Method and apparatus for forming and filling a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016107367-A1
Application number	US-201514979145-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Oct 27, 2011
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for simultaneously forming and filling a container having a mold cavity defining an internal surface and adapted to accept a preform. The system includes a servo pressure system having an inlet and an outlet operable to output fluid, such as a liquid commodity, and a blow nozzle receiving the fluid from the servo pressure source and transferring the fluid at a pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and creating a resultant container, wherein the fluid remains within the container as an end product and wherein the servo pressure system and the blow nozzle output the fluid at a rate sufficient to fully form and fill the container in less than about 0.5 seconds.

First claim

1 . A system for simultaneously forming and filling a container comprising:
a mold cavity defining an internal surface and adapted to accept a preform; a servo pressure system having an inlet and an outlet, the servo pressure system outputting fluid; and a blow nozzle receiving the fluid from the servo pressure source and transferring the fluid at a pressure into an opening of the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and creating a resultant container, wherein the fluid remains within the container as an end product, wherein a minimum inner diameter of a fluid path defined in the system is greater than a minimum inner diameter of the preform, and the servo pressure system and the blow nozzle output the fluid at a rate sufficient to fully form and fill the container in less than about 0.5 seconds.

2 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo pressure system comprises:
a controller;
a servo motor operably coupled to the controller; and
the fluid path extending from the inlet to the outlet,
wherein the servo motor is operable to deliver the fluid at a variable rate along the fluid path within a predetermined period of time.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the fluid path defines a straight path from the inlet to the outlet.

5 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the fluid path is void of angles 90 degrees and greater.

6 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo pressure system and the blow nozzle output the fluid at a rate sufficient to fully form and fill the container in less than about 0.4 seconds.

7 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo pressure system and the blow nozzle output the fluid at a rate sufficient to fully form and fill the container in less than about 0.2 seconds.

8 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo pressure system and the blow nozzle output the fluid at a rate sufficient to fully form and fill the container in the range of about 0.05 seconds to about 0.15 seconds.

9 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo pressure system and the blow nozzle output fluid at a rate sufficient to fully form and fill the container having a capacity of 64 ounces in less than about 0.4 seconds.

10 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the servo pressure system and the blow nozzle output the fluid at a rate sufficient to fully form and fill the container having a capacity of 16 ounces in less than about 0.4 seconds.

11 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the blow nozzle defines a shape adapted to form a seal with a finish of the preform.

12 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is transferred into the preform during a hot-fill process.

13 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 12 wherein the fluid is transferred into the preform at a temperature between approximately 185° F. (85° C.) and approximately 205° F. (96° C.).

14 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is transferred into the preform at an ambient temperature.

15 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 12 wherein the fluid is transferred into the preform at a temperature between approximately 32° F. (0° C.) and approximately 90° F. (32° C.).

16 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the mold cavity accepts a preform heated to a temperature between approximately 190° F. (88° C.) and approximately 250° F. (121° C.).

17 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the mold cavity is heated to a temperature between approximately 250° F. (93° C.) and approximately 350° F. (177° C.).

18 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is transferred into the preform at a pressure between approximately 100 PSI and approximately 600 PSI.

19 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 , further comprising a stretch rod adapted to extend into the container and displace the fluid remaining in the container to define a predetermined final fill level.

20 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 , further comprising a stretch rod adapted to extend into the preform and displace air contained in the preform prior to the blow nozzle transferring the fluid into the preform.

21 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 , further comprising a stretch rod adapted to extend into the preform and mechanically stretch the preform prior to the fluid being urged into the preform.

22 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 , whether the stretch rod is sized to permit the mechanical stretching and to maintain open at least 77% or more of the cross-sectional area of the opening of the preform while the stretch rod is extended into the preform.

23 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod is retracted from the preform prior to the fluid being urged into the preform.

24 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod is vented to atmosphere.

25 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod is non-cylindrical.

26 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod comprises one or more cutouts.

27 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod comprises an inwardly directed arcuate section.

28 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod comprises at least one cutout extending spirally along a longitudinal direction of the stretch rod.

29 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod defines an annulus exterior of the stretch rod to permit flow of the fluid.

30 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 21 wherein the stretch rod defines an annulus exterior of the stretch rod to permit flow of the fluid and a bore extending through at least a portion of the stretch rod to further permit flow of the fluid.

31 . The system for simultaneously forming and filling a container according to claim 1 wherein the preform is initially expanded outwardly under a first pressure and subsequently expanded outward

Assignees

• Discma Ag

Inventors

• Maki Kirk Edward
• Lisch George David
• Wilson Bradley

Classifications

• B29C2049/7831

  characterised by pressure values or ranges · CPC title

• B29C2049/4698

  Pressure difference, e.g. over pressure in room · CPC title

• B29C49/12

  Stretching rods · CPC title

• B29C49/46 Primary

  characterised by using particular environment or blow fluids other than air · CPC title

• B29C49/786

  Temperature · CPC title