Handheld Tag-Based Control for Glass Forming Section Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for manually swabbing glass forming machine sections is ergonomically challenging and risky due to the need for operators to manually press buttons on high control panels and visually check indicator lights, leading to potential confusion and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an electronic tag system with a manual maintenance tool that uses RFID or NFC protocols, a processing unit, and a warning device to control glass forming sections, allowing operators to manage states through a handheld tool without pressing buttons, and receive visual or vibrational warnings about section states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control panel is located at a height of two meters above the ground for each section, then the control panel is accessible for operation, but the operator experiences ergonomic difficulties and safety risks when pressing buttons and checking indicator lights
Solution Approach 1:
A portable maintenance tool serves as an intermediary device between the operator and the machine control system. The tool includes a tag reader that communicates with electronic tags on sections, a processing unit that sends control commands, and a warning device that provides feedback. This intermediary allows the operator to control sections without reaching high control panels, eliminating ergonomic issues and safety risks while maintaining full control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical interaction between the operator and the control panel (pressing physical buttons at height, visually checking lights) is replaced by an electronic system. The portable tool uses electronic communication (RFID/NFC tags) to identify sections and send control commands, with feedback provided through electronic warning devices in the tool itself, eliminating the need for the operator to physically access high-mounted controls.
2Ease of operation
If the operator manually presses buttons on the control panel to activate swabbing cycles, then the section can be controlled, but the operator may experience confusion due to indicator light brightness and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The portable maintenance tool acts as an intermediary that eliminates the confusing control panel interface. The tool directly communicates section status through its own warning device (local feedback), and section selection is automatically determined by the tag reader identifying the electronic tag, removing all ambiguity about which section is being controlled and what its current state is.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements immediate local feedback through the warning device in the portable tool, which provides clear information about the section's operational state directly to the operator's hand. This eliminates the need to interpret distant indicator lights and ensures the operator has unambiguous information about section status without confusion.
3Reliability
If the control panel with buttons and indicator lights is used for each section, then the section state can be monitored and controlled, but the device complexity and operator training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The portable maintenance tool is a universal device that can control any section of the machine by simply bringing it near the desired section's electronic tag. This single multi-functional tool replaces the need for multiple section-specific control panels, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to reliably control and monitor any section through standardized electronic communication protocols.
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
Enhances ergonomics and safety by enabling operators to control glass forming sections ergonomically and accurately, reducing the risk of confusion and hazards during maintenance operations.
Implementation Method 1
Implementing an electronic tag system with a manual maintenance tool that uses RFID or NFC protocols
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a glass forming machine comprising a plurality of glass forming sections, the method comprising: associating an electronic tag to each glass forming section; associating a processing unit, a tag reader, a warning device and a communication circuit to a manual maintenance tool; reading a tag identifier by the tag reader; determining whether the tag identifier corresponds to one of the tags associated to the glass forming sections; and transmitting by the control unit a command to switch an operating state of the glass forming section corresponding to the tag identifier, receiving by the processing unit a message indicating the operating state of the glass forming section corresponding to the tag identifier, and subsequent to receiving the message, activating by the processing unit the warning device to send a warning signal.