Patent GB-184171-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to glass shaping machines
IPC: C03B9/18
Filed: 1922-07-25
Abstract: 184,171. Hartford-Fairmont Co., (Assignees of Lorenz, E. H.). Aug. 8, 1921, [Convention date]. Blowing.-An automatic machine for forming glassware, adapted to be operated in conjunction with an automatic feeding-device, is driven mechanically instead of by compressed air, and is provided with stop mechanism and safety devices to interrupt the operation of the machine automatically in the event of any irregularity in, or obstruction of the operation of, any part of the machine. The machine is provided with a series of pairs of moulds, each pair comprising a parison mould and a blow mould arranged side by side on a rotatable head with their neck portions extending in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8. The head is mounted to rotate on an horizontal axis extending radially from a turret which is rotated intermittently about a vertical column so as to present the pairs of moulds successively to a series of operating stations where the various steps in the shaping of the ware, indicated in Figs. 1 to 8, are performed. At the first station, a charge of metal 51, Fig. 1, from a feeder is guided into the inverted parison mould by a deflector 127, and a blowhead 168 moves over the mould and admits air to settle the metal into the ring mould 96 and around the plunger 214 to form the mouth of the bottle. The turret next moves the pair of moulds to the next station, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and during the movement the moulds are inverted by the engagement of a bevel gear 405, Fig. 10, attached to the moulds, with a fixed sector gear. A bottom plate 245 closes the bottom of the parison mould, a blowhead 266 moves in contact with the ring mould, and air is admitted to expand the charge and complete the parison 53. The moulds are moved to the next station where the projecting neck of the parison is engaged by transfer tongs 267, Figs. 5 and 6. Both moulds are opened releasing the previously finished bottle from the blow mould and leaving the parison suspended from the tongs 267. The moulds are again inverted by means of an oscillating sector gear, thus bringing the open halves of the parison mould about the suspended parison, as shown in Fig. 7. The blowhead 266, Figs. 8 and 10, which travels with the moulds, descends on the neck of the bottle and admits air to complete the blowing operation. The point at which the blowing commences, and its duration, are controlled by tripping devices 351, Fig. 10, mounted on a stationary drum 352. The position of these devices may be adjusted to allow a sufficient time for the parison to elongate and its chilled skin to reheat before blowing and give some control over the setting of the bottle in its final form, the adjustment allowing these periods to be suited to the different sizes and types of ware. The turret is given a step-by-step motion by a helix cam the drum of which is connected to its driving-shaft by a single-tooth clutch 373, Fig. 20, operated by a bell-crank lever 455, 481. The arm 455 is moved outwards to close the clutch by means of a piston rod 501 of a pneumatic cylinder 500, the air supply of which is controlled by a handle 480. The arm 455 is drawn inwards to open the clutch by a head 483 on a rod which is moved by a heavy spring 486. Before the clutch can be closed, the handle 480 is turned to admit compressed air to a cylinder 488 which compresses the spring 486 and moves the head outwards. A toggle 494 attached to the head draws a finger 496 into engagement with a latch 497, so that the clutch can only remain closed as long as the finger 497 is engaged by the latch. This engagement is ensured by a button 510 attached to a diaphragm 508 forming one side of a chamber 507 to which compressed air is admitted by a pipe 509. The chamber is also connected to safety valves 242, 258, 282, 514 which are associated with different parts of the machine. Should any of these valves be operated through interruption of the associated parts, the pressure in the chamber 507 falls and the diaphragm 508 draws the button 510 inwards. The pressure of the spring 486 then causes the latch 497 to release the finger 496 and the head 483 moves the arm 455 and opens the clutch. One of the safety valves 258 is shown in Fig. 30 associated with the mechanism for raising the bottom plate 245. The plate is raised by an arm 250 acting through a spring 249 on the plunger rod 246 of the plate to give a yielding pressure. In the event of the movement of the plate 245 being obstructed, the spring is compressed and a rod 256 moves a lever 257 that is pivoted on the arm 250. The movement of the lever 257 opens the valve 258 to release the air from the diaphragm chamber 507, Fig. 20, and allows the spring 486 to open the clutch 373. Overload releases are fixed on the driving shafts which similarly operate the clutch whenever any part of the machine encounters abnormal resistance.