Infrared Thermometers: Control Glass Temperature, Faster Start Up, Less Scrap, 100% Detection of Defective Parts

Vern Lappe, Vice President, Technical Services, Ircon Inc

In almost every area of glass production the temperature of the process or the glass temperature has to be carefully controlled. In many applications sensors such as thermocouples are used to measure the temperature but they really do not measure the product temperature. They usually measure the temperature of the air in the oven or lehr. The glass temperature can vary because of changes in line speed, thickness, color and coatings on the glass but the thermocouple cannot detect any temperature change because of the process change.

Infrared thermometers measure the product not the environment. By selecting the correct wavelength instrument and installing them properly the temperature of the glass can be carefully controlled in the melter, tin bath, annealing lehr and other processes such as bending of automotive glass, tempering of all glass and the inspection of the heater grid on rear automobile windows. The result of direct temperature control is faster start up, less scrap, faster change overs and 100% detection of defective parts.

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The Authors

Mr. Vern Lappe Vice President of Technical Services, Retired Ircon Inc. (Retired) Ircon is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of non-contact thermometers. I have been with Ircon for 30 years and have worked in many aspects of the glass industry. I have a BSME degree in Mech... Read more