Emhart Industries, Inc.

International Partners in Glass Research

David Braithwaite

Stanley P Jones

Robert J Douglas

Richard A Walker

Paul F Scott

Wasyl Bystrianyk

James P Poole

Daniel W Wartschow

Harold Rawson

The pusher mechanism (14) associated with an I.S. glassware forming machine (10) are controlled by a controller (30) which provides control signals which cause the mechanisms (14) to operate. The controller senses the passage past a particular location of ware (1 to 6) of ware as it is transported by a conveyor (16) on to which the pusher mechanisms (14) transfer the ware. The controller determines the spacing (s1 to S5) on the conveyor (16) of ware from different sections (12) of the machine (10), compares the spacing with a predetermined, desired, spacing and, in the event that said spacing differs from said predetermined spacing by more than a predetermined tolerance, advances or retards the supply of control signals to at least one of the pusher mechanisms (14) which transfers the ware concerned.

Control of pusher mechanisms associated with a glassware forming machine

An article of glassware, particularly a glass container, of increased strength is made by a process in which the parison is treated in a manner which will cause the glass in the outer surface layer of the formed glassware article to be in a state of compression. Preferably a glaze having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass of the parison is applied to the outer surface of the parison. Advantageously, the glaze is applied to the parison by a flame spray method or by dipping the parison into a fluidized bed containing powdered glaze. As an alternative, the glaze applied to the outer surface of the parison may be capable of being at least partially crystallized, after the glassware article has been formed from the parison, to produce an outer surface of the glassware article having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the base glass of the glassware article. Alternatively to the application of a glaze, glass in the outer surface of the parison may be chemically changed so that the surface glass in the parison has a higher transformation temperature than the remainder of the glass in the parison. Additionally, the interior surface of the parison may be treated by a material producing active gases so that a compressive layer is produced on the internal surface of the final glassware article, at least partially balancing the compressive layer in the outer surface of the glassware article.

Manufacture of glassware articles of improved strength

A moulding mechanism for a glassware forming machine comprises a mould (30; 170, 172), a supporting plate (31; 174) supporting at least a bottom portion of the mould, a plenum chamber (32, 34; 176, 177) extending downwardly from the supporting plate and arranged to supply air at substantially equal pressure to passages (33, 175) in the supporting plate which communicate with cooling passages (50; 192, 194) in the mould, and a piston and cylinder assembly (36, 38; 178, 180) operable to raise and lower the supporting plate (31; 174). At least a portion of the plenum chamber (32, 34; 176, 177) is formed as a tubular piston rod (34; 177) extending upwardly from the piston (36; 178) of the piston and cylinder assembly.

Moulding mechanism for a glassware forming machine

A glassware forming machine of the individual section type comprising a parison-forming station (10), an article-forming station (14), parison transferring means operable to transfer parisons to the article-forming station, and article removing means operable to remove articles from the article-forming station. The parison transferring means comprises a carriage (100), parison gripping means (114) mounted on the carriage, and servo-controlled drive means (136) operable to move the carriage (100) to and from the article-forming station (14). The article removing means comprises a further carriage (210), article gripping means (226) mounted on the carriage (210), and drive means (218, 220) operable to return the carriage (210) to the article-forming station (14). The carriages (100 and 210) are so aligned that, as the carriage (100) moves to the article-forming station (14), it pushes the further carriage (210) away therefrom. Thus, both carriages (100 and 210), when carrying hot glass, are moved with servo-control.

Parsion transferring and article removing in glassware forming machines

A pusher cylinder for moving one or more glassware articles from an associated dead plate through a predetermined arcuate path onto an adjacent moving conveyor. The pusher cylinder has a constant piston stroke length and rack and pinion for adjusting the position of the piston relative to the dead plate. Additionally, the pusher cylinder is provided with a splined central guide post for cooperative engagement with a complementarily splined bushing secured to one end of the piston of the pusher cylinder for providing longitudinal and rotational support for the piston.

Pusher cylinder

An actuator for use in or with a glassware forming machine for pneumatically driving a member through a predetermined path, such member being, in one embodiment, a pusher cylinder for moving one or more glassware articles through a predetermined arcuate path. The velocity of the actuator is controlled according to a predetermined velocity profile and is effected by an electromechanical control means which controls the linear velocity of the piston of a pneumatic cylinder in one direction of motion.

Electro-pneumatic actuator for glassware forming machine

Parison screening in a glassware forming machine

Mould opening and closing mechanism

In glassware forming apparatus a parison is formed at a blank station by pressing a gob of molten glass using a plunger and plunger actuating means mounted on a carriage, the carriage also carrying a neck ring and being reciprocable so that a parison held by the neck ring is transported from the blank station to a further station in the apparatus and the neck ring is returned to the blank station after release of the parison at the further station and prior to the formation of the next parison at the blank station. The plunger mounting and actuating means is constructed to allow the plunger to float laterally and vertically during formation of the parison.

Plunger mounting mechanism in a glassware forming machine

An individual section of a multiple section glassware forming machine has three operating stations in spaced apart relation along the longitudinal center line of the section. Three independently operable transfer means move, respectively, a parison formed in an upright position at the first station to the second station, a further formed parison from the second station to the third station, and an article of glassware from the third station to a takeout position over a deadplate. The operating speed and rate of acceleration of each of the three transfer means is selected independently of the operating speed and rate of acceleration of both the other transfer means to effect its movement in the shortest practicable time compatible with the state of the glass during the movement of that transfer means.

Glassware forming machines

A preferred glassware forming machine has a neck ring carriage for transferring parisons from a blank station A, to a further station B. The carriage is guided for horizontal reciprocatory motion on two spaced, parallel guide rails and carries two relatively movable neck ring parts which engage the necks of the parisons during the transfer of the parisons from station A to station B. Relative movement of the neck ring parts is effected by piston and cylinder devices which are carried by the carriage and which are operated by compressed or suction fluid supplied to the carriage through one or both guide rails, the application of the compressed or suction fluid to one or both guide rails being in timed relationship with movement of the carriage.

A glassware forming machine comprises a carriage, a blank station at which parisons are formed in upwardly open parison moulds from gobs of molten glass, and a further station, the carriage being reciprocable in a straight line between the blank station and the further station in order to transfer parisons from the blank station to the further station. The carriage has a neck ring mould comprising neck ring parts and a guide ring which defines the sealing surface of the finish of each parison. The guide ring is biased upwardly by spring-loaded members which raise the guide ring when the carriage is at the further station in order that the guide ring should clear the released parisons on return movement of the carriage to the blank station.

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Doncaster, United Kingdom

David Braithwaite