Abstract: Systems and methods of operation thereof for identifying containers handled by a container handling apparatus. Each container has a portion that includes one of a plurality of identifying patterns. A camera generates an image of at least the portion of the container including the identifying pattern wherein the image includes a pattern image corresponding to the identifying pattern. An image processor detects an optical characteristic of the image within a defined region of the image and detects the pattern image as a function of the detected characteristic. The defined region of the image includes the pattern image corresponding to the identifying pattern. The image processor determines the container's identifying pattern as a function of the pattern image detected by the image processor thereby to identify the container.

Abstract: System and method of operation thereof for inspecting glass containers handled by a glass container handling apparatus to determine a height of a bottom of at least one of the containers. The system includes a base adapted to be positioned adjacent the container handling apparatus and adapted to receive the bottom of the containers handled by the container handling apparatus. At least one of the containers is positioned on the base and a capacitive sensor on the base provides an electric field adjacent the capacitive sensor and senses a capacitance affected by the container bottom being positioned in the electric field. The capacitive sensor generates a signal representative of the sensed capacitance which is a function of the height of the container bottom relative to the base. In response to the signal from the capacitive sensor, the processor determines the height of the container bottom based on the sensed capacitance as indicated by the signal.

Abstract: An individual section of a glass forming machine has a cylinder for controlling the displacement of the plunger. The piston is tandem in nature so that pressure can be selectively reduced for the final portion of plunger advance and the inner diameter of the cylinder guides plunger advancement at all pressures.

Abstract: An assembly for preventing a flanged finish on the neck portion of a glass container by permitting continuous engagement between the neck ring and the guide ring even though the guide ring is subject to wear and by forcefully maintaining this continuous engagement with a spring urged centering sleeve which extends through a bore in the neck ring to engage the bottom of the guide ring. The neck ring includes a stepped interior annular groove into which a guide ring having an outer stepped annular portion is received. While the total height of the guide ring corresponds to the total height of the groove of the neck ring, the upper surface (70) of the bottom step (72) of the guide ring establishes a selected clearance (Z) with the upper surface (74) of the bottom portion (66) of the neck ring groove so that the continuous engagement can be maintained as the top surface of the guide ring wears.

Abstract: An article of glassware, particularly a glass container, of increased strength is made by a process in which the parison is treated in a manner which will cause the glass in the outer surface layer of the formed glassware article to be in a state of compression. Preferably a glaze having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass of the parison is applied to the outer surface of the parison. Advantageously, the glaze is applied to the parison by a flame spray method or by dipping the parison into a fluidized bed containing powdered glaze.As an alternative, the glaze applied to the outer surface of the parison may be capable of being at least partially crystallized, after the glassware article has been formed from the parison, to produce an outer surface of the glassware article having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the base glass of the glassware article.

Abstract: The casing for a cylinder in an I.S. glassware forming machine is displaced with the kick-up basket and strikes the neck ring assembly in the event there is any misalignment therebetween. The plunger holder and a float cover move laterally as one due to float clearances defined between the float cover and the top cap of the spring retainer, and between the plunger holder and the adapter assembly, and between the cooling tube, which is connected to the plunger, and the bore of the locking bolt which secures the adapter assembly to the piston.

Abstract: A gob distributor for directing glass gobs to glassware-forming sections. Most particularly, this relates to the automatic positioning of scoops receiving the glass gobs from the glassmaking apparatus and directing them into troughs of glassware-forming sections which are arranged in a bank. The gob distributor features an arrangement wherein the distributor may be converted to vary the number of scoops in a scoop group from one to three or more. Principal features of the gob distributor are the utilization of a servomotor which is a reversible DC motor for positioning a rack which controls the angle of the scoops, and a releasable ball screw drive.

Abstract: A gob distributor for directing glass gobs to glassware-forming sections. Most particularly, this relates to the automatic positioning of scoops receiving the glass gobs from the glassmaking apparatus and directing them into troughs of glassware-forming sections which are arranged in a bank. The gob distributor features an arrangement wherein the distributor may be converted to vary the number of scoops in a scoop group from one to three or more. A principal feature of the gob distributor is the utilization of a servomotor which is a reversible DC motor for positioning a rack which controls the angle of the scoops.

Abstract: One or more jigs or frameworks are provided at a location remote from the glass feeder so several different plunger assemblies can be made up for ready installation in the feeder. Each jig is made up with the help of an alignment tool having characteristics peculiar to that feeder and to the orientation of the plungers relative to the feeder. The extensive downtime now required to repair or replace the refractory plungers in the feeder can be minimized by following the method detailed herein for use of the alignment tool and subsequent fabrication and assembly of the jig or framework in which the plungers are assembled away from the feeder.

Abstract: An actuator for use in or with a glassware forming machine for pneumatically driving a member through a predetermined path, such member being, in one embodiment, a pusher cylinder for moving one or more glassware articles through a predetermined arcuate path. The velocity of the actuator is controlled according to a predetermined velocity profile and is effected by an electromechanical control means which controls the linear velocity of the piston of a pneumatic cylinder in one direction of motion.

Abstract: A glass feeder plunger operating mechanism driven by an electric motor controlled by a programmable computer programmed to drive the motor in a predetermined manner in order to generate a predetermined motion profile of one or more glass feeder plungers. The plungers are secured to the end of a cantilevered lateral support bracket which is cyclically and vertically reciprocated by cyclical oscillations of the electric motor. The output shaft of the motor is connected to a ball screw in threaded engagement with a ball nut which is secured to a member connected to the plunger support bracket. The plunger support bracket is attached to a moveable vertical support shaft which maintains plunger alignment during the range of motion. The operating mechanism is attached to a frame which is adjustable in two dimensions to facilitate alignment of the plungers with their respective orifices. Air cylinders are provided to counter-balance the weight of the members being vertically reciprocated.

Abstract: A takeout tong head includes a support bracket having an upper portion adapted to be attached to a takeout arm and a lower portion having at least one cylinder housing. A cylinder and tong assembly is associated with each cylinder housing and includes a mounting flange removably attached to the cylinder housing, a cylinder extending into said cylinder housing, a piston member in said cylinder, a scissors tong assembly extending downwardly from said flange, a piston rod extending from the piston to the scissors tong assembly, and a spring contained between said flange and said piston member.

Abstract: An improved laser-assisted machining process has special application to difficult-to-machine materials such as the titanium alloys and high temperature superalloys. A layer of material to be removed by a cutting tool is made weaker by drilling a series of holes using a pulse laser beam ahead of the cutting process so that the tool removes the rest of the weaker material with relative ease. There is a decrease of cutting forces, breakage of the chip to a manageable size, and reduced tool wear.