Abstract: A glass container forming apparatus for forming a glass parison is disclosed. The glass container forming apparatus includes a feeder spout having a heated orifice ring, a plunger carried in the feeder spout and having a blow conduit therethrough, and die rollers immediately downstream of the heated orifice ring, with no chutes, scoops, or other gob handling devices therebetween. A glass container forming system that includes a glass feeder and a glass container forming apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A glass melting furnace and method for introducing batch feed material into a glass melter tank of the glass melting furnace are disclosed. The glass melting furnace comprises the glass melter tank, a feeder tank, and at least one conduit. The glass melter tank defines at least one melter tank inlet, a molten glass outlet, and an exhaust gas outlet, and the feeder tank, which is separate from the glass melter tank, defines a batch feed inlet and a feeder tank outlet. The at least one conduit is in fluid communication with the feeder tank outlet and the melter tank inlet. Moreover, the melter tank inlet is defined below a melt level of a glass melt contained within the glass melter tank and at least partially filling the at least one conduit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass container in preparation for direct digital printing includes forming a glass container having a glass wall and applying a primer coating to the glass container. The primer coating is applied by directing an atomized spray of an aqueous primer composition onto the glass container over an adherent base layer, such as a hot-end coating, which deposits the primer coating, followed by heating the primer coating with a heat source such as a flame. Upon being heated, the clarity of the primer coating is increased. As a result, a decorative marking may be printed onto the glass container without having to pretreat the glass container in a way that involves pyrolytically depositing a layer of silicon dioxide onto the glass container prior to printing.

Abstract: This disclosure describes substrate(s) having a three-dimensional (3D) feature formed thereon and methods of forming the features. One method involves applying a first layer of UV-curable material on a surface of the glass container around a circumference of the container and curing the first layer of UV-curable material to produce a first cured material layer that forms at least a portion of a first 3D feature. The method further comprises applying a second layer of UV-curable material on the surface of the glass container, spaced apart from the first 3D feature, around the circumference of the container, and curing the second layer of UV-curable material to produce a second cured material layer that forms at least a portion of a second 3D feature. The portion of the glass container between the first and second 3D features has a circumference less than that of the first or second 3D features.

Abstract: A feed assembly having a hollow tubular body and a batch charger disposed within the hollow tubular body is disclosed. The hollow tubular body extends along a central axis from a first end to a second end and, further, comprises a port that tapers from a first port end to a second port end at the second end of the tubular body. The batch charger includes a first charger end proximate the first end of the tubular body and a second charger end proximate the second end of the tubular body. The second charger end is spaced away from the second end of the tubular body to provide a port space within the port. An apparatus that includes a melting chamber and a feed assembly is also disclosed along with a method of feeding batch materials into a melting chamber.

Abstract: A molten material furnace system having a liquid cooled flow control mechanism and method are disclosed. In particular, the flow control mechanism can include a needle including: a longitudinal axis; an outer conduit including an outer base end, an outer body, and an outer free end; an inner conduit including an inner base end, an inner body radially spaced from the outer body, an inner free end, and a central inlet passage extending between the inlet and the inner free end. Also disclosed is a needle control assembly to position the flow control needle relative to a stilling tank outlet orifice to control flow of molten material through the outlet orifice.

Abstract: A method of producing glass using submerged combustion melting includes supplying a combustible gas mixture to one or more submerged burners of a submerged combustion melter, combusting the combustible gas mixture supplied to the submerged burner(s) to produce combustion products, and discharging the combustion products from the submerged burner(s) directly into a glass melt contained within the submerged combustion melter to agitate and heat the glass melt. The glass melt is comprised of soda-lime-silica glass and has a redox ratio. Additionally, the disclosed method involves controlling one or more operating conditions of the submerged combustion melter selected from (1) an oxygen-to-fuel ratio of the combustible gas mixture supplied to each of the submerged burners, (2) a residence time of the glass melt, and (3) a gas flux through the glass melt.

Abstract: A glass container that includes a base defining a hole, and methods of manufacturing and using the glass container, is disclosed. The glass container is manufactured by providing the container and cutting a hole in a wall of the container. The hole may be cut into the wall by any technique in which glass material is separated from the wall including by mechanical shearing, thermal energy, and/or fluid impingement. To use the glass container, a deformable blow-out plug may be inserted into the hole to fluidly seal the hole, a liquid beverage may be introduced into the container, a closure may be coupled to the container to close the container and provide a pressurizable package, and thereafter the package may be internally pressurized by introducing a pressurizing gas into the package.

Abstract: Pressure relief blow out plugs for a container are disclosed as well as methods of using the same. One disclosed method involves providing a glass container that comprises a base and a body extending away from the base. The base includes a wall that defines a pressure relief passage. The method also involves inserting a pressure relief blow out into the pressure relief passage to seal the passage. The plug comprises a first inboard flange extending radially outwardly from the plug body, a stem, and a second inboard flange extending radially outwardly from the plug body and being spaced apart from the first inboard flange by a stem. The first inboard flange includes a first outboard sealing surface that provides an axial seal against the wall of the base of the glass container, and the second inboard flange including a circumferentially interrupted outboard facing retention portion the defines vent gaps.