Patent ID: 7685842
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
1. An invert mechanism for a glassware forming machine, which includes: a support frame having a base adapted removably to be mounted on a forming machine frame, a linear actuator suspended from said support frame, a linear gear rack extending from said actuator within said support frame, a hollow shaft having a central portion carried for rotation on said support frame and oppositely extending end portions with axial external splines and open ends, a gear coupled to said central portion of said shaft for corotation with said shaft, said gear having external teeth coupled to said gear rack, a pair of ball nuts disposed on respective end portions of said hollow shaft and coupled to said external splines so as to be axially movable along said end portions of said hollow shaft and rotatable therewith by way of said external splines, a pair of hollow pneumatic pistons respectively disposed on said ball nuts and enclosing opposed ends of said shaft, invert arm mounts respectively disposed on said pistons, a spring disposed within each of said pistons and operatively extending between said pistons and said end portions of said shaft to bias said pistons to positions adjacent to said support frame, and an air inlet on said support frame adjacent to said gear, said gear having an air passage for coupling said air inlet to said hollow shaft at least one angular position of said gear and said shaft to feed air through said hollow shaft to said pistons and thereby move said pistons and said invert arm mounts away from said support frame, said mechanism being adapted to be mounted as an assembly to the machine frame by means of said support frame wherein the assembly includes the linear actuator suspended from said support frame and the linear gear rack extending from said actuator within said support frame.