Systems and methods for electromagnetic forming of containers
AssigneeBelvac Production Machinery, Inc.
InventorRichard H Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods of forming articles using electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. In some aspects, the system includes a plurality of forming modules movably mounted relative to an infeed mechanism. The infeed mechanism is configured to supply pre-form articles to the plurality of forming modules, and each of the plurality of forming modules includes a multi-segment mold disposed about an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil is configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form articles when supplied with electrical energy that urges the pre-form articles into contact with the multi-segment mold to produce the formed containers.
Claims19
A rotary-turret system for forming a plurality of formed containers from a respective plurality of pre-form articles using electromagnetic energy, the system comprising:
- a rotary turret having a plurality of forming modules, the forming modules being disposed about the periphery of the rotary turret, each forming module including a multi-segment mold disposed about an electromagnetic coil, the multi-segment mold having a plurality of segments, each segment including an inner surface, the plurality of inner surfaces defining a desired shape of the formed containers, the electromagnetic coil being configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form articles when supplied with electrical energy, the electromagnetic force configured to urge the pre-form articles into contact with the inner surfaces of the multi-segment mold to produce the formed containers;
- a charging circuit configured to supply the electrical energy to the rotary turret;
- a discharge-control mechanism operatively coupled to the rotary turret and the charging circuit, the discharge-control mechanism configured to selectively actuate discharge of the electrical energy from the charging circuit to a predetermined one of the plurality of forming modules,
- wherein the rotary turret continually rotates during forming of the plurality of formed containers.
A method for electromagnetic forming of formed containers using a rotary turret having a plurality of forming modules disposed about the periphery of the rotary turret, the method comprising the acts of:
- receiving a pre-form article from an upstream process in a respective one of the forming modules;
- disposing the pre-form article about an electromagnetic coil, the electromagnetic coil being disposed on the forming module, the electromagnetic coil being configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form article when supplied with electrical energy;
- securing a multi-segment mold about the pre-form article, the multi-segment mold including a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments including an inner surface, the plurality of inner surfaces defining a desired shape of the formed containers;
- supplying, after the securing the multi-segment mold, a first electrical energy to the electromagnetic coil to produce an electromagnetic force, the electromagnetic force configured to urge the pre-form article into contact with the inner surfaces of the multi-segment mold, thereby producing one of the formed containers;
- and
- wherein the disposing, securing, and supplying steps occur while the rotary turret continually rotates.
A system for forming a plurality of formed containers from a plurality of pre-form articles using electromagnetic energy, the system comprising:
- a plurality of forming modules, the plurality of forming modules being movably mounted relative to an infeed mechanism, the infeed mechanism configured to supply pre-form articles to the plurality of forming modules, each of the plurality of forming modules including a multi-segment mold disposed about an electromagnetic coil, the multi-segment mold having a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments including an inner surface, the plurality of inner surfaces defining a desired shape of the formed containers, the electromagnetic coil being configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form articles when supplied with electrical energy, the electromagnetic force being configured to urge the pre-form articles into contact with the inner surfaces of the multi-segment mold to produce the formed containers;
- a charging circuit being configured to supply the electrical energy to the plurality of forming modules;
- a discharge-control mechanism operatively coupled to the plurality of forming modules and the charging circuit, the discharge-control mechanism being configured to selectively actuate discharge of the electrical energy from the charging circuit to a predetermined forming module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.