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: 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.

Abstract: A system and method for the optimization of the cycles of events occurring in an I.S. machine that automatically optimizes the cycles of events occurring in an I.S. machine by using information relating to the characteristics of the hot glass containers manufactured by the I.S. machine obtained by monitoring the hot glass containers immediately subsequent to their manufacture. Optionally, information relating to process values associated with the operation of the I.S. machine may also be monitored and used in the optimization of the cycles of events occurring in the I.S. machine. Also optionally, the active limits of the event times may be modified by an operator based upon observations of the operation of the I.S. machine.

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 closed loop temperature and wall thickness-based control system for improving process yield and quality while reducing dependence on operator skill utilizes intensity information from a hot end container imaging system and wall thickness information from a hot glass container wall thickness measurement system. By utilizing both the container intensity information and the measured wall thickness information it is possible to provide separate feedback signals responsive to temperature variations and thickness variations. These signals are used to implement automatic closed loop control of the I.S. machine.

Abstract: A machine for inspecting a rotating glass container for defects wherein the image evaluated for defects is a critical addition of a plurality of additions each defined by a plurality of time spaced images.

Abstract: An improved system and method for automatically glass containers for defects and facilitates the identification and review of extensive information on defects identified by the glass container inspection machine on a touchscreen monitor. User gestures are used to review images larger than a size that can be displayed at any given time on the touchscreen monitor, to access and display images of glass containers having parameters that vary from the predetermined parameters, and to setup glass container inspection machine parameters and details of the inspections.

Abstract: There is provided a system of an individual section machine (IS) having a blow side with a mold and a blow head, and a blank side, the system includes a P-Switch valve in fluid communication with an EPVB of the IS machine and with the P-Switch valve configured to control a valve pilot air supply to a predetermined pilot valve. When the P-Switch valve is activated, the blow side mold is set to an OPEN position and the associated blow head is set to an UP position. With the P-Switch valve of the system activated, the blow side machinery cannot be overridden from the blank side of the IS machine.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting the motion and timing of pusher mechanisms in an I.S. machine to maintain desired spacing and lateral alignment of glass containers on a conveyor taking them from the I.S. machine where they are molded. The measured glass container placement and the desired glass container placement are used to vary the operation of the pusher mechanisms in a manner tending to obtain the desired placement.

Abstract: A system and method for coating glass gobs with a liquid-based lubricating dispersion during their drop to blank glass container molds which provides sufficient lubrication to the glass container molds without requiring swabbing of the glass container molds. The lubricating dispersion is sprayed onto hot glass gobs as they fall from the gob supply system prior to their distribution by the gob distribution system into blank molds. The lubricating dispersion coats the falling glass gobs to lubricate the glass gobs as well as the molds.

Abstract: A vertical individual section (I.S.) machine for manufacturing glass containers is disclosed in which parisons made in parison molds are lowered into blow molds located under the parison molds without being inverted, where they are blown into glass containers. Optionally, reheat shrouds may be located vertically intermediate the blank molds and the blow molds to reheat the parisons prior to them being blown. The vertical I.S. machine may have multiple sections that are located close adjacent each other, with each section potentially having multiple blank and blow molds.