Method for producing a container product and device for implementing the method

A method for producing a filled container, the method comprising method steps of:

• extruding a hose by an extruder using supporting gas shaping the hose in a vertical extrusion direction in a preforming position;
• sealing the hose at a lower end of the hose and cutting the hose off providing an upper open end of the hose and forming a parison of a selected length;
• transporting the parison using a gripper in a linear transport direction transverse to the vertical extrusion direction from the preforming position into a molding tool when open;
• transferring the parison into the molding tool when open using the gripper in a main forming position;
• sealing the molding tool closed and molding the parison in the molding tool using a pressure gradient whereby an increased pressure is formed in the parison;
• filling the parison with contents and sealing the parison forming the filled container;
• and
• returning the gripper to the preforming position for a repeated sequence of the method steps,
• wherein:
• the parison comprises at least one of semi-crystalline or amorphous polyolefin having a weight of less than 0.1 kg and an average wall thickness of less than 0.3 cm;
• and
• at a time of separation of the parison, the parison has an average temperature in a range of 150° C. to 210° C.

A method for producing a filled container, the method comprising method steps of:

• extruding a hose by an extruder using supporting gas shaping the hose in a vertical extrusion direction in a preforming position;
• sealing the hose at a lower end of the hose and cutting the hose off providing an upper open end of the hose and forming a parison of a selected length;
• transporting the parison using a gripper in a linear transport direction transverse to the vertical extrusion direction from the preforming position into a molding tool when open;
• transferring the parison into the molding tool when open using the gripper in a main forming position;
• sealing the molding tool closed and molding the parison in the molding tool using a pressure gradient whereby an increased pressure is formed in the parison;
• filling the parison with contents and sealing the parison forming the filled container;
• and
• returning the gripper to the preforming position for a repeated sequence of the method steps,
• wherein, in addition to the molding of the parison in the molding tool at the main molding position, at least one further molding of the hose is performed outside the main molding position.

A method for producing a filled container, the method comprising method steps of:

• extruding a hose by an extruder using supporting gas shaping the hose in a vertical extrusion direction in a preforming position;
• sealing the hose at a lower end of the hose and cutting the hose off providing an upper open end of the hose and forming a parison of a selected length;
• transporting the parison using a gripper in a linear transport direction transverse to the vertical extrusion direction from the preforming position into a molding tool when open;
• transferring the parison into the molding tool when open using the gripper in a main forming position;
• sealing the molding tool closed and molding the parison in the molding tool using a pressure gradient whereby an increased pressure is formed in the parison;
• filling the parison with contents and sealing the parison forming the filled container;
• and
• returning the gripper to the preforming position for a repeated sequence of the method steps,
• wherein at least a part of the hose in the preforming position is put, by a short supporting gas pulse, almost simultaneously against calibration jaws of a calibrator and against upper tongs of the gripper.

A method for producing a filled container, the method comprising method steps of:

• extruding a hose by an extruder using supporting gas shaping the hose in a vertical extrusion direction in a preforming position;
• sealing the hose at a lower end of the hose and cutting the hose off providing an upper open end of the hose and forming a parison of a selected length;
• transporting the parison using a gripper in a linear transport direction transverse to the vertical extrusion direction from the preforming position into a molding tool when open;
• transferring the parison into the molding tool when open using the gripper in a main forming position;
• sealing the molding tool closed and molding the parison in the molding tool using a pressure gradient whereby an increased pressure is formed in the parison;
• filling the parison with contents and sealing the parison forming the filled container;
• and
• returning the gripper to the preforming position for a repeated sequence of the method steps,
• wherein, at least during transporting the parison between the preforming position and the main forming position, the parison is subjected to measurement determining at least one of dimensions of the parison, weight of the parison, temperature distribution of the parison, transparency of the parison, crystallinity of the parison or impurities of the parison.

A method for producing a filled container, the method comprising method steps of:

• extruding a hose by an extruder using supporting gas shaping the hose in a vertical extrusion direction in a preforming position;
• sealing the hose at a lower end of the hose and cutting the hose off providing an upper open end of the hose and forming a parison of a selected length;
• transporting the parison using a gripper in a linear transport direction transverse to the vertical extrusion direction from the preforming position into a molding tool when open;
• transferring the parison into the molding tool when open using the gripper in a main forming position;
• sealing the molding tool closed and molding the parison in the molding tool using a pressure gradient whereby an increased pressure is formed in the parison;
• filling the parison with contents and sealing the parison forming the filled container;
• and
• returning the gripper to the preforming position for a repeated sequence of the method steps,
• wherein the filled container is a lightweight medical container having a volume of less than 2 liters and an empty weight of less than 0.06 kg.

A device for producing a filled container, the device comprising:

• an extruder including a hose head having a supporting gas being capable of extruding and shaping a hose in a vertical extrusion direction in a preforming position;
• a molding tool;
• a sealer being capable of sealing the hose at a lower end of the hose and a cutter being capable of cutting the hose off providing an upper open end of the hose and forming a parison of a selected length;
• and
• a gripper being capable of moving the parison in a linear transport direction transverse to the vertical extrusion direction from the preforming position into the molding tool when open,
• wherein:
• the gripper is capable of transferring the parison into the molding tool when open in a main forming position;
• the molding tool is capable of:
• (i) being closed and molding the parison in the molding tool using a pressure gradient whereby an increased pressure is formed in the parison such that the parison is molded into a container being capable of being filled with contents;
• and (ii) sealing the container forming the filled container in the molding tool;
• the gripper is capable of returning to the preforming position for a repeated sequence of the forming for another filled container;
• the gripper comprises upper and lower pairs of tongs that are axially spaced apart, the upper pair of tongs being capable of keeping open a receiving opening of an upper open end of the parison, and the lower pair of tongs being capable of sealing and holding the hose at the lower end thereof;
• and
• the supporting gas is capable of shaping the hose against surfaces of at least one of the upper and lower pairs of tongs.