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Publication Number
US-11767251-B2
Publication Date
2023-09-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass containers handles the containers individually after a hot forming process and annealing to prevent glass-to-glass contact. By handling the containers individually and preventing glass-to-glass contact damage to the containers in the form of checks and scratches is avoided. To prevent contact of the containers and damage arising from the contact, the equipment including conveyors, pushers, starwheels, shuttles, and transfer heads that move the glass containers through the apparatus maintains the glass containers in uniform spaced relationship at each stage of container processing until the containers are packaged.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to an apparatus for producing glass containers that receives, inspects, and discharges glass containers in a sequence. The inspection station includes a rejection mechanism for ejecting any container that does not pass inspection, so that defective containers are removed from the sequence. The apparatus conveys the remaining containers away from the inspection station in a consecutive sequence of containers in uniformly spaced relationship with one another.
To preserve the uniformly spaced relationship despite container ejection, the apparatus uses a controller connected in controlling relationship with the discharge conveyor. In response to ejection of a container from the sequence by the rejection mechanism, the controller interrupts the operation of the conveyor so that a consecutive sequence in uniformly spaced relationship is maintained on the discharge conveyor. The control is described as PLC-based timing control that synchronizes downstream handling with inspection and ejection events.
The disclosed system includes downstream packaging where containers arranged in uniformly spaced sequence are packaged. The apparatus is described as integrating a packaging station connected with the discharge conveyor to receive the containers in uniformly spaced relationship for packaging, with transfer and cell pack handling to align the containers with cell spacing. The overall arrangement maintains uniform spaced, non-contacting container sequences across stages, including handling after annealing/lehr, to minimize damage and support flawless containers for downstream operations.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes four independent claim members in the provided list, with additional refinements. Across these members, the claims focus on sequential inspection with rejection, discharge conveyor conveying in uniformly spaced relationship, and controller interruption of the conveyor upon ejection to preserve spacing, with further limitations specifying PLC control and a packaging station and a vacuum belt conveyor implementation.
Inspection station with rejection mechanism in a sequence
An inspection station receiving, inspecting, and discharging glass containers in a sequence, wherein the inspection station has a rejection mechanism for ejecting from the sequence any container that does not pass inspection.
Discharge conveyor conveying uniformly spaced consecutive sequence
A discharge conveyor connected with the inspection station for receiving the glass containers discharged by the inspection station and conveying the glass containers away from the inspection station in a consecutive sequence of containers in uniformly spaced relationship with one another.
Controller interrupting conveyor operation upon ejection to maintain uniformly spaced sequence
A controller connected in controlling relationship with the discharge conveyor, wherein the controller interrupts the operation of the conveyor as a consequence of the ejection of a container from the sequence by the rejection mechanism so that a consecutive sequence of containers in uniformly spaced relationship can be maintained on the discharge conveyor.
Programmable logic controller receiving rejection signals
The controller is a programmable logic controller connected to receive rejection signals from the inspection station and to interrupt the discharge conveyor operation when a glass container is ejected.
Packaging station connected to the discharge conveyor for uniformly spaced containers
A packaging station connected to the discharge conveyor to receive containers arranged in uniformly spaced sequence for packaging.
Vacuum belt conveyor retaining uniformly spaced positioning
The discharge conveyor is implemented as a vacuum belt conveyor that retains the containers’ positioning in a uniformly spaced relationship during conveying.
The claim coverage centers on preserving a consecutive uniformly spaced container output from an inspection station with a rejection mechanism by interrupting discharge conveyor operation upon ejection. Refinements specify PLC control, integration with a packaging station, and a vacuum belt conveyor that retains uniformly spaced positioning during conveying.
Stated Advantages
Maintains a consecutive sequence of containers in uniformly spaced relationship on the discharge conveyor despite ejection of defective containers from the inspection sequence.
Enables packaging of containers arranged in uniformly spaced sequence received from the discharge conveyor.
Documented Applications
Producing glass containers using an apparatus that includes inspection with rejection, discharge conveying in uniformly spaced relationship, and downstream packaging connected to the discharge conveyor.
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