Abstract: A ceiling hatch employs a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge and a passage bounded by a sidewall passing therebetween, the passage extending from the lower edge to the upper edge and having its minimum cross section at the lower edge. This frame is employed with an insulating block bounded by a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface, and which is configured to be positionable substantially within the passage and substantially filling the same. A hinge attaches the frame to the insulating block, providing pivotable action between the insulating block and the frame about a pivot axis and allowing the insulating block to be swung out of the passage on an interference-free path such that the bottom surface of the insulating block is in a horizontal plane when the insulating block resides substantially within the passage.

Abstract: A steam cabinet includes a base assembly with a water pan and an electrical resistance heater subassembly mounted in thermally conductive relationship therewith. The water pan includes a water inlet and a water outlet. A cabinet assembly is mounted on the base assembly and includes front, back and opposite side walls. A roof structure is mounted on top of the side walls. The cabinet assembly front wall includes an opening which receives a door for providing access to the cabinet interior. The cabinet body side walls include receivers for mounting hanging rods extending therebetween and adapted for supporting multiple garments on hangers. A control system includes multiple float switches in the water pan which are activated by various water level conditions in the water pan. A microprocessor is provided for controlling the heater and water supply operation and timing the steam cabinet operation.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a string of light units connected by electrical wiring and a holder assembly for receiving the light units at spaced intervals. The holder assembly includes a base and a pair of sidewalls extending therefrom, which collectively form a channel or passage extending longitudinally and receiving the electrical wiring. The holder assembly has a closed configuration with the sidewalls converging at a relatively closed mouth and an open configuration with a light unit received between the sidewalls. The holder assembly comprises a resilient, flexible material which accommodates closed configurations of the holder assembly between respective light unit locations. The light system can be mounted on a supporting structure by a suitable fastener attached to the holder assembly base.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles such as glass containers from a first conveyor, on which the containers are travelling generally horizontally in line one after another, on to a second conveyor extending generally at right angles to the first conveyor from one side of the first conveyor. The apparatus is operable in cycles to transfer on each cycle a group of articles from the first to the second conveyor with the articles in the group extending in a row transversely of the second conveyor. The apparatus includes a support, a first carriage on the support movable generally parallel to the second conveyor, a second carriage on the first carriage movable with respect to the first carriage generally parallel to the first conveyor, and a third carriage on the second carriage movable vertically with respect to the first and second carriages. The third carriage carries a pusher bar.

Abstract: A pusher mechanism of an IS transfers a plurality of glass bottles onto a conveyor belt by rotating the bottles through an arc to align the bottles with the conveyor belt while simultaneously linearly moving the bottles at a converging acute angle toward the conveyor belt. The combined rotational and linear movements effectively lengthen the radius of curvature of the path of the bottles and increases the speed of the bottles onto the conveyor belt. The centrifugal force applied to the bottles is limited or reduced to allow the bottles to be more quickly moved onto the conveyor belt without introducing instabilities in the bottles. Other horizontal and vertical movements may be applied. A nozzle may be positioned to deliver a flow of air against the bottles to counteract instabilities. A take-out mechanism used with the pusher mechanism rotates the bottles at an acute angle to the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Both blow-and-blow and press-and-blow plunger mechanisms for use in forming a parison from a gob of fluid glass in a individual section (IS) of a glassware forming machine are fully pneumatically controlled. Plunger and thimble pistons affirmatively position a thimble and a plunger in consistently repeatable positions during loading of the gob, counterblowing or pressing an initial opening in the parison, and transferring the formed parison. No springs or other mechanical components which are prone to cause inconsistencies or failures are employed. The plunger mechanism is preferably suspended from the frame of the IS by a plunger case assembly to avoid the problems associated with a support foot. The plunger case assembly allows the plunger mechanisms to be easily interchanged or replaced, to be adjusted to accommodate different types of operation and sizes and configurations of glass article produced, while still communicating pressurized air to the plunger mechanisms to achieve these effects.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine includes a pair of carriers movable toward and away from each other between an open and a closed position and at least one mold member carried by each carrier. Each mold member has a bottom-facing surface and air passages extending upwardly from the bottom-facing surface for passage of air therethrough for cooling. Air is supplied to each mold half by a plenum, and the plenum has a spring feature such as to provide for an airtight seal between the bottom-facing surface of the mold member and the plenum.

Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet in the base of the machine via a lower section of flexible corrugated metal tubing, a rigid tube having a sliding sealing fit in the upper end of the lower section, and an upper section of flexible corrugated sheet metal tubing connected to the plenum.

Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet in the base of the machine via a tubular air dust having its lower end axially slidable in a part-spherical knuckle mounted for universal movement in an annular bearing in the air outlet having an internal part-spherical surface, and its upper end externally formed with a part-spherical formation mounted for universal movement in a part-spherical annular bearing at the bottom of the plenum.

Abstract: .[.A glassware forming machine having swinging arms carrying mold members with passages extending upwardly therethrough for flow of air for cooling said members, and first and second conduit members for delivery of air to a plenum associated with each arm, the first being oscillable on a fixed vertical axis and the second being slidably and sealably associated with the first and pivotally interconnected with a respective plenum..]. .Iadd.A glassware forming machine having swinging arms carrying mold members with passages extending upwardly through the mold members for flow of air for cooling the mold members. Air enters the passages from the plenums in proximity to the bottom of the mold cavity. A plenum is associated with each arm, and first and second conduit members are provided for delivery of air to each of the plenums.