Emhart Glass recently announced the FlexRadar forming process analyser, which is a standalone system for identifying quality issues in real-time, delivering higher peak rates and improved flexibility. By providing instant quality feedback on the forming process, FlexRadar allows glassmakers to receive early warnings about quality issues, and uncover previously unseen improvements. High resolution infrared technology is used to spot deviations and quality issues in the glass forming process as they occur. Container geometry, glass distribution and conveyor position are identified, identifying containers that fall outside standard quality criteria. Issues identified by FlexRadar include uneven cooling, uneven/wedge bottom, choke neck, lean, stuck ware and down ware. The system comprises two SWIR (Short Wavelength Infrared) imagers, an Interactive Operator Interface with 19in colour LCD touch-screen, an air reject assembly and an Intelligent Control Unit, which supplies power and signals for the SWIR imagers and the Interactive Operator Interface. The Intelligent Control Unit is also available in an air-conditioned version. The SWIR imagers acquire images of each passing container, whcih are displayed live on the overview screen of the Interactive Operator Interface. Icons are used to highlight problem areas visually and reject information beside each container image. Line speed and pack rate per cavity are also displayed. Additional screens show horizontal and vertical glass distribution, quality warnings and detailed information on a specific cavity or section. Integrated help screens guide the user through each system function. FlexRadar can be installed on any production line and supports speeds of up to 100 containers/min.
