Emhart Industries, Inc.

Robert P Andersen

Robert J Douglas

Robert L Doughty

John P Mungovan

Paul F Scott

Vaughan Abbott

Edward F Vozenilek

Robert J Duga

Constantine W Kulig

George T Peterson

Marty J Grant

A glass container inspection machine includes a head assembly, a console, and a cable connecting the two. The head assembly includes a measuring oscillator and a reference oscillator the outputs of which are applied to a Phase Detector Multiplier. A fixed resistance in the output circuit of the measuring oscillator is selected so that the output of the Phase Detector Multiplier is the same no matter what the frequency of the oscillation. The oscillation and the Phase Detector Multiplier are part of a Phase Locked Loop, the amplifier portions of which are in the console. The machine is comprised of four such data channels, each of which includes a head assembly operating at a different oscillator frequency. All components that are frequency dependent are included in the head assembly while all components in the console are frequency independent. Thus the output of any of the head assemblies may be connected via the cable to any of the data channels of the console. The entire system may be spared with a single head assembly that operates at a frequency that is different from the other head assemblies.

Method of repairing a glass container inspecting machine

The capacitance of the wall of a glass bottle is sensed and converted to a periodic voltage by a measuring oscillator. A periodic voltage is generated by a phase locked loop which includes a voltage controlled reference oscillator which is forced to operate at the same frequency as the measuring oscillator. The voltage inputted to the reference oscillator will accordingly represent the thickness of the wall of the container.

Glass container wall thickness inspecting machine

Method and apparatus for electronically controlling a servo motor drive for glass gob distribution apparatus, to provide accurate high speed motion of one or more scoops. At the set-up stage, the operator adjusts the scoop position with respect to each trough to align scoop and trough in a straight line. During automatic operation, upon receipt of a MOVE command a motion control computer provides digital output signals to move the scoops through a prescribed motion profile, such profile having suitable characteristics to move the scoops over various distances without vibration or overshoot. A digitalized cubic-parabolic-cubic (CPC) curve or similar cam profile is scaled to the amplitude and direction of the required motion, and the motion profile computer outputs command signals on a point-by-point basis over the time span of this stored motion profile. Such time span is designed to provide sufficient dwell time to allow the gobs to traverse the scoops. This motion sequence is reiterated for each successive receiving trough according to the prescribed firing order, using the prior target location to define the starting location of the succeeding scaled motion profile.

Electronic servo control of glass gob distribution

A gob distributor for directing glass gobs to glassware-forming sections. Most particularly, this relates to the automatic positioning of scoops receiving the glass gobs from the glassmaking apparatus and directing them into troughs of glassware-forming sections which are arranged in a bank. The gob distributor features an arrangement wherein the distributor may be converted to vary the number of scoops in a scoop group from one to three or more. Principal features of the gob distributor are the utilization of a servomotor which is a reversible DC motor for positioning a rack which controls the angle of the scoops, and a releasable ball screw drive.

Universal servo-driven gob distributor

A gob distributor for directing glass gobs to glassware-forming sections. Most particularly, this relates to the automatic positioning of scoops receiving the glass gobs from the glassmaking apparatus and directing them into troughs of glassware-forming sections which are arranged in a bank. The gob distributor features an arrangement wherein the distributor may be converted to vary the number of scoops in a scoop group from one to three or more. A principal feature of the gob distributor is the utilization of a servomotor which is a reversible DC motor for positioning a rack which controls the angle of the scoops.

A glass feeder plunger operating mechanism driven by an electric motor controlled by a programmable computer programmed to drive the motor in a predetermined manner in order to generate a predetermined motion profile of one or more glass feeder plungers. The plungers are secured to the end of a cantilevered lateral support bracket which is cyclically and vertically reciprocated by cyclical oscillations of the electric motor. The output shaft of the motor is connected to a ball screw in threaded engagement with a ball nut which is secured to a member connected to the plunger support bracket. The plunger support bracket is attached to a moveable vertical support shaft which maintains plunger alignment during the range of motion. The operating mechanism is attached to a frame which is adjustable in two dimensions to facilitate alignment of the plungers with their respective orifices. Air cylinders are provided to counter-balance the weight of the members being vertically reciprocated. Overload means is provided to limit plunger damage in the event excessive operating forces are encountered. Various sensor switches and adjusting means are disclosed to facilitate plunger alignment and control.

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Monroe, CT, United States of America

Robert P Andersen