Abstract: A change system for changing an orifice plate that is registered with an orifice ring is provided. The orifice plate change system includes a guide arrangement, a plurality of orifice plates, and an actuator. The guide arrangement has a charging plate region and an operating plate region. Each orifice plate is configured to be slidably carried by the guide arrangement between the charging plate region and the operating plate region in which the orifice thereof is registered with the orifice ring orifice. A first orifice plate has a first orifice and a second orifice plate has a second orifice that is different than the first orifice such that a stream of molten glass that passes through the second is different than a stream of molten glass passing through the first orifice. The actuator translates the orifice plates from the charging plate region to the operating plate region.

Abstract: A camera device for a glassware forming machine, comprising a camera, an objective and a lens system, wherein the lens system defines an entrance pupil on its side facing away from the objective, that the camera device has a diaphragm between the lens system and the object and a stream of blocking air is directed away from the lens system through an aperture of the diaphragm.

Abstract: In a method for reading a code arranged on a wall of a container, an illuminated region is generated on the container wall by means of a light source, a width of the illuminated region being smaller than a width of the code surface area in a circumferential direction of the container. In connection with a relative movement between the container and the illuminated region, a series of individual frames of the illuminated region is captured by means of a matrix camera. An image of the code is assembled from the series of individual frames. The invention also relates to a device for reading a code arranged on a wall of a container.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing an image of a bottom of a glass vessel having an axis use a matrix camera having pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. A series of individual photographs of strip-shaped regions of the bottom is captured by means of the matrix camera; mutually adjacent individual photographs partly overlap. A light source is used to transmit light through the bottom of the glass vessel during an individual photograph. Between different individual photographs, the glass vessel is rotated about its axis relative to the matrix camera. A digital image of the bottom of the glass vessel is composed from the series of individual photographs, the individual photographs being arranged at an angle relative to each other.

Abstract: A glass forming machine, a method for lubricating a baffle and a swabbing device for a glass forming machine is disclosed. The glass forming machine comprises a blank station with a blank mould for forming a parison from a gob of molten glass inside the blank mould. The glass forming machine further comprises a baffle for closing the blank mould. The glass forming machine further comprises a swabbing device which is configured to spray lubricant onto the baffle for lubricating the baffle. This enables a particularly high quality of the formed parisons and the corresponding glass containers.

Abstract: A gob trough for guiding a gob of molten glass is provided. The trough may be formed from trough segments that have a stepped configuration that reduces the amount of contact time between the gob and the trough. The trough may include surface formations that additionally reduce the contact time between the gob and the trough.

Abstract: The apparatus for inspecting containers comprises an illumination device, a rotation device and a capturing device. The illumination device is configured to illuminate an illumination region alternately with different illumination patterns, which comprise at least a first illumination pattern and a second illumination pattern. The illumination device is configured to illuminate the illumination region with the first illumination pattern in first time windows and to illuminate it with the second illumination pattern in second time windows. The rotation device is configured to rotate a container with a bottom and with a sidewall about an axis of the container in such a way that at least a section of the sidewall passes through the illumination region along a rotational direction. The capturing device is configured to take a photo of the illumination region at least in each first time window and in each second time window.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling vertical glass distribution are provided. A traversing pyrometer periodically measures a parison actual temperature after the parisons exit a blank mold. The thermal camera takes a thermal image of each glass container after the glass container exits the blow mold. A vertical glass signature extraction module extracts a vertical glass distribution signature. A parison temperature estimator determines a parison estimated temperature for each vertical glass distribution signature obtained based on the vertical glass distribution signature, a most recently measured parison actual temperature and a parison stretch time. A parison temperature summer compares the parison estimated temperature to a parison set point temperature to determine a parison temperature error. A parison temperature control controls a blank mold contact time based on the parison temperature error.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling vertical glass distribution are provided. A traversing pyrometer periodically measures a parison actual temperature after the parisons exit a blank mold. The thermal camera takes a thermal image of each glass container after the glass container exits the blow mold. A vertical glass signature extraction module extracts a vertical glass distribution signature. A parison temperature estimator determines a parison estimated temperature for each vertical glass distribution signature obtained based on the vertical glass distribution signature, a most recently measured parison actual temperature and a parison stretch time. A parison temperature summer compares the parison estimated temperature to a parison set point temperature to determine a parison temperature error. A parison temperature control controls a blank mold contact time based on the parison temperature error.

Abstract: A change system for changing an orifice plate that is registered with an orifice ring is provided. The orifice plate change system includes a guide arrangement, a plurality of orifice plates, and an actuator. The guide arrangement has a charging plate region and an operating plate region. Each orifice plate is configured to be slidably carried by the guide arrangement between the charging plate region and the operating plate region in which the orifice thereof is registered with the orifice ring orifice. A first orifice plate has a first orifice and a second orifice plate has a second orifice that is different than the first orifice such that a stream of molten glass that passes through the second is different than a stream of molten glass passing through the first orifice. The actuator translates the orifice plates from the charging plate region to the operating plate region.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a glass container and methods of inspecting glass containers are provided. The system includes a panel including a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate the glass container. The system includes a camera configured to image the illuminated glass container. The system includes a controller configured to adjust the amount of power applied to each of the light sources individually. The system includes a processor configured to evaluate the image of the illuminated glass container for indications of defects in the container. Methods of calibrating the system are also provided.

Abstract: A gob trough for guiding a gob of molten glass is provided. The trough may be formed from trough segments that have a stepped configuration that reduces the amount of contact time between the gob and the trough. The trough may include surface formations that additionally reduce the contact time between the gob and the trough.

Abstract: An improved system and method for forming falling hot glass gobs which will be molded into glass containers in an Individual Section (IS) machine is disclosed which controls the weight, length, and shape of such glass gobs as they are produced. The system includes a gob feeder apparatus and a gob shearing mechanism a controller using models being used to correlate the effect of a number of feeder control settings on gob weight, length, and, shape. The controller is configured to adjust various feeder control settings based on a prioritized order of the feeder control settings such that gobs having different physical characteristics for different ones of the individual sections can be produced during a single machine cycle. By implementing the models, a closed loop system has been developed to set up controls to achieve the desired gob forming for each individual section and cavity.

Abstract: An improved system and method for forming falling hot glass gobs which will be molded into glass containers in an Individual Section (IS) machine is disclosed which controls the weight, length, and shape of such glass gobs as they are produced. The system includes a gob feeder apparatus and a gob shearing mechanism a controller using models being used to correlate the effect of a number of feeder control settings on gob weight, length, and, shape. The controller is configured to adjust various feeder control settings based on a prioritized order of the feeder control settings such that gobs having different physical characteristics for different ones of the individual sections can be produced during a single machine cycle. By implementing the models, a closed loop system has been developed to set up controls to achieve the desired gob forming for each individual section and cavity.

Abstract: A control unit configured to control a section of an I.S. machine having a blank station including a first plurality of mechanisms and a blow station including a second plurality of mechanisms is provided. The control unit includes an operator interface configured to receive a first input and a second input from an operator. The control unit includes a controller configured to transition the section from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation. Upon receipt of the first input the control unit is configured to supply power to either the first or second plurality of mechanisms and not to supply power to the other. The control is configured to move one of the mechanisms to which power is being supplied in the second mode of operation based on the second input received from the operator.

Abstract: A blow head mounting arrangement for use to facilitate installation and removal of a blow head from a blow head mounting member. The blow head has a first engagement member for removable engagement with a second engagement member to removably attach the blow head to the blow head mounting member. Once engaged, the blow head is retained on the blow head mounting member by rotating the blow head into a locked position in which it is retained until it is rotated in the opposite direction by a locking mechanism.

Abstract: A system and a method for improving process yield and quality while reducing dependence on operator skill by automatically adjusting I.S. machine timing and motions. Container pixel data information indicative of certain measurements of hot glass containers manufactured by the I.S. machine obtained with a multipoint, multispectral glass container measurement system is mathematically transformed into a reduced dimensional measured signature. Event timing signals to operate the cavities of the section of the I.S. machine in response to the measured signature and a preferred target signature are produced to automatically adjust the event timing of operations in the cavities of the section of the I.S. machine to diminish variations in the measured signature.

Abstract: A cooling tube assembly is provided. The assembly includes a cylindrical cooling tube extending from a first end to a second end. The cooling tube has an inner surface, an outer surface, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter. The cooling tube includes a first plurality of throughbores and a second plurality of throughbores located axially between the first plurality of throughbores and the second end of the cooling tube. Each of the second plurality of throughbores is circumferentially offset from each of the first plurality of throughbores. The assembly includes a nozzle extending from a first end to a second end. The first end of the nozzle is located inside the cooling tube. The first plurality of throughbores is located axially between the second end of the cooling tube and the first end of the nozzle.

Abstract: A blow head mounting arrangement for use to facilitate installation and removal of a blow head from a blow head mounting member. The blow head has a first engagement member for removable engagement with a second engagement member to removably attach the blow head to the blow head mounting member. Once engaged, the blow head is retained on the blow head mounting member by rotating the blow head into a locked position in which it is retained until it is rotated in the opposite direction by a locking mechanism.

Abstract: A closed loop blank mold temperature control system and method for use in the operation of an I.S. machine is disclosed for automatically adjusting machine timing to maintain desired blank mold temperature/heat extraction. The closed loop blank mold temperature control system uses measured blank mold temperatures to automatically control the supply of coolant air to the blank molds, which may be done independently to each blank mold half as well as independently to the plunger for each blank mold. The closed loop blank mold temperature control system can provide temperature setpoint commands, balance left and right parison temperatures, and maintain parison temperatures as a setpoint, all of which contribute to enhanced final glass container quality.