DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING HOLLOW GLASS ARTICLES

Abstract

A device for manufacturing hollow glass article consists of a plurality of modular stations that, among other things, comprise blank molds and finish molds, wherein a housing (6) is provided and can be displaced along a blank mold side (3) in order to carry out at least control and servicing functions, and wherein said housing is formed by a key-like structure that is open in the direction of the blank mold side (3) and serves as a carrier for at least one manipulation element (7) consisting of multiple sections. On its free end, this manipulation element carries a tool or a device that is ready for use after it has reached the respective station. The shielding effect of the housing (6) reliably protects an operator side against accidents due to inadvertent interventions in machine motion sequences.

Claims

1. A device for manufacturing hollow glass articles, namely an IS machine, comprising at least one gutter system for supplying molten glass gobs to be formed, an arrangement of molds for carrying out the forming process along with associated peripheral mechanisms, and another arrangement for delivering ultimately formed hollow glass articles, wherein said device features a carrier system for tools, measuring systems and other devices used for control and servicing purposes, and wherein said carrier system can be moved along the machine and stopped in defined positions, characterized in that the carrier system has a structure that is open toward the machine side, but otherwise closed, and suspended on and movable along a rail-like guide (5) in a motor-driven fashion, and in that at least one manipulation element (7, 11), the free end (8, 12) of which is designed for guiding a tool, a measuring element or another device required for control and/or servicing purposes, is arranged within the carrier system, wherein the free end (8, 12) of the manipulation element (7, 11) can be moved between an active position, in which it faces the point of use on or in the machine, and an inactive position, in which it is retracted into the carrier system.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier system can be moved along a blank mold side (3) of the device.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier system forms a key-like housing (6), the walls of which are closed.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier system forms a key-like housing, the walls of which are at least partially realized in a screen-like fashion.

5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper side of the housing (6) is provided with two brackets (15, 16) that are spaced apart from one another and designed for engaging with the guide (5).

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the manipulation element (7, 11) has multiple joints.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each manipulation element carries at least one tool or device.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool is a spraying device (9) for discharging a lubricant.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool is a gripper (10) designed for taking hold of and handling machine elements.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring element is a thermometer (14).

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is a camera (13) designed for measuring and monitoring purposes.

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is an installation or handling device for carrying out machine adjustments.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tools or devices carried on the free end (8, 12) of the manipulation element (7, 11) are functionally connected to a machine control.

14. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the carrier system forms a key-like housing (6), the walls of which are closed.

15. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the carrier system forms a key-like housing, the walls of which are at least partially realized in a screen-like fashion.

16. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the upper side of the housing (6) is provided with two brackets (15, 16) that are spaced apart from one another and designed for engaging with the guide (5).

17. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the manipulation element (7, 11) has multiple joints.

18. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that each manipulation element carries at least one tool or device.

19. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tool is a spraying device (9) for discharging a lubricant.

20. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tool is a gripper (10) designed for taking hold of and handling machine elements.

Description

[0020] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In these drawings:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the blank mold side of an IS machine;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the IS machine along the viewing direction II in FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the IS machine along the viewing direction III in FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a device or tool to be controlled;

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a top view corresponding to the arrow V in FIG. 4;

[0026] FIG. 6 shows an illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of a device or tool to be controlled;

[0027] FIG. 7 shows a top view corresponding to the arrow VII in FIG. 6;

[0028] FIG. 8 shows an illustration of a third exemplary embodiment of a device or tool to be controlled;

[0029] FIG. 9 shows a top view corresponding to the arrow IX in FIG. 8;

[0030] FIG. 10 shows an illustration of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a device or tool to be controlled; and

[0031] FIG. 11 shows a top view corresponding to the arrow XI in Figure X.

[0032] In FIGS. 1-3, a glass forming machine is identified as a whole by the reference symbol 1, wherein this glass forming machine is characterized by an adjacent arrangement of numerous stations (individual sections) that have a modular design, and wherein multiple blank molds are accommodated, among other things, in these stations. FIG. 1 accordingly shows the blank mold side 3.

[0033] The stations are inserted into a machine frame 4 that stands on the floor, wherein a rail-like guide 5 horizontally extends along the blank mold side 3 of said machine frame. The guide 5 is rigidly connected to the machine frame.

[0034] A housing 6 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the guide 5 and positioned at defined locations in front of each of the stations 2, wherein said housing is open in the direction of the blank mold side 3 and otherwise closed. It may be partially realized in the form of a protective screen, but is in any case designed for forming a partition between an operator side and movable machine parts in the region of the glass forming machine. Drive elements for displacing the housing 6 along the guide 5 are not illustrated in order to provide a better overview.

[0035] The housing 6 is realized in the form of a movable carrier system for different tools and devices, wherein the following description in this respect additionally refers to the illustrations in FIGS. 4-11. It is essential that these devices and tools are held within the housing 6 and designed for carrying out certain functions in the station 2, in front of which the housing 6 is currently positioned. This means that a separation effect or protective effect for an operator side is also realized with respect to these devices and tools.

[0036] A manipulation element 7 with multiple joints is accommodated within the housing 6 and functionally connected to not-shown drives, which are respectively assigned to the different axes of motion, such that the free end 8 of each manipulation element 7 can move into any position within a defined operating range in cooperation with a likewise not-shown control, namely with an orientation that can also be controlled. The joints or axes of motion of the manipulation element 7 are designed such that the degrees of freedom required for the function of the carried tools and devices are realized.

[0037] According to FIGS. 4 and 5, the free end 8 carries a spraying device 9 such that the manipulation element 7 is designed for lubricating machine parts, e.g. a blank mold.

[0038] According to FIGS. 6 and 7, the free end 8 carries a gripper 10 such that the manipulation element 7 is designed for carrying out installation and removal functions.

[0039] According to FIGS. 8 and 9, the housing 6 additionally carries another modified manipulation element 11, on the free and 12 of which a camera 13 is held. In this way, control functions can be carried out with the aid of industrial image processing means. It is essential that the manipulation element 11 can in this case also be arbitrarily positioned within a defined operating range in cooperation with the control such that an optical control can be realized from virtually any viewing angle.

[0040] According to FIGS. 10 and 11, the free end 8 carries a thermometer 14, e.g. an IR thermometer. This provides additional control options, particularly in the region of the molds, the glass material, etc.

[0041] Each manipulation element 7, 11 can be pivoted between an inactive position, in which it is at least for the most part retracted into the housing 6, and an active position, in which the tool or device located on the respective free end 8, 12 is in operational use.

[0042] The housing 6 has a globally key-like design that is open in the direction of the blank mold side 3 and on its upper side provided with two brackets 15, 16 that are laterally spaced apart from one another and feature a lateral recess 17 designed for engaging with the guide 5.

[0043] Numerous modifications are possible, particularly with respect to the housing 6. For example, this housing may be equipped with more than two manipulation elements that, if necessary, carry different tools or devices, namely for the purpose of carrying out multiple control, measuring, servicing, installation and removal functions associated with the operation of the glass forming machine in a region that is largely shielded from an operator side.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 1. Glass forming machine [0045] 2. Station [0046] 3. Blank mold side [0047] 4. Machine frame [0048] 5. Guide [0049] 6. Housing [0050] 7. Manipulation element [0051] 8. End [0052] 9. Spraying device [0053] 10. Gripper [0054] 11. Manipulation element [0055] 12. End [0056] 13. Camera [0057] 14. Thermometer [0058] 15. Bracket [0059] 16. Bracket [0060] 17. Recess