Abstract: A production apparatus making continuously curved crystalline glass as a cover or container includes a melting device, a drainage device, a molding device, and a crystallizing device. The melting device melts glass raw material to form a glass melt. The drainage device drains the glass melt to the molding device. The molding device includes a rotating table and a plurality of molding molds thereon. Each molding mold can be moved toward or away from the drainage device by the rotating table. Each molding mold has a molding cavity. At least one part of the molding cavity includes a plane, and at least one part of the molding cavity includes a curved surface to extrude the glass melt with such different surface forms. The crystallizing device crystallizes the curved glass member to achieve the curved crystallized glass member. A method for manufacturing such glass is also provided.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a hollow glass product using an I.S. machine and a robot that can move alongside blank molds of the I.S. machine, wherein the robot is capable of replacing one or more blank molds, section after section. The I.S. machine for manufacturing hollow glass products includes a robot that can move alongside the blank molds, and the robot is capable of carrying plural tools having different functions, simultaneously and/or alternately, chosen from an electromagnet, and/or a spray tube for greasing by spraying, and/or an optical pyrometer, an infrared or equivalent viewing port, and/or a rotary abrasive tool, and/or a camera or equivalent.

Abstract: An assembly for transferring glass articles, wherein a powered articulated arm is hinged to a fixed support to rotate about a fixed hinge axis, and moves a pusher between an engage position engaging the articles on a supporting surface, and a release position to release the articles onto a linear conveyor; the pusher, in the release position, projects from the articulated arm, in the travelling direction of the articles on the conveyor, beyond a plane containing the fixed hinge axis and perpendicular to the travelling direction of the articles on the conveyor, so that the centre of gravity of the group of articles transferred is located downstream, in the travelling direction of the articles on the conveyor, from the plane containing the fixed hinge axis.

Abstract: A neck ring for a glass container forming machine includes two neck ring sections each consisting essentially of a neck ring body and an insert on the body. The inserts have opposed surfaces for forming closure attachment features on a container neck finish molded in the neck ring. Each neck ring body is of die-formed powder metal construction and is set around the associated insert. The inserts preferably form the entire glass-contacting portion of the neck ring. The neck ring bodies preferably are of sintered bronze or steel construction, and the inserts preferably are of nickel, bronze or steel construction. The body and insert preferably are sintered together for a metallurgical bond.

Abstract: A protected hollow glassware take-out device having a support equipped with drive means; a first arm fitted in rotary manner to and projecting from the support, and which is connected to and rotated by the drive means with respect to the support; a second arm, equipped with grippers, which is fitted in rotary manner to and projects from the first arm; and means for rotating the second arm synchronously with respect to the first, and in turn having a shaft, which is coaxial with a rotation member of the first arm, and is secured at one end to the support, and at the opposite end to the first arm; and a kinematic mechanism carried by the first arm and connecting the shaft to a rotation member of the second arm; controlled-yielding angular connecting means being located between the shaft and the support; and the rotation member of the first arm being connected to the first arm indirectly via torque transmission means with a predetermined break load.

Abstract: A crucible lift device for taking a crucible out of a mold is provided with a lid member which closely contacts a limb portion defining an opening of a crucible; a decompressing mechanism which decompresses an internal space of the crucible sealed with the lid member; and a vertically-moving mechanism for the lid member. The crucible lift device includes a stand, and the vertically-moving mechanism includes a crane device which is fixed to a beam provided on an upper end of the stand and vertically moves the lid member. The decompressing mechanism includes a suction duct which penetrates the lid member to open into the internal space of crucible, and a decompressor which is connected to the suction duct. The vertically-moving mechanism can integrally lift the crucible in which the internal space is decompressed together with the lid member.

Abstract: A method and device for bending superposed sheets of glass. The sheets are picked up by a top form furnished with a suction creating an upward airflow blowing over the rim of the sheets, the suction being sufficient to lift and hold the superposed sheets against the top form, then the sheets are pressed between the top form and a full surface solid concave bottom form furnished with openings, the pressing beginning conducted while the suction is not yet finished or is finishing, then the superposed sheets are formed, by suction of the main face of the bottom sheet through the openings of the bottom concave mold, the forming by suction beginning while the pressing is not yet finished, and then the sheets are cooled. Windshields free of optical defects may thus be produced.

Abstract: There is provided a device for manufacturing a molded glass body, including a fall-prevention means for preventing the glass molded body which has stuck on the upper mold from falling down on the lower mold. Thus, the molded glass body does not damage the lower mold, even if the molded glass body which has stuck on the upper mold falls down from the upper mold, during a period from an end of the pressure molding to releasing and withdrawing the molded glass body obtained by the pressure molding from the any one of the upper mold and the lower mold.

Abstract: A pusher mechanism for pushing bottles formed in an I.S. machine from a dead plate to a conveyor. The pusher mechanism includes a pusher finger assembly which is supported by a housing and is movable about an axis of support and about the parallel axis of rotation of the housing. A pair of servo motors effect the desired rotation of the two axes through cam profiles each of which has at least one Bezier curve segment with a parameter of one curve linked to a parameter of the other curve.

Abstract: A process and a device for pushing hollow glass objects off a glass forming machine onto a moving conveyor belt are disclosed. Each hollow glass object is pushed by a push-off unit from a dead plate along a curved path onto the conveyor belt in such a way that the curved path is brought tangentially to a contact point in a movement direction of the conveyor belt. Subsequent to the contact point each hollow glass object is pushed further by the push-off unit by a further linear path portion in the movement direction of the conveyor belt as far as a release point at which the push-off unit is released from the hollow glass object. The push-off unit is then moved back to dead plate.

Abstract: A bi-directional curvilinear transference apparatus for a glassware forming machine, to be mounted on an apparatus support frame, to transfer a parison held by a rotary inverting apparatus at an intermediate station to a blow forming station.

Abstract: An adjustable stacker bar assembly includes a pad assembly having a lower pad that is mounted to a push bar. The lower pad is in direct contact with and independently mounted to the push bar. An upper pad is mounted to and spaced apart from the lower pad by a spacer. The spacer is free of contact with the push bar. The pads contact and push glass articles into an annealing furnace. The entire pad assembly is readily vertically movable relative to the push bar in the event that a workpiece is lodged beneath the lower pad.

Abstract: A protected hollow glassware take-out device having a support equipped with drive means; a first arm fitted in rotary manner to and projecting from the support, and which is connected to and rotated by the drive means with respect to the support; a second arm, equipped with grippers, which is fitted in rotary manner to and projects from the first arm; and means for rotating the second arm synchronously with respect to the first, and in turn having a shaft, which is coaxial with a rotation member of the first arm, and is secured at one end to the support, and at the opposite end to the first arm; and a kinematic mechanism carried by the first arm and connecting the shaft to a rotation member of the second arm; controlled-yielding angular connecting means being located between the shaft and the support; and the rotation member of the first arm being connected to the first arm indirectly via torque transmission means with a predetermined break load.

Abstract: An indexed unidirectional rotary inverting apparatus (UIA) for a glassware forming machine of single or multiple-cavity mounted on an apparatus support frame.

Abstract: An adjustable stacker bar assembly includes a pad assembly having a lower pad that is mounted to a push bar. The lower pad is in direct contact with and independently mounted to the push bar. An upper pad is mounted to and spaced apart from the lower pad by a spacer. The spacer is free of contact with the push bar. The pads contact and push glass articles into an annealing furnace.

Abstract: A parison is blown into a bottle in a mold at the blow station of an I.S. Machine. Pressurized air is supplied to the mold through a cooling tube which will be displaced downwardly from an up position, where the parison will be blown into a bottle, to a down position following the formation of the bottle. The pressure of the air is decreased as the cooling tube is displaced from the up position to the down position.

Abstract: An invert mechanism for a glassware forming machine includes a support frame having a base adapted removably to be mounted on a forming machine frame. A linear actuator is suspended from the support frame and a linear gear rack extends from the actuator within the support frame. A hollow shaft has a central portion carried for rotation on the support frame and oppositely extending end portions with axial external splines and open ends. A gear is coupled to the central portion of the shaft for co-rotation with the shaft and has external teeth coupled to the gear rack. A pair of ball nuts are disposed on the end portions of the hollow shaft, and a pair of hollow pneumatic pistons are respectively disposed on the ball nuts over the open ends of the shaft. Invert arm mounts are respectively disposed on the pistons, and a spring is disposed within each piston operatively extending between the piston and the shaft to bias the pistons to a position adjacent to the support frame.

Abstract: A takeout holder including a takeout jaw formed of plastic.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening and closing mold arms in a glassware forming machine includes a gearbox for mounting on a glassware machine frame, a cylinder housing suspended beneath the gearbox, and a cylinder disposed within the cylinder housing. The cylinder has a piston with an extending piston rod and a gear rack machined or otherwise formed in the piston rod. A first drive gear in the cylinder housing is coupled to the gear rack and a drive shaft extends from the first drive gear and the cylinder housing into the gearbox. A second drive gear is disposed in the gearbox and coupled to the drive shaft. Laterally spaced operating shafts extend upwardly from within the gearbox. Means including an idler gear couple the second drive gear to the operating shafts such that the operating shafts are rotated simultaneously in opposite directions by the cylinder, the gear rack, the first and second drive gears and the idler gear.

Abstract: A takeout jaw for handling glass bottles includes a holder for both fixed and floating inserts. This design allows an insert to be in a fixed position when the insert is provided with a nominal thickness. When a floating insert of a lesser thickness is installed, the spring clip does not engage the floating insert, which allows the floating insert to move vertically or float. The takeout holder contains either type of insert within the pocket with retaining clips that engage chamfers formed on the inserts.

Abstract: A device and method for bending a glazing unit or plural glazing units positioned one on top of the other, with a first train of carriages, bearing transport supports and running between a loading zone in which at least one glazing unit is deposited on a transport support of a carriage and a transfer zone, a furnace section heating the glazing units to their bending temperature in their path towards the transfer zone, and a second train of carriages running between the transfer zone and a final cooling section with an unloading station, which is equipped with transport supports that differ from the transport supports of the first train of carriages.

Abstract: An invert mechanism for a glassware forming machine includes a support frame having a base adapted removably to be mounted on a forming machine frame. A linear actuator is suspended from the support frame and a linear gear rack extends from the actuator within the support frame. A hollow shaft has a central portion carried for rotation on the support frame and oppositely extending end portions with axial external splines and open ends. A gear is coupled to the central portion of the shaft for co-rotation with the shaft and has external teeth coupled to the gear rack. A pair of ball nuts are disposed on the end portions of the hollow shaft, and a pair of hollow pneumatic pistons are respectively disposed on the ball nuts over the open ends of the shaft. Invert arm mounts are respectively disposed on the pistons, and a spring is disposed within each piston operatively extending between the piston and the shaft to bias the pistons to a position adjacent to the support frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for bending superposed sheets of glass, comprising the sheets being picked up by a top form furnished with suction means creating an upward airflow blowing over the rim of the sheets, said suction being sufficient to lift and hold the superposed sheets against said top form, then the pressing of the sheets between the top form and a full surface solid concave bottom form furnished with openings, said pressing beginning while the suction of the preceding step is not yet finished or is finishing, then the forming of the superposed sheets, by suction of the main face of the bottom sheet through the openings of the bottom concave mold, said forming by suction beginning while the pressing is not yet finished, then the cooling of the sheets. Windshields free of optical defects may thus be produced.

Abstract: A continuous glass forming system includes a forming room and at least one forming unit which is advanced successively through a first loading/unloading station, a first heating station, a first forming station, and a first cooling station which are provided within the forming room. The forming unit includes lower and upper mold units, and a sleeve member removably assembled between the lower and upper mold units. The lower and upper mold units have respective first and second forming faces to form a glass blank into a lens. The sleeve member has support faces to support respectively the glass blank and lens. A transfer device moves into or out of the forming room to load or unload the sleeve member into or from the forming unit.

Abstract: A glass forming system includes a first rotating device disposed in a first processing station defining a reception region, a first heating region, a first transfer region and a first cooling region, and a second rotating device disposed in a second processing station defining a second transfer region, a second heating region, a forming region and a second cooling region. The second rotating device holds at least one forming unit and is turnable to move the forming unit between the regions of the second processing station. The first rotating device holds at least one sleeve member which is movable between the first and second rotating devices and mountable on the forming unit. The first rotating device is turnable to move the sleeve member between the regions of the second processing station.

Abstract: In a transfer unit for transferring glass articles from a supporting surface to a carry-off conveyor, a pickup member, for engaging the articles for transfer, is moved between a pickup position and a release position by an actuating device having a single articulated arm, and two electric motors activated independently to move the pickup member with respect to the articulated arm, and to move different portions of the articulated arm with respect to one another.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reduce the total footprint of a press forming system for glass having a plurality of press units, and also to increase an actual availability of each press unit. A plurality of press units are arranged in two parallel rows and a first transfer robot is arranged at the center of the space between the two rows. In adjacent of the moving area of the first transfer robot, a palette changer is arranged. A tray in use is mounted on a first base of the palette changer and a stand-by tray before use is placed on a second base. Blanks and formed products are stored in the tray. Press units equipped with second transfer robots, respectively. In front of the press units, intermediate transfer points are respectively provided for temporarily storing a blank and a formed product.

Abstract: A pushout mechanism includes a pusher finger assembly which utilizes air jets to facilitate the location of bottles with the pockets defined by the fingers. The air jets are defined by in a projecting post in an orifice member which can be quickly released from the arm of the finger. The location of the air jet can, accordingly, be quickly adjusted by substituting an orifice member having a shorter or longer post.

Abstract: A method and device for transferring glass articles from an intermediate supporting plate to an unloading conveyor, wherein the article to be transferred is positioned and retained inside a seat on a movable member by feeding compressed air through the movable member; the compressed air being fed in close to an edge of a dihedron formed by two plates of the movable member, and being oriented upwards towards the article to divide the incoming compressed air into two lateral streams laterally and at least partly surrounding the article, and into an upward-directed rear stream.

Abstract: A device for transferring an object from a dead plate of an Individual Section glass-forming machine to a conveyor belt is disclosed. The device includes a first shaft rotatable about an axis. A housing is attached to the first shaft. A carrying arm is slidably mounted on the housing and has a finger at one end for engaging the object. A guide piece having a groove is attached to the other end of the carrying arm. A crank arm engages the groove. The crank arm is connected to a second shaft coaxial with the first shaft. The shafts rotate independently of one another. Each shaft has its own drive unit. Rotation of the first shaft rotates the carrying arm about the first axis and rotation of the second shaft causes sliding motion of the carrying arm along its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An invert assembly for an individual section glassware forming machine includes an invert base that is oscillated about an axis between angularly spaced apart first and second positions, a double ended ball screw positioned co-axially with the axis and having spaced apart oppositely threaded portions, first and second nuts each threadably engaging one of the oppositely threaded portions of the ball screw so that the nuts reciprocate toward and away from each other in response to rotation of the ball screw, and first and second neck ring arms respectively engaging the first and second nuts so that the neck ring arms reciprocate toward and away from each other along the axis with the first and second nuts. Preferably, the invert base is oscillated about the axis by a first reversible electric motor, and the ball screw is driven for rotation in opposed directions by a second reversible electric motor to move the nuts and neck ring arms toward and away from each other along the axis.

Abstract: A method and a machine for the production of hollow glassware articles, by the blow-and-blow, press-and-blow, press-and-blow paste mold and direct-press processes in a glassware forming machine including single or multiple machine sections each having single or multiple-cavity, comprising: forming a parison in an inverted orientation, into a blank mold and a first transferable and open-able neck ring mold held by an inverting apparatus having a first and a second diametrically opposed arms, each arm holding a transferable and open-able neck ring mold; inverting the parison held by the first transferable and open-able neck ring mold, by rotating the first arm 180° to an upright orientation at an intermediate station, while the second arm with a second transferable and open-able neck ring mold is simultaneously placed at the parison forming station; transferring the first transferable and open-able neck ring mold holding the parison in an upright orientation, from the intermediate station, to a blow mold statio

Abstract: An invert mechanism for moving parisons between a pre-forming station and a finishing forming station of a glass forming machine is disclosed. The mechanism is disposed above a cover plate of a frame of the glass forming machine. An electric motor is disposed with its horizontal longitudinal axis above the cover plate. A driven shaft of the electric motor is connected to a horizontal invert shaft by means of a transmission. Between the driven shaft of the electric motor and the transmission a planetary gear is connected.

Abstract: A method and a machine for the production of hollow glassware articles, by the blow-and-blow, press-and-blow, press-and-blow paste mold and direct-press processes in a glassware forming machine including single or multiple machine sections each having single or multiple-cavity, comprising: forming a parison in an inverted orientation, into a blank mold and a first transferable and open-able neck ring mold held by an inverting apparatus having a first and a second diametrically opposed arms, each arm holding a transferable and open-able neck ring mold; inverting the parison held by the first transferable and open-able neck ring mold, by rotating the first arm 180° to an upright orientation at an intermediate station, while the second arm with a second transferable and open-able neck ring mold is simultaneously placed at the parison forming station; transferring the first transferable and open-able neck ring mold holding the parison in an upright orientation, from the intermediate station, to a blow mold statio

Abstract: Vertically aligned first (30) and second (32) combined blowhead and takeout mechanisms are provided to sequentially blow glass parisons (P) into containers (C) in a mold set (22) and to transfer blown containers to a deadplate (40) of a glass containing forming machine (20). Each of the combined mechanisms is pivotally suspended about an axis A from a carrier arm (36) that is pivotally attached to an end of an oscillating arm (38), an opposed end of which is pivoted about an axis (B). The axis (B) of each combined blowhead and takeout mechanism is periodically raised and lowered to permit the other combined blowhead and takeout mechanism to oscillate therebeneath, to thereby permit overlapping cycles between the blowhead and takeout mechanisms. Each blowhead and takeout mechanism is provided with a chuck or tong assembly (54) to engage or release each container by its finish (F).

Abstract: A takeout grips a formed bottle at a blow station of an I.S. machine and releases the bottle onto a conveyor and returns to grip the second bottle formed in the blow station following the bottle removed by the takeout.

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.

Abstract: Vertically aligned first (30) and second (32) combined blowhead and takeout mechanisms are provided to sequentially blow glass parisons (P) into containers (C) in a mold set (22) and to transfer blown containers to a deadplate (40) of a glass containing forming machine (20). Each of the combined mechanisms is pivotally suspended about an axis A from a carrier arm (36) that is pivotally attached to an end of an oscillating arm (38), an opposed end of which is pivoted about an axis (B). The axis (B) of each combined blowhead and takeout mechanism is periodically raised and lowered to permit the other combined blowhead and takeout mechanism to oscillate therebeneath, to thereby permit overlapping cycles between the blowhead and takeout mechanisms. Each blowhead and takeout mechanism is provided with a chuck or tong assembly (54) to engage or release each container by its finish (F).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable to use a common transfer machine for transferring performs to and for transferring products from a press-forming system for glass having a plurality of press units. The press-forming system for glass has a plurality of press units. A linear moving stage is arranged in the proximity of the press units. A transfer robot is mounted on the linear moving stage. A pallet changer is arranged in the proximity of an end of the linear moving stage. A tray presently in use is mounted on a first mount and a new tray on standby is mounted on a second mount on the pallet changer. The inner space of the tray is partitioned into sections so as to correspond to press units in number. In each section, a plurality of pockets is arranged for storing preforms or products one by one.

Abstract: Formed bottles are simultaneously cooled within the blow molds of an I.S. machine on their inner and outer surfaces and inner surface cooling continues from the time the takeout grips a bottle through a displacement course to a deadplate location, then to a conveyor location and finally to a deposit location where the bottle is deposited. A deadplate mechanism encloses a bottle at the deadplate location and moves to the conveyor location with the takeout and cools the outer surface of the bottle until the bottle is displaced from the conveyor location to the deadplate location.

Abstract: An I.S. machine has a takeout arm which grips a bottle at the blow station and carries it longitudinally to a first deadplate position and then transversely to a second deadplate position. Along the transverse path is a cullet chute. A deadplate mechanism also is displaceable from a remote position to the first deadplate position and then to the second deadplate position. The deadplate is displaced away from the cullet chute so that the takeout arm can be positioned above the cullet chute to drop rejected, formed bottles.

Abstract: A formed bottle is delivered by a takeout mechanism to a deadplate where it is suspended for cooling. A temperature sensor is mounted to monitor the suspended bottle. When the sensed temperature shows an unacceptable variation, the takeout mechanism and deadplate are displaced relative to one another so that the suspended bottles are located above a cullet chute for disposal.

Abstract: A takeout for an I.S. machine includes a cooling tube which is displaceable between up and down positions. Displace is controlled to correspond to the desired heat removal along the path of displacement.

Abstract: A blow head mechanism for an I.S. machine wherein the blow head has a final blow tube. The final blow tube is supported for vertical displacement between an up position where the open end of the final blow tube is proximate the top of a blown parison and a down position where the open end of the final blow tube is proximate the bottom of a blown parison. The final blow tube is displaced at least once from the up position to the down position and back to the up position during the time when the blow head is “on” by a profiled actuator including a displacement profile which will displace the blow tube between the up position and a location where the upper neck portion meets the lower body portion at an average velocity higher than the average velocity at which the blow tube will be displaced between the location where the upper neck portion meets the lower body portion to the bottom of the blown parison.

Abstract: A takeout for an I.S. machine has a cooling tube which is displaceable between up and down positions. The open bottom of the cooling tube has an annular deflector which deflects some of the downwardly propelled cooling air radially outwardly from the cooling tube.

Abstract: The takeout has a cooling tube which oscillates within the bottle as the bottle is removed from the blow station of an I.S. machine and transferred to a deposit location.

Abstract: A takeout device (10) for transferring one or more, usually a plurality, of freshly-formed glass containers (C) from molds (18) of a section of an I.S. machine to a deadplate (20) of the machine. The takeout device has an oscillatable arm (12) that carries a head (14) from which a tong (16) for each of the containers is suspended. Oscillation of the arm is powered by a reversible, linearly-acting electrical motor (24), preferably an a.c. servo motor, that causes a rack (28) to reciprocate. The rack drives an oscillatable gear (34) that oscillatingly drives the arm. The motor is mounted at the top of a post (30) at an elevation above the elevations of the molds and the deadplate, and the motor, therefore, is readily accessible for maintenance and adjustment.

Abstract: Sweepout apparatus (10) for sweeping an aligned array of glass containers (C) from a deadplate (12) of a I.S. glass container forming machine to a conveyor (14) that runs transversely to the array of containers on the deadplate and serves to transfer the containers for further processing. The apparatus comprises a swivel portion (16 or 116) that is oscillatable in an arc of approximately 90° and a head (18) that is carried by the swivel portion and is reciprocable relative thereto, the head carrying an elongated bar (20) with a spaced plurality of pocket-defining fingers (22) that extend from the bar. The sweepout further comprises independently operatable first and second coaxial reversible electrical motors (30, 28), an output shaft (32) of the second electric motor (28) passing through an annular output shaft (56) of the first electric motor (30). Reversible motion imparted to the annular output shaft of the first electric motor causes oscillating motion of the swivel portion of the sweepout apparatus.

Abstract: Vertically aligned first (30) and second (32) combined blowhead and takeout mechanisms are provided to sequentially blow glass parisons (P) into containers (C) in a mold set (22) and to transfer blown containers to a deadplate (40) of a glass containing forming machine (20). Each of the combined mechanisms is pivotally suspended about an axis A from a carrier arm (36) that is pivotally attached to an end of an oscillating arm (38), an opposed end of which is pivoted about an axis (B). The axis (B) of each combined blowhead and takeout mechanism is periodically raised and lowered to permit the other combined blowhead and takeout mechanism to oscillate therebeneath, to thereby permit overlapping cycles between the blowhead and takeout mechanisms. Each blowhead and takeout mechanism is provided with a chuck or tong assembly (54) to engage or release each container by its finish (F).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reduce the total footprint of a press forming system for glass having a plurality of press units, and also to increase an actual availability of each press unit. A plurality of press units are arranged in two parallel rows and a first transfer robot is arranged at the center of the space between the two rows. In adjacent of the moving area of the first transfer robot, a palette changer is arranged. A tray in use is mounted on a first base of the palette changer and a stand-by tray before use is placed on a second base. Blanks and formed products are stored in the tray. Press units equipped with second transfer robots, respectively. In front of the press units, intermediate transfer points are respectively provided for temporarily storing a blank and a formed product.