GLASS CONTAINER FORMING PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a glass container in a blow-and-blow process. The apparatus includes air flow controller (84) having a housing (86, 88, 90) defining a chamber (98), a piston (96) disposed for reciprocal movement from a first position to a second position within the housing for moving slide block (94) therein, first (108) and second passages (106) extending through slide block (94), a first port (110) in flow communication with first passage (108) and transducer (120) when piston (96) is in its first position to create a negative air flow through first passage (108) and first port (110) when pressurized air flow is induced through transducer (120) to draw a vacuum beneath a gob in a blank mold to a form a finish in the gob and sweep debris away from the gob and blank mold, and a third port (112) in communication with second passage (106) and first port (110) when piston (96) is in its second position to provide pressurized air to the gob.

Description: GLASS CONTAINER FORMING PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT Background of the Invention This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/015,342, filed April 19, 1996. In the commercial production of glass containers by use of an I.S machine, it is common to employ what is known in the mdustrv as the "blow-and-blow" process for sequentially forming glass containers. A vertically-oriented plunger mechanism is used in combination with a blank mold to achieve initial shaping of a glass parison. The parison is a deformable gob of molten glass which is dropped, vertically downward, into the cavity of the blank mold whereupon pressurized air is applied downward onto the parison to cause it to conformably fill the lower portion of the blank mold cavity. The foregoing step in shaping the parison is commonly referred to as the "settle blow". At the lower end of the blank mold is a neck ring for shap¬ ing what will become the container lip end or neck. Immediately following the aforementioned settle blow, an upwardly directed pressurized air flow or "counter blow" is directed through the neck ring to cause the parison to fill out the blank mold cavity and assume the general shape of a glass container. During the initial downward insertion of the parison into the blank mold, a funnel is normally disposed at the upper end of the blank mold to facilitate entry of the parison into the mold, after which the funnel is replaced by a baffle to close off the upper end of the blank mold except for air channels through the baffle which direct the downward pressurized air flow during the settle blow step. The baffle remains in place during the upward counter blow, and the counter blow results in the full shaping of the parison. Following the counter blow step of the blow-and-blow process, a mechanical transfer of the formed parison occurs, moving it from the blank mold to an adjacent blow mold where reheating and final forming of the parison to the desired container shape, consistent with the blow mold cavity, occurs. An inherent problem in the use of the blow-and-blow process is the continued formation of glass particulate debris in the area of the neck ring. Such debris becomes entrained in the air flow and may become embedded in the parison or form a build-up in the air flow channel of the plunger mechanism. Another inherent prob¬ lem in the blow-and-blow process, particularly in the production of narrow neck containers, is the inability to consistently produce glass containers free of settle wave and with uniform lightweight glass distribution in the container. This problem has usually been addressed in the industry by using equipment specifically designed to produce containers by a process known as "NNPB", or narrow neck press and blow. Obtaining the speed, efficiency, and product consistency of the NNPB process through an improved blow-and-blow process has con¬ tinued to be a goal which has until now eluded glass container manufacturers . Summary of the Invention The present invention addresses the foregoing problems and presents an improved blow-and-blow process for the initial molding of a parison in a blank mold wherein the settle blow step of the process is considerably more efficient, and the removal of particu- late debris is constant and in a direction always away from the parison whereby the number of flawless containers formed in the operation of the I.S. machine is significantly increased. More specifically, the present invention provides for utili¬ zation of a vacuum within the throat or air flow tube structure of the plunger mechanism of the I.S. machine, during the sequential steps of the blow-and-blow process, whereby initial shaping of the parison in the blank mold is more positive and consistent and is accompanied bv air sweep debris removal in a direction away from the parison. The vacuum step of the process herein disclosed is prefer- ably practiced in combination with a plunger mechanism in an I.S. machine which has the improved internal tube structure as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,358,543. Such structure provides a relatively smooth air passage surface and eliminates interfering ledges and seals which in the prior art acted as entraining surfaces for particulate debris carried by the air flow. The means of creating a momentary negative pressure, or vacuum, on the down side of the parison during the blow-and-blow operation is facilitated bv the use of a transducer device adapted to utilize pressurized air flow to create suction by aspiration from the central tube structure of the plunger mechanism at the appropriate instant in the blow-and-blow cycle. By use of the transducer, vacuum is induced at a location immediately adjacent the plunger mechanism, obviating the need for a remotely located suction pump, and the same compressed air source that is used currently to press the parison downward during the settle blow step of the bottle forming cycle and to impart the upward pressurized air flow during counter blow can be momentarily channeled through the transducer to evacuate the central tube structure of the plunger mechanism as a incident of the counter blow. The invention disclosed herein comprehends a unitized valve structure which serves as an air flow controller or converter and includes a transducer assembly or vacuum sleeve which acts to convert a positive air flow pressure to a negative air flow whereby a partial vacuum is drawn, in accordance with a timed sequence, in the throat or tube structure of the plunger mechanism of the I.S. machine. Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings Figs. 1-3 are illustrations of the initial delivery and forming of a glass parison m a blank mold. More specifically, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the first step in forming a parison into a container, Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a parison having undergone the settle blow in a blank mold; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but illustrating the parison after it has undergone the counter blow of the blow- and-blow process. Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section illustrating the internal structure of certain glass container forming equipment commonly referred to as a "plunger mechanism" in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view m vertical section illustrat¬ ing the upper end of a plunger mechanism as shown m Fig. 4 but in operative mated combination with a blank mold, and having the components positionally disposed as they appear during parison gob loading of the blank mold; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the same components shown in Fig. 5 and illustrating a relative component positioning during the counter blow step in a blow-and-blow container forming operation; Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section illustrating a plunger mechanism of the type first shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but providing greater detail of the structure and its mated blank mold, and a transducer in combination therewith for inducing a vacuum in the internal tubing structure of the plunger mechanism in accordance with the method of the present invention, Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of an air flow control device for use in practicing the process or method introduced by the present invention, Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the air flow controller device first shown in Fig. 8 but here shown on a smaller scale and taken from a viewpoint facing toward the hidden corner at the left end of the structure first shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section of a plunger mechanism of the type first shown in Fig. 9 in combination with an air flow control device of the type first shown m Fig. 8, Tig. 11 is a view in vertical section of the air flow control device of the present invention first shown in Figs. 8-10 but here shown substantially in full scale, Fig. 12 is a view in vertical section of a transducer first show in Fig. 10 but here shown in comparatively larger scale, Fig. 13 is a chart lay-out setting forth the steps of the known glass container forming cycle commonly referred to as the blow-and-blow process , and Fig. 14 is a chart layout consistent with the new blow-and- blow process in the practice of the invention herein disclosed. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate successive steps in the blow- and-blow cycle which is utilized to form a molten gob or parison into an initial glass container shape. Each of these figures shows a blank mold 10 having a vertically-oriented cavity 12. Fig. 1 shows a funnel 14 positioned at the upper end of the cavity 12 to receive and guide a parison 20 downward into the cavity 12. A neck ring 16 is disposed at the lower end of the cavity 12 and has a vertically-reciprocal plunger 18 projecting therein. Fig. 1 shows a baffle 22 which is positioned on the funnel 14 after the parison 20 is deposited into the cavity 12 as shown in Fig. 1. The baffle 22 has passages 24 enabling compressed air to be injected downward into the cavity 12 to cause the parison 20 to fill the lower end of the cavity 12. The applied air acts to "settle" the gob into the finish and form the container lip end or neck in conformance with the shape of the neck ring. On completion of the blank shape as shown m Fig. 2, the air flow is terminated. After sufficient settling time, the baffle 22 is removed to allow the funnel 14 to be withdrawn whereby the baffle is again posi- tioned on the blank as shown in Fig. 3 where it serves to seal the upper end of the blank mold. The plunger 18, which was utilized m an upward stroke position to form the container throat, is moved downwardly as shown m Fig. 3, and air is blown upwardly into the parison to form the glass to the shape of the blank. After completion of the sequential steps shown in Figs. 1-3, mechanical means is utilized to move and invert the parison from the blank mold to a blow mold (not shown) where the parison is finally formed to the finished container shape by the further application of compressed air into the parison. The entire forming operation, beginning with the parison as shown in Fig. 1 and ending with the formed container in the blow mold, is commonly referred to m the industry as the "blow-and-blow" process. Hence, Figs. 1-3 are illustrative of the first "blow" cycle of the "blow-and-blow" process. Fig. 4 (and also Fig. 10) illustrates a plunger cycling mechanism 40 for an individual section glass container forming machine, having a cylinder casing 42 defining a chamber 46. The cylinder base or bottom is an end cap 44, and the upper end of the cylinder is defined by an intermediate cap 48. Extending axially upwardly through the chamber 46 is a piston having an annular lower end or base 54 and a rod portion 50. The piston is adapted for air driven linear vertical movement to cycle a plunger 18 (Fig. 1) in a glass container forming operation which utilizes a blank mold 10 positioned at the upper end of the plunger mechanism. A casing section 52 disposed above the cylinder 40 serves to contain the plunger and other elements. Not shown in Fig. 4 are seals and bearings which would be supported by the intermediate cap 48, about the rod portion 50, to facilitate its reciprocal operation. For details of such structure and for a more thorough understanding oi the operation of an individual section machine generally, reference may be made to U.S. Patent 1,911,119, 2,508,890, 2,702,444 or 2,755,597. Fig. 4 also illustrates air tube structure within the plunger mechanism 40, including a first tube or tubular member 58, the upper end of which is secured within the upper end of the rod portion 50 by a connecting member 56. Between the inside wall surface of the rod portion 50 and the tube 58 is an annular space 60, and contained within the annular space 60 is a second tube or tubular member 62 which projects separately from the inward surface of the end cap 44. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the various structural modifi¬ cations of a plunger mechanism assembly which are consistent with the practice of the improved blow-and-blow process of the present invention. In all three figures, arrows are used to indicate air flow direction during the improved blow-and-blow process, as here¬ after further explained. Fig. 5 corresponds generally to the parison insertion step shown in Fig. 1. Laterally-directed ports 68 are shown in the blank mold 10 in Fig. 5 to enable expulsion of air from the cavity 12 as the parison enters the cavity 12. Although such exhaust ports are commonly used in the prior art, provision is made in the structure of the present invention for the ports 68 to lead down- wardly and communicate with air passages 70 provided in the body of the neck ring 16, leading to the central tube 58, as shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 7 also shows the provision of a transducer or venturi means 72 placed m air flow communication with the tube-withm- a-tube structure (tubes 58 and 62) axially disposed within the plunger mechanism 40. Elements 74, 76, 78, and 80 represent valve means for reversing air flow direction to the tube structure of the plunger mechanism. It has been experimentally established that the vacuum effect which is critical to the practice of the disclosed process may be greatly enhanced without changing the diameter ot the air flow piping by utilizing a pair of vacuum transducers placed m parallel disposition for creating the evacuation lllus- trated in Fig. 5. The process of the present invention relates to the utili¬ zation of vacuum-assist during the initial insertion of the parison into the blank mold cavity, and completing or eliminating the set¬ tle blow step of the blow-and-blow process by continued application of vacuum in combination with pressurized air to push the parison into the neck ring at the lower end of the blank mold, and then reversing the air flow to force the parison to conform to the blank mold cavity and assume the initial glass container shape. The foregoing is a sequential timed sequence of events which also includes vacuum cleaning of glass particulate debris and any other contaminants through the central tube structure of the plunger mechanism so that such debris is not embedded in the parison. In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the inven¬ tion, the lateral ports or vents 70 which serve to permit evacua- tion of air from the cavity 12 become closed off by the parison as it moves into the lower end of the cavity 12, however, air passages are provided at the base of the plunger 18 to allow suction applied in the tube 58 to effectively increase the downward air pressure and force the parison firmly into the neck ring 16. Figs. 5 and 7 illustrate the direction of air flow as the vacuum is drawn, and Fig. 6 illustrates the application of pressurized air during the counter blow step. It is also comtemplated that a central air passage or throat be provided through the plunger 18 as shown in Fig. 7. Further, construction of the plunger body or its outer surface may be of a ceramic material to retard heat transfer between the plunger and the parison whereby container formation becomes more uniform. The air flow controller device, or controller 84, shown in Figs. 8-11, comprises a rigid main body portion 86, a secondary body portion 88, and a bottom cover portion 90. With reference to Fig. 11 it will be seen that the main body portion 86 defines an mnei rectilinear chamber 92 in which a slide block member 94 is mounted for reciprocal movement along a linear pathway and between a first position shown in Fig. 10 and a second position shown in Fig. 11. Slidably mounted within the secondary body portion 88 is a piston 96 which serves to drive the slide block 94 to the position shown in Fig. 11 in response to a pressurized air flow directed into a piston chamber 98. Pressurized air is the main source of energization for forming system equipment. Suitable air lines and valves (not shown) are provided to direct compressed air to operate the plunger mechanism 40 and to direct an air stream into the mold 10 to accom¬ plish the blow-and-blow process container forming operation. A mechanical or electronic timing system well known in the prior art (not shown) is used to operate the valves in a timed pre-selected sequence to cycle the equipment and form each container. Referring again to Fig. 11, an air hose (not shown) is coupled to a male coupler 100 which is in flow communication with an air passage 102 leading to the chamber 98. When a pressurized air flow is directed into the chamber 98, and the piston 96 is dis¬ posed m the position shown in Fig. 10, the piston 96 is caused to shift along a linear pathway to the left shown in Fig. 11 whereby it pushes slide block 94 from the position shown in Fig. 10 to its second position shown m Fig. 11. At the end of the slide block 94 opposite the piston 96, a compression spring 104 is mounted to be compressed by the movement of the slide block 94 so that, when the pressurized air flow to the chamber 98 is curtailed, the spring 104 will urge the slide block 94 and the piston 96 back to the first position as shown in Fig. 10. The slide block 94 of the controller 84 and the cover por¬ tion 90 are provided with internal air flow passageways 106, 108, 112, and 114. When the slide block 94 is disposed within the chamber 92 at its normal position as shown in Fig. 10, the oblique passageway 106 through the slide block 94 is m sealed alignment with air flow passages 112 and 110 whereby pressurized air may be conducted through the controller 84 and thence to the plunger mechanism 40 as also shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 illustrates a section box 36 of an I.S. machine wherein a plunger mechanism 40 is operationally mounted. The vertical throat of the plunger mechanism 40, comprising central air tube structure made up of tube 58 and tube 62, is interconnected through the base plate 44 with an air line 38 leading to the air flow controller device 84. The device 84 may be stationarily mounted on the side of the section box although it is not shown in that disposition in Fig. 10. The air flow controller 84, when it is sequentially triggered during the parison forming cycle, undergoes a shift of its slide block 94 from the position shown in Fig. 10 to that which is shown in Fig. 11 whereby the transverse passageway 108 in the slide block 94 moves into sealed communication between port or passageway 110 and the central bore of the transducer 120. The means of inducing the shift of the slide block 94 between its two positions may, alternatively, be an electrically energized sole- noid installed in the second body portion 88 and adapted to drive the piston 96 at the appropriate instant during the blow-and-blow cycle. Details of the vacuum transducer are shown in Fig. 12. The transducer has an intake passage 130 leading directly to an outlet barrel 132. A pressurized air flow (preferably 80 pounds per square inch) is directed, during the blow-and-blow process, through entry passage 114 which is coupled to the air supply by proper connection of a female coupler to male coupler 122. The air flow enters an annular manifold-1ike chamber 134 which directs the flow through an annular restriction 136 whereby the air flow exhausts out through the barrel 132. A venturi effect is created by the increase of velocity of the air flow through restriction 136 whereby a vacuum is drawn within the intake 130. The vacuum which is created through the transducer measures 28.6" (726 mm) mercury by application of the preferred 80 pounds per square inch pressur¬ ized air flow to the transducer 120. Combining the effect of the air flow controller 84 with the tube-withm-a-tube structure disclosed in aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,358,543, results in an absolutely clean air passage for counter blow air during the parison forming cycle, preventing accumulation of tramp glass and other debris that plagues more conventional plunger mechanisms in the industry. Comparison of the conventional blow-and-blow process for glass container forming with the improved method provided by the use of the apparatus herein disclosed is provided by comparing Fig. 13 with Fig. 14. As illustrated in Fig. 13, the conventional blow- and-blow process may be conducted with or without the use of a funnel positioned on the blank mold prior to the settle blow step in the cycle. Fig. 14 shows, however, that the blow-and-blow process is significantly altered by shortening the container form¬ ing cycle and effectively eliminating the settle blow step. In the blow-and-blow process practiced in accordance with this invention, the container forming cycle may be described as comprising nine discrete steps as identified in Fig. 14 instead of the eleven steps required in the conventional blow-and-blow process wherein a funnel is utilized or the ten steps required with the same process without the funnel, as illustrated in Fig. 13. By application of the process in accordance with the steps shown in Fig. 14, high quality containers are produced with a new level of consistency and virtual absence of the settle wave effect that is all too familiar in the sidewall structure of containers produced by the conventional blow and blow process and without the use of the air flow controller device in combination with the internal tube structure of the plunger mechanism as herein disclosed. The present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with a presently preferred structural embodiment and the method for its use, however, it is to be understood that other modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

Claims: 1. An air flow controller device for applying a pressurized positive air flow followed by a negative air flow to a mold and through a plunger mechanism to form a glass container from a glass gob, comprising a closed housing defining a chamber, a piston disposed to reciprocally move along a linear axis from a first position to a second position m the chamber, a plurality of passages extending through the piston and across the piston's linear axis, a first pair of oppositely-disposed ports in sealed flow communication with a first of the passages when the piston is in its first position, a third port m sealed flow communication with a second of the passages when the piston is m its second position, and energizable means for actuating the piston to move between its first and second positions whereby the passages are realigned to transfer the air flow from the first pair of ports to one of the pair of ports and the third port by energization of the actuating means . 2. The device of Claim 1 wherein a first end of the housing has an air inlet for providing a pressurized air flow against an end of the piston to cause it to move from its first position to its second position. 3. The device of Claim 2 wherein a biasing means is con¬ tained in the housing and acts to force the piston from its second position and back to its first position in response to curtailment of the pressurized air flow against the piston. 4. The device of Claim 1 wherem all of the elements are contained in a unitized structure. 5. The device of Claim 1 wherein one of the ports of the first pair of oppositely-disposed ports is in flow communication with a transducer capable of creating a negative air flow through the passage when pressurized air flow is induced through the transducer. 6. The device of Claim 5 wherein the port opposite the port which is in communication with the transducer is connected in flow communication with the longitudinal throat extending through the plunger mechanism. 7 The device of Claim 5 wherein the transducer has an annular air flow channel, and an air inlet is in flow communication with the channel. 8. A method of forming a glass container by use of a plunger mechanism and a mold, comprising the steps of (1) injecting a molten glass gob into the mold, (2) injecting a controlled burst of pressurized air onto the gob to cause the gob to expand within the mold, (3) drawing a momentary vacuum between the plunger and the gob to increase the force of pressurized air on the gob and further enhance expansion of the gob into the mold, and (4) utilizing a transducer mounted adjacent the plunger mechanism to draw the vacuum. 9. The method of Claim 8 further comprising the step of (5) utilizing the momentary vacuum to sweep the air flow area within the plunger mechanism outwardlv through the transducer. 10. An air flow control device in combination with a plunger mechanism and a blank mold for forming a glass container, the device comprising a piston contained within a housing for linear recipro- cation between first and second positions, a passage extending generally laterally through the piston and sealably interconnecting, when the piston is in its first position, first and second oppositely- disposed air flow ports in the housing, the passage disposed to sealably interconnect, when the piston is in its second position, said first air flow port with a negative pressure port, means on the housing for actuating the piston, and air flow means connected to the housing for directing pressurized air through the passage. 11. A plunger cycling mechanism in a glass container forming machine comprising a cylinder defining an inner elongated chamber and having a bottom end cap and an opposite upper end, a piston slidably disposed withm the chamber and having an annular base with an upwardly-projecting piston rod coextensive with the chamber axis, the piston rod having a first end fixed to the base and a longitudinal bore the lower end of which is an open- ing in the base and a second end projecting outwardly through an opening in the cylinder's upper end for removable attachment of a plunger thereto, air tube structure including a first elongated tubular member disposed generally coextensive with the longi- tudinal bore of the piston rod and defining an annular space between the tubular member's outer surface and the bore, a second elongated tubular member having a first end secured to the bottom end of the cylinder and project- ing, coextensive with the cylinder axis, into the annular space such that the second tubular member encompasses the first tubular member when both members are disposed in a down position within the cylinder and the first tubular member will telescopically slide within and along the second tubular member when the piston and the piston rod are slidably moved in the cylinder, the first end of the second elongated tubular member being in air flow communication with a source of pressurized air flow, an air flow controller device disposed between the cylin¬ der and the source of pressurized air flow whereby the pressurized air flow may be selectively directed through the air flow controller device, and the air flow controller device having means to switch the pressurized air flow to a negative air flow. 12. The invention of Claim 11 wherein the air flow controller device comprises a closed housing defining a chamber, a piston disposed for reciprocal movement along a linear axis from a first position to a second position within the chamber, first and second passages extending laterally through the piston and generally across the piston's linear axis, a first pair of oppositely-disposed ports in sealed flow communication with the first passage when the piston is in its first position, a third port in sealed flow communication with the second passage when the piston is in its second position, the first passage being in air flow communication with the first end of the second tubular member of the air tube structure, and a transducer for creating a negative air flow through one of the passages when pressurized air flow is induced through the transducer. 13. A method for use with apparatus for forming a glass container by application of a pressurized air flow into a mold containing a parison, wherein the apparatus includes a plunger mechanism mounted to have the plunger move in linear reciprocation relative to the mold and the plunger has a central tubing struc¬ ture, the steps comprising: (1) applying the pressurized air flow to the mold to press and form the parison; (2) applying the pressurized air flow in the mold as a counter blow to further shape the parison; and (3) momentarily diverting the pressurized air flow through a transducer including a vacuum sleeve dis¬ posed in flow communication with the central tubing structure and thereby create a partial vacuum in the central tubing structure. 14. The method of Claim 12 comprising the further step of: (4) timing the pressurized air flow diversion through the transducer to be an incident of the counter blow. 15. In the use of glass container forming equipment having a blank mold defining a vertically-elongated cavity with an open top for permitting a glass parison to be loaded downwardly therein, and an open bottom end for receiving a vertically-reciprocal plunger of a plunger mechanism mounted beneath the mold, an improved blow-and-blow process for forming a parison within the mold, comprising the sequential steps of: (1) loading the gob into the blank mold; (2) applying pressurized air downwardly into the mold to force the gob to expand into the mold; (3) drawing a partial vacuum beneath the gob in the lower end of the cavity to form a finish in the gob lower end and about the plunger and to sweep debris from the cavity; (4) retracting the plunger and reheating the cavity and the parison, (5) applying a counter blow of pressurized air upwardly through the plunger and against the parison to further shape the parison; and (6) inverting the parison from the blank mold. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 19 September 1997 (19.09.97); original claims 4-7, 9 and 12 cancelled; original claims 1,8,10,11,13-15 amended; new claims 16-19 added; remaining claims unchanged (6 pages)] 1. /An air flow control device for applying pressurized positive air flow followed by an exhaust air flow to a mold and through a plunger mechanism to form a glass container from a glass gob, said device comprising: a closed housing defining a chamber; a piston disposed to reciprocally move along a linear axis from a first to a second position m the chamber; first and second passages extending through the piston and across the piston's linear axis; first and second ports in said housing such that they can be brought into communication with the first passage in the piston when the piston is in its first position; a third port in said housing such that the first and third ports may be brought into communication by the second passage m the piston when in the second position; means to activate the piston to move it between first and second positions; and a vacuum transducer having an exhaust passage aligned with and in direct communication with the second pore and means in communication with said exnaust passage for creating an exhaust air flow through the exhaust passage when pressurized air flow is introduced through said means; whereby exhaust air carrying debris can pass unobstructed through the housing, piston and vacuum transducer. 2. The device of Claim 1 wherein a first end of the housing has an air inlet for providing a pressurized air flow against an end of the piston to cause it to move from its first position to its second position. 3. The device of Claim 2 wherein a biasing means is contained in the housing and acts to force tne piston from its second position and bacK to its first position m response to curtailment of the pressurized air flow against the piston. 8. A method of forming a glass container by use of glass container forming equipment having a blank mold defining a vertically-elongated cavity with an open top for permitting a molten glass gob to be loaded downwardly therein and an open bottom end for receiving a vertically-reciprocating plunger mechanism beneath the mold for closing off the lower end of the mold, means for applying air pressure at the top of the mold and passages for evacuating a space around the periphery of the top of the plunger mechanism comprising the steps of: (1) injecting a molten glass gob into the mold; (2) injecting a controlled blast of pressurized air onto the top of the glass gob to cause the gob to expand within the mold; and (3) with a vacuum transducer drawing a momentary vacuum between the plunger and the gob to increase the force of pressurized air on the gob and further to enhance expansion of the gob into the mold and to sweep away debris from the lower end of the mold and the space adjacent to the plunger mechanism. 10. An air flow control device in combination with glass container forming equipment having a blank mold defining a vertically-elongated cavity with an open top for permitting a molten glass gob to be loaded downwardly therein and an open bottom end for receiving a vertically-reciprocating plunger mechanism beneath the mold for closing off the lower end of the mold, said device comprising: a closed housing defining a chamber; a piston disposed to reciprocally move along a linear axis from a first to a second position in the chamber; first and second oppositely disposed passages extending through the piston and across the piston's linear axis; first and second oppositely disposed ports in said housing such that they can be brought into communication with the first passage in the piston when the piston is in its first position; a third port in said housing such that the first and third ports may be brought into communication by the second passage in the piston when in the second position; means to activate the piston to move it between first and second positions; and a vacuum transducer having an exhaust passage aligned with and in direct communication with the second port and means surrounding and in communication with said exhaust passage for creating an exhaust air flow through the exhaust passage when pressurized air flow is introduced through the vacuum transducer; whereby exhaust air carrying debris can pass directly and unobstructed through the housing, piston and vacuum transducer. 11. A plunger cycling mechanism in a glass container forming machine comprising: a cylinder defining an inner elongated chamber and having a bottom end cap and an opposite upper end; a piston slidably disposed within the chamber and having an annular base with an upwardly-projecting rod coextensive with the chamber axis; the piston rod having a first end fixed to the base and a longitudinal bore, the lower end of which is an opening in the base and a second end projecting outwardly through an opening in the cylinder's upper end for removable attachment of a plunger thereto; air tube structure including a first elongated tubular member disposed generally coextensive with the longitudinal bore of the piston rod and defining an annular space between the tubular member's outer surface and the bore; a second elongated tubular member having a first end secured to the bottom end of the cylinder and projecting, coextensive with the cylinder axis, into the annular space such that the second tubular member encompasses the first tubular member when both members are disposed in a down position within the cylinder and the first tubular member will telescopically slide within and along the second tubular member when the piston and the piston rod are slidably moved in the cylinder; the first end of the second elongated tubular member being in air flow communication with a source of pressurized air flow; an air flow controller device disposed between the cylinder and the source of pressurized air flow whereby the pressurized air flow may be selectively directed through the air flow controller device, said flow controller device comprising a closed housing defining a chamber; a piston disposed for reciprocal movement along a linear axis from a first position to a second position within the chamber; first and second passages extending laterally through the piston and generally across the piston's linear axis; first and second oppositely-disposed ports in sealed flow communication with the first passage when the piston is in its first position; a third port in sealed flow communication with the second passage and the first port when the piston is in its second position; said first port being in air flow communication with the first end of the second tubular member of the air tube structure; and a transducer for creating a negative air flow through one of the passages when pressurized air flow is induced through the transducer. 13. A method for use with apparatus for forming a glass container by application of a pressurized air flow into a mold containing a parison, wherein the apparatus includes a plunger mechanism mounted to have the plunger move in linear reciprocation relative to the mold and the plunger has a central tubing structure, the steps comprising: (1) applying the pressurized air flow to the mold to press and form the parison; (2) applying the pressurized air flow in the mold as a counter blow to further shape the parison; and (3) momentarily diverting the pressurized air flow through a transducer including a vacuum sleeve disposed in flow communication with the central tubing structure thereby creating a partial vacuum in the central tubing structure . 14. The method of Claim 3 comprising the further step of : (4) timing the pressurized air flow diversion through the transducer to be an incident of the counter blow. 15. In the use of glass container forming equipment having a blank mold defining a vertically-elongated cavity with an open top for permitting a glass parison to be loaded downwardly therein, and an open bottom end for receiving a vertically-reciprocal plunger of a plunger mechanism mounted beneath the mold, an improved blow-and-blow process for forming a parison within the mold, comprising the sequential steps of: (1) loading the gob into the blank mold; (2) applying pressurized air downwardly into the mold to force the gob to expand into the mold; (3) with a vacuum transducer drawing a partial vacuum beneath the gob in the lower end of the cavity to form a finish in the gob lower end and about the plunger and to sweep debris from the cavity; (4) retracting the plunger and reheating the cavity and the parison; (5) applying a counter blow of pressurized air upwardly through the plunger and against the parison to further shape the parison; and (6) inverting the parison from the blank mold. 16. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the closed housing comprises a main body portion and a bottom cover portion positionable to form a rectilinear chamber in which the piston in the form of a sliding block fits and for defining a second and third port. 17. The device according to Claim 16 in which low friction slide plates are positioned in the rectilinear chamber on two sides of the sliding block. 18. The device according to Claim 16 wherein the vacuum transducer is housed in the bottom cover. 19. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the vacuum transducer comprises said exhaust passage, means for introducing high velocity air into said exhaust passage intermediate the ends of said exhaust passage directed away from the first port wherein said means for introducing high velocity air comprises an annular port into the exhaust passage and a cylindrical deflecting baffle radially inward of said annular port .

Inventors: HARDACRE JOHN A, KOZORA JOSEPH W, WASMUTH OLE M, HARDACRE, JOHN, A., KOZORA, JOSEPH, W., WASMUTH, OLE, M.
Applicants: HARDACRE JOHN A, KOZORA JOSEPH W, QUANTUM ENGINEERED PROD INC, WASMUTH OLE M, HARDACRE, JOHN, A., KOZORA, JOSEPH, W., QUANTUM ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, INC., WASMUTH, OLE, M.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C03B9
IPC codes: C03B9