Laser cleaning system

1 . An automated cleaning system for cleaning a mould and/or mould part for use in manufacturing glass containers, comprising:

a laser configured to be directed at the mould and/or mould part and to remove contaminants from a surface of the mould and/or mould part;

a detection system configured to identify details about the mould and/or mould part;

a movement apparatus to move the mould and/or mould part into and/or out of a cleaning position;

a rotation apparatus to rotate the mould and/or mould part in the cleaning position; and

a control apparatus to direct the laser at the mould and/or mould part in the cleaning position, and operate the laser to clean the surface of the mould and/or mould part, wherein the detection system is configured to analyse image data associated with the mould and/or mould part to identify contaminants based on colour and/or shapes within the mould and/or mould part;

wherein the detection system comprises a vision system comprising one or more 3D scanning cameras, wherein the one or more 3D scanning cameras obtain a 3D profile of the mould and/or mould part identifying contaminants that are located on the surface of the mould and/or mould part so that the laser can remove contaminants from the surface of the mould and/or mould part; and

wherein the detection system includes an optical sensor to monitor a focal distance of the laser from the surface of an object and continually adjust the focal distance during a cleaning process and wherein the control apparatus includes a processor in communication with the detection apparatus, the processor being configured to move the laser in a cleaning pattern over the object, in response to observations made by the detection apparatus.

2 . An automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the rotation apparatus is a turntable.

3 . An automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the movement apparatus is a handling robot having a holding arm to hold the mould and/or mould part, move the mould and/or mould part to or from the cleaning position, and then release the mould and/or mould part.

4 . An automated cleaning system of claim 3 , wherein the holding arm has a gripper.

5 . An automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus comprises a cleaning robot configured to move the laser and selectively turn the laser on and off.

6 . An automated cleaning system of claim 5 , wherein the cleaning robot includes a processor in communication with the detection system, the processor being configured to move the laser in a cleaning pattern over the mould and/or mould part, in response to observations made by the detection system.

7 . An automated cleaning system of claim 1 , further including a housing to provide an isolated space for cleaning of the mould and/or mould part.

8 . An automated cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust system to draw away fumes from the laser during cleaning.

9 . An automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the laser comprises a lens, and further comprising a lens monitor to detect potential failure of the lens.

10 . An automated cleaning system of claim 9 , wherein the lens monitor comprises an infrared sensor, to monitor a temperature of the lens.

11 . The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the laser has a power output of 200 to 1,000 Watts.

12 . A method for automated cleaning of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

carrying the object into an isolated space for cleaning the object on a carriage apparatus;

moving the object with a movement apparatus to a cleaning position on a rotation apparatus wherein the object is rotated during cleaning;

scanning the object using a detection system comprises a vision system comprising a 3D scanning camera to obtain a 3D profile of the object identifying a location of a contaminant located on a surface of the object;

cleaning the surface of the object using a laser mounted on a cleaning robot to remove the contaminant;

moving the object with a movement apparatus from the cleaning position; and

carrying the object out of the isolated space;

wherein the object is a mould and/or mould part for use in manufacturing glass containers;

wherein the detection system is configured to analyse image data associated with the mould and/or mould part to identify contaminants based on colour and/or shapes within the mould and/or mould part; and

wherein the detection system includes an optical sensor to monitor a focal distance of the laser from the surface of the object and continually adjust the focal distance during cleaning and wherein the control apparatus includes a processor in communication with the detection apparatus, the processor being configured to move the laser in a cleaning pattern over the object, in response to observations made by the detection apparatus.

13 . A method of claim 12 , wherein the object is carried into and out of the isolated space using a tray on the carriage apparatus.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection system comprises a laser scanner or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system for reading an individual mark tagged on the mould and/or mould part to track the mould and/or mould part as it moves through the automated cleaning system and/or monitor its cleaning history.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection system further comprises a laser scanning surface system, physical touch system, x-ray inspection and/or ultrasonic inspection device for detecting defects on the surface of the mould and/or mould part.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection system is closed loop feedback system to adjust speed and/or focal distance of the laser during the cleaning process.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection system comprises a marking source to highlight the mould and/or mould part that needs to be repaired, replaced or re-cleaned.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection system comprises an optical sensor to monitor the surface of the mould and/or mould part.

19 . A method for automated cleaning of a mould and/or mould part for use in manufacturing glass containers, the method including the steps of:

placing the mould and/or mould part on a carriage apparatus located at a loading station outside a housing;

moving the mould and/or mould part through receiving cells into an isolated space of the housing on the carriage apparatus;

picking up the mould and/or mould part with a handling robot and moving the mould and/or mould part to a scanning area within the isolated space;

scanning the mould and/or mould part using a detection system;

moving the mould and/or mould part with the handling robot from the scanning area and placing the mould and/or mould part in a cleaning position on a rotation apparatus;

cleaning a surface of the mould and/or mould part using a laser mounted on a cleaning robot to remove contaminants from a surface of the mould and/or mould part and wherein the mould and/or mould part is rotated during cleaning;

picking up the mould and/or mould part with the handling robot from the cleaning position and moving the mould and/or mould part to the carriage apparatus and placing the mould and/or mould part back on the carriage apparatus;

and carrying the mould and/or mould part out of the isolated space on the carriage apparatus;

wherein the handling robot has a holding arm to hold the mould and/or mould part, move the mould and/or mould part to or from the cleaning position and then release the mould and/or mould part;

wherein the detection system comprises a vision system including one or more 3D scanning cameras, wherein the one or more 3D scanning cameras is configured to obtain a 3D profile of the mould and/or mould part to identify contaminants that are located on the surface of the mould and/or mould part so that the laser can execute a cleaning routine based on the 3D profile;

wherein the detection system is configured to analyse image data associated with the mould and/or mould part to identify contaminants based on colour and/or shapes within the mould and/or mould part;

wherein the detection system includes an optical sensor to monitor a focal distance of the laser from the surface of the object and continually adjust the focal distance during cleaning; and

wherein the cleaning robot comprises a control apparatus to direct the laser at the object in the cleaning position and operate the laser to clean the surface of the object.