Method and device for combined production and filling of containers made of plastic

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for combined production and filling of containers ( 1 ) made of plastic, particularly of plastic bottles ( 1 ). Each container ( 1 ) is thereby first produced by a thermal forming process. The container ( 1 ) is then transferred to a filling device or filling machine ( 3 ) and cooled during said transfer. The container ( 1 ) is filled with a product medium in the filling device ( 3 ). According to the invention, the container ( 1 ) is cooled during the transfer by applying a spray mist ( 8 ).

1 . A method for the combined production and filling of plastic containers, said method comprising:
 producing a plastic container using a thermal moulding process;   applying a cooling spray mist to said plastic container while transferring said plastic container to a filling device; and   at the filling device, filling said plastic container with a product medium.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the cooling spray mist comprises causing the cooling spray mist to impinge only upon selected regions of the plastic container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising guiding and/or defining the cooling spray mist. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the cooling spray mist comprises is applying the cooling spray mist onto the bottom region of the plastic container. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the cooling spray mist comprises applying a gas in which are suspended finely atomized drops of water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using liquid present in the cooling spray mist for evaporative cooling of the plastic container. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying a cooling spray mist comprises causing the plastic container to be impinged upon repeatedly with the cooling spray mist while transferring the plastic container to the filling device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying a cooling spray mist comprises applying the cooling spray mist in response to an extent of a residual amount of liquid remaining on the plastic container after the evaporative cooling. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining the extent of the residual amount of liquid on the plastic container in a contactless manner. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for the combined production and filling of plastic containers, said apparatus comprising:
 a blow moulding machine for producing a plastic container,   a filling machine for filling the plastic container with a product medium,   a transfer section disposed between the blow moulding machine and the filling machine, and   a cooling spray mist machine disposed in or on said transfer section for cooling the plastic container by applying a cooling spray mist thereto.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising means for guiding and/or defining the cooling spray mist. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the means for guiding and/or defining the cooling spray mist comprises
 an atomizing device for atomizing a liquid,   a compressed gas unit for applying the atomized liquid in a targeted stream onto the plastic container, and   a nozzle at an end of an outlet tube of the spray mist machine.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for guiding and/or defining the cooling spray mist comprises a shut-off device for sealing off the spray mist machine from a spray-mist-free region of the plastic container. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the means for guiding and/or defining the cooling spray mist comprises a gas stream device for causing a gas stream to impinge upon a spray-mist-free region of the plastic container to hold the cooling spray mist at bay. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the blow moulding machine, the filling machine, and the transfer section connected therebetween are integrated together to form one structural unit. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a measuring device for determining thickness of a film of residual liquid remaining on the plastic container. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the measuring device is disposed in or on the transfer section ( 4 ). 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein spray mist machine(s) and measuring device(s) alternate with each other along the transfer section. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the cooling spray mist comprises applying said cooling spray mist onto portions of the plastic container having a thickness in excess of a selected threshold. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for producing and filling plastic containers, said apparatus comprising:
 means for forming said plastic container;   means for filling said plastic container with a product;   means for transferring said plastic container between said means for forming and said means for filling; and   means for evaporatively cooling said plastic containers while said means for transferring transfers said plastic containers.