System for and method of batch analysis and optimization for glass manufacturing
AssigneeCulchrome, LLC
InventorsRichard L. Lehman, Warren Blasland, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for and method of analyzing a cullet stream prior to batch formulation in glass manufacturing. Cullet is fed onto a conveyor where a real-time composition analysis is performed. Contaminants are optionally removed, and a determination is made as to whether the cullet batch color is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold. If necessary, the glass batch formulation is modified in view of the cullet analysis. Virgin raw materials requirements of the modified glass batch formulation may then be communicated to the batch controller before sending batch ingredients to the mixing stage and completing the overall glass manufacturing process.
Claims32
A method of creating recycled glass products comprising the steps of:
- providing a glass batch formulation of mixed cullet and virgin raw materials required to make a recycled glass product;
- determining constituents of a supply of mixed cullet;
- comparing determined mixed cullet constituents to a desired tolerance threshold;
- modifying, in real-time, said glass batch formulation based on a result of the comparison of said determined mixed cullet constituents to said desired tolerance threshold;
- determining a quantity of virgin raw materials based upon said modified glass batch formulation;
- mixing said determined quantity of virgin raw materials and said supply of mixed cullet;
- and
- producing at least one recycled glass product from the mixed virgin raw materials and mixed cullet in accordance with said modified glass batch formulation.
A method of manufacturing recycled glass products comprising the steps of:
- providing a supply of mixed cullet to a conveyor;
- determining constituents of said mixed cullet prior to providing said mixed cullet to a mixer;
- providing a glass batch formulation of mixed cullet and virgin raw materials required to make a recycled glass product;
- comparing determined mixed cullet constituents to a desired tolerance threshold;
- modifying said glass batch formulation, in real-time, based on a result of the comparison of said determined mixed cullet constituents to said desired tolerance threshold;
- determining a quantity of virgin raw materials based upon said modified glass batch formulation;
- mixing the mixed cullet with the determined quantity of virgin raw materials in said mixer;
- and
- producing at least one recycled glass product from an output of the mixer in accordance with said modified glass batch formulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.