Glass Blowing Control with Pressure and Temperature Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The repeatability of glass blowing processes for forming hollow glass articles, especially when using multiple molding cavities supplied by a common compressed air manifold, is difficult to control, leading to inconsistencies in the manufacturing of cosmetic or perfume bottles.
Innovation Solution
A device with a gas injection system that includes a blowing head with a pressurized gas inlet, injection and vent channels, pressure and temperature sensors, and an electro-pneumatic control unit to regulate the gas flow and pressure profile, allowing for precise control of the blowing process and adjustment for variations in the air manifold pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a common compressed air manifold supplies multiple molding cavities in parallel, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficult control of repeatability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the common compressed air manifold into separate, independent gas supply lines for each molding cavity. Each cavity receives gas through its own dedicated injection channel and control valve, allowing independent control of pressure and flow rate for each cavity while still using a single upstream air source. This segmentation eliminates the interference between parallel cavities and restores manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by equipping each gas injection system with pressure sensors and flow meters that continuously monitor the actual gas parameters. These measurements are fed back to control valves that automatically adjust the gas supply to maintain predetermined pressure profiles and flow rates, compensating for any variations in the upstream air manifold and ensuring repeatable results across multiple cavities.
2Manufacturing precision
If gas injection pressure is increased to improve blowing control, then manufacturing precision improves, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pressure control where the gas injection pressure is not held constant but varies continuously during the blowing process according to a predetermined profile. The system adjusts pressure in real-time based on the stage of blank formation, using higher pressure only when needed for critical shaping moments and lower pressure during stabilization phases. This dynamic approach achieves precise control while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to sustained high-pressure injection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables better control of the glass blowing process, ensuring consistent pressure and temperature conditions, which improves the repeatability and quality of the glass articles by adjusting the mass flow rate and pressure profile, allowing for the creation of complex shapes and reducing malleability issues during the blowing operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first pressure sensor (P1 or P2) arranged on the air circuit between the first control solenoid valve and the outlet (35) to the outside air
Implementation Method 2
a first temperature sensor (T1 or T2) arranged on the air circuit between the first control solenoid valve and the outlet (35) to the outside air
Implementation Method 3
through a first control solenoid valve (81)
Data Source
AI summary
Device for forming a glass article, including a forming mold for receiving a glass blank, and a gas injection device with a blowing head intended to be received in the mouth of the blank, the gas injection device including a pressurized gas inlet, a first injection channel connecting the pressurized gas inlet to at least one outlet port opening into the inside cavity, through a first control solenoid valve, with a first pressure sensor and a first temperature sensor, a vent channel connecting the inside cavity to the outside air, the vent channel being equipped with a second pressure sensor and a second temperature sensor, an electro-pneumatic control unit being configured to control the first control solenoid valve according to the pressure measurements and temperature measurements.