Abstract: Sweepout apparatus (10) for sweeping an aligned array of glass containers (C) from a deadplate (12) of a I.S. glass container forming machine to a conveyor (14) that runs transversely to the array of containers on the deadplate and serves to transfer the containers for further processing. The apparatus comprises a swivel portion (16 or 116) that is oscillatable in an arc of approximately 90° and a head (18) that is carried by the swivel portion and is reciprocable relative thereto, the head carrying an elongated bar (20) with a spaced plurality of pocket-defining fingers (22) that extend from the bar. The sweepout further comprises independently operatable first and second coaxial reversible electrical motors (30, 28), an output shaft (32) of the second electric motor (28) passing through an annular output shaft (56) of the first electric motor (30). Reversible motion imparted to the annular output shaft of the first electric motor causes oscillating motion of the swivel portion of the sweepout apparatus.

Abstract: A burner (16, 116, 216) of a nozzle-mixing type receives a carbonaceous fuel, for example, an acetylene-based fuel, from a fuel line (20) and an oxidant, such as relatively pure oxygen, from an oxidant line (18), the oxidant being supplied to the burner at a rate insufficient to result in complete combustion of the fuel, to thereby produced a sooty flame that is useful in applying lubricating soot particles to a molten glass contacting surface of a glass manufacturing machine. The burner, which is intermittently operated by a solenoid valve (38) in the oxidant line and by a solenoid valve (40) in the fuel line, has a fuel inlet passage (60) that extends along a longitudinal central axis of a tip element (56) of the burner, and an annular inlet passage (64) that surrounds the fuel inlet passage.

Abstract: Vertically aligned first (30) and second (32) combined blowhead and takeout mechanisms are provided to sequentially blow glass parisons (P) into containers (C) in a mold set (22) and to transfer blown containers to a deadplate (40) of a glass containing forming machine (20). Each of the combined mechanisms is pivotally suspended about an axis A from a carrier arm (36) that is pivotally attached to an end of an oscillating arm (38), an opposed end of which is pivoted about an axis (B). The axis (B) of each combined blowhead and takeout mechanism is periodically raised and lowered to permit the other combined blowhead and takeout mechanism to oscillate therebeneath, to thereby permit overlapping cycles between the blowhead and takeout mechanisms. Each blowhead and takeout mechanism is provided with a chuck or tong assembly (54) to engage or release each container by its finish (F).

Abstract: An opposed pair of inwardly facing radiant energy detecting sensors (20, 22) is positioned to sight on freshly formed glass containers (C) being conveyed on a side by side pair of conveyors (12, 14) to determine if any of the containers is misoriented from its desired orientation. Each sensor has a sharply focused fiber and lens assembly (24) that is focused to sense radiant energy in a cone of view no greater than 1°. A baffle (32) is positioned between the conveyors and in alignment with the opposed sensors, to isolate the sensors from radiant energy emitted by containers on the away conveyor.

Abstract: A multiple orifice glass feed system for use with a glass forehearth including a plurality of closely spaced plungers, each of which is individually supported independently of each other. Each plunger includes a servo controlled linear actuator and an arm extending between each plunger and its respective servo-motor. Each servo-motor has an axis parallel to the axis of the plungers. An air spring is associated with each plunger for balancing the weight of each plunger and its respective arm. The center lines of the plungers lie generally in a plane. The arms have the major portions thereof generally parallel and closely spaced. A feedback system is provided to monitor the position of each individual needle independently of the other at all times and make corrections to the actual position of the needle if desired.

Abstract: An opposed pair of inwardly facing radiant energy detecting sensors (20, 22) is positioned to sight on freshly formed glass containers (C) being conveyed on a side by side pair of conveyors (12, 14) to determine if any of the containers is misoriented from its desired orientation. Each sensor has a sharply focused fiber and lens assembly (24) that is focused to sense radiant energy in a cone of view no greater than 1°. A baffle (32) is positioned between the conveyors and in alignment with the opposed sensors, to isolate the sensors from radiant energy emitted by containers on the away conveyor.

Abstract: A glass container forming machine section (10) in which the mold carrying arms (12, 14) that are pivoted on shafts (20, 22), respectively, about a common axis (A) are caused to counteroscillate between open positions in which the mold halves (16, 18) that are respectively carried by the arms (12, 14) are separated, and closed positions in which the mold halves are joined to define molding cavities therebetween. The opening and closing motions of the mold carrying arms are powered by a single reversible electrical servo motor (24), which drives a drive gear (26). The drive gear (26) directly drives a first driven gear (28) and an intermediate driven gear (30) which, in turn, directly drives a second driven gear (34). Turning motion of the driven gears (28, 34) is imparted to stub shafts (38, 40), respectively, which carry coaxial drive gears (42, 44), respectively. The drive gears (42, 44) drive sector gears (46, 48), respectively, that are disengagably secured to the shafts (22, 20), respectively.

Abstract: An individual section glassware forming machine that includes at least one blow mold for forming articles of glassware, a sweepout station for transferring glassware to a machine conveyor, and a take-out mechanism for transferring glassware from the blow mold to the sweepout station. The take-out mechanism comprises first and second electromagnetic stators mounted in fixed position above the blow mold and the sweepout station. A first electromagnetic armature is mounted for linear motion along a horizontal axis adjacent to the first stator. A second electromagnetic armature is mounted to the first armature for linear motion along a vertical axis adjacent to the second stator. Take-out tongs are carried by the second armature for engaging and transferring glassware from the blow mold to the sweepout station.

Abstract: A glass machine system in accordance with presently preferred embodiments of the invention includes a glassware manufacturing machine for manufacturing articles of glassware and transferring the articles to a linear conveyor, at least one linear chain conveyor for receiving and transporting such articles from the machine, and a speed sensor for monitoring linear speed of the conveyor. The speed sensor includes a magnetic energy source, a magnetic energy sensor and bracketry mounting the source and sensor adjacent to the conveyor. The chain conveyor teeth affect magnetic energy coupling between the source and sensor as the conveyor passes adjacent to the sensor. Electronic circuitry is responsive to signals from the sensor for determining linear speed of the conveyor and maintaining a constant linear speed at the conveyor.

Abstract: A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting furnace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is rotatable about its longitudinal central axis with respect to the support arm, and the support arm carries drive elements for rotating the feeder tube about its longitudinal central axis. The support arm is supported on a vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator, and the elevation of the support arm is adjustable by actuation of the linear actuator, a releasable brake being provided to prevent rotation of the servo motor when it is desired to prevent a change in elevation of the support arm.

Abstract: An individual section glassware forming machine that includes at least one blow mold for forming articles of glassware, a sweepout station for transferring glassware to a machine conveyor, and a take-out mechanism for transferring glassware from the blow mold to the sweepout station. The take-out mechanism comprises first and second electromagnetic stators mounted in fixed position above the blow mold and the sweepout station. A first electromagnetic armature is mounted for linear motion along a horizontal axis adjacent to the first stator. A second electromagnetic armature is mounted to the first armature for linear motion along a vertical axis adjacent to the second stator. Take-out tongs are carried by the second armature for engaging and transferring glassware from the blow mold to the sweepout station.

Abstract: A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting furnace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is rotatable about its longitudinal central axis with respect to the support arm, and the support arm carries drive elements for rotating the feeder tube about its longitudinal central axis. The support arm is supported on a vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator, and the elevation of the support arm is adjustable by actuation of the linear actuator, a releasable brake being provided to prevent rotation of the servo motor when it is desired to prevent a change in elevation of the support arm.

Abstract: A multiple orifice glass feed system for use with a glass forehearth including a plurality of closely spaced plungers, each of which is individually supported independently of the other. Each plunger includes a servo controlled linear actuator and an arm extending between each plunger and its respective servo-motor. Each servo-motor has an axis parallel to the axis of the plungers. An air spring is associated with each plunger for balancing the weight of each plunger and its respective arm. The center lines of the plungers lie generally in a plane. The arms have the major portions thereof generally parallel and closely spaced. A feedback system is provided to monitor the position of each individual needle independently of the other at all times and make corrections to the actual position of the needle if desired.

Abstract: An individual section (IS) machine glassware forming system includes an individual section machine with a plurality of individual sections for receiving gobs of molten glass and forming the gobs into articles of glassware. A gob feeder presents gobs of molten glass, and a gob distributor feeds the gobs to the individual machine sections in sequence. Operation of the machine sections is synchronized to operation of the glass feeder by generating a feeder index signal indicative of presentation of glass gobs at the glass feeder. An electronic machine timing circuit includes facility for electronically generating a machine index signal for synchronizing operation of the machine sections with respect to each other. Separation in real time between the feeder index signal and the machine index signal during system operation is determined and stored in units of time.

Abstract: A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting furnace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is rotatable about its longitudinal central axis with respect to the support arm, and the support arm carries drive elements for rotating the feeder tube about its longitudinal central axis. The support arm is supported on a vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator, and the elevation of the support arm is adjustable by actuation of the linear actuator, a releasable brake being provided to prevent rotation of the servo motor when it is desired to prevent a change in elevation of the support arm.

Abstract: A hollow glass parison is formed by pressing a gob of molten glass in a mold cavity with a plunger which is moved in a linear direction by a leadscrew which is connected to the plunger and is driven by a servomotor. Actuation of the servomotor creates a rotation of the leadscrew which causes the plunger to advance in a linear direction from a first position until the plunger contacts the gob at a second position. The plunger then advances to press the gob in the mold cavity to form the gob into a parison. During movement of the plunger in the linear direction the position of the plunger is continually sensed with a position-sensing resolver which provides position information to a system controller which utilizes the position information to control the position of the plunger prior to contacting the gob in the mold cavity, the depth of plunger penetration into the gob of molten glass during pressing by controlling the pressing pressure, and the weight of the gob of molten glass.

Abstract: Glass containers are transferred from the dead plates of a forming machine of the I.S. type to an adjacent machine conveyor by 90.degree. sweepouts, each of which is powered by an a.c. servo motor. The machine conveyor, which is also powered by an a.c. servo motor, conveys containers to a cross-conveyor, which extends perpendicularly to the machine conveyor and conveys the containers to positions adjacent the inlet of an annealing lehr. The transfer of containers from the machine conveyor to the cross-conveyor is effected by a chain transfer device, and the cross-conveyor and the chain transfer device are each powered by an a.c. servo motor. Groups of containers are transferred in unison from the cross-conveyor to a moving conveyor of the annealing lehr by the reciprocating pusher bar of a lehr loader, and the operation of the lehr loader pusher bar which reciprocates along three (3) axes, powered by three (3) a.c. servo motors. The operation of each of the a.c. servo motors for the 90.degree.

Abstract: A lehr loader (20) for transferring a line of freshly formed glass containers (C) on a cross-conveyor (XC) transversely of the cross-conveyor into an annealing lehr (L). The lehr loader has a superimposed stack of three carriages (48, 76, 94), the lowermost carriage (48) being supported on a frame (22) and being movable longitudinally in a horizontal plane with respect to the frame toward and away from the lehr. The intermediate carriage (76) is supported on the lowermost carriage (48) and is movable longitudinally with the lowermost carriage and is movable laterally in a horizontal plane with respect to the lowermost carriage. The uppermost carriage (94) is supported on the intermediate carriage (76) and is movable horizontally with the intermediate carriage and vertically with respect to the intermediate carriage. An enclosed linear actuator (50) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (56) is attached to the frame, and a reversible, co-axial a.c.

Abstract: In an individual section (IS) glassware forming system that includes a lehr loader having a loader bar and electric actuators for controlling motion at the loader bar along forward, sideshift and lift axes independently of each other to load glassware from a cross conveyor across a transfer plate onto a lehr conveyor, apparatus for controlling motion at the loader bar includes an operator station for entry of a plurality of control parameters that relate to physical characteristics of the glassware, cross conveyor, transfer plate, lehr and loader bar. The operator station includes prestored programming for automatically translating the control parameters entered by the operator into motion profiles for each of the three axes, with each of the profiles comprising a data set of motion data versus time data. An electronic controller is coupled to the electric actuators for controlling motions at the loader bar along the three axes as a function of associated sets of motion data versus time data.

Abstract: A lehr loader (20) for transferring a line of freshly formed glass containers (C) on a cross-conveyor (XC) transversely of the cross-conveyor into an annealing lehr (L). The lehr loader has a superimposed stack of three carriages (48, 76, 94), an enclosed linear actuator (50) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (56) is attached to the frame, and a reversible, co-axial a.c. servo motor (52) is provided to cause reciprocation of the lowermost carriage. An enclosed linear actuator (78) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (82) attached to the lowermost carriage (76) and a co-axial reversible, a.c. servo motor (80) is provided to cause reciprocation of the intermediate carriage. An enclosed linear actuator (96) in the form of an enclosed ball screw mechanism with a housing (102) attached to the intermediate carriage (76) and a reversible, a.c. servo motor (98) is provided to cause reciprocation of the uppermost carriage (94).