US 7,094,377 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for handling and cooling plastic preforms

AssigneeSIPA S.p.A.

InventorsMassimo Coran, Matteo Zoppas

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Abstract

Apparatus for handling and cooling preforms, comprising a collection element provided with a plurality of receptacles arranged according to a definite geometrical distribution pattern and adapted to accommodate a corresponding plurality of preforms, as well as a cooling element. The collection element is displaceable from a preform loading position to several distinct positions, arranged above the cooling element, which is provided with a plurality of cups collected into a plurality of distinct, but similar geometrical distribution patterns that are translated with respect to each other in such a manner as to prevent them from interfering with each other. The collection element can be selectively positioned in a number of such positions as to ensure that, in each one of said positions, the geometrical distribution pattern of the receptacles comes to be placed exactly above a specific geometrical distribution pattern of the cups, so that the preforms are capable of falling from the receptacles exactly into respective cups.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus for handling and cooling preforms produced in an injection mold, comprising:

a collection element having a surface in which there are receptacles adapted to respectively accommodate preforms ejected from an injection mold consisting of two half-molds;
and
a cooling element having cups adapted to accommodate and cool preforms, said cups being arranged in a first distribution pattern and a second distribution pattern such that said cups arranged in said first distribution pattern do not interfere with said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern,
wherein said collection element is constructed and arranged to move between a first position situated between the two half-molds when in an opened condition, so as to have said receptacles accommodate preforms ejected from one of the two half-molds, and a second position lying substantially adjacent said cooling element, and
wherein said cooling element is constructed and arranged to
(i) have the preforms, once accommodated in said receptacles, be received within said cups arranged in said first distribution pattern, and then
(ii) move by an extent in a first direction such that other preforms, subsequently accommodated in said receptacles, become aligned with said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern so as to be receivable therein,
(iii) move in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, so as to sequentially bring corresponding ones of said cups arranged in said first distribution pattern into alignment with corresponding pick-up structure, and so as to subsequently sequentially bring corresponding ones of said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern into alignment with corresponding pick-up structure, and
(iv) move in a third direction, orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, to enable the preforms in said corresponding ones of said cups arranged in said first distribution pattern to be seized by said corresponding pick-up structure associated with said corresponding ones of said cups arranged in said first distribution pattern, and to subsequently enable the preforms in said corresponding ones of said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern to be seized by said corresponding pick-up structure associated with said corresponding ones of said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern.

6 more elements

A method comprising:

injection molding first preforms in a mold consisting of closed half-molds;
opening said mold by separating said half-molds;
inserting a collection element, having a surface in which there are receptacles, between said half-molds;
releasing said first preforms from one of said half-molds such that said first preforms are accommodated within said receptacles, respectively;
transferring said collection element to a position adjacent a cooling element having cups arranged in a first distribution pattern and a second distribution pattern such that said cups arranged in said first distribution pattern do not interfere with said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern;
releasing said first preforms from said receptacles such that said first preforms are received within said cups arranged in said first distribution pattern;
injection molding second preforms in said mold consisting of said closed half-molds;
opening said mold by separating said half-molds;
inserting said collection element between said half-molds;
releasing said second preforms from said one of said half-molds such that said second preforms are accommodated within said receptacles, respectively;
transferring said collection element to a position adjacent said cooling element;
moving said cooling element by an extent in a first direction such that said second preforms become aligned with said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern;
and
releasing said second preforms from said receptacles such that said second preforms are received within said cups arranged in said second distribution pattern.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/297,483Filed 25 May 2001
Priority: IT PN2000A00366 Jun 2000
Published: US 2003/0170338 A111 Sep 2003
Granted: 22 Aug 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B29C 49/6427
Thermal conditioning of preforms: cooling of preforms
B29C 49/42061
Means for stripping, aligning or de-stacking: means for correcting, aligning or straighten preforms, e.g. gripper with correcting means
B29C 49/42101
Transporting apparatus, e.g. slides, wheels or conveyors: conveyors, e.g. flat conveyor or clamping between two bands
B29C 49/06
Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison: injection blow-moulding