Patent GB-404238-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for forming glassware
IPC: C03B9/18
Filed: 1933-08-17
Abstract: 404,238. Glass manufacture. BRITISH HARTFORD-FAIRMONT SYNDICATE, Ltd., Audrey House, Ely Place, London.-(Assignees of Peiler, K. E. ; 16, Fernwood Road, West Hartford, and Smith, A. J. ; Woodland Avenue, Bloomfield, both in Connecticut, U.S.A.) Aug. 17, 1933, No. 23031. Convention date, Oct. 13, 1932. [Class 56.] A machine for making glassware comprises a number of complete forming-units grouped around a common point, and a feeder which supplies charges of glass to the units. The parison mould of each unit is at a greater horizontal distance from the common point than the finishing mould, so that the finished ware is removed from all the units by a movement towards a point substantially central of all the units. Means are also provided for enabling any number of the units to be operated in predetermined order and with uniform intervals of time between the feeding of charges of glass to each of the units in use. The forming units may be of the kind described in Specification 257,637, [Class 56, Glass], and they are arranged, as shown in plan in Fig. 2, radially about the vertical axis of the delivery orifice of a feeder F, Fig. 5, of any suitable kind. The units may also be arranged in groups of two radiating from the common central point. Each unit is secured to a base 7 which slides on a subbase 8, and it is moved along this base by a pair of fluid-pressure cylinders 11 to withdraw it from the working-position for repair or adjustment. The charges of glass from the feeder F are delivered by a scoop or interceptor 33, a shoot 26, and a deflector 23, the shoot system being supported by a ring 17 mounted on standards 18. The scoops 33 are reciprocated horizontally, to and from the receiving-position, by pneumatic cylinders 35 and springs 36, the movement of the scoops in predetermined order being controlled by the timing-mechanism 89 that controls the associated unit. If none of the scoops are in place below the feeder, the charges of glass fall through a deflecting- shoot 37 and a cullet funnel 38, the funnel being rotated continuously in order to prevent the charges from falling on one point and sticking to the funnel. The timing device 89, the funnel 38, and a conveyer for removing the finished ware are all driven by a motor 40 that drives the feeder F, a differential gearbox 51 being interposed in the drive in order that the timing of the machine as a whole can be advanced or retarded in relation to the timing of the feeder. Each of the machine units comprises a parison mould 62 and a finishing mould 63, the mould 63 being situated nearer the common centre of the group of units. Air for cooling the moulds, &c., is blown through an opening 10a in the base and passes to nozzles on the units. A clutch enables each unit to be thrown out of operation as desired. When one or more units are put out of action, the timing devices are adjusted, and sprocket wheels in the drive between the motor 40 and the gear box 51 are changed, in order that the charges of glass from the feeder may be distributed correctly to the units remaining in use. A take-out device is associated with each unit, and it comprises a gripper or tongs 124 which is opened and closed by any suitable pneumatic device and is oscillated through a vertical arc by an operating cylinder 125. The grippers remove the finished articles from the moulds 63 and deposits them on a dead plate 175, whence they are pushed on to a continuouslymoving conveyer belt C by oscillating fingers 181 carried by vertical posts 182. The articles are cooled while on the dead plates by air issuing from apertures in the plates. The conveyer C passes over rolls at the ends of an horizontal support 155 which is carried by jack screws 158 to permit vertical adjustment. The drive of the conveyer includes a sprocket chain 164 the sprocket wheels of which can be changed, when the whole of the units are not in use, in order that the articles delivered by the units may be spaced evenly along the conveyer. Cams 192 which oscillate the fingers 181 are similarly replaceable. The units can be operated in any desired order.