The Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a plastic injection production method for a PET container wherein IML label (in mold labelling) at production stage.

Background of the Invention

Polyethylene terephthalate is a thermoplastic material for (PET, PETE, PETP) polyester. Soft drink, food and beverage containers have use areas such as synthetic fiber. Depending on thermal processing, there are amorphous (transparent) and semi-crystal (opaque and white) materials. The most important use advantage is its fully recyclable nature. Different from other plastics, polymer chains are of the status taking former form in the next uses. PET raw material defining code is described as 1. Depending on PET thickness, it can be semi- rigid(semi-solid) and rigid(solid). It is very light. It is used as a good gas and humidity barrier. It is rigid and durable against strike. Naturally it is colourless and transparent.

PET raw material is preferred because of it lower oxygen penetration in comparison to other raw materials and thus long shelf life of product wherein used, and the inside is visible due to its transparent structure. Products containing PET raw material have different label applications.

In current applications, labelling of plastic products is made manually or by help of machine after injection production. Such operations cause extra workload, carbon foot print increase in non-integrated cases, production costs increase, production waste and thereafter loss of competitiveness. In particular, labels (except IML) put onto PET container suffers from removal and breaking in cases when they do not attach to product. This causes loss, breaking and distribution in areas where product description or packages are demonstrated. In particular, since having full label and packages of exported products are condition for putting onto shelf, broken/torn labels cause return or destruction of materials.

There are a lot of studies in the related area of in-mold labelling (IML) systems in plastic products in order to prevent such problems. In-mold labelling (IML) technique is one of the most effective and fastest packaging techniques where very colourful and high quality printing advantages by single operation is used.

One example of it is patent document numbered W02009/062632 A1. It discloses a container produced by In-Mold method. On outer edge of container base connection of bigger diameter tip by following a conical shape connected to inner surface of container by means of a radial flange on front edge part of the base conically. Thus, it is aimed to allow flow of fluid plastic via radial flange cone during injection molding at the place where it holds label.

Patent document numbered DE102005037274 A2 discloses a cylinder container produced by use of in-mold method. A container of maximum 3,0 mm radius is used between a base surface of mold cavity and a shell surface.

In order to apply IML label by Pet raw material PET material must reach an optimum working temperature at 300 ºC by its technical structure. H owever, IML applications are applied for PP (polypropylene) raw material in general and PP raw material temperature level is in range of 190-200 ºC. For that reason, in case of intensio n to produce PET container by use of standard IML labels stains, burn strains and similar unacceptable faults are seen on container surface. Therefore, applications known in the related art for various plastics are inadequate for production of easy and high quality labels together with containers made from particularly PET raw material.

Although there are studies in the related art in the subject matter, they are inadequate for use in PET and in terms of effectiveness. As a result, due to above described disadvantages and inadequacy of existing solutions, it has been necessary to make development in the related art.

Purpose of the Invention

The present invention relates to a PET container production method meeting the requirements mentioned above, eliminating all disadvantages and providing some additional advantages.

Primary purpose of the invention is to prevent label shifting and appearance pollution and enhance container value by use of IML label in pet container during production. Another purpose of the invention is to develop a method eliminating problems such as label breaking, tearing, stripping by means of providing correct connection of PET container and IML label.

A further purpose of the invention is to develop a method providing prevention of additional costs such as mounting, carbon footprint, waste etc.

In order to achieve above mentioned purposes, the invention relates to a PET container production method produced by in-mold labelling comprising process steps of placing label into magazine and loading static electric by static device, inserting label loaded with static electric into injection mold by moving carrying arm and dummy movements into label, filling PET in solution form into injection mold where label is inserted, cooling and putting into mold upon cooling, taking PET container in the system comprising an injection mold providing printing of pet container, a static device providing loading of static electric in label (not shown in figures) IML label comprising at least one pet carrier, a magazine providing placement of label into mold and providing its staying stable in mold, a robot comprising moving carrying arm and dummy and label moving paths and an injection machine.

The structural and characteristics features of the invention and all advantages will be understood better in detailed descriptions with the figures given below and with reference to the figures, and therefore, the assessment should be made taking into account the said figures and detailed explanations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an illustrative view of system where method is realized

Figure 2 is a cross-section view of system wherein method is realized.

Description of References

KL-1/2

ET-1 IML label

ET-2 label inserted into mold

RB-1 Magazine

RB-2 Moving carrying arm

RB-3 Dummy Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the PET container production method of the invention has been described in a manner not forming any restrictive effect and only for purpose of better understanding of the matter.

Basically PET container production method produced by in-mold labelling (IML) in a robot comprising a robot comprising an injection mold (KL-1/2) providing printing of Pet container, a static device (not shown in figures) providing loading of static electric in label, IML label (ET-1) comprising at least one pet carrier, a magazine (RB-1) providing placement of label (ET-1) into mold (KL-1/2) and providing its staying stable in mold (RB-2) and a dummy (RB- 3) and a system comprising label (ET-1) moving paths and an injection machine (MK) comprises

• placing label into magazine (RB-1 ) and loading static electric by static device,

• inserting label (ET-1 ) loaded with static electric into injection mold (KL-1/2) by moving carrying arm (RB-2) and dummy (RB-3) movements into label (ET-1 ),

• filling PET in solution form into injection mold (KL-1/2) where label (ET-1) is inserted, cooling and opening mold (KL-1/2) after cooling, removal of PET container.

In the method of the invention, finished product is taken by help of robot after mold printing, and inserting IML label again into other part of mold and thus process is repeated. Figure 1 shows an illustrative view of system achieving the method and figure 2 is a cross-section view of the system achieving the method. Reference ET-2 shown in the figures represents form of label (ET-1) inserted into mold (KL-1/2).

The invention provides correct connection of PET container and IML label. After connection, problems such as breaking, tearing, stripping of label is eliminated. Additional costs such as mounting, carbon footprint, workmanship, waste etc. are eliminated by help of placement of label into container at the same time as container production during production. This not only reduces production cost but also eliminates problems such as after sale quality related issues and costs. In order to achieve this solution, carriers in IML label (ET-1 ) structure and stickers work correctly with pet raw material, putting IML label (ET-1) into mold by help of static electric during proper production of IML label (ET-1 ) by magazine (RB-1 ), moving carrying arm (RB-2) and dummy (RB-3) and keeping label fixed during injection production by help of the static electric is used. In the developed method IML label as a natural structure thereof maintains harmony with printed part during injection method and as soon as raw material is injected. It stick onto mold surface and places into desired area of final product. In the method of the invention label carrier is proper for pet raw material and for production at high temperature which is working temperature of PET. The method developed for it has specifically conditioned ambience and conditions. In case of omitting/changing one or more than one of process steps of the method, the intended result can not be achieved.

Application results of pet container obtained by use of the method of the invention are given in Table 1 .

Table 1