Maximizing Access to Closed-Mold Pickup Technology
Increasing yield in glass bottle manufacturing with the self-aligning method
Production speed is critical if bottle manufacturing is to be competitive, and anything that reduces cycle time helps. The finish on a glass bottle is typically the most delicate feature, especially when still hot. This is important because the finish is critical to bottle performance; it must be kept intact and precise to avoid problems of thread deformation and leakage. Bottles must pass inspection, and at a rate of 300 to 600 bottles per minute there is little room for error. Even a small thermal or mechanical defect can cause costly, yield-reducing rejection.
Traditionally, bottle manufacturers had to choose between higher quality bottles and maximized yield from allowing bottles to cool in the mold or increase the speed of an operation by picking up bottles while still hot. Closed-mold pickup using the self-alignment model resolves a dilemma that has long faced bottle-making operations, eliminating the need to choose and solves issues that reduce the need for new equipment or recalibration during use.
Closed-mold pickup using the self-aligning method differs greatly from traditional direct transfer methods, this paper discusses:
- How the self-aligning model works
- How setup differs from the direct transfer method
- Advantages of fixed and floating inserts
While the self-aligning method demands less precision of the bottle-making equipment, the holder and inserts themselves must be precisely designed and machined to do their modified jobs effectively. And the same standards that apply to material quality and production of components for direct transfer need to be applied to those used for self-aligning pickup.
