Patents by Inventor Steven J. Pinkerton

Steven J. Pinkerton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9212078
    Abstract: A vertical individual section (I.S.) machine for manufacturing glass containers is disclosed in which parisons made in parison molds are lowered into blow molds located under the parison molds without being inverted, where they are blown into glass containers. Optionally, reheat shrouds may be located vertically intermediate the blank molds and the blow molds to reheat the parisons prior to them being blown. The vertical I.S. machine may have multiple sections that are located close adjacent each other, with each section potentially having multiple blank and blow molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Bratton, F. Alan Fenton, Matthew R. Hyre, Paul Stargardter, Jonathon S. Simon, Stephen A. Austin, Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 8839644
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing of strengthened glass containers, and more particularly a method of thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are subjected to a unique rapid thermal strengthening cooling process in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Timothy A. Ringuette, Kenneth L. Bratton, Steven J. Pinkerton, Matthew R. Hyre
  • Publication number: 20140090420
    Abstract: A vertical individual section (I.S.) machine for manufacturing glass containers is disclosed in which parisons made in parison molds are lowered into blow molds located under the parison molds without being inverted, where they are blown into glass containers. Optionally, reheat shrouds may be located vertically intermediate the blank molds and the blow molds to reheat the parisons prior to them being blown. The vertical I.S. machine may have multiple sections that are located close adjacent each other, with each section potentially having multiple blank and blow molds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Bratton, F. Alan Fenton, Matthew R. Hyre, Paul Stargardter, Jonathon S. Simon, Stephen A. Austin, Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Publication number: 20110289971
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing of strengthened glass containers, and more particularly a method of thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are subjected to a unique rapid thermal strengthening cooling process in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Timothy A. Ringuette, Kenneth L. Brathon, Steven J. Pinkerton, Matthew R. Hyre
  • Patent number: 6857291
    Abstract: A blow mold assembly for an I.S. machine for blowing a parison of glass and cooling the blown parison into a formed bottle which can be removed from the blow mold. A blow head is lowered onto a blow mold and final air is applied. A predetermined time after the blow head engages the top surface of the blow mold the blow head is lifted a selected vertical distance above the top surface of the blow mold to an exhaust position allowing cooling air to escape from the blow mold. The selected vertical distance is selected so that at least a minimum pressure will continue within the formed bottle. The blow head is maintain at the exhaust position for a predetermined time and then retracted. The selected vertical distance and the predetermined time can be set as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Leo Diehm, F. Alan Fenton, Wolfgang Anheyer, Steven J. Pinkerton, John P. Mungovan
  • Patent number: 6854292
    Abstract: A takeout mechanism for an I.S. machine grips a formed bottle at the blow station and carries the bottle to a first position spaced above a deadplate. The bottle is held at this position for a period of time and then is lowered to a position proximate the deadplate whereupon it is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventor: Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 6807829
    Abstract: A blow head is displaced to the “on” position where its lower portion engages the top of a blow mold. Final blow begins and before final blow is completed, the blow head is raised a selected distance and final blow is exhausted between the O.D. of the formed finish and the upwardly defined annular recess in the lower portion of the blow head. The annular recess is concavely curved to direct exhaust air at the finish to cool the finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: F. Alan Fenton, Leo Diehm, Wolfgang Anheyer, Steven J. Pinkerton, John P Mungovan
  • Patent number: 6807827
    Abstract: A parison is blown in the blow mold of an I.S. machine and a control determines the time of the event by defining a local minimum in the pressure vs. time plot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Anheyer, Leo Diehm, F. Alan Fenton, John P Mungovan, Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 6705121
    Abstract: A blow mold assembly for an I.S. machine for blowing a parison of glass and cooling the blown parison into a formed bottle which can be removed from the blow mold. A blow head is lowered onto a blow mold and final air is applied. The blow head is lifted a selected vertical distance above the top surface of the blow mold to an exhaust position allowing cooling air to escape from the blow mold. The selected vertical distance is selected so that at least a minimum pressure will continue within the formed bottle. The blow head is maintain at the exhaust position for a predetermined time and then retracted. A first pressure is applied while the blow head is at the lowered position and a higher pressure is applied while the blow head is at the escape position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: John P Mungovan, Leo Diehm, Wolfgang Anheyer, Steven J. Pinkerton, F. Alan Fenton
  • Publication number: 20030101752
    Abstract: A parison is blown in the blow mold of an I.S. machine and a control determines the time of the event by defining a local minimum in the pressure vs. time plot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Anheyer, Leo Diehm, F. Alan Fenton, John P. Mungovan, Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Publication number: 20030101766
    Abstract: A blow mold assembly for an I.S. machine for blowing a parison of glass and cooling the blown parison into a formed bottle which can be removed from the blow mold. A blow head is lowered onto a blow mold and final air is applied. The blow head is lifted a selected vertical distance above the top surface of the blow mold to an exhaust position allowing cooling air to escape from the blow mold. The selected vertical distance is selected so that at least a minimum pressure will continue within the formed bottle. The blow head is maintain at the exhaust position for a predetermined time and then retracted. A first pressure is applied while the blow head is at the lowered position and a higher pressure is applied while the blow head is at the escape position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: John P. Mungovan, Leo Diehm, Wolfgang Anheyer, Steven J. Pinkerton, F. Alan Fenton
  • Publication number: 20030101756
    Abstract: A blow mold assembly for an I.S. machine for blowing a parison of glass and cooling the blown parison into a formed bottle which can be removed from the blow mold. A blow head is lowered onto a blow mold and final air is applied. A predetermined time after the blow head engages the top surface of the blow mold the blow head is lifted a selected vertical distance above the top surface of the blow mold to an exhaust position allowing cooling air to escape from the blow mold. The selected vertical distance is selected so that at least a minimum pressure will continue within the formed bottle. The blow head is maintain at the exhaust position for a predetermined time and then retracted. The selected vertical distance and the predetermined time can be set as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Leo Diehm, F. Alan Fenton, Wolfgang Anheyer, Steven J. Pinkerton, John P. Mungovan
  • Publication number: 20030101765
    Abstract: A takeout mechanism for an I.S. machine grips a formed bottle at the blow station and carries the bottle to a first position spaced above a deadplate. The bottle is held at this position for a period of time and then is lowered to a position proximate the deadplate whereupon it is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Publication number: 20030101751
    Abstract: A blow head is displaced to the “on” position where its lower portion engages the top of a blow mold. Final blow begins and before final blow is completed, the blow head is raised a selected distance and final blow is exhausted between the O.D. of the formed finish and the upwardly defined annular recess in the lower portion of the blow head. The annular recess is concavely curved to direct exhaust air at the finish to cool the finish.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: F. Alan Fenton, Leo Diehm, Wolfgang Anheyer, Steven J. Pinkerton, John P. Mungovan
  • Patent number: 6345518
    Abstract: A control is disclosed for a section of an I.S. machine which produces vertically standing bottles having a finish portion at the top thereof, with two vertically separated gripable finish portions. The section has a takeout displaceable between advanced and retracted positions, tongs carried by the takeout which can be closed, and an opposed pair of blow molds which can be displaced from a closed position to an open position. A takeout control controls the advancement of the takeout to either a first “in” position for gripping one of the gripable finish portions or a second vertically lower “in” position for gripping the other gripable finish portion and for retracting the takeout from either the first or second “in” position to a selected “out” position. A tongs control controls the closing of the tongs and a blow mold control controls the displacement of the blow mold pair to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventor: Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 6269662
    Abstract: A pneumatic machine control unit for an I.S. machine having at least one machine section for processing a gob of molten glass into a selected bottle. The section is supplied by a plurality of pneumatic lines at different pressures. A pneumatic supply input line supplies a manifold which is connected to a plurality of output lines. An electronically settable pressure regulating device is situated in each output line and a control is provided for setting the electronically settable pressure regulating devices either in response to operator inputs or from retrieved pressures from a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Steven J. Pinkerton, Jamo Kammonen, Myles Kneeland Dean, Per Sattlin, Arne Stenholm
  • Patent number: 6170294
    Abstract: An I.S. Machine for making glass bottles, having a plurality of sections, each having a blank station for forming a parison. Each section has a section frame having a top surface, and a plunger mechanism including at least one plunger canister having a lower cylinder and an upper flange. A horizontal mounting plate having a top surface and vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinder of each of the plunger canisters is fixedly secured on the top surface of the section frame. The section frame top surface has vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinders of each of the plunger canisters and the flange of the plunger mechanism is secured to the top surface of the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Philip A. Mann, Joseph A. Borbone, Ame Stenholm, Ove Per Pilskaer, Jamo Kammonen, Steven J. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 5974835
    Abstract: An I.S. machine has a plurality of individual sections each having a blank station for forming a parison from a gob of molten glass in opposed pairs of blankmold halves supported by opposed mold carriers displaceable between retracted and advanced positions and a blow station for forming a parison into a bottle in opposed pairs of blowmold halves supported by opposed mold carriers displaceable between retracted and advanced positions. The drive assemblies for the four mold carriers are identical having the same transmission for converting a rotary input into a linear output, and motor having a rotary output connected to the rotary input of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Walter E. Lovell, John P. Mungovan, Joseph A. Borbone, Steven J. Pinkerton, Douglas J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5964914
    Abstract: A plunger base module for a selected number of vertically extending cylindrical plunger canisters each having a bottom surface and including a set of service conduits including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling, with each of the service conduits in a plunger canister having a selectively located inlet port communicating with the bottom surface of the plunger canister. The plunger base module includes a permanent plunger distribution base having a top surface and a plurality of sets of service conduits, each set including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling. Each plunger distribution base service conduit has an outlet port communicating with the top surface. A removable transition plate has a bottom surface for engaging the top surface of the plunger distribution base and a top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Arne Stenholm, Steven J. Pinkerton, Ove Per Pilskaer, Joseph A. Borbone, Jarmo Kammonen
  • Patent number: 5958101
    Abstract: A mold opening and closing mechanism for an I.S. machine having a plurality of individual sections each having a section frame having a top wall. A pair of mold support mechanisms are supported above the top wall of the section frame for linear displacement and displaced by a motor having, a rotary output, secured to the top wall, via a rotary to linear transmission supported above the top wall of the section frame horizontally adjacent the mold support mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Steven J. Pinkerton, Walter E. Lovell, Joseph A. Borbone, Douglas J. Roberts, John P. Mungovan