Abstract: A shear mechanism has opposed shear assemblies mounted for reciprocation on a pair of parallel guide rails. Each shear assembly has a removable portion which supports the shears with top accessible fasteners so that these portions can be removed when the shear assemblies are fully advanced. A stop mechanism locks the shear assemblies at their fully advanced positions.

Abstract: An improved drive assembly for a straight line shear mechanism or like, reciprocably mounted mechanism of a glassware forming machine wherein the mechanism is coupled by an arm to a drive rod, the improvement lying in the provision of an adaptable joint between the drive rod and the arm. Such joint permits a limited amount of radial repositioning of the arm relative to the drive rod, and a lesser amount of axial repositioning and reorientation. A preferred design of such joint utilizes a hardened sleeve fitted around a segment of the drive rod, such sleeve having a flange to provide a radial surface. A rod nut placed at the other end of the sleeve provides a second radial surface. A bushing secured within an aperture of the arm by a bushing nut is housed around the sleeve between the sleeve flange and the rod nut.

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: 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 grooved vinyl record disc is securely held in a turntable which includes an annular platen having a rigid, very flat upper surface. Air is evacuated from the underside of the disc, although the platen is impervious to air, by means of annular grooves adjacent the inner and outer edges of the platen and connected through passageways defined in the turntable structure, and through a rotary fluid coupling to communicate with a vacuum source. Resilient seals are provided for isolating the grooves on the underside of the record from ambient air, and these seals support the record disc so it can be flattened as it is drawn downwardly onto the platen by the application of vacuum.