Patent GB-347365-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of glass bottles and similar articles
IPC: C03B9/22
Filed: 1930-02-20
Abstract: 347,365. Glass manufacture. UNITED GLASS BOTTLE MANUFACTURERS, Ltd. and MOORSHEAD, T. C., 40, Norfolk Street, Strand, London. Feb. 20, 1930, No. 5729. [Class 56.] Glass is caused to flow upwards from an outlet orifice in a glass furnace or an extension thereof forming a column which, when it is of the desired length, is detached and shaped or blown in a moulding machine, the use of parison moulds being dispensed with. The outlet may be below the the level of the glass in the furnace, the pressure forcing the glass out into a neck mould which is raised at the same speed as that at which the glass is extruded, detachment of the gob being assisted by heating at the lower end, and rotating during the removal. The neck mould or moulds may be carried by a rotatable framework, means being provided for raising or lowering them, so that they can be positioned over the outlet orifice or the finishing moulds, and for enabling rotation about their own axes. Plungers co-operating with the neck moulds in shaping the upper ends may be provided. The forehearth 1, built into the front wall of the furnace, merges into a passage 2, and then upwards to the outlet 3, about 12 inches say below the glass level in the furnace, the flow of glass being controlled as by a vertically movable plug. Above a bushing 5, clamped over the outlet, is an extrusion head or water cooled cup 6, preferably in halves which can be moved apart by pneumatic or other means controlled by mechanism operated from cam discs under the mould table. A pair of gas jets operated by a rack and pinion device so as to approach close to the base of the glass column when the halves separate, the gas being automatically turned on, may be provided. Near the forehearth is a suitable blowing machine having for example a mould table 50, carrying moulds 51, which is given an intermittent rotary movement. Between this and the forehearth is an apparatus for forming and transferring the gobs, comprising a stationary column 60, which can be raised or lowered, having a sleeve 61, to which intermittent rotary movements are given from a cam plate 74 carried by the finishing machine, through the medium of suitable gear wheels, a rack and pinion 71, 70 and cam slide and roll. A clutch 75 is arranged so that only movements in one direction of the rack 71 cause rotation of the sleeve. This rack is extended to give the mould table its intermittent motion by way of pinion and clutch 77, 78. A neck mould carrier 80 has, as shown, two opposite arms 81, 82 each carrying a neck mould 94, the arms carrying the halves of the mould being pivoted on a pin 91 on the gear wheel 90. Pins 96 serve to position the neck mould on the extrusion head. The extrusion head 6, neck mould 94, and adaptor 88 are formed with passages adapted to register with one another and with an annular recess in the adaptor, so that at appropriate times communication can be made with a source of vacuum, via passage 58, openings 106, 109 in the sleeve 61 and column 60 respectively, and pipe 107, or of compressed air. The application of a vacuum assists the flow of glass, and grooves may be formed under the sealing cap 145 and above the neck mould to facilitate communication between passage 58 and the extrusion head. Each of the arms 81, 82 has a plunger stem 112 adapted to be given an up and down movement by rotation of a plunger nut 114 by a pinion 120 geared to a rack 123 provided on a rod 124 having a cam rod 126 engaging a fixed cam track 127. The plunger holder 140, plunger tip 141 pressed downwards by spring 142, and sealing cap 145 sliding in the guide 86 and pressed downwards by spring 147 all have a rotary movement communicated by the neck mould. A cross rod 152, having a pair of depending rods connected to the casting 80, carries the weight of the neck mould carrier &c. It is carried by a member 153 sliding in a casing 154, which through the medium of racks 155, pinions 156, mounted in a slide on the upper end of a tube 160, rack 161, sector 162, rack 163, and cam roller 164 engaging cam track 165 on the underside of plate 74, is given an up and down motion. A spring 206 is arranged to ensure close contact between the neck mould and the extrusion head, at the end of the downward stroke of the rack 161. An inner shaft 170 has a bevel pinion 171 meshing with pinions 172, 173 on shafts 174, 175, journalled in the casing 154 and at right-angles to the rod 152, and each having a slidable clutch jaw 176 adapted to engage another jaw 177 on a shaft 178 having a bevel pinion 179 meshing with pinion 180 on the shaft 99 which carries a pinion meshing with the gear wheel 90 carrying the neck mould arms. The shaft 170 is rotated by means of a pinion 190, pinions meshing with this and a rack on the slide 194, having a cam roll 195 engaging a moving track 196. The cam roll 197 holds the jaws 176, 177 in engagement during the upward movement and rotation of the neck mould, and then meets a projection on the cam plate 199, throwing the jaws out of mesh and stopping the rotation. A baffle plate 226 may be adapted to be swung under the hanging gob as it leaves the extrusion head and removed before it is fed to the mould, by means of suitable gearing and cam rolls 222, 230 engaging stationary cams 223, 228 on the column 60. A " chill " puff of air may be given during transit by forming the cam 127 so that the plunger tip is lifted say about 1¢ inches to admit compressed air into the blow hole formed by the plunger tip. Variations in the stroke and timing of the neck mould carrier can be effected for example by changing the cams 165, 196.