METHOD FOR OBTAINING GLASS CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR CARAFES AND BEER GLASSES HAVING HANDLES WITH A COLOUR DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE BODY OF THE CONTAINERS THEMSELVES

Abstract: The invention falls within the sector of methods for the manufacture of glass containers having handles with a colour different from that of the containers themselves. After overturning a blank obtained with methods of the known type, a mould is applied to the blank itself, said mould containing a cavity having the same shape as the handle to be obtained. A punch penetrates inside the mould, applying pressure to a suitable quantity of coloured glass in the molten state, thus resulting in shaping of a base and a handle of the blank.

Description: METHOD FOR OBTAINING GLASS CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR CARAFES AND BEER GLASSES HAVING HANDLES WITH A COLOUR DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE BODY OF THE CONTAINERS THEMSELVES DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a method for obtaining glass containers, in particular carafes and beer glasses having handles with a colour different from that of the body of the containers themselves. The need for colouring the handles differently from that of the container body is due to reasons of an ornamental nature. At present this different colouring is obtained by forming the handle separately by means of either blowing or moulding and then applying said handle to the container body. This technique is particularly suitable for small-scale production, but for industrial production it has the drawback that a lot of time is lost due to idle time, resulting in high costs and a small number of parts produced. The object of the method according to the present invention is that of obtaining the production of glass containers, in particular carafes and beer glasses having handles with a colour different from that of the bodies to which they are applied, this method being applicable to production on an industrial scale. These and other objects are all achieved by the method forming the subject of the present invention, characterized in that it involves in succession: - overturning a blank, obtained by means of methods of the known type, said overturning operation being such that the said blank has its bottom directed upwards; - positioning of a mould on top of the external surface of the blank directed upwards, said mould containing a cavity reproducing the top external side profile of the said overturned blank and a cavity with a shape identical to that of the handle which is to be obtained, said two cavities communicating with one another, the first of the two said cavities being connected to an opening positioned in the top part of the mould; - positioning of a counter-piece placed against the top side of the mould and having a central hole; - deposition of a suitable quantity of molten coloured glass onto the external surface of the bottom of the blank; - formation of a base and a handle by means of compression of said molten coloured glass using a punch passing through the top opening of the mould and guided by the hole present in the said counter-piece. These and other characteristic features will emerge more clearly from the following description of two preferred embodiments of the method, illustrated, purely by way of a non-limiting example, in the accompanying plates of drawings, in which: - Figure 1 illustrates, in longitudinal section, a step involving formation of a container with handle; - Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the mould used during the step according to Figure 1 ; - Figure 3 shows a partly elevation and partly sectioned view of a container obtained with the method; - Figure 4 illustrates a variant of the method according to the view of Figure 1. A blank 1 , which is obtained by means of methods of a known type, is overturned so that its bottom is directed upwards. A mould 2 is thus positioned on top of the external surface of the blank 1 ; said mould contains a cavity 3 which reproduces exactly the profile of the top external side surface of the said overturned blank. The mould 2 has also has formed inside it a cavity 4 with the same shape as the handle which is to be obtained; in the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the two cavities 3 and 4 are communicating with one another. The cavity 3 terminates at the top in an opening 5; this opening is in alignment with the vertical axis of the blank 1. A counter-ring 6 having a central hole 7 also in alignment with the vertical axis of the blank 1 is positioned on the top side of the mould 2. The next step in the method involves the deposition of a suitable quantity of coloured glass in the molten state on the external surface of the bottom of the overturned blank. The last step of the method according to the present invention involves the formation of a base 8 and a handle 9 by means of compression of this molten glass using a punch 10 passing through the opening 5 of the mould 2 and guided by the central hole 7 of the counter-ring 6. To summarise, after overturning the blank 1 so that its bottom is directed upwards and after positioning the mould 2 on top of it, the counter-ring 6 is placed on the top side thereof with the central hole 7 in a central position and in alignment with the vertical axis of the blank 1 ; this hole acts as a guide for vertical sliding of the punch 10. Vertical lowering of said punch produces a pressure on the quantity of coloured glass which has previously been deposited, in the molten state, on the external surface of the bottom of the blank 1 ; this pressure has the effect that the coloured glass flows into the cavity 4 present inside the mould 2, resulting in shaping of the handle 9. As a result of the pressure produced by the punch 10, the coloured glass also adheres to the external surface of the bottom of the blank 1, resulting in shaping of the base 8 and the handle 9 with the same colour which is different, however, from the colour of the blank. According to a possible variant of the method, illustrated in Figure 4, the cavity 4 of the mould 2 is closed at the end facing the external side body of the blank 1 so that the coloured handle remains attached to the said blank only by means of the base 8, which is also coloured. In this case the handle is joined only to the base. According to a further alternative to the abovementioned variant, it is envisaged inserting a gob of glass into the zone of the handle detached from the blank so as to re-join the handle itself to the blank.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for obtaining glass containers, in particular carafes and beer glasses having handles with a colour different from that of the body of the containers themselves, characterized in that it involves in succession: - overturning a blank, obtained by means of methods of the known type, said overturning operation being such that the said blank has its bottom directed upwards; - positioning of a mould on top of the external surface of the blank directed upwards, said mould defining a cavity reproducing the top external side profile of the said overturned blank and a cavity with a shape identical to that of the handle which is to be obtained, said two cavities communicating with one another, the cavity being connected to an opening positioned in the top part of the mould; - positioning of a counter-ring placed against the top side of the mould and defining a central hole; - deposition of a suitable quantity of coloured glass in the molten state onto the external surface of the bottom of the blank; - formation of a base and a handle by means of compression of said molten coloured glass using a punch passing through the opening of the mould and guided by the central hole of the counter-ring. 2. Method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the the opening positioned in the top part of the mould is centred along the vertical axis of the blank. 3. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the central hole passing through the counter-piece is centred along the vertical axis of the blank. 4. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cavity of the mould is closed at its end facing the external side body of the blank, this closure being designed to ensure that the coloured handle of the container is attached to the latter only by means of the base which is also coloured. 5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that it envisages the insertion of a gob of molten glass between the end of the handle and container.

Inventors: DI GIUSEPPANTONIO VINCENZO, DI GIUSEPPANTONIO, VINCENZO
Applicants: BORMIOLI ROCCO & FIGLIO SPA, GIUSEPPANTONIO VINCENZO DI, BORMIOLI ROCCO & FIGLIO S.P.A., DI GIUSEPPANTONIO, VINCENZO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C03B11
IPC codes: C03B9, C03B11