Molten Glass Transport Cup Layout for Consistent Gob Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass manufacturing systems require tall, space-consuming gob handling equipment that delivers glass gobs with varying characteristics, leading to inconsistent glass article production.
Innovation Solution
A glass manufacturing system utilizing a molten glass handling sub-system with movable carriers and transport cups that reduce the height differential between the glass feeder and blank mold, enabling precise delivery of molten glass to forming machines, eliminating much of the conventional gob handling equipment, and allowing for improved thermal homogeneity and reduced uneven cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional gob handling equipment is used to deliver glass gobs, then glass gobs can be delivered to blank molds, but the equipment becomes relatively tall and takes up considerable space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical gravity-based gob delivery to horizontal robotic arm-based delivery. The robotic arm moves gobs horizontally from the feeder to the blank mold, eliminating the need for tall vertical chutes and troughs. This dimensional change from vertical to horizontal transport resolves the height problem while maintaining delivery capability.
2Productivity
If conventional gob handling equipment is used, then glass gobs can be conveyed along chutes and troughs, but the equipment delivers glass gobs with significantly varying characteristics such as weight, temperature, and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical gravity-based chute system with an active robotic arm system that uses controlled movement. The robotic arm can precisely control the placement of each gob, ensuring consistent weight, temperature, and shape characteristics by minimizing unnecessary movement and exposure to environmental factors during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm system incorporates sensors and control systems that monitor gob characteristics during handling. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust its handling parameters in real-time to maintain consistent gob characteristics, preventing variations in weight, temperature, and shape that occur in passive chute systems.
3Ease of operation
If tall gob handling equipment is used with minimum angle requirements for conveying glass gobs, then glass gobs can be moved along the equipment, but the equipment extends between ten and fourteen feet in height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the minimum angle requirement by replacing the inclined chute system with a horizontal robotic arm system. The robotic arm can move gobs horizontally without requiring any minimum inclination angle, as it uses controlled mechanical movement rather than gravity-based flow. This completely resolves the contradiction between conveyance capability and equipment height.
Data Source
AI summary
A glass manufacturing system for charging a glass blank mold is disclosed. The glass manufacturing system, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, comprises a glass forming sub-system, including a blank mold having a blank mold loading axis; and a molten glass handling sub-system. The molten glass handling sub-system includes a glass feeder to feed molten glass along a feeder axis, a transport cup to receive molten glass along the feeder axis, and a movable carrier to support the transport cup and carry the transport cup away from the glass feeder and to the blank mold.