Heating Station Holding Member Verification by Optical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing facilities face challenges in efficiently and accurately adjusting holding members and protective ramps to accommodate preforms of different formats, leading to potential errors and inefficiencies during format changes, which can result in deformation or damage to the preform necks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving image capture and computer processing to automatically verify the presence and diameter of holding members, and adjust the width of the slot between protective ramps, using an electronic control unit to ensure accurate adaptation to preform formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual adjustment of holding members and protective ramps is used during format changes, then operational flexibility is maintained, but errors occur and adjustment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated optical measurement and control system. Image capturing devices take photographs of holding members, and computer processing automatically verifies their presence and measures their outer diameters, eliminating manual measurement errors and reducing adjustment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-verification and self-adjustment by automatically capturing images, processing them to detect holding member presence and dimensions, and comparing measurements against required specifications without human intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If holding members are removably fixed to allow format changes, then adaptability to different preform formats is improved, but verification of proper installation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces difficult manual verification with automated optical detection. Image capturing devices photograph each holding member, and computer processing automatically analyzes the images to verify presence, measure outer diameters, and confirm compatibility with the required preform format.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies (images) of the holding members and their positions, allowing for accurate verification and measurement without physical contact or complex measurement tools.
3Ease of operation
If protective ramps are spaced apart to form travel slots, then preform transport is enabled, but thermal exchange between hot and cold parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the spacing parameters of the protective ramps to optimize the balance between allowing preform passage and minimizing thermal exchange. The computer processing determines precise ramp positions based on holding member measurements to create appropriately sized travel slots.
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
Ensures rapid and error-free adjustment of holding members and protective ramps, preventing neck deformation and enhancing production efficiency by minimizing thermal exchange and ensuring uniform heating.
Implementation Method 1
a step of acquiring an image of each individual holding member as each of the movable supports passes through the acquisition zone, by means of an image capturing device
Implementation Method 2
The heating station generally comprises a heating tunnel in which heating devices such as infrared lamps are arranged. The preforms are received by a transport device that conveys the bodies thereof in the heating tunnel
Implementation Method 3
heating devices such as infrared lamps are arranged
Implementation Method 4
These two protective ramps are generally cooled by the internal circulation of a heat transfer liquid in order to prevent heat from building up in the protective ramps
Implementation Method 5
cooled by the internal circulation of a heat transfer liquid
Implementation Method 6
The body of the preform is rendered malleable by heating the thermoplastic material forming the wall thereof, in particular beyond a glass transition temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for verifying holding members in a heating station equipped with a device for transporting the preforms. The device includes a plurality of movable supports circulating in a closed circuit and members for individually holding the preforms by their neck, where each of the holding members is borne by a movable support. The method includes setting the movable supports in movement to bring them successively into an acquisition zone, acquiring an image of each individual holding member in the acquisition zone, and automatically verifying the presence of a holding member on each of the images taken.