Abstract: Optical glass preforms for use in subsequent molding processes for the production of lenses are produced which have a controlled peripheral edge wall geometry. Gobs of molten glass of predetermined weight and volume are dripped onto a lower mold surface. A pressing head including a sleeve and a plunger are lowered such that the sleeve surrounds the gob. The plunger is then depressed such that the upper mold surface of the plunger resides in a predetermined elevation above the lower mold surface thereby forcing the gob to conform to the cavity created within the sleeve and between the upper and lower mold surfaces. In such manner the sleeve serves as a form or exterior boundary for the resultant preform such that a preform is produced which requires no grinding or polishing prior to its use in subsequent molding operations.

Abstract: A machine for the production of glassware articles by pressing and blowing molten glass gobs fed from a glass gob feeder, comprises at least a blank mold and a corresponding pressing plunger, mounted at a stationary parison forming station, and four forming stations mounted around a 90.degree. indexed rotary carrier, each comprising a blow head, a neck ring and a blow mold, so as to rotate to a first forming position coinciding with the parison forming station, and to second, third and fourth forming positions spaced 90.degree. from each other, for reheating, blowing, and take out operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressing glass articles. A single mold may be utilized for each article being pressed. The plunger has a ring-like member movably attached thereto. After pressing, when the plunger is retracted from the plunger, the plunger retains the glass article thereon. The ring-like member is then lowered relative to the plunger, thereby removing the pressed article therefrom.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing glass containers in a section of an I.S. machine. A gob of molten glass is delivered to a blank mold to be formed into a parison. The formed parison is then transferred to a blow mold so that an initial blowing operation can be performed to stabilize the parison. The blow mold with the stabilized parison is then transferred linearly to a final station where the parison is blown into the container.

Abstract: In forming a plano-convex lens from a column-like lens blank by heating the blank to a temperature higher than the transition temperature thereof and by pressurizing an upper die with a closed space formed between the blank and the upper die, there are alternately repeated operations of pressurizing the upper die and stopping the application of pressure thereto. Through the control of the amount of displacement of the upper die, the maximum pressure of gas in the closed space at each pressurizing step is so controlled: as to be low according to the surface viscosity of the blank to the extent that no local concave deformation in the surface of the blank is produced; and as to be high to the extent that gas caught in the closed space is discharged at each step of stopping the application of pressure.

Abstract: A forming method of a glass product includes the steps of successively setting female press-molds on a gob feeding stage; feeding gob to the female press-molds at the gob feeding stage at predetermined intervals; successively transferring the female press-molds fed with the gob to a press-forming stage; press-forming the gob into a glass product at the press-forming stage; and removing the press-formed glass product at a product removing stage.

Abstract: A glass bottle production line comprising a bottle mold which has a plurality of mold cavities arranged in a predetermined order for forming bottles from glass parisons and for transferring the bottles to a conveyor in a predetermined sequence corresponding to the predetermined order of the mold cavities. The conveyor has a hot end portion and a cold end portion for receiving bottles from the bottle mold at an elevated temperature at the hot end portion and conveying the bottles to the cold end portion. A hot bottle inspector located at a fixed inspection station along the conveyor at the hot end portion non-touchingly inspects the bottles as the bottles are conveyed past the inspection station by the conveyor. A mold transfer signal and bottle detection signal are processed to determine the mold cavity used to produce the bottle detected at the inspector's station.

Abstract: Both blow-and-blow and press-and-blow plunger mechanisms for use in forming a parison from a gob of fluid glass in a individual section (IS) of a glassware forming machine are fully pneumatically controlled. Plunger and thimble pistons affirmatively position a thimble and a plunger in consistently repeatable positions during loading of the gob, counterblowing or pressing an initial opening in the parison, and transferring the formed parison. No springs or other mechanical components which are prone to cause inconsistencies or failures are employed. The plunger mechanism is preferably suspended from the frame of the IS by a plunger case assembly to avoid the problems associated with a support foot. The plunger case assembly allows the plunger mechanisms to be easily interchanged or replaced, to be adjusted to accommodate different types of operation and sizes and configurations of glass article produced, while still communicating pressurized air to the plunger mechanisms to achieve these effects.

Abstract: A forming process which utilize blown-blown technique has an initial phase, a transfer phase, and a finishing phase for producing a hollow glass object provided with a neck. During the initial phase all or part of the internal profile of the neck is molded by a mechanical element.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a glass container by a press-and-blow system wherein the glass container is provided with a reinforced inner surface. According to the inventive method, fuel gas or a gaseous boron or silicon compound is burnt or otherwise reacted inside a parison after the parison molded in the blank mold is transferred to the finish mold. The burning or other reaction of the fuel gas or gaseous boron or silicon compounds can be carried out just prior to the final blow-molding step in which the parison is blow molded into its final shape, simultaneous with the final blow-molding step, or just after the final blow-molding step. The apparatus of the present invention includes a finish mold provided with a blow head which includes a low selector valve. The low selector valve is open during combustion or other reaction within the parison and is automatically closed during the final blow-molding step by the pressure of the compressed air used in the final blow-molding.

Abstract: A plunger assembly for a glassware forming machine for use in forming parisons comprises a metal plunger with a small chamber at the nose portion of the plunger into which water is supplied when the plunger is in use, the water passing out through a pattern of small holes in the nose portion to provide a vapour barrier between the plunger and the hot glass. The plunger has an internal recess and is cooled by air supplied into the recess.

Abstract: A monobloc mold for making pressed glass containers having engraved volumetric indications has corresponding male and female die portions. The female die is engraved in the lateral wall with volumetric indications and is engraved in the bottom wall with specifications relative to the volumetric indications. The volumetric indications comprise at least one series of horizontal lines and a symbol corresponding to each series, and the specifications comprise for each series the corresponding symbol and a verbal description of the information revealed by the volumetric indications, so that the indications and specifications are imparted to a glass container formed by pressing in the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a glass product which comprises: a single glass gob feeding device for feeding a glass gob to a mold for forming a formed body; a press forming device for press forming the glass gob into the formed body of a predetermined shape; a formed body removing device; a plurality of carrier means on which the mold is loaded; and a transfer means for transferring and circulating the carrier means on which the mold is loaded in an order of the glass gob feeding device, the press forming device, the formed body removing device, and back to the glass gob feeding device; wherein, assuming a path is defined as a path for transferring and circulating the carrier means by the transfer means, a single path or a plurality of paths is or are provided for the single glass gob feeding device.

Abstract: A glass object having protrusions and/or recesses, for example a glass lid (1) with a handle (2), is produced in an IS machine by pressing molten glass from above in a mould with the cover of the mould, in a mould defined by said cover, by a shaping mould (11) and by a mouth mould (13) disposed under the shaping mould. When the glass lid is formed its handle projects downwards and lies in the mouth mould. SUbsequently the glass lid is transferred together with the mouth mould to the finishing mould (12) and is at the same time returned into a position in which the handle projects upwards in the finishing mould in which it is cooled supported by the finishing mould.

Abstract: Parisons of molten glass for subsequent moulding are molded in a mould cavity formed from one-piece lower portion (10), a dividable neck ring (14), and a dividable central mould portion (24). A gob of molten glass is introduced into a gov uide (58) so that the gob passes into the mould through the neck ring (14). A plunger guide (42) which serves to guide the plunger (26) through the neck ring (14) is introduced into the gob guide (58) and a plunger (26) is introduced into the plunger guide (42) so that the plunger enters the mould through the neck ring (14). During pressing of the glass, the guide (42) which serves to guide the plunger (26) through the neck ring (14) is pressed downwardly on to the neck ring (14). The guide (42) defines a sealing surface (54) of the neck portion (16) of the mould cavity.

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 cathode ray tube faceplate press having an indexing table rotatable around a column normal to the table and having circular array of female molds concentric with the column. Index speed of the table is optimized by a barrel cam drive cut to provide smooth acceleration and deceleration which can be tolerated by the molten glass in the molds. A cam dwell precisely registers the table work stations avoiding the need for register pins and the delays they introduce. Acceleration and deceleration peak at about the one-eighth and seven-eighths position of the drive cycle following a generally sinusodial form.

Abstract: Hot molds are internally cooled by providing a plurality of cooling passages having first and second opened ends, in the body of said molds; a plurality of blowing heads, each of which having an inner flow convertor defining an inner anular chamber and a central suctioning passage, and is coupled to the first end of a corresponding cooling passage, in order to provide a tangential flow of cooling air to said cooling passage causing a swirl cooling current therethrough, which is accelerated by an air current that is suctioned through the suctioning passage of the blowing head, and which afterwards is exhausted through the second end of said cooling passage; and cooling air feeding means correspondingly coupled to each of said blowing heads, providing a flow of cooling air to said blowing heads.

Abstract: A method for molding calcium phosphate type glass, which comprises pouring a melt of calcium phosphate into a mold, and cooling and solidifying it, wherein the mold contains boron nitride at least at the surface thereof.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a thermometer provides for a bulb being formed on the thermometer capillary, a bulb receptacle being formed on the lower envelope tube end and at least over part of the receptacle its inner contour exactly corresponds to the outer contour of the bulb. The thermometer capillary is then introduced into the envelope tube and the bulb is accurately fitted into the lower part of the receptacle. In the case of a thermoareometer, the receptacle particularly serves as a weight for receiving the necessary weight-providing material, such as copper or the like.

Abstract: Neck ring half (18,20) supporting arms (14,16) are mounted on carriers (10,12) therefor, in a parison transferring mechanism of a glassware manufacturing machine, by providing a stop (40) on each carrier at a predetermined height (x) relative to an axis (24) about which the carriers turn to move the neck ring halves and hence the parisons. As an arm slides into a mounting therefor on the carrier, a heightwise adjustable stop (44) on the arm contacts the stop (40) and thereby determines the height of the arm. Adjustment of the stop (44) on the arm can be carried out away from the machine so that machine down-time can be reduced.

Abstract: A parison mold portion (20) of a glassware forming machine, of the type having a parison mold (22) and a parison plunger (240), is provided with means for cooling the parison plunger (240). The means for cooling the parison plunger (240) includes a central cooling passage (258) that communicates with an end surface (246) and that extends longitudinally toward a nose (254), and a plurality of umbrella passages (162) that communicate with the end surface (246) radially outward from the central cooling passage (258), that are circumferentially spaced, and that intercept the central cooling passage (258) proximal to the nose (254).

Abstract: An operative member such as a blowhead (10) is moved between an out-of-the-way position thereof and an operative position thereof by moving means which comprises a vertical shaft (15), means for moving the shaft vertically and turning it about a vertical axis (14), and a support (18) for the operative member clamped to the shaft. The support (18) comprises an arm (20) on which the member is mounted and clamping means (30,34,38,40) to clamp the support to the shaft. Complementarily-shaped camming surfaces (22 and 36) of the shaft and the support urge the support into the correct orientation with respect to the shaft.

Abstract: An actuator for use in or with a glassware forming machine for pneumatically driving a member through a predetermined path, such member being, in one embodiment, a pusher cylinder for moving one or more glassware articles through a predetermined arcuate path. The velocity of the actuator is controlled according to a predetermined velocity profile and is effected by an electromechanical control means which controls the linear velocity of the piston of a pneumatic cylinder in one direction of motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing glass bottles and more specifically an apparatus and a method for forming parisons is disclosed. At least one blank mold defines a mold cavity having an opening at its upper end for receiving a premeasured gob of molten glass from a loading cavity member. A plunger having a volume of at least 15% of the volume of the mold cavity is completely extended into the mold cavity prior to the reception of the molten glass. The molten glass is moved downwardly from said loading cavity member into the mold cavity. Fluid force presses the molten glass against the walls of the mold cavity and against the extended plunger. The opening in the mold is closed by a baffle and the plunger retracted. Compressed air is applied through the neck of the parison to expand the parison outwardly against the mold cavity and a mold surface defined by the baffle means. The parison is then separated for further processing in the bottle making operation.

Abstract: A method of forming parisons in machines for making glass bottles which includes introducing a gob of molten glass into a blank mold, moving a cavity plunger to form a parison cavity and subsequently subjecting the gob to a predetermined pressure separate from the cavity plunger to apply pressure urging the molten glass into conformity with the mold.

Abstract: The manufacture of double-walled or multi-walled hollow bodies, especially of glass, is difficult in practice and entails great expense. According to the invention, the cavity formed between the walls of the hollow body is filled with auxiliary moulds or auxiliary mould parts which serve to mould the walls of the hollow body and which, after manufacture of the latter, can be removed from the cavities, especially by dissolving in a solvent, without destroying or even adversely affecting the hollow body.

Abstract: A method of forming glass bottles from a short parison is disclosed, which method includes the steps of mechanically elongating the parison in a blow mold to an extent that the exterior bottom of the elongated parison is near, but not at, the bottom of the blow mold cavity and subsequently expanding the elongated parison by vacuum on its exterior and/or by air pressure on its interior, and finally removing the blown bottle from the blow mold.

Abstract: A single mold and plunger set is programmed to form a parison within each of a plurality of neck rings which are continuously successively presented along a linear path. The mold, which is positioned below the linear path of said continuously successively presented neck rings, receives a charge of molten glass and accelerates in a direction parallel to said linear path to a speed commensurate with that of the continuously presented neck rings, and upon tracking with a particular neck ring, such mold moves vertically into engagement with a bottom portion thereof. Simultaneously, the plunger, which is positioned above said linear path, accelerates in a direction parallel with the movement of said continuously presented neck rings to a speed commensurate therewith, and upon tracking said particular neck ring moves vertically into engagement with an upper portion thereof so as to press form the charge of molten glass deposited within the mold into a shape determined by the shape of the parison mold and plunger.

Abstract: An improved pressing machine for hollow glassware comprising advancing means for advancing molds through a series of advance steps for molding one range of size of articles and for advancing the molds through advance steps of other distances for molding articles of other size ranges. For each size range of articles to be produced, the machine includes a group of glass discharging devices discharging molten glass into each of the molds and a plurality of pressing devices for molding the glass within the molds. These devices are spaced relative to each other by distances equal to the distance of advance of the molds from station to station. The pressing machine further includes a molding plate having an adaptor for mounting molds of different sizes depending on which range of sized articles are to be produced.

Abstract: The present invention is founded upon the fundamental discovery that anhydrous silicate materials can be formed into solid bodies which are hydrated or wherein the silicate structure is depolymerized by protonic reagents other than water. Such bodies can be produced by compression molding the anhydrous silicate material with water or other protonic reagent at elevated temperatures and high pressures.

Abstract: Glass or glass-ceramic vessels are formed with a pouring lip wherein wall portions of the vessel below the lip are of a thinner construction than the remaining wall portions so as to impede glass flow to the lip area and facilitate uniform glass flow to upper portions of the vessel during the forming process.

Abstract: In the hot forming of TV funnels from molten glass, heat is extracted from the glass in the moil area at a lesser rate than that in adjacent areas by providing relatively thin mold portions in such area and thereby producing more fluid glass which may be formed with lower pressing forces. Further, by reducing the wall thickness of the nose portion of a pressing plunger, internal cooling may be applied to such nose portion during the pressing cycle to cool such nose portion and contract it away from the moil area, and thereby prevent the formation of checks and cracks during plunger withdrawal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fusion and casting machine for the preparation of glass buttons for analysis.The machine contains an assembly of several heaters which moves with a precession motion imparting agitation to the content of the molten materials. When the materials are fused, agitation stops, flame goes out, moulds which were intially above the crucibles move under the crucibles, and the crucibles turn over and transfer their content into the moulds where solidification takes place. Perfect glass buttons are produced: these are stable, homogeneous, flat, smooth, bubble-free and need no further processing before the anaylsis.

Abstract: A glass article having relatively high degrees of surface smoothness, durability, and light transmissivity can be made by forming a glass comprising, in mole percent on an oxide basis, 70-80% SiO.sub.2, 8-18% Na.sub.2 O and/or K.sub.2 O, and 5 to 10% of ZnO and/or PbO; hydrating the glass under acidic conditions to include a water content of up to 12% by weight while reducing the alkali content; reacting the hydrated glass with a HF-containing solution to remove up to 30 weight % of the glass; dehydrating the glass, if necessary, to reduce the total water content to a range of 3 to 7 weight percent; and pressure molding the glass under conditions sufficient to impart an optical quality surface smoothness of a die to the glass surface.

Abstract: A method of making a glass die for moulding progressive concave-convex ophthalmic lenses of organic glass, i.e. of synthetic polymeric material, which have their convex surface of aspheric shape, wherein a glass blank for the die is formed with its convex surface of aspheric shape and is then supported on a support member having a concave spherical support surface while being heated to a temperature at which the glass deforms without flowing, so that the convex surface sags to conform with the spherical support surface and the aspheric character is transferred to the concave surface.

Abstract: A blown hollow glass object having an optical inner wall structure is produced by pressing a plunger against a heated glass blank which has been inserted into a hollow mold cavity. The plunger is configured to taper toward a narrower end in the direction in which the plunger is introduced into the mold cavity. After formation of the optical inner wall structure by pressing of the plunger against the glass blank, the plunger is longitudinally withdrawn. The optical inner wall of the glass object is formed as a result of a generally helically shaped molding pattern defined about the exterior surface of the plunger. The molding pattern is configured in such a way as to prevent deformation of the optical inner wall structure when the plunger is withdrawn.

Abstract: A pair of horizontal arms, pivotally supported on a common vertical axis at one end, is provided to hold the separable halves of a plurality of parison molds or a plurality of final shaping (blow) molds in a multi-gob glassware forming machine. The mold halves on each arm (which cooperate with the complementary halves on the other arm to define the mold cavities) are supported for limited movement relative to the arm, and at least one, or if preferred, each arm has a plurality of fluid pressure responsive means (such as a bellows or piston) which apply force to the associated mold halves when they engage the complementary mold halves.

Abstract: Fluorescent material for the optical frequency conversion of near infrared radiation from 0.85 to 1.06 .mu.m into visible radiation. The constituents of the material are (i) vitrifying fluorides of lead, beryllium and magnesium, (ii) devitrifying and activating fluoride of ytterbium and (iii) doping fluoride of erbium for a green and red response and doping fluoride of thulium for a blue response. The content of ytterbium fluoride controls the form of the material, either glassy ceramic or polycristalline. Proper preparation conditions allow to prepare either a glass material or a ceramic material.

Abstract: A method for treating blast furnace slag comprising cooling and solidifying the slag discharged from the blast furnace with an aqueous solution containing not less than 0.003% ferrous sulfate and/or ferrous chloride.