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

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for measuring the temperature of glass gobs delivered by a glass-gob distributor (18) of an installation (10, 11) for forming glass articles, the glass-gob distributor having a plurality of discharge orifices (OR_1, OR_2) from which glass gobs drop in free fall into drop zones (Z_1, Z_2) specific to each discharge orifice, wherein a measurement axis (A100) of a pyrometer (100) is oriented towards a first drop zone of a first discharge orifice in order to obtain at least one temperature value of a gob falling through the first drop zone, and the measurement axis of the pyrometer is oriented from the first drop zone to a second drop zone of a second discharge orifice in order to obtain at least one temperature value of a gob falling through the second drop zone.

Description

[0001] Method for measuring the temperature of glass parisons using a pyrometer, and corresponding device

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a method and device for measuring the temperature of glass parisons in a glass forming installation. The invention specifically addresses this temperature measurement for glass parison dispensers having multiple discharge ports.

[0004] Previous technique

[0005] The forming of glass articles is done in a way that is known in itself, 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 "shear cut" (or "scissor cut"), resulting in gobs that fall freely towards a system that delivers them into sections for forming the glass article, for example using blow molding techniques.

[0006] The temperature of the glass parisons is a critical parameter that impacts the quality and the presence or absence of defects in the formed glass articles.

[0007] French patent FR3118458 describes a solution that focuses on the kinematics of these glass parisons in free fall, and it describes in particular the formation of the parisons.

[0008] To measure the temperature of glass parisons, pyrometers can be used whose measurement axis is configured to cross the trajectory of the freely falling parisons.

[0009] This solution is unsatisfactory 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 due to space constraints.

[0010] We will now present the manufacturing process of glass articles in more detail. In the first stage, molten glass from a glass furnace is conveyed through a channel structure called a foreheart (or sometimes a crucible) to a spout (sometimes called a crucible) where the glass parisons will be formed. At this stage, it is important to note that the molten glass's properties include its temperature and composition, these two parameters determining its viscosity. A glass parison dispenser that incorporates this spout can also be called a "feeder."

[0011] Another component of a glass parison dispenser is a vertically 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, much like a siphon. The trough, which is roughly cylindrical in shape, has multiple discharge ports, for example, two, three, or four. For each port, a plunger (or "needle") moves back and forth vertically, pushing the molten glass through each port to form the streams of glass that will be cut into parisons.

[0012] Once dispensed from the orifices, and as explained above, scissors are used to cut / separate the successive parisons delivered by the discharge orifices. Typically, the scissors cut simultaneously for all orifices of the parison dispenser. The multiple parisons formed simultaneously are destined for the same forming section. Indeed, and as is well known, glass container forming plants have several forming sections, each containing several forming cavities, each cavity receiving one of the parisons.

[0013] After a group of parisons is obtained and sent to a forming section, the next group of parisons is sent to another forming section. All forming sections thus receive parisons successively.

[0014] After a phase of free fall under the shears, 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 end in deflectors located above the roughing molds. The entire assembly of spoons in the chutes and deflectors is called the delivery.

[0015] It is understood that the length, diameter, volume, and shape of the parisons are determined primarily by the movements of the plungers, the cylinder, and the cutters. In particular, the synchronization of the cutter with the plungers and the downstream process of loading into the molds, followed by the forming of the blank and the container, are impacted by these parison parameters.

[0016] There are facilities where separate forming sections are configured for forming different containers, particularly containers of different sizes. These facilities are known as "multi-weight" facilities. The different-sized containers are formed with parisons of varying masses, ensuring that the molds in each section are always fully filled.

[0017] For multi-weight installations, the movement of the divers and the scissors is primarily modified to obtain parisons adapted to the section. This modification can occur between two formations of parison groups.

[0018] The following documents are known from the prior art:

[0019] - 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.

[0020] - Document DE102004048721 also suggests using a pyrometer.

[0021] - Document WO93 / 11410 proposes using several pyrometers to measure the temperature of the same parison.

[0022] - Document EP3931797 proposes to acquire an image of the thermal radiation of the parisons.

[0023] - 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.

[0024] - 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.

[0025] From the prior art, we also know of the BASF document 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 temperature control system. There is a need for a more reliable, less bulky solution for measuring the temperature of glass parisons, suitable for installations that deliver multiple parisons simultaneously.

[0026] Description of the invention

[0027] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0028] To this end, a method is proposed for measuring the temperature of glass parisons delivered by a glass parison dispenser from a glass forming installation, the glass parison dispenser having a plurality of discharge orifices (for example arranged within the same basin or crucible) from which glass parisons fall freely into drop zones specific to each discharge orifice, in which a measuring axis of a pyrometer 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 by a rotation around an axis 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.

[0029] This process 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 pyrometer's measuring axis and obtain measurements such as at least one temperature value.

[0030] 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.

[0031] Therefore, it is proposed to use a single pyrometer for two drop zones corresponding to two separate orifices. By automatically adjusting the pyrometer's orientation, temperature measurements can be obtained for both orifices with this single device. Using a single pyrometer for multiple orifices is advantageous in terms of space 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] According to a particular implementation method, the measurement axis of the pyrometer is oriented in a horizontal plane and around a vertical axis.

[0034] Typically, the drop zones are approximately vertical. The pyrometer or its measuring axis is then oriented around an axis that can be approximately vertical, so that the measuring axis of the pyrometer moves in rotation in a generally horizontal plane.

[0035] An actuator can be used.

[0036] According to a first particular implementation method, the measuring axis of the pyrometer is oriented by driving, by means of an actuator, the pyrometer in rotation around a vertical axis.

[0037] Any rotating optical component can be used. In this particular implementation, for example, at least one sensor of the pyrometer, such as a photodiode with an associated lens, is moved.

[0038] According to another particular implementation method, the measurement axis of the pyrometer is oriented by changing an orientation and / or a position of a mirror.

[0039] In this particular implementation mode, 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 rotates (for example around a vertical axis) and / or moves. The mirror can thus be called a moving mirror, or a motorized moving mirror.

[0040] By mirror, we mean a mirror that reflects the thermal radiation emitted by parisons.

[0041] According to a particular implementation method, 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.

[0042] In this particular implementation, multiple values ​​are obtained for the same parison through several measurements. Since the measurements are taken at distinct times (for example, spaced apart by the pyrometer's time sampling interval) and the parison is in free fall, the resulting temperature values ​​illustrate the temperature along the parison in a roughly vertical direction. By obtaining these multiple values, a single representative temperature for the parison can be determined, for example, by establishing a mean or median value. Extreme values, which may be erroneous, can also be excluded. Finally, the difference between two measurements (or points along the parison) can be determined to illustrate a temperature disparity (for example, between the lower and upper ends of a parison).We can also determine a difference between two groups of measurements (or points of the parison), and determine a 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 end and a high end of a parison).

[0043] In this implementation method, we can therefore implement a processing of the measurements for a comparison to determine one or more indicators for the comparison (mean, median, deviation, etc.).

[0044] According to a particular implementation method, 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.

[0045] 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's temperature. Therefore, it is advantageous to consider only the temperature measurements between the lower and upper ends of the parisons.

[0046] The times mentioned here can be determined, for a parison, relative to a time such as the parison cutting time, i.e., the scissor-cutting stage, which the parison distributors and their control devices can determine in a manner known per se. From a time such as the parison cutting time, one can determine the start time of measurement for a given first exclusion period, and similarly, one can determine the end time of measurement for a given second exclusion period. The parison falling speed can be used for these purposes.

[0047] The two exclusion periods can be identical or different.

[0048] Exclusion periods can be set in terms of duration or number of measurement samples, for example.

[0049] According to a particular implementation method, each parison is associated with a forming section of a set of forming sections (the installation includes 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).

[0050] It can be noted that the parisons formed simultaneously and falling freely into the first and second falling zones are destined for the same forming section.

[0051] This particular implementation method is well-suited to installations where different forming sections are used to form different containers requiring parisons of varying masses. Lower mass parisons will be shorter than higher mass parisons, meaning they cross the pyrometer's measurement axis for a shorter period. This can lead to changes in the start and / or end times for the parisons within a given forming section. Furthermore, due to the differing shapes, the exclusion times may also vary for different sections.

[0052] The start time of measurement and / or the end time of measurement and / or a duration that 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.

[0053] In one particular implementation, the pyrometer's measuring axis is held statically while it crosses a parison, or the pyrometer's measuring axis follows a given movement while it crosses a parison. In this particular implementation, according to one variant, if the measuring axis is held static for a freely falling parison, and if multiple values ​​are obtained for that parison, then these measurements are taken along a vertical axis. This variant of the implementation is advantageous because it is simple to implement.

[0054] According to another variation, 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, horizontal shift, or pivoting, or to an ongoing deformation or inclination of the parison, or even to the shape of the parison, as parisons can be deformed, for example, curved. This results in one or more more precise measurements. In fact, if the pyrometer follows a given movement, it can adapt to the kinematics of the parisons.

[0055] The given movement or static holding can be implemented at least between the times of the start of the measurement and the end of the measurement.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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, one observes a parison and one applies the given movement to that same parison or to a subsequent parison).

[0058] According to a particular implementation method, 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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 parison begins to pass in front of the pyrometer axis.

[0061] The adjustment phase can also be implemented for each comparison.

[0062] 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 falling parisons falling from the first and second discharge orifice.

[0063] Using a camera allows observation of the parisons to determine whether they extend along a vertical direction or are curved or inclined. The camera also allows observation of the complete kinematics of the parisons, namely their translations, rotations, and / or deformations. Multiple cameras can provide more precise observations of the shape or kinematics of the parisons for all openings. The kinematics of the parisons refers to their movement during free fall (translation, rotation, trajectory, and / or velocity) in two or three dimensions and / or their deformation during free fall.

[0064] The adjustment phase is repeated according to a specific implementation method.

[0065] 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.

[0066] According to a particular implementation method, the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone are determined during a calibration phase.

[0067] Depending on the specific implementation method, the calibration phase includes:

[0068] - a modification of the orientation of the pyrometer's measuring axis so that a sweep of a region is performed by the measuring axis while several parisons fall from the first and second discharge orifices,

[0069] - 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.

[0070] Thus, the measurement axis sweeps across 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.

[0071] This calibration phase can be implemented once or several times.

[0072] In one particular embodiment, at least one observation camera is used to monitor a region in which the pyrometer's measuring axis can be oriented to obtain images of parison falling from the first and second discharge orifices. The positions of the first and second drop zones are determined, at least, through an analysis of these images. This particular embodiment advantageously benefits from the presence of an observation camera to perform calibration for determining the location of the drop zones.

[0073] According to a particular implementation method, based on a temperature value of a parison, a parameter of the glass parison distributor is modified.

[0074] 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 fore-core, such as the action of an electric or combustion heating and / or cooling system.

[0075] 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.

[0076] The spectral sensitivity of the pyrometer is determined according to whether one wishes to measure the surface or internal temperature of the parisons.

[0077] According to a particular implementation method, the pyrometer is bispectral.

[0078] This particular method of implementation makes it possible to neutralize the influence of emissivity.

[0079] 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 path, pass through an entrance window of a closed and temperature-controlled enclosure, through a focusing optical system, and then reach a beam splitter.

[0080] In the direction of the infrared light's path, from the parisons, the radiation passes through an inlet window into 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.

[0081] As an example, a pyrometer such as the one marketed by the German company OPTRIS GmbH under the trade name CTratio IM can be used.

[0082] Alternatively, a photodiode can also be used, which a person skilled in the art can choose according to the application. The invention also relates to a device for measuring the temperature of glass parisons dispensed by a glass parison dispenser in a glass forming installation. The glass parison dispenser has a plurality of discharge orifices from which glass parisons fall freely into drop zones specific to each discharge orifice. The device includes a pyrometer equipped with a measuring axis. The measuring axis of the pyrometer can be oriented by rotation about an axis by means of an actuator of the device.

[0083] - 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

[0084] - 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.

[0085] This device can be configured to implement any of the implementation modes of the process as defined above.

[0086] 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.

[0087] According to a particular embodiment, F actuator is a stepper motor or a galvanometer-type actuator.

[0088] According to a particular embodiment, the pyrometer is arranged in a housing of the device, the housing being equipped with a cooler.

[0089] According to a particular embodiment, the device includes at least a pyrometer control and command system connected to the pyrometer and to the actuator.

[0090] This control and command system may have a computer system structure.

[0091] According to a particular embodiment, the device includes at least one observation camera connected to the pyrometer's control and command system.

[0092] According to a particular embodiment, the pyrometer control and command system is connected to, or forms part of, a process control system.

[0093] The process control system can 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 blanks to the finishing molds, the transfers of containers from the finishing molds to a container transport conveyor, etc.

[0094] 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.

[0095] Brief description of the drawings

[0096] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a glass article molding installation comprising a device equipped with a pyrometer whose measuring axis can reach two drop zones.

[0097] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a calibration phase according to an example.

[0098] Figure 3A is a schematic representation of a parison.

[0099] Figure 3B is a schematic representation of another comparison.

[0100] Figure 3C is a schematic representation of yet another comparison.

[0101] The 3D figure is a schematic representation of yet another parison, in motion.

[0102] Figure 3E is a schematic representation of yet another parison, in motion.

[0103] Figure 3F is a schematic representation of yet another parison, in motion.

[0104] Figure 3G is a schematic representation of a parison with movement of the measuring axis of a pyrometer.

[0105] Figure 4 shows the treatment of several parisons and how portions of parisons are excluded.

[0106] Figure 5 is a schematic representation showing the mounting of a pyrometer in a case.

[0107] Description of the implementation methods

[0108] Fig. 1 illustrates, in a partial and schematic manner, an example of an installation 10 for molding glass articles. The installation 10 includes, in particular, a forming machine 11 comprising several distinct 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, the dispenser 18 is fed by an element called a 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 around a vertical axis, and can move along a vertical axis to act as a siphon and bring the glass towards discharge orifices.

[0109] The dispenser 18 is configured to simultaneously deliver two parisons, visible in the figure, P_1 and P_2. In the section of the dispenser 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 a first discharge orifice OR_1 and a second discharge orifice OR_2, respectively. 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.

[0110] The invention is not limited to dispensers with two orifices and also applies to dispensers with more orifices, for example three or four.

[0111] 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 stage). 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, that is, in the direction orthogonal to a line passing through the orifices; the representation in the figure is simplified to facilitate understanding of the system.

[0112] Parisons P_1 and P_2 are extruded sections of malleable glass as cut by shear 22. Such parisons are sometimes called gobs. In English, a parison at this stage of a forming process is called a "gob." Malleable glass, at the point of cutting by 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.

[0113] According to the assumption of perfect cylinders, the time interval between two actuations 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 "multi-weight" case, the movement of the plungers and the movement of the shears allow for different weights to be obtained for the different cross-sections.

[0114] The malleable glass parison dispenser 18 is arranged above the forming machine 11, and therefore above the molds 14 of the forming sections 12, to allow the parisons to be distributed by gravity. A delivery system 20 generally comprises a set of steerable spoons 20a, chutes 20b, and deflectors 20c, which act as conduits for the parisons. These conduits are 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 20a specific to each drop zone is arranged to receive a parison and guide it into a conduit or chute 20b. From this conduit or chute, the parisons emerge upon encountering a deflector 20c, which deflects the parison to orient it towards the cavity 16 corresponding to the deflector 20c.A delivery system 20, comprising a spoon 20a, a chute 20b, and a deflector 20c, is provided for each forming cavity, two cavities being shown in the figure. Thus, a drop zone Z_1, Z_2 is arranged vertically between the distributor 18, and more specifically the shears 22, and the delivery system 20, and more specifically an adjustable spoon 20a.

[0115] Machines for forming hollow glass articles employ various processes that combine mold filling, followed by successive pressing and / or blowing stages. For clarity, the example of bottle forming using the well-known press-blown or blow-blown processes is used.

[0116] 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 a rough, the two roughs then being transferred into finishing molds not shown where they take their final container shape.

[0117] Each section could include a set of roughing dies and a set of finishing dies. A set of dies is composed of several dies from the same forming section, relating to the same forming stage, and generally opening and closing simultaneously. In this case, a given parison is guided by the delivery system 20 to a roughing dynamometer, for example, a roughing dynamometer in the forming section where the parison undergoes a first forming operation, called drilling, performed by compressed air blowing or by punch penetration. A transfer system (not shown) is then able to remove the parison that has undergone the first forming operation, namely the roughing, from the roughing dynamometer to a secondary dynamometer, generally called a finishing dynamometer, where the roughing can undergo at least one second forming operation, the final operation known as finishing.Generally, each roughing and / or finishing mold of a forming section includes in particular 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.

[0118] 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 separate sections are not fed simultaneously.

[0119] 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.

[0120] The delivery system is used to guide each parison to the correct section. For example, an IS machine (according to an English acronym meaning "Individual section") comprising several sections with two cavities each, the set of steerable spoons 20a is rotated 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 pipes 20b, corresponding to several forming sections, each parison of each pair being loaded into the 2 respective cavities of each addressed section.

[0121] 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 parison distributor plunger(s), the movement of the cylinder, the blowing, the transfer, etc., are carried out by means of a process control system 44. This allows for the control of movements with actuators of all types, 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 interconnected computer subsystems), 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 type communication network.

[0122] In the example shown in Figure 1, the installation 10 includes the process control system 44, which may include a pyrometer control system 42 (the pyrometer will be described below) or with which the pyrometer control system 42 may communicate electronically. The control system 42 may have a computer system structure.

[0123] 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 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.

[0124] The process control system 44 and the pyrometer control system 42 may therefore include at least one standard computer, comprising 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 process control system 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 information on the status of 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 can be connected, as a sensor, to the pyrometer control system 42, which provides it with measurement results for parisons, at least the parison temperature measurements from the pyrometer.

[0125] Particularly useful information for 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.

[0126] 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.

[0127] The pyrometer 100 has a measuring axis A100 that can be rotated to reach the different drop zones of the parisons. Thus, the measuring axis A100 of the pyrometer can be rotated in a substantially horizontal plane PM and can therefore assume different angular positions α. In Figure 1, the axis A100 passes through the drop zone Z_2 of parison P_2. More precisely, the axis A100 intersects the trajectory of parison P_2 such that it passes through the center of the parison as it falls. After measuring one or more temperatures of one or more parisons delivered by the second orifice OR_2, the measuring axis A100 can be rotated to reach the drop zone Z_1 to measure one or more temperature values ​​of parisons such as parison P_1.

[0128] Therefore, it is proposed to use a single pyrometer to measure the temperatures of parisons from different orifices of a parison dispenser. This ensures that the parison measurements are comparable or combinable, as they are acquired with the same equipment and optics under the same conditions. Consequently, there are no variations between measurements attributable to different instruments, which, for example, might not have the same settings, age, or cleanliness. Furthermore, since each drop zone Z_1, Z_2 is arranged vertically between the dispenser 18, and more specifically the shears 22, and the delivery system 20, and more specifically a swiveling spoon 20a, it is ensured that the parisons are measured under the same conditions, which would not be the case at the outlet of the delivery system 20, before entering the roughing mold 14.Indeed, parisons P_l, P_2 from different forming cavities 16 are guided by different elements of the delivery system 20, and in particular by different chutes 20b. These chutes 20b may differ in terms of surface finish or lubrication, which affects the parisons P_l, P_2, for example their speed, thus altering the synchronization of the measurement with the passage of the parison, or the measurement results. Furthermore, depending on the position of the section, the travel time in the delivery system 20 can vary considerably, thus affecting the measurements.

[0129] However, the fact that the parisons P_1, P_2 are comparable is the only way to collect relevant data concerning the temperature of the glass at the outlet of the discharge ports OR_1, OR_2, i.e. at the level of the crucible SPT of the distributor 18, for example in order to modify an operating parameter of the glass parison distributor, for example to be applied to the forebody or the crucible SPT, likely to affect the temperature of the parisons, such as the rotation of the cylinder to homogenize the temperatures, or the heating of the glass.

[0130] In particular, temperature measurements can be combined for various purposes, for example by comparing them to determine temperature homogeneity, or by calculating an average. Furthermore, measuring before the delivery system 20 allows for the earliest and most precise detection of the temperature necessary to implement regulation affecting the formation and characteristics of the parisons at the outlet of the parison distributors 18.

[0131] The determination of the position of the drop zones Z_1 and Z_2 for the orientation of the pyrometer axis will be described below.

[0132] Although not mandatory, Figure 1 also shows an observation camera 30 configured for observing a region comprising the two drop zones Z_1 and Z_2. 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.

[0133] It should be noted that although called the pyrometer control and command system 42, this system can also, and potentially, implement processes that do not use information from the pyrometer but rather information from other sensors, such as the observation camera. The observation camera allows for monitoring the parisons, which can lead to modifications of one of the operating parameters, even without considering the parison temperature.

[0134] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the implementation of a calibration phase in which the positions of the first and second drop zones are determined. This calibration phase can be implemented upon initial use of the forming plant and / or upon installation of the parison temperature measurement device, including the pyrometer. It can also be implemented subsequently, for example, after a specified period, possibly several times on a recurring basis. The calibration phase aims to determine the positions of the drop zones Z_1 and Z_2, which are represented in the figure, on the left, by cylindrical segments encompassing the parisons, extending from the discharge ports to the spoons, i.e., the delivery inlet.Ideally, the parisons fall freely along the main axis of these cylinders, and for accurate measurement, the aim is to have the pyrometer's axis intersect this main axis of the cylinders, which is expected to be at the center of the parisons. The parisons fall parallel to the z-axis visible in the figure.

[0135] During the calibration phase, the parison dispenser 18 can deliver parisons for a specified 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 A 100 while several parisons fall from the first and second discharge orifices. During a sweep, the measuring axis assumes all angular positions α in the substantially horizontal plane PM (coinciding with the XY plane in the figure), between a lower angular limit position αNF and an upper angular limit position αSUP. In the figure, angle α intersects the second drop zone Z2 and passes through the center of a parison P2.

[0136] Preferably, the pyrometer is an infrared optical pyrometer.

[0137] 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 of a bispectral pyrometer, each temperature results from a quotient calculation using 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.

[0138] The right-hand portion of Figure 2 shows the results of the scan during the given scan period B in the form of a graph. The x-axis represents the different positions of angle α, and the y-axis shows a temperature value T_P. The temperature value T_P can be represented as an average temperature measured by the pyrometer during a sub-period of the given period for each possible angular position α. ​​As can be seen in 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, parisons P_1 and P_2, respectively. The angular position α_1 corresponds to the maximum TMAX_1, while the angular position α_2 corresponds to the maximum TMAX_2.

[0139] It should be noted that a temperature threshold T_TH is used here to consider only local maxima exceeding this temperature threshold. An operator can set this threshold during the calibration phase, or it can be set beforehand. Alternatively, instead of the maximum values ​​TMAX2 (respectively TMAX1), the angular positions a_l' (respectively a_2') can be obtained as the midpoints of the regions of the curve above a threshold temperature level T_TH2.

[0140] The calibration phase can be implemented using the pyrometer control system 42. The determination of the angular positions a_l and a_2 (or a_l' and a_2') is then used to orient the pyrometer's measuring axis between these two positions.

[0141] 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.

[0142] 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 determine the position of the drop zones.

[0143] As explained above, a parison can be simplified to a cylindrical section. We will now describe in more detail some of the actual possible shapes of glass parisons.

[0144] Figure 3A represents a parison that is approximately cylindrical, 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, as the parison contains molten 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 somewhat 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's 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 cross-sectional planes P_INF and P_SUP, positioned at the heights of LIM_INF and LIM_SUP, is approximately in the shape of a cylinder of revolution. When the parison, viewed from the pyrometer, has the appearance shown in Figure 3A, the ideal measurement area is the central portion referenced P_M in the figure, which is the axis of the cylinder of the central portion P_C.

[0145] Below, we will describe how to exclude the two extremities P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF from the measurements.

[0146] The parison in Figure 3A is a near-ideal parison. Parisons can assume other positions and shapes during their fall. For example, Figure 3B shows a parison curved so that, when viewed from the pyrometer, its lower end points to the right. Figure 3C shows a parison curved so that, when viewed 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.

[0147] Figure 3D schematically shows a parison falling freely at an angle, 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 subjected to a rotational motion during its fall.

[0148] Figure 3F shows a parison that, during its fall, moves in translation to the right. Maintaining the pyrometer's measurement axis during the parison's fall also leads to inaccuracies in the measurements.

[0149] In a variant shown in Figure 3G, it is proposed not to keep the pyrometer's measuring axis static during temperature acquisition for a parison, but to make it follow a given movement. For example, excluding the two extremities P_EXT_SUP and P_EXT_INF from the measurements, the pyrometer's measuring axis can be oriented during the parison's fall 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.

[0150] It can be noted that a given movement can also be tracked without excluding the extremities. Furthermore, measurements can 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 sweeping between the boundary lines LMT and LMD for a single parison.The boundary lines LMG and LMD may correspond to the contours of the parisons, or may be located inside these contours, particularly if we observe parasites such as reflections on the contours of the parisons.

[0151] The determination of the given motion (MVT) can be implemented by the pyrometer control system 42 during a regularly scheduled adjustment phase, for example, after a delay has elapsed. This adjustment phase can be implemented using one or more observation cameras, such as the camera 30 described with reference to Figure 1. Analysis of the images from this camera by the pyrometer control system 42 can determine the shape and / or kinematics of the parison seen by the pyrometer and thus determine the specific motion to be applied.

[0152] 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 differ for different sections. The discrepancies 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 can be quite slow compared to the forming cycle of the successive parisons.We can then, for each type of parison corresponding to a target section and cavity, 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.

[0153] 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 intersects 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 differ between sections; that is, a determination is associated with each section.

[0154] Figure 4 shows a sequence for acquiring and orienting the observation axis of the pyrometer, as well as how the upper and lower 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 (times CX in the figure) is represented 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.

[0155] In the explanation of Figure 4, camera 30 is a linear camera whose field of view is contained in a horizontal plane. The image lines, therefore the one-dimensional arrays of pixels, acquired successively can be juxtaposed to constitute a raster 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 the direction X of Figure 2.

[0156] By convention, in the figure, the parisons shown in black lines and filled in white are those toward which the pyrometer axis is oriented, and the parisons filled in black are those toward which the pyrometer axis is not oriented. The figure also shows the two angular positions a_1 and a_2 and how the pyrometer's measuring axis moves from one to the other after temperature measurements for one or more parisons.

[0157] In the illustrated example, at the earliest instant (bottom of the figure), the pyrometer's measurement axis is oriented at angular position a_2 to reach the parisons P_2. Temperature values ​​are acquired, for example, with a given acquisition step, over 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 specific time that can be defined relative to the last instant CX. For observation instant I_2, the pyrometer's observation axis is still at position a_2. Temperatures are acquired during the duration D_A.

[0158] Next, the pyrometer's observation axis is oriented towards the angular position a_l so that for the next parisons, visible at observation time I_3, the pyrometer's observation axis intersects the parisons P_l. 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 pyrometer's observation axis is maintained at the angular position a_l. Temperatures are acquired during the duration D_A for the parisons visible at observation time I_4.

[0159] Next, the pyrometer's observation axis is oriented towards the angular position a_2 so that for the next parisons, visible at the observation time I_5, the pyrometer's observation axis crosses the parisons P_2. Temperatures are acquired during the duration D_A for the parisons visible at the observation time I_5.

[0160] The image obtained at observation time I_5 is also enlarged in the right part of the image.

[0161] In this enlarged view, we can see that from the moment the shear 22 is activated, 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 duration 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.

[0162] Upon expiration of the duration D_I (already fixed, like the other durations mentioned below, during a preliminary 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.

[0163] The durations D_INF_2 and D_EX_INF_2 can be specific to parison P_2, and therefore different from the durations D_INF_1 and D_EX_INF_1 (the exclusion time for parison P_1, for the lower end), respectively. Alternatively, they can be identical. Also, these durations can be specific to a section and differ for parisons intended for different sections (especially if different sections are intended for the formation of different containers). During duration D_A, several temperature values ​​are acquired, and it is possible to implement a process to obtain a single value representative of the temperature of a parison (for example, an average).

[0164] The duration D_A is identical here for parisons P_1 and P_2. Alternatively, it can be different for different parisons. Also, it can be different for parisons intended for different sections (in particular if different sections are intended for the formation of different containers).

[0165] After the elapsed time D_A, and therefore after the measurement ends, a second exclusion time D_EX_SUP_2 elapses for parison P_2, during which the pyrometer's measurement axis intersects the upper end of the parison. For example, D_EX_SUP_2 can be chosen to correspond to approximately 10% of the parison's height. D_EX_SUP_2 can be specific to parison P_2, and therefore different from D_EX_SUP_1 (the exclusion time for parison P_1, for the upper end). Alternatively, they can be identical. These times can also be specific to a section and differ for parisons intended for different sections (particularly if different sections are intended for the formation of different containers).

[0166] Setting the exclusion durations D_EX_INF_X (where X indicates 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.

[0167] With some adjustments, one or more matrix cameras can also be used, synchronized to the scissor cut, meaning they are triggered at least once after a chosen delay following each scissor cut. If the camera's free-field height and the height of the parisons are such that the parisons are observed in their entirety in a single image, a single acquisition is sufficient after each scissor cut. However, in this case, it may be advantageous to acquire several successive images of each parison in free fall to determine the parison kinematics. If the matrix camera's free-field height and the height of the parisons are such that only portions of the parisons are observed, acquiring several successive images is preferable. These successive images can then be combined, for example, into a result image that contains an observation of the entire parisons.In all cases of use of a matrix camera 30, an image such as the one shown on the right of Figure 4 can be obtained during a preliminary adjustment phase in which the exclusion times 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.

[0168] Figure 5 shows in more detail the operation of a pyrometer 100, for example the pyrometer 100 used in the installation in Figure 1.

[0169] 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).

[0170] In the figure, the pyrometer's measuring axis A 100 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 by the solid line in the figure, the position 110' and orient the measuring axis, for example, towards parison P_2. The mirror's rotation 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.

[0171] 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 single bispectral pyrometer). However, complete bispectral pyrometers are commercially available and can be used.

[0172] Advantageously, the pyrometer 100 is arranged in a case 101, which is provided with at least one window 150 through which passes the radiation from the parisons, and transparent to the operating wavelengths of the pyrometer 100.

[0173] 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 two cameras each have a field of view covering the region where the three parisons P1, P2, and P3 fall in free fall. The housing 101 is equipped with windows 151 and 152 for the observation cameras 130 and 130', respectively. The housing 101 is advantageous because it protects the pyrometer. In particular, it can be equipped with a cooler to maintain the most stable temperature possible, for example, 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.

[0174] Although not mandatory, mirrors 110 and 120 are also mounted in housing 101 for protection as well.

[0175] 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 even the movement of the parisons (to adjust the movement to be applied to the measurement axis during the measurement).

[0176] Calculator 170 is then used to determine the angular positions and / or movements to be applied to the measurement axis based on the image or images obtained.

[0177] 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.

[0178] 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 approximately 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 more precisely determine the shape of the parisons or their kinematics. Alternatively, the observation cameras 130 and 130' can be placed on either side of the P-P' plane to more precisely determine the shape of the parisons or their kinematics.

[0179] 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 temperature measurement device for glass parisons according to an example.

[0180] A method for measuring the temperature of glass parisons delivered by a glass parison dispenser from a glass product forming facility 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.

[0181] This method proposes applying a given movement to a parison, as previously described regarding 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 with a single orifice.

[0182] The examples described above apply, except those concerning the determination of several fall zones, since the determination of a single fall zone is sufficient.

[0183] In particular, the adjustment and determination phases of said durations are identical.

[0184] 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.

[0185] It can be noted that for a single parison, an average temperature value can be obtained (using the values ​​acquired during the time interval D_A), and that statistical analyses can be performed on multiple parisons (for example, parisons originating from the same discharge orifice). Thus, a moving average temperature can be determined for several parisons, and it is possible to identify a temperature trend or drift.

[0186] It can be noted that it is also possible to determine a maximum temperature difference within one or more parisons.

[0187] As mentioned above, it is possible to measure 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 a zone within which measurements can be taken). The measurement axis F can be directed to target these measurement lines. This allows for mapping temperature measurement points distributed vertically and horizontally on parisons in order to determine temperature distribution measurements, in other words, to map the temperatures of the parisons.

[0188] It can also be noted that the processing of pyrometer measurements may involve 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 reported temperatures, or calculated statistics.

[0189] We can also compare the temperatures of parisons from different orifices, in order to obtain information on the homogeneity of the glass temperature in the crucible.

[0190] The present invention is not limited to systems for manufacturing hollow glass objects such as containers. It applies to any process 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.

[0191] Finally, it can be noted that the control and command system of the pyrometer 42 can: control the orientation of the measurement axis A 100 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 different 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 figure 4.

[0192] The control system 42 can also be equipped with a human-machine interface. This allows for the display and input of pyrometer operating parameters or measurements. This human-machine interface can be the same as that of system 44 or a different one. It can also be an interface for the installation or the forming machine.

Claims

Demands 1. 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 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 (A 100) 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 by a rotation about an axis (Z) 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.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein F, the measuring axis of the pyrometer, is oriented 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 this 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 measuring axis of the pyrometer crosses an end lower (P_EXT_INF) of the parison before the measurement start time, 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 pyrometer measurement axis 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) which 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. 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 falling parisons falling from the first and second discharge orifice.

11. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the position of the first drop zone and the position of the second drop zone are determined during a calibration phase, and the calibration phase comprises a modification of the orientation of the pyrometer's measuring axis 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 sweep.

12. Method according to claim 11, 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.

13. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, based on a temperature value of a parison, a parameter of the glass parison distributor is modified.

14. A device 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 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 axis (A100), the measuring axis of the pyrometer being orientable by rotation about an axis (Z) 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.

15. Device according to claim 14, comprising a steerable mirror (110) by said actuator, the measuring axis of the pyrometer passing through the mirror.

16. Device according to any one of claims 14 to 15, wherein the pyrometer is arranged in a housing (101) of the device, the housing being provided with a cooler, the device comprising at least a pyrometer control and command system (42) connected to the pyrometer and the actuator.

17. Device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, comprising at least one observation camera connected to the pyrometer control and command system (42).

18. Device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the pyrometer control and command system is connected to, or forms part of, a process control system (44).

19. Glass article forming installation, comprising a device according to any one of claims 14 to 18, and said glass parison dispenser.

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