Patent GB-1096360-A (GB)
Title: Variable index mechanism for glass press
IPC: C03B11/16
Filed: 1965-04-06
Abstract: A glass press comprises a rotatable table 10 having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced mould positions to allow a variable number of moulds to be equally spaced at selected positions thereon, means for stopping the rotation of the table at least at a first station for gob loading and pressing and a second station spaced therefrom for product removal, and additional means for dividing each complete table rotation into parts equal in number to the mould positions <PICT:1096360/C1/1> used.  The table 10 may have eight mould positions these being spaced at 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 270 and 300 degrees from the position at which the gob is fed into the mould and pressed to shape.  This arrangement allows the use of two, three, four, or six moulds equally spaced circumferentially, intermediate positions, if any, being used for cooling the pressed article and the mould.  The number of part rotations always equals the number of moulds used.  The table 10 is rotated by a fluid motor 32 through a worm 24 acting on gear-wheel 20. Concentrically-attached to table 10 is another gear-wheel 60 which meshes with a spur gear 58 connected to cams 74, 76 operating valves 78, 88 for controlling the movements of the table 10.  The spur gear 58 is slidably moutned in a carriage 64 and can be replaced by gears of different sizes so that for one complete revolution of the table 10 the number of complete index cycles is varied to be equal to the number of moulds in use on the table.  During a dwell period when a mould is being charged, high-pressure fluid controlled by a valve 118 operates another valve 82 to cause a high-pressure fluid to flow into the upper end of a cylinder 132 and thus force a stop 40 into locking engagement with an indent 18 of the rotary table 10.  Operation of cylinder 132 has also operated a valve 42 to allow low-pressure fluid to flow through motor 32, leaking to a sump through adjustable valve 50 thus providing a low but sufficient torque to hold the table 19 firmly locked against the stop 40.  A pin 114 on a continuously-rotating timing cam 110 engages a projection 116 on the valve 118 to connect a source of high-pressure fluid to a valve 82 which is thereby reversed to pass high pressure fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 132 and cause retraction of the stop 40; at the same time, valve 42 is reversed to connect high-pressure fluid to the motor 32.  The initial burst of high-pressure fluid causes motor 32 to rotate slightly and, through gear 58, to move cam 76, this allowing valve 88 to open slightly and permit fluid to exhaust to sump 52 avoiding valve 50.  This allows more fluid to drain and thus the motor 32 accelerates as does table 19 until the eccentric cam 76 has completed 180 degrees of revolution when deceleration begins as the valve 88 closes and the table slows down on approaching the next stopping point.  Just prior to reaching this position, cam 74 opens valve 78 to high-pressure fluid to open valve 82 to the high-pressure source to cause the stop 40 to engage the next indent and simultaneously connect the fluid motor 32 to a low-pressure supply.