Abstract: A punch assembly for producing hollow glass articles in a mold has a punch member, which is moved to and from the mold along a straight axis by an electric motor positioned eccentrically with respect to the straight axis and connected to the punch member by a rotary-to-linear motion conversion assembly, and a releasable angular connecting assembly interposed between the motor and the motion conversion assembly.

Abstract: The supervisor is connected to at least one hollow glassware production line including a plurality of controlled moving members, and is defined by a line agent unit generating a virtual image of the line, a database memorizing all the data required for operation of the line, an interface, and an instruction analyzer. The database is defined by individual memory areas separately memorizing data relative to the structure of each line in a line table; data relative to production processes to be performed in a process table; and specific elementary operation instructions for the line members by means of a recipe table memorizing conditions relating the memorized lines and production processes. The instruction analyzer processes the line structure data and production process data, and generates specific instructions on the basis of the entered data.

Abstract: In a proportional valve assembly, particularly for supplying compressed air on a glassware molding machine, a tubular body, having an axis and air inlet and outlet ports, houses a slide member which is slid axially along the axis, to open and close the inlet and outlet ports, by a linear actuator, on the one hand, and, on the other, by the reaction exerted by an elastic body and the compressed air; the elastic body being spaced apart from the slide member and connected to the slide member by a relatively moving device.

Abstract: A machine for grinding coated sheets of glass has a supporting surface for a sheet of glass for grinding, and two grinding units located on opposite sides of the supporting surface; each grinding unit having at least one first grinding wheel for grinding a portion of a peripheral edge of the sheet of glass, and a second grinding wheel for removing a portion of the layer of material coating the sheet of glass.

Abstract: In a proportional valve assembly, particularly for supplying compressed air on a glassware molding machine, a tubular body, having an axis and air inlet and outlet ports, houses a slide member which is slid axially along the axis, to open and close the inlet and outlet ports, by a linear actuator, on the one hand, and, on the other, by the reaction exerted by an elastic body and the compressed air; the elastic body being spaced apart from the slide member and connected to the slide member by a relatively moving device.

Abstract: An assembly for adjusting the height of a gripping mechanism on a machine for molding glass articles has an upright supporting a gripping head for gripping the glass articles, and an actuating assembly for activating the gripping head and, in use, moving the gripping head, with respect to the upright, between a gripping position gripping the glass articles, and a release position releasing the glass articles onto a supporting surface; the upright has a bottom connecting portion, which is connected to a structure of the machine so as to slide in a vertical direction, and the height of which is adjustable by means of a motor located beneath the supporting surface and in parallel with a transmission activated by a crank.

Abstract: An assembly for adjusting the height of a gripping mechanism on a machine for molding glass articles has an upright supporting a gripping head for gripping the glass articles, and an actuating assembly for activating the gripping head and, in use, moving the gripping head, with respect to the upright, between a gripping position gripping the glass articles, and a release position releasing the glass articles onto a supporting surface; the upright has a bottom connecting portion, which is connected to a structure of the machine so as to slide in a vertical direction, and the height of which is adjustable by means of a motor located beneath the supporting surface and in parallel with a transmission activated by a crank.

Abstract: A unit for sorting and transferring sheets of glass has a number of carriages, each having a number of compartments for receiving respective sheets of glass; and a sorting device for supporting the sheets and feeding each of the sheets into a respective compartment; the sorting device having a support for supporting a sheet and rotating about an axis of rotation; and the carriages being arranged in a ring about the rotary support.

Abstract: The control system is defined by at least one subsystem for controlling electric motors, and by a subsystem for controlling pneumatic article molding movements, each subsystems including a central unit, a plurality of peripheral units, and a second-level serial bus interposed between the respective central unit and respective peripheral units. A first-level serial bus is connected between the two central units; the peripheral units are intelligent types; and the first-level bus and second-level buses are “fieldbuses” in CANbus technology and employ a CANopen protocol.

Abstract: A method of taking up wear of a grinding wheel on a machine for grinding sheets of glass, whereby the position of an abrasive surface of the grinding wheel, initially set to an ideal work position such as to obtain a sheet of a given size, is adjusted, following wear of the grinding wheel, by moving the abrasive surface towards a reference surface on the machine, positioned facing and at a predetermined distance from the abrasive surface when the abrasive surface is in the ideal work position; determining the instant of contact between the abrasive surface and the reference surface; arresting the grinding wheel at the instant of contact; and moving the abrasive surface away from the reference surface to an adjustment distance at least equal to the predetermined distance.

Abstract: The supervisor is connected to at least one hollow glassware production line including a plurality of controlled moving members, and is defined by a line agent unit generating a virtual image of the line, a database memorizing all the data required for operation of the line, an interface, and an instruction analyzer. The database is defined by individual memory areas separately memorizing data relative to the structure of each line in a line table; data relative to production processes to be performed in a process table; and specific elementary operation instructions for the line members by means of a recipe table memorizing conditions relating the memorized lines and production processes. The instruction analyzer processes the line structure data and production process data, and generates specific instructions on the basis of the entered data.

Abstract: In an overhead gripping and conveying system for sheets of glass, a gripping device with movable suction cups is operated by an overhead actuating device wherein respective powered carriages run along two straight, parallel, transversely spaced guides, and are connected to each other by a rigid structure defined by a single straight, cylindrical tubular member with a constant cross section.

Abstract: A method and machine for processing sheets of laminated glass, whereby a sheet of glass, as it is fed in a given traveling direction on a supporting surface having a cutting opening crosswise to the traveling direction, is raised with respect to the supporting surface by an auxiliary supporting device movable through the cutting opening, so as to enable the edges of the sheet to get past a downstream edge of the cutting opening in the traveling direction.

Abstract: A unit for sorting and transferring sheets of glass has a number of carriages, each having a number of compartments for receiving respective sheets of glass; and a sorting device for supporting the sheets and feeding each of the sheets into a respective compartment; the sorting device having a support for supporting a sheet and rotating about an axis of rotation; and the carriages being arranged in a ring about the rotary support.

Abstract: The device consists of a platform for supporting the sheet of glass and a crosspiece which can move relatively with respect to the platform along a first axis and which carries a plurality of carriages movable thereon along a second axis perpendicular to the first and arranged to score the sheet along the said two axes by means of tools carried by the carriages; a plurality of first carriages disposed on a first side of the crosspiece for scoring the sheet along the first axis are displaced selectively by a second carriage which is movable on a second side of the crosspiece opposite the first to score the sheet along the second axis, the second carriage being served by actuating means and positioning means and carrying releasable engagement means for selectively coupling the first carriages and displacing them together with itself along the crosspiece.