Glass container stress measurement using fluorescence
AssigneeEmhart Glass S.A.
InventorsWilliam J. Furnas, Sarath K. Tennakoon, Gary C. Weber
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for measurement of the stress in and thickness of the walls of glass containers is disclosed that uses fluorescence to quickly and accurately ascertain both the thickness of the stress layers and the wall thickness in addition to the stress curve in glass containers. The apparatus and method may be used to quickly and accurately measure both the stress in and the thickness of the side walls of glass containers throughout the circumference of the glass containers. The apparatus and method are adapted for large scale glass container manufacturing, and are capable of high speed measurement of the stress in and the thickness of the side walls of glass containers.
Claims29
An apparatus for measuring stress in walls of a glass container, comprising:
- a light beam source that generates a light beam;
- light beam coupling apparatus for directing said light beam at the side wall of a glass container at an angle facilitating entry of said light beam into and through the side wall of the glass container, said light beam causing fluorescent light to be emitted within the side wall of the glass container in response to said light beam within the side wall of the glass container;
- fluorescent light coupling apparatus for coupling a portion of said fluorescent light emitted in response to said light beam within the side wall of the glass container outwardly from the side wall of the glass container;
- and
- fluorescent light processing and analysis apparatus that processes the fluorescent light exiting the side wall of the glass container and determines the stress in the side wall of the glass container from the processed fluorescent light exiting the side wall of the glass container.
An apparatus for measuring stress in walls of a glass container, comprising:
- a light beam source that generates a linearly polarized light beam;
- light beam coupling apparatus for directing said linearly polarized light beam at the side wall of a glass container at an angle facilitating entry of said light beam into and through the side wall of the glass container, said linearly polarized light beam causing fluorescent light to be emitted within the side wall of the glass container in response to said linearly polarized light beam within the side wall of the glass container;
- fluorescent light coupling apparatus for coupling a portion of said fluorescent light emitted in response to said linearly polarized light beam within the side wall of the glass container outwardly from the side wall of the glass container;
- a camera for acquiring images of the processed fluorescent light exiting the side wall of the glass container;
- and
- fluorescent light analysis apparatus that analyzes the processed fluorescent light to derive information indicative of the stress in the side wall of the glass container.
An apparatus for measuring stress in walls of a glass container, comprising:
- a light beam source that generates a light beam;
- light beam coupling apparatus for directing said light beam at the side wall of a glass container at an angle facilitating entry of said light beam into and through the side wall of the glass container, said light beam causing fluorescent light to be emitted within the side wall of the glass container in response to said light beam within the side wall of the glass container;
- fluorescent light coupling apparatus for coupling a portion of said fluorescent light emitted in response to said light beam within the side wall of the glass container outwardly from the side wall of the glass container;
- and
- fluorescent light processing apparatus that processes the fluorescent light exiting the side wall of the glass container to determine a stress profile in the side wall of the glass container.
A method for measuring stress in walls of a glass container, comprising:
- directing a light beam at the side wall of a glass container at an angle facilitating entry of the light beam into and through the side wall of the glass container;
- detecting fluorescent light emitted in response to the light beam within the side wall of the glass container which fluorescent light exits the side wall of the glass container;
- and
- processing the fluorescent light exiting the side wall of the glass container and analyzing the processed fluorescent light exiting the side wall of the glass container to determine the stress in the side wall of the glass container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.