Automatic substitution of blank molds in the manufacture of hollow glass products

Abstract

A process for manufacturing a hollow glass product using an I.S. machine and a robot that can move alongside blank molds of the I.S. machine, wherein the robot is capable of replacing one or more blank molds, section after section. The I.S. machine for manufacturing hollow glass products includes a robot that can move alongside the blank molds, and the robot is capable of carrying plural tools having different functions, simultaneously and/or alternately, chosen from an electromagnet, and/or a spray tube for greasing by spraying, and/or an optical pyrometer, an infrared or equivalent viewing port, and/or a rotary abrasive tool, and/or a camera or equivalent.

Claims

1. A process for replacing a blank mold used in manufacturing a hollow glass product with an I.S. machine and a robot that can move alongside blank molds of the I.S. machine, wherein the robot is configured to replace one or more blank molds, section after section, and includes an electromagnet, the process comprising: connecting the I.S. machine to the robot via a control unit; sending defect information from the I.S. machine to the control unit regarding a presence of defects on one or more of the hollow glass products; determining that a blank mold needs to be replaced based on the defect information sent to the control unit regarding the presence of defects on one or more of the glass products; closing two half-shells of the blank mold by exerting pressure in a blank mold holder; positioning an arm of the robot carrying the electromagnet above the blank mold; lowering the arm of the robot down to the closed blank mold; activating the electromagnet; releasing the pressure on the blank mold; and then raising the blank mold slightly so as to free fitting zones; opening the blank mold holder; removing the blank mold from the mold holder; depositing the blank mold; deactivating the electromagnet; and replacing a new blank mold in the I.S. machine, wherein the robot is configured to simultaneously carry a plurality of tools having different functions, each of the plurality of tools configured to perform a process on the blank molds, wherein the plurality of tools includes a spray tube for greasing and an abrasive tool or brush which is rotated.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the robot is configured to grease one or more blank molds, section after section, or greasing by spraying one or more blank molds.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the robot is configured to measure temperatures of one or more blank molds, section after section.

4. The process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the robot carries an optical pyrometer or an infrared window.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the robot is configured to clean an impression of one or more blank molds, section after section.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the robot is configured to take images of one or more blank molds and finishing molds, section after section.

7. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the robot carries a camera linked with at least one image processing or recognition software package.

8. An I.S. machine for implementing a process for manufacturing hollow glass products as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a robot that can move alongside blank molds.

9. The I.S. machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tools further include an electromagnet, and/or an optical pyrometer, and/or an infrared window or equivalent, and/or a camera.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be illustrated by the following example, with reference to the appended FIG. 1, which is an overall schematic representation of the device for replacing a blank mold according to the invention, which is connected to interfaces useful for its operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example

(2) Referring to FIG. 1, a six-axis robot 1 carries an electromagnet 4, for replacing a single blank mold at a time, or several blank molds in succession. The robot 1 is placed alongside the blank molds 10 of an I.S. machine 20. Bottles 30 are produced on the finishing molds 40 of the I.S. machine 20.

(3) A control unit 50 connects the robot 1 to the I.S. machine 20, making it possible to control the activity sequences of the robot 1 and to adapt one or more operating cycles for the section on which the robot 1 is intervening. The control unit 50 also receives from the I.S. machine 20 information such as the presence of defects on the bottles 30 that are liable to trigger the intervention of the robot 1 on the section in question.

(4) The control unit 50 also receives information from the robot 1 itself, such as the proximity of a foreign body, causing the movement of the robot to be adapted or to stop the robot, and also causing the operation of the I.S. machine to be adapted.

(5) The control unit 50 is connected to an electrical module 60 which is itself connected to a computer 70, both being dedicated to the movements of the robot.

(6) Finally, the control unit 50 is connected to a terminal 80 via which an operator can examine, but also intervene on, the operation of the entire assembly.

(7) The six-axis robot 1 is mounted so as to move translationally on a rail 5 running alongside the blank molds of an I.S. machine (not shown). The various cables connected to the robot 1 (power supply, robot movement control, compressed-air supply, etc.) are combined on a cable-carrying chain 7 that compensates for the translational movement of the robot 1.

(8) The robot 1 is equipped with a detector 6, for detecting foreign bodies, connected to an automatic stop mechanism. Moreover, the robot arm has an automatic deceleration function that reduces the effect of any contact, for example in the event of incorrect operation of the detector 6.

(9) The robot 1 includes a motor 2 that moves it translationally.

(10) It carries an electromagnet 4 suitable for successively replacing the two blank molds of the sections of a double-parison I.S. machine. The robot 1 includes an oil reservoir 3 and a 5-bar air supply, these being intended to be connected to spray tubes (not shown), which are optionally removable, for greasing the blank molds.

(11) The activity of the electromagnet 4 will now be described.

(12) The blank mold to be replaced is closed in accordance with a special cycle of the I.S. machine. The arm of the robot 1 carrying the electromagnet 4 is positioned above the blank mold to be replaced.

(13) The arm of the robot 1 is lowered down to the still-closed blank mold by applying pressure and the electromagnet is activated.

(14) The pressure for closing the blank mold is removed.

(15) The blank mold is slightly raised, so as to free the fitting zones.

(16) The blank-mold holder is opened and then the blank mold is removed and deposited by deactivating the electromagnet.

(17) To put the new blank mold into place, the reverse operations are carried out.

(18) The other blank mold of the section can then be replaced by the same process.

(19) The replacement of a blank mold may be slaved to the detection of defects on the bottles 30, as indicated above. It is also possible to carry out the process automatically at regular time intervals or after a predetermined number of cycles of the I.S. machine.

(20) Other remedies for defects detected on the bottles are available.

(21) A first remedy consists in greasing the blank mold, especially using an oil spray tube carried by the robot, which is optionally removable, simultaneously with the electromagnet and all other tools, or alternately.

(22) A second remedy consists in cleaning the impression of the blank mold using a rotary abrasive tool, which is also optionally removably carried by the robot, simultaneously with all other tools, or alternately.

(23) In the same way, the robot is capable of carrying, in addition or alternatively, and also optionally removably: one or more temperature measurement instruments (such as an optical pyrometer); one or two cameras (one per constituent blank mold of the section) associated with at least one image processing or recognition software package in order to recognize, for example, an open position of the mold or to identify the latter (identification numbers).