Patent GB-447183-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to methods of and means for feeding molten glass to glassforming machines
IPC: C03B7/14
Filed: 1934-11-08
Abstract: 447,183. Glass manufacture. UNITED GLASS BOTTLE MANUFACTURERS, Ltd., and MOORSHEAD, T. C., 40, Norfolk Street, Strand, London. Nov. 8, 1934, No. 25863. [Class 56] Relates to a glass-feeding apparatus of the kind in which the molten glass is delivered through the outlet of a furnace forehearth into measuring vessels or cups carried by a rotating or oscillating unit or turntable that conveys them to the moulds of a forming-machine. According to the invention, the device is provided with cams one of which raises each cup and presses it against the underside of the outlet, another connects the interior of the cup with a source of suction, while another connects the interior of the cup, as it reaches the discharging-position, with a source of pressure to eject the contained charge of glass. The apparatus comprises two measuring-cups 10 which oscillate about a central stationary column 1 between the outlet 70 of a furnace forehearth and the moulds 4 of a forming-machine Each cup is secured to a ram or sleeve 15 which slides in a vertical plane through a carrier 16, and the carrier is journalled in an horizontal bearing on a table 20 that oscillates about the column 1. The carriers are rotated, during the movement of the table, by bevel gears 21, 22, and racks 25 operated by a stationary cam 32, to invert the rams 15 and the cups 10. The table is oscillated by a rack 40 and a cam 45 on a continuously rotated cam plate 46, and another cam 50 on the plate 46 operates a bell-crank lever 56 to raise and lower the ram 15 and the cup 10 when in position below the orifice 70. The forehearth is also provided with an inverted bell or suction cup 72 which is reciprocated vertically, to and from the outlet 70, by means of a link 84 operated by the bellcrank lever 56. The space within the bell 72 is connected by a jointed pipe 108 with a valve box 100 which is operated by a cam 121 to place the pipe 108 into communication either with a vacuum tank or the atmosphere. The interior of each measuring cup 10 is also connected, at appropriate periods, with sources of suction or compression by means of a valve 144 which connects the interior passages of the ram 15 and the carriers 16 with chambers 130, 131 formed in the central column 1. The feeder is also provided with shear blades 170 operated by a spring which is compressed during the movement of the cups around the column 1 and is released when the glass is to be cut. In use, a cup is brought into position below the outlet 70 and is raised and pressed into contact with the underside of the outlet. Glass now flows into the cup and is drawn into it by suction applied through the ram 15. At the same time, the bell 72 is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2. The cup 10 is then lowered, and simultaneously suction is applied to the interior of the bell 72 to stop the flow of glass through the outlet 70 and cause it to form a neck which i.s severed by the blades 170. The table 20 then rotates and comes to rest with the filled cup inverted over a mould 4. Compressed air is immediately applied to the interior of the cup to eject the contained charge of glass into the mould.