Glass Item Serial Numbering for Production Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glass production systems, such as IS glass forming machines, lack the ability to continuously document individual glass articles throughout their manufacturing process, making it difficult to associate defects with specific production units and exact manufacturing times, leading to incomplete quality control and optimization opportunities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where glass articles are assigned a serial number and linked with their production unit and exact manufacturing time using a marking device that sprays fluorescent paint with program-controlled serial numbers, and a process computer that stores this information along with measurement data, allowing for precise tracking and analysis of production conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If glass articles are tracked only by mold number at the end of production, then the system complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of manufacturing time and production unit assignment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tracking information into multiple segments: mold number identification, serial number assignment, and timestamp recording. This segmentation allows the system to maintain precision without requiring a single complex tracking mechanism, as each component handles specific information independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The serial number is assigned to the glass article before it enters the cooling furnace, establishing the identification and timing reference in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the glass article carries its unique identifier and manufacturing time information throughout the process, eliminating the need for complex tracking at later stages.
2Manufacturing precision
If glass articles are marked with serial numbers and tracked continuously, then the manufacturing precision and quality control are improved, but the device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a serial number marking device as an intermediary between the glass forming machine and the cooling furnace. This intermediary component assigns unique identifiers and timestamps to glass articles, enabling continuous tracking without requiring complex integration with subsequent processing stages. The marking device acts as a simple yet effective mediator that carries information through the production chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the glass article's identification and timing information through the serial number and timestamp recording. This copying approach allows the physical glass article to be tracked without modifying its structure, and the information can be stored and analyzed independently, reducing the complexity of physical tracking systems.
3Productivity
If multiple production units work in parallel with the same mold numbers, then the productivity is improved, but the ability to trace defects to specific units and times is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning unique serial numbers and specific timestamps to glass articles produced by each individual production unit. This allows each unit to maintain its own identifiable characteristics and production timing information, enabling precise traceability while all units operate in parallel. The local identification system ensures that even though multiple units work simultaneously, each article's origin and manufacturing time remain distinguishable.
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
Enables the precise assignment of defects to specific production units and times, allowing for the identification of influencing factors and optimization of the manufacturing process, improving quality control and process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a marking device (9) which has a reservoir for fluorescent paint, a pump system and a nozzle system via which program-controlled consecutive serial numbers are sprayed onto the individual glass articles (5) conveyed past on the conveyor belt (6) with the paint
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring glass items that are produced in a glass forming machine comprising a plurality of production units and, based on the production units, are conveyed to a continuous cooling oven via a conveyor segment in a uniform sequence, and are subsequently subjected to defect inspection. It is the aim of the invention to provide a method and a device of a generic type for monitoring glass items allowing the continuous documentation of each individual glass item during the entire production process. The aim is achieved in that each glass item (5) is provided with a marking having an individual serial number when passing through the conveyor segment (6) between the glass forming machine (1) and the continuous cooling oven, with data of the production process being associated with the respective glass item (5).