Ecoblock for PET bottles

Combi process is divided into 7 steps:

1. Preforms feeding

First of all performs are transferred from the hopper to unscrambler where performs are lined up one by one and transfered to heating module. 

2. Preforms heating

Before entering the heating module, preforms size and position is checked, incorrect preforms are eliminated. Then the preforms start moving along the heating module where preforms constantly are turned around so as to ensure an excellent and symmetrical heat distribution. Cooling systems prevent deformation of preforms during the heating process.

3. Preform stretch blow-molding

A special rotary group of grippers picks up the preforms from the oven and sets them into the stretch-blowing stations. The stretch-blowing process includes two phases:
- stretching and pre-blowing, which occur simultaneously through the descent of the motorized stretching rod and the supply of low-pressure compressed air;
- final blowing with high-pressure compressed air, through which the containers take their final shape.

4. Bottles outlet

The finished bottles are picked from the stretch-blowing stations by another rotary group of grippers and put onto an air conveyor which finally transfers them to the filling machines.

5. Empty bottles transfer

After being manufactured by the stretch-blowing module, empty bottles are conveyed from the blower to the filler.

6. Electronic filling 

When filler detect the bottle, product is fed from a small external tank to the filling valves by means of a pump or by gravity. The filling process is electronic volumetric with magnetic flow-meters or electronic massic with mass meters based on the Coriolis' principle. A flowmeter positioned upstream of each filling valve gauges the amount of product flowing through. The flow amount is gauged by pulses-counting: upon reaching the set amount of pulses for the current format, a signal is sent to the filling valve to be closed.

7. Pick & place capping system

Full bottles are transferred to the capper by grippers. Caps are oriented in the correct position by a hopper-unscrambler standing outside the machine at an easy-access height, and are transferred to a pick & place device positioning the cap under the capping head, which moves downwards and applies the cap on the bottle.