Abstract: Apparatus for producing a glass parison comprises a spindle and a plunger mounted in the spindle for axial displacement. Mechanism is provided for axially displacing the plunger relative to the housing. A press mould has a cavity for carrying glass melt and is movable into a working position aligned with the plunger so that the plunger may enter the mould cavity. A recess is provided in the housing in communication with the mould cavity to receive excess glass melt displaced thereinto in response to positioning of the plunger within the mould cavity. The plunger functions as a valve to alternately block and establish access between a blowing air passage and the front end of the plunger to allow air to be blown against a glass parison being produced. Retaining ring segments which partly define the melt-receiving recess are pivotable between a first position retaining a parison in place, and a second position allowing removal of the parison.

Abstract: An apparatus assembly for distributing and adjusting flow of cooling fluid to control the temperature of a glass forming mold used for forming generally funnel-shaped articles such as, for example, funnel members for glass television picture tube envelopes, the assembly including a cooling fluid distributor in the form of an orifice member or perforate baffle and a plurality of adjustable valves for selectively adjusting and directing the flow of the cooling fluid to and about different parts of the outer surface of the forming mold for selective temperature control of the mold during the forming of glass articles therein.

Abstract: A furnace, which includes a melting and refining tank and a forehearth, is divided into a plurality of zones or regions. Each of the zones is provided with means for sensing temperature within the zone and a means for heating the zone. Means is also provided for measuring the individual heat input into the furnace of the heating means in each of the zones. When changes in temperatures are required, the temperatures in the different zones of the furnace are controlled by adjusting the heat input of the heating means in at least one of the zones to cause the temperatures in each of the zones where changes in temperature are required to approach desired temperatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a controlled opening or bubble in the bore of a glass clinical thermometer comprises directing a narrow light beam at the heated glass while introducing pressurized fluid into the bore. The light beam is chosen to form a diffraction pattern including a shaprly imaged area whose width corresponds to the bore diameter. The diffraction image area width is used to obtain the desired bubble dimensions.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and reducing bowing of a rotating roll used with hot material comprises a proximity sensor mounted adjacent the surface of a roll or of a member attached thereto, and arranged to generate an electric signal which varies between maximum and minimum limit values during each revolution of the roll in dependence on any bowing of the roll, cooling means for selectively cooling parts of the roll and a bowing detection circuit arranged to receive the electric signal and provide an operating signal when the electric signal varies by more than a predetermined amount from one of the said limit values, and actuating means arranged to respond to the operating signal and operate the cooling means to cool a required part of the roll to reduce bowing.

Abstract: Heat softenable material, typically glass, is heated in a furnace from above its surface, as by fossil fuel burners, and below its surface, as by Joule effect heating by electrical current flowing between electrodes immersed in the melt where predetermined relationships of the amount of heat supplied from each source is automatically established. One form of coordinated control employs ratio control where the relationship of fossil fuel burner heat supplied is maintained in constant proportion to the Joule effect heat supplied. Melter temperature is a primary control for a combustion air supply. A combustion air-fossil fuel ratio controller proportionally controls Joule effect heat applied in one embodiment. In other embodiments the electrical controller provides the master signal to a combustion air control proportionate to the requisite change of heat input dictated, or the combustion air control issues a ratio signal to the electrical controller for proportional changes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for controlling the cooling of the molds in a glass forming machine which involves compensating the pressure set point for the control of the cooling air to correct for changes in the temperature of the cooling air and changes in the mass flow rate of the glass. During maximum and minimum flow conditions for the cooling air the heat transfer equilibrium between the coolant and the parisons being cooled is modified as by modifying the set points of the temperature controllers on the feeder supplying the forming machine or alternatively by changing the speed of the forming machine so that the parisons tend to stay at the desired temperature with the limited range of coolant supply.

Abstract: A control system for operating the ram vertically movable in and out of a glass mold. The control system for operating the ram includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and a hydraulic cylinder which is interconnected to the pump and to the reservoir. A vertically reciprocal piston is positioned in the cylinder. Valve means control the flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump and reservoir to the chambers defined on opposite sides of the piston. The operating system includes a first control of hydraulic fluid and fluid pressure to the first chamber and from the second chamber for rapidly lowering or permitting free fall of the ram towards the mold by action of gravity and a second control means of the fluid pressure on both sides of the piston to reduce the speed of the ram to pressing speed and finally to a fixed pressing position.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding material to a glass melting tank comprises a batch material feed system and a cullet feed system. A first control unit controls the rate of the batch feed and a second control unit controls the cullet feed rate. One of the control units receives a signal dependant on the glass level in the tank and thereby controls the rate of one feed system in dependance on the glass level. A ratio control unit is provided to adjust the other control unit so the two feed systems operate at a predetermined ratio of feed rates.

Abstract: A control system for operation of the individual sections of a glassware forming machine includes a shaft position encoder associated with the mechanical drive for the feeder, and a digital computer for programming various events in the machine cycle in accordance with certain boundary event timings. The shaft encoder output is converted to binary coded decimal (BCD) form and is fed to the digital computer through a priority program which permits routine starting and stopping of the machine and its various sections, and which also includes manual means for setting up the desired cycle of operation for the various mechanisms associated with a given section and for later transferring these settings to the other sections of the machine with operation of each section being phase delayed in accordance with a predetermined "firing order". These settings can be revised during operation of the machine as a result of the program stored in the digital computer.