Arrangement For Realizing The Vacuum Operation In The Moulding Process Of A Glass Moulding Machine

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An arrangement for equipping the vacuum operation for the at least one finished form (1, 2) of an I.S. machine, having a vacuum line (5, 6) supplying the finished form (1, 2), wherein the vacuum line is connected to a vacuum pump (11), characterized in that a valve (17, 18) is arranged in the course of the vacuum line (5, 6), that a vacuum sensor (13, 14) is provided for measuring the pressure in the finished form (1, 2), and that the vacuum sensor (13, 14) is operatively connected to the valve (17, 18) and an I.S. machine controller (22) via a microcontroller (15, 16).

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum sensors (13, 14) of all vacuum lines (5, 6) are connected to a common microcontroller (15, 16).

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller or each microcontroller (15, 16) is connected to the I.S. machine control (22) via a microcontroller (21) fulfilling a coupling function.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by a computer (23) which is connected to the microcontroller (15, 16) and is equipped to evaluate the pressure measurement values determined via the vacuum sensor(s) (13, 14).

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the computer (23) is equipped, on the basis of the temporal course of the detected pressure measurement values, for the recognition and at least the visual representation of fault conditions of the vacuum operation which can be defined on the user side.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is equipped, on the basis of the detected pressure measurement values, for signaling undershooting and/or overshooting of target values of the pressure.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is arranged via the valve (17, 18) to interrupt the vacuum application of the finished form (1, 2).

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16), on the basis of the detected pressure measurement values, is equipped to eject a hollow glass article recognized as faulty with the help of the I.S. machine control (22).

9. The arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the microcontroller or each microcontroller (15, 16) is connected to the I.S. machine control (22) via a microcontroller (21) fulfilling a coupling function.

10. The arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by a computer (23) which is connected to the microcontroller (15, 16) and is equipped to evaluate the pressure measurement values determined via the vacuum sensor(s) (13, 14).

11. The arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the computer (23) is equipped, on the basis of the temporal course of the detected pressure measurement values, for the recognition and at least the visual representation of fault conditions of the vacuum operation which can be defined on the user side.

12. The arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is equipped, on the basis of the detected pressure measurement values, for signaling undershooting and/or overshooting of target values of the pressure.

13. The arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is arranged via the valve (17, 18) to interrupt the vacuum application of the finished form (1, 2).

14. The arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16), on the basis of the detected pressure measurement values, is equipped to eject a hollow glass article recognized as faulty with the help of the I.S. machine control (22).

15. The arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by a computer (23) which is connected to the microcontroller (15, 16) and is equipped to evaluate the pressure measurement values determined via the vacuum sensor(s) (13, 14).

16. The arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is equipped, on the basis of the detected pressure measurement values, for signaling undershooting and/or overshooting of target values of the pressure.

17. The arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is arranged via the valve (17, 18) to interrupt the vacuum application of the finished form (1, 2).

18. The arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16), on the basis of the detected pressure measurement values, is equipped to eject a hollow glass article recognized as faulty with the help of the I.S. machine control (22).

19. The arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is equipped, on the basis of the detected pressure measurement values, for signaling undershooting and/or overshooting of target values of the pressure.

20. The arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the microcontroller (15, 16) is arranged via the valve (17, 18) to interrupt the vacuum application of the finished form (1, 2).

Description

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows by way of example an I.S. machine with 1, 2 two finished forms, on which vacuum lines are connected to their respective floor regions 3, 4. The finished forms form part of an I.S. machine, and are shown at the beginning of the final blowing, wherein a parison 7, 8 is located in each of them and is blown out by means of a blow head 9, 10. In this case, the volume of the finished form 1, 2, which is not filled by the respective parison 7, 8, is subjected to a vacuum.

[0019] Numeral 11 denotes a vacuum pump, which is connected to the vacuum lines 5, 6 of the finished forms 1, 2 via a collecting line 12.

[0020] Vacuum sensors, indicated by 13, 14, are determined and equipped for measuring the pressure in the vacuum lines 5, 6 and thus the finished forms 1, 2. They respectively generate an electrical signal representing the measured pressure, which is transmitted to a microcontroller 15, 16.

[0021] Valves, indicated by 17, 18, are arranged in the course of the vacuum lines 5, 6, which valves are respectively switchable between an open and a closed position via pilot valves 19, 20. The valves 17, 18 are configured as pressure-actuated valves, a position of which is secured by spring force. The pilot valves 19, 20 are configured as electrically actuatable valves and connected to the microcontrollers 15, 16 via signal lines 25, 26.

[0022] The microcontrollers 15, 16 fulfill several tasks. They are used in the context of the glass-forming process by controlling the respective pilot valves 19, 20 to apply vacuum to the finished forms 1, 2 or to separate them from the vacuum source, here the vacuum pump. On the output side, the microcontrollers 15, 16 are further connected to a computer 23 and via an additional microcontroller 21, which fulfills a coupling function, to an I.S. machine control 22. All control functions of the glass-forming process of the plurality of stations of the glass-forming machine are combined in the machine control 22.

[0023] A target value or a limit value of the pressure, in this case of the vacuum, can be assigned to the pressure measurement values, and the respectively shaped hollow glass article is identified as faulty and ejected as defective with its overshooting or undershooting, which signals a vacuum that is too low. In this case, a signal is issued via the microcontroller 21 to the I.S. machine control 22, via which a valve 24, which controls a (not shown) ejector, is actuated. In this case, an identification of the hollow glass article determined as defective is assumed. However, this is not to be dealt with at this point.

[0024] The pressure measurement value determined via the vacuum sensors also reaches the computer 23 via the microcontrollers 15, 16 and is here subjected to further processing, in particular in the time sequence. By way of example, in this case, a trend analysis can be arranged, namely, before an overshooting or undershooting of limit values of the measured pressure is present, which signals changes of this measured value at an early stage, which indicate a first emerging fault. In this way, the operating personnel can be given an indication to intervene in the operational sequence of the glass shaping as part of a preventive maintenance.

[0025] Corresponding to the change in the measured pressure value, acoustic or visual information can also be conveyed to the respective operating and maintenance personnel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0026] 1. Finished form

[0027] 2. Finished form

[0028] 3. Floor region

[0029] 4. Floor region

[0030] 5. Vacuum line

[0031] 6. Vacuum line

[0032] 7. Parison

[0033] 8. Parison

[0034] 9. Blow head

[0035] 10. Blow head

[0036] 11. Vacuum pump

[0037] 12. Collecting line

[0038] 13. Vacuum sensor

[0039] 14. Vacuum sensor

[0040] 15. Microcontroller

[0041] 16. Microcontroller

[0042] 17. Valve

[0043] 18. Valve

[0044] 19. Pilot valve

[0045] 20. Pilot valve

[0046] 21. Microcontroller

[0047] 22. I.S. machine control

[0048] 23. Computer

[0049] 24. Valve

[0050] 25. Signal line

[0051] 26. Signal line