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 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: 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 forming a molten glass bead has a fixed supporting frame; a guide integral with the frame and having a substantially vertical axis; a slide fitted in axially-sliding manner to the guide; and at least one feed punch parallel to the axis, connected integrally to the slide, and moved cyclically to form the glass bead by a linear electric motor connected directly to the slide.

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.