Abstract: A parison transfer mechanism comprises two neck-ring arms which are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, which axis is inclined to a central axis of a section in which the mechanism is mounted. This allows for several arrangements of pairs of such mechanisms in a section so that the two mechanisms can operate independently of each other.

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: A method for forming parisons in the manufacture of hollow articles of glassware. The method comprising forming each parison by introducing a gob of molten glass into a mould cavity (10) having the shape desired for the external surface of the parison, and moving a plunger (14,70) into the mould cavity to cause the molten glass to conform to the shape of the cavity. The method also comprises forming a layer of gas (G.98) between a surface portion of the plunger and the molten glass so that, as the plunger moves into the cavity, the glass is pushed into shape by the layer of gas, and rotating or vibrating the plunger while it is in the mould cavity.

Abstract: A method and plunger arrangement for forming parisons in the manufacture of hollow articles of glassware. The method comprising forming each parison by introducing a gob of molten glass into a mould cavity (10) having the shape desired for the external surface of the parison, and moving a plunger (14,70) into the mould cavity to cause the molten glass to conform to the shape of the cavity. The method also comprises forming a layer of gas (G.98) between a surface portion of the plunger and the molten glass so that, as the plunger moves into the cavity, the glass is pushed into shape by the layer of gas, and rotating or vibrating the plunger while it is in the mould cavity. The plunger arrangement provides means for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The mould arrangement comprises a mould (10) comprising a bottom plate (12) and two side portions (16,18). When the side portions (16,18) are in a first, closed, or a second, open, position thereof, cooling passages (20) formed therein communicate with exits (28) of a plenum chamber (24) beneath the bottom plate (12) so that cooling air can flow from the chamber and through the passages. The exits (28) of the chamber (24) are formed in a distribution plate (26). At least one air supply passage (50; 70) extends in the thickness of the distribution plate (26) to supply air to one or more further cooling passages (60; 80) in the side portions (16,18) to give enhanced cooling in selected regions.

Abstract: In a cyclic process of forming glassware in an individual section glassware forming machine, the formation of parisons in the shaping of articles of glassware during each cycle of the process is monitored and information derived from said monitoring is utilized to permit continued operation of the cyclic process in the absence of any undesired condition indicated by the monitoring and to inhibit either further parison-forming actions at the blank station (A) of the machine in consequence of the recognition of an undesired condition relating to parison formation or further article-shaping actions at the shaping station (C) in consequence of the recognition of an undesired condition relating to the shaping of the articles of glassware.

Abstract: The mould arrangement is for use in a cyclicly operating glassware forming machine. A plenum chamber, forming part of a bottom plate mechanism on which a bottom plate of the mould is carried, extends beneath a mould of the arrangement and has exits through which cooling air may leave the plenum chamber and enter cooling passages in side portions of the mould when the latter are in a closed position thereof. Air is blown into the plenum chamber for a predetermined period in each cycle of operation of the machine and leaves the plenum chamber through the exits thereby cooling the mould by passing through the passages in the side portions thereof. The air leaving the plenum chamber may first pass through passages in the bottom plate of the mould which communicate with the passages in the side portions.

Abstract: The mould used in manufacturing moulded articles is cooled by cooling fluid flowing along a cooling passage in the mould. In order to concentrate the cooling effect in a desired central region of the cooling passage, an exit portion of the passage is enlarged relative to the central region. If desired, the entrance portion may also be enlarged to further concentrate the cooling effect.

Abstract: In the mould arrangement, an electrical temperature sensing device (TC1, TC2, TC3) is mounted on a mould portion (30; 70) and sends signals to control means of the arrangement. The control means is operable to read the signal from the sensing device (TC1, TC2, TC3) at a particular point in the cycle of operation of the machine, selected to occur when the mould portion (30; 70) is stationary, and to control a portion of the operation of the machine, e.g. the operation of the mould cooling means thereof, in accordance with a value of the signal.

Abstract: During the manufacture of moulded articles, the temperature of the mould is detected and this information is used to control the operation of mould heating or cooling means. The temperature is detected by forming a passage in a mould portion which extends to an external surface, inserting an infra-red radiation transmitting device into the passage, and mounting an infra-red radiation detecting device so that it can receive radiation transmitted by the transmitting device when the mould portion is stationary.

Abstract: An individual section glassware forming machine comprises generating means (29) for generating an electrical command signal which is used to control transfer means (2) of the machine. The transfer means (2) is used for transferring a parison (P) from a blank station (A) at which the parison is formed in an inverted position and presenting the parison (P) in an upright position at another station (B). The magnitude of the electrical command signal varies in accordance with the desired position against time curve for the movement of the parison (P) and is used to operate an electrical or hydraulic servo-mechanism (32; 42) for controlling the movement of the transfer means (2).

Abstract: An individual section glassware forming machine has three operating stations including an intermediate reheating station (B) and a shaping station (C). Transfer means (5) for carrying parisons from the intermediate station (B) to the shaping station (C) is controlled by means of an electrical command signal the magnitude of which varies in accordance with a desired position against time curve for the movement of a reheated parison. The signal is supplied to an electrical or hydraulic servo-mechanism (32; 42) which is operated by the electrical command signal to control the movement of the transfer means (5).

Abstract: A mould opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing three moulds simultaneously. Moving means (18, 20) operable to move mould portions (12) is connected to the mould portions (12) via a system of links which serves to equalize the mould closing pressures of the three moulds. The system of links comprises a link (34) centrally connected to the moving means (18, 20) which equalizes the pressure between one mould and a further link (46) and the further link (46) equalizes the pressure between the other two moulds.

Abstract: A signal is produced which is representative of a position of a part of a mould (1b, 7b, 8b, 9b) at a time in a cyclic process of forming glassware when the mould (1, 7, 8, 9) should be closed. This signal is compared with a signal representative of the position of the mould part (1b, 7b, 8b, 9b) when the mould is correctly closed. This latter signal is produced by averaging a selected number of the immediately preceding signals representative of the position of the part of the mould at the time when the mould should be closed.