Laser cleaning system

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.

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.