Abstract: A deposition system (20) for depositing a material layer on a glass sheet substrate includes a lateral alignment mechanism (28) for laterally aligning glass sheet substrates with an ingress seal (48) of a deposition station (22). The lateral alignment mechanism (28) includes a pair of banks (164, 166) of alignment members (168) spaced laterally with respect to each other along the direction of conveyance. Round alignment surfaces (170) of the alignment members (168) are located above conveyor rolls (96) upstream from the housing of the deposition station and are rotatable about associated vertical axes. A positioner (172) moves one of the banks of alignment members (168) laterally with respect to the direction of conveyance toward the other bank of alignment members to laterally align the glass sheet substrate along the direction of conveyance with the ingress seal assembly (48).

Abstract: Method of making polarizing glass having integral polarizing and non-polarizing regions is disclosed. The method involves applying a protective glass/frit material capable of blocking reducing gas to the surface of the glass to form a desired pattern, exposing the glass to a reducing gas atmosphere to render unprotected glass polarizing, and removing the protective glass/frit material to reveal underlying non-polarizing regions.

Abstract: A glass gob delivery system for conveying gobs of molten glass from an oscillating gob delivery chute to a blank mold of a glass container forming machine of the I.S. type. The delivery system comprises an elongate trough that extends downwardly from an inlet to an outlet and a deflector with an inlet near the outlet from the trough and an outlet near the blank mold. The trough has a cross-section in the form of an upwardly facing U whose opposed legs extend parallel or substantially parallel to one another, the spacing between the opposed legs tapering gradually from a greater spacing at the inlet to a lesser spacing at the outlet.

Abstract: A mold support frame assembly including a pair of mold support frames between which a connector extends and cooperates with to provide a thermally stable center. Each mold support frame includes a linkage extending between a pair of spaced legs and having a connection to a mold positioning member adjacent a centering location thereof so that thermal expansion and contraction takes place about the centering location. The connector includes a second mold positioning member that extends between the pair of mold support frames and has a second mold centering location. A second linkage extends between the pair of mold support frames and has a connection to the second mold positioning member adjacent its second mold centering location to provide thermal expansion and contraction of the second mold positioning member about its second mold centering location.

Abstract: A photochromic glass lens and method of producing such lens, the lens having a plus power and a composition consisting essentially of:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 54-58% Ag 0.20-0.33% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 18-22% Cl 0.30-0.50% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 7-8% Br 0.04-0.14% Li.sub.2 O 3.75-4.5% CuO 0.007-0.012% Na.sub.2 O 0-1% PbO 0-0.08% TiO.sub.2 0-2% Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-0.20% ZrO.sub.2 2-4.5% K.sub.2 O 5.5-7.5% ______________________________________and wherein the mole ratio of Li.sub.2 O:Na.sub.2 O is =>9:1.

Abstract: A method of handling articles in which at least one mechanical tool conveys the article or plays a part in transferring the article, and according to which at least one jet of gas under pressure is blown through a duct passing through the mechanical tool, and also according to which the article is held in position on the mechanical tool while limiting contact therewith, by means of the said jet of gas.

Abstract: A mounting structure for use in a glassware forming machine for moving an operative member, such as a funnel, baffle or blowhead, between an out of the way and operative positions. The machine comprises a vertical operating shaft and a parallel support shaft, and the mounting structure comprises a first link adjustably mounted on the operating shaft and a second link slidably mounted on the support shaft. The two links are both pivoted to a head and form a parallel linkage with it. A key and keyway, maintains the first link in a desired angular relationship with the operating shaft. The head is provided with a releasable device by which the operative member may be secured to the head in a desired angular relationship.

Abstract: A mold support assembly (28) includes a support (164) located within a heated chamber (22) and having a construction that reduces thermal expansion. A vertical guide (170) located externally of the heated chamber has a vertically movable connection (172) to the support (164) to permit vertical movement thereof at a horizontally fixed location. A mold support (174) for supporting a mold that provides forming of heated glass sheets is supported on the support (164) by support mounts (176) and is positioned by positioners (178,180) that provide a thermally stable center. The support (164) is constructed as a tubular support having fluid inlet (166) and a fluid outlet (168) through which a liquid coolant flows to reduce thermal expansion.

Abstract: There are provided tube-shaped glass monolith fabricating apparatus and method using a sol-gel process. In the tube-shaped glass monolith fabricating method using a tube-shaped glass monolith fabricating apparatus which has an upper mold including cylindrical portions of different sizes, a lower mold including a first lower cylindrical portion inclined toward the center thereof by a predetermined degree and a second lower cylindrical portion having a vacuum releasing hole, a cylindrical central mold for forming a tube-shaped glass, and a rod-shaped rod, the lower mold, the central mold, and the rod are assembled and a sol is poured in the central mold. Then, an unmixable liquid is poured on the sol, and the upper mold is assembled to the central mold. The sol is gelled in the central mold, the upper mold is removed, a cap is opened to release vacuum, and the rod is removed.

Abstract: A gob of molten glass from a gob delivery system is introduced into a blank mold of a glass container forming machine of the individual section type by way loading funnel immediately upstream of an opening into the blank mold. The loading funnel has an upper annular gathering portion in the shape of an inverted frustum of a cone and a cylindrical lower shaping and orienting section. The internal diameter of the shaping and orienting section is somewhat less than the outer diameter of a gob passing therethrough, to thereby contact the gob in a substantially circumferential pattern, and the shaping and orienting section has a length that is sufficient to precisely align the longitudinal central axis of the gob with a longitudinal central axis of the blank mold, to thereby eliminate or substantially eliminate the need to swab the interior of the blank mold with a mold dopant composition.

Abstract: A mold assembly (34) for cyclically forming heated glass sheets includes a lower mold (36) having an upwardly oriented mold face (356) and an upper mold face having a downwardly oriented mold face (56) that opposes the upwardly oriented mold face of the lower mold to form a heated glass sheet during movement of the molds toward each other. Alignment guides (122,124) align the molds (36,38) with each other as necessary during movement of the molds toward each other. Detachable connectors (362) detachably connect the molds to each other for installation and are disconnectable to permit the molds to be used for glass sheet forming. In one embodiment, the detachable connectors (362) are latches that include a latch member (364) and a keeper (366), and in another embodiment the detachable connectors are retainers (370) engageable and disengageable from the molds to provide their detachable securement.

Abstract: An invert arm assembly for a glass container forming machine of the I.S. type, the invert arm assembly having an opposed pair of invert arm segments that are movable toward and away from one another and define one or more neck ring assembly receiving apertures when the invert arm segments are disposed adjacent to one another. A neck ring assembly is placed in each aperture and is locked in place with respect to the invert arm segments. Each neck ring assembly can be removed from the aperture in which it is located by inserting a portion of a hand tool in a portion of the invert arm segments to unlock the neck ring assembly from the aperture without moving the invert arm segments with respect to one another.

Abstract: A gob distributor has an outlet from which issues a gob that is fed via a channel arrangement to a mold having an upwardly open inlet mouth. The channel arrangement has a central trough having an inlet adjacent and aligned with the distributor outlet and an outlet. This central trough extends downward from its inlet to its outlet. A deflecting trough has a generally straight upstream portion with an upper inlet aligned with the central-trough outlet and a downwardly directed lower outlet centered on a generally vertical axis and an upright downstream portion having a funnel-shaped and downwardly tapering passage also centered on the generally vertical axis and having an upper upstream end aligned with the upstream-portion outlet and a lower downstream end aligned with the mold mouth. An adjuster is connected to a hanger for displacing the downstream portion relative to the upstream portion to align the downstream-portion downstream end exactly with the mold mouth.

Abstract: A process for producing a polarizing glass containing shape-anisotropic metallic particles dispersed in an oriented state therein, which comprises drawing a glass preform containing metallic halide particles dispersed therein while its viscosity being held above 2.times.10.sup.6, but below 7.times.10.sup.7 poises; and subjecting the drawn glass to a reducing treatment so that a part or all of the metallic halide particles are reduced to metallic particles, which process enables it to produce a polarizing glass with a high yield from a starting material of a glass containing metallic halide particles, while avoiding glass to breakage or fracture during elongation as well as preventing the elongated metallic halide particles from returning to a spherical shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an optical device of a desired shape presses a heat-softened optical material using a set of molds. The optical material is aligned with respect to the molds by two or more aligning members which move around the center of the mold relative to each other. The optical material may also be aligned by inserting a pin into an aligning hole which is fixed to the mold body and has been aligned with respect to the molds.

Abstract: A process for producing a crystallized glass substrate for magnetic disks, including the steps of: (a) holding an amorphous glass plate having a uniform thickness and two principal flat surfaces thereof between a pair of pressing setters in a sandwiched fashion, which pressing setters are non-reactive with the amorphous glass and undeformable during heating for crystallization of the amorphous glass; (b) softening the amorphous glass plate in a sandwiched stack form by heating at a temperature above an annealing point of the amorphous glass, whereby the principal surfaces are fitted onto the flat surfaces of the pressing setters to rectify warping to flatten the amorphous glass plate; and (c) then, increasing the temperature to a crystal growth temperature to grow crystals within the amorphous glass, whereby the amorphous glass plate is crystallized as maintaining its warp-free state, followed by solidifying.

Abstract: A photochromic glass having colorant incorporated in the glass composition to impart a permanent tint, and having its chromaticity point shifted from the blue-green side toward the red side of the white point in the CIE chromaticity coordinate system, and a method of producing such article by heating the article for a sufficient time, and at a sufficient temperature, in a dilute, hydrogen-containing atmosphere to so move the chromaticity point.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens of photochromic glass having an R.sub.2 O-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -B.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2 base glass composition and a method of producing the lens. The lens contains precipitated cuprous halide crystals that are elongated and oriented, whereby the lens is capable of polarizing light when the lens is in the darkened state. If at least a portion of the crystals in at least a surface layer on the lens are reduced to copper metal, the lens exhibits a permanent dichroic behavior. The lens provides effective polarization of radiation across the entire visible wavelength region of the spectrum, has a sharp spectral cutoff for radiation below the 400 nm wavelength, thereby eliminating UV transmission, and has a transmittance not over about 40% in the darkened state.

Abstract: Cuprous halide- or a cuprous-cadmium halide-containing glass articles are produced which are essentially completely opaque to ultraviolet radiation and can De essentially completely opaque to radiation within the region of wavelengths of up to 550 nm, but are transparent to visible radiations having a wavelength longer than the radiation within the region of opacity. The method involves exposing the glass articles to a hydrogen gas-containing atmosphere at a temperature between about 375.degree.-500.degree. C. for a period of at least 18 hours to develop an integral reduced layer in at least one surface of the article having a depth effective to prevent the transmission of ultraviolet radiation and radiation having a wavelength up to 550 nm through the article.

Abstract: A UV-absorbing, polarizing glass article and method of making, the glass having an R.sub.2 O-B.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2 base glass composition, a sharp spectral cut-off at about 400 nm, a precipitated crystal phase consisting of a halide selected from the group composed of cuprous, cadmium and mixed cuprous-cadmium halides, the crystallites in the crystal phase being elongated, and a portion of the crystallites near the surface of the article being at least partially reduced to colloidal copper, whereby the article exhibits permanent dichroic behavior.

Abstract: Mechanism for moving an operative member such as a blowhead funnel or baffle in a glassware forming machine comprises a piston rod on which the operative member may be mounted and two piston heads on the rod which may be operated independently of each other, one to cause axial movement of the rod and the other to cause rotation of the rod.

Abstract: A mold assembly support (10) is disclosed for providing a self-aligning thermally stable mold support in a glass sheet forming system (12) wherein a reference point within the glass sheet heating furnace (14) is connected to a geometric frame of reference outside the furnace (14). The mold assembly support (10) includes a frame (40) including mold registering members (52,54) which define a stable thermal reference point within the furnace which is maintained in an unchanging relationship with respect to the geometric frame of reference outside the furnace (14) along a glass sheet heating furnace substructure (16).

Abstract: A method of and device for curving a glass sheet, in which the glass sheet is brought through a reheating furnace by a conveyor defining a substantially horizontal transportation plane, and is then taken over by a tool, by means of which the glass sheet is curved and/or transferred to a curving and/or discharge device. The effective position of the glass sheet is detected and the taking-over tool is repositioned as a function of the effective position.

Abstract: A plunger/ring apparatus for press-forming articles of glass, or other formable materials within a mold is disclosed. The disclosed plunger/ring apparatus is provided with a plurality of spring loaded segments which extend outwardly from the plunger to coact with engineered passageways located upon the inner wear surface of the ring to form a seal in the plunger/ring interface area in which air, but not the material to be press-formed, may pass to and from ambient upon press-forming the formable material. An alternative embodiment is also disclosed in which the engineered passageways are located upon the wear surfaces of the segments and with optional additional passages located upon the upper periphery of the plunger.

Abstract: In a mold apparatus, the receiving molding surface and the opposing molding surface are each mounted coaxially and in sliding fashion within an alignment means. Both of these alignment means have an equal number of spaced apart alignment pads which are positioned such that opposing pads will be in cooperable engagement with each other during pressing.Utilizing the disclosed apparatus, a method for molding precisely shaped articles, such as magnetic memory disc substrates which require precisely parallel, opposite molded surfaces, is described. Simply stated, the method utilizes the alignment pads' thermal expansion characteristics to induce a controlled level of thermal distortion to obtain pad lengths which result in parallel opposing molding surfaces.

Abstract: A bending furnace for glazings comprises several heating cells, a station for bending by pressing, at least one cooling cell and a system for intermittent transport of glazings. The glazings are laid on bending rings (2), mounted on mobile carriages (3), coupled to one another in a train. The train is pulled by a pulling machine installed at the end of the furnace and outside the latter. The point of application of the pulling machine which moves carriages (3) and the length of the travel of this pulling machine are controlled as a function of the temperature to take into account the variation of length of the train. The precise positioning of the carriage in the pressing station is obtained by a detector (27) joined to pivoting stops (28, 36).

Abstract: A glass sheet bending apparatus (10) for bending glass sheets about a thermally stable reference is disclosed as including a mold shuttle (20) having a receptical member (22) providing a thermally stable reference point or center with respect to a glass sheet heating furnace (14) and an upper mold support including pin (62) cooperable with the first receptical member (22) so that a glass sheet can be accurately bent between molds (34, 32) mounted on the mold shuttle (20) and upper mold support (26) respectively. An upper mold support actuator (40) includes a second registering member (42) engaging a first registering member (28) of the upper mold support (26) for raising and lowering the upper mold support (26) and disengaging the upper mold support to allow relative movement between the actuator (40) and upper mold support (26) so that the same thereby realign and engage in a newly established registration during subsequent lifting of the upper mold support (26).

Abstract: In an apparatus for bending glass panes in a horizontal position, comprising an upper bending mold and a lower frame-shaped mold, the bending force exerted by the bending mold is determined by the self-weight of the bending mold. In order that a uniform pressure shall be exerted by the upper bending mold on the entire periphery of the lower frame-shaped mold, the upper bending is mounted displaceable on its guide rods relative to them in a vertical direction and variable in its angular position relative to the guide rods. To achieve the desired relief of weight of the bending mold, the guide rods are suspended by cables from a frame which can be lowered. On the frame, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are disposed, which each exert, via a pulling cable acting on a guide rod, an adjustable force in the opposite direction to the self-weight of the bending mold.

Abstract: A process for preparing a surface-darkened glass is disclosed. In the first step of this process, a specified silicate glass which contains a minor amount of antimony trioxide is provided. Thereafter, this glass is heated to a temperature of from about 350 to about 1,000 degrees Celsius while being contacted with hydrogen-containing gas. The presence of the antimony trioxide in the glass facilitates the darkening of its surface.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for making tinted photochromic glass articles having an integral reduced surface layer exhibiting color, the glass utilizing silver halide crystals as the photochromic agent. The method generally comprises heat treating the glass article in a heating chamber in an atmosphere of flowing hydrogen at temperatures below 500.degree. C.

Abstract: Photosensitively opacifiable glasses requiring very short exposures to ultraviolet radiation to effect the development of opacity are processed by heating to nucleate Ag followed by cooling to nucleate NaF on the Ag followed by heating to grow the NaF. The glasses contain, expressed in terms of weight percent on the oxide basis, about 14-18% Na.sub.2 O, 0-6% ZnO, 6-12% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-5% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 65-72% SiO.sub.2, and 0-0.2% Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, and 0.007-0.04% Ag, 0.008-0.05% CeO.sub.2, 0.7-1.25% Br, and 1.5-2.5% F as analyzed in the glass, the sum of those components are at least 90% of the total composition.

Abstract: A holder for the mold halves of an IS machine for making hollow glass articles and parison or finished molds thereof, has an addition to the rockers allowing X-axis compensation for irregularities in the mold halves, a compensating device which affords compensation for irregularities with respect to a Y-axis and thus permits adjustment of the ends of the mold halves with respect to one another. The compensating device utilizes a vertical pin from which an arm projects to pivotally carry a vertical compensating lever whose upper and lower ends are pivotally connected to cover plates which, in turn, are connected to the respective mold half.

Abstract: A process for preparing a surface-darkened glass is disclosed. In the first step of the process, a specified alkali alumino-borosilicate glass which contains a minor amount of antimony trioxide is provided. Thereafter, this glass is heated to a temperature of from about 350 to about 1,000 degrees Celsius while being contacted with hydrogen-containing gas. The presence of the antimony trioxide in the glass facilitates the darkening of its surface.

Abstract: An air conduit is carried by each pocket of a ware handling device to direct air under pressure towards the corner of the pocket which is to receive a container. The source is cylinder air which is fed through a hole in this piston/rod to the ware handling arm.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for molding glass articles. A first pressing of glass preform within a mold is carried out at a first pressing position, when the glass preform has its viscosity within a range of from 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.9.5 poises. The mold having accommodated therein the pressed glass is transferred from the first pressing position to a second pressing position where a second pressing is carried out with respect to the pressed glass within the mold when the pressed glass has its viscosity within a range of from 10.sup.10.5 to 10.sup.12 poises.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the preparation of glass articles exhibiting a relatively broad band of high contrast polarizing properties in the infrared region of the radiation spectrum from glasses containing silver halide particles selected from the group consisting of AgCl, AgBr, and AgI. The inventive method comprises the following five general steps:(a) melting a batch for a glass containing silver and at least one halide selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, and iodide;(b) cooling and shaping said melt into a glass article of a desired configuration;(c) subjecting said glass article to a temperature at least above the strain point, but not in excess of 75.degree. C. above the softening point of the glass, for a sufficient length of time to cause the generation of silver halide particles therein selected from the group consisting of AgCl, AgBr, and AgI, said particles ranging in size between about 200-5000 .ANG.

Abstract: An assembly for preventing a flanged finish on the neck portion of a glass container by permitting continuous engagement between the neck ring and the guide ring even though the guide ring is subject to wear and by forcefully maintaining this continuous engagement with a spring urged centering sleeve which extends through a bore in the neck ring to engage the bottom of the guide ring. The neck ring includes a stepped interior annular groove into which a guide ring having an outer stepped annular portion is received. While the total height of the guide ring corresponds to the total height of the groove of the neck ring, the upper surface (70) of the bottom step (72) of the guide ring establishes a selected clearance (Z) with the upper surface (74) of the bottom portion (66) of the neck ring groove so that the continuous engagement can be maintained as the top surface of the guide ring wears.

Abstract: The mechanism supports mould side portions (10;110) on an upper support (50;150) and a lower support (52;152) both mounted on an arm (14) for limited movement in a horizontal plane. A force apportioning member (62;162) is mounted on the arm and pivotally engages both supports. The force apportioning member (62;162) pivots on a horizontal axis between the supports to apportion mould closure force between the supports. The pivots may be provided by spherical bearings (64,70;164;170).

Abstract: A process for the production of a glass by the vacuum melting method using silica as a raw material is disclosed, comprising filing a silica fine powder in a suitable vessel, heating it in the presence of an accelerator for phase conversion to obtain a porous formed body consisting of a cristobalite phase, and then heating and melting the formed body in vacuo. According to the present invention, a transparent and active glass having a high quality can be produced at an inexpensive cost.

Abstract: Mould side portions (10; 110; 210) of three moulds are supported by a mechanism arranged to equalize mould closure force between the three moulds. Three mould side portions are supported by a triple support (50, 52; 150, 152; 250; 350) centrally pivotally mounted. The opposed mould side portions are mounted two on a double support (32; 232; 332) which is pivoted on a pivot (24; 224; 324) aligned with a line passing centrally between the center mould and one of the other moulds and one on a single support (40, 42; 240; 340) which is pivoted on a pivot (26; 226; 326) aligned with the center-line of the other of said other moulds.

Abstract: A metod for making a photochromic glass article exhibiting a surface color pattern wherein a silver halide-containing photochromic glass article is treated by exposing at least a portion of the surface thereof to a patterned heat source for a time sufficient to raise the temperature of at least a part of the exposed portion above about 450.degree. C., is described. The glass may be exposed to the patterned heat source either before or after thermal reduction coloring. Patterned heating to a temperature in the transformation range of the glass is used where a post-patterning thermal reduction coloration step is to be used, in order to render the glass resistant to reduction coloration in the patterned area.

Abstract: This invention relates to a glassware forming machine of the type comprising a pair of carriers each pivoted on a first generally vertical axis for swinging movement toward and away from each other between an open position and a closed position, and a set of at least three mold members carried by each carrier, each mold member on each carrier being related to a mold member on the other carrier so that, with the carriers in their closed position, each mold member on one carrier mates with a mold member on the other carrier to define a mold cavity for molding an item of glass. The improvement involves a holding assembly on each carrier for holding a respective set of mold members.

Abstract: An optically activated bleaching process effective to permanently modify the color of surface-colored silver halide-containing photochromic glasses produced by thermal reduction treatments is described, wherein the glass is coincidentally exposed, for an effective time interval, to (i) a source of high energy light and (ii) a heat source. The process reduces the relatively strong absorption peaks characteristic of the initially colored glass, resulting in a permanent bleached appearance.

Abstract: A plunger assembly is provided wherein the precise centering of the perforated section of the cooling tube within a plunger of an I.S. type glass forming machine is achieved by securing the cooling tube to the plunger. The base of the plunger has a recess which wedgingly receives a plurality of equally spaced wedge elements secured to an annular collar fixed to the cooling tube. The wedge elements are sufficiently tall that they will extend beyond the plunger base, thereby defining exit openings through which plunger cooling air can be discharged.

Abstract: The casing for a cylinder in an I.S. glassware forming machine is displaced with the kick-up basket and strikes the neck ring assembly in the event there is any misalignment therebetween. The plunger holder and a float cover move laterally as one due to float clearances defined between the float cover and the top cap of the spring retainer, and between the plunger holder and the adapter assembly, and between the cooling tube, which is connected to the plunger, and the bore of the locking bolt which secures the adapter assembly to the piston.

Abstract: In a press-molding device for lenses, an upper surface of a drag is formed into a molding surface, and a lower surface of a cope is formed into a molding surface. An inner peripheral surface of a guide mold portion is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the drag, and has an axial length longer than that of the outer peripheral surface of the drag so that the inner peripheral surface extends upwardly from the molding surface of the drag. The cope is capable of sliding along the inner peripheral surface. A pressure plate is in contact with an upper surface of the cope before pressing, and is abutted against the upper surface of the guide mold portion by the pressing. A glass preform to be molded is arranged between the molding surfaces of the respective cope and drag. The cope is pressed from above through the pressure plate, thereby molding the glass preform to a lens. The guide mold portion may be divided into a pair of upper and lower portions.

Abstract: A method for modifying surface coloration in silver halide-containing photochromic glasses developed by thermal reduction treatments is described, which method comprises subjecting the glass, prior to the coloring thermal reduction treatment, to a silver ion exchange treatment during which silver ions are introduced into at least a portion of the surface of the glass article. Subsequent thermal reduction of the silver-containing surface portion of the glass provides novel colors and/or color patterns therein.

Abstract: The apparatus is arranged to hold side portions of three equally-spaced moulds. The apparatus comprises two holders (2 and 4) for opposite side portions of the moulds. One holder (2) comprises a support (12) on which moving means for moving the holders to open and close the moulds acts, a first carrier (16) for one side portion pivotally mounted on the support (12) and a second carrier (18) for two side portions pivotally mounted on the first carrier (16). The pivotal connections between the support (12) and the first carrier (16) and the first (16) and second (18) carriers are separated by half the mould spacing to balance the mould closing force between the three moulds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding precision optical quality glass elements having complex and concave surfaces requires the apportionment of relative movement between two opposing mold surfaces. First and second molds are contained within a floating alignment sleeve, thereby defining a mold cavity within which an essentially arbitrarily-shaped glass preform is placed. The first mold is moved in the alignment sleeve until stopped by a calibrated standoff. Thereafter, pressing is continued with the second mold moving in the alignment sleeve until opposing surfaces are completely formed at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A device (10) for registering together two cooperable glass article handling components (12,14) is disclosed as including a first registering member (16) on one of the handling components and a second registering member (18) on the other component. The registering members (16,18) are movable toward one another in a direction of registration A,A' and one of the registering members includes fixedly spaced rollers (20) for engaging the other registering member with rolling contact to provide registration between the handling components (12, 14) during glass article handling.