Method for measuring the temperature of glass parisons using a pyrometer, and corresponding device

Abstract

A method for measuring the temperature of glass parisons delivered by a glass parison dispenser (18) of a glass forming plant (10, 11), the glass parison dispenser having a plurality of discharge orifices (OR_1, OR_2) from which glass parisons fall freely into drop zones (Z_1, Z_2) specific to each discharge orifice, wherein a measuring axis (A100) of a pyrometer (100) is oriented towards a first drop zone of a first discharge orifice to obtain at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the first drop zone, and the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented from the first zone towards a second drop zone of a second discharge orifice to obtain at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the second drop zone. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for measuring the temperature of glass parisons using a pyrometer, and corresponding device. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a method and device for measuring the temperature of glass parisons in a glass forming installation. The invention particularly relates to this temperature measurement for glass parison dispensers having several discharge ports. Previous technique

[0002] The forming of glass articles is carried out in a manner known per se, by first forming drops of glass called gobs. These gobs are formed by flowing molten glass through a discharge orifice, then cutting this flowing glass in a step called a "scissor cutter" (in English "shear eut" or "scissor eut"), resulting in gobs that fall freely towards a system which delivers them into sections for forming the glass article, for example using blow molding techniques.

[0003] The temperature of the glass parisons is a critical parameter which has an impact on the quality and the presence or absence of defects in the formed glass articles.

[0004] French patent FR3118458 describes a solution that deals with the kinematics of these glass parisons in free fall, and it describes in particular the formation of the parisons.

[0005] To measure the temperature of the glass parisons, pyrometers can be used whose measurement axis is configured to cross the trajectory of the parisons in free fall.

[0006] This solution is not satisfactory because it is not applicable to systems with multiple glass parison discharge ports, which will be described below. In fact, pyrometers are particularly expensive, and their installation is problematic in terms of space requirements.

[0007] We will now describe in more detail the manufacture of glass articles. In the first stage, molten glass from a glass furnace is conveyed through a channel structure called the foreheart (or sometimes the heart or crucible) to a spout (sometimes called a crucible) where the glass parisons will be formed. At this stage, it can be noted that the molten glass has the following properties: its temperature and its composition, these two parameters determining its viscosity.

[0008] A glass parison dispenser which includes this bowl can also be called a "feeder" in English.

[0009] Another element of a glass parison dispenser is a vertically axis rotating cylinder, often called a "jacket," and referred to here as "the cylinder" (or "tube"). The cylinder is partially immersed in the molten glass and is adjustable in speed and height to regulate the flow of molten glass in a siphon-like fashion. The basin, which is more or less cylindrical in shape, has a plurality of discharge orifices, for example, two, three, or four. For each orifice, a plunger (or "needle") is provided to move in a vertical reciprocating motion, pushing the molten glass through each orifice to form the glass streams that will be cut to form parisons.

[0010] Once exiting the orifices, and as explained above, scissors are used to cut / separate the successive parisons delivered by the discharge orifices. Conventionally, the scissors cut simultaneously for the several orifices of the parison dispenser. The several parisons formed simultaneously are destined for the same forming section. Indeed, and as is known per se, glass container forming installations comprise several forming sections, each containing several forming cavities, each cavity receiving one of the parisons.

[0011] After obtaining a group of parisons formed simultaneously and after sending them to a forming section, the next group of parisons formed simultaneously is sent to another forming section. All the forming sections thus successively receive parisons.

[0012] After a phase of free fall under the scissors, the parisons are guided by the "scoop," an English word designating a set of orientable spoons towards parison guides, sometimes referred to as chutes. These chutes terminate in deflectors located above the roughing molds. The assembly of spoons in the chutes and deflectors is called the delivery.

[0013] It is understood that the length, diameter, volume, and shape of the parisons are determined, in particular, by the movements of the plungers, the cylinder, and the scissors. It is noted in particular that the synchronization of the scissor cutter with respect to the plungers and the downstream process of loading into the molds, and then the forming of the blank and the container, are impacted by these parison parameters.

[0014] There are installations in which separate forming sections are configured for forming separate containers, and in particular containers of different sizes. These installations are known by the English term "multi-weight". The containers of different sizes are formed with parisons that have different masses, so that the molds of the sections are always well filled.

[0015] For "multi-weight" installations, the movement of the plungers and the scissors is mainly modified to obtain parisons adapted to the section. This modification can occur between two formations of parison groups.

[0016] The following documents are known from the prior art: - US3326655 describes a system that proposes using a pyrometer to measure the temperature of parisons falling in free fall. This measurement is used to regulate the temperature of the glass in the crucible. In the setup described in this document, there is no simultaneous formation of multiple parisons. - Document DE 102004048721 also suggests using a pyrometer. - Document WO93 / 11410 proposes using several pyrometers to measure the temperature of the same parison. - Document EP3931797 proposes to acquire an image of the thermal radiation of the parisons. - Document JP5637626 describes the measurement of parison temperature at discharge ports. Specifically, this document describes a sensor comprising a ring and thermocouples around the ports. This solution provides information that is a local average and is not particularly precise with respect to a specific location on a parison. Furthermore, this solution has the drawback of requiring maintenance to halt the production of glass containers. This is even more problematic given the very high temperatures affecting the sensors in this environment, which can lead to wear.

[0017] Document JPH11-60247 describes a fuzzy logic-based method for regulating the weight and temperature of glass parisons. A temperature sensor is used in this document, but its type is not described.

[0018] From the prior art, we also know of the document from the company BASF entitled "GOB TEMPERATURE CONTROL" (Brent Illingworth et al., presented in 2007 at the "Conference on Glass Problems") which describes the use of a pyrometer in a closed loop of temperature regulation.

[0019] There is a need for a more reliable glass parison temperature measurement solution, suitable for installations that deliver several parisons simultaneously, and less bulky. Description of the invention

[0020] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0021] To this end, a method is proposed for measuring the temperature of glass parisons delivered by a glass parison dispenser from a forming installation. of glass articles, the glass parison dispenser having a plurality of discharge ports (for example arranged within the same basin or crucible) from which glass parisons fall freely into drop zones specific to each discharge port, wherein a measuring axis of a pyrometer is oriented towards a first drop zone of a first discharge port to obtain at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the first drop zone, and the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented from the first zone towards a second drop zone of a second discharge port to obtain at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the second drop zone.

[0022] This method can be implemented by a computer system (a single system or a combination of computer subsystems, communicating with each other) configured to at least control the orientation of the measuring axis of the pyrometer and obtain measurements such as at least one temperature value.

[0023] In particular, the method can be implemented by a pyrometer control and command system configured to control the orientation of the pyrometer's measuring axis (for example by controlling an actuator), this pyrometer control and command system can also be connected to the pyrometer to control it and obtain measurements such as at least one temperature value.

[0024] Thus, it is proposed to use a single pyrometer for two drop zones corresponding to two distinct orifices. By automatically changing the orientation of the pyrometer, temperature measurements can be obtained for both orifices with this single pyrometer. Using a single pyrometer for multiple orifices is advantageous in terms of size and cost compared to using pyrometers dedicated to each orifice. Furthermore, using a single pyrometer is advantageous compared to measurements using sensors located near the orifices, as the measurement is taken remotely and the pyrometer experiences less wear.

[0025] By at least one temperature value, we mean one or more values ​​measured while the measuring axis of the pyrometer crosses the free-falling parison.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment, the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented by a rotation around an axis, for example an orientation in a horizontal plane and around a vertical axis.

[0027] Conventionally, the drop zones are substantially vertical. The orientation of the pyrometer or its measuring axis is then made around an axis which can be substantially vertical, so that the measuring axis of the pyrometer moves in rotation in a substantially horizontal plane.

[0028] An actuator can be used.

[0029] According to a first particular embodiment, the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented by driving, by means of an actuator, the pyrometer in rotation around a vertical axis.

[0030] Any rotating optical component can be used. In this particular embodiment, for example, at least one sensor of the pyrometer, such as a photodiode with an associated lens, is moved.

[0031] According to another particular embodiment, the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented by changing an orientation and / or a position of a mirror.

[0032] In this particular embodiment, the pyrometer itself can be kept static, and the rotation of its measuring axis is implemented by using an actuator linked to the mirror so that it enters into rotation (for example around a vertical axis) and / or movement. The mirror can thus be called a movable mirror, or even a motorized movable mirror.

[0033] By mirror, we mean a mirror which reflects the thermal radiation emitted by parisons.

[0034] According to a particular embodiment, when the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented towards a drop zone, a plurality of temperature values ​​of a parison falling into this drop zone is obtained.

[0035] In this particular embodiment, several values ​​are obtained for the same parison by several measurements. Since the measurements are carried out at distinct times (for example, spaced apart by the pyrometer's time sampling interval) and the parison is in free fall, the temperature values ​​obtained illustrate the temperature along the parison, in a substantially vertical direction.

[0036] By obtaining these multiple values, one can, in particular, determine a single value representative of the parison temperature, for example, by determining a mean or median value for the parison. One can also exclude extreme values ​​that may be erroneous. Finally, one can determine the difference between two measurements (or points of the parison) to illustrate a temperature disparity (for example, between a low and a high end of a parison). One can also determine the difference between two groups of measurements (or points of the parison), and determine the difference between two means or medians determined for each group, to obtain an even more precise illustration of a temperature disparity (for example, between a low and a high end of a parison).

[0037] In this implementation mode, it is therefore possible to implement a processing of the measurements for a comparison to determine one or more indicators for the comparison (mean, median, deviation, etc.).

[0038] According to a particular embodiment, the plurality of temperature values ​​is measured between a measurement start time and a measurement end time for the parison, the measurement start time and the measurement end time for a parison being defined with respect to a manufacturing time of that parison, the measurement start time being fixed so that it is preceded by a first exclusion period during which the measurement axis of the pyrometer crosses a lower end of the parison before the measurement start time, the measurement end time being fixed so that it is followed by a second exclusion period during which the measurement axis of the pyrometer crosses an upper end of the parison after the measurement end time.

[0039] It has been observed that the upper and lower ends of parisons have a rounded shape that is not precisely predetermined, making it difficult to accurately target the core of the parison (the center of the parison in the horizontal direction) to obtain a measurement that accurately reflects the parison temperature. It is therefore advantageous to consider only the temperature measurements between the lower and upper ends of the parisons.

[0040] The times mentioned here can be determined, for a parison, with respect to a time such as the time of cutting the parisons, i.e. the scissor-cutting stage, which the parison distributors and their control devices can determine in a way known per se.

[0041] From a given instant such as the cutting of a parison, one can determine the start time of the measurement for a first given exclusion period, and similarly, one can determine the end time of the measurement for a second given exclusion period. The parison's falling speed can be used for these purposes.

[0042] The two exclusion periods may be identical or different.

[0043] Exclusion periods can be fixed in terms of duration or number of measurement samples, for example.

[0044] According to a particular embodiment, each parison is associated with a forming section of a set of forming sections (the installation comprises a plurality of forming sections), and in which the measurement start time and / or the measurement end time and / or a duration that separates the measurement start time from the measurement end time are a function of the forming section associated with the parison and / or the discharge orifice of the parison (which further corresponds to a location or cavity number in the section).

[0045] It can be noted that the parisons formed simultaneously and falling freely into the first and second falling zone are intended for the same forming section.

[0046] This particular embodiment is well suited to installations in which different forming sections are intended for forming different containers requiring parisons of different masses. Parisons of lower mass will indeed be shorter than parisons of higher mass, so that the parisons of lower mass cross the pyrometer's measuring axis for a shorter time, which can lead to changes in the start and / or end times for the parisons of a given forming section. Also, due to the differing shape, the exclusion times may also be different for different sections.

[0047] The start time of measurement and / or the end time of measurement and / or a duration which separates the start time of measurement from the end time of measurement may in some cases be chosen to be different between two parisons delivered simultaneously from two different discharge orifices, which is advantageous to take into account a drift in the formation of a parison from one of the orifices.

[0048] According to a particular embodiment, the measuring axis of the pyrometer is kept static while the measuring axis crosses a parison, or the measuring axis of the pyrometer follows a given movement while the measuring axis crosses a parison.

[0049] In this particular embodiment, according to one variant, if the measurement axis is held static, for a parison in free fall, and if several values ​​are obtained for a parison, then these measurements are taken along a vertical axis. This variant of this embodiment is advantageous because it is simple to implement.

[0050] According to another embodiment, if the pyrometer's measuring axis follows a given movement, this movement allows it to adapt to a movement of the parison, such as a translation, a horizontal shift, or a pivot, or to an ongoing deformation of the parison, an inclination, or even to the shape of the parison, the parisons being deformed, for example, curved. One or more more precise measurements are thus obtained. In fact, if the pyrometer follows a given movement, it can adapt to the kinematics of the parisons.

[0051] The given movement or static holding can be implemented at least between the start and end times of measurement.

[0052] Also, in case of movement, the movement can be applied for a part of the total duration of the crossing by the measurement axis of the parison.

[0053] It can be noted that in the case of a given movement to be followed, an observation camera can be used to provide images to be analyzed to determine the given movement (for example, a parison is observed and the given movement is applied to that same parison or to a subsequent parison).

[0054] According to a particular embodiment, during an adjustment phase, the start time of measurement and the end time of measurement are determined for a parison of the first fall zone and for a parison of the second fall zone.

[0055] This adjustment phase can be implemented for the first time during the initial implementation of the process at the installation of the parison dispenser. The adjustment phase can also be implemented subsequently.

[0056] The adjustment phase can be implemented automatically, for example by continuously obtaining temperature values ​​read by the pyrometer to determine the start time and the measurement time relative to the time when the passage of the parison in front of the axis of the pyrometer begins.

[0057] The adjustment phase can also be implemented for each comparison.

[0058] According to a particular embodiment, the measuring axis follows a given movement determined during said adjustment phase, and the determination of the given movement is carried out at least from an analysis of images obtained by means of at least one observation camera of a region in which the measuring axis of the pyrometer can be oriented to obtain images of parisons falling from the first and second discharge orifice.

[0059] The use of a camera allows observation of the parisons to determine whether they extend along a vertical direction or are curved or inclined, or the camera allows observation of the movements or the complete kinematics of the parisons, namely their translations and / or rotations and / or deformations. Several cameras can allow for more precise observations of the shape or kinematics of the parisons, and this for all the orifices. The kinematics of the parisons refers to their movement during free fall (translation and / or rotation and / or trajectory and / or velocity) in two or three dimensions and / or their deformation during free fall.

[0060] According to a particular implementation method, the adjustment phase is repeated.

[0061] For example, the adjustment phase is repeated when an operator deems it necessary, or it is repeated regularly. This improves the accuracy of temperature measurements.

[0062] According to a particular embodiment, the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone are determined during a calibration phase.

[0063] According to a particular embodiment, the calibration phase involves a modification of the orientation of the pyrometer's measuring axis so that a scan of a region is performed by the measuring axis while several parisons fall from the first and second discharge orifices, the determination of the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone being carried out from at least one temperature measurement by the pyrometer during the sweep.

[0064] Thus, the measuring axis sweeps a region (for example, the sweep can be horizontal) and acquires one or more temperature values, with high values ​​indicating the position of a drop zone.

[0065] This calibration phase can be implemented once or several times.

[0066] According to a particular embodiment, at least one camera is used observation of a region in which the measurement axis of the pyrometer can be oriented to obtain images of parisons falling from the first and second discharge orifice, the determination of the position of the first fall zone and the position of the second fall zone being carried out at least from an analysis of said images.

[0067] This particular embodiment benefits advantageously from the presence of an observation camera to implement a calibration to determine the location of the fall zones.

[0068] According to a particular embodiment, based on a temperature value of a parison, a parameter of the glass parison distributor is modified.

[0069] As an example, the movement of the plungers, the cylinder, etc., can be modified as a parameter. The parameter can also be an operating parameter of the forecore, such as the action of an electric or combustion heating and / or cooling system.

[0070] Preferably, the pyrometer is an infrared optical pyrometer. In an example of a pyrometer, at least one photodiode receives the radiation from the molten glass of the parisons. A lens defines a focused measurement area on the parisons, with a diameter ranging from 1 to 10 mm, for example.

[0071] The spectral sensitivity of the pyrometer is determined according to whether one wishes to measure the surface or internal temperature of the parisons.

[0072] According to a particular embodiment, the pyrometer is bispectral.

[0073] This particular method of implementation makes it possible to neutralize the influence of emissivity.

[0074] It can be noted that an example of a bispectral pyrometer comprises two individual optoelectronic sensors, for example two photodiodes, each equipped with a bandpass interferometric filter, one centered on a first wavelength, the other centered on a second wavelength different from the first. For example, the infrared radiation along the measurement axis of the pyrometer mentioned above can, in the direction of radiation propagation, pass through an entrance window of a closed and temperature-controlled box, passes through an optical focusing system, then reaches a beam splitter.

[0075] In the direction of the infrared light's path, from the parisons, the radiation passes through an inlet window in a closed and tempered box, passes through an optical focusing system, then reaches a blade or cube beam splitter so that each of the half-beams passes through a bandpass interference filter to arrive at the sensitive surface of each of the two individual pyrometers.

[0076] As an example, a pyrometer such as that marketed by the German company OPTRIS GmbH under the trade name CTratio IM may be used.

[0077] Alternatively, a photodiode can also be used, which a person skilled in the art can choose according to the application.

[0078] The invention also relates to a device for measuring the temperature of glass parisons delivered by a glass parison dispenser of a glass article forming installation, the glass parison dispenser having a plurality of discharge orifices from which glass parisons fall freely into drop zones specific to each discharge orifice, the device comprising a pyrometer equipped with a measuring axis, the measuring axis of the pyrometer being orientable by means of an actuator of the device to be oriented: - towards a first drop zone from a first discharge orifice, the pyrometer then being able to obtain at least one temperature value from a parison falling into the first drop zone, and - towards a second drop zone from a second discharge orifice, the pyrometer then being able to obtain at least one temperature value from a parison falling into the second drop zone.

[0079] This device can be configured to implement any of the implementation modes of the process as defined above.

[0080] According to a particular embodiment, the device includes a mirror that can be oriented by said actuator, the measuring axis of the pyrometer passing through the mirror.

[0081] According to a particular embodiment, the actuator is a stepper motor or a galvanometer-type actuator.

[0082] According to a particular embodiment, the pyrometer is arranged in a housing of the device, the housing being equipped with a cooler.

[0083] According to a particular embodiment, the device comprises at least a pyrometer control and command system connected to the pyrometer and the actuator.

[0084] This control and command system may have a computer system structure.

[0085] According to a particular embodiment, the device includes at least one observation camera connected to the pyrometer's control and command system.

[0086] According to a particular embodiment, the pyrometer control and command system is connected to, or forms part of, a process control system.

[0087] The process control system may have a computer system structure. It allows, for example, action on process operating parameters such as a foreheart parameter which brings the molten glass at a chosen temperature to the parison dispenser, the operation of one or more plungers and / or the parison dispenser cylinder, the shears, the forming machine, the opening and closing of the molds of the different sections, the transfers of the blanks to the finishing molds, the transfers of the containers from the finishing molds to a container transport conveyor, etc.

[0088] The invention also relates to a glass article forming installation, comprising a device as defined above according to any of its embodiments, and said glass parison dispenser. Brief description of the drawings

[0089] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an article molding installation made of glass comprising a device equipped with a pyrometer whose measuring axis can reach two drop zones.

[0090] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a schematic representation of a calibration phase for example.

[0091] [Fig.3A] The [Fig.3A] is a schematic representation of a parison.

[0092] [Fig.3B] The [Fig.3B] is a schematic representation of another comparison.

[0093] [Fig.3C] The [Fig.3C] is a schematic representation of yet another comparison.

[0094] [Fig.3D] The [Fig.3D] is a schematic representation of yet another comparison, moving.

[0095] [Fig.3E] The [Fig.3E] is a schematic representation of yet another parison, in motion.

[0096] [Fig.3F] Fig.3F is a schematic representation of yet another comparison, moving.

[0097] [Fig.3G] The [Fig.3G] is a schematic representation of a parison with movement of the measuring axis of a pyrometer.

[0098] [Fig.4] Fig.4 shows the treatment of several parisons and how Portions of parisons are excluded.

[0099] [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic representation showing the assembly of a pyrometer in a case. Description of the implementation methods

[0100] . Fig. 1 illustrates in a partial and schematic way an example of an embodiment of a glass molding installation 10. The installation 10 includes, in particular, a forming machine 11 comprising several separate forming sections 12 (only one section is shown in the figure), each of which has several molds 14 having at least one molding cavity 16 (two molds with two cavities are shown in the figure). The installation 10 and the forming machine include a glass parison dispenser 18 that delivers parisons of malleable glass, i.e., hot glass. Although not visible in the figure, in a manner known per se, the dispenser 18 is fed by an element called the foreheart, which brings molten glass at a chosen temperature to a crucible (or bowl) SPT of the dispenser 18. In the bowl, a cylinder 19 is driven in rotation about a vertical axis and can move along a vertical axis to act as a siphon and bring the glass to discharge ports.

[0101] The distributor 18 is configured to simultaneously deliver two parisons visible in the figure, P_1 and P_2. In the section of the distributor 18 visible in the figure, a first plunger 17_1 and a second plunger 17_2 are seen, both configured to move in a vertical reciprocating motion (illustrated by a double arrow in the figure) to push the molten glass through, respectively, a first discharge orifice OR_1 and a second discharge orifice OR_2. Parison P_1 falls freely from discharge orifice OR_1 into a first drop zone Z_1, and parison P_2 falls freely from discharge orifice OR_2 into a second drop zone Z_2.

[0102] The invention is not limited to dispensers with two orifices and also applies to dispensers with more orifices, for example three or four.

[0103] To obtain the parisons, the glass pushed through the orifices forms an extruded section which is cut by shears 22 (the so-called scissor-cutting step). Here, two blades for each orifice symbolically represent the shears 22. The shear blades are actuated in a relative horizontal translational motion (rotational motions are also possible). The parisons P_1 and P_2 are cut during the same shear movement, which corresponds to simultaneous formation. It should be noted that the shears are not actually actuated in the direction shown in the figure, but rather in the direction orthogonal to the plane of the figure, i.e., in the direction orthogonal to a line passing through the orifices; the representation in the figure is simplified to facilitate understanding of the system.

[0104] The parisons P_1 and P_2 are extruded sections of malleable glass as cut by the shear 22. Such parisons are sometimes called drops. In language In English, a parison is, at this stage of the forming process, called a "gob." The malleable glass, at the point of cutting by the shear 22, generally has a temperature above 900°C, for example, between 1100 and 1300°C. A parison is generally considered to be a solid cylinder of malleable glass of a certain length, for which a central axis corresponding to the length of the parison can be defined. In this text, it is understood that parisons are not, in reality, perfect cylinders. This will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 3A to 3G.

[0105] . According to the perfect cylinder assumption, the time interval between two The actuation of the shears 22 determines the length, weight, and volume of the parisons, since the cross-section of the parisons is determined by the orifice of constant diameter. In reality, the glass flow rate is determined by the movement of the plungers and the height of the cylinder. Since the flow rate varies, the cross-section of the parisons is not uniform along their length. Furthermore, in the "multiweight" case, the movement of the plungers and the movement of the shears allow for different weights to be obtained for the different sections.

[0106] The distributor 18 of malleable glass parisons is arranged above the forming machine 11, and therefore above the molds 14 of the forming sections 12, to allow the distribution of the parisons by gravity. A delivery system 20 generally comprises a set of steerable spoons 20a, chutes 20b, and deflectors 20c constituting conduits for the parisons, arranged to receive the parisons and direct them to their respective forming sections. To this end, at the lower end of each drop zone Z_1 or Z_2, a spoon specific to each drop zone is arranged to receive a parison and guide it into a conduit 20b from which the parisons exit, encountering a deflector 20c which deflects the parison to orient it towards the cavity 16 corresponding to the deflector 20c.A delivery system comprising a spoon, a chute, and a deflector is provided for each forming cavity, two cavities having been shown in the figure.

[0107] Machines for forming hollow glass articles employ various processes combining mold filling steps followed by successive pressing and / or blowing. For clarity of description, the example is taken from the forming of bottles according to the known processes known as press-blown or blow-blown.

[0108] In bottle forming machines, each forming section 12 can have several cavities, for example two as shown in the figure, each receiving a mold; in other words, each section receives two parisons in two so-called roughing molds, one mold for each parison to be transformed into rough draft, the two rough drafts then being transferred into finishing molds not shown where they take their final container shape.

[0109] Each section could comprise a set of roughing dies and a set of finishing dies, a set of dies being composed of several dies of the same forming section, relating to the same forming stage, and generally opening and closing simultaneously. In this case, it is understood that a given parison is guided by the delivery system 20 to a roughing dynamometer, for example, a roughing dynamometer of the forming section where the parison undergoes a first forming operation, called drilling, performed by blowing compressed air or by penetrating a punch. A transfer system (not shown) is then capable of removing the parison that has undergone the first forming operation, namely the roughing, from the roughing dynamometer to a secondary dynamometer, generally called the finishing dynamometer, where the roughing can undergo at least a second forming operation, the final operation being called finishing.Generally, each roughing and / or finishing mold of a forming section includes two half-molds which are movable relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to a parting plane by which the two half-molds are in contact in a closed position.

[0110] Each section 12 naturally includes, in the case where the distributor has two orifices as shown in the figure, two molding cavities 16, specifically for parison P_1 and for parison P_2. Indeed, the distributor 18, via the shears 22, simultaneously delivers several parisons, and as many as there are forming cavities in a forming section. It is therefore understood that the forming sections are fed with parisons successively, one after the other, with all the cavities of a section being fed at the same time. Thus, two forming sections can be fed one after the other through the same hot glass distributor 18. Two distinct sections are not fed at the same time.

[0111] The delivery system 20 therefore collects the parisons cut by the shear 22 and leads each one towards a forming cavity of a forming section according to a loading trajectory represented by discontinuous lines corresponding to a forming cavity 16.

[0112] The delivery system is used to guide each parison to the correct section. For example, in an IS (Individual Section) machine comprising several sections, each with two cavities, the set of steerable spoons 20a rotates around a vertical axis to collect the pairs of parisons coming from the source and direct or address them to the pairs of chutes, such as the conduits 20b, corresponding to several forming sections each parison of each pair being loaded into the 2 respective cavities of each addressed section.

[0113] Here, the control and synchronization of the parison formation operations, the shearing operation of the shear 22, the movement of the molds, the movement of the plunger(s) of the parison distributor, the movement of the cylinder, the blowing, the transfer, etc., are carried out by means of a process control system 44, which makes it possible to control movements with actuators of any type, such as those operating on pneumatic or electrical power. The process control system 44, for example, has a computer electronic system structure (which may include one or more computer subsystems communicating with each other), connected to the actuators and sensors of the installation, programmable, and generally equipped with a human-machine interface.As will be detailed later, the electronic control is capable of exchanging synchronization signals, control signals or installation status information from sensors with any internal or external component, including sensors or actuators, for example via a wired, wireless or mixed communication network.

[0114] In the example of [Fig. 1], the installation 10 includes the process control system 44, of which a pyrometer control and command system 42 (the pyrometer will be described below) may be a part, or with which the pyrometer control and command system 42 may communicate electronically. The control and command system 42 may have a computer system structure.

[0115] In fact, in such an installation, the operation of all the elements is necessarily coordinated and follows regular cycles. For example, the following are controlled by the process control system (possibly using information from the pyrometer control and command system 42): the foreheart which brings the molten glass at a chosen temperature to the parison dispenser 18, the operation of one or more plungers 17 and / or the cylinder 19 of the parison dispenser 18, the shears 22, the forming machine 11 (which operates according to these cycles), the opening and closing of the molds of the different sections, the transfers of the blanks to the finishing molds, the transfers of the containers from the finishing molds to a container transport conveyor, etc.

[0116] The process control system 44, and the pyrometer control and command system 42, may therefore comprise at least one standard computer, including at least one microprocessor, one or more electronic memory units, and one or more display interfaces (screen, projector, holographic display, etc.), input interfaces (keyboard, mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, etc.), and / or communication interfaces (USB, Ethernet®, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, etc.). The control system of the The process 44 and the pyrometer control system 42 may include a computer network sharing data with one or more other computers on the network, or with other networks, for example via an internet protocol or Ethernet. The computer system 44 may be connected to sensors providing status information for the installation, and / or to actuators of the installation (conveyors, ejectors, etc.). The computer system implements one or more software programs, stored and / or executed locally or remotely, including on one or more remote computer servers. The computer system 44 may be connected to the pyrometer control system 42 as a sensor, which provides it with measurement results for parisons, at least the parison temperature measurements from the pyrometer.

[0117] Particularly useful information in controlling the forming machine 11 is the temperature of the parisons. Here, it is proposed to use a pyrometer 100 to measure the temperature of the parisons coming from the parison dispenser 18. The pyrometer 100 communicates the measured temperature values ​​to the pyrometer control system 42, which processes them and transmits them to the process control system 44 so that, based on the parison temperature values, the process control system 44 can control one of the operating parameters of: the foreheart, which brings the molten glass at a chosen temperature to the parison dispenser 18, and / or the operation of one or more plungers 17, and / or the cylinder 19 of the parison dispenser 18, and / or the operation of the shear 22, etc.

[0118] Alternatively or in addition, the pyrometer 100 communicates the measured temperature values ​​to an operator via a human-machine interface such as a display screen connected to the pyrometer control and command system 42 and / or the process control system 44.

[0119] The pyrometer 100 has a measuring axis A100 that can be oriented to reach the different drop zones of the parisons. Thus, the measuring axis A100 of the pyrometer can be oriented in a substantially horizontal plane PM and can therefore assume different angular positions α. In [Fig. 1], the axis A100 passes through the drop zone Z_2 of the parison P_2. More precisely, the axis A100 intersects the trajectory of the parison P_2 such that this axis passes through the center of the parison as it falls.

[0120] After measuring one or more temperatures of one or more parisons delivered by the second orifice OR_2, the measuring axis A100 can be driven to reach the drop zone Z_1 to measure one or more temperature values ​​of parisons such as parison P_1.

[0121] Thus, it is proposed to use a single pyrometer to measure parison temperatures from different orifices of a parison dispenser.

[0122] The determination of the position of the drop zones Z_1 and Z_2 for the orientation of the axis of the pyrometer will be described below.

[0123] Although not mandatory, in [Fig. 1], an observation camera 30 configured for observing a region comprising the two drop zones Z_1 and Z_2 is also shown. The observation camera can be used to communicate images to the control and command system of the pyrometer 42, which can also acquire and analyze images.Based on these images, the pyrometer control system 42 can determine, in addition to temperatures, information about the parisons such as their dimensions, volumes, masses, shapes, and kinematics, and then communicate this information to the process control system 44. Based on this information, the process control system 44 can control one of the operating parameters of: the foreheart, which delivers the molten glass at a chosen temperature to the parison dispenser 18; and / or the operation of one or more plungers 17; and / or the cylinder 19 of the parison dispenser 18; and / or the operation of the shear 22, etc. In particular, the observation camera 30 can be used to determine parameters of the parisons or their drops, which are useful for determining the orientation of the pyrometer's measuring axis, for a more precise determination of parison temperature values.

[0124] It should be noted that although called the pyrometer control and command system 42, this system can also and possibly implement processes that do not use information from the pyrometer but use information from other sensors, such as the observation camera. The observation camera allows for monitoring of the parisons, which can lead to the modification of one of the said operating parameters, even without taking into account the parison temperature.

[0125] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the implementation of a calibration phase in which the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone are determined. This calibration phase can be implemented during the initial use of the forming installation and / or the installation of the parison temperature measurement device including the pyrometer, but it can also be implemented subsequently, for example, after a given period, possibly several times recurrently.

[0126] The calibration phase aims to determine the position of the drop zones Z_1 and Z_2, which are represented in the figure, on the left, by cylindrical sections encompassing the parisons, extending from the discharge orifices to the spoons, i.e., the inlet of the delivery. Ideally, the parisons fall freely along the main axis of these cylinders, and for accurate measurement, the aim is to have the axis of the pyrometer intersect this main axis of the cylinders. cylinders, expected at the center of the parisons. The parisons fall parallel to the z-axis visible in the figure.

[0127] During the calibration phase, the parison dispenser 18 can deliver parisons for a given period. During this period, the pyrometer's measuring axis can be adjusted so that one or more sweeps of a given region are performed by the measuring axis A100 while several parisons fall from the first and second discharge orifices. During a sweep, the measuring axis takes all angular positions α in the substantially horizontal plane PM (coinciding with the XY plane in the figure), between a lower limiting angular position αINF and an upper limiting angular position αSUP. In the figure, angle α intersects the second drop zone Z_2 and passes through the center of a parison P_2.

[0128] Preferably the pyrometer is an infrared optical pyrometer.

[0129] In what follows, temperature refers to the digital measurement of the electrical signal (which may be analog) delivered by the pyrometer. Preferably, the electrical signal is sampled by the pyrometer's control system 42, with a given sampling period, and each sample is digitized to constitute a digital temperature measurement. Furthermore, in the case where the pyrometer is bispectral, each temperature results from a quotient calculation based on a value for one wavelength and a value for the other wavelength. Alternatively, the pyrometer itself delivers temperature information in digital form to the pyrometer's control system 42.

[0130] The right-hand portion of Figure 2 shows the result of the scan during the given scan period B in the form of a graph. The x-axis represents the different positions of the angle α, and the y-axis shows a temperature value T_P. The temperature value T_P can correspond to an average temperature measured by the pyrometer during a sub-period of the given period for each possible angular position α.

[0131] As can be seen from the graph, two temperature peaks are observed. The local maxima TMAX1 and TMAX2 of these peaks each correspond to the central position of a parison, respectively parisons P_1 and P_2. The angular position a_1 corresponds to the maximum TMAX_1 while the angular position a_2 corresponds to the maximum TMAX_2.

[0132] It can be noted that a temperature threshold T_TH is used here to consider only local maxima exceeding this temperature threshold T_TH. An operator can set this threshold during the calibration phase, or it can be set beforehand. Alternatively, to the maximum values ​​TMAX2 (respectively TMAX1), the angular positions a_1' (respectively a_2') can be obtained. like the middle of the regions of the curve above a threshold temperature level T_TH2.

[0133] The calibration phase can be implemented using the pyrometer control and command system 42. The determination of the angular positions a_1 and a_2 (or a_l' and a_2') is then used to orient the pyrometer's measuring axis between these two positions.

[0134] It is understood that although described for two parisons, the calibration phase can be implemented for a parison distributor distributing more than two parisons simultaneously, for example 3 or 4.

[0135] It can be noted that, alternatively, an observation camera 30 can be used to determine the position of the drop zones Z_1 and Z_2 and the angular positions a_1 and a_2. Several cameras can also be used to implement the determination of the position of the drop zones.

[0136] As explained above, a parison can be simplified to be considered as a cylindrical section. We will now describe in more detail some possible actual shapes of glass parisons.

[0137] Figure 3A represents a substantially cylindrical parison, that is, close to a cylinder of revolution, with a straight generatrix and a circular direction curve. As can be seen in the figure, the upper extremity P_EXT_SUP and the lower extremity P_EXT_INF of the parison are rounded, the parison containing molten liquid glass. A measurement in which the pyrometer axis is pointed towards these extremities would not accurately reflect the temperature of the parison because these portions are thinner, of rather variable shape, and are often the site of reflection of stray infrared radiation. It is therefore preferable to consider only temperature values ​​measured between the two extremities P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF. Thus, the preferred area for orienting the pyrometer measurement axis is the central portion P_C of the parison, located between the limits LIM_SUP and LIM_INF beyond which these extremities begin.The central portion between two section planes P_INF and P_SUP placed at the height of LIM_INF and LIM_SUP is approximately in the shape of a cylinder of revolution. When, from the pyrometer, the parison has the appearance visible in [Fig. 3A], the ideal measurement area is the central portion referenced P_M in the figure, i.e., the axis of the cylinder of the central portion P_C.

[0138] Below, we will describe how to exclude the two extremities P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF of the measurements.

[0139] The parison in [Fig. 3A] is a near-ideal parison. Parisons can assume other positions and shapes during their fall. For example, [Fig. 3B] shows a parison curved so that, viewed from the pyrometer, its lower end points to the right. [Fig. 3C] shows a parison curved so When observed from the pyrometer, its lower end points to the left. As can be seen in the figure, measuring with the pyrometer axis held at a fixed angular position leads to a deviation from the center of the parison and does not result in an accurate measurement.

[0140] Figure 3D schematically shows a parison falling freely while inclined, which poses the same difficulties as for the measurements of the parisons in Figures 3B and 3D. This is also the case for the parison in Figure 3E, which is carried along in a rotational motion during its fall.

[0141] Figure 3F shows a parison which, during its fall, moves in translation to the right. Maintaining the pyrometer's measuring axis during the fall of this parison also leads to inaccuracies in the measurements.

[0142] In a variant shown in [Fig. 3G], it is proposed not to keep the pyrometer's measuring axis static during the acquisition of temperature values ​​for a parison, but to make it follow a given movement. For example, excluding the two ends P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF from the measurements, the pyrometer's measuring axis can be oriented during the fall of the parison so as to always reach the center of the parison as seen from the pyrometer. The given movement MVT is, in the illustrated example, a movement from right to left, and it allows temperature values ​​to be measured along the central portion P_M_T adapted to the shape of the parison.

[0143] It can be noted that one can also follow a given movement without excluding the extremities.

[0144] Measurements can also be taken within the parison area delimited by the boundary lines LMG and LMD, possibly for several parisons, to obtain a temperature map in the plane of the figure. Thus, temperature measurements are possible to the right and left of the measurement line P_M or P_M_T, between the boundary lines LMG and LMD. For example, measurements can be taken along the boundary line LMG for one parison, along the measurement line P_M or P_M_T for another parison, and along the boundary line LMD for yet another parison. Alternatively, a map can be created by scanning between the boundary lines LMT and LMD for a parison. The boundary lines LMG and LMD can correspond to the contours of the parisons, or be located within these contours, particularly if interference such as reflections on the parison contours are observed.

[0145] The determination of the given motion MVT can be implemented by the control and command system of the pyrometer 42 during an adjustment phase implemented regularly, for example after the expiration of a delay. This adjustment phase can be implemented by means of one or more cameras observations such as the camera 30 described in reference to [Fig.1]. An analysis of the images from this camera by the control and command system of the pyrometer 42, can make it possible to determine the shape and / or kinematics of the parison seen by the pyrometer and to determine the given movement to be applied.

[0146] It can be noted that this given movement may be specific to a single parison, or it may be the same for several successive parisons, the successive parisons varying little in shape from one another (originating from the same discharge orifice). Since the forming sections can receive parisons of different masses (typically if different sections are intended for forming different containers), the given movement may also be different for different sections. The deviations between the ideal situation 3A and the actual situation 3G result from drift phenomena, for example, of the parison distributor 18 or the scissor cutter, but the drift may be quite slow compared to the forming cycle of the successive parisons.For each type of parison corresponding to a target section and cavity, we can then use the shape and / or kinematic measurements from the observation camera 30 for a parison, in order to determine the trajectory P_M_T of the temperature measurement of one or more subsequent parisons intended for the same section / cavity.

[0147] The adjustment phase may also include the determination by the pyrometer control system 42 of the two ends P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF, and more specifically, the determination of the excluded durations during which the measuring axis crosses the ends P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF. This determination may be specific to each parison or common to several successive parisons (but originating from the same discharge orifice). Since the forming sections may receive parisons of different masses (typically if different sections are intended for forming different containers), this determination may also be different between sections; that is, a determination is associated with each section.

[0148] Figure 4 shows an acquisition and orientation sequence of the pyrometer's observation axis, as well as how the ends P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF are excluded during temperature measurements. In the left-hand portion of this figure, the operation of the shear 22 (instants CX in the figure) is shown as a function of time, along with various observation times of the two parisons falling simultaneously in free fall: I_1, I_2, I_3, I_4, and I_5. These observation times correspond to an image that could be acquired by an observation camera such as the camera 30 described above.

[0149] In the explanation of [Fig. 4], the camera 30 is a line camera whose field of view is contained in a horizontal plane. The image lines, i.e. the one-dimensional arrays of pixels, successively acquired can be juxtaposed to to constitute a matrix image, whose ordinates correspond to time but also to the vertical direction Z due to the free fall of the parisons, and the abscissas to the angle alpha or to the direction X of the [Fig.2].

[0150] By convention, in the figure, the parisons shown in black lines and filled in white are those towards which the pyrometer axis is oriented, and the parisons filled in black are those towards which the pyrometer axis is not oriented. The figure also shows the two angular positions a_1 and cr_2 and how the pyrometer's measuring axis moves from one to the other after temperature measurements for one or more parisons.

[0151] In the illustrated example, at the earliest instant (at the bottom of the figure), the pyrometer's measuring axis is oriented according to the angular position tz_2 to reach the parisons P_2. Temperature values ​​are acquired, for example with a given acquisition step, for a duration D_A delimited by periods during which portions corresponding to the ends of the parisons are excluded, as explained above. Thus, the observation instant corresponds to an image acquisition instant, triggered at a particular instant that can be defined relative to the last instant CX.

[0152] For the observation time I_2, the pyrometer always has its observation axis at position a_2. Temperatures are acquired during the duration D_A.

[0153] Next, the observation axis of the pyrometer is oriented towards the angular position a_1 so that for the next parisons, visible at observation time I_3, the observation axis of the pyrometer intersects the parisons P_1. Temperatures are acquired during the duration D_A for the parisons visible at observation time I_3. For the following observation time I_4, the observation axis of the pyrometer is maintained at the angular position a_1. Temperatures are acquired during the duration D_A for the parisons visible at observation time I_4.

[0154] Next, the observation axis of the pyrometer is oriented towards the angular position a_2 so that for the next parisons, visible at the observation time I_5, the observation axis of the pyrometer crosses the parisons P_2. The temperatures are acquired during the duration D_A for the parisons visible at the observation time I_5.

[0155] The image obtained at the observation time I_5 is also enlarged in the right part of the image.

[0156] In this enlargement, it can be seen that from the operation of the shear 22, an initial time interval D_I elapses before an image is acquired by an observation camera (to obtain the image shown in the figure). The time interval D_I is chosen so that the parisons are clearly visible in the acquired image. For the linear camera, D_I is the time between the shear cut and the first line used to construct the image to be processed.

[0157] Upon expiration of the duration D_I (already fixed, like the other durations mentioned below, during a prior adjustment phase), for measurements concerning the parisons P_2, a duration D_INF_2 elapses before the acquisition of measurements begins during the duration D_A. The duration D_INF_2 is chosen so that the measurement start time (start of D_A) is preceded by an initial exclusion duration D_EX_INF_2 during which the pyrometer's measurement axis intersects the lower end of the parison. For example, D_EX_INF_2 can be chosen to correspond to approximately 10% of the height of a parison.

[0158] The durations D_INF_2 and D_EX_INF_2 may be specific to parison P_2, and therefore different from the durations D_INF_1 and D_EX_INF_1 (the exclusion duration for parison P_1, for the lower end), respectively. Alternatively, they may be identical. Also, these durations may be specific to a section, and differ for parisons intended for different sections (in particular if different sections are intended for the formation of different containers).

[0159] During the duration D_A, several temperature values ​​are acquired, and it is possible to implement a processing to obtain a single value representative of the temperature of a paraison (for example an average).

[0160] The duration D_A is identical here for parisons P_1 and P_2. Alternatively, it may be different for different parisons. Also, it may be different for parisons intended for different sections (in particular if different sections are intended for the formation of different containers).

[0161] After the elapsed time D_A, and therefore after the measurement end time, for parison P_2, a second exclusion time D_EX_SUP_2 elapses during which the pyrometer's measuring axis intersects the upper end of the parison. For example, D_EX_SUP_2 can be chosen to correspond to approximately 10% of the height of a parison. The time D_EX_SUP_2 can be specific to parison P_2, and therefore different from the time D_EX_SUP_1 (the exclusion time for parison P_1, for the upper end). Alternatively, they can be identical. Also, these times can be specific to a section and differ for parisons intended for different sections (in particular if different sections are intended for the formation of different containers).

[0162] Setting the exclusion durations D_EX_INF_X (with X indicating the discharge orifice), D_EX_SUP_X, D_INF_X, and even D_A can be implemented during an adjustment phase in which an image acquired by the observation camera is processed. Furthermore, the start and end times of these durations can be expressed relative to the preceding time CX.

[0163] With some adaptations, one or more matrix cameras can also be used, synchronized to the scissor cut, i.e. triggered at least once times after a chosen delay following each scissor cut. If the free-field height of the camera and the height of the parisons are such that the parisons are observed in their entirety in one image, a single acquisition is sufficient after each scissor cut, but in this case it may be advantageous to acquire several successive images of each parison in free fall to determine the kinematics of the parisons. If the free-field height of the matrix camera and the height of the parisons are such that only portions of the parisons are observed, acquiring several successive images is preferable, the successive images being assembled, for example, into a result image that contains an observation of entire parisons. In all cases of use of a matrix camera 30, an image such as the one shown to the right of [Fig.4] can be obtained during a preliminary adjustment phase in which the exclusion durations D_EX_INF_X (with X indicating the discharge orifice), D_EX_SUP_X, D_INF_X, and even D_A can be determined. The duration D_I can be a value determined a priori as a trigger delay for the acquisition of a matrix image.

[0164] [Fig.5] shows in more detail the operation of a pyrometer 100, for example the pyrometer 100 used in the installation of [Fig. 1].

[0165] Here, the pyrometer is capable of measuring temperatures for an installation in which the parison dispenser simultaneously delivers three parisons P_1, P_2, and P_3 (the dispenser is equipped with three discharge ports aligned along a line, in a P-P' plane).

[0166] In the figure, the measuring axis A100 of the pyrometer is oriented towards parison P_3 (and its center). To achieve this orientation, a steerable mirror 110 is used. For example, this mirror can be rotated around a vertical axis (orthogonal to the plane of the figure, i.e., the Z-axis) to reach, from the position shown in solid line in the figure, the position 110' and orient the measuring axis, for example, towards parison P_2. The rotation of the mirror can be implemented by any suitable type of actuator, and in particular by means of a stepper motor or a galvanometer-type actuator. Another mirror 120 is then used, if necessary, to direct the reflected beam towards the pyrometer 100. The mirrors used are adapted for the operating wavelengths of the pyrometer's measuring module.

[0167] Although not shown in the figure, a beam splitter can be used along with two individual pyrometers for bispectral operation (the two individual pyrometers forming a bispectral pyrometer). However, complete bispectral pyrometers are commercially available and can be used.

[0168] Advantageously, the pyrometer 100 is arranged in a housing 101, which is provided with at least one window 150 through which the radiation from the comparisons, and transparent for the operating wavelengths of the pyrometer 100.

[0169] Observation cameras 130 and 130' can also be arranged in the housing 101 for implementing the adjustment phases described above (the optional observation camera 130' is shown as a dashed line). These cameras, two in number here, each have a field of view that covers the region where the three parisons P_1, P_2, and P_3 fall in free fall. The housing 101 is provided with windows 151 and 152 for the observation cameras 130 and 130', respectively.

[0170] The housing 101 is advantageous in that it protects the pyrometer. In particular, it can be equipped with a cooler to maintain the most stable temperature possible, for example, so that it is kept within a temperature range of plus or minus 0.2°C around a given value. The cooler can be a Peltier system or a vortex system.

[0171] Although not mandatory, mirrors 110 and 120 are also mounted in housing 101 for protection as well.

[0172] The use of cameras allows a computer 160 to determine on an image 1301 (acquired by means of the observation camera 130) or on an image 1301' (acquired by means of the observation camera 130') parameters of the parisons P_1, P_2, and P_3 such as the position (to adjust the angular positions corresponding to each of the parisons), the shape (to adjust the movement to be applied to the measurement axis during the measurement), or the movement of the parisons (to adjust the movement to be applied to the measurement axis during the measurement).

[0173] The calculator 170 is then used to determine the angular positions and / or movements to be applied to the measurement axis on the basis of the image or images obtained.

[0174] It can be noted that the calculators 160 and 170 can be implemented within the control and command system of the pyrometer 42, for example, or within another system having a computer system structure.

[0175] It can be noted that the arrangement shown in the figure to the left of the parisons can be duplicated, for example with another pyrometer in a similar housing, arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the P-P' plane. The observation cameras 130 and 130' can also be duplicated, symmetrically with respect to the P-P' plane, to determine more precisely the shape of the parisons or their kinematics. The observation cameras 130 and 130' can also be placed on either side of the P-P' plane to determine more precisely the shape of the parisons or their kinematics.

[0176] It can be noted that the pyrometer accompanied by a system having a computer system structure and capable of determining measurement axis orientations as described above forms a device for measuring the temperature of glass parisons according to an example.

[0177] A method for measuring the temperature of glass parisons delivered by a glass parison dispenser from a glass article forming installation is also proposed, the glass parison dispenser having at least one discharge orifice from which glass parisons fall freely into a drop zone proper to said at least one discharge orifice, wherein a measuring axis of a pyrometer is oriented towards a first drop zone from a first discharge orifice to obtain at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the first drop zone, and the measuring axis follows a given movement during the obtaining of said at least one temperature value.

[0178] This method proposes applying a given movement to a parison, as previously described with regard to the given movement MVT, but without switching from one parison to another parison with a different orifice. This method improves the accuracy of measurements for a parison, particularly for parison dispensers equipped with a single orifice.

[0179] The examples described above apply, except those concerning the determination of several fall zones, since the determination of a single fall zone is sufficient.

[0180] In particular, the adjustment and determination phases of said durations are identical.

[0181] The devices and methods described above make it possible to obtain good accuracy on the temperature values ​​obtained, for example with an error of plus or minus 3°C, or even on the order of plus or minus 1°C.

[0182] It can be noted that for a parison, an average temperature value can be obtained (using the values ​​acquired during the duration D_A), and that statistical processing can be implemented for several parisons (for example, parisons from the same discharge orifice). Thus, a moving average temperature can be determined for several parisons, and it is possible to determine a temperature trend or drift.

[0183] It can be noted that it is also possible to determine a maximum temperature difference within one or more parisons.

[0184] As indicated above, it is possible to measure the temperature along a non-centered measurement line, such as the boundary lines LMG and LMD in Figures 3A and 3G (designated as boundaries because they horizontally delimit an area in which measurements can be taken). The measurement axis can be directed to aim at these measurement lines. This makes it possible to map temperature measurement points distributed vertically and horizontally on parisons in order to to determine, as a measure of temperature, temperature distribution measurements, in other words to map the temperatures of the parisons.

[0185] It can also be noted that the processing of pyrometer measurements may include filtering steps. For example, filtering measurements may consist of eliminating certain values ​​due to optical noise, such as reflections or the presence of water and / or grease droplets appearing on or in front of the parisons, from displayed or communicated temperatures, or calculated statistics.

[0186] The temperatures of parisons with different orifices can also be compared to each other in order to obtain information on the homogeneity of the temperature of the glass in the crucible.

[0187] The present invention is not limited to systems for manufacturing hollow glass objects such as containers. It applies to any method for forming glass objects in which molten glass is conveyed and prepared to feed a system for the simultaneous forming of several glass parisons intended to be transformed from the forming cavities, in particular by pressing and / or blowing.

[0188] Finally, it can be noted that the control and command system of the pyrometer 42 can: control the orientation of the measuring axis A100 of the pyrometer, implement the calibration or adjustment phases, implement the measurement phases (obtaining temperature values, with for example sampling and analog-to-digital conversion of the measured temperature values, calculating averages, etc.), deliver the measurements to the system 44 (which controls the various elements of the installation), determine the durations mentioned above such as (D_INF_X, D_EX_INF_X, D_A, etc.) and the other parameters mentioned in connection with [Fig.4],

[0189] Also, the control system 42 can be equipped with a human-machine interface. This can allow the display and input of operating parameters of the pyrometer or its measurements. This human-machine interface can be the same as that of system 44 or a different interface. It can also be an interface of the installation or the forming machine.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for measuring the temperature of glass parisons delivered by a glass parison dispenser (18) of a glass article forming installation (10, 11), the glass parison dispenser having a plurality of discharge ports (OR_1, OR_2) from which glass parisons fall freely into drop zones (Z_1, Z_2) specific to each discharge port, wherein a measuring axis (A100) of a pyrometer (100) is oriented towards a first drop zone of a first discharge port to obtain at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the first drop zone, and the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented from the first zone towards a second drop zone of a second discharge port to obtain at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the second drop zone.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented by a rotation around an axis (Z), for example in a horizontal plane.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented by driving, by means of an actuator, the pyrometer in rotation around a vertical axis.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented by changing an orientation and / or a position of a mirror (110).

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented towards a drop zone, a plurality of temperature values ​​of a parison falling into that drop zone are obtained.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of temperature values ​​is measured between a measurement start time and a measurement end time for the parison, the measurement start time and measurement end time for a parison being defined relative to a manufacturing time of that parison (CX), the measurement start time being fixed such that it is preceded by a first exclusion period (D_EX_INF_1, D_EX_INF_2) during which the pyrometer's measuring axis crosses a lower end (P_EXT_INF) of the parison before the start time of measurement, the measurement end time being fixed so that it is followed by a second exclusion time (D_EX_SUP_1, D_EX_SUP_2) during which the measurement axis of the pyrometer crosses an upper end (P_EXT_SUP) of the parison after the measurement end time.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein each parison is associated with a forming section of a set of forming sections, and wherein the measurement start time and / or the measurement end time and / or a duration (D_A) that separates the measurement start time from the measurement end time are a function of the forming section associated with the parison and / or the discharge orifice of the parison.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the measuring axis of the pyrometer is held static while the measuring axis crosses a parison, or the measuring axis of the pyrometer follows a given movement (MVT) while the measuring axis crosses a parison.

9. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein during an adjustment phase, the measurement start time and the measurement end time are determined for a parison of the first drop zone and for a parison of the second drop zone.

10. A method according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the measuring axis follows a given movement (MVT) determined during said adjustment phase, and the determination of the given movement is carried out at least from an analysis of images obtained by means of at least one observation camera (30, 130, 130') of a region in which the measuring axis of the pyrometer can be oriented to obtain images of parisons falling from the first and second discharge orifice.

11. A method according to any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein the adjustment phase is repeated.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone are determined during a calibration phase.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the calibration phase comprises a modification of the orientation of the measuring axis of the pyrometer so that a scan of a region is carried out by the measuring axis while several parisons fall from the first and second discharge orifice, the determination of the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone being carried out from at least one temperature measurement by the pyrometer during the scan.

14. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 13, wherein during the calibration phase, at least one observation camera (30, 130, 130') is used of a region in which the measurement axis of the pyrometer can be oriented to obtain images of parisons falling from the first and second discharge orifice, the determination of the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone being carried out at least from an analysis of said images.

15. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein, based on a temperature value of a parison, a parameter of the glass parison dispenser is modified.

16. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the pyrometer is bispectral.

17. A device for measuring the temperature of glass parisons dispensed by a glass parison dispenser (18) of a glass product forming installation (10, 11), the glass parison dispenser having a plurality of discharge orifices (OR_1, OR_2) from which glass parisons fall freely into drop zones (Z_1, Z_2) specific to each discharge orifice, the device comprising a pyrometer (100) equipped with a measuring shaft (A 100), the measuring shaft of the pyrometer being orientable by means of an actuator of the device to be oriented: - towards a first drop zone of a first discharge orifice, the pyrometer then being capable of obtaining at least one temperature value of a parison falling into the first drop zone, and - towards a second drop zone from a second discharge orifice, the pyrometer then being able to obtain at least one temperature value from a parison falling into the second drop zone.

18. Device according to claim 17, comprising a mirror that can be steered (110) by said actuator, the measuring axis of the pyrometer passing through the mirror.

19. Device according to claim 18, wherein the actuator is a stepper motor or a galvanometer-type actuator.

20. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the pyrometer is arranged in a housing (101) of the device, the housing being equipped with a cooler.

21. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 20, comprising at least pyrometer control and command system (42) connected to the pyrometer and actuator.

22. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 21, comprising at least one observation camera connected to the pyrometer control and command system (42).

23. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the pyrometer control and command system is connected to, or forms part of, a process control system (44).

24. Glass article forming installation, comprising a device according to any one of claims 17 to 23, and said glass parison dispenser.

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