US 2026/0241630 A1 · METHOD OF FORMING CONTAINERS USING A MANUFACTURING CELL

Abstract

A method and system for manufacturing containers are disclosed. The system includes one or more manufacturing cells comprised of an unloading station, a queuing/sequencing station, a heating station, an unloading station, and a molding station. The queuing/sequencing station utilizes a plurality of carrier shuttles configured to traverse a platform comprised of a plurality of induction coil sections. Each of the carrier shuttles is provided with a preform mount for receiving a preform thereon. The preforms are selected and the carrier shuttles are arranged in accordance with a predetermined sequence. At least one heater of the heating station is disposed over one of the induction coil sections and adapted to heat the preform. The heated preforms are transported by the carrier shuttles from the heating station to an unloading station, which transitions them to the molding station for a fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) blow molding operation to form the containers.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for manufacturing a container, comprising:

providing a manufacturing cell including a plurality of stations configured to manufacture the container from a preform, wherein one of the stations is a heating station including a plurality of heaters;
and
at least one of selectively controlling and selectively positioning at least one of the heaters based on a preform being heated therein, wherein at least one of the heaters comprises:
a shroud configured to receive the preform therein;
at least one first heating element coupled to the shroud, the at least one first heating element positioned in a substantially vertical orientation in the shroud;
and
a plurality of second heating elements coupled to the shroud and disposed adjacent the at least one first heating element in the shroud, wherein each of the second heating elements is positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation, wherein the plurality of second heating elements includes a first bank of the second heating elements and an opposing second bank of the second heating elements, wherein the at least one first heating element is disposed between the first bank and the second bank of the second heating elements, and wherein the preform is received between the first bank and the second bank of the second heating elements when the preform is received in the shroud.

4 more elements

A method system for manufacturing a container, comprising:

providing a supply source for preforms used to manufacture the container;
providing at least one manufacturing cell in communication with the supply source and configured to manufacture the container from the preforms, wherein the at least one manufacturing cell comprises:
a loading station for providing a plurality of the preforms;
a queuing/sequencing station configured to move the preforms within the at least one manufacturing cell, and wherein the queuing/sequencing station includes a platform and a plurality of carrier shuttles configured to traverse over the platform;
a heating station including a plurality of heaters configured to heat preforms;
an unloading station configured to move the heated preforms from the queuing/sequencing station;
and
a molding station configured to receive the heated preforms from the unloading station and mold the container from one of the heated preforms;
providing a destination location for receiving the molded container;
supplying the plurality of preforms to the at least one manufacturing cell;
loading desired preforms into the queuing/sequencing station according to a predetermined sequence;
arranging the preforms into the predetermined sequence for heating;
moving one of the desired preforms according to the predetermined sequence to one of heaters at the heating station using one of the carrier shuttles;
at least one of selectively controlling and selectively positioning the heater based on the desired preform being heated therein;
heating the desired preform to a desired temperature;
moving the heated desired preform according to the predetermined sequence to the molding station;
molding the heated preform into the container;
and
moving the molded container to the destination location.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of forming containers using a manufacturing cell

Life of this patent

Method of forming containers using a manufacturing cell

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21