GB2160648A - A method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass - Google Patents
A method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2160648A GB2160648A GB08415976A GB8415976A GB2160648A GB 2160648 A GB2160648 A GB 2160648A GB 08415976 A GB08415976 A GB 08415976A GB 8415976 A GB8415976 A GB 8415976A GB 2160648 A GB2160648 A GB 2160648A
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- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- radiation
- path
- gob
- arrival
- detector
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 26
- 239000006060 molten glass Substances 0.000 title claims description 16
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 76
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000005670 electromagnetic radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000282326 Felis catus Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V8/00—Prospecting or detecting by optical means
- G01V8/10—Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers
- G01V8/12—Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers using one transmitter and one receiver
- G01V8/16—Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers using one transmitter and one receiver using optical fibres
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
Abstract
The method comprises using a radiation detector (12) to monitor radiation reaching one end of a radiation path (30) in a glassware forming machine of the individual section type. The path is defined by radiation guides (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) and is so arranged that, at each of the section 1-6 of the machine, a gob 61-66 arriving at the section crosses the path. A signal is produced indicating the arrival of a gob whenever a change in the radiation arriving at the detector indicates that a gob has crossed the path. The radiation, e.g. from transmitter 10, may be ultrasonic, radio, infra-red or optical. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
A method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass
This invention is concerned with a method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass at the sections of a glassware forming machine of the individual section type.
Glassware forming machines of the individual section type are well known and comprise a plurality of individual glassware forming units, called sections, which are arranged side by side to receive gobs of molten glass from a common source and to feed their output to a common conveyor. Each section has a parison mould arrangement at which gobs of molten glass are formed into parisons either by a pressing operation or by a blowing operation, a blow mould arrangement at which parisons are blown to the shape of the required container, transferring means for transferring parisons from the parison mould arrangement to the blow mould arrangement, and take-out means for removing completed containers from the blow mould arrangement.
A machine may comprise six, eight, or ten sections and the sections receive gobs of molten glass in sequence from a common source. Thus, in the case of a six section machine, if a cycle of operation of the machine is represented by 360 , gobs are delivered at approximately 60 intervals and the sections begin their operation at approximately 60 intervals so that, at any given time, all the sections are at different stages of their operation. The sections may receive one gob at a time or, in some circumstances, a plurality so that a plurality of articles are made simultaneously, there being a plurality of parison moulds in the parison mould arrangement and a plurality of blow moulds in the blow mould arrangement.The machine is controlled by timing means which causes the various events at each section to occur in the required sequence and synchronises the operation of the various sections. In older types of machine, the timing means comprises a timing drum carrying cams which continuously rotates so that the cams can operate valves in the required sequence. In more modern machines, the timing means is electronic and may involve one or more computers.
It has been recognised that it is desirable to provide signals indicating the arrival of the gobs of molten glass at the sections of the glassware forming machine. Such signals can be used for various purposes, for example for ascertaining the flight time of the gob from the common source to a particular section (the time varying from section to section because the distances involved are different), for synchronising the operation of the section with the actual arrival of the gob, or from the length of the signal detecting the length of the gob thereby ascertaining the size and/or viscosity of the glass gob. To this end, in some machines, each section has been provided with a gob detector for each gob which it receives simultaneously, the detector being located so that it can detect the arrival of a gob at a mould of the parison mould arrangement of the section.In this way, it is possible to provide signals indicating the arrival of the gobs. The detectors may detect infra-red radiation emitted by the gob. However, the provision of one gob detector per parison mould is expensive, particularly where a section receives a plurality of gobs simultaneously, and results in complicated wiring to the detectors some of which wiring has to be protected from the hostile environment created by the presence of the molten glass and, in some circumstances, the detectors themselves are vulnerable to damage from the molten glass.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass at the sections of a glassware forming machine of the individual section type in which a single detector can be used to provide signals indicating the arrival of gobs at any of the sections of the machine.
The invention provides a method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass at the sections of a glassware forming machine of the individual section type, the method comprising using a radiation detector to monitor radiation reaching one end of a radiation path in the machine, the path being defined by radiation guides, and being so arranged that, at each of the sections, a gob arriving at the section crosses the path, and producing a signal indicating the arrival of a gob whenever a change in the radiation arriving at the detector indicates that a gob has crossed the path.
In a method in accordance with the last preceding paragraph, a single radiation detector detects the arrival of gobs at all the sections and can be mounted at an end portion of the machine away from the hostile environment created by the presence of molten glass.
Where the sections receive a plurality of gobs simultaneously, the method may comprise using a plurality of radiation detectors, each detector being used to monitor radiation reaching one end of one of a plurality of radiation paths in the machine, the number of detectors and radiation paths being respectively equal to the number of gobs delivered simultaneously to a section, each path being defined by radiation guides and being so arranged that, at each of the sections, one of the gobs arriving at the section crosses the path, and producing a signal indicating the arrival of a gob whenever a change in the radiation arriving at any of the detectors indi cates that a gob has crossed one of the paths.
In this case, the number of detectors only equals the number of gobs delivered simultaneously rather than the number of parison moulds. For example, with a six section machine operating in the double gob mode, in which two gobs are delivered simultaneously, only two detectors are required rather than the twelve of the above-mentioned prior art construction.
The radiation detector may be arranged to detect ultrasonic or suitable electro-magnetic radiation.
The radiation may be transmitted along the or each path from an opposite end thereof to the detector so that interruptions in the arrival of radiation at the detector indicate that a gob has crossed the path. Alternatively, radiation may be transmitted along the or each path from the end thereof at which the detector monitors the radiation so that, when a gob crosses the path, radiation is reflected from the gob back along the path to the detector and arrival of radiation at the detector indicates that a gob has crossed the path. In this case, a pulse of radiation may be transmitted along the or each path at times when the arrival of a gob is expected and the time which elapses between the transmission of a pulse and detection of a reflection thereof may be calculated.This enables a distinction to be made between reflections from items which are not gobs which have crossed the path due to an undesired condition of the machine and emergency action to be taken, for example by warning an operator or automatically bringing the machine to rest.
Time corrections may be applied to the signals produced to compensate for the differing distances from the sections to the detector or detectors along the radiation path or paths.
Thus, where the radiation is transmitted from one end of a path and detected at the other, a time correction may be applied to take account of the time taken by the radiation to travel from section to section. If the sections are numbered in sequence away from the transmitter, the arrival of a gob at section 2 will be detected relatively sooner than an arrival at section 1 and a time correction representing the time taken for the radiation to travel between sections 1 and 2. Where the radiation is reflected off the gob, a compensation for the radiation travel between two sections and back is required. Suitable compensations can be applied electronically by applying stored compensations for each section in the appropriate sequence to the signals produced.
Where ultrasonic radiation is transmitted along the or each path, the radiation guides may be tubes, there being gaps between the tubes where the gobs cross the or each path and the tubes on opposite sides of each gap having their ends which face the gap aligned.
Where the radiation transmitted along the or each path is an electro-magnetic radiation in the radio waveband, the radiation guides may be wave guides, there being gaps between the guides where the gobs cross the or each path and the guides on opposite sides of each gap having their ends which face the gap aligned.
In another alternative, the or each detector may be arranged to detect electro-magnetic radiation in the infra-red or optical wavebands, given off by the gobs and arrival of radiation at any detector indicates that a gob has crossed the path. In this case, the radiation guides may be fibre-optic guides, there being gaps between the guides where the gobs cross the or each path and the guides on opposite sides of each gap having their ends which face the gap aligned.
In order to improve the safety aspects of the operation of the machine, time windows may be generated within each of which the arrival of a gob is to be expected and emergency action is taken if a signal is not produced in each time window or if a signal is produced which is not within any time window. In this way, the failure of a gob to arrive when expected can be used to initiate emergency action as can the arrival of a gob at an unexpected time. The emergency action can be activation of a warning device which informs the operator of the machine or the automatic closing down of a section or of the whole machine.
The radiation guides assist in transmitting the radiation along the path, assist in ensuring that stray radiation is not received by the detector, and can be used for bending the path around obstructions such as parts of the machine.
There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of a method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass at the sections of a glassware forming machine of the individual section type which is illustrative of the invention. It is to be understood that the illustrative method has been selected for description by way of example and not of limitation of the invention.
The drawing is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a glassware forming machine of the individual section type.
The machine shown diagrammatically in the drawing is a glassware forming machine of the individual section type which comprises six sections numbered 1 to 6 which are arranged side by side and receive gobs of molten glass in sequence, one gob at a time being delivered to each section. The sections 1 to 6 are represented by rectangles in the drawing but their construction is conventional and well-known to those skilled in the art. The machine also comprises an electronic control system (not shown) operable to provide con trol signals to the sections 1 to 6 to control the timing of events at each section. Such electronic control systems are also well-known to those skilled in the art.The machine also comprises an ultrasonic radiation transmitter
10 and an ultrasonic radiation detector 1 2 which are mounted on frame members of the machine at opposite end portions of the machine.
The ultrasonic transmitter 10 is arranged, in the operation of the machine, to continuously transmit an ultrasonic beam along a radiation path in the machine. The ultrasonic beam is transmitted into a tube 1 4 which leads to a point adjacent the parison mould arrangement of section 1. The tube 14 leads to a gap through which a gob can pass to enter the parison mould arrangement of section 1. On the opposite side of the gap to the tube 14, a tube 1 6 is arranged with one end thereof facing the gap and aligned with the end of the tube 14. The tube 1 6 leads to a point adjacent to the parison mould arrangement of section 2, there being a gap between the tube 1 6 and a tube 1 8 through which a gob can pass to enter the parison mould arrangement of section 2.The tube 1 8 and further tubes 20, 22, and 24 lead respectively to points adjacent to the parison mould arrangements of sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 and a tube 26 leads from a point adjacent the parison mould arrangement of section 6 to the detector 1 2.
The series of tubes 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 is arranged to form radiation guides and to define the radiation path along which an ultrasonic beam 30 is transmitted from the transmitter 10 to the detector 1 2. The path is so arranged that, at each of the sections 1 to 6, a gob arriving at the section crosses the path by passing through one of the gaps in the series of tubes. The tubes on opposite sides of each gap have their ends which face the gap aligned. The tubes may be bent to pass around obstructions such as parts of the machine as is shown in the case of tubes 1 6 and 22.
The machine shown in the drawing is operating with a firing order for the sections of 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2 and is shown in a condition in which section 6 is about to receive a gob.
Thus, a gob G1 is passing through the gap between the tubes 24 and 26 to enter section 6. A gob G2 is shown which will arrive at section 5 next in the operation of the machine and is approaching the gap between the tubes 22 and 24. A gob G3 will arrive at section 2 by passing through the gap between the tubes 1 6 and 18, then a gob G4 will arrive at section 1 by passing between the tubes 14 and 16, then a gob G5 will arrive at section 4 by passing through the gap between the tubes 20 and 22, and then a gob G6 will arrive at section 3 by passing through the gap between the tubes 1 8 and 20. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the gobs G1 to G6 are shown diagrammatically and that in practice the next gob is formed as a gob enters a section.The tubes 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 assist in transmitting the ultrasonic beam 30 between the transmitter
10 and the detector 1 2 and also assist in preventing interruption of the beam 30 except at the gaps between the tubes.
In the illustrative method, the detector 1 2 is used to monitor radiation reaching one end of the radiation path defined by the tubes.
Whenever a gob crosses the path, the detector 1 2 detects an interruption in the radiation passing along the path and produces a signal indicating the arrival of a gob. Thus, whenever a change in the radiation arriving at the detector 1 2 occurs, it indicates that a gob has crossed the path.
The detector 1 2 provides its signals to the electronic control system of the machine which is operable to generate time windows within each of which the interruption of the beam 30 corresponding to the arrival of a gob at a particular section is to be expected. Thus, if the cycle of operation of the machine is considered as 360 , the arrival of a gob at a section will take place at approximately 60 intervals. Thus, for example, the arrival of a gob at section 1 may be considered to occur at 0" and a time window of, for example, + 1" may be established by the electronic control system.The electronic control system is arranged to take emergency action in the event that a signal is not provided thereto by the detector 1 2 within each time window or in the event that a signal is provided which is not within any time window. If a signal is not provided in each time window, the absence of a gob can be deduced and a signal which is not within any time window indicates that something is seriously wrong with the timing of the machine. The emergency action may take the form of a audible or visible warning to an operator of the machine or may take the form of closing down the machine or any one of the sections thereof. In the condition of the machine shown in the drawing, the detector 12 is detecting gob G1 and providing a signal to the control system which will be understood by the control system as relating to section 6. The arrival of the next gob G2 will be understood by the control system as relating to the section 5 and so on. The control system is able to apply compensation to the signals it receives to allow for the varying distances between the sections and the detector 12. Thus, the arrival of gob G1 may cause no time compensation, the arrival of gob G2 may cause a compensation whose size is proportional to the distance between sections 5 and 6 along the path 30 and so on.
The ultrasonic transmitter 10 and receiver 1 2 may be piezoxyde ultrasonic disks manufactured by the Phillips Company under designation PXE 5.
Claims (11)
1. A method of providing signals indicat
ing the arrival of gobs of molten glass at the sections of a glassware forming machine of the individual section type, the method comprising using a radiation detector to monitor radiation reaching one end of a radiation path
in the machine, the path being defined by radiation guides, and being so arranged that, at each of the sections, a gob arriving at the section crosses the path, and producing a signal indicating the arrival of a gob whenever a change in the radiation arriving at the detector indicates that a gob has crossed the path.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of gobs are delivered to a section simultaneously, the method comprising using a plurality of radiation detectors, each detector being used to monitor radiation reaching one end of one of a plurality of radiation paths in the machine, the number of detectors and radiation paths being respectively equal to the number of gobs delivered simultaneously to a section, each path being defined by radiation guides and being so arranged that, at each of the sections, one of the gobs arriving at the section crosses the path, and producing a signal indicating the arrival of a gob whenever a change in the radiation arriving at any of the detectors indicates that a gob has crossed one of the paths.
3. A method according to either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein radiation is transmitted along the or each path from an opposite end thereof to the detector so that interruptions in the arrival of radiation at the detector indicate that a gob has crossed the path.
4. A method according to either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein radiation is transmitted along the or each path from the end thereof at which the detector monitors the radiation so that, when a gob crosses the path, radiation is reflected from the gob back along the path to the detector and arrival of radiation at the detector indicates that a gob has crossed the path.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a pulse of radiation is transmitted along the or each path at times when the arrival of a gob is expected and the time which elapses between the transmission of a pulse and detection of a reflection thereof is calculated.
6. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein time corrections are applied to the signals produced to compensate for the differing distances from the sections to the detector or detectors along the radiation path or paths.
7. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the radiation transmitted along the or each path is ultrasonic and the radiation guides are tubes, there being gaps between the tubes where the gobs cross the or each path and the tubes on opposite sides of each gap having their ends which face the gap aligned.
8. A method according to either one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the radiation transmitted along the or each path is an electro-magnetic radiation in the radio waveband and the radiation guides are wave guides, there being gaps between the guides where the gobs cross the or each path and the guides on opposite sides of each gap having their ends which face the gap aligned.
9. A method according to either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the or each detector is arranged to detect electro-magnetic radiation in the infra-red or optical wavebands given off by the gobs and arrival of radiation at any detector indicates that a gob has crossed the path.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the radiation guides are fibre-optic guides, there being gaps between the guides where the gobs cross the or each path and the guides on opposite sides of each gap having their ends which face the gap aligned.
11. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein time windows are generated within each of which the arrival of a gob is to be expected and emergency action is taken if a signal is not produced in each time window or if a signal is produced which is not within any time window.
1 2. A method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass at the sections of a glassware forming machine of the individual section type substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08415976A GB2160648A (en) | 1984-06-22 | 1984-06-22 | A method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08415976A GB2160648A (en) | 1984-06-22 | 1984-06-22 | A method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8415976D0 GB8415976D0 (en) | 1984-07-25 |
| GB2160648A true GB2160648A (en) | 1985-12-24 |
Family
ID=10562827
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08415976A Withdrawn GB2160648A (en) | 1984-06-22 | 1984-06-22 | A method of providing signals indicating the arrival of gobs of molten glass |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2160648A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9731991B2 (en) | 2008-10-21 | 2017-08-15 | Centrum Voor Technische Informatica B.V. | Method of filling a mould, and system for filling a mould |
-
1984
- 1984-06-22 GB GB08415976A patent/GB2160648A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9731991B2 (en) | 2008-10-21 | 2017-08-15 | Centrum Voor Technische Informatica B.V. | Method of filling a mould, and system for filling a mould |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8415976D0 (en) | 1984-07-25 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |