Patent GB-1402651-A (GB)
Title: Process and apparatus for blow-moulding hollow glassware
IPC: C03B9/16
Filed: 1972-09-05
Abstract: 1402651 Hollow glassware manufacture TOKYO SHIBAURA DENKI KK 5 Sept 1972 [6 Sept 1971] 41153/72 Heading C1M Apparatus for blow-moulding semi-molten glass gobs into hollow glassware wherein a glass gob is first pressed and flattened into a concave parison 159 which is then blow-moulded into hollow glassware, comprises glass retaining units 17 each having a generally annular construction and being transferable as a unit; a primary forming section A including transport means, such as a rotating table 6, for receiving and removably carrying thereon the units 17 successively in a horizontal position, gob tray devices 14 located below the units 17 on the table 6, and plunger devices 16 located above the units 17, each gob tray device 14 and plunger 16 being vertically movable towards the unit 17 to press and flatten a glass gob supplied to the tray 15 of device 14 to cause plastic flow of the gob into the associated unit 17 so that the pressed and flattened concave parison 159 is retained at its periphery by the unit 17; a transfer device C, such as rotating table 24, for removing the glass retaining units 17, each carrying a parison 159, successively from the primary forming section A; a secondary glassware forming section B including transport means, such as a rotating table 7, for receiving successively the units 17 from the transfer device C and removably supporting the units thereon in a horizontal position, mould assemblies 20 each located below each unit 17 and adapted to engage the bottom of each unit, and blow head devices 18 each arranged to blow air therethrough against the parison 159 in each unit 17 on table 7 to shape it to final form in the mould halves 166, 167 of the mould assembly 20 and means, such as rack 150 and spur gear 148, for releasing the glassware from the units 17 on the table 7. A further transfer device D, formed by a table 25, then returns the units 17 to the primary forming section A. Each table 6, 7, 24 and 25 is provided with peripheral, equally spaced cut out portions, as 134 on table 24, in which the units 17 are detachably supported. Glass retaining units.-Each unit 17 comprises an expansible bushing 52, two gear-wheels 53 and 54 of different diameters, for engagement by the release rack 150 and spur gear 148, and a glass-retaining ring 55. The spur gear 148 is driven by chain 147a to rotate the wheel 54 clockwise while the rack 150 rotates the wheel 53 counter-clockwise. The bushing 52 consists of three identical sections forming, in closed position, a cylindrical wall 52b and a flange 52a. Each section has in the flange 52a a radially dispersed slot 56 and two cam slots 57 and in the wall 52b a hole 58 for supporting the ring 55 which has three radially extending pins 64 engaging holes 58. Gear-wheels 53 and 54 have, respectively, six cam-pins 59 engaging cam slots 57 from below and three slide pins 61 engaging slots 56 from above. Bearing plates 60 and 62 are interposed between the upper surface of gear-wheel 53 and flange 52a and between the lower surface of gear-wheel 54 and flange 52a. Gear-wheels 53 and 54 are further interconnected by pins 63 passing into gear-wheel 53 through arcuate slots (63a) in gear-wheel 54. Gear-wheel 53 is rotatably mounted on a bearing plate 66 fixed on an annular frame 67 with a peripheral edge 67a. When assembled with the bushing 52 in the closed position, an annular space 55a is formed between the chamfered lower edge of ring 55 and a radially inwardly directed flange 65 on wall 52b, the space 55a being filled by the molten glass thereby forming a retaining flange on the parison 159, which is released on opening of the bearing sections by gear wheels 53, 54 engaging rack 150 and spur gear 148. The emptied units 17 are then closed by racks 151, 152. Supporting mechanisms for units 17.-At each of the cut out portions of rotating tables 6 and 7, a pair of supporting mechanisms are provided, each comprising a pneumatic cylinder 73 mounted on the table 6 or 7, the piston-rod 74 of which has a yoke 75 at its lower end with lateral pin 76. Pin 76 engages the bifurcated end 80 of a bell-crank lever 79, 82 pivotally mounted on a bracket fixed under the table 6 or 7 by a pin 78. Glass-retaining unit 17 has the peripheral edge 67a of its frame 67 engaged in a circumferential groove 81 provided in the edge of each cut out and the unit 17 is retained in the cut out, when piston-rod 74 is extended, by the bell crank lever arm 82 which engages the lower edge 67b. Operation of the forming devices is disclosed, using pneumatic cylinders, and a driving mechanism is described. The blow head devices 18, which are engaged by the units 17, are rotatable so that the glassware can be rotated in the mould halves 166 and 167 as by a chain 143 engaging a sprocket wheel (104) on each device 18. Sprocket wheel 142 drives chain 143 which is disengaged over part of the periphery of table 7 as by sprocket wheels 144, 145 or 144a, 145a and 146. An air distributing system comprises compressed air reservoirs 153, 156 on pillars 3, 2 with ports which align with ports in a distributer 154, 157 to pass air to the pneumatic cylinders and blowing devices, reduction through valves 155 being effected as necessary. The distributers 154, 157 are cylindrical and rotate with the tables 7, 6. In modifications, glass-retaining units are interconnected in a chain relationship by a series of links.