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BLOW MOLDING: Detect Costly Air Leaks in Stretch-Blow Molding

From: Plastics Technology
Issue: January 2012

An upgraded version of the LeakMonitor has been introduced by Plastic Technologies, Inc.(PTI), Holland, Ohio. The device uses an ultrasonic sensor to continuously monitor reheat stretch-blow molding machines to detect costly compressed-air leaks from the machine or bottles being blown. The device “listens” for the ultrasonic signals generated by high-pressure air leaks. It listens for leaky bottles, tracks them through the machine, and triggers an eject mechanism when they reach the correct position. Leaky bottles occur mainly when recycled PET is used.

The device also monitors and graphs routine background ultrasonic noise. If that noise reaches an unacceptable level, the device can trigger an alarm. The upgraded version also displays the relative severity of air leaks and where they are located on the blowing wheel.