Methods for a production plant, system and production plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing a conveying speed profile for a drive unit (136) of a conveyor belt (130) of a production plant (1), wherein the production plant comprises an IS machine (100) for manufacturing glass containers (B) and the conveyor belt (130) for conveying the glass containers (B), wherein glass containers (B) are placed on the conveyor belt (130) and / or the conveyor belt (130) conveys glass containers (B), wherein position data of the glass containers (B) on the conveyor belt (130) are recorded, wherein a belt elongation is determined based on the position data, wherein the belt elongation relates to individual belt segments (132, 133, 134) of the conveyor belt (130), and wherein the conveying speed profile for the conveyor belt (130) is provided based on the belt elongation. In this way, it is possible to increase the operating speed, reduce rejects, and improve monitoring capabilities.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for a production plant, wherein the production plant comprises an IS machine for producing glass containers and a conveyor belt with a drive device for conveying the glass containers. The invention further relates to a system for carrying out the method and a production plant comprising an IS machine, a system, and a conveyor belt.

[0002] IS machines for the production of glass containers have been known for decades. The typical function of an IS machine is as follows: Glass is melted in a tank. It is fed through a trough (feeder channel). At the end of the feeder channel is a glass outlet (spout). The glass is homogenized in the spout using an agitator or a rotating tube. The tube also serves to meter the glass output. A plunger presses the glass out of the spout. As the plunger retracts, a portioned glass gob (drop) is cut off by scissors.

[0003] Using a gob distributor, the glass gobs are fed to the individual sections via metal chutes. Container forming in an IS machine is a two-stage forming process. In a first step, a preform is pressed or blown. In a second step, the preform is blown into the final container shape. In both process steps, the preform and container are continuously cooled. Once thermal stability is achieved, the container is removed from the mold and placed on a settling plate. There, it continues to cool to prevent reheating and further deformation of the container.

[0004] From the settling plates of the IS machine, the containers are transported to a lehr. First, the containers are pushed from the settling plate onto a machine belt by a pusher. A light barrier and an ejector are installed on the machine belt. The ejector removes containers, lube containers, or other defective containers from the transport after a section has started. The machine belt then passes through a tempering tunnel where the containers receive a coating that reduces their sensitivity to scratches. The containers are then usually guided to a deflection corner. This changes the transport direction by 90° and reduces the container spacing. A cross belt in front of the lehr entrance transports the containers for insertion into the lehr. This process is handled by a pusher that pushes the containers into the lehr in rows, matching the width of the lehr.

[0005] Once the glass containers have been completely formed, they are removed from the finished molds by a removal device, usually to be conveyed to a settling plate on which they are cooled and from which they are pushed onto the machine belt. Such a conventional removal device is known. The known removal device is intended, for example, for use with a double-gob machine which comprises two removal tongs, a support for the removal tongs and a mechanism arranged to move the support in order to move the tongs back and forth between a pick-up position in which the tongs can pick up formed glass articles from the machine's molds, and a set-down position in which the tongs can deposit the glass articles, for example at a cooling station.

[0006] When using such a removal device, the required spacing of the removal tongs is determined by the spacing of the finished molds. Thus, without further measures, the spacing of the finished molds would also determine the spacing of the glass containers on the settling plate. Conventional ejection mechanisms that push the glass containers from the settling plate onto a conveyor belt can vary the spacing of the glass containers on the conveyor belt from the spacing on the settling plate by appropriately spacing the ejection fingers, but the extent to which this is possible is severely limited by the size and spacing of the glass containers and the need to position the fingers between the glass containers. This limitation is even greater on a three- or four-gob machine than on a double-gob machine.Even if an attempt is made to change the distance, at least one of the ejection fingers will inevitably move relatively quickly when it touches the corresponding glass container, which poses the risk of damaging the glass container.

[0007] With the increasing use of multi-gob machines and efforts to increase the operating speed of IS machines, it is also necessary to increase conveyor speeds. However, it is also a goal to adjust the conveyor speed so that economic aspects are taken into account and problems with instability of the glass containers on the conveyor belt do not arise with increasing conveyor speeds. For this reason, the general aim is to achieve a distance between the glass containers on the machine belt that is smaller than the distance between the finished molds. A smaller distance between the glass containers on the machine belt means that a lower conveyor speed can be selected for the machine belt, which is conducive to stable and trouble-free transport of the glass containers.

[0008] In a drive device with at least one drive element that can be driven to move, during whose movement distance increments can be generated and evaluated by at least one encoder, according to DE 10 2010 043 057 A1, a distance calibration device is provided for the drive element that computationally compensates for any operational elongation of the conveyor element. According to the method, any elongation that occurs during operation is measured continuously and / or periodically, either automatically and / or operator-guided, based on the distance increments and transit signals from markings provided on the drive element, and, if necessary, computationally compensated when determining the position or distance of the drive element.

[0009] DE 102 45 323 B4 describes a method and a device for determining the speed of a chain link belt. The key feature is that the belt is moved along a first and a second sensor, which are fixedly arranged laterally along the belt at a predetermined distance from one another and are designed to produce a signal that exhibits a typical temporal dependence on irregularities in the distance of the individual chain links from one of the sensors. By determining a signal section originating from the first sensor and a signal section originating from the second sensor, which have the same relative amplitude structure, a time difference between the two signal sections can be determined, and from this, together with the known distance between the two sensors, the speed of the belt can be determined. This can also be used to determine belt elongation.

[0010] CN 1 10 814 045 A describes an automatic positioning control method for a hot-rolled, coiling chain. The method comprises the following steps: measuring the actual length of each sub-chain of the chain; calculating and determining the average stretched length of each sub-chain of the chain according to the actual length and the standard length of each sub-chain of the chain; calculating and determining a relative position change value of the chain according to the average stretched length and an actual displacement value of a single operation of the chain, which is detected by a displacement measuring device installed on the chain; calculating and determining the position deviation of the chain according to the relative position change value and the displacement reference of the chain control system;Calculating and determining an adaptive proportional position reference of a proportional controller according to the position deviation and the proportional coefficient of the proportional controller in the chain control system, and adjusting the automatic control program of the chain control system based on the adaptive proportional position reference. According to the control method, even when the chain is mechanically stretched, accurate positioning of a positioning saddle on the chain can still be achieved.

[0011] DE 20 2008 011 454 U1 describes a device for forming product groups from a flow of a plurality of identical piece goods fed via conveyor devices, with a feed track and dividing elements which engage in the product flow transversely to the transport plane on at least one pair of driven, endlessly rotating flexible drive elements, wherein at least one cross member is arranged on each of these pairs of flexible drive elements, on which dividing elements are held, wherein at least three pairs of flexible drive elements are provided within a device, wherein each of these pairs can be operated with its own speed profile.

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide solutions in connection with IS machines in order to increase the working speed, reduce waste and improve the monitoring possibilities.

[0013] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

[0014] According to the invention, a method is thus provided for providing a conveyor speed profile for a drive device of a conveyor belt of a production plant, wherein the production plant has an IS machine for producing glass containers and the conveyor belt for conveying the glass containers, wherein glass containers are placed on the conveyor belt and / or the conveyor belt conveys glass containers away, wherein position data of the glass containers on the conveyor belt are recorded, wherein a belt elongation is determined on the basis of the position data and wherein the belt elongation relates to individual belt segments of the conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor speed profile for the conveyor belt is provided on the basis of the belt elongation.

[0015] In other words, the method mentioned at the outset for solving the problem is directed towards providing a conveying speed profile for the conveyor belt, for example in order to specifically adapt the conveyor belt to the elongation of the conveyor belt by varying the conveying speed in sections. The conveying speed profile includes, in particular, the course of the conveying speed to be set in relation to the entire length of the conveyor belt in order to convey the glass containers at approximately the same distances despite, for example, a belt elongation due to wear. Belt elongation is preferably determined by glass containers being conveyed away by means of the conveyor belt, in particular at a constant conveying speed, and by these glass containers being evaluated with regard to their position relative to one another and / or to the conveyor belt.According to the proposal, the belt elongation refers to individual sections of the conveyor belt so that a conveyor speed profile can be derived that specifies a speed compensation when conveying the glass containers according to the section-by-section elongation.

[0016] Within the scope of the invention, it was recognized that a conveyor belt does not elongate evenly over time during operation due to wear, so that "long" and "short" belt segments are located one behind the other. In tandem machines or IS machines in a tandem arrangement, the conveyor belt consists in particular of two sections, so that wear can vary between them. In particular, the effective conveying speed changes for each section or belt segment of the conveyor belt, since the sections are longer or shorter than the theoretically assumed size. As a result, the glass containers may no longer be at the same distance from one another. Within the scope of the invention, it was also recognized that adapting the conveying speed to the uneven belt elongation can be implemented very easily by monitoring the conveyor belt during operation with conveyed glass containers with regard to the position data of the glass containers.This results in the section-wise belt elongation, from which a conveyor speed profile for the conveyor belt can be derived.

[0017] The conveyor belt can be a machine belt or a cross belt.

[0018] The invention advantageously enables the provision of a conveyor speed profile suitable for compensating for wear-related and / or production-related belt elongation. The conveyor speed profile can advantageously be sent to or received from the conveyor belt drive system as a new movement profile, allowing the belt to be operated at an adjusted conveyor speed. In particular, at least theoretically, this results in an approximately uniform glass container spacing across the entire conveyor belt and a uniform infeed, for example, into a deflection corner or toward the annealing furnace.

[0019] By compensating for the conveyor belt's elongation, the start times of a pusher device, for example, leading to a lehr, can be controlled automatically. In particular, pusher start times can be controlled automatically to enable more reliable pushing from the machine belt to the cross belt or from the cross belt to the lehr using a pusher or pusher device.

[0020] The invention also makes it possible to provide information on belt elongation. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the wear and tear of the conveyor belt. This makes it easy to determine whether any action is required regarding the wear and tear of the conveyor belt.

[0021] In particular, the conveyor speed profile is understood to be a curve of the target speed and / or the rotational speed of the drive device, wherein the curve preferably relates to the entire length of the conveyor belt or a complete belt revolution. The conveyor speed profile is thus repeated for each cycle of a conveyor belt revolution or a complete belt revolution. The conveyor speed profile is preferably provided based on position data acquired at a constant conveyor speed throughout the entire process.

[0022] A conveyor belt within the meaning of the present disclosure preferably comprises an endless belt, particularly for the linear and / or horizontal conveyance of glass containers. The endless belt runs, for example, in one direction on the top side and in the opposite direction on the bottom side. The conveyor belt can be partially or completely horizontally oriented, with an ascending or descending conveyance. The conveyor belt or the endless belt preferably comprises a heat-resistant material for supporting the hot glass containers.

[0023] The conveyor belt is preferably composed of belt segments that are interconnected or secured to one another in the circumferential direction of the conveyor belt. The belt segments can be rigid or flexible. The belt segments can be pivotally interconnected, for example, like the links of a bicycle chain. For example, at least or at most one section of a glass container can be accommodated on one belt segment, with all sections of a glass container or the entire glass container being accommodated, in particular, on several consecutive belt segments, for example four or more. A section of the glass container should be understood to mean, in particular, a segment or part of the glass container that is monolithically connected to at least one other section / segment / part.

[0024] Belt segments can be provided as conveyor segments for conveying the glass containers. Conveyor segments are preferably not directly driven.

[0025] Belt segments can be provided as connecting and / or drive segments, which serve to connect two other belt segments, in particular two conveyor segments, and which, like the conveyor segments, serve to convey glass containers. Connecting and / or drive segments preferably have one or more engagement options, which are oriented away from the glass containers and are provided for engagement by or in a drive wheel. The engagement option is preferably a projection that can be gripped by a toothed drive wheel. Connecting and / or drive segments are preferably directly driven.

[0026] In principle, all sections of the conveyor belt can be considered belt segments, provided that each section has an individual elongation. Individual belt segments do not necessarily have to be individually separable components of the conveyor belt. In principle, a single-piece or monolithic conveyor belt can also be considered as having belt segments with different elongations. These belt segments then merge into one another virtually "seamlessly."

[0027] The drive device of the conveyor belt preferably comprises a drive motor and a motor controller for the drive motor. The motor controller can control the drive motor based on the conveyor speed profile in order to compensate for the belt elongation in sections or segments. The drive device preferably comprises at least one drive wheel designed to engage the belt segments or conveyor segments.

[0028] Position data refers, in particular, to movement and / or location information relating to the glass containers, for example, in the form of computer-processable data or information. The position data may, for example, contain information, directly or indirectly—that is, openly disclosed or still to be derived by processing the position data—about where the glass containers are positioned on the conveyor belt or belt segment, on which belt segment they are positioned, their distance from the next glass container, their speed, and / or whether the glass container is upright and / or damaged.

[0029] Belt elongation refers, in particular, to a wear- and / or tolerance-related deviation in the length of individual and / or all belt segments from a target length. Normally, the conveyor belt becomes longer during operation due to wear, and this occurs unevenly across its length. However, it is also conceivable that belt elongation refers to tolerance- or manufacturing-related elongations or deviations from the target length. In particular, belt elongation is a parameter set inherent to the conveyor belt that is preferably continuously recorded. In principle, it can be assumed that belt elongation increases over the service life of a conveyor belt.

[0030] Advantageously, at least one section of an individual glass container is placed and / or removed for each belt segment or for each two adjacent belt segments. For example, the glass containers are pushed onto the conveyor belt, with each belt segment or each pair of belt segments being designed to remove a section of the pushed-in glass containers. Two adjacent belt segments can form a pitch or spacing in the range between 5 and 25 mm, in particular of 12.7 mm ± 2 mm, in a circumferential direction of the conveyor belt. In practice, it is particularly preferred that several adjacent belt segments can remove an entire glass container, with each of these belt segments being able to carry a corresponding section. For example, two adjacent belt segments form a pitch or spacing along the circumferential direction of half an inch, i.e., corresponding to half of 2.54 cm or approximately 12.7 mm.A glass container can extend over several pitches (e.g., at least two, three, or four), depending on its size or its diameter on the belt segments. This is particularly useful for generating highly reliable positioning data or information for providing belt elongation. It also allows for flexible handling of a wide variety of glass containers.

[0031] Preferably, provision is made for temporal and / or spatial distances between conveyed glass containers to be determined on the basis of the position data. For example, during conveyance of the glass containers, the temporal or spatial distance between the glass containers is measured. It is particularly advantageous to use a clock generator, such as a light barrier, to provide the position data or distances. The position data can be evaluated with a view to the distance between the successive glass containers. The method is preferably further developed in that the conveying speed profile is provided on the basis of the distances. The conveying speed profile can be derived particularly expediently using both the temporal and the spatial distances.

[0032] The distances between glass containers are particularly preferably recorded as time differences between two consecutive glass containers. Using the motor speed of the drive device, the number of teeth on the drive pinion of the drive device, and the belt length at startup, the conveyor speed profile can be derived or calculated and, in particular, sent to the drive device. In particular, the belt length can be verified using pattern recognition in the time differences.

[0033] Preferably, the belt elongation during operation of the conveyor belt is compensated by operating the conveyor belt faster in a section with an elongated belt segment than in a section with a belt segment that is shorter than the elongated belt segment. Accordingly, the conveyor speed profile can be adjusted to specify an individual conveyor speed for each section of the conveyor belt comprising at least one belt segment. This allows the glass containers to be conveyed particularly evenly and with as equal a spacing as possible, despite uneven belt elongation. This can also extend the useful life of the conveyor belt.

[0034] The conveyor speed profile can be sent to the drive device and / or retrieved by the drive device. For example, the conveyor speed profile can be provided, sent, and / or retrieved in connection with maintenance of the production system. The conveyor speed profile can also be provided, sent, and / or retrieved regularly or automatically, in particular independently of maintenance.

[0035] In particular, it is proposed that the drive system be operated based on the conveyor speed profile. This allows the conveyor belt to be operated at a variable conveyor speed over a full belt revolution, compensating for individual belt elongation. This allows the glass containers to be conveyed particularly evenly, for example, between the IS machine and a lehr. This can reduce waste and increase productivity.

[0036] A system for carrying out the method is also proposed. The system has a sensor device for detecting the position data and a control device. The control device is configured to provide the conveyor speed profile. For this purpose, the control device is connected to the sensor device, for example wirelessly or wired, in particular for unidirectional or bidirectional communication with the sensor device. The control device can have a communication interface, for example to be able to retrieve and / or send the conveyor speed profile, for example to a drive device of the conveyor belt. In particular, the control device can also make the conveyor speed profile available for retrieval, in particular by the drive device and / or by an operator.

[0037] The system, in particular its sensor device, is expediently arranged directly on a conveyor belt whose belt elongation is to be determined or on which position data is to be recorded. In particular, the sensor device is arranged on a conveyor belt downstream of an IS machine, such as a machine belt and / or a cross belt.

[0038] The sensor device preferably comprises a light barrier and / or a camera and / or a distance sensor. The light barrier is aligned, for example, transversely to the conveying direction or laterally from the conveyor belt toward the glass containers. The camera can be arranged laterally or from above the conveyor belt to detect the glass containers. The distance sensor can be aligned in the same way as the light barrier or the camera.

[0039] The light barrier comprises, in particular, a light source, a light sensor, and, if necessary, a reflector. The light barrier can detect when an object, such as a glass container, is in the path of the light emitted by the light source. The light barrier can provide the position data as a signal.

[0040] The camera is used in particular for capturing images of the glass containers. For example, an image sensor or CCD sensor and optics are provided to optically capture the glass containers and / or to generate image information as the position data. In particular, the camera is a digital camera. The camera can be provided with illumination for the glass containers. Multiple cameras can also be provided. Photos of the glass containers can be taken to provide the position data. The camera advantageously enables particularly accurate recording of the actual situation during the conveyance of the glass containers, e.g., to detect the distances between the glass containers.

[0041] The distance sensor can comprise a radar sensor. The radar sensor can emit radar waves, particularly electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency range, which are reflected by objects such as a glass container, and receive these electromagnetic waves again. When conveyed glass containers pass through the detection range of the distance sensor, the distance between the glass containers can be determined. The distance sensor can provide the position data as a signal.

[0042] The system creates the possibility of retrofitting existing production facilities to extend conveyor belt operation and / or improve production in terms of waste reduction and / or productivity. The system manages to make the actual spacing between the glass containers more uniform despite uneven belt elongation.

[0043] Furthermore, a production plant is proposed comprising an IS machine for producing glass containers, a conveyor belt for conveying the glass containers, and a system designed to provide a conveyor speed profile that compensates for sectionally elongated conveyor belts, as described above. Two or more of these systems can also be provided, for example, one system per conveyor belt.

[0044] The invention makes it possible to detect so-called "pumping," or irregular conveyor belt movement, which can occur during operation of a production facility with an IS machine and conveyor belt. For example, this can create the basis for a warning message and / or send a warning message.

[0045] The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings.

[0046] The drawings show Fig. 1 schematically shows a production plant according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a plan view of an IS machine, several conveyor belts, a deflection corner, a cooling furnace and two systems, Fig. 2A-B schematically show a conveyor belt according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in a side view with a first belt elongation of a belt segment (A) and with a second belt elongation of another belt segment (B) which is greater than the first belt elongation, Fig. 3 schematically shows a time-dependent curve of a speed of a drive motor of a conveyor device which was operated with a conveyor speed profile compensating for the belt elongation for two full belt revolutions, and Fig. 4 schematically shows a conveyor belt according to a further embodiment of the invention in a side view with a conveyed glass container.

[0047] In Fig. 1 schematically shows a production plant 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which has an IS machine 100, a deflection corner 102, and a cooling lehr 104. Furthermore, a conveyor belt 130 is provided between the IS machine 100 and the deflection corner 102, which in this case conveys in the Y direction and is generally referred to as a machine belt. Furthermore, a further conveyor belt 130 is provided between the deflection corner 102 and the cooling lehr 104, which conveys in the X direction and is referred to as a cross belt. Finally, the cooling lehr 104 also has a conveyor belt 130 that conveys in the Y direction, in this case again transversely or perpendicularly to the preceding conveyor belt 130, i.e. the cross belt.

[0048] All conveyor belts 130 shown here are intended for conveying glass containers B. The glass containers B in this case are glass bottles which have a round outline in plan view.

[0049] With a view to Fig. 1, each of the conveyor belts 130 is composed of belt segments 132. The belt segments 132 are each driven by at least one drive device (not shown here). Typically, a glass container B is located on each belt segment 132, or at least on each pair of belt segments 132.

[0050] If the glass containers B are Fig. 1, they are conveyed away by the immediately downstream conveyor belt 130 (machine belt) to the deflection corner 102. The glass containers B run onto the deflection corner 102 and are conveyed away by the immediately downstream conveyor belt 130 (cross belt). It is noteworthy here that an uneven or segmental belt elongation of a respective conveyor belt 130 during conveyance from the IS machine 100 and / or from the deflection corner 102 could lead to uneven spacing of the glass containers B, insofar as the respective conveyor belt 130 is operated with a constant speed of a drive motor or constant conveying speed. The uneven spacing of still-hot glass containers B from one another is regularly problematic, for example because the glass containers B are not correctly grasped by an insertion device or a transfer device, which can overall lead to rejects and / or disruptions in production.However, in this case, this problem does not occur at all or only to a limited extent, because the wear-related, i.e. basically unavoidable, section-wise or segment-wise belt elongation is compensated by the solution presented here, for which purpose two identical systems 2 are provided.

[0051] In the present case, the production plant 1 has a system 2 on each conveyor belt 130. The system 2 is designed to provide a conveyor speed profile. With the conveyor speed profile, the section-by-section or segment-by-segment belt elongation of the respective conveyor belt 130 can be compensated by the system 2, provided the respective conveyor belt 130 is operated in accordance with this conveyor speed profile, and in particular provided the conveyor speed profile has been adapted to the belt elongation according to the invention.

[0052] In this case, one of the systems 2 or its sensor device 10 is arranged on the cross belt. The other system 2 or its sensor device 10 is arranged on the machine belt directly behind the IS machine 100. The respective system 2 can, for example, use a clock signal as a reference.

[0053] With each of the present systems 2, in particular, a method for providing the conveyor speed profile for optionally at least one, several, or all conveyor belts 130 of the production plant 1 can be carried out. In the method, the respective conveyor belt 130 conveys the glass containers B, and position data of the glass containers B on the conveyor belt 130 are recorded. Based on the position data, a belt elongation is determined. The belt elongation relates to individual belt segments 132 of the conveyor belt 130, and the conveyor speed profile for the respective conveyor belt 130 is provided based on the belt elongation. In particular, in the method, the respective conveyor belt 130 is operated at a constant conveyor speed or speed of a drive motor in order to provide the conveyor speed profile.

[0054] It is advisable to perform the process recurringly to counteract strip elongation. For example, the process can be performed at daily or weekly intervals, especially if production line 1 is in continuous operation.

[0055] The respective system 2 has a sensor device 10 with a reflector 11 for carrying out the method, wherein the sensor device 10 comprises a light barrier for detecting the glass containers B conveyed past. When a glass container B passes the light barrier, the signal emitted by the light barrier changes, for example, as a component of position data about the glass containers B. The light barrier is aligned transversely to the conveying direction X of the conveyor belt 130 designed as a cross belt, i.e. in the direction Y in Fig. 1. The sensor device 10 can capture the position data and send it to a control device 20. The control device 20 can calculate or derive the conveyor speed profile from the position data.

[0056] In the present case, the control device 20 is designed to provide the conveying speed profile and to transmit it to a drive device of a conveyor belt - in the present case with regard to the Fig. 1 to the drive device of the cross belt. The control device 20 has an interface designed for wireless or wired communication.

[0057] The position data can be used to derive the temporal distances between the conveyed glass containers B. This in turn allows conclusions to be drawn, for example, about the segment-by-segment belt elongation, insofar as the distances vary. It is possible to draw conclusions about the overall belt elongation based on all temporal distances during a full revolution of the respective conveyor belt 130. Thus, the sequence of all temporal distances is used to derive the conveyor speed profile, whereby the respective conveyor belt 130 can be operated faster in a section with an elongated belt segment 132 than in a section with a belt segment 132 that is shorter than the elongated belt segment 132. In other words, in this case, the respective conveyor belt 130 can be accelerated on the drive side at belt sections that have a greater elongation and braked at belt sections that have a lesser elongation.

[0058] In the present case, the conveyor speed profile is selected such that the conveyor speed per belt segment 132 or per multiple belt segments 132 is selected proportional to the time interval per belt segment 132 or per multiple belt segments 132. If a time interval in a segment 132 or section is greater than the average by a certain factor, the conveyor speed must be increased by the said factor in order to compensate.

[0059] With a view to Fig. 2A and Fig. Figure 2B shows a side view of an exemplary conveyor belt 130. The conveyor belt 130 is shown only in sections or segments and in the area with a drive device 136. The conveyor belt 130 is composed of belt segments 132, 133, 134, wherein alternating conveyor segments 133 and connecting and / or drive segments 134 are provided to connect the conveyor segments 133. The belt segments 132, 133, 134 can all convey glass containers B and are provided for this purpose. A drive wheel 138 with teeth, driven by a drive motor 137, engages in engagement possibilities 135 of the connecting and / or drive segments 134. Depending on the individual belt elongation in the belt segments 132, 133, 134, a spatial and ultimately also temporal distance A is created between the glass containers B. The Fig. 2A a distance A with a normally elongated band segment 132 and the Fig. 2B, on the other hand, shows a distance A' with a belt segment 132 that has been elongated due to increased wear on the same conveyor belt 130, but in a different section. In these illustrations, the conveyor belt 130 was operated at a constant conveying speed, so that the difference shown in the distances A and A' clearly prevails. If the respective drive device 136 is now operated with a conveying speed profile that compensates for the belt elongation, the distances A, A' are approximately standardized or equal in all sections of a conveyor belt 130 with individual belt elongation.

[0060] In the Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, a curve V of a rotational speed N of a drive motor 137 of a drive device 136 of a conveyor belt 130 over time T for two full revolutions of the conveyor belt 130. The rotational speed curve V is clearly repeated according to the revolutions. The rotational speed varies over time. For example, taking into account elongated belt segments 132, a higher rotational speed N is selected than for less elongated belt segments 132. Basically, the time-dependent rotational speed curve V can be understood as a component of a conveyor speed profile. In addition, this rotational speed curve V must be implemented according to the location of the individually elongated belt segments 132, for which purpose the conveyor speed profile regularly additionally includes an assignment of the rotational speed curve V to the rotational position of the conveyor belt 130, so that the individual rotational speed N is always approached in the area of ​​the correct segment 132.In addition to the curve V, the mean value M of the curve V is shown, which occurs over all complete belt revolutions.

[0061] In principle, it is particularly advantageous if the rotational speed N of the drive motor 137 of a drive device 136 of a conveyor belt 130, during a full belt revolution, fluctuates with deviations around an average value M of the rotational speed during the belt revolution or over time T when applying the conveyor speed profile above a lower limit MIN of, for example, at least 50% and / or below an upper limit MAX of, for example, up to 150% of the average value M. In particular, the rotational speed N or its profile V should not leave the range set by the upper limit MAX and the lower limit MIN in order to ensure reliable conveying. This avoids undesirable speed peaks.

[0062] It is preferred if the MIN lower limit is 75% and / or the upper limit is 125%. A MIN lower limit of 90% and / or a MAX upper limit of 110% is particularly preferred. In particular, no speeds should lie outside the previously described range, i.e., below the MIN lower limit or above the MAX upper limit, when a standard conveying operation of a conveyor belt 130 is carried out with this drive motor 137.

[0063] With a view to Fig. 3, for the speed curve V, the upper limit MAX is approximately 110% and the upper limit MIN is approximately 80%, if the mean value M is assumed to be 100%. In other words, in Fig. 3 such that the curve V of the rotational speed N is above a lower limit MIN of at least 50% and / or below an upper limit MAX of up to 150% of the mean value M and does not leave the range set thereby.

[0064] With a view to Fig. 4 shows a side view of another exemplary conveyor belt 130 on which a glass container B is placed. The conveyor belt 130 is shown only in sections or segments. The conveyor belt 130 is composed of belt segments 132, 133, 134, with alternating conveyor segments 133 and connecting and / or drive segments 134. The belt segments 132, 133, 134 are all intended for conveying glass containers B, with the connecting and / or drive segments 134 additionally being drivable from below or facing away from the glass containers B. A drive wheel 138, driven by a drive motor 137 and having teeth not shown here, can engage in engagement possibilities 135 of the connecting and / or drive segments 134.

[0065] With a view to Fig.4, at least one section of the glass container B is placed on or conveyed by each belt segment 132, 133, 134 or each two adjacent belt segments 132, 133, 134. Two adjacent belt segments 132, 133, 134 have a pitch P or spacing of approximately 12.7 mm in the circumferential direction of the conveyor belt 130. Several adjacent belt segments 132, 133, 134 convey an entire glass container B, with each of these belt segments 132, 133, 134 carrying a section of the glass container B. The glass container B extends over several pitches (in this case over at least four), corresponding to its size D or its diameter essentially standing on the belt segments 132, 133, 134 or covering them. List of reference symbols 1 production facility 2 systems 10 Sensor device 11 Reflector 20 Control device 100 IS machine 102 Deflection corner 104 Cooling furnace 130 conveyor belt 132 band segment 133 funding segment 134 Connecting and / or drive segment 135 Intervention option 136 Drive device 137 drive motor 138 drive wheel A, A' distance B glass container D size N speed P Pitch T Time X direction Y direction

Claims

[1] Method for providing a conveyor speed profile for a drive device (136) of a conveyor belt (130) of a production plant (1), wherein the production plant has an IS machine (100) for producing glass containers (B) and the conveyor belt (130) for conveying the glass containers (B), wherein glass containers (B) are placed on the conveyor belt (130) and / or the conveyor belt (130 conveys glass containers (B) away, wherein position data of the glass containers (B) on the conveyor belt (130) are recorded, wherein a belt elongation is determined on the basis of the position data, wherein the belt elongation relates to individual belt segments (132, 133, 134) of the conveyor belt (130) and wherein the conveyor speed profile for the conveyor belt (130) is provided on the basis of the belt elongation. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one section of an individual glass container (B) is placed and / or conveyed away for each belt segment (132, 133, 134) or for each two adjacent belt segments (132, 133, 134), in particular wherein two adjacent belt segments (132, 133, 134) form a pitch (P) in the range between 5 and 25 mm, in particular a pitch (P) of 12.7 mm ± 2 mm, in a circumferential direction of the conveyor belt (130). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein temporal and / or spatial distances between conveyed glass containers (B) are determined on the basis of the position data. [4] Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the conveyor speed profile is provided on the basis of the distances. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor speed profile is provided to compensate for the belt elongation during operation of the conveyor belt (130) by operating the conveyor belt (130) faster in a section with an elongated belt segment (132, 133, 134) than in a section with a belt segment (132, 133, 134) that is shorter than the elongated belt segment (132, 133, 134). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor speed profile is sent to the drive device (136) or retrieved from the drive device (136). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive device (136) is operated on the basis of the conveyor speed profile. [8] System (2) for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, with a sensor device (10) for detecting the position data and with a control device (20) which is arranged to provide the conveying speed profile. [9] System (2) according to claim 8, wherein the sensor device (10) comprises a light barrier and / or a camera and / or a distance sensor. [10] Production plant with an IS machine (100) for producing glass containers (B), a conveyor belt (130) for conveying the glass containers (B) and a system (2) designed to provide a conveying speed profile compensating for a section-wise belt elongation of the conveyor belt (130), wherein the system (2) according to one of claims 8 or 9 or the conveyor belt (130) is designed to operate on the basis of the conveying speed profile.

Images