GB2232151A

GB2232151A - Transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine

Info

Publication number: GB2232151A
Application number: GB8911187A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Braithwaite
Original assignee: INT PARTNERS GLASS RES
Current assignee: INT PARTNERS GLASS RES
Priority date: 1989-05-16
Filing date: 1989-05-16
Publication date: 1990-12-05
Also published as: GB8911187D0

Abstract

A transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine, the transfer means comprising jaws 11 for supporting a glass object which has been at least partly formed from a gob of molten glass, actuating means 18 for moving the jaws 11 between a first position at which the jaws 11 engage and support the glass object and a second position at which the jaws 11 release the glass object, and rotary means 39 for rotating the jaws 11 while the jaws 11 are supporting the glass object. <IMAGE>

Description

TRANSFER MEANS FOR USE IN A GLASSWARE FORMING MACHINE This invention relates to a transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine.

U.S. Patent No. 4,255,178 discloses a glassware forming machine having three stations, namely a blank station at which parisons are formed, an intermediate station at which re-heating of the parisons takes place and a blow station at which the parisons are formed into articles of glassware. Three independent transfer means are provided for moving parisons from the blank station to the intermediate station, for moving parisons after re-heating from the intermediate station to the blow station, and for taking out a formed glassware article from the blow station to a deadplate.

A glassware forming machine having three stations is capable of forming articles of glassware at a substantially higher speed than a standard I.S. machine which has only two stations. Also, the three station glassware forming machine of U.S. Patent No. 4,255,178, by using three independently operable transfer means, is designed to enable each transfer means to effect its movement in the shortest practicable time compatible with the state of the glass during the movement of that transfer means.

However, it is found that difficulties still arise in connection with the transfer of a re-heated parison from the intermediate station to the blow station.

At the time of this transfer, the re-heated parison consists of glass which is in a plastic condition and which is therefore very soft, floppy and readily deformable. This is the desired condition of the reheated parison for immediate shaping in a blow mould, for example by the application of air under pressure within the parison. However it is extremely diffidult to move a re-heated parison which has these properties without the parison swinging as a result of the acceleration and deceleration of the transfer means and such swinging can cause deformation of the parison and consequential defects in the final article of glassware.

According to the present invention there is provided a transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine, the transfer means comprising gripping means for supporting a glass object which has been at least partly formed from a gob of molten glass, actuating means for moving the gripping means between a first position at which the gripping means engages and supports the glass object and a second position at which the gripping means releases the glass object, and rotary means for rotating the gripping means while the gripping means is supporting the glass object.

More specifically in accordance with the present invention there is provided a transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine, the transfer means comprising a movable member, reciprocating means for moving the movable member between first and second positions, a cylinder supported by the movable member, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, gripping means connected to the said piston and actuatable both to engage and support a glass object which has been at least partly formed from a gob of molten glass and to release the said glass object, and means supported by the cylinder for rotating the piston and the gripping means connected thereto while the gripping means is engaging and supporting the said glass object.

A transfer means in accordance with the present invention may be used as an intermediate transfer means of a three station glassware forming machine for transferring the re-heated parison from the intermediate station to the blow station. The gripping means of the intermediate transfer means may then be rotated during the transfer of the re-heated parison and it is envisaged that such rotation of the re-heated parison during transfer will minimize the effects of acceleration and deceleration on the re-heated parison during the transfer so that a straight parison, that is a parison which is substantially free from distortion, is presented for final forming in the blow mould.

A transfer means in accordance with the present invention may also be used as a take-out transfer means for taking out the formed article of glassware from the blow mould to a deadplate. When employed as a takeout transfer means, a transfer means in accordance with the present invention may be used to rotate a glassware article over the deadplate and thereby facilitate any final treatment of the formed glassware article for example a flame polish treatment of a glassware article having a glaze applied to its outer surface by a method in accordance with our European Patent Application No. 0 292 227 to provide an outer surface layer of the glassware article which is in a state of compression.

The present invention further comprehends a glassware forming machine including a transfer means as above set forth which has the feature that rotary means is provided for rotating the gripping means of the transfer means.

The present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a glassware forming machine in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatical exploded perspective view showing the three stations of the glassware forming machine of Figure 1 and indicating the rotation of two of the transfer means; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism for holding and rotating a parison while it is moved from an intermediate station to a blow station in the glassware forming machine of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism of Figure 3 showing in section part of the operating means for effecting rotation;; Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the take-out transfer tong mechanism for transferring a formed glassware article from the blow station of Figure 1 and rotating it over a deadplate; and Figure 6 is a plan view of the take-out transfer tong mechanism of Figure 5 showing in section part of the operating means for effecting rotation.

In the drawings the same or similar parts are designated by like reference numerals.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings a glassware forming machine, which may be an individual section of a multi-section glassware forming machine, has three operating stations or areas provided in spaced apart relationship along the longitudinal centre line of the machine, these stations being a first or blank station designated as A, a second or intermediate station B and a third or blow station C.

In the embodiment of the glassware forming machine illustrated, a gob of molten glass is formed into a parison at station A using a plunger 1 to press the gob in a parison mould formed by split blank sections 2, a solid blank portion 3 and a neck ring 4 illustrated in the exploded view of Figure 2. The parison is then transferred to station B by a neck ring transfer mechanism which is reciprocable between stations A and B as indicated diagrammatically by arrow 5 in Figure 2.

The two parts of the neck ring 4 are carried on a neck ring transfer carriage 6 (Figure 1) which is reciprocable along horizontal parallel guide rods 7, of which only one is visible in Figure 1, by a corresponding pair of piston and cylinder actuating means 8, of which again only one is visible in Figure 1.

In Figure 1 the neck ring transfer carriage 6 is shown at station B, where support jaws 9 are closed about the neck of the parison, which in the embodiment of the invention being described has a double bead finish.

The neck ring 4 is then opened and the parison transferred to the support jaws 9, so that the neck ring transfer carriage 6 may be returned to station A. When the neck ring transfer carriage 6 has returned from station B to station A, an intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 at station B is caused to lower its jaws 11 to a position where its jaws 11 may be closed about the parison finish to engage and support the parison at station B by the upper bead of its double bead finish when the support jaws 9 are subsequently opened.

As indicated by arrow 50 in Figure 2, the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 including jaws 11 is reciprocable between station B and station C. Arrow 55 in Figure 2 illustates that a take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 including tongs 13 is reciprocable between station C and a deadplate 14. As shown in Figure 1, both an intermediate transfer carriage 15, which supports the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 through an arm 20 and cylinders 16 carrying the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 are reciprocable along a pair of guide rails 17, of which only one is visible in Figure 1.

Piston and cylinder devices 18 reciprocate the intermediate transfer carriage 15 by movement of the pistons of such devices, whereas the cylinders 16 supporting the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 are parts of piston and cylinder devices and are movable about stationary pistons to move the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 between station C and the deadplate.

As further indicated in Figure 2 by arrows 60 and 66, the jaws 11 of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 and the tongs 13 of the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 are rotatable in order to rotate a re-heated parison held by jaws 11 and a formed glassware article held by tongs 13. The constructions of the embodiments of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 and the takeout transfer tong mechanism 12 having this rotary feature will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 and Figures 5 and 6 respectively of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figure 3, the support arm 20, which is carried by the intermediate transfer carriage 15, supports the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 through nuts 21, 21 which are adjustable on an external thread 22 on a main cylinder 23 of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10. Nuts 21, 21 enable the height of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 above the support jaws 9 at the intermediate station B to be adjusted.

Reciprocable within the main cylinder 23 is a piston 24 which is mounted on a piston rod 25. The upper part of the piston rod 25 carries external splines 26 but the lower part of the piston rod 25 is smooth and is sealed into a cylinder closure member 27 in a manner permitting rotation of the piston rod 25 within the stationary cylinder closure member 27.

Because the upper part of piston rod 25 which passes through the upper end of cylinder 23 is splined, the upper end of cylinder 23 cannot be sealed to the piston rod 25 and a separate closure assembly 28 is provided for preventing escape of the air pressure within cylinder 23. During reciprocation of piston 24 from its lowermost position shown in Figure 3, the upper splined part of piston rod 25 is contained within closure 28.

Carried at the lower end of piston rod 25 is a conventional tong or jaw support and actuating mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 29 which comprises a piston 30 movable in a cylinder 31 against the action of a spring 32 by the action of air introduced down a hollow circular shaft 33 on which the hollow piston rod 25 slides. The downward movement of the piston 30 within the cylinder 31 at the lower end of piston rod 25 causes pivoted links 34 and 35 to close the jaws 11.

Rotatably mounted between the upper end of cylinder 23 and the closure 28 is a worm gear 36 which has a circular internally splined aperture the splines of which engage splines 26 of piston rod 25. As shown in Figure 4, worm gear 36 is engaged by a worm 37 mounted on an output drive shaft 38 of a rotary air motor 39.

When a parison has been transferred from the neck ring 4 to the support jaws 9 at station B and the neck ring transfer carriage 6 has been returned from station B to station A, the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 is located at station B. The piston 24 is at the upper end of cylinder 23 of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10, and the jaws 11 are in their uppermost position indicated in Figure 1. Air is then introduced into cylinder 23 through air passage 40 (Figure 3) and the piston 24 is moved downward to the position shown in Figure 3, thus bringing jaws 11, which are open, to a position at which they may grip the upper bead of the double bead finish on the parison supported by support jaws 9. Jaws 11 are then closed in known manner so as to engage the parison and the support jaws 9 are opened also in known manner.

Rotary air motor 39 is then energized and worm 37 on the output drive shaft 38 of the rotary air motor 39 drives the worm gear 36 to rotate piston rod 25, the jaws 11 and the parison held thereby at a speed, for example, of 70 revolutions per minute. After a period during which re-heating of the rotating parison at station B has been permitted and any desired treatment of the parison at station B performed, the piston and cylinder devices 18 of the intermediate transfer mechanism are actuated to move the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 from station B to station C, the rotary air motor 39 continuing to rotate the piston rod 25, jaws 11 and the parison, which is in a soft and plastic condition, throughout the transfer of the parison from station B to station C. Rotation of the parison during this transfer minimizes distortion- of the parison as a result of the transfer movement.

When the parison is at station C, rotation of the piston rod 25, jaws 11 and the parison held thereby is terminated. A blow mould 45 (Figure 2) at station C is closed to support the parison in the blow mould for final forming, and the jaws 11 are opened to release the parison from the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 by removing the air pressure applied through the hollow shaft 33 and hollow piston rod 25. When the jaws 11 are open, air is introduced into cylinder 23 through air passage 41 to return the piston 24 from the lowermost position in cylinder 23 shown in Figure 3 to a position at the top of the cylinder 23. The intermediate transfer piston and cylinder devices 18 are then actuated to return the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 from station C to station B where the jaws 11 are above the path of travel of the neck ring carriage 6.

While the parison is being blown in the blow mould 45 to form an article of glassware at station C, a takeout transfer tong mechanism 12 including tongs 13 is moved from a position over the deadplate 14 to a position at station C where tongs 13 are above the blow mould 45.

The take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 which is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is in all essentials similar to the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 of Figures 3 and 4. The parts of the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 which correspond to parts of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals but with the addition of 100. The main differences between the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 and the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 are that cylinder 123 is substantially shorter than cylinder 23 and that a spring 142 is used to return piston 124 from its lowermost position in cylinder 123 to its uppermost position in cylinder 123.

The take-out tong support and actuating mechanism 129 is lowered at station C by movement of piston 124 to its lowermost position in the cylinder 123. The tongs 13 are then closed to grip the glassware article by the upper bead of its double bead finish. The blow mould 45 is opened and the piston and cylinder devices of the take-out transfer means are actuated to move the cylinders 16 of those devices and the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 carrying the formed glassware article from station C to a position over the deadplate 14.The hot formed glassware article is thus supported by tongs 13 over the deadplate 14 and, while so supported, rotary air motor 139 is energized with the result that piston rod 125 and tongs 13 carried thereby are rotated as a result of the rotating worm 137 driving the worm gear 136 and the inter-engagement of the internal splines on the worm gear 136 with the splines 126 on the piston rod 125. During rotation of the formed glassware article over the deadplate 14 a treatment of the glassware article may be effected or a final stage of a treatment commenced at the intermediate station B may be completed. An example of such completion of a treatment commenced at the intermediate station B is the flame polishing of a glaze applied to the parison at the intermediate station B in a manner and for the purpose described in our European Patent Application No. 0 292 227.

After an appropriate time the rotation of the formed glassware article over the deadplate 14 is terminated. The tongs 13 are then opened to release the glassware article on to the deadplate 14, the tongs 13 are raised, and the take-out transfer tong mechanism 12 is returned to station C.

Instead of providing support jaws 9 at the intermediate station B, the glassware forming machine may be constructed and arranged to operate such that the jaws of the intermediate transfer jaw mechanism 10 are effective to support a parison at the intermediate station immediately following a release of the parison at the intermediate station B by the neck ring 4.

The glassware forming machine herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings has single gob operation only, but the glassware forming machine incorporating the present invention may be constructed for double gob or triple gob operation.

The transfer mechanism of the present invention may also be employed in glassware forming machines in which the parison is formed by blowing in an inverted position and presented upright in either an intermediate station or a blow station. In the latter case the transfer means in accordance with the present invention will be utilised solely for take-out of the glassware article and rotation of the glassware article over the deadplate, for example for flame polishing the body of the glassware article.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine, the transfer means comprising gripping means for supporting a glass object which has been at least partly formed from a gob of molten glass, actuating means for moving the gripping means between a first position at which the gripping means engages and supports the glass object and a second position at which the gripping means releases the glass object, and rotary means for rotating the gripping means while the gripping means is supporting the glass object.

2. A transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine, the transfer means comprising a movable member, reciprocating means for moving the movable member between first and second positions, a cylinder supported by the movable member, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, gripping means connected to the said piston and actuatable both to engage and support a glass object which has been at least partly formed from a gob of molten glass and to release the said glass object, and means supported by the cylinder for rotating the piston and the gripping means connected thereto while the gripping means is engaging and supporting the said glass object.

3. A transfer means according to Claim 2 wherein the piston has a splined piston rod extension and wherein the means for rotating the piston comprises a rotary air motor operable to rotate a worm gear engaging a worm wheel mounted co-axially with the splined piston rod extension and having a central aperture carrying splines engaging the splined piston rod extension.

4. A transfer means according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 which further comprises guide rails on which the movable member is slidable for linear movement between the first and second positions.

5. A transfer means according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the gripping means is arranged to engage and support a parison, the reciprocating means comprises a piston and cylinder device, and the movable member is mounted to the piston of the said piston and cylinder device.

6. A transfer means according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the gripping means is arranged to engage and support a formed glassware article, the reciprocating means comprises a piston and cylinder device, and the movable member is mounted to the cylinder of the piston and cylinder device.

7. A transfer means for use in a glassware forming machine and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A glassware forming machine which comprises three operating stations which are, respectively, a first station including a blank mould for forming a parison, a second station in which re-heating of a parison takes place, and a third station including a blow mould for finally shaping an article of glassware, first transfer means including a neck ring structure and actuating means for moving the neck ring structure from a first position in which the neck ring structure engages a parison in the blank mould at the first station to a second position in which the neck ring structure releases the parison at the second station and returning the neck ring structure from the second position to the first position prior to the formation of another parison in the blank mould at the first station, second transfer means including first gripping means for supporting a parison, actuating means for moving the first gripping means between a first position in which the first gripping means supports a parison at the second station and a second position in which the first gripping means supports the parison in such a location at the third station that the blow mould at the third station can close around the parison, and rotary means for rotating the first gripping means, and a third transfer means including second gripping means and actuating means for moving the second gripping means between a first position in which the second gripping means engages an article of glassware at the third station and a second position in which the second gripping means holds the article of glassware at a take-out position beyond the third station.

9. A glassware forming machine section according to Claim 8 wherein the third transfer means further includes rotary means for rotating the second gripping means.

10. A glassware forming machine which comprises three operating stations which are, respectively, a first station including a blank mould for forming a parison, a second station in which re-heating of a parison takes place, and a third station including a blow mould for finally shaping an article of glassware, first transfer means including a neck ring structure and actuating means for moving the neck ring structure from a first position in which the neck ring structure engages a parison in the blank mould at the first station to a second position in which the neck ring structure releases the parison at the second station and returning the neck ring structure from the second position to the first position prior to the formation of another parison in the blank mould at the first station, second transfer means including first gripping means for supporting a parison and actuating means for moving the first gripping means between a first position in which the first gripping means supports a parison at the second station and a second position in which the first gripping means supports the parison in such a location at the third station that the blow mould at the third station can close around the parison, and a third transfer means including second gripping means, actuating means for moving the second gripping means between a first position in which the second gripping means engages an article of glassware at the third station and a second position in which the second gripping means holds the article of glassware at a take-out position beyond the third station, and rotary means for rotating the second gripping means.

11. A glassware forming machine comprising at least a first station at which a parison is formed from a gob of molten glass and another station at which a glassware article is formed by blowing the parison and a transfer means according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 for either moving the parison to the said another station or for taking out the formed glassware article from the said another station.

12. A glassware forming machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.