Abstract: An I.S. machine has a plurality of individual sections arranged in side by side relation. Each section has a blank station for forming a parison from a gob of molten glass, and a blow station for forming a parison into a bottle. An invert and neck ring holder mechanism is located between these stations for transferring a parison between from one station to the other. Each station has a mold opening and closing mechanism which has a pair of opposed mold support mechanisms supported for linear displacement between a retracted position and an advanced position. Each mold support mechanism is supported by a first shaft on one side of the center of the mold opening and closing mechanism, proximate the invert and neck ring holder mechanism, extending perpendicularly to the engagement plane, and by a second shaft on the other side of the center of the mold opening and closing mechanism, remote from the invert and neck ring holder mechanism, extending perpendicularly to the engagement plane.

Abstract: A mold opening and closing mechanism for an I.S. machine including a pair of mold support mechanisms supported for displacement between a retracted position and an advanced position where they will engage. A mold support mechanism is displaced by a transmission including a lead screw which is supported by a housing, left hand and right hand nuts operatively associated with the lead screw, and links interconnecting the left hand and right hand nuts and the mold support mechanism.

Abstract: A takeout mechanism for a section of a I.S. machine which will grip the finish of one or more bottles at a blow station and carry the gripped bottles away from the blow station and deposit them on a deadplate. The bottom of the bottles can be a vertical distance from the finish within a selected distance range. A Z-axis offset is defined for the bottles and an X-Z profile is defined for the Z-axis offset to control their displacement from the blow station to the deadplate.

Abstract: A mold opening and closing mechanism for an I.S. machine which has a pair of mold support mechanisms supported for horizontal displacement between a retracted position and an advanced position. These support mechanisms are linearly displaced by a drive assembly which includes a lead screw, a housing secured to the section frame for supporting the lead screw, a motor coupled to the lead screw, nuts operatively associated with the lead screw, and links interconnecting the nuts with their associated mold support mechanism. The housing has a rear wall defining a flat surface, and the nuts have flat rear bearing surfaces with a selected spacing therebetween when the mold support mechanism is fully retracted.

Abstract: A mold opening and closing mechanism for an I.S. machine having a plurality of individual sections. A pair of opposed mold holding mechanisms is supported on top of the section frame for linear displacement between a separated retracted position whereat each mold support mechanism is located at a start position and an advanced position whereat molds held by the mold support mechanisms will forcefully engage. A mold holding mechanism is secured to the free ends of a pair of round shafts which are slidably supported within horizontally separated bearings in a housing supported on the section frame and extending vertically upwardly.

Abstract: An I.S. machine is disclosed which has a plurality of individual sections arranged in side by side relation. Each section has blank mold and blow mold opening and closing mechanisms and an invert and neck ring holder mechanism for transferring a parison between these mechanisms. Each of the mold opening and closing mechanisms has a pair of opposed mold support mechanisms which are supported for linear displacement. Ways at either end of the section support one end of each pair of mold support mechanisms and the other end is supported on a pair of shafts located between the mechanisms. One of these shafts is supported between the spaced vertical supports of the invert and neck ring holder mechanism and the other shaft has a first part supported between one of the spaced vertical supports and the vertical invert housing and a second part is supported between the other one of the spaced vertical supports and the vertical invert housing.

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.

Abstract: A mold carrier assembly for use with a support housing having a pair of parallel, spaced, horizontally extending bores and located on the top wall of a section frame of an I.S. machine. The quick change mold carrier assembly has a mold support mechanism including an insert for supporting at least one mold half which is mounted on a carrier. First and second parallel round shafts are secured at one end to the carrier with the round shafts extending horizontally in parallel relationship and each of the round shafts have a free end remote from the carrier for slidable insertion into the bores of the housing.

Abstract: An I.S. machine comprises a plurality of individual sections arranged in side by side relation. Each section has a section frame having a top wall having a front and a back and opposed sides on which is mounted a blank station including a mold opening and closing mechanism for forming a parison from a gob of molten glass, a blow station including a mold opening and closing mechanism for forming a parison into a bottle, and an invert and neck ring holder mechanism supported which is located between the mold opening and closing mechanisms for transferring a parison therebetween. The machine also has a baffle mechanism includinga blowhead carrier, a motor having an output, a transmission for transmitting the output of the motor to the blowhead carrier to displace the carrier, a housing for housing the transmission. The housing is secured on the top wall proximate the front thereof.

Abstract: A plunger mechanism comprising a vertically extending cylindrical plunger canister having a bottom surface and including a plurality of service air conduits with each conduit having an inlet port communicating with the bottom surface. A plunger distribution plate below said plunger canister having a top surface and including a corresponding plurality of service air conduits which are to be connected to the plunger canister service air conduits with each plunger distribution plate conduit having an outlet port communicating with the top surface. At least one outlet port of the plurality of service air conduits in the plunger distribution plate which are to be connected to the plunger canister service air conduits being axially offset from the corresponding inlet port of the plunger canister. A transition plate intermediate the plunger canister and the plunger distribution plate having a bottom surface for engaging the top surface of the plunger distribution plate and a top surface.

Abstract: An invert and neck ring holder mechanism having an opposed pair of neck ring holders displaceable from a blow station to a blank station of a section of an I.S. machine. The invert and neck ring holder mechanism has a pair of an opposed pair of pneumatically operated cylinder assemblies extending between a gear housing a gear and side brackets including a cylinder housing supporting a neck ring holder support rotatable with the gear and axially displaceable from an open position to a closed position. Each of the cylinder housings includes a target sensed by a sensor when the neck ring holder support is at the closed position. Each of the targets is configured so as to be sensed by the associated sensor for a selected angular range when the neck ring holder support is at the closed position.

Abstract: An invert and neck ring holder mechanism for displacing a parison from a blank station to a blow station. The invert and neck ring holder mechanism has an opposed pair of side brackets, a worm gear housing supporting a worm gear, and a motor/worm housing for supporting the worm gear housing intermediate the opposed side brackets. The invert and neck ring holder mechanism also has a pair of cylinder assemblies extending between the sides of the worm gear and the side brackets. The cylinder assemblies include a cylinder having an in support. Each cylinder is axially displaceable from a first location adjacent the worm gear to a second location adjacent the associated side bracket and rotationally displaceable to displace its neck ring holder support from a first position at the blank station to a second position at the blow station.

Abstract: A mold opening and closing mechanism for an I.S. machine has a pair of opposed mold support mechanisms for carrying at least one opposed pair of mold side portions. Each mold support mechanism includes a yoke having a first vertical bore and a second horizontal bore. Molds are carried by upper and lower inserts which also have a hole extending vertically therethrough. An insert carrier is linearly displaceable between retracted and advanced positions and the inserts and the yoke are secured to the carrier by a first pin slidably extending vertically through the vertical holes in the inserts and yoke, and through a vertical hole in the carrier. A second pin slidably extends through this yoke horizontal hole and the drive assembly is connected to this second pin.

Abstract: Opposed shear assemblies are conjointly driven via a rack and pinion assembly by a servo motor which follows a displacement profile. When the cycle rate exceeds a selected limit the profile is scaled to reduce peak motor velocity and a shorter stroke is defined.

Abstract: A glass forehearth is disclosed which is made up of upstream and downstream zones each having a roof structure which divides the channel into opposed side channels separated by a central channel. The glass in the central channel is heated for at least a portion of its length enabling the flow rate of the forehearth to be decreased.

Abstract: A shear mechanism for shearing discrete gobs from at least one runner of molten glass has a shear assembly which is displacable back and forth along a pair of guide rails. The assembly has at least one shear supported on an arm which has a bearing at one side which is operatively associated with one of the guide rails. The support bearing has a lower bearing surface which engages the bottom of the guide rail and an upper bearing surface which supports the top surface and the lower bearing surface can be displaced away from the guide rail by operating a release which is located on the top of the bearing.

Abstract: A shear mechanism has a pair of shear assemblies mounted on parallel guide rails for reciprocating displacement controlled by a rack and pinion assembly having a rack driving each shear assembly. The racks are parallel and horizontally spaced and their movement paths substantially intersect the center of mass of the shear assemblies.

Abstract: The displacement of one or more of the plungers in an individual section glass forming machine is monitored so that the location of the plungers, when each mold cavity has completely filled (parison formation point), can be determined. When a plunger is located at the parison formation point the feed pressure is reduced by a selectable amount.

Abstract: The individual needles of a glass feeder mechanism which control the volume of the streams of molten glass sheared into discrete gobs are displaceable to adjust the size of the sheared gobs. The controller for the motor, which raises or lowers a stream, receives positional data from the plunger, which forms the gob into a parison, and determines the Parison Formation Point for that parison and raises or lowers the needle to maintain that point at a desired plunger location.

Abstract: The displacement of the plungers in a multi-gob individual section glass forming machine is monitored so that the location of the plungers, when each mold cavity has completely filled (parison formation point), can be determined. The desired location for the parison formation point for each plunger can be selectively chosen and the occurrence of these parison formation points can be synchronized to achieve fuller control over the parison formation process.