How INMATE/CT™ Works

Customer orders are scheduled for production and then optimized for maximum glass yields.  INMATE/CT™ analyzes the optimized layout’s breakout sequence and arranges those lites for tempering to optimize the load bed of the tempering furnace and to account for roll distortion.  Breakout personnel break out the glass in sequence and load it directly onto a conveyor leading to the tempering furnace, eliminating the possible damage that can occur with the traditional practice of racking lites into harp racks.  Once lites are tempered, they are racked or packed for shipping.  Optional labels can be printed for the tempered lites. 

INMATE/CT™ considers your unique tempering furnace require­ments through the use of parameters, which permit you to customize the system to your production requirements.  The following system parame­ters are used to insure maximum tempering furnace performance and productivity. 

• Tempering load bed size
• Roll spacing
• Roll distortion
• Space between or around lites
• Minimum and maximum piece size
• Glass color and thickness

Breakout

The Breakout monitor displays a breakout sequence number, listing the order in which lites are to broken out and placed on the conveyor leading to the tempering furnace.  This information replaces the rack and slot number associated with a traditional racking configuration. 

Tempering Load

The conveyor feeds directly into the tempering furnace without the handling risk involved with racking glass into harp racks.  Lites come off the breakout table and onto the conveyor in production sequence.  Operators build tempered loads by viewing the large TV monitor display at the Load end of the furnace and placing each lite within a batch on the load bed as shown on the display. 

Tempering Off-Load

The Off-Load large TV display assists operators in racking or packing tempered lites for shipping.   

Off-Load Label Printing

As a lite passes into the tempering oven, it passes a photo eye.  This triggers a signal which prints an optional label at Off-Load.  Labels identify the rack and slot into which each lite is to be placed.  The Off-Load operator places the label on the tempered lite and racks it in an off-load rack.  Lites then travel to the next phase of production in production sequence.  Alternatively, lites are packed for shipping.

The following business benefits are realized as a direct outcome from implementing PMC's products and services.

Maximum efficiency

The elimination of racking of glass from Cutting to Tempering assures maximum efficiency in your facility.  Glass is cut in production sequence, which greatly reduces turnaround time for the production of tempered lites.  By eliminating glass racks on the production floor, you gain valuable floor space and allow for more efficient operation.

Puts an end to sorting of glass for production

Glass delivered in production sequence eliminates sorting, excessive handling, and the potential for scratching or breaking.  The Breakout display shows the sequence and orientation that lites are to be loaded into the tempering furnace.  In determining the loading sequence, the system considers optimization of the load bed, roll distortion, and the parameters that configure the system to your tempering furnace requirements.

Increased productivity

Increased operator efficiency means orders are processed quickly and accurately.  Operators are free from the routine, time consuming task of racking lites.  In addition, the elimination of excessive handling of glass greatly reduces the potential of remakes.

Cost Savings

Less scratching or breaking of lites due to handling translates to cost savings.  When combined with the decreased manpower required to process orders and increased operator efficiency, the savings are even greater.