BlankWatch monitors blank-side temperatures and gob loading parameters, with measurements precisely synchronised with the IS-machine timing.
The system is available in two versions:
One thermal camera and two gob loading cameras are installed at each section. These fixed cameras provide real-time temperature and gob loading measurements, allowing production teams to respond when a measurement falls outside the specified range.
If a plunger becomes too hot, BlankWatch can automatically reject the affected bottles, preventing critical defects such as spikes and birdswings from reaching the cold end.
A camera cabinet attached to the swabbing robot houses one or more thermal cameras and two gob loading cameras.
BlankWatch monitors:
Temperature data is displayed in trend graphs alongside thermal images. Configurable warning and alarm thresholds alert personnel when temperatures exceed the set limits.
Cooling settings can be adjusted manually or automatically using BlankWatch temperature information to maintain consistent temperature conditions and a stable glass-forming process.
Gob loading cameras provide information on:
Mold-related data is displayed in trend graphs alongside gob loading images. Warning and alarm limits can be set to alert personnel when a parameter falls outside the specified limits.
The BlankWatch Individual Section system can detect a fire or crash in a section at an early stage. An alarm immediately alerts personnel, and the affected section can be stopped automatically.
BlankWatch Individual Section cameras can also be positioned on the blow side to measure blow mold temperatures and detect crashes in the IS machine. The affected section can be stopped automatically when a crash occurs.
Cortex Glass is developing an integrated approach that connects hot-end inspection, AI-driven process analysis and machine control. By linking detected defects and process information to forming conditions, this development helps production teams investigate possible causes and determine suitable adjustments.
BlankWatch plays an important role as we work step by step towards an autonomous glass-forming process.
Cortex systems collect real-time process and inspection data in a central database. Integration with customer information systems makes the data available for production monitoring, analysis and optimisation.
Historical data can be retrieved and visualised to investigate production issues and process changes from days or months earlier.