BLOW-FILL-SEAL INTEGRATED MACHINE
Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical machinery, and more
particular to a blow-fill-seal integrated machine5 .
Description of related art
[0002] In the field of pharmaceutical machinery, blow-fill-seal integrated machine is usually
used for molding plastic ampoules or similar bottles, filling and sealing the bottles. A
blow-fill-seal integrated machine mainly comprises a feeding system, an electric control system,
10 a fluid filtration system, a screw extrusion system, a filling system, and a forming mold
equipment. The parison head device of the screw extrusion system is located on the parison
receiving station, and the filling head device of the filling system is located on the fill-seal
station. The forming mold equipment of an existing blow-fill-seal integrated machine comprises
carriages and mold groups located on the carriages; each sets of mold group comprises a main
15 mold and a sealing mold; the carriage drives the mold group to do linear reciprocating motion
between the parison receiving station and the fill-seal station. After mold groups pick up the tube
blanks at the position of parison receiving station, carriage drives mold groups to move to the
position of fill-seal station to do the process of blow molding, potting and sealing; then, the
sealing bottle cards would be taken away by other components; the carriage drives mold groups
20 to return to the position of parison receiving station, repeating the above process.
[0003] Such kind of blow-fill-seal integrated machine has disadvantages as follows: 1. mold
groups are driven by carriage to do linear reciprocating motion, so we should offer a longer
space for the movement of carriage, increasing the manufacturing costs of the rack of the
blow-fill-seal integrated machine and the cleaning area; 2. Mold groups should return to the
25 position of parison receiving station to do the next work until they finished the periodic work
from the parison receiving station to the fill-seal station, prolonged intermittent time, low
production efficiency; if we would like to improve the production efficiency, the capacity of
mold groups can only be increased; one-time molding has much more bottle cards of bottles;
accordingly, much more filling pins of the filling head should be set; thus, the manufacturing
30 costs of mold group and filling head would be increased.
Summary of the invention
[0004] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to solve the technical problems
existed in the conventional technology. The present invention provides a blow-fill-seal integrated
machine which has a small footprint, low manufacturing costs, high production efficiency, and
35 high reliability.
3
[0005] To achieve these and other objects, the technical solution of the present invention is as
follows:.
[0006] A blow-fill-seal integrated machine comprises a rack, a parison receiving station, a
fill-seal station, and a revolving base capable of turning 180 degrees back and forth around a
rotation center; the revolving base is provided with two mold groups thereon, the two mol5 d
groups being arranged at 180-degree angles along the peripheral turning direction of the
revolving base; during the turning of the revolving base, the two mold groups move alternatively
to the parison receiving station and the fill-seal station.
[0007] The present invention is further improved with the following features:
10 [0008] Said rack of blow-fill-seal integrated machine is provided with a limiting mechanism
provided for limiting the revolving base when the revolving base turns to the two turning
extreme positions.
[0009] Said revolving base is provided with two stopper components thereon, the two stopper
components being arranged at 180-degree angles along the peripheral turning direction of the
15 revolving base; said limiting mechanism comprises a stopper part located on said rack, wherein
said stopper part is provided for limiting, matched with a stopper component.
[0010] Said revolving base is installed on the rack of the blow-fill-seal integrated machine
through a slewing ring with an external gear; or, said revolving base is installed on the rack of
the blow-fill-seal integrated machine through the combination of thrust bearing and journal
20 bearing, wherein said revolving base is provided with a driven gear; said rack is provided with a
driving gear being in mesh transmission with the external gear of the driven gear or the slewing
ring.
[0011] Each set of mold group comprises a tube blank fixture, a sealing mold and a main mold
arranged in order from top to bottom.
25 [0012] Each set of mold group comprises a sealing mold, wherein said the outside of the
revolving base is provided with a driving mechanism provided for locking and opening the
sealing mold located on fill-seal station; said sealing mold comprises two oppositely arranged
sealing semi-mold, wherein said driving mechanism comprises a sealing mold driving cylinder
provided for driving the sealing semi-mold located close to the outside of revolving base to move
30 so that the corresponding sealing mold could be locked or open .
[0013] Each set of mold group comprises a main mold, wherein said main mold comprises two
main semi-mold oppositely arranged on the revolving base and being movable around the
revolving base, and a clamping mechanism provided for driving the sealing mold to lock or open,
wherein said clamping mechanism comprises a main mold driving cylinder and two sets of
4
linkage connected to the driving end of the main mold driving cylinder, wherein said each set of
linkage is correspondingly connected to a main semi-mold.
[0014] A parison head device provided for extruding tube blanks and a hot knife device
provided for cutting off tube blanks are located above said parison receiving station and said
mold 5 d group.
[0015] A filling head device is located above said parison receiving station and said mold
group.
[0016] Pipelines and wires connected to said mold group are led out from the rotation center of
the revolving base.
10 [0017] Compared to conventional technologies, the advantageous effect of the present
invention is as follows:
[0018] The blow-fill-seal integrated machine in the present invention, two sets of mold groups
are located on the revolving base and driven by the revolving base to turn back and forth around
the rotation center, so large space for movement is not required, decreasing the manufacturing
15 costs of the rack of the blow-fill-seal integrated machine and cleaning area.
[0019] The blow-fill-seal integrated machine in the present invention, during the turning
process of revolving base, the two mold groups move alternatively to the parison receiving
station and the fill-seal station; when the number of filling pin is constant, the production
efficiency is highly improved.
20 [0020] The blow-fill-seal integrated machine in the present invention, due to the revolving base
is only capable of turning 180 degrees back and forth, instead of one-way cycle rotation,
pipelines and wires connected to said mold groups could be lead out from the rotation center of
the revolving base; rotating joint, brush or other structure are not required; high reliability.
Brief description of the drawings
25 [0021] Fig. 1 shows a front schematic view of the present invention.
[0022] Fig. 2 shows a front view of the installation structure between the revolving base and
mold group (without tube blank fixture) of the present invention.
[0023] Fig. 3 shows a top view of the installation structure between the revolving base and
mold group of the present invention.
30 [0024] Fig. 4 shows a front view of the installation structure of the revolving base according to
another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged schematic view in place A of fig. 2.
[0026] Fig. 6 shows an enlarged schematic view in place B of fig. 2.
[0027] Numbers of elements in the drawings are as follows: 1-revolving base; 11-rotation
35 center; 12-slide bar; 13-swivel plate; 14-mounting rack; 21-sealing mold; 22-sealing semi-mold;
5
23-arc channel; 24-roller; 25-sealing mold driving cylinder; 26-arc push-pull block; 27-ring
channel; 28-preventing collision notch; 31-intermediate swing link; 32-first swing link;
33-second swing link; 41-slewing ring; 42-motor part; 43-driving gear; 44-rack; 45-thrust
bearing; 46-journal bearing; 47-driven gear; 48-bearing pedestal; 51-parison receiving station;
52-fill-seal station; 53-fluid filtration system; 54-screw extrusion system; 55- filling system5 ;
56-parison head device; 57-filling head device; 58-hot knife device; 59-wire; 61-main semi-mold;
62-main mold driving cylinder; 63-expansion link; 64-third swing link ; 65-connecting rod;
67-slider; 68-slider installing seat; 69-chute; 71-stopper component; 72-stopper part; 8-guide pair;
91-tube blank fixture.
10 Detailed description of the preferred embodiment
[0028] The present invention is further described with the drawings and illustrative examples as
follows.
[0029] A blow-fill-seal integrated machine of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2,
fig. 3, comprises a loading system (Not shown in the figures), an electric control system (Not
15 shown in the figures), a fluid filtration system 53, a screw extrusion system 54, and a filling
system 55. The blow-fill-seal integrated machine is provided with a parison receiving station 51
and a fill-seal station 52; the parison head device 56 of the screw extrusion system 54 is located
on the parison receiving station 51; the filling head device 57 of the filling system 55 is located
on fill-seal station 52; the parison receiving station 51 is also provided with a hot knife device 58
20 provided for cutting tube blanks. The blow-fill-seal integrated machine also comprises a
revolving base 1 capable of turning 180 degrees back and forth; the revolving base 1 is provided
with two sets of mold groups thereon, the two mold groups being arranged at 180-degree angles
along the peripheral turning direction of the revolving base 1; the parison head device 56, the hot
knife device 58, and the filling head device 57 are located above the mold groups, the pipelines
25 and wires 59 connected to mold groups are led out from the rotation center 11 of the revolving
base 1. During the turning of the revolving base 1, the two sets of mold groups move
alternatively to the parison receiving station 51 or the fill-seal station 52, greatly improved the
production efficiency. In the present embodiment, the revolving base 1 comprises a swivel plate
13 and a mounting rack 14 fixed on the swivel plate 13; the two sets of mold groups are located
30 on the mounting rack 14.
[0030] In the present embodiment, the rack 44 of blow-fill-seal integrated machine is provided
with a limiting mechanism used for limiting the revolving base 1 when the revolving base 1 turns
to the two turning extreme positions, avoiding the over turning of the revolving base 1, thus
ensure the operational reliability.
35 [0031] In the present embodiment, the revolving base 1 is provided with two stopper
6
components 71; the two stopper components 71 are fixed on the bottom of the revolving base 1
and arranged at 180-degree angles along the peripheral turning direction of the revolving base 1;
the limiting mechanism comprises a stopper part 72 located on said rack 44, the stopper part 72
being matched with a stopper component 71 to limit the position. When the stopper part 72 is
matched with any of the stopper components 71, the two sets of mold groups are respectivel5 y
located on the parison receiving station 51 and the fill-seal station 52.
[0032] In the present embodiment, the revolving base 1 is installed on the rack 44 of the
blow-fill-seal integrated machine through a slewing ring 41 provided with an external gear; the
rack 44 is provided with a driving gear 43 being in mesh transmission with the external gear of
10 the slewing ring 41; the driving gear 43 is driven by motor part 42 to rotate. As shown in fig. 4,
in the other embodiment, the revolving base 1 is installed on the rack 44 of the blow-fill-seal
integrated machine through the combination of thrust bearing 45 and journal bearing 46; a
bearing pedestal 48 provided for installing the thrust bearing 45 and the journal bearing 46 is
fixed on the rack 44; the revolving base 1 is provided with a driven gear 47 being in mesh
15 transmission with the driving gear 43.
[0033] In the present embodiment, each set of mold group comprises a tube blank fixture 91, a
sealing mold 21 and a main mold arranged in order from top to bottom. The outside of the
revolving base 1 is provided with a driving mechanism provided for locking and opening the
sealing mold 21 located on the fill-seal station 52.
20 [0034] In the present embodiment, each sealing mold 21 comprises two oppositely arranged
sealing semi-molds 22; the two sealing semi-molds 22 are radial-arrayed along the turning
circumference of the revolving base 1. The driving mechanism comprises a sealing mold driving
cylinder 25; when the sealing mold 21 driven by the revolving base 1 moves to the position of
fill-seal station 52, the sealing mold driving cylinder 25 could be connected with the sealing
25 semi-mold 22, located close to the outside of the revolving base 1,of the sealing mold 21,and
could push or pull the sealing semi-mold 22 to move in the radial direction along the turning
circle of the revolving base 1, realizing the locking or opening of the sealing mold 21.
[0035] In the present embodiment, the sealing semi-mold 22 located close to the outside of
revolving base 1 is provided with an arc channel 23; the guide track of the arc channel 23 and the
30 guide track of the revolving base 1 are coaxial. The driven end of the sealing mold driving
cylinder 25 is provided with an arc push-pull block 26; the arc push-pull block 26 is sliding fit
with the arc channel 23, accompanying with turning of the revolving base 1. When the arc
push-pull block 26 is sliding fit with the arc channel 23, corresponding sealing semi-mold 22 is
connected with the sealing mold driving cylinder 25 and driven by the sealing mold driving
35 cylinder 25 to move. In order to make the arc push-pull block 26 could impose thrust and tension
7
on the sealing semi-mold 22, in the arc channel 23, the arc channel 23 should limit the movement
of the arc push-pull block 26 along the expansion direction of the sealing mold driving cylinder
25 in the arc channel 23, so the notch of the arc channel 23 should be set upwards or downwards.
(Downwards in the present embodiment)
[0036] In the present embodiment, a ring channel 27 being coaxial with turning circle of 5 the
revolving base 1 is located above the sealing mold 21; for each sealing mold 21, a roller 24
provided for rolling matched with the ring channel 27 is located on the sealing semi-mold 22
located close to the outside of the revolving base 1; when the roller 24 is rolling matched with
the ring channel 27, the status of corresponding sealing mold 21 is open; the ring channel 27 is
10 provided with a preventing collision notch 28 provided for the roller 24 getting out of the ring
channel 27, when the status of the sealing mold 21 is locked.
[0037] As shown in fig.2 and fig.6, when the sealing mold 21 is located on the position of the
fill-seal station 52, the arc channel 23 of the sealing mold 21 is matched with the arc push-pull
block 26; the roller 24 of the sealing mold 21 is exactly aimed at the preventing collision notch
15 28 of the ring channel 27; at that moment, in the sealing mold 21, the sealing semi-mold 22
located close to the outside of the revolving base 1 could move, driven by the sealing mold
driving cylinder 25, realizing the opening and locking of the sealing mold 21.
[0038] As shown in fig. 2 and fig. 5, when the sealing mold 21 is get away from the position of
the fill-seal station 52, the arc channel 23 of the sealing mold 21 is separate from the arc
20 push-pull block 26; the roller 24 of the sealing mold 21 is located in the ring channel 27, and the
status of the sealing mold 21 is open.
[0039] As shown in fig.3, in the present embodiment, the two sealing semi-molds 22 of each
sealing mold 21 are connected with each other through a linkage; while the sealing semi-mold 22
located close to the outside of the revolving base 1 is moving, driven by the sealing mold driving
25 cylinder 25, the other sealing semi-mold 22 is simultaneously moving in the opposite direction
through the linkage. In other words, the two sealing semi-molds 22 are moving synchronously
close to each other or away from each other through the linkage, thus realizing the locking and
opening of the sealing mold 21; the two sealing semi-molds 22 are moving in tandem through
the linkage, so it is easy to ensure the opening accuracy and closing accuracy of the sealing mold
30 21 and it is easy to debug.
[0040] In the present embodiment, the linkage comprises two sets of swing link groups; the two
sets of swing link groups are symmetrically located on the two ends of sealing semi-mold 22;
each set of swing link groups comprises an intermediate swing link 31, a first swing link 32 and
a second swing link 33. In each swing link group, the middle of the intermediate swing link 31 is
35 articulated with the revolving base 1; one end of intermediate swing link 31 is articulated with
8
one end of the first swing link 32, and the other end of intermediate swing link 31 is connected
with the sealing semi-mold 22 located close to the outside of the revolving base 1 through the
second swing link 33 (One end of the second swing link 33 is articulated with the intermediate
swing link 31, and the other end of the second swing link 33 is articulated with the sealing
semi-mold 22 located close to the outside of the revolving base 1 ); the other end of the fir5 st
swing link 32 is articulated with the other sealing semi-mold 22. Of course, in the other
embodiment, in order to realize the two sealing semi-molds 22 are moving synchronously to get
close to each other or away from each other, the linkage could be other formal combination of
multi members.
10 [0041] When the intermediate swing link 31 is swinging, the trajectory of one end of the
intermediate swing link 31 is an arc, and the trajectories of the two sealing semi-molds 22 are
straight line; due to the second swing link 33 is articulated there between, the straight line
movements of the two sealing semi-molds 22 could translate the trajectory of the intermediate
swing link 31 into arc movement successfully.
15 [0042] As shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the two sealing semi-molds 22
of the sealing mold 21 are located on a guide pair 8 arranged along the expansion direction of the
sealing mold driving cylinder 25, and are installed on the locked mold of the main semi-mold 61,
along with the guideway of the guide pair 8 corresponding to the sealing semi-mold 22 located
close to the outside of the revolving base 1.
20 [0043] As shown in fig. 2, in the present embodiment, the main mold comprises two main
semi-molds 61 oppositely located on the revolving base 1 and being movable on the revolving
base 1, and a clamping mechanism provided for driving two main semi-molds 61 to open and
lock. In the present embodiment, the two main semi-molds 61 are sliding located on the slide bar
12 of the revolving base 1; the slide bar 12 is arranged horizontally. The clamping mechanism
25 comprises a main mold driving cylinder 62 and two sets of connecting rod groups connected
with the driving end of the main mold driving cylinder 62; the expansion direction of the main
mold driving cylinder 62 is perpendicular to the opening and locking direction of the main
semi-molds 61; in the present embodiment, the main mold driving cylinder 62 is a servo cylinder
or servo electric cylinder or servo hydraulic cylinder. The two sets of connecting rod groups are
30 symmetrically arranged along the expansion direction of the main mold driving cylinder 62;
when the main mold driving cylinder 62 is working, the trajectories of the two sets of connecting
rod groups are symmetry, thus driving the two main semi-molds 61 to move synchronously close
to each other or away from each other, realizing the process of spotting and opening mould.
[0044] In the present embodiment, each set of connecting rod group comprises a third swing
35 link 64 and connecting rod 65; in each connecting rod group, the middle of the third swing link
9
64 is articulated with the revolving base 1; one end of the third swing link 64 is articulated with
one end of the connecting rod 65; the other end of the third swing link 64 is connected with
corresponding main semi-mold 61, and could drive the main semi-mold 61 to move along the
slide bar 12; the other end of the connecting rod 65 is articulated with the driving end of the main
mold driving cylinder 62(That is expansion link 63); the driving end of the main mold drivin5 g
cylinder 62 is provided with a carrier block provided for articulating with the connecting rod 65.
The power of the main mold driving cylinder 62 is being transmitted to the main semi-mold 61
through the interactions of the expansion link 63 and the connecting rod 65. In the other
embodiment, the connecting rod groups could be other formal combination of multi members.
10 [0045] In the present embodiment, the other end of the swing link is connected to the
corresponding main semi-mold 61 through the slider 67; the third swing link 64 is articulated
with the slider 67; the corresponding main semi-mold 61 is provided with a chute 69 provided
for the installation of the slider 67 and being available for the sliding of the slider 67 along the
direction perpendicular to the opening and locking direction of the main semi-mold 61. In the
15 present embodiment, the outside of the main semi-mold 61 is fixed with a slider installing seat
68; a chute 69 is located between the slider installing seat 68 and the main semi-mold 61. When
the third swing link 64 is moving, the movement trajectories of the end of the third swing link 64
is arc; through the above mentioned arrangement, then the arc movement trajectories of the end
of the third swing link 64 could be divided into the straight line movement trajectories of the
20 slider 67 and the main semi-mold 61. In the other embodiment, between the third swing link 64
and the main semi-mold 61, there is articulated with a connecting rod, realizing the mentioned
purpose as well.
[0046] In the present embodiment, the main mold driving cylinder 62 is vertically arranged
below the two main semi-molds 61, and fixed on the revolving base 1 with its flange; the third
25 swing link 64 and the connecting rod 65 are located on the vertical plane. Such settings could
decrease more space occupation of the whole main mold in the horizontal direction. As for the
blow-fill-seal integrated machine, the overall length of the integrated machine is correspondingly
reduced, cutting down the manufacturing costs of the rack 44 and the cleaning area.
[0047] The working process of main mold is as follows: when spotting, the expansion link 63
30 of the main mold driving cylinder 62 is stretched out, and drives two lower ends of the third
swing link 64 to deviate from each other through two connecting rods 65; the two upper ends of
the third swing link 64 are moving closer to each other; then, the two sliders 67 drives the two
main semi-molds 61 to get close to each other; spotting is done. When parting, the expansion
link 63 of the main mold driving cylinder 62 is retracted, and drives the two lower ends of the
35 third swing link 64 to get close to each other respectively through the two connecting rods 65;
10
the two upper ends of the third swing link 64 are moving deviate from each other; then, the two
sliders 67 drives the two main semi-molds 61 to move deviate from each other; parting is done.
[0048] The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the scope of
the present invention are not limited by the above embodiments; therefore, all of the technical
solutions within the spirit of the present invention should be included within the scope of 5 the
present invention. It should be pointed out that this invention includes all modifications
encompassed within the spirit and the scope of the present invention; for one skilled in the art.

WE CLAIM:
1.A blow-fill-seal integrated machine, comprising a rack (44), a parison receiving station
(51), a fill-seal station (52), and a revolving base (1) capable of turning 180 degrees back and
forth around a rotation center (11); the revolving base (1) is provided with two mold groups
thereon, the two mold groups being arranged at 180-degree angles along the peripheral turnin5 g
direction of the revolving base (1); during the turning of the revolving base (1), the two mold
groups move alternatively to the parison receiving station (51) and the fill-seal station (52).
2. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1, wherein said rack (44) is
provided with a limiting mechanism provided for limiting the revolving base (1) when the
10 revolving base (1) turns to the two turning extreme positions.
3. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 2, said revolving base (1) is
provided with two stopper components (71) thereon, the two stopper components (71) being
arranged at 180-degree angles along the peripheral turning direction of the revolving base (1);
said limiting mechanism comprises a stopper part (72) located on said rack (44), wherein said
15 stopper part (72) is provided for limiting matched with a stopper component (71).
4. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, said
revolving base (1) is installed on the rack (44) of the blow-fill-seal integrated machine through a
slewing ring (41) with an external gear; or, said revolving base (1) is installed on the rack (44) of
the blow-fill-seal integrated machine through the combination of thrust bearing (45) and journal
20 bearing (46), wherein said revolving base (1) is provided with a driven gear (47); said rack (44)
is provided with a driving gear (43) being in mesh transmission with the external gear of the
driven gear (47) or the slewing ring (41) .
5. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, each set of
mold group comprises a tube blank fixture (91), a sealing mold (21) and a main mold arranged in
25 order from top to bottom.
6. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, each set of
mold group comprises a sealing mold (21), wherein said the outside of the revolving base (1) is
provided with a driving mechanism provided for locking and opening the sealing mold (21)
located on fill-seal station (52); said sealing mold (21) comprises two oppositely arranged
30 sealing semi-mold (22), wherein said driving mechanism comprises a sealing mold driving
cylinder (25) provided for driving the sealing semi-mold (22) located close to the outside of the
12
revolving base (1) to move, so that the corresponding sealing mold (21) could be open or locked.
7. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, each set of
mold group comprises a main mold, wherein said main mold comprises two main semi-mold (61)
oppositely arranged on the revolving base (1) and being movable around the revolving base (1),
and a clamping mechanism provided for driving the sealing mold (21) to open or lock, wherei5 n
said clamping mechanism comprises a main mold driving cylinder (62) and two sets of linkage
connected to the driving end of the main mold driving cylinder (62),wherein said each set of
linkage is correspondingly connected to a main semi-mold (61).
8. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, a parison
10 head device (56) provided for extruding tube blanks and a hot knife device (58) provided for
cutting off tube blanks are located above said parison receiving station (51) and said mold group.
9. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, a filling
head device (57) is located above said parison receiving station (51) and said mold group.
10. A blow-fill-seal integrated machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, pipelines
15 and wires (59) connected to said mold group are led out from the rotation center (11) of the
revolving base (1).