Abstract: A rack aligning fixture for aligning the racks of a rack and pinion mechanism is described. The rack alignment fixture permits the aligning of rack teeth faces of a rack and pinion mechanism at the time of assembly without having to provide additional machining of the individual parts in order to maintain the racks parallel with each other for proper mating of the rack teeth with the pinion gear teeth.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of cyclically moving components, in particular the shears of a glassware forming machine. The control system incorporates sensors which produce signals representative of predetermined shear positions in each shear cycle. The signals provide feedback to control circuitry and are processed to control the operation of the shears in response to the sensor signals.

Abstract: A shear frame mounting and positioning mechanism for linearly reciprocal shear blades in which the shear frame can be adjusted in a horizontal plane in a direction parallel to and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the shear blades. Additionally, the shear frame is tiltable in a vertical plane which is parallel to the direction of movement of the shear blades. A mechanism is provided for locking the shear frame under the feeder spout, the mechanism including means for adjusting the shear frame in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the shear blades. The shear frame can be swung between a position under the feeder spout to a position out from underneath the feeder spout and also raised and lowered in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An electrically heated and/or gas heated forehearth channel has a heat conductive refractory roof structure with arch blocks supported from the sides of the channel on side blocks, some of which side blocks may include gas burners for achieving rapid initial heating of the glass contained in the channel. Once the glass temperature has been raised close to normal operating temperature electrodes heat the glass by Joule effect electrical resistance heating, and the gas burners are no longer required. A roof superstructure is provided of insulating brick, and defines muffled cooling passageways such that the gas or electrically heated forehearth can be effectively operated by removing heat from the top of the conductive refractory arch block roof structure. Means is provided for selectively cooling the underside of these arch blocks when the gas burners are operated, or directing the flow of cooling air through the muffled cooling passageways in the roof superstructure when electric heat is employed.