METHOD FOR A PRODUCTION PLANT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for a production plant, wherein the production plant comprises an IS machine for the manufacture of glass containers and a conveyor belt having a drive device for conveying the glass containers.

[0002] IS machines for the production of glass containers have been known in the art for decades. The function of an IS machine is typically as follows: Glass is melted in a tank. This is conveyed through a trough (feeder channel). At the end of the feeder channel is a glass outlet (spout). In the spout, the glass is homogenized by means of an agitator or a rotating tube. The tube also serves to meter the glass flow. A plunger forces the glass out of the spout. As the plunger retracts, a portioned piece of glass (drop) is cut off by a shear.

[0003] A droplet distributor feeds the glass slabs to the individual sections via metal troughs. Container forming in an IS machine is a two-stage process. In the first stage, a preform is pressed or blown. In the second stage, the preform is blown into the final container mold. During both process steps, the preform and the 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 be cooled to prevent reheating and further deformation.

[0004] From the IS machine's unloading plates, the containers are transported to an annealing oven. First, a pusher moves the containers from the unloading plate onto a conveyor belt. A light barrier and an ejector are installed on the conveyor belt. The ejector removes containers, lubrication containers, or other defective containers from the transport after the start of a section. Next, the conveyor belt passes through a tempering tunnel where the containers receive a coating that reduces their scratch resistance. The containers are then typically guided to a deflection point. This changes the transport direction by 90° and reduces the spacing between the containers. A cross conveyor in front of the annealing oven entrance transports the containers for insertion into the oven. This process is carried out by a pusher, which pushes the containers into the annealing oven in rows, across the oven's width.

[0005] Once the glass containers are formed, they are removed from the molds by a removal device, typically to a settling plate where they are cooled and from which they are pushed onto the conveyor belt. Such a conventional removal device is known. The known removal device is designed, for example, for use with a double-drop molding machine, comprising two removal grippers, a carrier for the grippers, and a mechanism arranged to move the carrier, thus switching the grippers between a receiving position, where they can pick up formed glass articles from the machine's molds, and a setting position, where they can place the glass articles, for example, on a cooling station.

[0006] When using such a removal device, the required distance between the removal grippers is determined by the distance between the finished molds. Thus, without further measures, the distance between the finished molds would also determine the distance between the glass containers on the settling plate. Conventional ejection mechanisms that push the glass containers from the settling plate onto a conveyor belt can modify the distance between the containers on the conveyor belt by adjusting the spacing of the ejection fingers relative to the distance on the settling plate. However, 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 them. This limitation is even greater for a three- or four-drop machine than for a two-drop machine.Even if attempts are made to change the distance, at least one of the ejection fingers inevitably moves relatively quickly when it touches the corresponding glass container, creating a risk of damaging the glass container.

[0007] With the increasing use of multi-drop machines and efforts to increase the operating speed of IS machines, it is also necessary to increase conveying speeds. However, it is also important to adjust the conveying speed to a level that considers economic factors and avoids problems with instability of the glass containers on the conveyor belt at higher speeds. For this reason, the aim is generally to achieve a spacing between the glass containers on the conveyor belt that is smaller than the spacing between the finished molds. A smaller spacing between the glass containers on the conveyor belt allows for a lower conveyor speed, which contributes to stable and trouble-free transport of the glass containers.

[0008] In a drive device with at least one drive element capable of being driven to a movement, during whose movement displacement increments can be generated and evaluated by at least one encoder, a displacement calibration device is provided for the drive element according to DE 10 2010 043 057 A1. This device computationally compensates for any operational elongation of the conveying element. According to the method, any elongation occurring during operation is measured permanently and / or periodically, either automatically and / or operator-guided, based on the displacement increments and transmission signals from markings provided on the drive element. If necessary, this elongation is computationally compensated when determining the position or displacement 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 essential 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 each other and are designed to produce a signal that exhibits a typical temporal dependence on irregularities in the distance of the individual chain links to each of the sensors. By determining a signal segment originating from the first sensor and a signal segment originating from the second sensor, which have the same relative amplitude structure, the time difference between the two signal segments can be determined. From this, together with the known distance between the two sensors, the speed of the belt can be calculated. This can also be used to determine the elongation of the belt.

[0010] CN 1 10 814 045 A describes an automatic positioning control procedure for a hot-rolled, coiling chain. The procedure comprises the following steps: measuring the actual length of each sub-chain of the chain; calculating and determining the average stretch length of each sub-chain of the chain based on 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 based on the average stretch length and an actual displacement value of a single operation of the chain, as detected by a displacement measuring device installed on the chain; calculating and determining the position deviation of the chain based on the relative position change value and the displacement reference of the chain's 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 setting the automatic control program of a chain control system based on the adaptive proportional position reference. According to the control method, even if 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 stream of a multitude of identical unit loads supplied via conveyor devices with a feed track and intermittently transversely to the transport plane engaging in the product stream on at least one pair of driven, continuously rotating flexible drive elements, wherein at least one crossbeam is arranged on each of these pairs of flexible drive elements, on which unit 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] US 10,538,393 B2, which discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1, describes a transport device with a conveyor belt marked with indicators. A sensor detects these indicators and sends corresponding signals to a controller. Based on these signals, the controller can monitor the stretch of the conveyor belt and, if necessary, make adjustments to optimize the operation of the transport device.

[0013] JP 5 862987 B2 describes a device for sorting articles, designed to prevent accidents in which an article becomes trapped by a shoe, while simultaneously increasing sorting efficiency. The sorting device comprises a drive unit for rotation, continuous circulating chains running along a conveyor track, several platforms on which articles are transported, and shoes attached to these platforms for guiding or sorting the articles. A verification device is provided to confirm that the shoe is moving along the platform. This verification device is located downstream in the direction of travel, behind a guide rail for the movement of the shoes.

[0014] The object of the invention is to provide solutions related to IS machines in order to increase working speed, reduce rejects and improve monitoring capabilities.

[0015] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0016] The invention thus provides a method for providing a conveying speed profile for a drive device of a conveyor belt of a production plant, wherein the production plant comprises an IS machine for manufacturing 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 conveying speed profile for the conveyor belt is provided on the basis of the belt elongation.

[0017] In other words, the aforementioned method for solving the problem is designed to provide a conveying speed profile for the conveyor belt, for example, to adapt the conveyor belt to the belt elongation by selectively varying the conveying speed in sections. The conveying speed profile includes, in particular, the progression of the conveying speed to be set with respect to the entire length of the conveyor belt, in order to convey the glass containers at approximately equal intervals despite belt elongation, for example, due to wear. Preferably, belt elongation is detected by conveying glass containers from the conveyor belt, especially at a constant conveying speed, and by evaluating the position of these glass containers relative to each other and / or to the conveyor belt.The proposed belt elongation refers to individual sections of the conveyor belt, so that a conveying speed profile can be derived which, according to the section-by-section elongation, provides a speed compensation when conveying the glass containers.

[0018] Within the scope of the invention, it has been recognized that a conveyor belt does not lengthen uniformly over time due to wear and tear during operation, resulting in "long" and "short" belt segments being located one behind the other. In tandem machines or IS machines in a tandem arrangement, the conveyor belt consists particularly of two sections, so that the wear can differ 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 dimension. As a result, the glass containers may no longer be positioned at the same distance from each other. Within the scope of the invention, it has also been recognized that adjusting the conveying speed to the uneven belt lengthening can be implemented very simply by monitoring the position data of the glass containers during operation with the conveyed glass containers.This results in the section-by-section belt elongation, from which a conveying speed profile for the conveyor belt can be derived.

[0019] The conveyor belt can be a machine belt or a cross belt.

[0020] Advantageously, the invention enables the provision of a conveying speed profile suitable for compensating for wear-related and / or manufacturing-related belt elongation. This conveying speed profile can advantageously be sent to and received from the conveyor belt's drive unit as a new motion profile, allowing the belt to operate at an adjusted conveying speed. In particular, this results, at least theoretically, in an approximately uniform spacing between glass containers along the entire conveyor belt and a consistent entry point, for example, into a deflection corner or towards the cooling oven.

[0021] By compensating for belt elongation, the start times of a feeder, e.g., towards a cooling oven, can be automatically controlled. In particular, pusher start times can be automatically controlled to ensure safer pushing from the machine belt to the cross belt or from the cross belt to the cooling oven using a pusher or feeder.

[0022] The invention also makes it possible to provide information on belt elongation. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the wear of the conveyor belt. In this way, it can be easily determined whether action is required regarding the wear and tear of the conveyor belt.

[0023] In particular, the conveying speed profile is understood to be a progression of the target speed and / or the rotational speed of the drive unit, the progression preferably relating to the entire length of the conveyor belt or one complete belt revolution. The conveying speed profile is thus repeated for each cycle of a conveyor belt revolution or one complete belt revolution. Preferably, the conveying speed profile is provided based on position data acquired at a constant conveying speed.

[0024] A conveyor belt as defined in this disclosure preferably comprises an endless belt for conveying glass containers, particularly in a straight and / or horizontal direction. The endless belt runs, for example, in one direction on the top and in the opposite direction on the bottom. The conveyor belt can be oriented horizontally, either partially or completely, and may be inclined or descending. The conveyor belt or the endless belt preferably comprises a heat-resistant material for supporting the hot glass containers.

[0025] The conveyor belt is preferably composed of belt segments that are connected or fixed 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 connected to one another, for example, like links in a bicycle chain. For example, at least or at most one section of a glass container can be accommodated on one belt segment, and in particular, all sections of a glass container, or the entire glass container, can be accommodated on several successive belt segments, for example, four or more. A section of the glass container is 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.

[0026] Belt segments can be provided as conveyor segments for conveying the glass containers. Conveyor segments are preferably not directly driven.

[0027] Belt segments can be provided as connecting and / or drive segments, serving to connect two other belt segments, in particular two conveying segments, and which, like the conveying segments, are used for conveying glass containers. Connecting and / or drive segments preferably have one or more engagement points oriented away from the glass containers and designed to engage with or through a drive wheel. The engagement point is preferably a projection that can be engaged by a toothed drive wheel. Connecting and / or drive segments are preferably directly driven.

[0028] In principle, all sections of the conveyor belt can be considered belt segments, provided that each section can exhibit individual elongation. Individual belt segments do not necessarily have to be individually separable components of the conveyor belt. Essentially, a single-piece or monolithic conveyor belt can also be viewed as having belt segments with different elongations. These belt segments then transition into one another virtually seamlessly.

[0029] The drive unit of the conveyor belt preferably comprises a drive motor and a motor control unit for the drive motor. Based on the conveying speed profile, the motor control unit can regulate the drive motor to compensate for section-by-section or segment-by-segment belt elongation. The drive unit preferably includes at least one drive wheel designed to engage with the belt segments or conveying segments.

[0030] Position data refers in particular to movement and / or location information for the glass containers, for example in the form of computer-processable data or information. The position data can, for example, directly or indirectly—that is, explicitly stated or deducible through processing—indicate where the glass containers are placed on the conveyor belt or belt segment, on which belt segment they are placed, at what distance to the next glass container they are placed, at what speed they are moving, and / or whether the glass container is upright and / or damaged.

[0031] Belt elongation refers specifically to wear-related and / or tolerance-related deviations in the length of individual and / or all belt segments from a target length. Normally, the conveyor belt lengthens during operation due to wear and tear, resulting in an uneven shape along its length. However, belt elongation can also refer to tolerance-related or manufacturing-related elongations or deviations from the target length. In particular, belt elongation is an inherent parameter set of the conveyor belt, which is preferably continuously monitored. It can generally be assumed that belt elongation increases over the service life of a conveyor belt.

[0032] Advantageously, at least one section of a single glass container is placed and / or conveyed to each belt segment or to each pair of adjacent belt segments. For example, the glass containers are pushed onto the conveyor belt, with each belt segment or pair of belt segments being designed to convey away a section of the fed glass containers. Two adjacent belt segments can form a pitch or distance along the circumference of the conveyor belt in the range of 5 to 25 mm, particularly 12.7 mm ± 2 mm. In practice, it is particularly preferred that several adjacent belt segments can convey away an entire glass container, with each of these belt segments carrying a corresponding section. For example, two adjacent belt segments form a pitch or distance along the circumference of half an inch, i.e., half of 2.54 cm or approximately 12.7 mm.A glass container can extend across multiple pitches (e.g., at least two, three, or four), depending on its size or its diameter on the conveyor segments. This is particularly useful for generating highly reliable position data and information for providing conveyor elongation data. It also allows for flexible handling of a wide variety of glass containers.

[0033] Preferably, the temporal and / or spatial distances between conveyed glass containers are determined based on position data. For example, during conveying, the temporal or spatial distance between the glass containers is measured. It is particularly advantageous to use a timing device, such as a light barrier, to provide the position data or distances. The position data can be evaluated to determine the distance between successive glass containers. The method is preferably further developed by providing the conveying speed profile based on these distances. The conveying speed profile can be derived particularly efficiently using both the temporal and spatial distances.

[0034] The distances between glass containers are preferably measured as time differences between two consecutive glass containers. Using the motor speed of the drive unit, the number of teeth on the drive pinion of the drive unit, and the belt length at startup, the conveying speed profile can be derived or calculated and, in particular, sent to the drive unit. Specifically, the belt length can be verified by pattern recognition of the time differences.

[0035] Preferably, belt elongation during conveyor operation is compensated for by operating the conveyor faster in a section with an elongated belt segment than in a section with a belt segment that is shorter than the elongated segment. Accordingly, the conveying speed profile can be adapted to specify an individual conveying speed for each section of the conveyor consisting of at least one belt segment. This allows the glass containers to be conveyed particularly evenly and with as uniform a spacing as possible, despite uneven belt elongation. This can also extend the usable service life of the conveyor belt.

[0036] The conveying speed profile can be sent to and / or retrieved from the drive unit. For example, the conveying speed profile can be provided, sent, and / or retrieved in connection with maintenance of the production plant. The conveying speed profile can also be provided, sent, and / or retrieved regularly or automatically, particularly independently of maintenance.

[0037] In particular, it is proposed that the drive system be operated based on the conveyor speed profile. This allows the conveyor belt to operate at a variable speed over a full belt revolution, compensating for individual belt elongation. This ensures particularly uniform transport of the glass containers, for example, between the IS machine and a cooling oven. As a result, rejects can be reduced and productivity increased.

[0038] The following section describes a system for carrying out the procedure. The system comprises a sensor device for acquiring position data and a control device. The control device is configured to provide the conveying speed profile. For this purpose, the control device is connected to the sensor device, for example, wirelessly or via cable, particularly for unidirectional or bidirectional communication with the sensor device. The control device may have a communication interface, for example, to retrieve and / or transmit the conveying speed profile, for instance, to a drive unit of the conveyor belt. In particular, the control device may also make the conveying speed profile available for retrieval, especially by the drive unit and / or an operator.

[0039] The system, and in particular its sensor device, is advantageously arranged directly on a conveyor belt whose belt elongation is to be determined or on which position data is to be recorded. Specifically, the sensor device is arranged on a conveyor belt downstream of an IS machine, such as a machine belt and / or a cross belt.

[0040] The sensor device preferably comprises a light barrier and / or a camera and / or a distance sensor. The light barrier is, for example, oriented transversely to the conveying direction or laterally from the conveyor belt towards the glass containers. The camera can be positioned laterally or from above the conveyor belt to detect the glass containers. The distance sensor can be oriented similarly to the light barrier or the camera.

[0041] The light barrier consists of a light source, a light sensor, and optionally a reflector. The light barrier can detect when an object, such as a glass container, is within the path of the light emitted by the light source. The light barrier can provide the position data as a signal.

[0042] The camera is primarily used for capturing images of the glass containers. For example, it includes an image sensor (CCD sensor) and optics to optically capture the glass containers and / or generate image information such as position data. Specifically, the camera is a digital camera. It can be equipped with lighting for the glass containers. Multiple cameras can also be used. Photographs of the glass containers can be taken to provide the position data. The camera advantageously enables a particularly accurate recording of the actual situation during the conveying of the glass containers, for example, to determine the distances between them.

[0043] The distance sensor can incorporate 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 glass containers, 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.

[0044] The system offers the possibility of retrofitting existing production facilities to allow the conveyor belt to operate for longer periods and / or to improve production in terms of reducing waste and / or increasing productivity. The system succeeds in making the actual distances between the glass containers more uniform despite uneven belt elongation.

[0045] The invention makes it possible to detect so-called "pumping" or irregular running of the conveyor belt, which can occur during the operation of a production plant with an IS machine and conveyor belt. For example, the basis for a warning message can be created and / or a warning message can be sent.

[0046] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and the drawings. It should be noted that the invention relates to a method for providing a conveying speed profile for a drive unit of a conveyor belt in a production plant, and that the production plant and its components described below are mentioned only to illustrate the method according to the invention, without any claim for protection of such a production plant or its components.

[0047] The drawings show Fig. 1 schematically shows a production plant for carrying out a method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a top view of an IS machine, several conveyor belts, a deflection corner, a cooling oven and two systems; Fig. 2A-B schematically shows a conveyor belt of the production plant 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 rotational speed of a drive motor of a conveyor device, which was operated with a conveying speed profile compensating for belt elongation for two full belt revolutions; and Fig. 4 schematically shows a conveyor belt for carrying out a method according to a further embodiment of the invention in a side view with a conveyed glass container.

[0048] In Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a production plant 1 is shown, comprising an IS machine 100, a deflection corner 102, and a cooling oven 104. Furthermore, a conveyor belt 130 is provided between the IS machine 100 and the deflection corner 102, which conveys in the direction Y and is generally referred to as the machine belt. Additionally, another conveyor belt 130 is provided between the deflection corner 102 and the cooling oven 104, which conveys in the direction X and is referred to as the cross belt. Finally, the cooling oven 104 also has a conveyor belt 130, which conveys in the direction Y, again perpendicular to the preceding conveyor belt 130, i.e., the cross belt.

[0049] All conveyor belts 130 shown here are designed for conveying glass containers B. In this case, the glass containers B are glass bottles that have a round outline when viewed from above.

[0050] With regard 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 unit (not shown here). A glass container B is typically placed on each belt segment 132, or at least on each pair of belt segments 132.

[0051] If the glass containers B with the in Fig. 1 The glass containers B, which have been produced on the IS machine 100 shown, are conveyed by the immediately downstream conveyor belt 130 (machine belt) to the deflection corner 102. At the deflection corner 102, the glass containers B enter the machine and are conveyed away by the immediately downstream conveyor belt 130 (cross belt). It is noteworthy that uneven or segmented belt elongation of a respective conveyor belt 130 during conveying from the IS machine 100 and / or from the deflection corner 102 could lead to uneven spacing of the glass containers B, provided that the respective conveyor belt 130 is operated at a constant speed of a drive motor or a constant conveying speed. Uneven spacing of still-hot glass containers B is regularly problematic, for example, because the glass containers B are not properly gripped by a feeder or a transfer device, which can ultimately lead to rejects and / or disruptions in production.However, in the present case this problem does not occur at all or only to a dampened extent, because the wear-related, i.e. basically unavoidable, section-by-section or segment-by-segment belt elongation is compensated for by the solution presented here, for which in particular two identical systems 2 are provided.

[0052] In the present case, production plant 1 has a system 2 on each conveyor belt 130. The system 2 is designed to provide a conveying speed profile. The conveying speed profile allows the system 2 to compensate for the section-by-section or segment-by-segment elongation of the respective conveyor belt 130, provided that the respective conveyor belt 130 is operated according to this conveying speed profile, and in particular, provided that the conveying speed profile has been adapted to the belt elongation according to the invention.

[0053] In this case, one of the systems 2, or rather its sensor device 10, is arranged on the cross conveyor belt. The other system 2, or rather its sensor device 10, is arranged on the machine conveyor belt directly behind the IS machine 100. Each system 2 can, for example, use a clock signal as a reference.

[0054] Each of the present systems 2 can, in particular, implement a method for providing the conveying speed profile for optionally at least one, several, or all conveyor belts 130 of the production plant 1. In this 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 this position data, a belt elongation is determined, the belt elongation relating to individual belt segments 132 of the conveyor belt 130. Based on this belt elongation, the conveying speed profile for the respective conveyor belt 130 is provided. In particular, in this method, the respective conveyor belt 130 is operated at a constant conveying speed or rotational speed of a drive motor in order to provide the conveying speed profile.

[0055] It is advisable to perform the process repeatedly to counteract strip elongation. For example, the process can be carried out at intervals of days or weeks, especially if production plant 1 is operated continuously.

[0056] The respective system 2 comprises a sensor device 10 with a reflector 11 for carrying out the procedure, wherein the sensor device 10 includes a light barrier for detecting the conveyed glass containers B. When a glass container B passes the light barrier, the signal output by the light barrier changes, for example, as part of position data about the glass containers B. The light barrier is oriented transversely to the conveying direction X of the conveyor belt 130, which is designed as a transverse belt, i.e., in direction Y. Fig. 1 The sensor device 10 can acquire the position data and send it to a control device 20. The control device 20 can calculate or derive the conveying speed profile from the position data.

[0057] In the present case, the control device 20 is designed to provide the conveying speed profile and to transmit it to a drive unit of a conveyor belt - in this case with regard to the Fig. 1 to send to the drive unit of the cross conveyor. The control device 20 has an interface designed for wireless or wired communication.

[0058] The position data allows for the derivation of time intervals between the conveyed glass containers B. This, in turn, allows conclusions to be drawn about the segment-by-segment belt elongation, insofar as the intervals vary. Based on all time intervals during a complete revolution of the respective conveyor belt 130, it is possible to deduce the total belt elongation. Thus, the compilation of all time intervals is used to derive the conveying speed profile, whereby the respective conveyor belt 130 must operate 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 segment 132. In other words, the respective conveyor belt 130 can be accelerated on the drive side at belt segments that exhibit greater elongation and decelerated at belt segments that exhibit less elongation.

[0059] The conveying speed profile is selected such that the conveying speed per belt segment 132, or per group of several belt segments 132, is proportional to the time interval between each belt segment 132, or between several belt segments 132. If the time interval in a segment 132 or section is greater than the average by a certain factor, the conveying speed in that segment or section must be increased by that factor to compensate.

[0060] With regard to Fig. 2A und Fig. 2B Figure 1 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 unit 136. The conveyor belt 130 is composed of belt segments 132, 133, 134, with alternating conveyor segments 133 and connecting and / or drive segments 134 for connecting the conveyor segments 133. The belt segments 132, 133, 134 can convey all glass containers B and are designed for this purpose. A drive wheel 138 with teeth, driven by a drive motor 137, engages with engagement points 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. This is illustrated by the Fig. 2A a distance A with a normally lengthened band segment 132 and the Fig. 2B In contrast, a distance A' is shown with a belt segment 132 on the same conveyor belt 130, but in a different section, which has elongated due to wear. In these illustrations, the conveyor belt 130 was operated at a constant conveying speed, so that the difference in distances A and A' is clearly evident. If the respective drive unit 136 is now operated with a conveying speed profile that compensates for belt elongation, the distances A and A' in all sections of a conveyor belt 130 with individual belt elongation are approximately standardized or become the same.

[0061] In the Fig. 3 The graph shows an example of the rotational speed V of a drive motor 137 of a drive unit 136 of a conveyor belt 130 over time T during two complete revolutions of the conveyor belt 130. The rotational speed V repeats itself according to the revolutions. The rotational speed varies over time. For example, a higher rotational speed N is selected when belt segments 132 have elongated than when they have less elongated. Essentially, the time-dependent rotational speed V can be understood as a component of a conveyor speed profile. Furthermore, this rotational speed V must be implemented according to the position of the individually elongated belt segments 132. To this end, the conveyor speed profile regularly includes an additional mapping of the rotational speed V to the rotational position of the conveyor belt 130, ensuring that the individual rotational speed N is always approached within the range of the correct segment 132.In addition to the curve V, the mean value M of the curve V, which is established over all complete band cycles, is shown.

[0062] In principle, it is particularly advantageous if the rotational speed N of the drive motor 137 of a drive unit 136 of a conveyor belt 130, during a complete belt revolution, fluctuates with deviations around a mean value M of the rotational speed during the belt revolution or over time T when considering the conveying 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 mean value M. In particular, the rotational speed N, or its curve V, should not leave the range defined by the upper limit MAX and the lower limit MIN in order to ensure reliable conveying. This avoids undesirable speed peaks.

[0063] Preferably, the lower limit MIN is 75% and / or the upper limit is 125%. A lower limit MIN of 90% and / or an upper limit MAX of 110% is particularly preferred. In particular, no rotational speeds should fall outside the previously described range, i.e., below the lower limit MIN or above the upper limit MAX, when standard operation of a conveyor belt 130 with this drive motor 137 is carried out.

[0064] With regard to Fig. 3 For the rotational speed profile V, the upper limit MAX is approximately 110% and the upper limit MIN approximately 80%, assuming the mean value M is 100%. In other words, in Fig. 3 so that the curve V of the rotational speed N runs 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 area thereby set.

[0065] With regard to Fig. 4 Figure 1 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 conveying 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 driveable from below or away from the glass containers B. A drive wheel 138, driven by a drive motor 137 and with teeth not shown here, can engage in engagement points 135 of the connecting and / or drive segments 134.

[0066] With regard to Fig. 4At least one section of the glass container B is placed on or conveyed by each belt segment 132, 133, 134, or by each pair of adjacent belt segments 132, 133, 134. Two adjacent belt segments 132, 133, 134 have a pitch P, or distance, 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, at least four), corresponding to its size D, or its diameter that rests on or covers the belt segments 132, 133, 134. Reference symbol list

[0067] 1 Production plant 2 System 10 Sensor device 11 Reflector 20 Control device 100 IS machine 102 Deflection corner 104 Cooling oven 130 Conveyor belt 132 Belt segment 133 Conveyor segment 134 Connecting and / or drive segment 135 Interference point 136 Drive device 137 Drive motor 138 Drive wheel A, A'Distance BGlass container DSize NSpeed ​​PPitch TTime XRDirection YDirection

Claims

1. A method for providing a conveying speed profile for a drive apparatus (136) of a conveyor belt (130) of a production system (1), the production system comprising an IS machine (100) for manufacturing glass containers (B) and the conveyor belt (130) for conveying the glass containers (B), glass containers (B) being positioned on the conveyor belt (130) and / or the conveyor belt (130) conveying away glass containers (B), characterized in that position data for the glass containers (B) on the conveyor belt (130) are detected, a belt elongation being determined on the basis of the position data, the belt elongation relating to individual belt segments (132, 133, 134) of the conveyor belt (130) and the conveying speed profile for the conveyor belt (130) being provided on the basis of the belt elongation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one portion of an individual glass container (B) is positioned and / or conveyed away for each belt segment (132, 133, 134) or 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. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein time intervals and / or distances of conveyed glass containers (B) from one another are determined on the basis of the position data.

4. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the conveying speed profile is provided on the basis of the intervals / distances.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying speed profile is provided to compensate for the belt elongation during operation of the conveyor belt (130) by the conveyor belt (130) being operated faster in a portion having an elongated belt segment (132, 133, 134) than in a portion having a belt segment (132, 133, 134) which is shorter than the elongated belt segment (132, 133, 134).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying speed profile is sent to the drive apparatus (136) or is retrieved from the drive apparatus (136).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive apparatus (136) is operated on the basis of the conveying speed profile.