Abstract: In a control system, a node information notification portion identifies a selectable node including a machine constituent element as an interference article, and notifies an interference checker of node information relating to the node identified, in which an interference article setting unit acquires the node information, and sets the interference article based on a shape, a selection node, and a position and/or posture on a node, in which a transformation information calculation portion acquires information relating to the interference article, and derives a calculation formula for a position and/or posture of the selection node, in which an interference article position and posture calculation portion calculates the position and/or posture of the selection node, and calculates the position and/or posture of the interference article in a machine tool, and in which the interference checker checks whether there is an interference based on the position and/or posture of the interference article.

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 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 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 temperature variation of a glass substrate 2 at a plurality of measuring points in a continuous furnace 3 when preset temperatures of respective furnaces 31-33 are changed is estimated in the form of a matrix based on a model, an inverse matrix of the matrix is used so as to calculate correction values in such manner that a temperature of the glass substrate 2 corresponds to a temperature of a desired temperature profile, and the preset temperatures are corrected based on the correction values.

Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine is disclosed which receives as an input the event angles used to control the machines operation. These event angles, which define the time in a cycle when each event is turned on and off, are unwrapped to represent times in the glass forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete. A computerized model of the unwrapped cycle is defined and a control analyzes the computerized model as a constrained optimization problem to define an optimized schedule of event times and defines a plurality of intermediate event time schedules in an incremental application.

Abstract: A modular control system for controlling a machine such as a glass forming machine includes a central control unit and a machine control unit, which are connected via a high-speed data bus. The machine control unit is spread out to a plurality of peripheral control units via a plurality of high-speed data buses. The machine control unit is adapted to distribute control signals received from the central control unit to the peripheral control units in real time.

Abstract: A scoring bridge includes a plurality of moveable mounted carriages. The carriages each have a rotor, and the bridge has a linear stator to move the carriages. The position of a carriage designated as a reference carriage is recorded as it moves past a motion detector. The position of each remaining carriages is recorded as they individually move past the detector. The difference between the position of a carriage and the position of the reference carriage is an offset that is added to the position reading of the carriage to accurately space the carriage form the reference carriage. Each of the carriages can have a scoring assembly that includes servomotor acting through a gear arrangement on a scoring wheel. The servomotor applies a constant load to the scoring wheel and adjusts the load for any positive or negative displacement of the scoring wheel from a reference position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for translating models generated in one modeling environment into models that can be used in other modeling environments. In particular, information regarding a relationship between components of models in one modeling environment is translated into corresponding elements of models in other modeling environments. In some embodiments of the present invention, for example, mate information between rigid parts in geometric models may be translated into corresponding elements in other modeling environments. The mate information between parts in geometric models may be translated into information representing the degrees of freedom (DoFs) of the parts in the geometric models. The information on the DoFs of the parts in the geometric models may be utilized to build up corresponding elements in other modeling environments that represent the relationship between the parts of the geometric models.

Abstract: A glass cutting station having a controller that lays out a pattern of lites to be cut from set of glass sheets to fulfill the lite requirements of a multiple number of cutting batches. The controller identifies one or more underutilized glass sheets in a first set of glass sheets that have free space with no lites designated to be cut in the first batch. The controller also lays out a pattern of lites to be cut to fulfill the lite requirements of an additional or second batch in the number of batches by utilizing at least some of the free space on the underutilized glass sheets of the first set of glass sheets. Additionally the controller designates other glass sheets from which to cut other lites in the additional batch. If, after this process is performed, additional free space is identified, the controller can continue to lay out the sheet with standard or filler lites that fill up the additional underutilized space of a glass sheet.

Abstract: A method and device for regulating and/or controlling a glass forming machine is described. A central controller transmits parameterization data and/or synchronization data and/or motion information and/or motion path information using at least one integrated bus system. The central controller also permits centralized management of the cams of the glass forming machine.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine system includes a glassware forming machine having first operating mechanisms for converting gobs of molten glass into articles of glassware, a gob delivery system having second operating mechanisms for delivering gobs of molten glass to the glassware forming machine, a ware handling system having third operating mechanisms for receiving and conveying articles of glassware from the glassware forming machine, and an electronic control system for controlling and coordinating operation of the first, second and third operating mechanisms. The electronic control system includes a machine controller coupled to the first operating mechanisms of the glassware forming machine for controlling and coordinating operation of the first operating mechanisms to produce articles of glassware.

Abstract: The supervisor is connected to at least one hollow glassware production line including a plurality of controlled moving members, and is defined by a line agent unit generating a virtual image of the line, a database memorizing all the data required for operation of the line, an interface, and an instruction analyzer. The database is defined by individual memory areas separately memorizing data relative to the structure of each line in a line table; data relative to production processes to be performed in a process table; and specific elementary operation instructions for the line members by means of a recipe table memorizing conditions relating the memorized lines and production processes. The instruction analyzer processes the line structure data and production process data, and generates specific instructions on the basis of the entered data.

Abstract: A machine cycle unwrapper for use with a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines a 360° machine cycle having a set cycle time. The cycle unwrapper converts the “on” and “off” angles around the wrapped 360° programmable sequencer to “on” and “off” times along an unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more then two machine cycles to complete.

Abstract: A glass forming machine has a set machine cycle time. Each of the mechanisms, etc., is cycled during the time of one machine cycle. A computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram of the unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete is defined to facilitate the analysis and control of the machine cycle.

Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle. A computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram of the unwrapped bottle forming process is provided with computer analysis for analyzing the computerized model as a constrained optimization problem for determining, with inputs including the following: 1. the motion durations of each of the mechanisms from the retracted position to the advanced position and from the advanced position to the retracted position, 2. the submotion durations, 3. the machine cycle time, and 4. the time in an unwrapped bottle forming process for each displacement to begin and for each valve to be turned “on” and “off”, and 5. the target time for an optimized machine cycle, the machine cycle time and the event times for an optimized process.

Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle. The control includes a computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram of the unwrapped bottle forming process and a computer for analyzing the computerized model as a constrained optimization problem for determining, with the following data inputs: 1. the motion durations, 2. the submotion durations, 3. the machine cycle time, 4. the event time in an unwrapped bottle forming process for each displacement to begin and for each valve to be turned “on” and “off”, and 5. thermal forming process duration “N”. define the fastest machine cycle time for a feasible schedule and the event time in the unwrapped bottle forming process for each displacement to begin and for each valve to be turned “on” and “off”.

Abstract: A control for defining optimized data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle. The control includes a computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram of the unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete and a computer for analyzing the computerized model as a constrained optimization problem for determining, with the following data inputs: 1. the motion durations, 2. the submotion durations, 3, the machine cycle time, 4. the time in an unwrapped schedule for each event, and 5. the duration of each thermal forming process, whether an optimized process can be defined, and for identifying any active constraint that is restricting further improvement.

Abstract: A control for use with a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines a machine cycle having a set time. A computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram of the unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete is provided for determining, with the following inputs: 1. the time in an unwrapped bottle forming process for each displacement to begin; 2. the machine cycle time; and 3. the motion durations of each of the mechanisms, the duration of each of the thermal forming processes.

Abstract: A control for use with a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines a machine cycle having a set cycle time. A computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram of the unwrapped bottle forming process is provided for determining whether, with the following inputs: the time in an unwrapped bottle forming process for each displacement to occur; the machine cycle time; the motion durations of each of the mechanisms from the retracted position to the advanced position and from the advanced position to the retracted position and the collision zones between interfering paths, a collision will result between the gob, the parison, the bottle or any mechanism.

Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine. Each machine mechanism, etc., is turned “on” and “off” at selected angles around a wrapped 360° machine cycle. The control unwraps the “on” and “off” angles around the wrapped 360° machine cycle to “on” and “off” times along an unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete and the unwrapped schedule is analyzed to determine whether an optimized schedule is possible and once a schedule is optimized, the analysis is done again with all the optimized values locked except one or more of the motion durations which are targeted at their maximum duration. This second optimization defines the motion durations at their longest possible setting so that the associated motor(s) can be concomitantly slowed down to minimize wear.

Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle. The control includes a computerized model of a mathematical representation of a network constraint diagram of the unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete and a computer for analyzing the computerized model as a constrained optimization problem for determining, with the following data inputs: 1. the motion durations, 2. the submotion durations, 3, the machine cycle time, 4. the event time for each displacement to begin and for each valve to be turned “on” and “off”, and 5. the thermal forming process durations, whether there is a feasible optimized schedule and the machine cycle time and the event time for each displacement to begin and for each valve to be turned “on” and “off”.

Abstract: The supervisor is connected to at least one hollow glassware production line including a plurality of controlled moving members, and is defined by a line agent unit generating a virtual image of the line, a database memorizing all the data required for operation of the line, an interface, and an instruction analyzer. The database is defined by individual memory areas separately memorizing data relative to the structure of each line in a line table; data relative to production processes to be performed in a process table; and specific elementary operation instructions for the line members by means of a recipe table memorizing conditions relating the memorized lines and production processes. The instruction analyzer processes the line structure data and production process data, and generates specific instructions on the basis of the entered data.