Abstract:
A device for blowing, with the aid of a pressurized fluid, containers from thermoplastic blanks closed in a blow mold including a nozzle whose end is functionally and sealingly connected to the neck of the blank and includes several solenoid valves for selectively connecting the nozzle to the source of a moderately pressurized pre-blowing fluid, to the source of a highly-pressurized blowing fluid and to an exhaust for discharging the pre-blowing/blowing fluid, respectively. The inventive device also includes a body which is mechanically associated with the nozzle, incorporates at least one reception area for receiving a solenoid valve and is selectively connectable to the nozzle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/629,855 filed Dec. 18, 2006, which is a 371 of PCT/FR/2005/01531 filed Jun. 17, 2005, which claims foreign priority from FR 04/06844, filed on Jun. 23, 2004. The entire disclosure of the prior application, application Ser. No. 11/629,855, is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of manufacturing containers made from thermoplastic material, such as PET or PEN, by a blowing or stretch-blowing method from a blank (preform or intermediate container) and it relates more specifically to improvements made to devices for blowing, by means of a pressurized fluid, containers from thermoplastic blanks, of which the body is enclosed in a blowing mold, said devices comprising a nozzle consisting of an end formed to be functionally and sealingly connected to the neck of a blank and comprising a plurality of solenoid valves for selectively connecting said nozzle to, for example, respectively a source of fluid at moderate pressure for pre-blowing, a source of fluid at high pressure for blowing and an exhaust for discharging the pre-blowing/blowing fluid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As known, the nozzle is designed to be axially mobile, in its entirety or partially, above the blowing mold between an upper position or raised position in which the nozzle is not functional (opening and closing of the mold allowing the loading of a blank and the release of the molded container) and a lower position or blowing position in which the end of the nozzle cooperates sealingly either with the neck of the blank, or with the face of the mold above which the neck of the blank projects and in which the nozzle is functional. 
     Blowing devices are known in which the end of the nozzle, in the functional position, cooperates positively with the neck of the blank and either sealingly abuts against the lip (edge) of the neck of the blank, or is sealingly fitted into or onto the neck of the blank. 
     Blowing devices are also known in which the end of the nozzle is configured in the shape of a bell which is larger than the neck of the blank and caps said neck by being sealingly supported at the front against the face of the mold on which the neck of the blank projects (see, for example, the document FR 2 764 544). 
     A blowing sequence normally consists of a step of pre-blowing the blank by means of a fluid (generally air) at moderate pressure (for example 7×10 5  Pa), then the blowing step itself, at high pressure (for example 40×10 5  Pa) generally accompanied by mechanical axial stretching by means of a stretch rod and finally an exhaust step with the discharge of the pre-blowing/blowing air. For these various steps, three respective solenoid valves are controlled sequentially which, on the one hand, are respectively connected to a source of fluid at moderate pressure, a source of fluid at high pressure and an exhaust and which, on the other hand, are connected to the nozzle. 
     A blowing device of the type under consideration consumes a very large amount of pressurized fluid, whether at moderate or high pressure. The constant production of pressurized fluid (air) in large quantities leads to a very high consumption of electrical energy for the functioning of the compressor(s). As a result, there is a constant and urgent demand on the part of the users of these blowing devices for as large a reduction as possible of the quantity of pressurized fluid used, so as to reduce the consumption of electrical energy. 
     It must be understood that the only useful volume for the blowing operation is the volume of the container forced into its final shape against the walls of the molding cavity of the mold, in other words, substantially the volume of the molding cavity. In contrast, all the volumes located between the outlet of the pre-blowing or blowing solenoid valve and the neck of the container are, strictly speaking, volumes which are superfluous for the deformation of the blank and are therefore dead volumes. At each step for pre-blowing and blowing a blank, these dead volumes are filled with pressurized fluid in the same manner as the useful volume, which involves a production of pressurized fluid which is substantially greater than the actual requirement. The dead volumes are of a size which is not inconsiderable relative to the useful volumes and any reduction of these dead volumes proves beneficial in terms of a possible reduction in the power of the fluid compressor and therefore of its cost, and in terms of reducing the electrical energy required for the functioning of the compressor. 
     In a first design of the blowing device, the solenoid valves were grouped together on a fixed base mounted on the frame remote from the nozzle. A flexible tube connected the common outlet of the solenoid valves to the connecting aperture of the nozzle (for example the tube 23 in FIG. 1 of the aforementioned document FR 2 764 544). In this design, the dead volume was very large, in particular due to the presence of the flexible tube for remote connection. 
     In a subsequent design, the dead volume has been markedly reduced by eliminating the flexible connecting tube and by mounting the solenoid valve block directly on the body of the nozzle, at the location for connecting the tube 23 in FIG. 1 of the document FR 2 764 544. Nevertheless, in this design which currently continues to exist, the juxtaposition of the two respective bodies of the solenoid valve block and of the nozzle further necessitates fluid passages of a sizeable length, which results in a dead volume which is still too large in terms of consumption. As a result, users uphold their demand for a still lower consumption of pressurized fluid, so as to reduce further the consumption of electrical energy. 
     Furthermore, the presence of solenoid valve blocks located remotely from the nozzle or juxtaposed therewith leads to a heavy and awkward assembly. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is, therefore, to attempt to satisfy, as far as possible, these continued requirements of users and to propose an improved arrangement of the blowing device which leads to a very substantial reduction in the dead volumes in the circuit for supplying pressurized fluid to the blank arranged in the molding cavity of the mold and which may also lead to lighter and more compact structural assemblies. 
     To these ends, a blowing device as set forth in the preamble is characterized, being designed in accordance with the invention, in that a body associated mechanically with the nozzle incorporates at least one housing which is adapted to accommodate one respective solenoid valve, which is selectively in communication with the nozzle. 
     Due to this integrated structure, the outlet of the solenoid valve is moved considerably closer to the end of the nozzle, and as a result the dead volume is considerably reduced in accordance with the principal object sought. 
     It will be noted that such an integrated arrangement also offers additional advantages: the elimination of the base for mounting the solenoid valves and possibly the flexible connection, results in a saving in cost (more economical arrangement), a saving in space (possibility of a more compact arrangement and/or space available for mounting other components) and a saving in weight (reduction in the inertia on a rotating structure of the carousel type). 
     In a preferred embodiment relating, in particular, to nozzles in positive cooperation with the neck of the blanks, it is the body supporting the nozzle which is provided with the above housing. Nevertheless, in a further possible embodiment which relates to devices in which the nozzle is provided with a bell-shaped end part, it is the body of said bell which is designed with said housing. In the embodiments, it may be provided that the housing extends parallel to the axis of the nozzle from the upper face of the body, or that the housing extends radially from the nozzle, or even that the housing extends transversely to the nozzle, by being offset laterally relative to a bore accommodating said nozzle. 
     In a first possible embodiment of the arrangements according to the invention, each housing may be machined so as to form the respective chamber of the mobile core of the solenoid valve; in other words, the respective part of the body is machined, so as not only to form the housing there, but also so that said housing is adapted to receive directly the mobile core of the solenoid valve. This solution offers the advantage of a maximum reduction of the number of component parts and may achieve a substantial saving in the dead volumes; nevertheless, this maximally integrated structure is shown to be impractical for maintenance, as dismantling is lengthy and/or in the case of a serious problem on the chamber of the solenoid valve, the entire corresponding part of the body has to be replaced. 
     As a result, a preferred implementation of the arrangements of the invention consists in that each housing is formed to receive a respective solenoid valve cartridge, i.e. a solenoid valve structure comprising a casing defining a chamber accommodating the mobile core. Maintenance is therefore carried out by simply replacing the cartridge, such an operation being easy and rapid to implement. 
     Whatever the solution retained, however, it is preferable, still with the purpose of facilitating maintenance, that the control device of the solenoid valve is mounted externally on the housing. 
     In an advantageous version of the device of the invention, an exhaust solenoid valve is provided and a device acting as a silencer is associated with this exhaust solenoid valve; the control device of this exhaust solenoid valve may thus be mounted at the end of said silencer device, or possibly at the inside of said device shaped as a tubular chamber. 
     Finally, from the need to make savings on the pressurized fluid production station, it may be provided to implement two solenoid valves in the exhaust circuit and to provide the nozzle body with two housings for these two respective solenoid valves, one of these solenoid valves being associated with a circuit for recycling or reusing air (for example by being directed towards a source at reduced pressure) and the other solenoid valve serving to complete the step of discharging to the atmosphere. In such a case, it is this latter solenoid valve which would be associated with the aforementioned silencer device. 
     Still with the object of maximum reduction of the dead volumes, it may also be provided that at least the pre-blowing and blowing solenoid valves and the respective housings thereof are designed such that in the closed position the respective front faces of the respective valve members of said solenoid valves are flush with the inner wall of the nozzle. 
     For clarification, in a typical example where three solenoid valves are installed, the dead volume may, by implementing the arrangements of the invention, be reduced to a size of 18.5 cm 3 , in contrast with approximately 187 cm 3  in a current arrangement, namely a considerable saving in the order of 168 cm 3 . 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description which follows of certain preferred embodiments given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example. In this description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a very schematic perspective and lateral view, showing the principal arrangements of a blowing device designed according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are views in transverse section, respectively offset by 90° relative to one another, of a concrete embodiment of a blowing device according to the invention, with the implementation of a variant of the arrangements of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2A , with the nozzle lowered onto the blank to be blown and ready for the blowing process; 
         FIG. 3  is a view from above, in section, of a concrete embodiment of a blowing device according to the invention, showing a variant of the nozzle of  FIGS. 2A-2C ; 
         FIG. 4  is a very schematic and simplified perspective and lateral view, showing a further variant of implementing the arrangements of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partial view showing a variant of the arrangements shown in  FIG. 2A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1 , to which reference will be made firstly, shows in a very schematic manner a simplified structure of a blowing device implementing the principal arrangements of the invention applied to a device provided with three solenoid valves (respectively pre-blowing, blowing, exhaust). The blowing device, denoted in its entirety by the reference numeral  1 , comprises a body  2  having an axial bore  3  in which may be displaced, under the action of generally pneumatic control means (not shown), a mobile element or mobile nozzle  4  in the form of a tubular rod of which one part (not shown) may be designed in the shape of a piston. For clarification, the mutual arrangement of the body  2  and of the mobile nozzle  4  may, for example, be of the type shown in  FIG. 1  of the document FR 2 764 544. At its lower end  5 , the mobile nozzle  4  is formed in any desired manner to be able to be functionally and sealingly connected to the neck  6  or mouth of a blank  7  of a container (shown here in the form of a preform); in the example shown, the lower end  5  is designed, when the mobile nozzle  4  is lowered, to cap the neck  6  of the blank  7  in a sealed manner and to be brought to bear against the flange  8  located at the base of said neck; the lower end  5  could also be designed to be brought to bear sealingly against the lip or edge  8   a  of the neck  6 , or even be shaped as a bell surrounding the neck  6  remotely and bearing sealingly against the face of the mold, beyond which the neck  6  and the flange  8  project. 
     In a conventional manner, the mobile nozzle  4  in the form of a tubular rod surrounds an elongating rod  9  which is coaxial thereto and which itself may be axially displaced, during blowing, for mechanically driving the base of the blank  7  according to a known technique. The elongating rod  9  is maintained in a coaxial position by guide members, not shown in this figure. The diameter of the elongating rod  9  is less than that of the inner face of the mobile nozzle  4  so as to define an annular axial passage  10  designed for the supply of pre-blowing fluid and blowing fluid and for the discharge of said fluid at the end of the molding process. 
     For controlling the supply and discharge of the pre-blowing/blowing fluid, at least three respective solenoid valves are provided for connecting the annular passage  10  to one respective source of fluid at moderate pressure (typically 7×10 5  Pa) for the pre-blowing, a source of fluid at high pressure (typically 40×10 5  Pa) for the blowing and an exhaust for discharging the pre-blowing/blowing fluid. 
     In the arrangements currently known, the solenoid valves were arranged on the outside of the body  2 , either remotely thereto (document FR 2 764 544) or flat against an external face thereof. 
     According to the invention, these solenoid valves are incorporated in the body  2 . As shown schematically in  FIG. 1 , the upper part  11  of the body  2  is produced in the form of a part which is thicker than previously and at least three housings are made there to accommodate the three respective solenoid valves, namely:
         a housing  12  designed to accommodate the pre-blowing solenoid valve and brought into communication with the annular passage  10  by a radial conduit  13 ;   a housing  14  designed to accommodate the blowing solenoid valve and brought into communication with the annular passage  10  by a radial conduit  15 ;   a housing  16  designed to accommodate the exhaust solenoid valve and brought into communication with the annular passage  10  by a radial conduit  17 .       

     In the simplified drawing given in  FIG. 1 , only the housings of the solenoid valves are shown, whilst the solenoid valves themselves are not shown (concrete examples thereof will be given below). 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the housings  12 ,  14  and  16  are schematized in the form of rotating cylindrical housings with axes substantially parallel to the axis of the aforementioned bore  3 . Nevertheless, other arrangements are possible and examples will be given below. 
     So that at the end of blowing the blowing fluid is discharged very rapidly and so that the mold might be opened as quickly as possible in view of increased functioning speed, it is desirable that the exhaust conduit be oversized, as shown for the radial conduit  17 . After blowing, the fluid which is discharged is still at a significant pressure and may be recuperated to be directed toward a source of fluid at moderate pressure (for example for the pre-blowing). In this case, a fourth housing is provided in the body  2  to receive a solenoid valve for recycling (which is actuated after blowing, whilst the exhaust solenoid valve is actuated last for the elimination of the remainder of the blowing fluid). 
     It could be provided that each housing  12 ,  14 ,  16  is machined so as to define, directly in the body  2 , the chamber of the solenoid valve adapted to accommodate the mobile core forming the opening/closing valve member. Such a solution certainly offers the advantage of optimal structural simplification. This solution may have an additional advantage which will be examined below. Nevertheless, this solution also leads to restrictions for maintenance: in the event of problems with a solenoid valve, it is the whole of the relevant part of the body  2 , even the body  2  in its entirety, which has to be dismantled, even replaced. A longer time for maintenance and increased costs result. 
     To avoid these drawbacks, it may therefore prove more advantageous as a whole to resort to solenoid valve cartridges, available in the form of a module adapted to be positioned in a respective housing or to be easily and rapidly withdrawn therefrom. This solution is, therefore, particularly economical for maintenance. 
     It will be noted that the housings  12 ,  14 ,  16  are designed to receive the respective solenoid valve itself (i.e. the chamber accommodating the mobile core forming the valve member and the seat thereof), the cover of the solenoid valve bearing externally against the face of the mold, whilst the control device of the solenoid valve remains outside the housing: a concrete example of the arrangement will be indicated below. 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C show a concrete embodiment implementing a variant of the arrangements of  FIG. 1 . In this concrete embodiment, the housings  12 ,  14  ( FIG. 2A) and 16  ( FIG. 2B ) are arranged radially around the bore  3 , such that the body  2  may be produced in a much more compact form in the axial direction. Furthermore, the manufacture of the body is simplified and the access to the solenoid valves for maintenance is easier. 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C clearly show the guide means, integral with the body  2 , of the elongating rod which comprise a tubular guide part  18  interposed between the elongating rod  9  which is inside thereof and the mobile nozzle  4  which is outside thereof. 
     The housing  12  which extends radially to the base of the body  2  accommodates a solenoid valve cartridge  19 . The solenoid valve cartridge  19  comprises a housing  20  defining a chamber  21  accommodating a mobile core  22  or piston. The housing  20  defines, in the chamber  21 , a seat  23  adapted to receive in sealing abutment the head of the mobile core  22  forming the valve member. The wall of the housing  20  is perforated by at least one aperture  24  communicating with a conduit  25  for supplying pre-blowing fluid at moderate pressure, said conduit  25  passing through the body  2  substantially parallel to the bore  3 . 
     A cover  26  for closing the housing  20  of the solenoid valve is fixed to the wall of the body  2 . The control device (not shown in these figures), generally of the pneumatic type, may be mounted on this cover  26 . 
     The housing  20  of the solenoid valve cartridge  19  comprises, at its end turned radially inwards, a hole aligned with the respective aforementioned radial conduit  13 , perforated in the base of the housing  12  and opening out into the bore  3 , these two aligned holes together constituting a radial conduit denoted in its entirety by the reference numeral  31 . 
     The housing  14  which extends radially opposite the housing  12 , being diametrically opposed thereto, accommodates an identical solenoid valve cartridge, with an identical arrangement to that disclosed above, connected to a conduit  27  for supplying blowing fluid at high pressure. 
     The housing  16  ( FIG. 2B ) which extends radially by being offset by 90° relative to the aforementioned housings  12  and  14 , accommodates an identical solenoid valve cartridge, with an identical arrangement to that disclosed above, with the exception that the chamber  21  of the solenoid valve cartridge is shown (by way of example) in connection with a silencer device  28 ; the communication apertures  24  may, in this case, have a larger section and/or be of greater number. The silencer device  28  is shown in the form of a double-walled tubular element defining an elongated annular chamber. Said tubular element is fitted onto a projecting cylindrical part of the body  2  defining the housing  16 ; its external wall is perforated by a multiplicity of exhaust holes. The solenoid valve control device (not shown) may be mounted on the body  2  inside the silencer device  28  or even mounted at the free end of the silencer device. 
     The blowing device  1  is shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  in the non-functioning position, the pre-blowing solenoid valves (housing  12 ) and blowing solenoid valves (housing  14 ) being closed and the exhaust solenoid valve (housing  16 ) being open, the mobile nozzle  4  and the elongating rod  9  being retracted. In  FIG. 2C  (which is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2A ) the blowing device  1  is shown in a first position, ready for pre-blowing, but the pre-blowing solenoid valve (housing  12 ) is not yet actuated. In this first position, only the mobile nozzle  4  has been actuated and brought into position on the neck  6  of the blank  7  which it caps in a sealed manner by bearing against the flange  8 . In this position, radial apertures  29  distributed over the periphery of the mobile nozzle  4 , are exposed by the tubular guide part  18  of the guide means and establish a link between the volume defined by the blank  7  and the lower end of the mobile nozzle  4 , on the one hand, and, on the other hand, an annular counterbore  30  which is made in the face of the bore  3  and into which the conduits  31 , for communicating with the three respective solenoid valves, open. 
     In  FIG. 3  a concrete variant of the blowing device  1  of  FIGS. 2A-2C  is shown in plan view. The design of the assembly remains substantially similar to that disclosed above (the control devices  32  being shown in this case in position on the covers  26  of the solenoid valves) with the exception, however, that a supplementary solenoid valve is provided for recycling the residual pressurized fluid at the end of the blowing step, in place of the single exhaust solenoid valve shown in  FIG. 2B . To this end, the body  2  comprises two parallel housings  16   a ,  16   b , respectively connected by two respective conduits  17   a ,  17   b , no longer directly to the bore  3 , but to the radial conduits  13  and  15 , respectively, associated with the housings  12  and  14 . 
     In a very schematic manner, a further variant of a blowing device implementing the arrangements according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this  FIG. 4 , only the body  2  is shown with the bore  3 , in addition to the three housings  12 ,  14 ,  16  which communicate with the bore  3  by respective radial conduits  13 ,  15  and  17  and which are designed to accommodate the pre-blowing, blowing and exhaust solenoid valves respectively. This variant differs from that of  FIG. 1  by the arrangement of housings  12 ,  14  and  16  which are not parallel to the bore  3 , but which are transverse to said bore and also differs from those of  FIGS. 2A-2C  and  3  by the fact that the housings are not radial, but offset laterally to the bore  3 . This arrangement, as those of  FIGS. 2A-2C  and  3 , allows the height of the body  2  to be markedly reduced and maintains the bore  3  in a central position in the body. If necessary, a fourth housing may be provided for a recycling solenoid valve; nevertheless, this arrangement requires free access to be available to the four sides of the body  2 , which may not be possible in certain configurations of the device. 
     An advantage with this compact configuration lies in the fact that it may be implemented not in the body supporting the mobile nozzle  4  but directly in the bell-shaped end of a bell nozzle (type of nozzle shown in FIG. 1 of the document FR 2 764 544): the body  2  shown in  FIG. 4  is thus the body of the bell arranged according to the invention. 
     The arrangements according to the invention lead to a very marked reduction in the dead volume, and thus to a very significant reduction in the volume of pressurized fluid required for the pre-blowing/blowing of a container. For clarification, in a conventional blowing device having a dead voluume in the order of 186 cm 3 , the implementation of integrated solenoid valves in the body of the blowing device may make it possible to conceive reducing the dead volume to approximately 18 cm 3 , namely a remarkable saving of 168 cm 3 . 
     If the arrangement shown in  FIG. 2A  is considered with each solenoid valve arranged radially relative to the central bore  3 , it is possible to reduce further the dead volume constituted by the conduit  31  forming the communication through the lateral wall of the body defining the bore  3  and the end wall of the housing  20  of the solenoid valve. In  FIG. 5 , only one part (the part located on the left) of  FIG. 2A  is reproduced, showing a single solenoid valve, with the difference that the mobile core  22  is, in this case, mounted directly in the housing  14 , machined to this end, according to a configuration mentioned above. In this case, the chamfered conical edge of the front face  34  of the mobile core  22  cooperates with an annular tapered seat  33  which is formed at the end, turned towards the inside, of the housing  14 , by being machined directly in the body  2 . The conicity of the seat  33  may thus be such that the front face  34  of the piston is flush with the lateral wall of the bore  3 . This front face  34  may preferably be curved inwards so as to be within the continuity of said lateral wall of the bore  3 . The conduit  27  may thus open out as near as possible to the seat  33 , such that due to this arrangement, the dead volume downstream of the mobile core  22 , between the conduit  27  and the bore  3 , may be very significantly reduced.