AU609157B2

AU609157B2 - Method of heating thermoplastic plastic bottle or preform and method of temperature control of heating member using said heating method

Info

Publication number: AU609157B2
Application number: AU19374/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Setsuko Iida; Kazuhisa Ishibashi; Hiroshi Koyama; Yoshitsugu Maruhashi; Yasushi Nishimura; Koji Sato; Ikuo Sugiyama; Nobuyuki Takakusaki
Original assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd
Current assignee: Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-09
Filing date: 1988-06-08
Publication date: 1991-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-08
Also published as: AU1937488A

Description

1 1111 1.

14.

111111-01 068L9VtCZ ZAXMA 068 zAxMAn~sjbd dU- MAA I"I.At ,nlsjbdouwlll ON WIWIHO L991/C61 ouwjg!!l4 ONWlNFIH 1-~8 Id 'I OdaC:DV 'd 09 B B 1.1 19 0o 1-1 4.

1U II .25 il 14 II1 111 .5 111.11L4 PCT AU-AI-19374/88 WA M B29C 49/64, 49/78, 49/08 WO 88/ 09717 1/B9 l 43 0QE39 1 5 7 12)E15B (15.12.88) (21) 9PJ:9@ PCT/JP88/00553 'I'L14 it (KOYANA, Hiroshi)CJP/JP) (22) 19.WE 198F6.A8H C08. 06. 88) T202 ?fdR1-8-5 Tokyo, (JP) (31) 4I4RO- Bt62-142299 ff8~1I- (IIDA, Setsuko)CJP/JP) *90662-278 239 7:227 -21Kanagawa, (JP) #4WOB6 3 7416 t,5*15 (SATO, Koj i)CJP/JP) (32) R3'c E 19871 6AM9 (09. 06. 87) :214 Kanagawa. (JP) 198VF-11A5F] (05. 11. 87) (74) f LA 1988*1,A19H (19. 01. 88) ftlf: jIft*$A)Y, i.(FUJIMOTO, Hi romi tsu et al.

W&3AA-± (TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD. )CJP/JP) (81) AT- (72) RRA k.U KR, US.

KLLDE (SUGIYAMA, Ikuo)CJF/JP) f:245 J~ 3'9SKanagawa, CJD. AR18 (ISHIBASHI, Kazuhisa)(JP/JP)0-JP. MR18 T14WR0_fl4_-Ffl-5-2-0 Tokyo, aA*1--Z (TAKAKtTSAKI, Nob u yu k i) CJP/JP) T:2 47 Ifi R 4 2 1 9 Ka na gawa, C JP) AUSTRALIAN Aft INI (ARUH-ASHI, Yoshi tsugu)CJP/JP) T:223 JI St8224 -5 Kanagawa, (JP) 4 JAN1989 9# (NISHIMURA, Yasush, )Cjp/rP) :24 5 JI US827 3 4 1 6 Ka na gawa, C(JP) PATENT OWilCE (54)Title: METHOD OF HEATING THERMOPLASTIC PLASTIC BOTTLE OR PREFORM AND METHOD OF TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF HEATING MEMBER USING SAID HEATING METHOD 26 0 o Ud Uo c C1 0 (57) Abstract Thi-s invention relates to a heating method for shaping a thermoplastic bottle, which comprises inserting a heating member into the inside of a preform made of a thermoplastic plastic or the bottle and heating the preform or the bottle from both inside and outside with the heating member and a heater disjiosed outside in the heating process. The present method enables to control individually and accurately the temperature of this heating member, provide the heating member with a radiation energy distribution which changes in the longitudinal direction and carrying out heating suitable for the bottle to be shaped in order to produce a high-quality plastic bottle. Furthermore, the method of the present invention comprises sealing a metal which melts in a desired temperature range into the heatirg member, keeping the heatir~g member at a predetermined temperature accurately for a long period or time by utilizing the latent heat of the metal to produce a high-quality plastic bottle. Similar means is used for heating the mouth of the plastic bottle to attain the optimum crystallization of the mouth.

TO: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS

AUSTRALIA

SBR/JS/O1 52U t a (S7) -N~ em~ ly.:7 A a m CpE 2u u -c A -1 7

N

t.

L)

ONE~ LIMAM00 AT t 7, '1)7 PR 7 MR 7 AU ;t-7 '-31)7 CA J'J BB I t 7, GB 71LJ NLI, BE 4- HlU -NO 2L'' 7- BC )U7 IT 4 Y 1) RO OR K? SE CF PPi, 771 KR :t j[ SN JL Cc LI 1)t s' Z r E= a CH 7,7 LK -9:o TO t F CM1 LU 1J1-tTZ., TG DE ~(yMc US us DK MC 7 r1,tl Ft 7~1 MIi) -2- TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a me'hod for heating formed products of thermoplastic material for manufacturing bottles made of thermoplastic material, and more particular'y, to a heating method capable of effectively manufacturing bottles of this character within a short period of time.

BACKGROUND ART Bottles made of thermoplastic material such as, for example polyester have been widely employed as containers or bottles into which drinks or water such as, for example fruit juice, coffee, mineral water, carbonated drinks such as, for example cola or cider, or similar drinks is to be contained. The formation of these plastic bottles has been performed by means of a method, that is, the so called biaxial stretching blow formation ess.

method, in which a preform made by means of an injection molding process is S heated to a predetermined temperature, and the thus heated preform is S@ SO extended axially within a mold by means of suitable extending rod member and simultaneously blown so as to be expanded circumferentially.

In order to heat the preform, a.non-contact heating method by means Sof an externally disposed infrared ray heater has been generally adapted, but recently in a.'cordance with the requirement for large-sized containers or bottles, the thickness of the preform has become large. Accordingly, in 20 view of the increased time required for the uniform heating of the preform oomeS• S in the direction of the thickness of the preform, a shortening of the remaining steps of the manufacturing process thereof has been required, and thus the conventional forming method referred to above cannot satisfy these S requirements. In order to obviate these defects, there is provided a method, for example disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 66 No. 261024/1986, in which an internal heater is arranged inside the preform Sin addition to the conventional external heater, or a method which employs a jig, for example disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication No.

43852/1987, in which a rod is heated by means of high frequency induction heating so as to thereby heat the preform internally and externally. There is also provided a method, for example disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 163828/1986, in which a heating pipe is arranged inserted into the preform so as to internally heat the same.

It is required, however, with bottles made of plastic materials to control the heating level during the formation process so as to achieve the most suitable thickness distribution in the axial direction thereof in order to properly maintain the strength and tl z;,ae of the bottle. For 1 11 r 3this purpose, it is required to adjust the preform heating temperature4 along the axial direction of the preform, but with the methods disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 261024/1986 and 163828/1986 referred to above, the preform is quickly heated by means of the internal and external heating thereof, whereby it is difficult to heat the preform in accordance with the desired predetermined temperature distribution in the axial direction. Moreover, in accordance with the heating method by means of the infrared ray heater, since a plurality of heaters are arranged in the axial direction of the preform and electric power to the individual heaters is respectively regulated as occasion demands, it is difficult to O10 perform the ripid heating of the preform and sometimes an optional portion m oo of the preform is unintentionally heated to the predetermined temperature due to the thermal interference with the respective heaters.

SIn addition, with the method disclosed in the Japanese Patent S: Publication No. 43852/1987, a metallic rod disposed within the preform is .i, 5 heated by means of the induction heating, so that it is considerably difficult to measure the temperature of the metallic rod during or just oooo6: before the induction heating process, whereby the heating of the metallic rod is not properly controlled. In addition, it is also sometimes difficult to suitably supply the preforms, and consequently the temperature control of an individual metallic rod cannot be properly performed in the S case where the preform is not supplied.

In order to precisely control the temperature of the preforms, it is necessary to precisely maintain the temperature of the heating member at a predetermined temperature, but it is impossible by means of the conventional methods to strictly maintain the temperature so as to remain constant because the temperature of the heating member increases as a S result of the absorption of the heat energy and decreases as a result of heat radiation, or because of various factors tending to vary the heating conditions.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a method of heating a plastic bottle or preform, said method comprising the steps of: providing a movable internal heating member for insertion into said bottle or preform to internally heat the bottle or preform; Q) TM i541

I

providing an external heating means to externally heat said bottle or preform while said bottle or preform is being internally heated; determining the temperature of the heating member and adjusting the temperature thereof inductively prior to insertion into the bottle or preform; moving the heating member along a circular path; and locating said heating member within the.bottle or preform at a particular position along said path, and removing the bottle or preform from said heating member at a further position along said path.

There is further disclosed herein a method of controlling the temperature of a heating member, wherein said heating member is provided with an inner cavity into which is enclosed a substance having a melting 00:: point within target control temperature range, measuring the temperature of the heating member, and controlling the temperature of the heating member S: in accordance with the measured temperature to thereby maintain 15 substantially constant temperature of the heating member. 0S Typically, the method involves heating a preform by internally and externally supplying heat and heating the same, and wherein a heating zone for heating a member to be heated in a state mounted upon a heating member and another heating zone for heating the heating member with the member to 2Q be heated removed therefrom are disposed along a circular path comprising a 600000 Splurality of substantially equally spaced heating members in such a manner 0000 that within the heating member heating zone the temperatures of the heating members are measured respectively and the heating members are subsequently ••moo: S heated in accordance with the measured temperatures by means of induction heating, and within the member to be heated heating zone the self-rotating members to be heated are mounted respectively upon the heated members S heated.

S. Each heating member may be heated in two heating stages, one being with a predetermined amount of heat and the other being with an amount of heat for compensating any temperature difference between the respective heating members.

Moreover, the member to be heated may be heated in accordance with a suitable axially varied radiant heat energy distribution in accordance with different modes such that the heating member may be provided with respective portions having outer diameters different from each other in the lengthwise direction thereof, the winding pitches of the heating coil serving as the high frequency induction heating member may be varied in the 5541 7- 0 ri lengthwise direction of the heating member, and the induction heating coil is divided into several portions in the axial direction of the heating member and the electric power is applied to the respective coil portions in a controlled manner.

In addition, the heating member may be provided with an inner cavity within which there is disposed a substance having a melting point within the target control temper7i" ire range of the heating member, the temperature of the heating member is meoured and the heating member is controlled in accordance with the measured temperature so as to thereby maintain the temperature of the heating member substantially constant.

10 With the embodiment described above, the temperature of the heating 0:80 see: member may be controlled by providing at least two inner cavities within the heating member within which are disposed substances having melting 0@@ points different from each other and applying to the heating member an S: amount of heat which is in proportion to the temperature difference between the temperature of the heating member and 'he melting points of the enclosed substances.

•The heating members are heated in accordance with the individual temperatures measured by means of a thermometer, so that the temperatures of the heating members are established at predetermined values when inserted into the preforms, whereby the preforms are heated to the desired condition. The axially varied radiant heat energy distribution is applied to the heating member, so that the preform can be heated to a temperature for manufacturing a thermoplastic bottle, thus improving the quality of the formed products. In addition, a substance having a melting point within the target control temperature range is enclosed within the inner cavity of the heating member, so that the temperature of the heating member can be S controlled by means of the latent heat of the enclosed substance so as to maintain the temperature constant for a long period of time, thus reducing the heating temperature differences before the respective heating members and, accordingly, enabling the manufacture of formed products with high quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a system developed in order to practice the method according to this invention; 'S 5541 UjI 7 O i A -6- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a preform to be heated and 6 utilised in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a thermoplastic bottle manufactured from the preform shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a mandrel for supporting the preform shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 as viewed in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a first induction heating coil; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 as viewed in Fig. 6; I *Fig. 8 is a view showing the arrangement of second induction heating so coils; Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing one example of the use of the second induction heating coils; •,f6 Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 as viewed in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the use of the second induction heating coils; Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 as viewed in Fig. 11; SO Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing an additional use of an induction heating coil according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 16 Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 as viewed in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15-15 as viewed in Fig. 1; 0o Fig. 16 is a view of the preform in rotating condition; Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of an improved mandrel core; Fig. 18 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of a preform utilised in connection with the process of the present invention; Fig. 19 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a first example of the heating member utilised in conjunction with the process of the present invention; Fig. 20 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a second example of the heating member utilised in connection with the process of the present invention; t 7 0 -7- Fig. 21 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a third example of the heating member utilised in connection with the process of the present invention; Fig. 22 is a graph representing a temperature elevation curve concerning the first example of the heating member shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 23 is a graph representing a temperature cooling curve concerning the first example of the heating member; Fig. 24 is a graph representing a temperature elevation curve concerning the second example of the heating member of Fig. Fig. 25 is a graph representing a temperature cooling curve concerning the second example of the heating member; Fig. 26 is a temperature elevation curve of the third heating member ceoe S shown in Fig. 21; and *g Fig. 27 is a temperature cooling curve of the third heating member of S Fig. 21.

J. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings, and Fig. 1 S illustrates an entire heating system for practicing the method of this invention. The system shown comprises a preform circulation arrangement 20 including a preform conveyor table 4 centrally located in Fig. 1, a r S transfer table 5, a heating station table 6, a set of annealing station Oe e S tables 7 and 8, a second transfer table 9, a blow-formation station table 10, and a third transfer table 11, the preform being circulated in this order and finally returning to the conveyor table 4. A plastic-made preform 1 of the shape shown in Fig. 2 and supported by means of a mandrel 3 (shown in Fig. 4) is heated upon the heating station table 6 and blow-formed upon the blow-formation station table 10 during its circulation 06 along the respective station tables in the arranged and described order so as to be finally manufactured into a plastic bottle 2 as shown in Fig. 3.

More in detail, each of the preforms 1 has an elevational section as shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a bottomed cylindrical barrel portion 15 and a mouth or opening portion 16 provided with threads or annular protrusions.

Each of the mandrels 3 has a cylindrical configuration as shown in Fig. 4 and is integrally provided with circumferential grooves 17,17 so as to be firmly supported at the respective station tables, and sprockets 18,18 for rotation of each mandrel 3. Chains, not shown, are disposed in a stepped manner over portions of the heating station table 6 and the 14c5541

AIM

8annealing station tables 7 and 8 through which the mandrels 3 pass so as to be engaged with the upper and lower sprockets 18 of each mandrel 3 and are driven so as to impart a rotating motion to each mandrel 3 during the circulation thereof among the respective station tables. During the circulation process, the preforms are mounted upon the mandrels 3 by means of a supplying device, not shown, having a construction which is known per se, and the barrel portion 15 of each preform 1 is heated upon the heating station table 6 and blow-formed by means of a known method upon the blow-formation station table 10, th's forming a thermoplastic bottle 2 as shown in Fig. 3. The thus formed bottle 2 is removed from the mandrel 3 upon a conveyor table 4 by means of a known device and then transferred to the next station through means of a feed transfer table 14.

The heating station table 6 will be described hereunder with reference to Figs. 5 to 15. The heating station table 6 has an entirely S circular configuration and equipped with a holding mechanism 19 for 0OS* supporting the mandrel 3 as shown in Fig. 5, a heating member 21, and an air cylinder assembly 20, all of which are located at peripheral portions of table 6 with equal spaces defined therebetween. The holding mechanism 19 has a construction which is adapted to engage the circumferential grooves 17 of the mandrel 3, and it serves to hold the mandrel 3 at a *:A-24 predetermined position and release the same at a predetermined position.

The heating member 21 is constructed as a rod-shaped metallic member which S is able to be subjected to the induction heating and is operatively connected to a piston rod 23 of the air cylinder assembly 20 through means of a heat insulating member 22 in such a manner that when the heating member 21 is displaced upwardly by means of the actuation of the air 0*e9 cylinder assembly 20, the heating member 21 is inserted into the interior S: of the mandrel 3 supported by means of the holding mechanism 19. As shown in Fig. 5, the heat insulating member 22 is interposed between the heating member 21 and the piston rod 23 so as to be disposed within the vicinity of the mouth portion 16 of the preform 1 and the mandrel core 37, and accordingly, the heat insulating member 22 serves to prevent the transfer of heat from the heating member 21 to the piston rod 23 as well as to suppress the heating of the mandrel core 37. A plurality of heating units constituting a heating zone for heating a member to be heated and a heating member heating z6ne 27 are arranged outside of the heating station table 6 along the circumferential direction thereof, and the heating units 26 comprise infrared ray heaters 24, reflecting mirrors 25, and reflecting 'I Rj 25541 {4 QW -i i -9mirrors 25' for reflecting the infrared rays so as not to heat the mouth portions 16 of t e preforms 1, the heating units 26 being arranged so as to be disposed toward portions of the assembly through which the mandrels 3 i pass and being adapted to externally heat the preforms 1 rotated together by means of the mandrels 3 with the radiant heat of the infrared rays. The heating member heating zone 27 comprises an infrared ray radiant heat thermometer 32 for measuring the temperature of the heating members 21 and a first induction heating coil 28 for heating each heating member 21 by means of induction heating in response to the measured temperature, the first induction heating coil 28 being arranged at a location at which the .1JO mandrels 3 do not pass and is disposed at a position within the vicinity of the heating members 21 when the members 21 are disposed at their lowered positions as shown in Fig. 15. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate one example of the Sfirst induction heating coil 28, which has a substantially circular shape S and which is adapted to cover or overlie the movement path of the heating members 21 and is constructed, as shown, by laminating fine hair-pin shaped coils in multiple layers, both end portions thereof being upwardly biased o oo S so as to prevent any undesired movement of the movable members. In other words, at the heating station table 6, the mandrels 3 are received during the rotation of the table at predetermined locations by means of the marndrel holding mechanism 19, the heating members 21 heated within the heating zone 27 are inserted into the preforms 1 through means of the S respective mandrels 3 so as to internally heat the preforms 1, and the preforms 1 are externally heated by means of the heating units 26 when the preforms 1 pass in front of the locations of the heating units 26.

In another example of the heating zone 27 in which a second heating coil 29 is disposed in addition to the provision of the first induction heating coil 28, the same is provided so as to constantly heat the heating zone 27 and, to optionally terminate the heating of the heating members 21. According to the arrangement of the second heating coil 29, even in the case where the mandrel 3 is not provided with the preform 1 and the heating member 21 is directly exposed to the infrared ray heater 24 at the heating zone 27 and to a temperature greater than that to which the member is normally exposed, the second heating coil 29 serves to terminate the heating and to regulate the heating amount so as to prevent the over-heating of the system components and an excessive rise in the temperature.

5541

V(%

V 0 10 sea 00 so 0o a

S

OSr A preferred modification of the second induction heating coil 29 may comprise three components such as, for example, an induction heating coil 29 disposed within the vicinity of the upper portion of the heating member 21, an induction heating coil 30 disposed within the vicinity of the intermediate portion of the heating member 21 and an induction heating coil 31 disposed within the vicinity of the lower portion of the heating member 21, as shown, for example, in Fig. 8. Figs. 9 and 10 show an arrangement of a coil utilized for these induction heating coils as coils 34 which are wound around two sheets of magnetic cores 33 and the respective heating coils 34 are arranged so as to have a space corresponding to the distance .1A between the respective heating members 21 and so that the magnetic fluxes generated by means of the respective heating coils 34 do not mutually S interfere with each other. The heating members 21 can pass through the Sspace defined between the respective heating coils 34. The infrared ray S radiant heat thermometers 32 are also arranged at three levels corresponding to the upper, intermediate and lower disposition levels of the heating member 21 at which the coils 29-31 are disposed so as to suitably measure the temperatures of these portions of the member 21.

These thermometers 32,32--- are operatively connected to power control devices, not shown, so as to regulate the amount of electric power to be 12 supplied to the heating coils 34 in accordance with the measured temperatures of the respective infrared ray radiant heat thermometers 32.

Accordingly, the heating members 21 can be heated to predetermined temperatures by preliminarily establishing the relationship between the temperature difference between the detected temperatures of the infrared 25 ray radiant heat thermometers 32 and the set temperatures of the heating members 21 and the electric power amount required to heat the heating members 21 to the set temperatures, and by supplying the electric power determined by the relationship to the second induction heating coils 29.

The electric power may be set so as to be uniformly applied with respect to the upper, intermediate and lower portions of the heating member 21, so as to have a predetermined temperature distribution with respect to these portions. In an alternative case, an optional distribution of the radiant heat energy impinge upon the heating member 21 and the preform 1 can be derived such that the preform 1 can be heated in the most suitable manner in accordance with the thicknesses of the respective portions of the preform 1.

p

S.

'I

,5541 11 The arrangement of the second induction heating coil 29 may also be disposed as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, by means of which the heating efficiency for the heating members 21 will be improved in comparison with that of the arrangement shown in Fig. 9. In Fig. 11, reference numeral 36 designates a copper plate and the copper plate 36 serves to block the heating effect of the heating coil with respect to the portion of the member 21 facing the copper plate 36 so as to perform partial heating of the heating member 21. The first inducti n heating coil 28 and the second induction heating coils 29, 30 and 31 disposed within the heating member heating zone 27 are designed, as shown respectively in Figs. 7, 10, 12 and 10 14, so that reverse directional high frequency electric currents flow

@OSS

through the coils which face each other and with the heating member 21 interposed therebetween. Although in the illustrated and described embodiment, the heating coils are arranged in three separate stages, the S present invention is not limited to this arrangement.

:005: The radiant heat energy distribution along the longitudinal direction 0* of the heating member 21 may be varied by varying the winding pitches of 'e "the heating coils, and referring to Figs. 13 and 14, the coils 35 each having a triangular shape and are wound in such a manner that the bottom sides of the triangular coils 35 are mutually overlapped or disposed closely to each other, but the apexes of the respective triangles are positioned at different levels. According to this arrangement, the S magnetic density is rendered large at the bottom side portions of the coils and rendered small at the apexes thereof, and therefore, when the heating member 21 and the coils 35 are completely electromagnetically coupled, a temperature distribution is formed in accordance with the shapes of the coils 35. In addition, since a small amount of electric power is applied *see S: to those portions of the coils at which the distances defined between the coil sides is large, the heating efficiency is further improved. Moreover, since the distance defined between the two laterally spaced spiral coils is made narrow yet large enough that the heating member 21 is not contacted thereby, the magnetic fluxes are disposed externally of the coils 35, so that even when the heating member 21 is disposed slightly away from the coil arrangement, the heating member 21 is hardly heated. Accordingly, the effective length of the coil for substantially heating the heating member 21 is clearly defined. Although only one of the two spiral coils may be used as the heating coil, a good heating efficiency cannot be attained and the effective length of the coil may not be clearly defined.

R

541 ~'tvty$, 6 i'V 7 /V1

II

r 12 In a modified method of applying radiant heat energy to the heating member 21 which is variable along the lengthwise direction thereof, it may be possible to vary the outer diameter of the heating member 21, and in this modified method, it is not always necessary to vary the temperature in and along the lengthwise direction thereof. For example, when a large amount of radiant heat energy is applied to a thickened portion of the preform such as for example, the bottom of the preform 1, the front portion of the heating member 21 is elongated so as to increase the accumulated heat amount. This operation may of course be utilised or applied in connection with any particular portion in the longitudinal direction of the heating member 21 instead of only the front portion thereof. In an alternative manner, a heat insulating member may be located at a portion of the heating member 21 so as to block the radiant heat energy with respect to that portion of member 21 and thereby suppress the temperature within Sthat portion of the preform 1 corresponding to that portion of the member 21.

'p 0@

S.

Accordingly, the heating member 21 can always be maintained at a predetermined temperature by means of the heating member heating zone 27 so as to thereby not only maintain the temperature entirely uniform but also to apply the temperature distribution to the desired portions of the "2@i heating member 21 by easily adjusting the winding pitches of the heating coils or the electric power to be applied to the coils. In addition, the S variation of the outer diameter of the heating member 21 along the lengthwise direction thereof makes it possible to optionally distribute the radiant heat energy along that direction. Thus, the preform 1 can be set to have a predetermined temperature and a thermoplastic bottle 2 can be manufactured under the most suitable conditions. In the preferred embodiment described above, the heating units 26 for externally heating the preforms 1 are arranged along the outer circumferential portion of the mandrel passage, but the present invention is not limited to the previously described embodiment and the heating units 26 may be arranged along the inner circumferential portion as well as along the outer circumferential portion of the mandrel passage. An air blowing device may be further disposed for blowing air towards the heating member 21 so as to prevent the heating member 21 from overheating and for cooling the same.

At the time of starting the operation of the forming machine, it is necessary to heat the heating member 21 to a predetermined temperature above the room temperature within a short period of time, but the i~25541 -13 respective portions of the heating member 21 are different in the degrees of their radiant heat during the circulation of the same among the respective stations or tables, and particularly, the radiant heat of the lower portions of the heating members 21 is observed to be large while the temperature of those portions is largely lowered because those portions are connected to the heat insulating member 22 and the piston rod 23. Even in such a case where the temperature variation in elapsed time is different at the respective portions of the heating member 21, it can easily be heated to the predetermined temperature by means of the arrangement and method described above.

X.1. The first inducting heating coil 28 for attaining the constant heating may be eliminated in accordance with one modification by increasing the heating capacity of the second induction heating coils 29, 30 and 31.

It is desired to heat the heating member 21 to a temperature ranging between approximately 300 to 600 0 C. This is because below 300 0 C, the 5: radiant heat is too small to attain the desired heating efficiency from the inside of the preform 1 having a large thickness, whereas over 600 0 C, the 5 inner surface of the preform is overheated in comparison with the outer surface or the central portion of the preform, whereby the uniform heating effect is not obtained. In fact, in accordance with a conducted experiment or test, when the heating member 21 was heated to a temperature level above 600 0 C, violent degradation due to oxidation was observed, such of course not being suitable for practical use.

As described above with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method of the present invention is very effective in view of the high speed heating and the uniform heating, but in the case where the preform 1 mounted upon the mandrel core portion 37, as shown in Fig. 16, is rotated in a largely eccentric manner, the preform may be circu;ferentially non-uniformly heated because of the disposition of the heating member 21 close to inner surface portions of the preform 1. Such eccentric rotational movement of the preform 1 is caused by the relationship defined between the unevenness of the inner diameters of the mouth portions of the preforms 1 and the core diameter of the mandrel or by differences characteristic of the mounting methods of the preforms 1, and the extent of the eccentricity is differeKn: with respect to each mandrel. In order to obviate this fault, the mandrel core 37', as shown in Fig. 17, is manufactured so as to include quartered or slotted springy member endowed with resiliency so as to be slightly outwardly expanded before the T S5541 4Z 4 /IzmU Vr 00

,I,

-14mounting of the preform 1, and in addition, the preform is forcibly mounted against the resiliency force of the springy member while maintaining the direction of the preform 1 so as to be in accord with the axis of the mandrel 3. By virtue of this mounting or inserting method, the eccentricity of the preform 1 with respect to the mandrel is hardly observed, and the value e of the diameter eccentricity, as shown in Fig. 16, was regulated to a value within one fifth of the inner diameter of the preform 1 whereby the circumferentially uniform heating was attained.

The value e of the diameter eccentricity is desired to be less than one tenth of the inner diameter of the preform 1, and in case the value e 0 satisfies this condition, non-uniform heating based upon this eccentricity will be substantially eliminated. The rotational movement of the preform 1 S, may thus be reduced or substantially eliminated by suitably locating a guide member for restricting the movement of the front portion of the S preform 1.

SOS.

.1 Next, there is disclosed another example of the heating member 21, in which a substance fusible at a temperature within the temperature range of the heating member 21 is enclosed within the interior thereof.

Fig. 19 shows one examplP of the hollow heating member 21 provided with an inner cavity 41 into which zinc having a melting point of 420'C is enclosed, but the outer configuration or the like of the heating member 21 shown in Fig. 19 is substantially the same as that of the former S embodiments. When the heating member 21 of this hollow type configuration 9:60: is heated within the heating zone 27 of the heating station table 6, the heating member 21 is heated in accordance with the temperature elevation curve shown in Fig. 22. When the heating member 21 is heated to the point A upon the curve of Fig. 22, the heating member 21 is cooled in accordance with the cooling curve shown in Fig. 23. Namely, the heating member 21 exhibits substantially no change in its temperature for a predetermined time interval at the temperature Tl even if the thermal energy is applied or released by means of the latent heat of the fused metal enclosed within the interior of the heating member 21. Accordingly, by heating the heating member 21 to the point B in Fig. 22, that is, until the enclosed zinc has been completely melted, and inserting the thus heated heating member 21 into the preform 1, the preform 1 can be heated by means of the heating member 21 which maintains this temperature for a long period of time, thus being capable of heating the preform at a precisely controlled temperature level. Referring to Fig. 22, the letter t denotes time, T denotes the tV R. 25541 4jI TOa7oC I I temperature of the heating member 21 and T1 is the melting point of the enclosed zinc metal. In the case where it is detected by means of the infrared ray radiant heat thermometer 32 that the temperature of the heating member 21 does not reach the melting point Ti of the enclosed metal, such as, for example point C in Fig. 23, high frequency electric power programmed in accordance with the temperature difference of such temperature at point C from the melting point,, as shown in Fig. 22 is applied to the second inducting heating coil 29 for an extremely short time interval (0.5 sec.) so as to heat the high melting point metal enclosed within the heating member 21, and preferably in a state at which the g enclosed metal has been entirely liquefied, that is to the point B.

Fig. 20 shows another example of a hollow heating member 21, which is provided with a first inner cavity 42 and a second inner cavity 43 into which high and low melting point metals are disposed, respectively. Zinc is utilized as the high melting point metal and a tin-tellurium alloy is utilized as the low melting point metal, the latter having a composition essentially consisting of 15% of tin and 85% of tellurium, which will result in a eutectic structure wherein the eutectic stagnation temperature corresponding to the melting point is approximately 410 0 C. Fig. 21 also shows a further example of the hollow heating member 21 provided with first, second and third inner cavities 42, 43 and 44 into which a tintellurium alloy, zinc and tellurium are disposed, raspectively, and the composition of the tin-tellurium alloy of Fig. 21 is the same as that of Fig. 20, the melting point of tellurium being approximately 450°C.

Concerning the second example of the heating member 21 shown in Fig. 20, the temperature elevation curve of the heating member 21 is represented by means of Fly. 24 and the natural cooling curve thereof is represented by means of Fig. 25, and in the figures, the letter designation T2 denotes the melting point of the low melting point metal, that is, the tin-tellurium alloy. The temperature control of the heating member 21 of the second example is achieved in substantially the same manner as that of the first example, and for instance, in the case where the melting point is the temperature at point B in Fig. 25 and if the temperature of the heating member has not reached the melting point B and is only at a temperature level C as shown in Fig. 25, electric power is applied to the second induction heating coil 29 so as to increase the temperature to the point B in Fig. 24. In this case, even if it is erroneously detected that the heating member has a high temperature in spite of the detection fault of 541 n~ s r

U

I

f N 16 4 0

S.

0O the radiant heat thermometer 32, the temperature of the heating member 21 is not substantially lowered by means of the heat of solidification of the tin-tellurium alloy. Moreover, when the target temperature to be controlled is selected to be at the point the temperature is controlled so as to raise the temperature to the point However, even if the temperature difference is erroneously detected as a value larger than the actual value as a result of a fault of the thermometer and, as a result, electric power is excessively supplied to the second induction heating coil 29, the temperature of the heating member 21 is not substantially raised as a result of the heat of fusion of the enclosed zinc, thus performing :jO excellent temperature control.

Concerning the third example of the hollow heating member 21 shown in o Fig. 21, the temperature elevation curve of the heating member 21 is 0% represented by means of Fig. 26 and the natural cooling curve thereof is 0 represented by means of Fig. 27, in which letter designation TO denotes the

IS

melting point of tellurium. When the temperature at the point C in Fig. 27 is detected, substantially the same control as that of the first and second example is made so as to raise the temperature to the point B in Fig. 26, but control with greater accuracy can be made by enclosing three kinds of metals having different melting points within the inner cavities of the ef£ hollow heating member 21. The heating capacity of the heating member :V heating zone 27 and the amount of metals enclosed are set so as not to render the enclosed metals solidified during the circulation of the heating :i member 21. Accordingly, in actuality, the enclosed metals are partially in the liquid and partially in the solid state during the circulation of the heating member around the heating station table 6, so that the temperature of the heating member 21 can be maintained substantially within the S: vicinity of the temperatures of the melting points of the enclosed metals or at a temperature characteristic of the metals during the circulation thereof. Namely, the temperature of the heating member 21 of the first example is maintained at approximately 420°C. Regarding the heating member 21 of the second example, in the case where the controlling point is selected to be the point C in Fig. 25, the temperature of the heating member 21 is maintained at approximately 420 0 C and in the case where the controlling point is selected to be the point the temperature is maintained at approximately 410°C. The temperature of the heating member 21 of the third example is stably maintained at approximately 420 0

C.

Accordingly, since the preforms 1 can be heated by means of the heating t 1 8; 6504

S

Se

I

S.

oooS go '25541 17

S

SOS

S

0

S

5 members 21 having the precisely controlled temperatures, plastic bottles 2 with high quality can be manufactured.

With the preferred embodiments described above, although the heating member 21 is made of metal and heated by means of induction heating methods, this invention is not limited to those embodiments and the heating members 21 may be made of ceramic materials and heated by means of infrared ray heaters.

A method of crystallizing the mouth portion 16 of the preform 1 by means of an application of the heating method described hereinbefore will be described hereunder with reference to Fig. 18. The crystallization of 1.0 the mouth portion 16 is achieved for the purpose of improving the stiffness a and the heat resistance of the mouth portion 16 of the preform 1.

Concretely, the heating member 21 is inserted into the mouth portion 16 of the preform 1 or plastic bottle 2 attached to the heating means such as, for example the heating station table 6 and the mouth portion 16 is heated .5 by means of an infrared ray collecting device 51 of the type shown in Fig. 18. The infrared ray collecting device 51 comprises a reflecting mirror 52 having an elliptical section and disposed about a linear infrared ray heater 53, which is arranged upon one focus of the elliptical reflecting mirror 52, and the mouth portion 16 is arranged upon the other 2 focus thereof. In this case, any structure described above with respect to the various elements of the heating member 21 may be selected and any heating means may also be selected. According to this method, the mouth portion 16 can be easily and precisely crystallized in the most suitable manner in conjunction with the above-described formation of the preform 1.

As described hereinbefore, according to this invention, since the

S..

temperature of the heating member for internally heating the preform is g: measured and the heating of the heating member is controlled in accordance with the measured temperature, the setting of the temperature can be accurately accomplished with a short period of time, thus improving the manufacturing capability. Radiant heat energy variable in the lengthwise direction of the heating member can be effectively distributed therealong, so that the respective portions of the preform can be heated to predetermined temperatures suitable for the blow-formation of the plastic bottle. Moreover, since substances having predetermined melting points can be enclosed within the hollow heating member, the temperature of the heating member can be controlled so as to stably maintain the temperature within a relatively narrow range, even if the absorbed heat amount or

SOS

*0

S

o• o• 18 radiant heat amount varies significantly by setting the common temperature of the substances to a target control temperature. Therefore, the preforms can always be constantly heated by utilizing such heating members as a heating source for the preforms adapted to form plastic products such as, for example plastic bottles, thus improving the quality of the formed products. In addition, in case the heating method described above is utilized for heating the mouth portion of the preform, the crystallization of that portion of the preform can also be speedily and precisely performed.

S"

0 5541 0* e 54 *t

LS

Claims

1. A method of heating a plastic bottle or preform, said method comprising the steps of: providing a movable internal heating member for insertion into said bottle or preform to internally heat the bottle or preform; providing an external heating means to externally heat said bottle or preform while said bottle or preform is beinginternally heated; determining the temperature of the heating member and adjusting the temperature thereof inductively prior to insertion into the bottle or preform; moving the heating member along a circular path; and locating said heating member within the bottle or preform at a particular position along said path, and removing the bottle or preform from said heating member at a further position along said path.

2. A method of blow-molding a preform comprising the steps of: heating the preform according to the method of claim 1; transferring the heated preform from said further position to a blow-molding site; and wherein a plurality of heating members are provided and are disposed at substantially equal intervals along said path.

3. A method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the temperature of said internal heating member is adjusted to a predetermined temperature, and said heating member is circulated past said external heating means such that said preform is simultaneously heated both externally and internally by said external heating means and said internal heating member.

4. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein an infrared ray collecting device is arranged so as to oppose a mouth portion of the preform to be heated to thereby heat the preform.

The method of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each preform or bottle is rotated about an axis parallel to the axis of the circular path, during heating of the preform or bottle.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein eccentric movement of the preform or bottle resulting from rotation thereof is limited so as to be less than one fifth of an inner diameter of the preform or bottle adjacent the heating member.

7. The method according to any one of claims I to 6 wherein the heating member is first heated to a predetermined temperature, and then !5541 heated to a desired temperature prior to location with the preform or bottle.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the heating member is heated so as to have a radiant heat energy distribution varied along an axial length of the heating member so as to apply a desired heat distribution to the preform or bottle.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the heating member is provided with respective portions having outer diameters different from each other so as to create an axially varied radiant heat energy distribution to the preform or bottle.

The method according to claim 8 wherein the induction heating is effected by an induction heating coil having winding pitches varied along a lengthwise direction of the heating member so as to create an axially varied radiant heat energy distribution to the preform or bottle.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said induction heating 0000 Scoil is divided into plural portions in an axial direction of the heating member and electric power to be applied to the thus divided induction heating coil portions is controlled to thereby create an axially varied radiant heat energy distribution to the preform to be heated.

12. A method of controlling the temperature of a heating member, wherein said heating member is provided with an inner cavity into which is enclosed a substance having a melting point within target control temperature range, measuring the temperature of the heating member, and controlling the temperature of the heating member in accordance with t.e measured temperature to thereby maintain substantially constant temperature S of the heating member.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said heating member is provided with at least two inner cavities into which are enclosed substances having different melting points.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13 wherein a heat amount necessary to melt substantially the enclosed substance.

A method of blow-molding preforms, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of heating a plastic bottle or preform, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. I(Tc( r te~~l 5 5 4 1' Z 0tr~c 21

17. The method of controlling the temperature of a heating member, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawi ngs. DATED this TWENTY-THIRD day of JANUARY 1991 Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. 0 0:000 .00 0 S 0 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON