EP3374321A1

EP3374321A1 - Method for manufacturing a hollow glass item

Info

Publication number: EP3374321A1
Application number: EP16809978.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gregory DECOSTER
Original assignee: Arc France SAS
Current assignee: Arc France SAS
Priority date: 2015-11-09
Filing date: 2016-11-09
Publication date: 2018-09-19
Also published as: RU2018113452A3; FR3043398B1; WO2017081414A1; CN108349767A; FR3043398A1; US20180230037A1; US10822263B2; RU2018113452A; RU2737439C2; JP2018536611A

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of methods for manufacturing a hollow glass item and, specifically, relates to a method for manufacturing an item (1) made of hollow, pressed glass (2), characterised in that it comprises the following steps: a step of depositing at least one drop (3) of molten glass into a mould (4) intended for modelling a predetermined outer shape of the glass item (1) to be manufactured; a step of pressing the molten glass (2) into the mould (4) by a shaping punch (5) in order to shape the hollow glass item (1) by hollowing out an inside space (6); a step of marking the glass item (1) with a marking tool (7) which is independent from the shaping punch (5), in order to imprint at least one raised and/or recessed pattern (8) in the inside space of the glass item; a step of cooling the marked, pressed glass item (1); and a step of removing the glass item (1) from the mould. Figure 2B

Description

Method of manufacturing a hollow glass article

The technical field of the invention is that of processes for manufacturing hollow glass articles.

Currently, the manufacture of such hollow glass articles already knows a large number of solutions. It is known, for example, a manufacturing process in which a drop of molten glass is deposited in a mold which forms the outer shape of the desired glass, the mold is then moved under a press where a pressing step is implemented at by means of a forming punch which digs an interior volume, the formed glass being then cooled under ventilation nozzles, and then extracted from its mold.

Today, manufacturers are increasingly looking to offer the opportunity to customize these glass items according to the demand of their customers, without causing significant additional cost during manufacture.

To customize a pressed glass, it is for example known to modify the mold so that its inner surface has a pattern allowing personalization located on the outside of the glass article to be manufactured.

Such customization of the wall of the article is also possible by modifying the forming punch digging the interior volume of the article during pressing, so that its outer wall has a pattern allowing personalization located inside the glass article to be made during the pressing step.

However, the customization of the mold and forming punch is particularly expensive, of the order of several tens of thousands of euros. Therefore, the lower the number of glass items to customize, the lower the price of the item is impacted by such customization.

Admittedly, the customization of a forming punch is less expensive than that of a mold. However, the marking by the forming punch does not allow the same quality of printing, and requires the customization of the entire production.

Moreover, it is advantageous and even necessary, to have at least one or even more molds and spare forming punch (s) in reserve in order to quickly compensate for a possible failure of one and / or or the other of these elements in the manufacture of glass articles. In this context, the repercussion of the cost of the customization of a mold and a forming punch on the unit price of a glass article is all the more important. In addition, these economic aspects also impact the minimum quantity of manufacture of a series of personalized glasses by order also called in English terms "Minimum Order Quantities" (MOQ.) While it is sought a MOQ as low as possible .

The process described hereinafter aims to remedy all or part of the disadvantages of the state of the art and to propose a method of manufacturing a hollow glass article by pressing, simple, quality and low cost, this same if the customization concerns a limited number of articles.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a method for manufacturing at least one hollow pressed glass article, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a step of depositing at least one drop of molten glass in a mold for shaping a predetermined external shape of the glass article to be manufactured;

a step of pressing the molten glass into the mold by a forming punch to form the hollow glass article, by digging an interior volume and conferring on it its overall final shape;

a step of marking the glass article by a marking tool independent of the forming punch, for printing at least one pattern in relief and / or hollow in the interior volume of the glass article;

a cooling step of the pressed and marked glass article; and a demolding step of the glass article.

Such a method of manufacturing at least one hollow glass article by pressing makes it possible in particular to facilitate the customization of the article during the marking step with said marking tool. Indeed, the customization of a simple marking tool is very inexpensive compared to the customization of a mold or forming punch.

In addition, the fact that the step of marking the glass article is implemented by a marking tool independent of the forming punch improves the quality of the pattern printing while reducing the costs associated with customization. Thus, during the manufacture of several articles, these two pressing and marking steps can be done in parallel.

Moreover, such a step of marking independent of the pressing step allows improved control of the production of glass articles. Indeed, such a characteristic makes it possible to implement said marking step independently. For example, it may be chosen to mark a glass article two of them during a series production of glass articles, or even for example one in three, one in four, etc.

Since the pressing step makes it possible to give the glass article its overall final or final shape in a single step, this means that other forming steps such as a blowing step, for example, are not necessary. not implemented after. This is unlike a pressing step whose only function is the creation of a blank. Of course, other steps such as finishing steps can be implemented next as the marking step or a burning step that can slightly change its appearance.

This reduces the manufacturing time of the glass article and to proceed, in a relatively short time after forming, marking the glass before it has been able to cool. This surprisingly improves the quality of pattern printing. Indeed, when the overall final shape of the article is conferred by a single forming step which is a pressing step, this allows to obtain a glass article formed with walls having a uniform thickness. Such a characteristic allows in particular a more homogeneous distribution of the temperature of the walls and, consequently, a marking of better quality.

Advantageously, the marking step of the glass article is implemented when the glass has, in particular at an inner surface of its wall to be marked, a temperature of between 725 and 775 degrees Celsius, and preferably about 750 degrees Celsius.

This temperature is particularly advantageous since it is large enough so that the material is soft enough to ensure the printing of the custom pattern on the glass but also low enough for the marking to be of good quality.

According to a particular technical characteristic, a marking time of the marking step is less than 0.6 seconds and preferably less than 0.5 seconds.

In this way, the marking time is fast enough to minimize the impact on the manufacturing time of the glass article and therefore on its manufacturing cost, without affecting the print quality of the pattern on the glass.

Advantageously, the glass article, after pressing in the mold, has a thickness greater than 1 mm and more preferably greater than 2 mm. Such a thickness makes it possible to obtain a glass article whose walls are thin enough to be light and have an improved design without any additional cost. vis-à-vis the raw material, this while having walls thick enough so that the marking of the glass article is of good quality without weakening it.

According to another characteristic, the demolding step is followed by a burn step by burners. Such a step notably makes it possible to rid the glass article of its possible defects and to make its glass walls smooth and shiny.

In order to give the glass a perfect solidity, it is possible to also proceed to a final heat treatment step, such as a thermal quenching step and / or annealing. The hollow glass article is then heated and cooled slowly homogeneously. This method makes it possible in particular to avoid tensions between the inside and the edge of the article.

According to an advantageous technical characteristic, the manufacturing method is implemented for the manufacture of a plurality of glass articles, the pressing and marking steps being implemented substantially concomitantly or simultaneously for separate glass articles.

Advantageously, the marking time of the marking step is less than the pressing time of the pressing step.

In such a configuration, the marking step is performed in masked time, when stopping the table for pressing the next glass article. This further reduces the unit manufacturing cost of a custom glass article.

Such a manufacturing method according to the invention allows a customization of glass articles in small series and low cost. Indeed, and for illustrative purposes, the cost of customizing a marking tool represents a cost at least twenty times lower than that of the customization of a forming punch and at least fifty times lower than that of the personalization of a marking tool. 'a mold.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a manufacturing apparatus, or manufacturing unit, of at least one glass article, the apparatus comprising at least:

a mold for patterning a predetermined outer shape of the glass article to be made;

a forming punch;

a marking tool;

- a demolding tool; the apparatus being remarkable in that it is able to implement the method of manufacturing hollow glass articles as described above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, schematic views of different steps of a method of manufacturing a pressed and personalized glass article according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B, sectional views of a hollow glass article and a part of a marking tool during two different phases of a marking step according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a top view of the hollow glass article and the marking tool of Figures 2A and 2B during the marking step according to this embodiment; FIGS. 4A and 4B, sectional views of a hollow glass article and a marking tool during two different phases of a marking step according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the marking tool according to this embodiment of Figures 4A and 4B;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a custom stamp of a marking tool according to one embodiment;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a custom glass article according to this embodiment.

For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are marked with identical reference signs throughout the figures.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G illustrate schematic views of different steps of a method of manufacturing a pressed and customized glass article, according to one embodiment.

In a first deposition step illustrated in FIG. 1A, a drop 3 of precisely calibrated molten glass is deposited in a mold 4 as illustrated by the arrow F1. This mold 4 is intended to shape a predetermined external shape of the article 1 into glass to make.

This glass drop 3, also called parison, has a very precise mass, namely that of the final article 1 to manufacture.

Once the drop 3 of molten glass deposited in the mold 4, said mold 4 is moved under a forming punch 5 (see FIG. 1B) before the setting of a pressing step (see Figure 1C) during which the molten glass 2 previously deposited in the mold 4 is then pressed by the forming punch 5.

This pressing of the molten glass 2 against the mold is obtained by means of the forming punch 5 which is lowered by translating vertically towards the mold 4 as illustrated by the arrow F2 and which penetrates into an interior space of the mold 4 in order to give the shape in section 1 hollow glass by digging an interior volume 6.

In fact, an inner wall of the mold 4 makes it possible to define an outer envelope to the glass article 1 to be manufactured and an outer wall of said forming punch 5 makes it possible to define an inner envelope, complementary to the outer envelope of the mold, of the article 1 to manufacture. In this way, this pressing step makes it possible to confer on glass article 1 its generally final and hollow shape.

Preferably, the mold 4 and the forming punch 5 are configured so that the article 1 made of glass, after pressing, has a thickness greater than 1 mm and more preferably greater than 2 mm.

After this pressing step, the glass article 1 is moved to another manufacturing station and then personalized during a marking step by a marking tool 7 independent of the forming punch 5 (see Figure 1D).

During this step, the marking tool penetrates at least partially into the interior volume 6 of the glass article 1 and comes to print a pattern 8 in relief and / or recessed against an inner surface of a wall of said article 1 in glass, it being understood that the inner surface of the glass article is a surface of the wall of the article 1 facing the interior volume side 6. This marking step is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2A, 2B , 3 and 4A, 4B, 5.

More specifically, the marking tool 7 comprises at least one arm 70 at the end of which is positioned a personalized stamp 80, this pad 80 being removable relative to said arm 70. An example of such a custom stamp 80 is illustrated on Figure 6.

In each of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, 4A, 4B and 5, it will be noted that the marking tool comprises two arms 70, in particular here arranged so as to be able each to mark the glass of a pattern 8 and that these two patterns 8 are opposed relative to each other with respect to a vertical axis of revolution X of the glass article 1 which has a symmetry of revolution.

During this marking step, and in general, the marking tool 7 brings the pad or pad (s) 80 into contact with and against a surface interior of a wall of the glass article 1, such as a side wall 11 of the glass article 1, as illustrated in particular in Figures 2B and 4B.

Preferably, the marking tool 7 is configured so that the contact is simultaneous at any point of the pattern 8 so as to improve the quality of its printing. More specifically here, the marking tool 7 performs, on the one hand, a substantially vertical movement to enter (arrow F3) the distal end 72 of each arm 70 bearing a buffer 80 in the inner volume 6 of the 1 of glass, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 2A and 4A, and, on the other hand, successively and / or at least partly concomitantly, a substantially horizontal (F4) or substantially radial movement relative to to the glass article, to mark section 1.

Once the glass has been marked, that is to say once the stamp 80 has printed the pattern 8 in relief and / or hollowed in the interior volume 6 of the glass article 1, in particular on an inner surface of the glass. at least one of its walls 11, 12, the marking tool 7 lifts the end of each arm 70 out of the inner volume 6. Preferably, in the case where the marking device comprises several arms and is arranged to print several patterns 8 on the same item 1 as is the case here, the arms 70 are controlled at the same time to minimize the marking time.

In this embodiment, the substantially horizontal movement of the buffer 80 is ensured by a rotation of the associated arm 70 but it could alternatively be controlled, for example, by a translation cylinder. In particular here, the rotation of the arms 70 can be implemented by an actuating means 71, for example by the rotation of a worm or by the translation of a rack preferably aligned with the axis X, the worm or rack meshing with one or more toothed wheel (s), each of the toothed wheels being integral with an end 73 of an arm 70 opposite to the distal end 72. In this way, the wheel toothed, then driven in rotation, causes the movement of the distal end 72 provided with the buffer 80.

Furthermore, each arm 70 has at least one elbow 74 between its two ends 72, 73 and oriented outwards so as to facilitate access and the introduction of this distal end 72 into the interior volume 6 of the article 1 through its opening. This feature is particularly advantageous when the article must be printed with several patterns 8 and several arms 70 must be implemented. Since the manufacturing method allows a series production of glass articles 1, and the marking tool 7 evacuates the end of the arm 70 provided with the buffer 80 out of the inner volume 6 of the article 1 to each marking, it is then possible to implement a step of changing the buffer 80 of the marking tool 7 between two marking steps, without interrupting the production of glass articles.

This buffer changing step 80 can be implemented automatically or manually. The use of the buffer 80 being sequenced, a manual change of the buffer 80 does not present any risk for an operator who would be in charge of this step. A safety device may also be provided to prevent actuation of the marking tool 7 when it is handled by an operator during production. Unmarked glass articles 1 can then be manufactured at the same time during the change, without interrupting or suspending the manufacture of glass articles.

According to an alternative, the marking tool 7 may comprise a plurality of arms of which only some are actuated, each of said arms being provided with a different buffer 80. In such an embodiment, the buffer changing step 80 is implemented by the choice of the desired pattern 8 and the actuation of the arm associated with the selected pattern at the time of the marking step.

Alternatively, the same arm may be provided with several buffers 80, each of said buffers 80 being operable independently from each other. For example, one and the same arm may have a different buffer 80 corresponding to each of the letters of the alphabet and be actuated according to a desired pattern combination 8 to form a word.

It will be noted that in the particular case where it is not the side wall 11 of the glass article 1 which is marked but its wall 12 forming a bottom, only a substantially vertical movement of the tool of the marking tool 7 is implemented.

This marking step is performed when the temperature of the glass is substantially between 725 and 775 degrees Celsius, and preferably around 750 degrees Celsius to ensure an improved print quality, this for a time a marking time of the marking step less than 0.6 seconds and preferably less than 0.5 seconds so as not to impact the manufacturing time of a glass article 1, without deteriorating the quality of personalization. Note further that, at the marking temperature, and during the support exerted by the pad 80 on the inner surface of the glass article 1, said pad 80 stops naturally because the glass wall cools sufficiently in contact with the pad 80, preferably metal, to ensure printing of the pattern 8 quality while avoiding any deformation of the wall 11, 12 of glass when printing the pattern 8. Such an advantage is also particularly advantageous when the article 1 in glass, after pressing, has walls 11, 12 whose thickness is greater than 1 mm and more preferably greater than 2 mm.

Advantageously, particularly in the case where a plurality of articles are marked by the same marking tool 7, a buffer cooling device 80 may be provided (not shown). Such a cooling device may, for example, comprise a cooling circuit integrated in the buffer 80 itself, and / or also comprise one or more blowing nozzles (s) independent of the marking tool 7 and adapted (s) to direct an air jet on the pad 80 between each marking step that said marking tool 7 implements.

In the first case, it is an example of a cooling implemented continuously, or even being able to be controlled in the duration of the buffer

80, thanks in particular to the presence of temperature sensors. In the second case, it is an example of a cooling implemented discontinuously, between each marking step.

Once marked or personalized by the pattern 8, the glass article 1 is cooled during a cooling step (see Figure 1E) by ventilated air then demolded, that is to say removed from its mold 4.

Demoulding is carried out by means of a demolding tool 10 forming an ejection arm introduced through a bottom of the mold 4 to push along the arrow F5 the previously formed article 1 (see Figure 1F).

A burn step (see FIG. 1G) by burners 9 of article 1 made of previously cooled and demolded glass makes it possible in particular to rid the glass article 1 of its possible defects and to make its glass walls smooth and shiny. In this way, the pattern thus formed on the glass is also smooth and shiny as shown in FIG. 7.

These FIGS. 1A to 1G illustrate various steps in the method of manufacturing an article 1 made of hollow glass. It is understood that the same method can be implemented in the manufacture of a plurality of hollow glass articles 1. In this case, the pressing and marking steps are implemented in such a way that substantially concomitantly or simultaneously for separate glass articles 1. More generally, all the steps are implemented concomitantly for separate glass articles 1, this to speed up the speed of production.

In the preferred embodiment, the marking time of the marking step, which is preferably less than 0.5 seconds, is also less than the pressing time of the pressing step. In this way, the marking step is performed in masked time, when stopping the table supporting the mold 4 for pressing the next glass article.

The glass articles 1 are manufactured in series and in series and require the use of a suitable apparatus. This apparatus forming a manufacturing unit comprises at least:

a mold 4 for shaping a predetermined external shape of the glass article 1 to be manufactured;

a forming punch 5;

a marking tool 7;

a demolding tool 10;

the apparatus for the manufacture of all these hollow glass articles 1 so that each glass is manufactured according to the manufacturing method described above.

Such a device allows the successive manufacture of each of the glass articles 1.

More specifically, the apparatus forming a manufacturing unit comprises a rotary table on which are successively arranged molds 4, this rotary table being indexed. Each of the molds is associated with a single article 1 glass. Indeed, at each step, the mold advances and evolves in a sequenced manner making a stop time at each step, for example: before the taste, that is to say substantially to the right of a distribution channel of the apparatus, then to the right of the forming punch, then to the marking tool 7, then to the level of cooling nozzles, etc.

Note that in the case of the embodiments as illustrated, the demolding tool 10 is associated with the mold 4 so that it follows the corresponding glass article 1 during its manufacture.

In our case, the longest step requiring the most downtime is the pressing step. Therefore, the marking step is not likely to slow the production speed when performed in masked time. This in particular reduces the unit manufacturing cost of a glass article. The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the skilled person is able to achieve different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

A method of manufacturing at least one hollow pressed glass article (2), characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a step of depositing at least one drop (3) of molten glass in a mold (4) for shaping a predetermined external shape of the glass article (1) to be manufactured;

a step of pressing the glass (2) melted in the mold (4) by a forming punch (5) to form the article (1) made of hollow glass, by digging an interior volume (6) and giving it its shape overall final;

a step of marking the glass article (1) by a marking tool (7), independent of the forming punch (5), for printing at least one pattern (8) in relief and / or recessed in the volume interior of the glass article;

a step of cooling the article (1) made of pressed and marked glass; and

a demolding step of the article (1) made of glass.

2. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of marking the article (1) glass is implemented when the glass has a temperature between 725 and 775 degrees Celsius, and preferably about equal to 750 degrees Celsius.

3. Manufacturing process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a marking time of the marking step is less than 0.6 seconds and preferably less than 0.5 seconds.

4. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the article (1) made of glass, after pressing, has a thickness greater than 1 mm and more preferably greater than 2 mm.

5. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the demolding step is followed by a burning step by burners (9).

6. Manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is implemented for the manufacture of a plurality of articles (1) made of glass, the pressing and marking steps being implemented. substantially concomitantly for separate glass articles (1).

7. A method of manufacturing a plurality of glass articles according to claim 6, characterized in that the marking time of the marking step is less than the pressing time of the pressing step.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing at least one article (1) made of glass, the apparatus comprising at least:

a mold (4) for shaping a predetermined external shape of the glass article (1) to be made;

a forming punch (5);

a marking tool (7);

a demolding tool (10);

the apparatus being characterized in that it is adapted to implement the method of manufacturing a plurality of hollow glass articles (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.