NIR Mold Temperature Control for Hollow Glass Forming Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for manufacturing hollow glass items struggle with inconsistent quality and productivity due to temperature variations in parison and finishing molds, leading to defects and requiring costly and disruptive machine shutdowns.
Innovation Solution
A system using NIR cameras and temperature measurement members to monitor and regulate the temperature of parison and finishing molds in real-time, adjusting coolant flow to optimize mold temperatures and prevent defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If temperature measurements and corrections are performed on parison devices, then the quality of hollow glass items is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses infrared cameras to measure temperatures of parison devices and feeds this information back to automatically adjust cooling device parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that improves quality while managing complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual temperature measurement and adjustment procedures with automated infrared thermography and computer-controlled cooling systems, substituting mechanical/manual operations with optical and automated control mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If fixed pyrometers or thermal cameras are used to measure all parison devices, then temperature monitoring is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring task by assigning one infrared camera to each section of the IS machine, with each camera focused on specific parison devices in its section, segmenting the overall monitoring system into manageable modular units
Solution Approach 2:
Each section is equipped with temperature monitoring and cooling control tailored to its specific parison devices, allowing localized optimization without requiring complex centralized control of the entire machine
3Temperature
If air-flow cooling is applied to all parison devices, then temperature control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system dynamically adjusts air flow rates based on real-time temperature measurements from infrared cameras, increasing cooling when temperatures are high and reducing or stopping cooling when temperatures are within acceptable ranges, thereby optimizing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes cooling parameters (air flow rate, cooling duration) based on measured temperature conditions, adapting the cooling intensity to match the actual thermal state of each parison device
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 the quality and productivity of hollow glass production by minimizing defects and reducing human intervention, while lowering costs through automated temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
The inspection system comprises the same number of cameras for measuring near infrared radiation, referred to as NIR cameras, as sections on the IS machine
Implementation Method 2
adjusting coolant flow to optimize mold temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and regulating sections of a for forming hollow glass articles. Each section includes a parison-forming device forming device includes a device for cooling its two parts. The system includes a processing unit configured to deliver corrective data allowing the cooling devices of the parison-forming devices to be controlled. The system further includes the same number of cameras measuring in the near infrared wavelength (e.g., NIR cameras), which deliver shades of grey measured on the parison-forming moulds. The processing unit includes a database of visual hues corresponding to temperatures defined on the parison-forming devices in an open position. The processing unit delivers corrective data as a function of the shades of grey measured in real time by the NIR cameras on the parison-forming devices in the open position and of at least one reference temperature adjusted on said system.