Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the mass of a moving molten glass gob. The gob is directed along a curved channel having a force measuring device over which the gob passes for measuring the force exerted by the gob normal to its path. The velocity of the gob is determined both before and after the normal force is measured by means of two sets of two position sensors, one set located on each side of the force measuring device, and a timer which determines the time period for the gob to move between the position sensors of each set. The timer also determines the time between velocity measurements. The data is used to calculate a value of acceleration which is substantially proportional to the acceleration normal to the path. The acceleration value and the output of the force measuring device are then interrelated in order to calculate the mass of the gob.

Abstract: A multi-step glass forming machine having a plurality of mechanically actuated valves adapted to initiate the various steps in the operation of the machine is disclosed herein and includes an electronically controlled valve block assembly for mechanically actuating the aforestated valves. The valve block assembly includes a plurality of piston and cylinder arrangements, the pistons of which are pneumatically movable from a retracted position to an extended position for actuating respective ones of the valves. In this regard, the pistons are moved to their respective extended positions in response to the energization of an associated electrically actuated control valve and by a common pressurized air supply which is preferably independent of the glass forming machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of a gob of molten glass as it enters a cavity in the mold of an automatic glassware forming machine. The detector includes a phototransistor sensor and circuitry for generating a gob detection signal. Two or more detectors can be combined to generate a signal indicating that the last gob has entered a multi-cavity mold so that the forming process can begin. The gob detection signal can also be utilized to adjust the timing of the glassware forming process for differences in the travel time between the gob forming apparatus and the mold.

Abstract: A molten glass metering device for making electric lamp bases by accurately metering the rate of flow of molten glass from an orifice in the wall of a glass melting furnace. The device comprises a metal member including an integral hollow elongated member aligned with the orifice. The flow of glass is controlled by varying the flow of electrical current through the metal member to control the temperature of same and to control the temperature of the glass within the metal member, thereby to control the rate of flow of molten glass therethrough.

Abstract: A control system for a glassware forming machine which has a plurality of individual machine sections each capable of individually forming glassware articles. The control system includes a machine supervisory control means connected to a separate section control means for each of the individual sections and to a data storage means. The machine supervisory control means loads each section control means with a control program and timing data from the storage means for forming a specific article of glassware. As the individual sections form the glassware under the control of the section control means, the machine operator can change any of the timing data for each individual section. The machine supervisory control means obtains the current timing data from each of the section control means at predetermined intervals and sends it to the storage means. Thus, in the case of a power failure, for example, the current timing data is available and can be loaded into the section control means to resume operation.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine including means for distributing gobs of molten glass to individual sections of the machine at a predetermined rate, drive means responsive to electrical power of a selected frequency generated by a power source for driving the gob distributing means at the predetermined rate and an automatic control means responsive to timing signals for controlling each of the individual sections in a predetermined timed sequence of steps for forming the glassware wherein the power source generates the timing signals at a frequency proportional to the selected frequency of the power source. Each piece of glassware is formed during a machine cycle which is related in duration to the gob distribution rate and typically is defined in terms of 360.degree.. The power source includes a timing pulse generator which synthesizes the timing signals from the power source electric power frequency at the frequency required for defining 360.degree. per machine cycle.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine including means for distributing gobs of molten glass to individual sections of the machine at a predetermined rate, drive means responsive to electrical power of a selected frequency generated by a power source for driving the gob distributing means at the predetermined rate and an automatic control means responsive to timing signals for controlling each of the individual sections in a predetermined timed sequence of steps for forming the glassware wherein the power source generates the timing signals at a frequency proportional to the selected frequency of the power source. Each piece of glassware is formed during a machine cycle which is related in duration of the gob distribution rate and typically is defined in terms of 360.degree..

Abstract: A batch material feeder for an electrically heated open-top refractory furnace, particularly a circular furnace, wherein the feeder includes a trough holding batch material and mounted over the furnace top, there being a rotatable agitator within the trough for moving batch material over discharge openings in the trough bottom, so as to deposit the batch material over the top of the molten mass in a manner that provides for a thin uniform layer of batch while assuring proper control of the thickness of the deposited layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for glazing bases of electric bulbs comprising a number of combined tools on the circumference of a continuously rotating rotor, the combined tools consisting of coaxially arranged upper and lower parts, a mold being formed by the lower part. The apparatus includes means for feeding molten glass and for pressing it by the upper part, means for checking the presence of base sleeves and contacts at the working station, and means for removing excess glass in the course of the pressing operation. The apparatus includes means for ejecting a sleeve from the lower part of any tool which does not contain a contact, and means for preventing the feeding of glass to any tool which does not contain a sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing an optical fiber including apparatus for heating an optical fiber preform, apparatus for drawing out the optical fiber from the optical fiber preform whose fore end part has been made molten by the heating and for taking up the drawn out fiber, apparatus for causing a gas to flow along the outer peripheral surface of the molten part of the optical fiber preform, and apparatus for controlling both the flow rate of the gas and the drawing-out speed of the optical fiber according to a fluctuation in the diameter of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An electronic timing control system for glassware and other thermoplastic articles forming machines of the kind having a plurality of unitary forming sections and a single molten glass gob feeding and distribution means, each forming section comprising glass gob guiding channels, a blank forming station, a blow molding station and/or a take out station, and finished ware take out means, comprises a preprogrammed controller capable of sequentially controlling all the ware forming operations, a constant frequency pulse generator to operate as a real time clock to measure the timing and duration of each operation sequentially controlled by said controller, a glass gob release sensor to detect the instant when a glass gob is cut and released from said glass gob feeding and distribution means and feed back a signal to said controller to indicate the end of a prior cycle and the initiation of a new cycle of operations, a temperature sensor to detect the passage of a glass gob from said guiding channels into said bl

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for melting and processing glass suitable for attenuation to continuous fibers or filaments and more particularly to an arrangement having a limited capacity for processing glass providing a highly refined glass for the production of comparatively small quantities of textile fibers or filaments of usual glass compositions and for limited production of textile fibers or filaments of special glasses.

Abstract: A predetermined rate of flow of molten glass from a reservoir, for example a glass melting furnace, is maintained by flowing glass from the reservoir to an intermediate vessel in which the glass temperature is fixed in relation to the temperature of glass discharging from the reservoir, continuously developing a control signal representing any change in the quantity of glass in the intermediate vessel, and using that signal to adjust the flow from the reservoir.

Abstract: A controlled glassware-forming machine is disclosed which has a plurality of individual machine sections each capable of individually forming glassware. Fluid actuators such as pneumatic pistons and cylinders are connected to move the various machine elements within each of the individual sections. These actuators are used to open and close the molds and to move the invert-revert arms, for example. The initiation of the movement of these machine elements is by way of a plurality of main valves to start and stop the movements. These valves are controlled by solenoids in turn controlled by electronic outputs of a computer or control means. The speed of movement of the machine elements is controlled by variable aperture valves such as needle valves, and a power means is provided to vary the aperture of such needle valves, also controlled by outputs of the computer.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a uniform thermal history of a free-falling glass gob having a hollow, heat-resistant conveyor tube extending between the point of shear of the molten glass and the desired mold to which the glass is to be directed and having an electrical heating means associated with at least a portion of the tube which may be controlled by a control means to transfer thermal energy through the tube to the glass gobs passing within the tube, the control means being fed information received from sensing means located at selected points along the tube which is activated by infrared rays transmitted through openings in the tubing by the glass gobs, which temperature information is transmitted to the control means and integrated to determine the operation of the heating means.

Abstract: This invention embraces a method of and apparatus for processing heat-softenable fiber-forming material, such as glass, involving treatment of a surface of a feeder from which flow streams of the heat-softened glass through the establishment of an environment at the surface in which a heat-decomposable gas is heat decomposed providing a gas resulting from the decomposition of a character promoting separation of the glass from the surface thereby minimizing or eliminating the tendency for the material to flood at the feeder surface, effecting pressure through the heat-softened glass in a supply chamber, transferring glass from the chamber to the stream feeder, and effecting pressure through the heat-softened glass in the feeder to prevent or eliminate permeation or filtering of the gas formed by heat decomposition through the material of the feeder into the softened glass thereby enhancing the uniformity of glass streams flowing from the feeder.

Abstract: A control system for a cyclic process includes a pulse generator incorporating three rotatable gears for generating pulses. A first gear having n ferromagnetic teeth is mounted on a main generator shaft for generating a train of pulses in a magnetic perception head upon rotation of the main generator shaft, and also mounted on the main generator shaft is a second gear wheel having n + 1 teeth. The second gear wheel drivingly engages with a third gear wheel having n teeth which is mounted for rotation on another shaft, and the second and third gear wheels each carry a ferromagnetic element movement of which past respective further magnetic perception heads causes the generation of a single pulse during each rotation of the second and third gear wheels.

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.