Abstract: A method of evaluating a glass container in a hot end of a glass container manufacturing system involves generating a radiation intensity profile of the examined glass container and determining a thickness reading of the examined glass container based on the radiation intensity profile of the examined glass container and a radiation thickness correlation model that translates the radiation intensity profile of the examined glass container into the thickness reading. The radiation thickness correlation model is determined by comparing a radiation intensity profile of a sample glass container and one or more calibrating thickness measurements of the sample glass container and generating the radiation thickness correlation model based off an identified correlation between the radiation intensity profile and the calibrating thickness measurement(s) of the sample glass container. A hot end glass container evaluation system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first parison in a glass blank mold, forming a first glass container from the first parison, altering thermal characteristics of the glass blank mold, and subsequently forming a second parison in the glass blank mold and a second glass container from the second parison. Altering the thermal characteristics of the glass blank mold includes forming a heat block channel at the heat block channel locator on an end of the mold or altering coolant flow characteristics of an axial cooling channel by accessing the cooling channel through a coolant deflector of the mold.

Abstract: A molten glass gob delivery guide is disclosed that includes a chute having an upstream end, a downstream end, a rear surface, and a front surface. The chute is comprised of a gas permeable material and is able to accommodate the permeable flow of a permeating gas from the rear surface to the front surface of the chute. When a molten glass gob is conveyed along the chute over the front surface of the chute, the permeating gas flows permeably through the chute to establish a gas cushion that displaces the glass gob away from the front surface of the chute, which creates a thermal break between the glass gob and the chute. In this way, heat loss from the molten glass gob to the chute can be minimized as the gob travels along the chute.

Abstract: A glass container blank mold includes a mold portion having a neck end, an opposite baffle end, and a molding surface located between the ends that partly defines the shape of an exterior surface of a glass parison formed in the mold. Axial cooling channels formed within the mold portion extend axially alongside the molding surface and radially outboard of the molding surface. Heat block channel locators are formed on one of the ends of the mold portion. Each locator is visibly discernible from the end on which the locator is formed and radially inboard of the cooling channels. Each locator has a thermally insignificant depth and is located such that, when a heat block channel having a thermally significant depth is formed at the locator, heat transfer characteristics of the mold portion are altered between the molding surface and at least one of the cooling channels.

Abstract: A glass forming machine includes a blank mold hanger and a blank mold. The blank mold hanger includes a blank mold hanger half that supports a blank mold half and provides cooling fluid to at least one axial cooling channel defined in the blank mold half. The blank mold hanger half defines at least one cooling fluid outlet, which is in fluidic communication with the at least one axial cooling channel of the blank mold half. The blank mold hanger half additionally includes at least one flow control valve that is remotely controllable and configured to selectively adjust a flow of cooling fluid through the at least one axial cooling channel of the blank mold half. A method of cooling a blank mold is also described.

Abstract: A molten glass gob delivery guide is disclosed that includes a chute having an upstream end, a downstream end, a rear surface, and a front surface. The chute is comprised of a gas permeable material and is able to accommodate the permeable flow of a permeating gas from the rear surface to the front surface of the chute. When a molten glass gob is conveyed along the chute over the front surface of the chute, the permeating gas flows permeably through the chute to establish a gas cushion that displaces the glass gob away from the front surface of the chute, which creates a thermal break between the glass gob and the chute. In this way, heat loss from the molten glass gob to the chute can be minimized as the gob travels along the chute.

Abstract: A glass container blank mold includes a mold portion having a neck end, an opposite baffle end, and a molding surface located between the ends that partly defines the shape of an exterior surface of a glass parison formed in the mold. Axial cooling channels formed within the mold portion extend axially alongside the molding surface and radially outboard of the molding surface. Heat block channel locators are formed on one of the ends of the mold portion. Each locator is visibly discernible from the end on which the locator is formed and radially inboard of the cooling channels. Each locator has a thermally insignificant depth and is located such that, when a heat block channel having a thermally significant depth is formed at the locator, heat transfer characteristics of the mold portion are altered between the molding surface and at least one of the cooling channels.