A machine for working glass slabs includes a supporting structure, a slab grinding section having grinding heads, a conveyor assembly adapted to move the glass slab, and a slab drilling section having a conveyor adjacent to the conveyor assembly. The slab grinding section has suckers for keeping the glass slab next to a working plane spaced and/or offset with respect to the advancement plane, and a computerized numeric control assembly to perform workings on the glass slab.

This disclosure is directed to techniques for utilizing various sensors and models to evaluate glass as it progresses through the tempering process in order to ensure that the tempered glass is of a proper quality. If, according to any of the various sensor measurements, the tempered glass is not of a proper quality, the system may automatically adjust one or more settings in any of the various components of the system in order to bring future panes of tempered glass back to having the proper quality. The system can measure for any number of glass characteristics or system characteristics, including edge quality, vertical flatness, haze, washing process variables, thermal imaging, distortion, blower information, production data, and furnace process data.

This disclosure is directed to techniques for utilizing various sensors and models to evaluate glass as it progresses through the tempering process in order to ensure that the tempered glass is of a proper quality. If, according to any of the various sensor measurements, the tempered glass is not of a proper quality, the system may automatically adjust one or more settings in any of the various components of the system in order to bring future panes of tempered glass back to having the proper quality. The system can measure for any number of glass characteristics or system characteristics, including edge quality, vertical flatness, haze, washing process variables, thermal imaging, distortion, blower information, production data, and furnace process data.

A method for forming a glass sheet includes forming a glass ribbon. A robot arm is operated to move an end effector through a preprogrammed cycle. The cycle includes engaging a segment of the glass ribbon with the end effector, separating the engaged segment from the glass ribbon to generate a glass sheet, and moving the glass sheet away from the glass ribbon. The preprogrammed cycle designates predetermined positions of the end effector at predetermined points in time. While the robot arm is operating through the preprogrammed cycle, a parameter indicative of a force being exerted on the glass ribbon by the end effector is sensed. A position of the end effector is altered to differ from the predetermined position at the corresponding point in time when the sensed parameter deviates from a target value. An excessive force applied to the glass ribbon can be reduced in real-time.

A method for generating a sequence of cutting plans for cutting out a sequence P of glass pieces in a sequence F of glass sheets, the glass pieces to be stacked according to order and/or positioning requirements on one or more stands C.sub.k, includes retrieving information relating to the location and nature of faults in each of the glass sheets of the sequence F; defining an optimization criterion ; generating, implemented by computer, of one or more sequences S.sub.i of cutting plans PD.sub.ij for the glass sheets according to the location of the faults in each of the glass sheets and while satisfying the order and/or positioning requirements of the glass pieces for each stand C.sub.k; selecting, implemented by computer, of one of the sequences S.sub.i of cutting plans PD.sub.ij according to the optimization criterion .

For the monitoring of the application of a vacuum to the finished moulds (1, 2) of a glass moulding machine, in particular of an I. S. machine, an arrangement is proposed which is composed of a vacuum sensor (13, 14), which vacuum sensor is arranged in a vacuum line (5, 6) which charges the finished mould (1, 2) and which vacuum sensor is designed for pressure measurement and detects a pressure value, which pressure value is transmitted by way of a microcontroller (15, 16) of an I. S. machine controller (22) by way of which, in a manner dependent on the measured value, a hollow glass article can be identified as being defective and rejected. The arrangement permits automated monitoring of the vacuum operation and a lessening of the burden on operating personnel, and serves for the automated assurance of product quality.

A method for controlling a process for forming glass containers (2) includes the steps of extracting a so-called sample container, acquiring by means of a tomography apparatus (30) several X-ray images of the sample container from different projection angles, sending the X-ray images to a computer (38), and analyzing the X-ray images using a computer. A three-dimensional digital model of the sample container is constructed in a virtual reference frame on the basis of the X-ray images. The position of the three-dimensional digital model with respect to the position of the sample container in a mold reference frame is determined and the three-dimensional digital model is analyzed to determine at least one quality indicator (A) of the sample container.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a glass substrate, comprising steps of: cooling a glass substrate transported by a plurality of rollers rotating at a predetermined speed; predicting a crack defect rate of the glass substrate in accordance with a plurality of predictive factors related to crack defects of the glass substrate and rotational speed information of the respective rollers, in the transport process; and adjusting the rotational speed of each roller so that the crack defect rate of the glass substrate is lowered. Also provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a glass substrate, comprising a transport part for cooling a glass substrate transported by a plurality of rollers rotating at a predetermined speed, a prediction part for predicting a crack defect rate of the glass substrate through a partial least squares regression analysis, and a control part for controlling the rotation speed of each roller.

A method for forming a glass sheet includes forming a glass ribbon. A robot arm is operated to move an end effector through a preprogrammed cycle. The cycle includes engaging a segment of the glass ribbon with the end effector, separating the engaged segment from the glass ribbon to generate a glass sheet, and moving the glass sheet away from the glass ribbon. The preprogrammed cycle designates predetermined positions of the end effector at predetermined points in time. While the robot arm is operating through the preprogrammed cycle, a parameter indicative of a force being exerted on the glass ribbon by the end effector is sensed. A position of the end effector is altered to differ from the predetermined position at the corresponding point in time when the sensed parameter deviates from a target value. An excessive force applied to the glass ribbon can be reduced in real-time.

A machine (10) and a process are described, for working glass slabs (21), the machine (10) comprising: a supporting structure (11); a slab grinding section (12) comprising grinding heads (64), and a conveyor assembly (18) having dragging means (24) adapted to move the glass slab (21); a slab drilling section (14) comprising a conveyor (31) adjacent to the conveyor assembly (18); the slab grinding section (12) further comprises retaining means (45) for keeping the glass slab (21) next to a working plane (25) spaced and/or offset with respect to the advancement plane (23); and a computerized numeric control assembly (68) for perform workings on the glass slab (21).