Machine for the production of glassware articles by the press and blow process

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.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to glassware article forming machines, and 
more specifically to indexed rotary type, press-and-blow forming machines 
and a new method for the production of glass bottles, jars, tumblers, 
chimneys and seamless glassware articles. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Machines are known for the production of glassware articles by processes 
known as "blow-and-blow" or "press-and-blow." 
Glass bottles are commonly produced by the blow-and-blow process in a known 
I.S. forming machine, while jars tumblers, chimneys and similar glassware 
articles are normally produced by the press-and-blow process, either in 
known "hot molds" for seamed glassware articles, or, in "paste molds" for 
seamless glassware articles, and either in stationary type machines or in 
rotary type machines. 
Stationary press-and-blow forming machines are represented by one known as 
an E-Machine, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,552 to Martin. Usually, six 
stationary individual sections are disposed in a semicircular array, each 
section having a neck ring and a blank mold which receives a glass gob 
from a feeder through a stationary channel. Afterwards, the glass gob is 
pressed in said blank mold by a pressing plunger, filing both the neck 
ring and the blank mold, and forming a parison. Then, after the blank mold 
and pressing plunger are respectively withdrawn, the naked parison is 
retained supported by the neck ring, and is allowed to elongate under the 
action of gravity, and, by the reheating effect of the internal heat of 
the glass. A blow mold is then closed around said parison and a blow head 
is placed thereon to form the parison into the final article, which is 
then taken out of the machine. 
Such machines are commonly used for the production of articles of 
intermediate quality. Because of the machines particular geometry, long 
channels are required for feeding the respective stationary sections. This 
affects the thermal and physical conditions of the gob, due to scratching, 
deformation and cooling the gob, all which conditions affect the final 
quality of the finished article. 
While relatively high production can be obtained using such machines having 
a multiplicity of sections, those machines are limited to intermediate 
production runs. This is due to the cost of the individual sections, and 
the necessity of having a plurality of operators available to take the 
finished glassware articles out of the machine, for final finishing. 
The press-and-blow process in rotary machines, comprises the feeding of a 
molten glass gob through a neck ring, and into blank mold, usually through 
a short feeding channel. The gob is then pressed in said blank mold by a 
pressing plunger, to form a parison. The parison is retained by the neck 
ring to allow elongation of the parison by gravity, and, by the reheating 
effect of the hot glass. The neck ring normally is travelling on an 
indexed rotary carrier mounted on a vertical rotary shaft having a 
plurality of stations corresponding in number to the required number of 
blowing, take out, and mold cooling operations. The parisons are 
transported the successive forming positions by rotating the carrier with 
the parisons hanging from the neck rings. A partible blow mold, either 
stationary or travelling with the carrier, is then closed around the 
parison, and, a blow head is positioned on the blow mold, to blow the 
corresponding parison into the finished form of the article, at one or 
more blowing stations. The finished article is then released at a take out 
station by opening the blow mold and the neck ring and withdrawing the 
blow head. 
In these rotary machines, the parison formation (one or more parisons in 
single or multiple cavity) is usually carried out the same station as the 
charging station. 
The differences in geometry of the several types of rotary machines are 
dictated by the charging step, the pressing step, the reheating step for 
parison elongation, and, the blowing step. The corresponding time 
parameters can be handled in different ways and by the different types of 
machines, to produce: 
1. High quality articles at low a velocity of production, which 
economically allows short runs of production, and at low cost of tooling. 
Such a machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,449 to Martin, known as 
"System 7". That machine has a stationary pressing station including a 
pressing plunger and a blank mold (single or double cavity), and two 
forming stations spaced 180.degree. apart from each other, each comprising 
a neck ring, blow mold, and a blow head, travelling with a 180.degree. 
bidirectionally indexed rotary carrier. This machine produces high quality 
articles because of the minor manipulation of the glass gob through a 
short channel, and, its consequent fast charging. Notwithstanding the low 
velocity of production. This machine can produce a wide variety of 
articles, in short rum, and at a low cost of tooling. 
2. Intermediate quality, velocity and runs of production, at an 
intermediate cost of tooling, can be effected the machines disclosed in 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,062,668, 4,063,918, 4,152,132 and 4,152,133 of Zapia. 
Those machines have a stationary pressing station, and three stationary 
forming stations spaced 90.degree. apart from each other, each including a 
stationary blow mold. The neck rings and the blow heads travel on a 
90.degree. indexed rotary carrier. These machines produce only an 
intermediate quality of finished articles because, notwithstanding the 
fast and minor manipulation of the glass gob and the immediate pressing 
thereof, the reheating step and the necessary transportation of the naked 
parison to a stationary blow mold, can cause parison deformation due to an 
excessive manipulation of the parison. The parison is then subject to 
being pinched by the mold, with a consequent reduction in quality of the 
finished articles. Because it has to have several types of tooling such as 
blank molds, intermediate blank molds and blow molds, the machine is of 
intermediate cost. 
3. Intermediate quality, high velocity of production, and long runs at a 
high cost of tooling, can be effected by the machine disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. No. 1,979,211 to Rowe, known as Hartford H-28. That machine has from 
12 to 18 pressing plungers, blank molds, neck rings, blow molds and blow 
heads, which travel on a continuous rotary carrier. In order to increase 
the velocity of production, while maintaining the intermediate quality, 
the only alternative to this machine is to provide a plurality of 
self-contained tooling stations which, while the charging, pressing, 
reheating and blowing steps are carried out, are travelling on a 
continuously rotary carrier. The consequent expensive tooling makes this 
value only for very long runs of production. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVANCE IN THE ART 
On researching optimum distribution of the charging, reheating, pressing 
and blowing timing of the forming cycle in the "System 7" machine, 
applicant found that, in order to produce a very high quality of articles, 
at a higher velocity of production, and for short, intermediate and long 
runs of production at low cost of tooling, a compromise must be made 
between the number of stations and the performance time of the respective 
mechanisms. 
These findings leading applicant to the conclusion that it is highly 
desirable: 
1. To have a machine geometry that permits processing of a high velocity of 
gob cuts per minute, in order to maintain an optimum equilibrium between 
gob temperature, weight and form. 
2. To effect the charging step in such a way that the glass gob falls into 
the blank mold, in the shortest possible time, from a very short feeding 
channel, and, in a centered way, in order to avoid gob deformation. 
3. To effect the pressing step in the least time possible, and with proper 
coincidence between the blank mold and the pressing plunger, in order to 
provide an even distribution of the glass in the parison wall, thus 
avoiding "whirlwind" or "settlewave" defects therein, and avoiding excess 
heat loss. 
4. To provide controlled reheating and elongation of the parison, so as to 
permit an even distribution of the heat in the parison, and, obtain an 
even distribution of the glass before final blowing. 
5. To provide versatility in the duration of the article formation times, 
and better distribution of the reheating and blowing times, thus to 
provide for better distribution of the glass in the walls of the article, 
and a higher quality of the finished articles. 
Applicant has found that, if the blow molds are closed around the parison 
immediately the blank mold and the pressing plunger have been retired, 
then the danger is avoided of deformation of the parison during its naked 
transportation to the blowing stations and consequential pinching of the 
parison by the blow mold. 
The above advantages can be obtained; 
If the blank mold and pressing plunger are mounted on vertical guide rails 
so that they can be lifted and lowered respectively for the pressing 
operation, and, the gob feeding channel then just swing into coincidence 
with the blank mold for the charging operation; 
If more than one blowing station, preferably two, and consequently more 
than two forming stations are provided for the machine; and 
If the blow molds, with their corresponding blow heads, can travel with the 
neck rings on a 90.degree. indexed rotary carrier. 
Furthermore, in order to impart versatility of operation of the machine for 
a low velocity of production, if the blowing takes place immediately after 
charging and during transportation of the parison to the take out station 
at 90.degree. from the charging station, then the rotation can be carried 
out both clockwise and counterclockwise to form an entire article in the 
charging and pressing station and deliver a finished article at the take 
out station as the second position. 
These and other considerations lead applicant to conceive of a forming 
machine having a blank mold and a pressing plunger, mounted on vertical 
guide rails so that they can be lifted and lowered respectively into a 
centered coincidence with each other for a pressing operation, and a short 
gob feeding channel which swings to coincidence with the blank mold for 
the charging operation, all placed as a stationary parison forming 
station. Four forming stations are spaced 90.degree. apart from each 
other, and travel in a rotary carrier mounted on a 90.degree. indexed 
rotary shaft for an optimum distribution of time. Each forming station is 
equipped with a blow head, a neck ring and a blow mold so as to provide a 
first forming position coinciding with the parison forming station, and a 
second, third and fourth forming positions for reheating, blowing, and 
take out operations. 
In this way, after the parison formation, the parison is retained by the 
neck ring, and, after a short controlled reheating time for parison 
elongation, a blow mold is closed around said parison and it is 
transported to second and third forming stations placed 90.degree. apart 
from each other, wherein the parison is blown to the final form of the 
article, and then to a fourth station at the finished article is removed 
from the machine. 
A suitable process for the production of glassware articles by using the 
above described machine, may comprise feeding a molten glass gob from a 
glass gob feeder to a blank mold, then pressing said molten glass gob in 
said blank mold by a pressing plunger to form a parison in a stationary 
charging and parison forming station, then retaining the parison by a neck 
ring travelling around on a 90.degree. indexed rotary carrier comprising 
four forming stations, each having a respective neck ring, blow mold and 
blow head. A blow mold travelling on said rotary carrier is then closed 
around said parison retained by said neck ring in said parison forming 
station, and said parison is transported within said blow mold, to a 
second, third and fourth forming stations spaced 90.degree. apart from 
each other, to blow said parison within said blow mold to a finished form, 
to take out said finished article from the blow mold, and to cool the blow 
mold and neck rings, thus preparing it for another cycle of formation, 
and, repeating the same operation at each of the other three stations of 
the rotary carrier. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention, to provide a press-and-blow forming 
machine, and a method for the production of high quality glassware 
articles at a high velocity of production and at a low cost of tooling, 
for short, intermediate, or long runs of production. 
It is also an object of the invention, to provide a press-and-blow forming 
machine, comprising at least one glass gob feeding channel, a blank mold 
and a pressing plunger mounted at a stationary parison forming station, 
and four forming stations spaced 90.degree. apart from each other and 
mounted on a 90.degree. indexed rotary carrier, each forming station 
respectively comprising blow heads, neck rings and blow molds travelling 
on said rotary carrier, so as to provide a first forming position 
coinciding with the parison forming station, and second, third and fourth 
positions for reheating, blowing, and take out operations. 
It is also an object of the invention, to provide a press-and-blow forming 
machine, having the blank mold and pressing plunger mounted on vertical 
guide rails for a centered coincidence therebetween in the parison forming 
station, and having a short feeding channel swinging into coincidence with 
the blank mold for a centered glass gob feeding operation. 
It is another object of the invention, to provide a press-and-blow forming 
machine, permitting a wide versatility of operation processes. 
It is an additional object of the present invention, to provide a method 
for the production of high quality glassware articles, comprising the 
steps of forming a parison at a stationary parison forming station, 
blowing the parison at a first forming position coinciding with said 
parison forming station, and, at second third and fourth forming stations 
successively final blowing, take out of the blow molded article, and then 
cooling the mold. 
Another object of the present invention, is to provide a method of the 
above disclosed nature, providing more than one blowing station. 
These and other objects and advantages of the press-and-blow forming 
machine of the present invention will be apparent to those persons having 
ordinary skill in the art, from the following detailed description of the 
invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
A preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, 
comprises: a stationary parison forming station I, including a support 
base B and a vertical column C supported on the base B, which supports 
vertical guide rails R, and a blank mold 1 and a corresponding pressing 
plunger 2, respectively slide mounted on the lower ends and the upper ends 
of the vertical guide rails R, by support members S1 and S2. 
Respective fluid motors M1, M2 to impart to the supports S1, S2 respective 
upward and downward movements, coinciding with each other at a glass gob 
charging and pressing axis 0. 
A molten glass gob feeder channel 3 is mounted between said blank mold 1 
and said pressing plunger 2, and is vertically oscillated by a drive 
mechanism (not illustrated), in coincidence with operation of a glass gob 
feeder F and the blank mold 1 when the latter is driven to an upper 
position. 
A molten glass gob is fed into said blank mold 1, after which the pressing 
plunger 2 is driven down to press said molten glass gob fed within said 
blank mold 1, to form a parison P. 
A horizontal rotary table T, is supported on a casing FC supported on the 
support base B, the table providing first 1st, second 2nd, third 3rd and 
fourth 4th stations spaced 90.degree. apart from each other (FIG. 2). 
The table is centrally mounted on an indexed rotary vertical shaft RS, 
which extends parallel to the pressing axis 0 of the stationary parson 
forming station I, and which is driven by a motor M3 coupled to a 
transmission FT for imparting to the table an indexed clockwise or 
counterclockwise 90.degree. rotary movement. 
The table T is thus moved from a first forming position I coinciding with 
said stationary parison forming station, to second II, third III and 
fourth IV forming positions, providing for article finishing, take out of 
the molded article, and mold cooling operations. 
Each of said first, second, third and fourth stations of said rotary table 
T comprises a neck ring 4 supported on said rotary table T, the neck ring 
having parison gripping fingers GF to hold the parison once it is formed, 
and, to release it once an article A is finished. 
A partible blow mold 5 is held by an opening and closing mechanism AM, 
driven by a motor MS, both supported by a frame SF coupled to said rotary 
table T. The mechanism AM is operative to close said blow mold 5 around a 
recently formed parison P under said neck ring 4, and, then open it to 
release the article once it is finally blown to a finished form. 
A blow head 6 having a blow pipe BP, is supported by a support arm S6, 
coupled to a cylinder M6 retained on the table T. The cylinder M6 is 
operative to lift and lower said blow head 6 in relationship to the neck 
ring 4, to provide for blowing of the parison P, to form a finished 
article A, in one or more of said forming stations, preferable at said 
first, second and third forming positions, and then release the article at 
the take out position IV. 
A bottom plate 7 is retained by a support arm S7 coupled to an oscillating 
mechanism OM supported by the support frame SF of said table T. The 
mechanism OM is driven by a motor M7 for lifting the bottom plate up to 
the bottom of said blow mold 5, to form the bottom of the article, and 
then lower said bottom plate 7 once the finished article A reaches take 
out position IV. 
Cooling means (not shown) to provide cooling fluid to said blank mold 1, 
pressing plunger 2, and the feeding channel 3 in said parison forming 
station I, as well as to said neck ring 4, blow mold 5 and bottom plate 7, 
once the blow mold 5 has delivered a finished glassware article A in said 
take out position IV. 
An electronic control EM, NM, is provided for controlling the operation of 
the machine, and particular the drive motors and the transmissions. 
It will be understood that the blank mold 1, pressing piston 2, gob feeder 
channel 3, neck ring 4, blow mold 5, blow head 6 and bottom plate 7, can 
be multiplied for multiple cavity mold, and that the respective driving 
mechanisms can be designed to perform the actuation necessary for these 
mechanisms. 
The vertical guide rails R may be a pair of guide rails, for each of said 
blank mold S1 and the pressing piston S2, respectively. 
Control systems including digital valves and the like, can also be 
introduced to control the velocity profile of the pressing piston 2 and of 
the rotation of said rotary table T, as well as any other component which 
may need it. 
Also, cooling and heating nozzles can be conveniently positioned for 
cooling and heating particular zones of the parisons and finished articles 
as needed. 
A motor M4 can also be provided for rotating said neck ring 4, to rotate 
the article while hot, particularly when said blow mold 5 is of the paste 
mold type used for the production of seamless glassware articles. 
Manifolds and conduits are provided as necessary for feeding the fluids, 
either pneumatic or hydraulic, employed in the forming process. Also known 
elements can be provided in the blowing head 6, to provide a swirl blow 
for blowing the article. 
A new method for the production of glassware articles in accordance with 
the present invention, comprises a first forming step, including placing a 
first station of a rotary table T at a first forming position I coinciding 
with a parison forming station I, then closing gripping fingers GF of a 
neck ring 4 of said first station at said parison forming station 
simultaneously moving a glass gob feeding channel 3 into coincidence with 
a glass gob feeder F, and then feeding a glass gob G into said blank mold 
1. 
The glass gob feeding channel 3 is then removed, and the pressing plunger 2 
is slid down into the blank mold 1, to press said glass gob G, to form a 
first parison P filling said blank mold 1 and neck ring 4. 
The blank mold 1 is then moved downward, and the pressing plunger 2 is 
moved upwardly, the neck of said first parison P being gripped by the 
gripping fingers GF of said neck ring 4, and providing for a reheating and 
preliminary elongation of the parison. 
A partible blow mold 5 of said first station is then closed around said 
parison P under said neck ring 4, and the bottom plate 7 is placed under 
the blow mold 5. 
A puff of compressed air is then fed into said parison P at said parison 
forming station to initially expand the parison P within the blow mold 5. 
A second forming step includes rotating the rotary table T 90.degree., 
together with said blow mold 5 to a second forming position, and then 
repeating the same first forming step as described above, a second station 
of said rotary table T now having been placed in said parison forming 
station. A second parison is then formed at said parison forming station, 
during which time finish blowing of the first parison P is computed at the 
second forming position II. 
A third forming step includes rotating the table T and the blow mold 5 by 
another 90.degree. from the second forming position II to the third 
forming position III. The first forming step is then repeated in the third 
station of said rotary table T, which now is at the parison forming 
station I, to form a corresponding third parison P. The second forming 
step is then repeated for the second station of said rotary table T which 
now is at the second forming position to provide for final blowing of the 
second parison P to finally form the article. 
A fourth forming step includes rotating said rotary table T 90.degree. to 
place said first station at a fourth forming position IV. The first 
forming step is then repeated for the fourth station of said rotary table 
T, which is now at the parison forming station to form a fourth parison P. 
The second forming step is then repeated at said third station, and the 
third forming step is repeated at said second station. While the blowing 
head 6 of said first station is lifted, the mold 5 is opened, the bottom 
plate 7 is lowered, and said gripping fingers GF are opened to release a 
recently formed article in said fourth forming position IV where the 
article is partially cooled. 
Finally, the rotary table T is rotated 90.degree. to place said first 
station 1st of said rotary table T at the parison forming station I, 
during which a mold cooling operation is performed on the mold 5, neck 
ring 4, and the bottom plate 7, in readiness to repeat another cycle of 
formation.