With Signal, Indicator, Inspection Means, Register, Or Recorder Patents (Class 65/158)
  • Publication number: 20020189292
    Abstract: A control for defining optimized data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Simon
  • Publication number: 20020189293
    Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Simon
  • Publication number: 20020189294
    Abstract: A machine cycle unwrapper for use with a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines a 360° machine cycle having a set cycle time. The cycle unwrapper converts the “on” and “off” angles around the wrapped 360° programmable sequencer to “on” and “off” times along an unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more then two machine cycles to complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Simon
  • Publication number: 20020189287
    Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine. Each machine mechanism, etc., is turned “on” and “off” at selected angles around a wrapped 360° machine cycle. The control unwraps the “on” and “off” angles around the wrapped 360° machine cycle to “on” and “off” times along an unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete and the unwrapped schedule is analyzed to determine whether an optimized schedule is possible and once a schedule is optimized, the analysis is done again with all the optimized values locked except one or more of the motion durations which are targeted at their maximum duration. This second optimization defines the motion durations at their longest possible setting so that the associated motor(s) can be concomitantly slowed down to minimize wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Simon
  • Publication number: 20020189288
    Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Simon
  • Publication number: 20020184917
    Abstract: Disclosed are silica structure crack detection methods and apparatuses particularly useful in sol-gel fabrication processes. A wave signature of a crack in the silica structure is sensed to indicate that cracking has occurred. Sensing may be by active or passive techniques and may include contact and non-contact methods of monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gardy Cadet, Thomas E. Stockert, Victor M. Lubecke
  • Publication number: 20020184918
    Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Simon
  • Publication number: 20020174687
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of apply controllable pneumatic force in a multibarrel pipette puller to pull single and multibarrel pipettes. A multibarrel pipette puller has a top mechanical portion and a bottom control box. In the top mechanical portion, a metal base is mounted with a pneumatic cylinder, a linear motion guide rail with its movable block connected a clamp body, a pneumatic rotator connected a drill chuck and a pair of heater fixture located between the clamp body and the drill chuck. An optical grid plate is attached on side of the clamp body. An optical sensor is mounted on the metal base along side of the optical grid plate moving path. The piston rod of pneumatic cylinder is connected to the clamp body to deliver pulling and pushing force. The rotator can turn the drill chuck up to 180 degree clockwise or turn counter clockwise back to original position. Both the cylinder and rotator are actuated by pressured air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Zong Yuen Cai
  • Patent number: 6477862
    Abstract: A glassware manufacturing system includes at least one blank mold and a loading funnel for feeding molten glass gobs in sequence into the blank mold. A temperature sensor is operatively coupled to the external surface of the funnel for providing an electrical signal indicative of temperature at the funnel due to heat imparted thereto by the molten glass gobs falling through the funnel. Electronics are responsive to the sensor signal for indicating an increase in gob diameter as a function of an increase in temperature at the funnel external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Wacke
  • Patent number: 6466366
    Abstract: The portable microscope includes an end plate and pivotable adapter for improved inspection of multiple fiber optic cables in a single connector. The end plate is mounted on the head unit housing of the microscope. The adapter is mounted on a pivot cylinder extending from the end plate. The adapter includes a jig for receiving and retaining a connector. Each fiber optic cable in the connector can be inspected one at a time by pivoting the adapter so that each of the fiber optic cables is in view through the microscope. The adapter also includes an aperture which is positioned over the head of the fastener used to connect the end plate to the housing. The pivoting movement of the adapter is limited by the engagement of the aperture against the head of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffrey Michael Dominique
  • Patent number: 6460377
    Abstract: Apparatus for testing air flow through a dual-stage blowhead that includes an adapter block with a blowhead cup for releasably receiving a dual-stage blowhead. The adapter block has a first block passage for feeding test air to a first inlet of the blowhead for conducting blow air to a parison, and a second block passage for feeding test air to a second inlet of the blowhead separate from the first inlet for conducting finish cooling air. Air is directed from a common source separately to the first and second block passages, and air flow is measured in each path. When air flow through the finish cooling air path is less than a predetermined threshold, or less than a predetermined ratio with respect to the final blow air, this may indicate a need to redrill or otherwise rework the finish cooling passages in the dual-stage blowhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Connors, Sr., Earl E. Robinson, Richard W. Craig
  • Publication number: 20020124598
    Abstract: Device for controlling the melting of the glass batch in a glass melting furnace, which automatically carries out all or some of the set of operations for controlling the operating parameters of the furnace as well as all or some of the set of operations for operating the furnace actuators, on the basis of the strategies that an operator carrying out these operations manually would employ, this device comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: ALICJA BORYSOWICZ, STEPHANE LEPERT
  • Publication number: 20020050154
    Abstract: An apparatus for grinding a glass base material having a core and a clad comprising: a grinding wheel for grinding the clad; a measuring unit for measuring an eccentricity between a center position of the glass base material and a center position of the core at a plurality of positions along a longitudinal direction of the glass base material; a design unit for calculating target diameters substantially continuous throughout the longitudinal direction of the glass base material so that the eccentricity becomes substantially zero for each of the plurality of positions; and a control unit for controlling the grinding wheel to grind the clad so that a diameter of the glass base material to be the target diameter substantially continuous throughout the longitudinal direction of the glass base material based on the target diameters calculated by the design unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kase, Hiroyuki Koide
  • Patent number: 6237368
    Abstract: A method for regulating or controlling the content of NOx in the exhaust gases of a glass-melting furnace having several burners operated in alternation, wherein both the beginning and the end of a combustion break (FP+, FP−) are supplied to a binary signal generator (8) which passes a signal to a regulator (4) with a time delay and upon receipt of the time-regulator (4), and the amount of NH3 supplied to the denitrating plant is adjusted to a lower constant fixed value F1 via a control, and by means of a memory element (7) a higher constant fixed value F2 is calculated as amount of NH3 and supplied to the regulator (4), whereupon as soon as the regulator (4) has received the signal of the time-delayed end of a combustion break, the fixed value F1 is adjusted to the fixed value F2 via a control, and subsequently the regulation is directly continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Beisswenger, Klaus Hasselwander, Hansjörg Herden, Gernot Mayer-Schwinning, Gurudas Samant, Peter Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6212909
    Abstract: An individual section (IS) machine glassware forming system includes an individual section machine with a plurality of individual sections for receiving gobs of molten glass and forming the gobs into articles of glassware. A gob feeder presents gobs of molten glass, and a gob distributor feeds the gobs to the individual machine sections in sequence. Operation of the machine sections is synchronized to operation of the glass feeder by generating a feeder index signal indicative of presentation of glass gobs at the glass feeder. An electronic machine timing circuit includes facility for electronically generating a machine index signal for synchronizing operation of the machine sections with respect to each other. Separation in real time between the feeder index signal and the machine index signal during system operation is determined and stored in units of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: D. Wayne Leidy, Derek Shinaberry, Daniel Stephen Farkas
  • Patent number: 6185829
    Abstract: A sensor structured as a two-part oscillator is employed in a device for measuring the position of a movable operating member of a machine, such as a plunger in a glassware forming machine. The plunger is attached on a piston rod of a piston/cylinder unit cooperating with the measuring device for the continuous measurement of the position of the plunger during its stroke. The first part of the sensor is a resonance circuitry formed of a coil and a capacitor. The capacitor has first and second capacitor elements stationary relative to one another and a third capacitor element movable with the piston rod relative to the first and second elements. The resonance circuitry is disposed in the cylinder of the unit such that the resonance frequency of the resonance circuitry is variable in proportion to the change of capacitance of the capacitor in response to the change of the position of the piston rod relative to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Hartmut Geisel
  • Patent number: 6085552
    Abstract: A mold opening and closing mechanism includes an aligning mechanism which has a horizontal mounting plate including a number of vertical openings for the number of molds, that is supported by a pair of spaced vertical uprights secured to the section frame top surface. A plurality of aligning cylinders are located in the vertical openings in the horizontal mounting plate and move parallel with the mold holder motion. Each cylinder includes surfaces configured to mate with the clamping surfaces of the mold holders. The axis of one of the aligning cylinders is held but not clamped at the theoretical centerline so it can move to the actual centerline when the mold holders are located at the advanced clamped closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Gary R. Voisine, Joseph C. Fasciano, David K. Hwang
  • Patent number: 6079226
    Abstract: A hollow glass parison is formed by pressing a gob of molten glass in a mold cavity with a plunger which is moved in a linear direction by a leadscrew which is connected to the plunger and is driven by a servomotor. Actuation of the servomotor creates a rotation of the leadscrew which causes the plunger to advance in a linear direction from a first position until the plunger contacts the gob at a second position. The plunger then advances to press the gob in the mold cavity to form the gob into a parison. During movement of the plunger in the linear direction the position of the plunger is continually sensed with a position-sensing resolver which provides position information to a system controller which utilizes the position information to control the position of the plunger prior to contacting the gob in the mold cavity, the depth of plunger penetration into the gob of molten glass during pressing by controlling the pressing pressure, and the weight of the gob of molten glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: D. Wayne Leidy
  • Patent number: 6009727
    Abstract: Opposed mold supports of a mold opening and closing mechanism are driven by electronic motors between retracted and advanced positions. The motors are electronically geared together and follow a feed program which initially advances the associated mold supports a set distance which is half the separation distance. When the displacement of both supports stops, both motors are operated at a slow velocity. When it is determined again that both supports have stopped, the location of each is verified to be within an acceptable range and each motor is then operated to apply a desired clamping load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Marty J. Grant, Joseph L. Lehman
  • Patent number: 5944863
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming a cased glass stream having an inner core glass surrounded by an outer casing glass includes a first orifice for receiving core glass from a first source. A second orifice is vertically spaced beneath and aligned with the first orifice, and is surrounded by a chamber that communicates with the second orifice through a gap between the first and second orifices. A spout delivers casing glass from a second source through a tube to the chamber in such a way that glass flows by gravity from the first and second sources through the orifices to form the cased glass stream. Rate of glass flow through the second or casing glass source is measured and compared with one or more preset limits. Rate of casing glass flow from the second source to the chamber surrounding the orifices is adjusted when rate of flow through the second source departs from the preset limit. In this way, a desired ratio of casing glass to core glass is automatically maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Garrett L. Scott
  • Patent number: 5938807
    Abstract: In press molding, a shaft (metal mold 13) is moved by positional or torque control to cause upper and lower molds to reach a set position slightly before a position where the upper and lower molds are set in a final mold closed state. As soon as the upper and lower molds reaches the set position, the control is switched to torque control using a small force which does not deform a glass material to perform feedback control. For this reason, when the cooling process is started, the mobile shaft is moved by the same amount as a contraction amount of the shaft, the actual position of the shaft is moved. However, a tight contact state between the molds and the glass material is kept without changing the thickness of the glass material, and positional control and torque control can be apparently performed at once. Thereafter, when temperature reaches an almost glass transition point, final pressing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshizo Komiyama, Tetsuya Tanioka, Toshihisa Kamano, Hirotaka Masaki
  • Patent number: 5935285
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the cycling of a manufacturing machine, such as a bottle manufacturing machine, without the need for a mechanical detection device. An imaging device, which may also be used to inspect products manufactured by the manufacturing machine, monitors a portion of the manufacturing machine in order to determine when the machine cycles. Also disclosed is a method for correlating a product being inspected to its point of origin, e.g., correlating a bottle to its mold cavity of origin in the case of a bottle manufacturing machine. The manufacturing machine cycle time is divided by the number of origin points, e.g., the number of bottle mold cavities in the case of a bottle manufacturing machine, to derive a product interval time. The arrival time of each product being inspected may then be divided by the product interval time in order to predict the point of origin from which the product originated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Coors Brewing Company
    Inventor: Philip J. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5928399
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a chamber, the chamber including first and second glass substrates and an enclosure arranged between the substrates or an enclosure and at least one spacer arranged between the substrates. The apparatus includes a pair of heating plates, having heaters therein, for holding the glass substrates, a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the heaters, a position alignment device for moving at least one of the pair of heating plates in X-, Y-, and .theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Yakou, Tomoyuki Kubota
  • Patent number: 5925159
    Abstract: A process for determining a weight of free-falling molten glass gobs has the steps of providing an electromagnetic alternating field, passing a glass gob through the electromagnetic alternating field in a free fall, measuring resultant eddy current losses of the electromagnetic alternating field caused by the glass gob during passage through the electromagnetic alternating field, and determining a weight of the glass gob via the detected resultant eddy current losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Hartmut Geisel
  • Patent number: 5917104
    Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and adjusting the position of a plurality of burners with respect to the edge of a continuous glass sheet is provided. The glass sheet is transported by rolls along the length of a thermal treatment lehr. Detecting and adjusting sensors for sensing the edge of the glass sheet are attached conjointly with the burners in order to automatically adjust the position of the burners with regards to the edge of the glass sheet, so, for each variation in the width of the glass sheet, the detecting and adjusting sensors are advanced or retracted over the edge of the glass sheet, in order to adjust the burners in accordance with a new position of the edge of said glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Vidrio Plano de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Manuel Alarcon-Lopez, Lenin Roman-Gomez, Rafael Jorge Rojas-Cortes, Victor Enciso-Aguilar, Severino Islas-Sanchez, Jose Carlos Montes-Juarez
  • Patent number: 5908483
    Abstract: A press head drive cylinder control having a force sensing, force signal providing load cell on the drive cylinder of a glass molding press. The glass molding press having a base, a mold table rotatably mounted on the base, a plurality of mold positions on the table for locating from one to a plurality of molds thereon, at least one mold at a mold position, a press head, a press head tower, and a press head drive cylinder supporting the press head and being reciprocally mounted on the press head tower for movement of the press head to and from a mold aligned at a molding station. The press head drive cylinder control responds to force signals from the load cell to control the press head drive cylinder location, movement, and pressing force, during glass molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Lynch Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Hileman, deceased, Stanley E. Houston, Jr., Russell W. Roe
  • Patent number: 5873675
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. A voltage is applied across spaced electrical connections (72) of the melting vessel (46) to heat material within the melting vessel. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). Different embodiments of the heater (38) provide current flow through molten material (18) being heated, induction heating, electric resistance heating, and using the metallic mixing vessel (12) as an electric resistance element. A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Kenneth R. Kormanyos, Stephen F. Cox
  • Patent number: 5846282
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Pinkerton, Joseph A. Borbone, Marty J. Grant
  • Patent number: 5843201
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Borbone, Steven J. Pinkerton, Marty J. Grant
  • Patent number: 5843199
    Abstract: During the fire-polishing of a lengthwise extended glass body (3), for example a preform for drawing optical fibers, the glass body (3) is held by a holding device (5, 7), and is heated by a burner (23) moving at a variable advancing speed parallel to the lengthwise axis (19). The surface temperature of the glass body (3) is determined with a temperature measuring device (25). The mechanical stress condition of the glass body (3) is detected with an optical device (29) and can be controlled by varying the burner temperature and/or the advancing speed of the burner. The invention makes it possible to counteract the occurrence of high mechanical stresses in the glass body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Kabel AG & Co.
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Lysson, Frank Lisse, Robert Fenner
  • Patent number: 5841524
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a moving filamentary product having a device for monitoring the centering of the filamentary product relative to the coating, and a device for monitoring the quality of the coating. The centering monitoring device includes two light sources positioned at 90.degree. to each other in a plane perpendicular to the filamentary product. The coating quality monitoring device includes an optical receiver disposed between the two light sources in the same plane, and at 45.degree. to each of them, to receive the light beams reflected by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite
    Inventors: Bernard Floch, Didier Rolland
  • Patent number: 5824131
    Abstract: Opposed mold supports of a mold opening and closing mechanism are driven by electronic motors between retracted and advanced positions. The motors are electronically geared together and follow a feed program which initially advances the associated mold supports a set distance which is half the separation distance. When the displacement of both supports stops, both motors are operated at a slow velocity. When it is determined again that both supports have stopped, the location of each is verified to be within an acceptable range and each motor is then operated to apply a desired clamping load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Marty J. Grant, Joseph L. Lehman
  • Patent number: 5803945
    Abstract: A mold opening and closing mechanism for an I.S. machine having a plurality of individual sections each having a pair of opposed mold support mechanisms displaceable between a separated retracted position whereat each mold support mechanism is located at a start position and an advanced position whereat molds carried by the mold support mechanisms will forcefully engage. The drive which is operatively associated with each mold support mechanism includes an electronic motor. A predetermined torque is applied to the motors for a period of time when the opposed pair of mold support mechanisms are at the advanced position. To return the mold support mechanisms to the start position the electronic motors are operated to displace the mold support mechanisms at a slow velocity for a predetermined period of time and then operated to displace the mold support mechanisms to rapidly displace the mold support mechanisms to the start position following the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Marty J. Grant
  • Patent number: 5800590
    Abstract: Controlled movement of the pneumatically operated plunger in the narrow neck press and blow process of manufacture of glass containers is achieved by use of a pressure regulating valve in the air supply to the plunger which determines the pressure supplied according to the magnitude of a control signal which is determined by set point means operating in response to timing pulses from a timing control of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Ove Per Pilskar
  • Patent number: 5795364
    Abstract: A mixing method insures adequate mixing of gases in a glass furnace that employs a reburning process. Because of the mixing method, a novel glass furnace can be constructed that strikes an optimum balance between a reduction in nitrogen oxide (NO.sub.x) emissions and the cost of the reburn process, particularly, the number of requisite reburn and overfire air jets as well as reburn fuel. The glass furnace is constructed as follows. A combustion housing defines a primary zone for receiving combustible fuel, a reburn zone connected to the primary zone for receiving exhaust from the primary zone and reburn fuel to generate a first gas mixture. A burnout zone is connected to the reburn zone and receives the first gas mixture and overfire air to generate a second gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Roy Payne, David K. Moyeda
  • Patent number: 5779749
    Abstract: In an individual section glassware forming system that includes a plurality of operating mechanisms for performing cyclic motions, an electronic controller for controlling cyclic motion at a needle mechanism includes electronic memory for storing a plurality of motion profiles for the needle mechanism, with each of the profiles comprising a set of needle position data versus time data. Any one of the profiles so stored may be selectively displayed as a graph of position versus time. A plurality of control points, consisting of less than all data points, are highlighted on the graphic display at spaced positions along the graph. An operator may identify one of the control points and change the position data and/or time data associated with that control point. An electronic control computer is responsive to such control point change for automatically recomputing the position data and time data for the profile so as to accommodate the operator-selected changes at the control point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory W. Nafziger
  • Patent number: 5772719
    Abstract: A system for detecting and automatically adjusting the position of a plurality of burners with respect to the edges of a continuous glass sheet is provided. The glass sheet is transported by rolls along the length of a thermal treatment lehr. Sensor elements for sensing the edge of the glass sheet are attached conjointly with the burners in order to adjust the position of the burners. A programmable controller is coupled to the sensor elements in order to adjust the position of the burners in accordance with the position of the sensor elements at the edge of the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Vidrio Plano de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Manuel Alarcon-Lopez, Lenin Roman-Gomez, Rafael Jorge Rojas-Cortes, Victor Enciso-Aguilar, Severino Islas-Sanchez, Jose Carlos Montes-Juarez
  • Patent number: 5746798
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the delivery of multiple gobs to the blank molds of a glass forming machine having multiple cavities or sections, wherein multiple gobs are delivered from a glass feeder to plural scoops that are oscillated to deliver the gobs in multiples to aligned troughs and funnels in a timed sequence. An infrared gob sensor at each exit detects passage of a gob, and a computer controls application of air under pressure to control the velocity of delivery of each gob to the scoops in order to influence gob exit timing at the deflectors that are positioned adjacent the mold cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew B. Menzie
  • Patent number: 5707414
    Abstract: A plunger mechanism for forming a hollow article of glass in a "narrow neck press and blow" operation which utilizes an electro servo-driven leadscrew to actuate it. A position sensing resolver is used to determine the position of the plunger over the full range of its stroke, and the position information can be used as feedback to control the position of the plunger prior to contacting a molten gob of glass in a mold chamber. The depth of the plunger penetration into the molten gob is then controlled by the pressing pressure, which is a function of motor torque and screw mechanics. It is possible to control the pressure exerted on the molten glass gob by controlling the torque applied by the motor. A separate gob weight controller is not required because changes in gob weight can be determined by closely monitoring the plunger penetration of the gob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: D. Wayne Leidy
  • Patent number: 5697996
    Abstract: A mold positioning apparatus which is used in a pressing apparatus for pressing a work by a plunger and a bottom mold, comprising keys and key guides which are provided on a plunger and a bottom mold, and which are engaged together to restrict a relative position between the plunger and the bottom mold; means for shaking at least one of the plunger and the bottom mold in clearance between the key and the key guide while keeping the key and the key guide in engagement; means for measuring a movable range of the at least one of the plunger and the bottom mold during the shaking; a device for calculating a relative position between the key and the key guide and the relative position between the plunger and the bottom mold based on the measured movable range; and means for adjusting the plunger and the bottom mold in a range of the clearance of the key and the key guide based on the calculation to carry out positioning therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Tsuda
  • Patent number: 5697995
    Abstract: A molten glass gob distributor for a glass article manufacturing system that includes a gob discharge, and at least one scoop for receiving gobs from such discharge and distributing the gobs among a plurality of troughs or chutes leading to associated molds in a multiple-cavity IS machine. The scoop is coupled by a cogged drive belt to an electric motor for oscillating the scoop through a cyclic path adjacent to the troughs or chutes. Rupture at the drive belt is detected by coupling first and second electronic sensors to the motor and the scoop so as to provide respective first and second electrical signals as functions of motion at the motor and scoop. Rupture at the drive belt is indicated as a function of a difference between the first and second signals, indicating loss of synchronization between the drive motor and the associated scoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: D. Wayne Leidy, Derek W. Shinaberry
  • Patent number: 5669950
    Abstract: A spout forming assembly for glassware and a method therefor in which the assembly includes a spout forming device for forming a pour spout on the edge of a piece of glassware, an actuation device for actuating the forming device, and a control device for controlling the actuation device. The method generally includes the steps of: (a) moving a piece of glassware having an edge along a predetermined path; (b) heating the edge; and (c) engaging the edge with forming means to form a spout on the edge of the glassware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Libbey Glass Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Dickens
  • Patent number: 5667549
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed to automatically lift the curtains of the exit hood of a machine for the production of float flat glass by the floating process. A light beam emitter is provided for a light beam which strikes the surface of the glass ribbon, being formed, and is reflected by that surface. A light beam receptor receives the light beam reflected by the surface of the glass ribbon and provides a signal representative of the absence or deviation of the reflected light beam should there be a break in the glass ribbon. A controller receives the signal representative of the absence or deviation of the reflected light beam, and provides operating signals to the actuators of the i) curtain lifting mechanism, ii) reheating system, iii) glass edge follower mechanism and iv) alarm of the glass ribbon forming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Vidrio Plano de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Manuel Alarcon-Lopez, Lenin Roman-Gomez, Rafael-Jorge Rojas-Cortes, Victor-Octavio Enciso-Aguilar
  • Patent number: 5660610
    Abstract: A needle assembly (30) for controlling the flow of molten glass from a feeder bowl (76) through one or more orifices (84) in an orifice plate (86) beneath the feeder bowl. The needle assembly includes a vertical needle (32) for each orifice and each needle is precisely adjustable along its vertical axis by a stepper motor (34). The stepper motor for each needle is positioned remotely from the needle and drives the needle through a potentiometer (72) and a linkage mechanism (36). Each linkage mechanism includes a generally horizontally extending member (38), a vertically extending member (40), and a bevel gear drive (88) to permit the generally horizontally extending ember to drive the vertically extending member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. DiFrank, John M. Slifco, Francis R. Morrison
  • Patent number: 5643350
    Abstract: A glass melter for vitrifying material including radioactive and hazardous materials. In one embodiment, the melter comprises an inner vessel or container having a solidified glass skull, at least one pair of vertically-oriented, retractable electrodes, a first wall spaced apart from said inner vessel to define a dry annulus therebetween for radiatively cooling the inner vessel, and a second wall spaced apart from said first wall to define a second annulus that serves as a water jacket when filled with water. Each electrode has a protective sleeve therearound with means formed therebetween for passing a purging gas therethrough. A central access nozzle allows waste material and glass formers to be fed into the inner vessel while simultaneously venting the off-gas generated in the inner vessel. Also, the dry annulus can have fluid circulating therethrough for regulated cooling or leak detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: VECTRA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Bradley Mason, Mark Alan Hall
  • Patent number: 5637128
    Abstract: A gob distributor for glassware forming machines which include at least one curved distribution scoop mounted on a vertical turning shaft, for each one of the gobs which are simultaneously fed by a feeder. A housing which having at least one gear which turns on its axial axis, together with a central shaft, coupled at the housing and, which is coupled in coincidence with the vertical shaft of each one of the distribution scoops. A rack coupled in coincidence with the gears of each one of the distribution scoops to move said gears with a rotational movement and thus, provide a simultaneous and synchronized turn to each one of the scoops. A rotatory driver member coupled to the rack, in order to permit a forward and backward movement of the rack and thus be able to effect the rotational movement of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Vidriera Monterrey, S.A.
    Inventors: Gaspar Rodriguez-Wong, Luis Cardenas-Franco, Victor Garcia-Gomez
  • Patent number: 5626641
    Abstract: In manufacturing a glass material used for a re-heat press method of manufacturing high-precision optical glass components including a lens, prism or the like, a glass material can be manufactured which has no defect inside of or on the surface of the glass, and without requiring a process of grinding and polishing the glass. The glass material is manufactured by dropping melted glass from the glass outlet of a glass melting furnace to a mold and cooling the dropped glass on the mold. The distance between the mold and the glass outlet is in a range which maintains the temperature of the stretched area of dropping glass--the area where the melted glass dropped on the mold is spontaneously separated by its own weight and surface tension at its softening temperature or above. The temperature of the glass around the stretched area is at least its softening temperature, and the glass around that area is instantaneously incorporated into the glass on the mold after separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Sumita Optical Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadayoshi Yonemoto, Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Takashi Inoue, Toshihiko Muroi
  • Patent number: 5624473
    Abstract: A glass production system that includes a glass forming machine having a multiplicity of operating mechanisms for converting gobs of molten glass into glassware, a plurality of solenoid valves responsive to valve drive signals for operating the multiplicity of operating mechanisms, and an electronic controller for generating the valve drive signals to operate the mechanisms in sequence to produce the glassware. The electronic controller includes an operator panel having a plurality of electronic switches responsive to an operator in a manual mode of operation for generating valve drive signals to operate selected ones of the mechanisms associated with the individual switches. A plurality of electronic displays are disposed on the operator panel each adjacent to an associated one of the electronic switches, and are responsive to the controller for displaying to an operator the operating mechanism of the machine associated with the adjacent switch during the manual mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Farkas, D. Wayne Leidy
  • Patent number: 5611833
    Abstract: One forms spherical or spheroidal glass particles by entraining a powder of glass particles in a carrier gas and injecting the entrained particles into the center of the flame of an oxygen-fuel burner. Separate conduits carry fuel, such as natural gas, and substantially pure oxygen into the burner to support combustion. The temperature in the burner flame does not exceed about 5000.degree. F. Heat from the flame causes the particles to become spheroidal, due to surface tension, but the particles do not remain in the flame long enough to melt. By adjusting a valve in the line which conveys the carrier gas and glass particles, one varies the time during which the particles reside in the flame. If the pressure becomes too high, the residence time decreases, and the particles may not become entirely spheroidal. If the pressure becomes too low, the residence time increases, and the particles may melt and/or form undesirable filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: MG Industries
    Inventors: Sudhir R. Brahmbhatt, Christopher R. Young
  • Patent number: 5611834
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the free deformation of thermoplastic material in an automated process for processing the material to form articles. These articles are especially ampules, small bottles and the like produced from glass tubes. In this method, in order to obtain a high dimensional accuracy of the article, a corrective action is carried out by applying heat to the starting material in the deformation region in the heating phase. This corrective action takes place in dependence on a desired-value/actual-value comparison of the deformation of a workpiece achieved in a predetermined working step. In order to exclude interference influences in the development of the deformation, the measurement of the deformation achieved, the desired-value/actual-value comparison and the corrective action are carried out in situ on one and the same workpiece during shaping of the deformation in the heating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Schott Rohrglas GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Walter, Paul Schmitz