Non-contact temperature measurement when shaping container glass

In container glass production, the process relevant temperature must be inspected at different points. Non-contact temperature sensors are used during the shaping process that involves temperatures in excess of 500 °C. As the shaping process lasts for just a few seconds, the sensor response time is critical. During both the forming process of the parison and the final shaping process, the heat treatment of the glass can be influenced either by directly measuring the glass surface or by indirectly measuring the surface of the forming tool. At the end of the production process, the glass is tempered again to reduce the stress in the container. Therefore, the glass is heated again and then cooled for a period of up to 30 minutes in a cooling tunnel. When the containers leave the heating zone, the cooling process is monitored using non-contact temperature sensors.