Telescopic Cooling Tubes for Glass Preform Uniformity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing preforming stations for IS glass machines lack uniformity in the quality of intermediate products and inadequate cooling of preforms, leading to potential damage and inefficiencies in the production process.
Innovation Solution
Each telescopic tube arrangement is designed with a number of telescopic tubes corresponding to the number of preform halves, with separate air control valves for independent cooling control, allowing 360-degree cooling and quick replacement of damaged parts, ensuring optimal cooling air application to each preform half.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single telescopic tube arrangement is used to supply cooling air to multiple preform halves, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling control precision and uniformity of preform quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single telescopic tube arrangement is segmented into multiple independent telescopic tubes, with each tube dedicated to supplying cooling air to a specific preform half. This segmentation enables independent cooling control for each preform half, ensuring uniform quality while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
2Ease of operation
If cooling air is supplied to all preform halves simultaneously through a common duct, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision and cooling control capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Each preform half is equipped with its own dedicated telescopic tube and air control valve, enabling localized cooling control. This allows different cooling rates and temperatures to be applied to different preform halves according to their specific requirements, significantly improving temperature control accuracy while maintaining ease of operation through individual control
3Device complexity
If telescopic tubes are fixed in position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different preform configurations and cooling requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic tubes are designed with dynamic extension and retraction capabilities, allowing their lengths to be adjusted according to different preform configurations and cooling requirements. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to accommodate various production scenarios while maintaining relatively simple overall structure through the telescopic mechanism
4Productivity
If cooling air supply is continuous to all preform halves, then the productivity is maintained, but the loss of energy and inability to optimize cooling for specific defects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air control valves enable periodic or intermittent cooling air supply to specific preform halves based on actual cooling requirements. This allows the system to maintain productivity by providing cooling only when and where needed, rather than continuous cooling to all preform halves, thereby reducing energy loss and optimizing the cooling process
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
This solution enhances the quality of glass blanks by enabling separate and controlled cooling of each preform half, extending their life expectancy and improving process monitoring, while allowing for adaptable configurations to meet different manufacturing requirements.
Implementation Method 1
Each preform half can be supplied with cooling air through its own telescopic tube, allowing independent cooling control and 360-degree cooling coverage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The preform molding station comprises a station box (5) that is provided with cooling air by a cooling device of the glass machine, two holding arms (2) that are movable on the preform station parallely guided to each other, two or three preform molding halves that are associated to the holding arms and are movable by sequentially moving the holding arms simultaneously in its closing position and/or in its opening position, where each holding arm is connected by a movable telescope tube arrangement (21, 22). The preform molding station comprises a station box (5) that is provided with cooling air by a cooling device of the glass machine, two holding arms (2) that are movable on the preform station parallely guided to each other, two or three preform molding halves that are associated to the holding arms and are movable by sequentially moving the holding arms simultaneously in its closing position and/or in its opening position, where each holding arm is connected by a movable telescope tube arrangement (21, 22) that is linked at the holding arms on one side and at station box on another side, to the station box of the preform molding station and to the cooling device so that each holding arm is provided during the parallel guiding sequential movement also during the parallel guiding movement and in welding position and in opening position with cooling air. Two or three telescope tubes corresponding to preform molding halves held by the holding arm belong to telescope tube arrangement, where the telescope tube is associated to the prefrom halves. The telescope tube of the telescope tube arrangement is associated to two or three air regulating valves (7) that are separately regulatable by a control grid (13, 14, 15). The air regulating valve is formed as proportional valve. The telescope tube arrangement is connected to the station box over a station box insert separated by the station box. The telescope tube arrangement is connected to the preform holding arms over the preform mold holding arm insert separated by the preform holding arms. The preform mold holding arm insert comprises two or three cooling air passages corresponding to preform halves. The station box insert comprises cooling air passages corresponding to the telescope tubes. The preform holding arm insert is connected to the telescope tube on one side and two preform halves are connected to the holding arms on another side. Control grids associated to the air control valve is formed as piston/cylinder arrangement chargeable with compressed air. In the preform holding arms, a cooling air channel is formed, which is connected to the cooling passage at preform holding arm side and branches off from the mouth form of the mouth cool channels associated to the preform halves.