, entitled
"Filling System for Still Beverages;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,841,
entitled "Labeling Machine with a Sleeve Mechanism for Preparing
and Applying Cylindrical Labels onto Beverage Bottles and Other
Beverage Containers in a Beverage Container Filling Plant;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,971,219 entitled "Beverage bottling plant for filling
bottles with a liquid beverage filling material and a labelling
station for labelling filled bottles and other containers;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,973,767, entitled "Beverage bottling plant and a
conveyor arrangement for transporting packages;" U.S. Pat. No.
7,013,624, entitled "Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles
with a liquid beverage filling material, a container filling plant
container information adding station, such as, a labeling station,
configured to add information to containers, such as, bottles and
cans, and modules for labeling stations;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,025,
entitled "Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid
Beverage Filling Material, and a Container Filling Lifting Device
for Pressing Containers to Container Filling Machines;" U.S. Pat.
No. 7,062,894, entitled "Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling
Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a Container
Filling Plant Container Information Adding Station, Such As, a
Labeling Station Having a Sleeve Label Cutting Arrangement,
Configured to Add Information to Containers, Such As, Bottles and
Cans;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,900, entitled "Beverage Bottling Plant
for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a
Cleaning Device for Cleaning Bottles in a Beverage Bottling Plant;"
U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,417, entitled "A Beverage Bottling Plant for
Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and an
Easily Cleaned Lifting Device in a Beverage Bottling Plant;" U.S.
Pat. No. 7,065,938, entitled "A Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling
Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a Container
Filling Plant Container Information Adding Station, Such As, a
Labeling Station Having a Gripper Arrangement, Configured to Add
Information to Containers, Such As, Bottles and Cans;" U.S. Pat.
No. 6,901,720, entitled "A Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling
Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and Apparatus for
Attaching Carrying Grips to Containers with Filled Bottles;" and
U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,062 "Beverage bottling plant for filling
bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, having a container
handling machine with interchangeable receptacles for the container
mouth."
[0066] The purpose of the statements about the technical field is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the technical field is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the technical field of this patent application.
However, the description of the technical field may not be
completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this
patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to
the technical field are not intended to limit the claims in any
manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any
manner.
[0067] Some examples of bottling and container handling systems and
components thereof which may possibly be utilized or adapted for
use in at least one possible embodiment, may possibly be found in
the following U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/723451, filed on
Nov. 26, 2003, having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-63, entitled
"Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Beverage Bottles or Other
Beverage Containers with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material and
Arrangement for Dividing and Separating of a Stream of Beverage
Bottles or Other Beverage Containers;" U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 10/739895, filed on Dec. 18, 2003, having Attorney Docket No.
NHL-HOL-64, entitled "Method of Operating a Beverage Container
Filling Plant with a Labeling Machine for Labeling Beverage
Containers Such as Bottles and Cans, and a Beverage Container
Filling Plant with a Labeling Machine for Labeling Beverage
Containers Such as Bottles and Cans;" U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 10/865240, filed on Jun. 10, 2004, having Attorney Docket No.
NHL-HOL-72, Entitled "A Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles
with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, a Beverage Container
Filling Machine, and a Beverage Container Closing Machine;" U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/883591, filed on Jul. 1, 2004,
having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-73, entitled "A Beverage
Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling
Material Having a Container Filling Plant Container Information
Adding Station, Such As, a Labeling Station, Configured to Add
Information to Containers, Such As, Bottles and Cans, and Modules
for Labeling Stations and a Bottling Plant Having a Mobile Module
Carrier;" U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/930678, filed on Aug.
31, 2004, having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-81, entitled "A
Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage
Filling Material, a Container Filling Plant Container Filling
Machine, and a Filter Apparatus for Filtering a Liquid Beverage;"
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/931817, filed on Sep. 1, 2004,
having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-82, entitled "A Beverage
Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling
Material, Having an Apparatus for Exchanging Operating Units
Disposed at Rotating Container Handling Machines;" U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/954012, filed on Sep. 29, 2004, having
Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-84; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/952706, having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-88; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/962183, filed on Oct. 8, 2004, having
Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-86; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/967016, filed on Oct. 15, 2004, having Attorney Docket No.
NHL-HOL-91; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/982706, filed on
Nov. 5, 2004, having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-89; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/982694, having Attorney Docket No.
NHL-HOL-90; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/982710, having
Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-93; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/984677, filed on Nov. 9, 2004, having Attorney Docket No.
NHL-HOL-95; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/985640, filed on
Nov. 10, 2004, having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-94; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/004663, filed on Dec. 3, 2004, having
Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-92; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/009551, filed on Dec. 10, 2004, having Attorney Docket No.
NHL-HOL-96; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/012859, filed on
Dec. 15, 2004, having Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-87; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/014673, filed on Dec. 16, 2004, having
Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-97; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/016364, filed on Dec. 17, 2004, having Attorney Docket No.
NHL-HOL-100; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/016363, having
Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-99.
[0068] The appended drawings in their entirety, including all
dimensions, proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of
the invention, are accurate and are hereby included by reference
into this specification.
[0069] Some examples of bottling systems, which may be used or
adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the present
may be found in the following U.S. Patents assigned to the Assignee
herein, namely: U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,285; U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,830;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,350; U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,803; U.S. Pat. No.
4,981,547; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,518; U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,261; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,062,917; U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,918; U.S. Pat. No.
5,075,123; U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,826; U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,317; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,110,402; U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,984; U.S. Pat. No.
5,167,755; U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,851; U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,053; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,217,538; U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,005; U.S. Pat. No.
5,413,153; U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,138; U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,500; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,713,403; U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,113; U.S. Pat. No.
6,213,169; U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,578; U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,946; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,374,575; U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,054; U.S. Pat. No.
6,619,016; U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,368; U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,238; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,470,922; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,964.
[0070] The background information is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background
information for this patent application. However, the background
information may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the background information are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0071] Some examples of control systems which measure operating
parameters and learn therefrom that may possibly be utilized or
possibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of the
present application may possibly be found in the following U.S.
Pat. No. 4,655,188 issued to Tomisawa et al. on Apr. 7, 1987; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,191,272 issued to Torii et al. on Mar. 2, 1993; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,223,820, issued to Sutterlin et al. on Jun. 29, 1993;
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,934 issued to Theile on Jun. 23, 1998.
[0072] All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of
the various embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or
all of the embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described
herein.
[0073] Some examples of interface arrangements that may possibly be
utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the
following U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,704 issued to Narup et al. on Mar.
19, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,356 issued to Fekete on Oct. 5, 1999;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,621,692 issued to Johnson et al. on Sep. 16, 2003;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,961 issued to Allen et al. on Dec. 9, 2003;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,166 issued to Takahashi et al. on Feb. 3, 2004;
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,779 issued to Sturm et al. on Feb. 3,
2004.
[0074] The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The description of the object or objects is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the object or objects of this patent
application. However, the description of the object or objects may
not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in
this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this
patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing
from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made
relating to the object or objects are not intended to limit the
claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the
claims in any manner.
[0075] All of the patents, patent applications and publications
recited herein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety
herein.
[0076] Some examples of computer systems that may possibly be
utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the
following U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,480 issued to Roach et al. on May 16,
1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,355 issued to Hyduke on Dec. 26, 1995;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,730 issued to Brown et al. on Jan. 2, 1996;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,094 issued to Roach et al. on Sep. 8, 1998;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,227 issued to Atkinson et al. on Mar. 9, 1999;
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,462 issued to Moshovich on Jun. 6,
2000.
[0077] The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this
patent application, to adequately summarize this patent
application. However, portions or all of the information contained
in the summary may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the summary are not intended to limit
the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting
the claims in any manner.
[0078] It will be understood that the examples of patents,
published patent applications, and other documents which are
included in this application and which are referred to in
paragraphs which state "Some examples of . . . which may possibly
be used in at least one possible embodiment of the present
application . . . " may possibly not be used or useable in any one
or more embodiments of the application.
[0079] The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published
patent applications and other documents either incorporated by
reference or not incorporated by reference.
[0080] Some examples of bottling systems which may possibly be
utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may
possibly be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,602,
entitled "Compact bottling machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,922,
entitled "Bottling plant for bottling carbonated beverages;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,390,150, entitled "Drive for bottling machine;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,374,575, entitled "Bottling plant and method of
operating a bottling plant;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,946, entitled
"Bottling system;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,910, entitled "Method and an
apparatus for high-purity bottling of beverages;" U.S. Pat. No.
6,058,985, entitled "Bottling machine with a set-up table and a
set-up table for a bottling machine and a set-up table for a bottle
handling machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,322, entitled "In-line
bottling plant;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,899, entitled "Method and an
apparatus for sterile bottling of beverages;" U.S. Pat. No.
5,848,515, entitled "Continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant;" U.S.
Pat. No. 5,634,500, entitled "Method for bottling a liquid in
bottles or similar containers;" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,402,
entitled "Bottling system with mass filling and capping
arrays."
[0081] Some examples of bottle or container molding or
manufacturing systems, and components thereof, which may possibly
be utilized or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment
may possibly be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 7,157,040,
entitled "Helical blow molding preform and method of
manufacturing;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,127, entitled "Method and
apparatus for blow molding hollow plastic containers;" U.S. Pat.
No. 7,147,456, entitled "Mold device having a combination of molds
for stretch blow molding;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,830, entitled "Blow
molding machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,317, entitled
"Slow-crystallizing polyester resins;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,005,
entitled "Individual bottle coolers;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,309,
entitled "Synthetic resin preform to be biaxially stretched and
blow molded into a bottle;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,945, entitled "Blow
mold device;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,101,506, entitled "Takeout and
transfer apparatus and method for a wheel blow molding machine;"
U.S. Pat. No. 7,101,170, entitled "Take-out device for rotary blow
molding machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,060, entitled "Container with
non-everting handgrip;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,863, entitled
"Polyester preforms useful for enhanced heat-set bottles;" U.S.
Pat. No. 7,093,411, entitled "Method for storing thermoplastic
preforms in a container;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,407, entitled
"Preform holding jig for biaxial orientation blow molding;" U.S.
Pat. No. 7,081,285, entitled "Polyethylene useful for blown films
and blow molding;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,162, entitled "Injection
blow molding device;" U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,172, entitled "Clamping
device for injection blow or injection stretch blow molding
machine;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,864, entitled "Device for producing
plastic hollow bodies using an extrusion blow molding method;" U.S.
Pat. No. 6,888,103, entitled "Preform preheater;" U.S. Pat. No.
6,851,944, entitled "Mold tool clamping device for blow mold
machines;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,900, entitled "Apparatus for
handling injection molded preforms;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,899,
entitled "Injection stretch blow molding device with transfer
station and pitch changing for blow molding;" U.S. Pat. No.
6,848,896, entitled "Height adjusting device for adjusting the
height of a blow mandrel;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,646, entitled
"Nickel blow mold and holder defining heat transfer passages
therebetween;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,652, entitled "Method and device
for predicting temperature profiles throughout the thickness of a
polymer preform;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,396, entitled "Method for
storing thermoplastic preforms in a container;" and U.S. Pat. No.
6,814,922, entitled "Method and device for production of a blown
container."
[0082] All of the patents, patent applications or patent
publications, which were cited in the German Office Action dated
Nov. 10, 2006, and/or cited elsewhere are hereby incorporated by
reference as if set forth in their entirety herein as follows:
German Patent No. 695 27 216 T2, German Patent No. 696 01 495 T2,
and German Patent No. 198 24 846 A1.
[0083] The corresponding foreign and international patent
publication applications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany
Patent Application No. 10 2006 013 843, filed on Mar. 25, 2006,
having inventor Volker TILL, and DE-OS 10 2006 013 843 and DE-PS 10
2006 013 843, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth
in their entirety herein for the purpose of correcting and
explaining any possible misinterpretations of the English
translation thereof. In addition, the published equivalents of the
above corresponding foreign and international patent publication
applications, and other equivalents or corresponding applications,
if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany
and elsewhere, and the references and documents cited in any of the
documents cited herein, such as the patents, patent applications
and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set
forth in their entirety herein.
[0084] All of the references and documents, cited in any of the
documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if
set forth in their entirety herein. All of the documents cited
herein, referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, include
all of the patents, patent applications and publications cited
anywhere in the present application.
[0085] Some examples of cooling arrangements that may possibly be
utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the
following U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,884 issued to Ando on Jul. 26, 1994;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,766 issued to Shimizu et al. on Apr. 29, 2003;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,095 issued to Savoyard et al. on Jul. 1, 2003;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,884 issued to Harvey on Aug. 26, 2003; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,638,123 issued to Kinomoto on Oct. 28, 2003; and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,698,496 issued to Takayama et al. on Mar. 2, 2004.
[0086] The description of the embodiment or embodiments is
believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to
adequately describe the embodiment or embodiments of this patent
application. However, portions of the description of the embodiment
or embodiments may not be completely applicable to the claims as
originally filed in this patent application, as amended during
prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed
in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any
statements made relating to the embodiment or embodiments are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0087] Some examples of heater arrangements that may possibly be
utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present application may possibly be found in the
following U.S. Pat. No. 6,404,421 issued to Meijler et al. on Jun.
11, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,264 issued to Toya et al. on Feb. 4,
2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,786 issued to Takizawa et al. on Apr. 15,
2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,796 issued to Cusack on Apr. 29, 2003;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,633,727 issued to Henrie et al. on Oct. 14, 2003;
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,557 issued to Ito et al. on Jan. 13,
2004.
[0088] The details in the patents, patent applications and
publications may be considered to be incorporable, at applicant's
option, into the claims during prosecution as further limitations
in the claims to patentably distinguish any amended claims from any
applied prior art.
[0089] Some examples of starwheels which may possibly be utilized
or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly
be found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,593, entitled
"Container handling starwheel;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,695, entitled
"Improved starwheel;" U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,112, entitled "Odd-shaped
container indexing starwheel;" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,686,
entitled "Starwheel control in a system for conveying
containers."
[0090] The purpose of the title of this patent application is
generally to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public
to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this
patent application. The title is believed, at the time of the
filing of this patent application, to adequately reflect the
general nature of this patent application. However, the title may
not be completely applicable to the technical field, the object or
objects, the summary, the description of the embodiment or
embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in this patent
application, as amended during prosecution of this patent
application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from
this patent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to
limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as
limiting the claims in any manner.
[0091] Some examples of temperature sensors or sensor systems that
may be used or adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment
of the present invention may be found in the following U.S. Pat.
No. 5,960,857, issued to inventors Oswalt et al. on Oct. 5, 1999;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,980, issued to inventors Hoben et al. on Aug.
24, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,952, issued to inventor MacIntyre on
Mar. 16, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,669, issued to inventors Davis
et al. on Jan. 26, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,890, issued to
inventor Jarocki on Oct. 24, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,602, issued
to inventor Stewart on Nov. 22, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,973,
issued to inventors Crayton et al. on Jun. 14, 1994; U.S. Pat. No.
5,226,320, issued to inventors Dages et al. on Jul. 13, 1993; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,078,123, issued to inventors Nagashima et al. on Jan. 7,
1992; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,030, issued to inventor Chen on Nov.
26, 1991.
[0092] Some examples of position sensors or position sensor systems
that may be used or adapted for use in at least one possible
embodiment of the present invention may be found in the following
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,355, issued to inventor Nickum on Aug. 18,
1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,290, issued to inventors Kumar et al. on
May 28, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,053, issued to inventor West on
Dec. 24, 1991; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,012, issued to inventor Fogg
on May 2, 1978.
[0093] The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as
required by 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.72(b):
[0094] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the
specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably
following the claims, under the heading "Abstract of the
Disclosure." The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent
and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly
from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical
disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the
scope of the claims.
Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not
intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be
interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
[0095] The embodiments of the invention described herein above in
the context of the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as
limiting the embodiments of the invention to all of the provided
details thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments
of the invention.
[0096] At Least Partial Nomenclature: [0097] 1, 1a Stretch blow
molding machine [0098] 2 Bottle [0099] 2.1 Flange [0100] 3 Preform
[0101] 3.1 Flange [0102] 4 Heating station [0103] 4.1 Transport
element [0104] 5 Loading station [0105] 6 Rotating blow molding
unit [0106] 6.1 Blow mold [0107] 7 Feeder unit [0108] 8 Conveyor
[0109] 9 Input station [0110] 10 Transfer conveyor [0111] 11 Inlet
star [0112] 12 Outlet star [0113] 13 Conveyor [0114] 14 Control
device [0115] 15 Buffer or collecting container [0116] A Direction
of conveyance of the preforms 3 [0117] B Direction of conveyance of
the bottles 2
* * * * *