Removable Fork Corridor Support for Glass IS Machine Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IS machine technology faces challenges in efficiently adapting to changes in production requirements, particularly in modifying the size and number of lanes during the manufacturing of hollow glass articles, which results in lengthy changeover times and issues with parison sliding and fouling, leading to defects in the glass products.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a lane support system with a first permanent stirrup and removable stirrups of varying U-shaped sections, allowing for easy adaptation to different parison sizes without disassembling the lane support, combined with an air circulation system to improve parison sliding, reduces changeover time and prevents fouling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lane support is disassembled to replace forks adapted to different corridor sections, then the machine can adapt to different production requirements, but the changeover time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lane support is divided into a fixed support structure and a removable fork component. The fork can be easily detached and replaced without disassembling the entire lane support, enabling quick adaptation to different corridor sections while minimizing changeover time.
Solution Approach 2:
The fork is designed as a movable and replaceable component rather than a fixed part. This dynamic design allows the fork to be quickly swapped between different specifications (e.g., from a first specification for large articles to a second specification for small articles) to adapt to varying production requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the corridor cross section is increased to accommodate larger parisons, then larger hollow glass articles can be produced, but the machine configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lane support structure is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate forks of different specifications. Instead of having multiple dedicated support structures for different article sizes, a single lane support can adapt to various corridor sections by simply replacing the fork component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the machine is reconfigured for different numbers and sizes of lanes, then production flexibility is improved, but the adaptation process becomes more tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fork is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently replaced. This segmentation allows operators to change the fork specification without affecting the rest of the lane support structure, making reconfiguration simpler and more straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
Forks of different specifications are prepared in advance and can be quickly swapped when production requirements change. The removable design allows for pre-prepared forks to be readily installed, reducing the time and effort required for reconfiguration.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a channel support (20) of a machine (9) for forming hollow glass articles, comprising a first support piece (27), a first permanent bracket (31) assembled to the first support piece and having a first housing zone (42) dimensioned to receive a downstream end segment of a first channel having a first cross-section S1 in a transverse plane, and a removable bracket (45) whose external shape is complementary to the first housing zone (42) for positioning itself within said first housing zone (42) and mounting the removable bracket (45) within the first permanent bracket (31). The removable bracket (45) has a second housing zone (50) dimensioned to receive a downstream end segment of a second channel having a second cross-section S2 in a transverse plane, the second cross-section S2 being smaller than the first cross-section S1.The invention also relates to a machine (9) for forming hollow glass articles equipped with such a corridor support (20).