BELT-DRIVEN GLASS GOB DISTRIBUTION WITH BROKEN BELT DETECTION

摘要

A molten glass gob distributor for a glass article manufacturing system thatincludes a gob discharge, and at least one scoop for receiving gobs from suchdischarge anddistributing the gobs among a plurality of troughs or chutes leading toassociated molds in amultiple-cavity IS machine. The scoop is coupled by a cogged drive belt to anelectric motorfor oscillating the scoop through a cyclic path adjacent to the troughs orchutes. Rupture atthe drive belt is detected by coupling first and second electronic sensors tothe motor and thescoop so as to provide respective first and second electrical signals asfunctions of motion atthe motor and scoop. Rupture at the drive belt is indicated as a function of adifferencebetween the first and second signals, indicating loss of synchronizationbetween the drivemotor and the associated scoop.