Abstract:
A handle positioning apparatus outside mold for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow molding machine, and a method of use thereof. The apparatus comprises a sliding block base, a handle positioning assembly, and a bottle pre-form positioning assembly. The bottle pre-form positioning assembly is provided in the middle of the sliding block base, and the handle positioning assembly is provided at one end of the sliding block base. The method of use thereof involves the handle positioning apparatus outside mold carrying a bottle pre-form being placed on a bottle pre-form conveying track; at the awaiting blow molding position, a handle is placed into the handle positioning apparatus outside mold, and the same is transported into the mold where the bottle will be blown and once completed, is discharged via the bottle pre-form conveying track.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the technical field of blow moulding, and more specifically relates to a handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine, and a method of use thereof. 
     Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles equipped with handles are not mainstream products in the market of packaging products, but they are necessary in the market of middle to high volume PET bottles. For example, they are quite commonly used for bottling cooking oil and sauces. Furthermore, PET bottles are gradually substituting traditional glass bottles due to a number of disadvantages existing in glass bottles, for example fragility, heavy weight, high energy consumption during the process of manufacturing and high transportation cost etc. Nowadays, there are mainly two methods for manufacturing PET bottles equipped with handles: 
     Pre-inserted-handle bottle: a bottle is blown by placing a handle and a preform tube into a bottle blow moulding machine at the same time. Since the handle and the bottle body are fixed tightly together, the handle has high resistance against tensional force and therefore is not easy to break off. However, the manufacturing of this kind of bottle requires high cost of labouring but the production efficiency is low. Although some but not many bottle blow moulding machines for making pre-inserted-handle bottle are equipped with mechanical arms for placing the handles into the moulds before bottle blow moulding, the use of mechanical arms as such does not result in high production efficiency. Besides, the cost of producing and installing mechanical arms is high. 
     Post-inserted-handle bottle: After blow moulding of the bottle body, a handle is combined with the bottle body to form the bottle. This kind of manufacturing method has high production efficiency and the cost of laboring is lower. However, the handle of this kind of bottle is not good at resisting tensional force, and the bottle itself is also not good at resisting pressure. Therefore this kind of bottle is not suitable for long distance transportation. 
     As shown above, the methods of manufacture directly affect product properties, production efficiency and the cost of production equipment. In these recent years, automatic bottle blow moulding machine for pre-inserted-handle bottle becomes a facility receiving major attention in facility research and development due to increasing market demand, rising cost of manpower resources and greater awareness of energy conservation and environmental friendliness. However, the problem of poor production efficiency has not been solved. In most of the existing prior arts of making pre-inserted-handle bottle, bottle blow moulding machines requiring manual operation are still used for manufacture. Problems associated with this kind of manually operated machines still exists, for example, high level of manpower input, unstable production quality, low production cost and unsafety etc. In some but not many cases, mechanical arms are used in the bottle blow moulding machines for making pre-inserted-handle bottle. An existing bottle blow moulding machine equipped with mechanical arms for making pre-inserted-handle bottle exemplified in  FIG. 1  is used according to the following procedures: 
     1. According to  FIG. 2-1 , left and right mechanical arms is holding a handle, while a bottle is blown by using the bottle blow moulding machine; 
     2. According to  FIG. 2-2 , after the bottle blow moulding machine has finished blow moulding of the bottle and the mould has been opened, the bottle as produced is removed away from the mould with a safe distance. 
     3. According to  FIG. 2-3 , the mechanical arms enter the mould and put the handle in the mould. 
     4. According to  FIG. 2-4 , the mechanical arms retreat from the mould and return to a standby position. 
     5. According to  FIG. 2-5 , the bottle blow moulding machine closes the mould and blows the bottle. After that the mechanical arms hold another handle and then repeat step 1 again to start blow moulding of another bottle. 
     In the above procedures, the mould and the mechanical arms move according to the arrows shown in  FIGS. 2-1 to 2-5 . 
     The existing bottle blow moulding machine equipped with mechanical arms for making pre-inserted-handle bottle has the following disadvantages: 
     1. Long production cycle and low production efficiency: After blow moulding of a bottle, the bottle must be removed from the mould with a safe distance before the mechanical arms can enter the mould to place another handle therein, and the mould can only close again for blow moulding of the next bottle after the mechanical arms retreat away from the mould with a safe distance. This kind of operation wastes a lot of production time. 
     2. Maximum production capacity is twin mould production: Constrained by the movement of and the space required by the mechanical arms, the maximum production capacity for each production is limited to twin mould production. Therefore the production efficiency of the bottle blow moulding machine is limited. 
     3. High production equipment cost: Due to the use of mechanical arms, the equipment itself and its electrical control involve significantly increased cost. Furthermore, the limitation to the production efficiency of the bottle blow moulding machine will result in the need of purchasing a large quantity of this kind of machine in case of voluminous production. As such, the fixed cost of investment into the equipment will be too high compared to its valve, and thus reducing the willingness of investors to invest in this kind of equipment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforesaid disadvantages now present in the prior arts, the present invention provides a handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine. The handle positioning apparatus outside mould can on one hand guarantee product quality and on the other hand effectively increase the production efficiency of the bottle blow moulding machine. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of using the handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine. 
     According to the present invention, a handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine is provided on a bottle preform conveying track and comprises a sliding block base, a handle positioning assembly and a bottle preform positioning assembly; the bottle preform positioning assembly is provided in a middle part of the sliding block base; the handle positioning assembly is provided at a first end of the sliding block base; the handle positioning assembly comprises a positioning base, a left positioning panel, a right positioning panel and a press block; the positioning base is fixedly provided on the first end of the sliding block base; the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are symmetrically provided on the positioning base; the press block is provided below the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel; the press block and the positioning base are fixedly connected; the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are both hinged with the positioning base. 
     Two positioning ball plungers are provided on the positioning base to limit the closing positions of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel respectively; when the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel close, the two positioning ball plungers are popped out by their springs respectively; positioning beads provided at two ends of the springs respectively are inserted into corresponding positioning grooves at back sides of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel respectively to prevent continuous closing of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel, thereby limiting the closing positions of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel; the left positioning panel or the right positioning panel is limited to open up to 15 to 35 degrees when opened; when the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are opened, limitation of the closing positions is automatically achieved by means of contact surfaces between their bottom parts and the positioning base. 
     The left positioning panel has an “L” shape while the right positioning panel has a shape of a mirror image of “L”; protruding panels are also provided at the bottom parts of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel respectively; the bottom parts of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are hinged with the positioning base via first screws and screw bushes; the positioning ball plungers are provided at positions corresponding to back sides of the protruding panels of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel; inner sides of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are provided with fixing blocks respectively for fixing a handle; the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are provided with guiding inclined surfaces respectively; the guiding inclined surfaces are provided on the fixing blocks; the fixing blocks protrude inwardly towards each other on end portions of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel respectively; the guiding inclined surfaces are inclined at 45-65 degrees with respect to vertical surface; when the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel open, and the handle is pulled upwardly, the handle will move upwardly along the guiding inclined surfaces and push aside the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel towards their outer sides. 
     The positioning base is an integral structure forming a one whole piece; the positioning base comprises a base side portion and a base seat connected with each other; the base side portion and the base seat together constitute an “L” shape; a middle part of the base side portion is provided with a handle insertion slot in a shape corresponding to the shape of the handle; a platform is provided on the base seat; two sides of the platform are provided with grooves each in a shape of half of a cylindrical column; the base seat is fixedly connected with the sliding block base via third screws. 
     The bottom parts of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are provided with the protruding panels respectively; the protruding panels are provided with holes; bottom parts of the protruding panels provided with holes are positioned in the grooves each having a shape of half of a cylindrical column; the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel are connected with the base side portion at the holes on the protruding panels via first screws and screw bushes. 
     The press block is provided at outer sides of the protruding panels with holes at the bottom parts of the left positioning panel and the right positioning panel; the press block is fixedly connected with the platform on the base seat via second screws. 
     The bottle preform positioning assembly comprises a preform head, a preform seat, a bearing and a chain wheel; the preform head and the preform seat are screw threaded; a bottom part of the preform seat has a rotation shaft; the rotation shaft passes through the sliding block base and then connects sequentially with the bearing and the chain wheel; an upper part of the preform head and a bottom part of the chain wheel are provided with snap rings respectively. 
     The rotation shaft on the preform seat is fixedly connected with the chain wheel via a woodruff key. 
     The working principle of the handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine is described as follows: when a handle is placed into the positioning base, the handle enters into the handle insertion slot of the base side portion of the positioning base; a bottom part of the handle contacts with the left and right positioning panels; when the handle is pressed downwardly, the bottom parts of the left and right positioning panels rotate so that the left and right positioning panels close and thereby accomplishing self-locking; the fixing blocks at the inner sides of the left and right positioning panels fix the handle in the handle insertion slot; after bottle blow moulding is finished, simply pull out the handle and then the left and right positioning panels will be unlocked and return back to an open condition. 
     A method of using the handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine comprises the following steps: 
     1. After a bottle preform is mounted to the preform head of the bottle preform positioning assembly and heating is completed, the handle positioning apparatus outside mould carrying the bottle preform is transmitted to a bottle blow moulding waiting position via transmission of the bottle preform conveying track. 
     2. At the bottle blow moulding waiting position, the handle is placed into the positioning base; when the handle is pressed downwardly, the left and right positioning panels close and accomplish self-locking and the handle is fixed on the handle positioning assembly. 
     3. Following the transmission of the bottle preform conveying track, the handle positioning apparatus outside mould carrying the bottle preform is transmitted to a blow moulding position; previous bottle which is already subject to completed blow moulding will be transmitted away from the mould and the previous bottle made with a handle will be removed from its corresponding handle positioning apparatus outside mould so that the left and right positioning panels of that handle positioning apparatus outside mould will open again; new subsequent handle positioning apparatus outside mould carrying another new bottle preform will also be transmitted to the bottle blow moulding waiting position. 
     4. The blow moulding machine closes the mould and performs bottle blow moulding of the bottle preform at the blow moulding position, while another new handle will be put into the new subsequent handle positioning apparatus outside mould at the bottle blow moulding waiting position. 
     5. The mould of the blow moulding machine opens and steps 3 and 4 are repeated so that the new bottle preform on the new subsequent handle positioning apparatus outside mould will be subject to bottle blow moulding. 
     In the above procedures, the bottle blow moulding waiting position refers to a position at a side corresponding to the mould on the bottle preform conveying track. 
     There are four handle placing sockets at the bottle blow moulding waiting position; in other words, four handles can be placed respectively into corresponding positioning bases of four handle positioning apparatus in step 2. 
     The handle can be manually placed into the positioning base or placed into the positioning base by using mechanical arms. 
     The present invention has the following advantages compared with the existing prior art: 
     1. Speeding up production cycle by saving the time for waiting for the handle to be placed into the mould. Since the placing of handle is done outside of the mould by using the present invention, placing of handle can be performed at the same time with bottle blow moulding operation by the bottle blow moulding machine. Therefore, the present invention saves the time for waiting for the handle to be placed into the mould, thereby significantly speeding up production cycle and increasing the production capacity of the bottle blow moulding machine. 
     2. The bottle blow moulding machine has a higher value compared to its cost due to multiple-mould production. A plurality of the apparatus according to the present invention can be arranged in a row coordinating with the moulds. Subject to the size of the moulds, four or six moulds can be used simultaneously for production. On the contrary, only two moulds can be used simultaneously according to existing apparatus using mechanical arms. The production capacity is therefore multiplied, thereby increasing the value of the bottle blow moulding machine as compared to its cost. 
     3. Simpler structure with reduced production equipment cost. The structure of the present invention is simple, compact, and can be manufactured at a low cost. It is not necessary for the present invention to equip with complicated circuits for controlling the mechanical arms or to provide a large amount of space to accommodate the mechanical arms. Therefore, the present invention effectively reduces production equipment cost and saves installation space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structural view of a pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine according to existing prior art. 
         FIG. 2-1  is a schematic view showing the use of the pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine according to existing prior art when the mechanical arms hold a handle. 
         FIG. 2-2  is a schematic view showing the use of the pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine according to existing prior art when the mould opens. 
         FIG. 2-3  is a schematic view showing the use of the pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine according to existing prior art when the mechanical arms enter the mould. 
         FIG. 2-4  is a schematic view showing the use of the pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine according to existing prior art when the mechanical arms retreat from the mould. 
         FIG. 2-5  is a schematic view showing the use of the pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine according to existing prior art when the bottle blow moulding machine closes the mould. 
         FIG. 3  shows a structural view of the handle positioning apparatus outside mould according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a structural view of the constituting components of the handle positioning apparatus outside mould according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a handle placed into the handle positioning apparatus outside mould according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the use of the handle positioning apparatus outside mould according to the present invention in the pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine. 
         FIG. 7-1  shows the handle positioning apparatus outside mould according to the present invention at a bottle blow moulding waiting position. 
         FIG. 7-2  shows the handle positioning apparatus outside mould according to the present invention when it enters a mould. 
         FIG. 7-3  shows the bottle blow moulding operation by the bottle blow moulding machine after closing the mould when the handle positioning apparatus outside mould according to the present invention is used. 
         FIG. 8  is a structural view of the left positioning panel or the right positioning panel. 
         FIG. 9  is a view seen according to direction A shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     Reference signs in the figures:  1 : heating box;  2 : bottle preform conveying track;  3 : left mechanical arm;  4 : rear mould plate;  5 : rear mould for bottle blow moulding;  6 : right mechanical arm;  7 : front mould for bottle blow moulding;  8 : front mould plate;  9 : sliding block base;  10 : positioning base;  11 : left positioning panel;  12 : right positioning arm;  13 : press block;  14 : positioning ball plungers;  15 : first screws;  16 : screw bushes;  17 : second screws;  18 : preform head;  19 : preform seat;  20 : bearing;  21 : chain wheel;  22 : snap rings;  23 : woodruff key;  24 : third screws;  25 : handle;  26 : driving cylinder;  27 : springs;  28 : positioning beads;  29 : positioning grooves;  30 : guiding inclined surfaces. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is further described below with reference to an embodiment and to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the description herein. 
     Embodiment 
     A handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine is provided on a bottle preform conveying track  2  as shown in  FIG. 6 ;  FIG. 3  or  FIG. 4  shows a detailed structure of the handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine, which comprises a sliding block base  9 , a handle positioning assembly and a bottle preform positioning assembly; the bottle preform positioning assembly is provided in a middle part of the sliding block base  9 ; the handle positioning assembly is provided at a first end of the sliding block base  9 ; the handle positioning assembly comprises a positioning base  10 , a left positioning panel  11 , a right positioning panel  12  and a press block  13 ; the positioning base  10  is fixedly provided on the first end of the sliding block base  9 ; the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are symmetrically provided on the positioning base  10 ; the press block  13  is provided below the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12 ; the press block  13  and the positioning base  10  are fixedly connected; the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are both hinged with the positioning base  10 . 
     Two positioning ball plungers  14  are provided on the positioning base  10  to limit the closing positions of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  respectively; when the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel close, the two positioning ball plungers  14  are popped out by their springs  27  respectively; as shown in  FIG. 9 , positioning beads  28  provided at two ends of the springs  27  respectively are inserted into corresponding positioning grooves  29  at back sides of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  respectively to prevent continuous closing of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12 , thereby limiting the closing positions of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12 ; the left positioning panel  11  or the right positioning panel  12  is limited to open up to 15 to 35 degrees when opened; when the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are opened, limitation of the closing positions is automatically achieved by means of contact surfaces between their bottom parts and the positioning base  10 . 
     The left positioning panel  11  has an “L” shape while the right positioning panel  12  has a shape of a mirror image of “L”, protruding panels are also provided at the bottom parts of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  respectively; the bottom parts of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are hinged with the positioning base  10  via first screws  15  and screw bushes  16 ; the positioning ball plungers  14  are provided at positions corresponding to back sides of the protruding panels of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12 ; inner sides of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are provided with fixing blocks respectively for fixing a handle; as shown in  FIG. 8 , the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are provided with guiding inclined surfaces  30  respectively; the guiding inclined surfaces  30  are provided on the fixing blocks; the fixing blocks protrude inwardly towards each other on end portions of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  respectively; the guiding inclined surfaces  30  are inclined at 45-65 degrees with respect to vertical surface; when the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  open, and the handle is pulled upwardly, the handle will move upwardly along the guiding inclined surfaces  30  and push aside the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  towards their outer sides. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the positioning base  10  is an integral structure forming a one whole piece; the positioning base  10  comprises a base side portion and a base seat connected with each other; the base side portion and the base seat together constitute an “L” shape; a middle part of the base side portion is provided with a handle insertion slot in a shape corresponding to the shape of the handle; a platform is provided on the base seat; two sides of the platform are provided with grooves each in a shape of half of a cylindrical column; the base seat is fixedly connected with the sliding block base  9  via third screws  24 . 
     The bottom parts of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are provided with the protruding panels respectively; the protruding panels are provided with holes; bottom parts of the protruding panels provided with holes are positioned in the grooves each having a shape of half of a cylindrical column; the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12  are connected with the base side portion at the holes on the protruding panels via first screws and screw bushes. 
     The press block  13  is provided at outer sides of the protruding panels with holes at the bottom parts of the left positioning panel  11  and the right positioning panel  12 ; the press block  13  is fixedly connected with the platform on the base seat via second screws  17 . 
     The bottle preform positioning assembly comprises a preform head  18 , a preform seat  19 , a bearing  20  and a chain wheel  21 ; the preform head  18  and the preform seat  19  are screw threaded; a bottom part of the preform seat  19  has a rotation shaft; the rotation shaft passes through the sliding block base  9  and then connects sequentially with the bearing  20  and the chain wheel  21 ; an upper part of the preform head  18  and a bottom part of the chain wheel  21  are provided with snap rings  22  respectively. 
     The rotation shaft on the preform seat  19  is fixedly connected with the chain wheel  21  via a woodruff key  23 . 
     The working principle of the handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine is described as follows: As shown in  FIG. 5 , when a handle  25  is put inside the positioning base  10 , the handle  25  enters into the handle insertion slot of the base side portion of the positioning base; a bottom part of the handle  25  contacts with the left and right positioning panels  11 ,  12 ; when the handle  25  is pressed downwardly, the bottom parts of the left and right positioning panels  11 ,  12  rotate so that the left and right positioning panels  11 ,  12  close and thereby accomplishing self-locking; the fixing blocks at the inner sides of the left and right positioning panels  11 ,  12  fix the handle  25  in the handle insertion slot; after bottle blow moulding is finished, simply pull out the handle  25  and then the left and right positioning panels  11 ,  12  will be unlocked and return back to an open condition. 
     A method of using the handle positioning apparatus outside mould for pre-inserted-handle bottle blow moulding machine comprises the following steps: 
     1. After a bottle preform is mounted to the preform head  18  of the bottle preform positioning assembly and heating is completed, the handle positioning apparatus outside mould carrying the bottle preform is transmitted to a bottle blow moulding waiting position via transmission of the bottle preform conveying track  2 . 
     2. As shown in  FIG. 7-1 , at the bottle blow moulding waiting position, the handle  25  is placed into the positioning base  10 ; when the handle  25  is pressed downwardly, the left and right positioning panels  11 ,  12  close and accomplish self-locking and the handle  25  is fixed on the handle positioning assembly. 
     3. As shown in  FIG. 7-2 , following the transmission of the bottle preform conveying track  2 , the handle positioning apparatus outside mould carrying the bottle preform is transmitted to a blow moulding position; previous bottle which is already subject to completed blow moulding will be transmitted away from the mould and the previous bottle made with a handle will be removed from its corresponding handle positioning apparatus outside mould so that the left and right positioning panels of that handle positioning apparatus outside mould will open again; new subsequent handle positioning apparatus outside mould carrying another new bottle preform will also be transmitted to the bottle blow moulding waiting position. 
     4. As shown in  FIG. 7-3 , the blow moulding machine closes the mould and performs bottle blow moulding of the bottle preform at the blow moulding position, while another new handle will be put into the new subsequent handle positioning apparatus outside mould at the bottle blow moulding waiting position. 
     5. The mould of the blow moulding machine opens and steps 3 and 4 are repeated so that the new bottle preform on the new subsequent handle positioning apparatus outside mould will be subject to bottle blow moulding. 
     In the above procedures, the bottle blow moulding waiting position refers to a position at a side corresponding to the mould on the bottle preform conveying track  2 . 
     There are four handle placing sockets at the bottle blow moulding waiting position; in other words, four handles can be placed respectively into corresponding positioning bases of four handle positioning apparatus in step 2. 
     The handle  25  can be manually placed into the positioning base  10  or placed into the positioning base  10  by using mechanical arms. 
     In the above procedures, movement of the handle positioning apparatus on the bottle preform conveying track  2  is powered by a drive cylinder  26 . The moulds and the handle positioning apparatus move according the arrows indicated by  FIGS. 7-1 to 7-3 . 
     The above embodiment is a preferred implementation of the present invention. The above embodiment is intended to describe only a preferred way of implementing the present invention; it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and modification made in accordance with the teaching of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.