GobWatch

Gob Monitoring, Inspection and Control

3D gob monitoring, automatic weight control and AI-powered inclusion inspection.

Gob Monitoring, Inspection and Control

GobWatch is an advanced vision system for gob monitoring, inspection and weight control. Two high-resolution cameras create detailed 3D images of gobs from single, dual, triple or quad feeders. Gob weight control works with both single- and multi-weight feeders.

GobWatch can automatically reject the corresponding containers when deviations in gob weight, length or falling angle are detected. For flint glass, AI-driven inspection detects seeds, bubbles and stones, counts seeds and bubbles and provides information about their size.

Two GobWatch cameras monitoring falling glass gobs
GobWatch cameras monitoring glass gobs

Gob Monitoring

Gob images are processed and analysed in real time to monitor:

  • Gob weight
  • Gob shape, including length and diameter
  • Gob speed
  • Gob falling angle in X and Y directions
  • Gob temperature
  • Seeds and bubbles

Measured parameters are stored and displayed as trend graphs alongside gob images on an interactive touch screen.

Gob reference, width, length and weight graphs
Gob reference, width, length and weight graphs

Automatic Gob Weight Control

GobWatch automatically controls gob weight by adjusting the tube height and individual plunger height. Control can begin immediately after a job change because the system automatically configures the cameras.

  • Consistent and precise gob weight
  • Reduced job change time
  • Stable gob temperature
  • Consistent gob shape
  • Improved glass distribution in finished products
  • Fewer defects in formed glass products
Tube height, weight distribution and gob weight control
Tube height, weight distribution and gob weight control

Temperature Measurement

GobWatch measures temperature at different points on the gob, capturing horizontal and vertical temperature profiles and assessing temperature uniformity. These measurements help ensure consistent glass distribution in the finished container.

AI-Powered Inspection

A neural network inspects each flint glass gob for seeds, bubbles and stones. Seed and bubble counts are recorded and displayed in trend graphs, while a size-distribution chart shows the detected seeds and bubbles by size.

Seed count, bubble count and size distribution graphs
Seed count, bubble count and size distribution graphs

Hot End Reject

GobWatch can reject glass products made from gobs with deviations in weight, shape, temperature or falling angle. It can also reject products made from flint glass gobs containing seeds, bubbles or stones immediately after the IS machine.

Hot-end reject screen
Hot-end reject screen

Additional Process Monitoring

Additional cameras can monitor the glass flow from the orifice and the loading of gobs into the gob distributor.

This enables automatic detection of abnormal behaviour during gob forming and loading, generating alarms when deviations or unsafe conditions occur. It can also help identify critical events, such as a fire in the feeder area.

Gob Reference

GobWatch stores a reference for each article, including gob weight, shape, temperature and other key parameters. After a job change, this reference helps operators quickly achieve the optimal gob and reduce changeover time.

Camera Placement

The two cameras can be positioned close together or farther apart to suit the installation. Both cameras are cooled using compressed air.

Cortex Autonomous Forming

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.

GobWatch plays an important role as we work step by step towards an autonomous glass-forming process.

Industry 4.0 / Smart Factory

Cortex systems collect real-time process and inspection data in a central database. Integration with customer information systems makes this 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.

Process statistics screen
Process statistics screen

GobWatch Benefits

  • Real-time gob information
  • Consistent and precise gob weight
  • Faster job changeovers
  • Improved product quality
  • Increased productivity

GobWatch Specifications

  • Single, dual, triple and quad gob operation
  • Two high-resolution air-cooled cameras
  • Tube height controller
  • Individual plunger height controller
  • Multi/variable gob weight feeder operation
  • Tandem IS-machine operation
  • Inclusion inspection module
  • Hot end reject module
  • Remote diagnostics and support
  • Easy maintenance and service