Method for controlling containers, in particular made of glass and related apparatus
Method for controlling the mechanical strength of a container, in particular made of glass, by a control apparatus which provides for actuating the control on a control zone extending along an entire circumferential perimeter of the outer surface of the container in which it provides for forwarding the container according to a forwarding direction, simultaneously rotating the container about the axis of symmetry thereof orthogonal to the forwarding direction, then controlling the container during the rotation, exerting a control pressure onto the control zone, the control being divided into several steps, in which in each step it is provided to exert the control pressure on a respective portion of the control zone and which provides that each single container is subjected in sequence to each step during the forwarding thereof and the rotation thereof.
1. A method for controlling the mechanical strength of a glass container ( 200 ), by means of a control apparatus ( 100 ), which provides for actuating the control on a control zone ( 201 a ) extending along an entire circumferential perimeter ( 202 ) of the outer surface ( 201 ) of the container ( 200 ), the method comprising:
forwarding the container ( 200 ) according to a forwarding direction (Y),
simultaneously rotating the container ( 200 ) about the axis of symmetry (X) thereof orthogonal to the forwarding direction (Y)
controlling the container ( 200 ), during the rotation, exerting a control pressure (P) onto the control zone ( 201 a ),
wherein the control being subdivided into multiple steps, and
wherein, in each step, said control pressure (P) is exerted onto a respective portion of the control zone ( 201 a ), and each single container ( 200 ) is subjected, in succession, to each step during the forwarding movement thereof and the rotation thereof.
2. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the control pressure (P) is exerted along an entire circumferential perimeter ( 202 ) of the container ( 200 ) during a rotation of the container which is equal to 180° between the start of the first step and the end of the last step, since corresponding to said control pressure (P) is an equal and diametrically opposite counter-pressure (P′).
3. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein each step provides for exerting said control pressure (P) onto a respective portion of the control zone ( 201 a ) extending by a length equal to the circumferential perimeter ( 202 ) divided by the number of steps, and where said control pressure (P) is exerted during a partial rotation of the container ( 200 ) equal to 180° divided by the number of steps.
4. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein each step is carried out in a continuous manner, passing directly from one step to the next one.
5. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein in a given step, a respective portion of the control zone ( 201 a ) is controlled, and in the preceding and/or subsequent step, a respective portion of the immediately preceding and/or subsequent control zone ( 201 a ) is controlled.
6. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the number of control steps is a function of the working rate, which corresponds to the number of containers ( 200 ) which must be controlled in a given time interval.
7. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the control pressure (P) exerted in each step can be adjusted as a function of the type of container ( 200 ).
8. An apparatus ( 100 ) for controlling mechanical strength of a glass container ( 200 ), configured to operate on a control zone ( 201 a ) extending along an entire circumferential perimeter ( 202 ) of an outer surface ( 201 ) of the container ( 200 ), the apparatus ( 100 ) comprising:
forwarding means ( 150 ) to forward the container ( 200 ) inside the control apparatus ( 100 ),
rotation means ( 120 ) configured to rotate the container ( 200 ) about an axis of symmetry (X) thereof during the forwarding movement thereof in a direction (Y) orthogonal to the axis of symmetry (X),
a thrust device ( 110 ) configured to exert a control pressure (P) onto the control zone ( 201 a ), wherein said thrust device ( 110 ) comprises a plurality of pads ( 111 ), each being adapted to exert said control pressure (P) onto a respective portion of the control zone ( 201 a ), being arranged in succession so that each single container ( 200 ), by moving forward in the direction (Y) orthogonal to the axis of symmetry (X), interacts one after the other with all the pads ( 111 ).
9. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the thrust device ( 110 ) is movable according to a contact direction (Z) orthogonal to the forwarding direction (Y) between at least one working position (A) and a resting position (B) and configured so as to exert, when the thrust device ( 110 ) is in the working position (A), the control pressure (P) onto the container ( 200 ) by means of a contact with a contact surface ( 126 , 126 ′) and simultaneously pushing/pressing against a corresponding contact surface ( 126 , 126 ′), generating a counter-pressure (P′) equal to the pressure (P) and diametrically opposite with respect to the container ( 200 ).
10. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the thrust device ( 110 ) exerts said control pressure (P) during a rotation of the container ( 200 ) equal to 180°.
11. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the pads ( 111 ) are arranged one following the other, without leaving empty spaces therebetween.
12. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein each movable pad ( 111 ) exerts said control pressure (P) onto a respective portion of the control zone ( 201 a ) which extends for a length equal to a circumferential perimeter ( 202 ) of the container ( 200 ) divided by the number of pads, and where said control pressure (P) is exerted by each pad ( 111 ) during a rotation of the container ( 200 ) equal to 180° divided by the number of pads ( 111 ).
13. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the rotation means ( 120 ) comprise a first operative member ( 121 ) and a second operative member ( 121 ′) which are opposite one another with respect to the container ( 200 ), which moves forward on the forwarding means ( 150 ), the first and second operative members ( 121 , 121 ′) are arranged so as to engage with the outer surface ( 201 ) of the container ( 200 ) and to generate rotation of the container ( 200 ) by friction.
14. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of: the first operative member ( 121 ) or the second operative member ( 121 ′) translate in the forwarding direction (Y).
15. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the first operative member ( 121 ) and the second operative member ( 121 ′) translate in the forwarding direction (Y) according to a same direction or according to opposite directions, and have different translational speeds.
16. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the forwarding means ( 150 ) are a conveyor belt ( 151 ) on which the container ( 200 ) rests, which is kept with the axis of symmetry (X) thereof vertical.
17. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the first operative member ( 121 ) and the second operative member ( 121 ′) are located at sides of the conveyor belt ( 151 ) and comprise a flexible towing member ( 125 , 125 ′) which is wound about transmission members ( 127 , 127 ′) for motion thereof, where said flexible towing member ( 125 , 125 ′) provides a contact surface ( 126 , 126 ′), which is so shaped as to engage the outer surface ( 201 ) of the container ( 200 ).
18. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein pads ( 111 ) are arranged so as to push a portion of at least one of the first or second operative member ( 121 , 121 ′), in the contact direction (Z), compressing against the container ( 200 ) so as to exert the control pressure (P).
19. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 17 , wherein movable pads ( 111 ) are arranged so as to push a portion of the flexible towing member ( 125 , 125 ′), pressing the contact surface ( 126 , 126 ′) against the container ( 200 ) so as to exert the control pressure (P).
20. The control apparatus ( 100 ) according to claim 17 , wherein the flexible towing member ( 125 ) is a roller chain ( 125 a ) and the contact surface ( 126 ) comprises dowels ( 126 a ) mechanically associated to the links ( 125 b ) of the roller chain ( 125 a ).