Abstract: A laser enclosure is provided including a housing having an inner cavity in which laser operations are capable of being performed and a section having an opening through which workpieces pass into and out of the inner cavity. The enclosure further includes a workpiece positioner rotatable about a generally horizontal axis for moving workpieces from a workpiece loading and unloading zone, through the opening to a work zone within the inner cavity. The workpiece positioner includes a first workpiece holder adapted to releasably receive at least one of the workpieces. The enclosure also includes passive sealing apparatus movably coupled to one of the section and the workpiece positioner via a slide attachment device for sealing at least one portion of the section to at least one portion of the workpiece positioner to inhibit laser energy from exiting the housing through the opening.

Abstract: A laser enclosure is provided comprising a housing having an inner cavity in which laser operations are performed. The housing includes a first section having a first opening through which workpieces pass into and out of the inner cavity. Further provided is a first workpiece positioner for alternately moving the workpieces from a first workpiece loading/unloading zone, through the first opening to a first work zone within the inner cavity of the housing. The first workpiece positioner includes a first workpiece holder adapted to releasably receive at least one of the workpieces and is movable from the first workpiece loading/unloading zone to the first work zone as the first positioner moves from a first loading/unloading position to a first work position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of colored glass includes the steps of diverting a stream of clear molten glass from at least one glass melting furnace through one or more transport channels to a color treatment chamber. Recycled cullet and color additive are added to a charging end of the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber is heated to melt the cullet and further heat the remaining feedstock to form a molten bath of colored glass which is thermally and chemically homogenized in the treatment chamber. Refractory rotary paddle wheels positioned in the transport channels regulate the flow rate and level of the molten glass and provide for selective shut off of individual glass streams.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles such as glass containers from a first conveyor, on which the containers are travelling generally horizontally in line one after another, on to a second conveyor extending generally at right angles to the first conveyor from one side of the first conveyor. The apparatus is operable in cycles to transfer on each cycle a group of articles from the first to the second conveyor with the articles in the group extending in a row transversely of the second conveyor. The apparatus includes a support, a first carriage on the support movable generally parallel to the second conveyor, a second carriage on the first carriage movable with respect to the first carriage generally parallel to the first conveyor, and a third carriage on the second carriage movable vertically with respect to the first and second carriages. The third carriage carries a pusher bar.

Abstract: A pusher mechanism of an IS transfers a plurality of glass bottles onto a conveyor belt by rotating the bottles through an arc to align the bottles with the conveyor belt while simultaneously linearly moving the bottles at a converging acute angle toward the conveyor belt. The combined rotational and linear movements effectively lengthen the radius of curvature of the path of the bottles and increases the speed of the bottles onto the conveyor belt. The centrifugal force applied to the bottles is limited or reduced to allow the bottles to be more quickly moved onto the conveyor belt without introducing instabilities in the bottles. Other horizontal and vertical movements may be applied. A nozzle may be positioned to deliver a flow of air against the bottles to counteract instabilities. A take-out mechanism used with the pusher mechanism rotates the bottles at an acute angle to the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Both blow-and-blow and press-and-blow plunger mechanisms for use in forming a parison from a gob of fluid glass in a individual section (IS) of a glassware forming machine are fully pneumatically controlled. Plunger and thimble pistons affirmatively position a thimble and a plunger in consistently repeatable positions during loading of the gob, counterblowing or pressing an initial opening in the parison, and transferring the formed parison. No springs or other mechanical components which are prone to cause inconsistencies or failures are employed. The plunger mechanism is preferably suspended from the frame of the IS by a plunger case assembly to avoid the problems associated with a support foot. The plunger case assembly allows the plunger mechanisms to be easily interchanged or replaced, to be adjusted to accommodate different types of operation and sizes and configurations of glass article produced, while still communicating pressurized air to the plunger mechanisms to achieve these effects.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine includes a pair of carriers movable toward and away from each other between an open and a closed position and at least one mold member carried by each carrier. Each mold member has a bottom-facing surface and air passages extending upwardly from the bottom-facing surface for passage of air therethrough for cooling. Air is supplied to each mold half by a plenum, and the plenum has a spring feature such as to provide for an airtight seal between the bottom-facing surface of the mold member and the plenum.

Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet in the base of the machine via a lower section of flexible corrugated metal tubing, a rigid tube having a sliding sealing fit in the upper end of the lower section, and an upper section of flexible corrugated sheet metal tubing connected to the plenum.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles such as glass containers from a first conveyor, on which the containers are traveling generally horizontally in line one after another, on to a second conveyor extending generally at right angles to the first conveyor from one side of the first conveyor. The apparatus is operable in cycles to transfer on each cycle a group of articles from the first to the second conveyor with the articles in the group extending in a row transversely of the second conveyor. The apparatus includes a support, a first carriage on the support movable generally parallel to the second conveyor, a second carriage on the first carriage movable with respect to the first carriage generally parallel to the first conveyor, and a third carriage on the second carriage movable vertically with respect to the first and second carriages. The third carriage carries a pusher bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring articles such as glass containers from a first conveyor, on which the containers are travelling generally horizontally in line one after another, on to a second conveyor extending generally at right angles to the first conveyor from one side of the first conveyor. The apparatus is operable in cycles to transfer on each cycle a group of articles from the first to the second conveyor with the articles in the group extending in a row transversely of the second conveyor. The apparatus includes a support, a first carriage on the support movable generally parallel to the second conveyor, a second carriage on the first carriage movable with respect to the first carriage generally parallel to the first conveyor, and a third carriage on the second carriage movable vertically with respect to the first and second carriages. The third carriage carries a pusher bar.

Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet on the base of the machine via an air duct. The inlet end of each duct is mounted for pivoting and universal lateral sliding movement over an area in communication with the air outlet on the base, and the outlet end of the duct is mounted for pivoting movement in an opening in the respective plenum.

Abstract: This invention relates to a glassware forming machine of the type comprising a pair of carriers each pivoted on a first generally vertical axis for swinging movement toward and away from each other between an open position and a closed position, and a set of at least three mold members carried by each carrier, each mold member on each carrier being related to a mold member on the other carrier so that, with the carriers in their closed position, each mold member on one carrier mates with a mold member on the other carrier to define a mold cavity for molding an item of glass. The improvement involves a holding assembly on each carrier for holding a respective set of mold members.

Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet on the base of the machine via an air duct having a horizontal section, an inlet section extending down from one end of the horizontal section into a hole in an oscillable disk closing the outlet and an outlet section extending up from the other end of the horizontal section into a hole in the plenum.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine having swinging arms carrying mold members with passages extending upwardly therethrough for flow of air for cooling said members, and first and second conduit members for delivery of air to a plenum associated with each arm, the first being oscillable on a fixed vertical axis and the second being slidably and sealably associated with the first and pivotally interconnected with a respective plenum.

Abstract: An alcove for conducting molten glass to a plurality of forehearths for delivery to glassware forming equipment, comprising a series of zones with a trough extending through the zones and a barrel vault roof over the trough in each zone, the vault bearing on blocks at the top of the sides of the trough carrying burners, the vault having keystones formed to provide side channels over side portions of the stream of molten glass in the trough and a central channel over the central portion of the stream.

Abstract: A bottle carrier having in an array on its upper side a plurality of bottle seats for receiving the bottoms of upright bottles held in a similar carrier thereabove. A set of bottle grippers is supported and centered relative to each seat by bottle gripper supports beneath the seat. Each set of bottle grippers releasably grips the neck of a bottle at the lower end of its finish, and is adapted for hanging the bottle by its finish with the upper end of the bottle below the seat and for supporting the carrier on the neck of the bottle. A set of bottles gripped by a carrier may be stacked on another set of bottles gripped by a carrier with the bottles of the upper set seated in the lower carrier's seats. For compact stacking of empty carriers, the bottle gripper supports are tapered to be received within central openings in the bottle seats.

Abstract: .[.A glassware forming machine having swinging arms carrying mold members with passages extending upwardly therethrough for flow of air for cooling said members, and first and second conduit members for delivery of air to a plenum associated with each arm, the first being oscillable on a fixed vertical axis and the second being slidably and sealably associated with the first and pivotally interconnected with a respective plenum..]. .Iadd.A glassware forming machine having swinging arms carrying mold members with passages extending upwardly through the mold members for flow of air for cooling the mold members. Air enters the passages from the plenums in proximity to the bottom of the mold cavity. A plenum is associated with each arm, and first and second conduit members are provided for delivery of air to each of the plenums.