Printing – Special article machines – Rotating object
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-12
2003-04-15
Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Special article machines
Rotating object
C101S126000, C101S123000, C198S346200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06546857
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machine for processing workpieces on which a sequence of different processing steps is to be carried out, especially a machine for processing workpieces of thermally deformable material such as hollow glass objects. Here, it is not necessary that a thermal softening need precede each processing step.
The invention relates further to individual processing units for such a machine and, in special application, a processing unit for, on the one hand, the edge melt-off and the forming of spouts on glass vessels and, on the other hand, also a processing unit for printing onto such vessels with screen printing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In known manufacturing lines for hollow glass objects, the individual work steps are generally carried out on rotation units of which each is equipped with a plurality of workstations of the same kind. The workpieces are supplied to such a rotation unit sequentially at a specific location by means of complex handling systems, which often require a multiple transfer of the workpiece, and are again removed after processing via additional handling units at another location. It was up to now conventional to carry out the melt-off of the work ring from hollow glass vessels and the subsequent forming of a spout thereon during series manufacture on separate rotation units. Disturbances in the flow of the articles arise because of the multiple handling operations. Furthermore, often article-specific tools are required for the handling apparatus. In the rotation unit, all stations have to be equipped with tools even when the required machine capacity can be provided with fewer stations, for example, with small quantities. This not only leads to increased investment costs for the tools but also to unnecessarily high standstill times when the articles are exchanged. If a disturbance occurs on a rotation unit or on a handling unit, then, as a rule, the entire machine or assembly line must be shut down.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the following, the machine of the invention is described with respect to the application to hollow glass objects and is primarily for use in a continuous assembly line manufacture. In its basic configuration, the machine according to the invention can, however, also be applied to processing workpieces made of other material and, in a special configuration of the workstations, the machine can also be utilized for carrying out processing steps which are not mentioned in the context of this description. For this reason, the description in its application to glass objects should not be understood as limiting.
The object of the invention is a machine for processing workpieces in a continuous assembly line which permits a flexible mode of work and can function with a minimum of work tools and which reduces the handling operations and does not have to be switched off when there is a disturbance at a single processing unit.
The machine of the invention is for processing workpieces of a deformable material including hollow glass objects. The machine includes: at least two processing units for the workpieces and each processing unit having at least one workstation; a conveyor unit for supplying the processing units with the workpieces to be processed and for taking processed workpieces away from the processing units; the conveyor unit being configured to move the workpieces in a basic direction; the two processing units being of the same kind and being arranged along the conveyor unit; the one workstation of each processing units being arranged stationary; each processing unit including two handling units and each of the handling units functioning to take a workpiece from the conveyor unit, move the workpiece to and in the workstation and return the processed workpiece back to the conveyor unit; and, the handling units being configured for a time-displaced, like function simultaneous work sequence in a direction which runs essentially transversely to the basic direction of the conveyor unit.
When, for a conventional machine, individual processing units configured as rotation units were arranged one behind the other with each processing unit carrying a plurality of the same workstations, the invention provides a plurality of the same processing units arranged along the assembly line one behind the other, the processing units being equipped only with a low number of stationary, especially different, workstations so that some work operations can be carried out sequentially on the workpiece, the workpiece being held by one and the same workpiece holder without further transfer while passing through a processing unit.
When it is required that the conveyor unit be configured to move the workpieces in a basic direction which, in general, is the production direction of the assembly line, this does not mean that the conveyor unit must necessarily be a linear conveyor. In accordance with space conditions, the conveyor unit can have angles and turns insofar that the individual processing units are arranged in a series one behind the other next to the conveyor unit and the workpieces, when they leave a processing unit, are moved farther in the same direction from which they had come. Preferably, the conveyor unit is, however, a linear conveyor and especially preferred is such a conveyor having two parallel paths. On a loading conveyor, the workpieces are moved ahead and, on a parallel unloading conveyor, are moved farther. Of course, the unloading conveyor of a machine can simultaneously be the loading conveyor for the next-following machine.
The machine is so configured that the loading conveyor as well as the unloading conveyor are clock driven so that the workpieces can be removed from the conveyor unit at standstill thereof and can again be unloaded thereon. When the workstations of the processing units are characterized as stationary, this does not preclude that parts of a workstation can also be movable to a limited extent. Rather, the characterization of stationary expresses that the workstations are configured in total as stationary and do not move as on the rotation unit.
The two handling units, which belong to each processing unit, move the workpieces essentially transversely to the conveyor unit. Transverse must not necessarily mean at right angles. Depending upon the space requirements or space use, the processing units can be aligned at a specific angle to the basic direction of the conveyor unit.
The processing units are practically configured to be modular-like so that, if required, a processing unit can be exchanged without difficulty for one of the same kind. The number of processing units of the same type, which are arranged one behind the other, is dependent upon the type and duration of the working steps to be carried out in such a processing unit when a certain production assembly line capacity is pregiven. All processing units of a type, which are in service, operate more or less in parallel, that is, when the clocked conveyor unit stops, workpieces are simultaneously taken from the conveyor unit by all like processing units or are again supplied thereto. This can be achieved via a controlled interaction between the conveyor unit and the processing units. If one of the processing units becomes defective, then it can easily be taken out of the sequence. The conveyor unit is then loaded with workpieces in a different way. Purposefully, one or two processing units are provided as reserve and can be taken into service when others are temporarily out of service. Also, the capacity of the machine can be adapted to different production sequences in that one selectively switches some processing units out of the sequence in a controlled manner and, for example, for small lots or longer operating times in other machines of the assembly line, the particular machine is operated only with a reduced number of operating units of the same type.
Further features of the invention which affect only the processing unit are described in the following with respect to the individual processing units.
The ind
Christ Alois
Fischer Wolfgang
Kaus Angelika
Kaus Michael
Mühl Heiner
Colilla Daniel J.
Kaus Angelika
Schott Glas
LandOfFree
Machine for processing hollow glass objects does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Machine for processing hollow glass objects, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Machine for processing hollow glass objects will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3037993