Apparatus and method for heating plastic preforms with spatially resolved temperature detection
An apparatus for heating plastic preforms, having a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path, having at least one heating element which is arranged along the transport path of the plastic preforms in order to heat the plastic preforms during their transport, wherein the apparatus has a temperature detection device which is configured to detect a temperature of the plastic preforms in a spatially resolved manner.
1 . An apparatus for heating plastic preforms, having a transport device which transports the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path, having at least one heating element which is arranged along the transport path of the plastic preforms configured to heat the plastic preforms during their transport,
wherein the apparatus has a first temperature detection device configured for detecting a temperature of the plastic preforms in a spatially resolved manner, wherein the apparatus is adapted to also detect an integral temperature of the heated plastic preforms and to determine when the integral temperature of certain plastic preforms deviates from a target temperature, wherein
not only the fact that a temperature deviation exists is detected, but also a location of the temperature deviation so that a subsequent blow moulding process is adapted to adjusting for the temperature deviation and the corresponding plastic preform is blown with different blowing parameters, wherein in the case of a deviation of the integral temperature, the plastic preform is marked with a shift register, together with information about the amount of deviation compared to a reference, so that the temperature profile of the plastic preforms is used to make a prediction about the container to be produced in the future.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first temperature detection device has at least one infrared image recording device configured to record a spatially resolved image of the plastic preforms.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first temperature detection device is arranged in a stationary manner.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first temperature detection device is arranged along the transport path of the plastic preforms after a first group of heating devices and before a second group of heating devices.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device has a circumferential transport device configured to transport the plastic preforms along two straight transport sections and a curved transport section lying in between, and the first temperature detection device is arranged in a region of the curved transport section.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first temperature detection device is configured to detect the temperature of the plastic preforms along their substantially complete circumferential surface and/or length.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured for identifying and/or characterising certain plastic preforms in response to a detected temperature, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a control device and/or regulating device configured to adjust a forming process for these plastic preforms.
8 . The apparatus according claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element is configured to additionally heat individual areas of the plastic preforms locally or individual plastic preforms in their entirety.
9 . The apparatus according claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to make an adjustment in response to a measured absorption behavior and a measured temperature of the plastic preforms.
10 . A method for heating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic preforms are transported along a predetermined transport path by a transport device and are heated during their transport by at least one heating element which is arranged along the transport path of the plastic preforms, wherein the step of detecting a temperature of the plastic preforms in a spatially resolved manner is detected by a first temperature detection device, wherein an integral temperature of the heated plastic preforms is detected and a deviation of the integral temperature of certain plastic preforms from a target temperature is determined, wherein
not only the fact that a temperature deviation exists is detected but also a location of the temperature deviation, so that a subsequent blow moulding process is adapted to adjusting for the temperature deviation and the corresponding plastic preform is blown with different blowing parameters, wherein in the case of a deviation of the integral temperature, the plastic preform is marked with a shift register, together with information about the amount of deviation compared to a reference, so that the temperature profile of the plastic preforms is used to make a prediction about the container to be produced in the future.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein a heating of individual preforms or individual groups of preforms is adjusted.