Abstract: Method and apparatus for electronically controlling a servo motor drive for glass gob distribution apparatus, to provide accurate high speed motion of one or more scoops. At the set-up stage, the operator adjusts the scoop position with respect to each trough to align scoop and trough in a straight line. During automatic operation, upon receipt of a MOVE command a motion control computer provides digital output signals to move the scoops through a prescribed motion profile, such profile having suitable characteristics to move the scoops over various distances without vibration or overshoot. A digitalized cubic-parabolic-cubic (CPC) curve or similar cam profile is scaled to the amplitude and direction of the required motion, and the motion profile computer outputs command signals on a point-by-point basis over the time span of this stored motion profile. Such time span is designed to provide sufficient dwell time to allow the gobs to traverse the scoops.

Abstract: The drive system comprises a motor (10) to drive a glass gob producing feeder, a motor (18) to drive a gob distributor for distributing the gobs to sections of a glass container manufacturing machine of the individual section type, and a motor (34) to drive a container-removing conveyor. The drive means supplies electrical signals to cause the motors to operate at desired speeds. The drive system comprises a source (52) of a basic frequency signal which can be varied by varying means (54) to determine the speed of the entire production line, means (58) for producing a gob distributor controlling signal by dividing the basic frequency by a factor reflecting the number of machine sections, and means (62,66) for producing a conveyor system controlling signal by multiplying the basic frequency by a factor reflecting the number and spacing of the containers.

Abstract: A gob distributor comprising a head including at least one gob scoop having a pinion and a rack for interconnecting with the pinion so that the gob scoop can be rotatively displaced through a predetermined angular range including an intermediate location whereat the scoop is parallel to the rack. The gob scoop can be displaced by structure which includes a ball screw, a nut, a housing, and a carriage secured to the nut. The carriage has an upstanding arm, and is located at a selected location by the operation of first and second opposed single acting cylinders which are mounted on the ball screw housing with the rods thereof intersect the upstanding arm. The rods advance to a fully advanced position locating the upstanding arm at the selected location with the gob scoop at the neutral position.

Abstract: A gob distributor comprising a head inclining at least one gob scoop relatively displaceable through a predetermined angular range. The gob scoop can be displaced by structure which includes a ball screw, a nut, a housing, and a carriage secured to the nut. The carriage has an upstanding arm which will strike a selectively located and contained compression pad in the event the ball nut is displaced beyond its intended range. The arm may also, prior to striking the pad, displace a plunger which will operate a control switch to disable the system.

Abstract: A gob distributor is disclosed having a head including at least one gob scoop having a pinion and a rack for interconnecting with the pinion so that the gob scoop can be rotatively displaced through a predetermined angular range. The rack is displaced by a ball screw assembly wherein a vertically oriented forked link having a bottom end and two vertically spaced top ends connects the rack to the ball screw nut. Each of the top ends is secured to ball screw nut so that the link can be reoriented relative to the ball screw nut about a vertical axis passing through the top ends to compensate for misalignment between the ball screw and the link and the bottom end is connected to the rack so that any out of parallelism in either a horizontal or a vertical plane between the link and the rack will be accommodated.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for bending a glass pane in which undesirable elongations, localized deformations and residual stresses are eliminated by the advantageous use of such practices as preventing relative sliding movement between the glass pane and the bending apparatus and controlling the path followed by movable elements of the bending apparatus that accomplish the bending. The movable elements are mounted for motion about articulated axes, and the articulated axes themselves undergo constant dislocation during the bending.

Abstract: A fluid transferring mechanism especially adapted for providing cooling fluid to the scoops of a glass gob distributor having a housing and an oscillating member mounted therein. The housing has inlet and outlet passageway having an exit and entrance respectively at the interface between the housing and oscillating member. The oscillating member has first and second grooves in its outer surface which communicates with the exit and entrance respectively during the entire oscillation of the oscillating member. A passageway connects the first and second grooves to provide a path for the fluid from the inlet and outlet passageways.

Abstract: A method is set forth for controlling the height of batch material on the surface of a molten bath in a cold-crown or vertical melting furnace by measuring the level of the upper surface of the batch material, the level of the fusion line between the batch and bath, and the effective hydrostatic head of the molten glass and batch material thereon over a predetermined height at such known fusion line level. The thickness of the batch blanket is then determined from the level of the fusion line and the measured level of the top of the batch blanket, and power input and rate of batch distribution are controlled to maintain such desired levels and accordingly a predetermined batch thickness, by continuously monitoring the level of the batch material and the effective hydrostatic head.

Abstract: A stationary tube holder and revolving rotor assembly which is to be used in conjunction with a glass spout bowl. The assembly includes a stationary tube holder assembly which has elongated horizontally extending arm for supporting a tube at one end and a counterweight at the other, a revolving rotor assembly which has an elongated horizontally extending arm for supporting a rotor at one end and a counterweight at the other, and a compound X, Y, slide assembly.A vertical spacer is secured between the compound X, Y slide assembly and the elongated tube holder assembly arm for supporting the stationary tube holder assembly. The spacer includes a jack screw for elevating the tube holder assembly relative to the compound X, Y slide assembly.A vertical post is secured at its bottom end to the compound X, Y slide assembly, and at its top slidingly extends through an extended bushing in the stationary tube holder assembly arm.

Abstract: Method for the manufacture of a prestressed and/or curved glass pane of soda-lime-silica glass having reduced transmission in a prescribable spectral range (in prescribable spectral ranges), in particular a sunshade pane, whereby at least one metal layer having a majority content of a metal or of a metal alloy from the elements having the atomic numbers 22 through 28 of the periodic table is applied to at least one side of a glass carrier and a protective layer of at least one metal oxide or mixed metal oxide is applied to that side thereof facing away from the glass carrier, and whereby a thermal prestressing and/or bending process is carried out in air at a temperature of 580.degree. C. through 680.degree. C., preferably 600.degree. C. through 650.degree. C.

Abstract: A take-out mechanism of particular utility in a glassware forming machine is provided by a ring-shaped member having pivotally mounted gripping fingers mounted on an inner periphery thereof, the gripping fingers being moveable between a retracted position in which they are positioned within the ring-shaped member, and an extended position for gripping relationship with an article, the ring-shaped member being vertically adjustable in position.

Abstract: A vacuum press construction having holes on the press face corresponding to aperture in the glass sheet to be shaped. The holes are sealed in a manner so as to minimize the amount of heat drawn from the periphery of the glass sheet apertures during the pressing operation and maintain glass edge strength at the aperture.

Abstract: A press bending apparatus includes a shaping station having an upper mold with a shaping surface having a generally concave downward elevational configuration and a lower mold with an apertured shaping surface complementing the shaping surface of the upper mold. A vacuum shuttle transfers heat softened glass sheets from a heating furnace to the shaping station where it deposits the glass sheets on the lower vacuum mold. The glass sheet is shaped between the molds. A rotating arrangement rotates the lower mold and the shaped glass sheet held thereagainst by vacuum from a first position wherein the shaping surface of the lower mold faces upward to a second position wherein the shaping surface of the lower mold faces downward. The shaped glass sheet is then deposited on a tempering ring. A rotating arrangement maintains vacuum in the lower mold as the mold rotates.

Abstract: A glass sheet shaping apparatus shapes a curved reinforced glass sheet by bending a glass sheet which has been heated by a heating furnace up to a softening point and thereafter cooling the bent glass sheet with a cooling medium and imparting a prescribed stress to the glass sheet. The glass sheet is bent by upper and lower mold members fixed to respective common plates which are interconnected by positioning rods. The unit assembly comprising these upper and lower mold members and common plates is carried on a carrier and moved by a suitable displacing device onto a lower surface plate located in a frame assembly for replacing the existing unit assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable quench for tempering hot glass sheets of varying transverse configurations, having overlapping members that seal a flexible nozzle assembly as it changes configurations. Nozzles extend from the flexible nozzle assembly towards the shaped glass sheet to be cooled such that the quenching surface formed by the head portions of the nozzles generally parallel the major surfaces of the shaped glass sheet. Each individual flexible nozzle assembly is connected to a common drive that can simultaneously flex all the nozzle assemblies.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a semiconductor arrangement, wherein an uneven surface of the semiconductor arrangement is smoothened, there is produced on the uneven surface an insulating layer of such thickness that the insulating layer produced on the surface exhibits an even surface. The insulating layer is then partially removed again.

Abstract: A take-out tong head assembly for a glass blowing machine is mounted in a take-out mechanism for omni-directional adjustment of the tong head assembly in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the blow molds for the purpose of eliminating checks in the blown articles formed in said glass blowing machine.

Abstract: Device for improving the heating of a channel (2) for distribution of glass (1), said device including a cylindrical duct (6) connected at its upstream end to means (7) for feeding a premixture of air and fuel gas and whose downstream end (8) opens inside a cylindrical bore (9) in a refractory block (10) inserted in a wall (11) of the channel, said cylindrical bore (9) extending by means of a coaxial cylindrical duct (12), of smaller diameter than that of said bore, the cylindrical channel (6) being surrounded by a sealing ring (13) which covers the face of the cylindrical bore (9) in which said channel (6) is inserted.

Abstract: An apparatus for blow molding glass articles uses a mixture of cryogenic fluid and ambient air as a blowing fluid. The apparatus includes gas inlet means positioned to direct a flow of blowing fluid into the center of a blow mold, insulated manifold means to mix ambient air and a cryogenic fluid as the blowing fluid, means to feed the mixture into the gas inlet means, means to pressurize the ambient air, conduit means for directing ambient air into the insulated manifold, and injector means for introducing cryogenic vapor into the conduit means.

Abstract: An electronic system for automatically controlling the weight and shape of glass gobs in a molten glass feeder.