MXPA99003126A - Vid container handling system - Google Patents

Abstract

Glass containers are transferred from the immobile plates of a forming machine of the S.I. type. to an adjacent conveyor by 90 ° sweep heads, each of which is driven by a c.a. The conveyor machine, which is also driven by a c.a. servo motor, transports the containers to a transverse conveyor, which extends perpendicular to the conveyor machine and transports the containers to positions adjacent to the entrance of an annealing furnace. The transfer of the containers from the conveyor machine to the transverse conveyor is effected by a chain transfer device, and the transverse conveyor and the chain transfer device are each driven by a c.a. Groups of containers are transferred in unison from the transverse conveyor to a motion conveyor of the annealing furnace by the reciprocating push rod of a furnace loader, and the operation of the pushing bar of the moving furnace loader reciprocal way along three (3) axes, driven by three (3) AC servo-motors The operation of each of the c.a. for the 90 ° sweeping heads, the conveyor machine, the transversal conveyor, the chain transfer device and the pusher bar of the furnace charger, and the operation of the annealing furnace, which is driven by an AC motor, the conveyor is simultaneously measured and controlled to process containers at all times from the stationary plates of the forming machine to the annealing furnace conveyor at controlled speeds, predetermined

Description

GLASS CONTAINER HANDLING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a system for controlling the operation of various handling devices, for handling and transferring glass containers in a forming machine of the individual section type ("S.I.") to an annealing furnace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most glass containers, if not all, including a wide variety of bottles and jars, are manufactured, and for many years have been manufactured, by machines of type SI, a type that uses a multiplicity of sections side to side, each of which forms containers in a two-step molding operation. In a forming operation of glass containers of this type, a container preform, often called a parison or a preliminary piece, is formed in a first mold in a filling station.

REF .: 29973 molding of preliminary pieces of the machine section of SI, either by pressing or blowing, and the preliminary piece is then transferred by an inversion operation of 180 ° in a vertical plane towards a second mold of the section of SI machine, often called a blow mold, to blow-form the finished container. In modern SI machines, typically, a multiplicity of containers, such as two or three or even four containers, are formed simultaneously in each section of the SI machine, and these machines typically incorporate a rather large number of sections, such like six or eight or even ten sections. U.S. Patent No. 4,427,431 (Mumford et al.), Which is assigned to the assignee of this application, the discussion of which is incorporated herein by reference, generally discloses a glassware forming device. of this general type. The containers that leave the blow molds of an SI machine are completely hot and need to be cooled to an appreciable degree before they are subjected to the kinds of mechanical handling steps and devices that are necessary to transfer these containers to an oven. of annealing for the heat treatment to mitigate the internal, residual, excess efforts that result from the training steps. In this way, a typical S.I machine is provided. with an immobile plate, cooled by air to which the containers are transferred from the blow molds of a machine of S.I. by extraction tongs mechanisms that are a part of the machine of S.I. The containers are allowed to remain on the immobile plate for a period of time, during which they are partially cooled to a temperature at which they will be capable of being subjected to further handling. After this, the containers are transferred to a moving conveyor, often called a conveyor, an action which requires a 90 ° turning movement of the containers by a sweeping head. The transfer of the containers from the blow molds of the machine of S.I. to the stationary plates and from the stationary plates to a conveyor machine by the sweeping heads is generally described in the aforementioned US Patent No. 4,427,431, and also in U.S. Patent No. 4,162,911 (Mallory and U.S. Patent No. 4,222,480 (Perry), each of which is also assigned to the assignee of this application, the description of each of which is also incorporated by reference herein. SI machine that are being transported from the SI machine by the conveyor machine are transferred to another conveyor, usually called a transverse conveyor, which extends perpendicular to the conveyor machine and presents the containers at the entrance to an annealing furnace. provides a container transfer device to effect the transfer of the containers from the conveyor to the t transverse transporter. This arrangement is shown generally in U.S. Patent No. 4, 193,784 (Mumford), which is also assigned to the assignee of this application, the description of which is also incorporated by reference herein. In practice, the transfer devices performing the function of the transfer device of US Pat. No. 4,193,784, mentioned above, are frequently constructed in an arched, or arched, configuration. The containers on the transverse conveyor at the entrance to an annealing furnace are then transferred in groups of a multiplicity of containers in each group to a moving conveyor of the furnace by a transfer device which is often called a furnace loader or stacker. U.S. Patent No. 4,290,517 (Haf ferkamp), which is also assigned to the assignee of this application, the description of which is also incorporated by reference herein, discloses a prior art furnace loader for transferring containers. in a conveyor transverse to the conveyor of an annealing furnace in the manner described above. The many steps of container handling, and devices included in the transfer of containers from the immobile plates of the S.I. to an annealing furnace conveyor, as described, must be carefully controlled with respect to each other, both in terms of the speed of the handling steps and in their synchronization with respect to each other. Additionally, S.I. machines, as described, are used to produce containers of different designs and sizes, and each change of work in an S.I machine. it frequently requires changes in the system to control the operation of the container handling devices, which frequently include changes in the spacing between the containers in the conveyor and the transverse conveyor. So far, these changes of work of S.I. which comprises changing the gearbox and / or ratios of the sprockets of the drives used to drive the conveyor, the transverse conveyor and the chain transfer device to transfer the containers from the conveyor to the transverse conveyor. Of course, these changes lead to significant delays in the operation of a S.I. machine, which reduces the overall productivity of the machine. In addition, even in a steady state operation, variables may occur in the operation of the container handling devices, as described, for example, such as the elongations that occur in the conveyor belts used in some of their devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a control system for controlling the operation of the various operations and container handling devices which are included in the transfer of the containers from the immobile containers of a S.I. to a motion conveyor of an annealing furnace. The handling system of the present invention utilizes a central control station which simultaneously controls the operation of the sweeping heads of the SI machine, the conveyor machine, the chain transfer device, the transverse conveyor and the furnace loader, each of which is driven preferably by a servo-motor ca for precise control over your operation. The central control station also controls the operation of the furnace conveyor drive, which is typically an AC motor, but not an AC servo motor. The central control station of the present invention is programmed to allow an operator to provide itself. with a desired spacing from container to container between the containers that are transferred to an oven, and each of the handling devices that is controlled by the central control station will be adjusted immediately in its operation to adjust to this spacing from container to container . Additionally, the control system of the present invention employs monitors to monitor the linear speeds of the conveying machine and the transverse conveyor, which may still vary during the steady state operation due to the lengthening of the conveyor belts, and will change the linear speed of these conveyor belts as required to adjust their operation to that : of their associated management devices. Additionally, the operation information for the various handling devices included in the handling of containers of any particular design and size can be recorded electronically, for example, on a flexible disk, the control system can put the various handling devices to its appropriate operating conditions very quickly when the line is adjusted immediately to process the containers to that design and size. The control system of the present invention can also be used to control the operation of a device for blowing containers of a type used to unload containers in the case of a blogging of the line. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved control system for improving the operation of the various handling devices comprised in the transfer of glass containers from the stationary plates of a forming machine.

YES. to an annealing furnace conveyor. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control system of the previous character that can quickly modify the operations of the devices controlled by it, when there is a change in design or size of the containers that are formed in the machine of SI, associated. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a control system that is capable of controlling the operation of the conveyors used in the transfer of the containers from an S.I machine. to an annealing furnace, to take into account any change in the linear velocity of these operators due to elongation. For a further understanding of the present invention, the circuits thereof, attention is directed to the drawings and the following brief description thereof, to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and to the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, partially schematic, plan view illustrating a glass container handling system for transferring glass containers from the immobile plates of a S.I. forming machine. to the moving conveyor of an annealing furnace, and incorporating a control system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Y Figure 2 is a schematic view of a system for adjusting the set point at which a controller controls the operation of an electric motor used in the handling system of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The reference numerals 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 schematically identify the scanning heads used to transfer the glass containers from the stationary plates of an SI machine, the number of these Sweep heads indicating that the SI machine, as shown, is of the ten-section type. The heads of sections 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are used to transfer containers from the immobile plates of the S.I. to the upper section of an endless conveyor 32, which is driven continuously by an ac motor 34, which is preferably an ac servo-motor, to move the upper section of the conveyor 32 from the bottom to the top in the orientation shown in the drawing as indicated by arrow A. A container blow station 36 is provided at a location adjacent to the conveyor to allow containers on the conveyor to be pneumatically discharged for recycling or disposal in the event of a blockage of any of the container handling devices located downstream of a conveyor 32, as described hereinafter. Containers are transferred from the conveyor 32, where they are transported in a single row, to a transverse conveyor 38, which extends perpendicularly to the conveyor 32. The transfer of the containers from the conveyor 32 to the transverse conveyor 38 is effected by an endless transfer device 40, which is shown as being of the curved chain type and also driven by an ac motor. (not shown), which preferably is also a c.a.

The direction of movement of the chain transfer device 40 is shown by the arrow B in the drawing. A web speed monitor 42 is provided to continuously measure the speed of the conveyor 32, and the monitor 42 is preferably positioned along the conveyor 32 at a location downstream from the chain transfer device 40. . The transverse conveyor 38 is an endless conveyor which is driven by a motor 44 ca, which preferably is also an ac servo-motor. The transverse conveyor 38 has an upper section that moves from the left to the right in the orientation illustrated in FIG. the drawing and as indicated by the arrow C, and is used to present the containers in a single row in front of an entrance to an annealing furnace 46. A web speed monitor 48 is provided to continuously measure the linear velocity of the conveyor transverse 38, and monitor 38 is preferably positioned along the transverse conveyor at a location downstream of the annealing furnace 46.

Groups of containers are transferred in unison in the furnace 46 by a reciprocating furnace magazine 50, whose reciprocating operation in and out of the furnace 46 is driven by a c.a. (not shown), which is also preferably an AC servo motor. At present, the furnace charger 50 requires a movement along three axes, a vertical axis and horizontal axes along the X and Y coordinates , and three (3) AC motors, which are synchronized with each other, are provided to perform these movements. In any case, the containers are coupled by a push bar 52 carried by the oven loader 50 and moved from the transverse conveyor 38 to an endless wire mesh conveyor 54, which is driven by an AC motor 56. The conveyor 54 of the oven 46 has an upper section in which the containers of the transversal conveyor 38 are supported., and the upper section of the conveyor 54 moves from the bottom to the top in the orientation shown in the drawing as illustrated by the arrow D to transport the "containers through the furnace 46. A band speed monitor 64 is It provides for continuously inspecting the linear speed of the furnace conveyor 54. A central, driven controller 58 is provided for simultaneously measuring and controlling the operation of each of the sweeping heads 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24 , 26, 28, 30, the bottle blowing station 36, the AC motor 34 for the conveyor 32, and an AC motor for the chain transfer device 40, the AC motor 44 for the transverse conveyor. 38, and the AC motors of the oven charger 50, and the AC motor 56 for the annealing furnace conveyor 46, as indicated by the solid lines of the controller 58 to each device. to station 60 of the operator in terms of the desired operating speeds of each of the devices controlled by it, as described, based for example on the design or size of the vessels that are processed at any given time. The controller 58 then automatically controls each of the control devices to operate at operating speeds that are coordinated with each other and are appropriate for containers of the design and size being processed. The operation of the controller 58, together with the operation of all the devices controlled by it, as described, is activated by a main start / stop station 62, and the complete control system including the controller 58 can be deactivated by the 62 start / stop station. The operating speeds of the conveyor 32 and the transverse conveyor 38, as controlled by the central controller 58, may need to be changed from time to time even during the steady state operation due to the lengthening of the conveyor 32 and / or the transverse conveyor 38 if the conveyor 32 and the transverse conveyor 38 are in the form of bands, which is the typical arrangement. The belt speed monitor 42 of the conveyor machine provides the controller 58 with a signal indicative of the linear speed of the conveyor 32, which will change as the conveyor 32 is extended, and the controller 58 will then instruct the c.a. 34 to operate at a different speed to compensate for the change in the linear speed of the conveyor 32 due to the lengthening of the belt. Similarly, the speed monitor 48 in the transverse conveyor band will provide the controller 58 with a signal indicative of the linear speed of the transverse conveyor 38, which will change as the transverse conveyor 38 is lengthened, and the controller 58 will then instruct the motor of the transverse conveyor 38. AC 34 to operate at a different speed to compensate for the change in linear velocity of the transverse conveyor 38 due to the lengthening of the belt. Similarly, the web speed monitor 64 provides the controller 58 with a signal indicative of the linear speed of the furnace conveyor 54, which will change as the furnace conveyor 54 is extended, and the controller 58 will then instruct the furnace motor. AC 56 to operate at a different speed to compensate for the change in linear velocity of the furnace conveyor 54 due to the lengthening of the belt.

Figure 2 illustrates a system for adjusting the set point at which the controller 58 controls the operation of the c.a. 56 which is used to control the speed of the operation of the furnace conveyor 54, which is understood to provide similar arrangements (not shown) for controlling the operation of the c.a. 34 for the conveyor 32 and the c.a. 44 for the cross conveyor 38. In the system of Figure 2, a sum of the current speed, as measured by the linear speed monitor 64, is taken as a negative value, and a theoretical speed, as a positive value. Ideally, the sum will be zero, in which case no adjustments will be needed at the set point at which the controller 58 controls the operation of the c.a. 56. However, when the current speed of the band varies from the theoretical speed of the band, the difference between these speeds will be a finite value, and this finite value will then be written to the controller 58 to adjust the set point to the which controls the operation of the AC motor. In any case, the signal from the controller 58 is completely weak, and a power amplifier 66 is provided to amplify the value of this signal before it is marked on the AC motor. 56. Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor to carry out the present invention as to the date of presentation thereof has been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made, suitable variations and equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention, this scope being limited only by the terms of the following claims and equivalents thereof.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (13)

1. A method for transferring newly formed glass containers from a plurality of stationary plates of a glass container forming machine of the individual section type, the method is characterized in that it comprises: providing a conveyor machine adjacent to the forming machine; operate the operation of the conveyor machine by a DC motor; providing a plurality of 90 ° scanning heads for transferring the containers from the plurality of motionless plates to the conveyor; operate the operation of each one of the 90 ° sweeping heads by a c.a. motor; provide a transverse conveyor that extends perpendicularly to the conveyor machine; drive the operation of the transverse conveyor by a c.a engine; providing an endless chain transfer device for transferring the containers from the conveyor to the transverse conveyor; actuate the chain transfer device by a c.a engine; provide an annealing furnace with a conveyor; operating the operation of the annealing furnace conveyor by a c.a. motor; providing an oven loader with a reciprocating push bar for transferring groups of containers from the transverse conveyor to the annealing furnace conveyor and; actuating the reciprocal movement of the push bar of the furnace loader in a direction that moves transversely of the transverse conveyor by a c.a.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: measuring and additionally controlling the operating speeds of the c.a. for the 90 ° sweeping heads, the conveying machine, the transversal conveyor, the chain transfer device, the push bar of the furnace charger, and the annealing furnace conveyor.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: measuring the linear speed of the conveyor machine to detect the elongation of the conveyor machine; and changing the operating speed of the motor for the conveyor to compensate for a change in the linear speed of the conveyor due to the lengthening of the conveyor.

4. A method according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it further comprises: measuring the linear speed of the transverse conveyor to detect elongation of the transverse conveyor; and changing the speed ratio of the motor for the transverse conveyor to compensate for a change in the linear velocity of the transverse conveyor due to the elongation of the transverse conveyor.

5. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: providing a container blowing extension adjacent to the conveyor machine; and controlling the operation of the blowing station to discharge containers from the conveyor in a blockage of either the transverse conveyor, the chain transfer device, the push bar of the furnace loader or the annealing furnace conveyor.

6. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that: the linear speed of the conveyor is measured at a location downstream of the location of the transfer of the containers of the conveyor machine to the transverse conveyor by the chain transfer device.

7. A method of conformance with claim 4, characterized in that: the linear velocity of the transverse conveyor is measured at a current location below the location of the transfer of the recipients of the conveyor transverse to the annealing furnace conveyor by a thrust band of the conveyor. oven charger.

8. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: providing an operator station to allow an operator to change the operating speeds at which the c.a. for the 90 ° sweeping heads, the conveyor, the transverse conveyor, the chain transfer device, the pusher bar of the furnace charger and the annealing furnace conveyor are controlled.

9. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: providing a start / stop station for selectively activating or deactivating the control of the operating speeds of the c.a. for the 90 ° sweeping heads, the conveying machine, the transversal conveyor, the chain transfer device, the pushing bar of the furnace charger and the annealing furnace conveyor.

10. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of the conveyor machine is driven by a c.a.

11. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of the transverse conveyor is driven by a c.a.

12. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of the chain transfer device is driven by a c.a. servo motor.

13. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the reciprocal movement of the push rod of the furnace loader is driven by a c.a. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Glass containers are transferred from the immobile plates of a m-forming machine of the S.I. type. to an adjacent conveyor by 90 ° scanning heads, each of which is driven by an AC servo motor. The conveyor, which is also driven by an AC servo motor, transports the containers to a conveyor Transverse, which extends perpendicularly to the conveyor machine and transports the containers to positions adjacent to the entrance of an annealing furnace. The transfer of the containers from the conveyor machine to the transverse conveyor is effected by a chain transfer device, and the transverse conveyor and the chain transfer device are each driven by an ac servo motor. Groups of containers are transferred. in unison from the transverse conveyor to a moving conveyor of the annealing furnace by the reciprocating pushing rod of a furnace loader, and the operation of the furnace loader's push rod moving reciprocally along of three (3) axes, driven by three (3) AC servo-motors. The operation of each of the AC servo motors for the 90 ° sweeping heads, the conveying machine, the transversal conveyor, the chain transfer device and the pushing bar of the furnace charger, and the operation of the annealing furnace, which is driven by an AC motor, the conveyor is simultaneously measured and controlled to process the containers at all times from the stationary plates of the forming machine to the conveyor of the annealing furnace at predetermined, controlled speeds.