Glass Container Handling with Uniform Spacing Transfer Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
In glass manufacturing, handling glass containers after annealing in a way that prevents glass-to-glass contact, which causes scratches and flaws, is not effectively addressed by existing technologies, leading to defects that interfere with inspection and packaging processes.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a transfer head and pusher bar system that moves glass containers from a non-uniformly spaced lehr conveyor to a uniformly spaced conveyor, using V-shaped pockets and vacuum ports to maintain spacing, ensuring glass containers are handled individually and in a flawless state for subsequent processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If glass containers are handled in mass with contacting relationship after annealing, then handling efficiency is improved, but glass-to-glass contact causes checks and scratches that create flaws
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handling process into individual container manipulation rather than mass handling. The transfer head with multiple tongs transfers containers one by one from the lehr conveyor to the deadplate, ensuring each container is handled separately to prevent glass-to-glass contact and resulting flaws
Solution Approach 2:
The deadplate serves as an intermediary device between the lehr conveyor and the output conveyor. Containers are transferred to the deadplate which maintains them in a non-contacting relationship with uniform spacing, preventing direct contact between containers during the critical post-annealing handling phase
2Speed
If containers are transferred without uniform spacing, then transfer speed is improved, but non-uniform spacing causes misalignment and potential contact
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer head is designed with tongs positioned at predetermined uniform intervals. This preliminary arrangement of the transfer mechanism ensures that containers are picked up and deposited at uniform spacing intervals, maintaining alignment and preventing contact during the transfer operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a mechanically engineered transfer head with precisely positioned tongs rather than relying on the natural spacing from the lehr conveyor. This mechanical substitution ensures uniform spacing is imposed on the containers regardless of their input spacing, achieving precision through mechanical design
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
The system significantly reduces defects by maintaining uniform spacing throughout the handling process, preventing glass-to-glass contact and enhancing the fracture strength and cosmetic quality of glass containers, ensuring they are flawless for inspection and packaging.
Implementation Method 1
vacuum ports to maintain spacing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass containers handles the containers individually after a hot forming process and annealing to prevent glass-to-glass contact. By handling the containers (C) individually and preventing glass-to-glass contact damage to the containers (C) in the form of checks and scratches is avoided. To prevent contact of the containers (C) and damage arising from the contact, the equipment including conveyors (22, 24), pushers (36), starwheels, shuttles (28), and transfer heads (26) that move the glass containers (C) through the apparatus maintains the glass containers (C) in uniform spaced relationship at each stage of container processing until the containers (C) are packaged.