Patent GB-635097-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of hollow glassware
IPC: C03B9/18
Filed: 1947-08-01
Abstract: 635,097. Making hollow glass articles. KITSON, T. B. Aug. 1, 1947, No. 21013. Convention date, Aug. 5, 1946. [Class 56] In a machine for making hollow glass articles, particularly bottles, and including improvements on the machine described in Specification 613,428, a gob is fed into a blank mould in which a parison is formed, the parison being engaged by a vacuum transfer head which swings it into a blow or finish mould. A number, e.g. ten, of sets of moulds and transfer mechanisms are mounted on a rotary structure, the finish moulds being at a higher level than the blank moulds. A bottle is made, in each set of moulds, in one and one half revolutions of the structure so that the positions of supply of the 'gob, and of removal of the bottle, are diametrically opposed. The blank moulds each include parts for finishing the neck of the bottle and, before the blow, a baffle plate is positioned at the top of the mould against which the bottom of the bottle is finished. The parison is thus finished at both ends and is substantially the same length as the finished article. This facilitates the seating of the parison in the finish mould in which the transfer head, which has engaged the finished bottle bottom after removal of the baffle plate from the blank mould remains during the final blow. The finish of the bottle neck in the blank mould is effected very quickly to allow a relatively long time for the blow in that mould. This ensures that the parison becomes cool enough to withstand the transfer without distortion. As shown, the rotary structure carrying the moulds, baffle plate and transfer mechanisms and operating means therefor, comprises a hollow bottom table 190 having sectorial compartments which are supplied with air for delivery to hollow columns 490 fitted with removable cooling-nozzles directed on to the moulds ; the columns 490 serving also to support an upper ring 1083, carrying the final-blow apparatus, and an intermediate ring 944 carrying the finish moulds. The structure rotates around a central stationary hollow column 136 serving also to convey pressure air from a supply pipe 1205 to a distributer 1220 which is rotated by pins 1221 and is connected to five circumferentially spaced vertical manifolds which supply pressure air to pneumatic cylinders which operate the mould halves, the transfer and baffle mechanisms and the neck-forming and final blow means. The blow air is supplied from the manifolds through reducing valves, the hollow rings 1231, 1232 and appropriate pipes and control valves to the blank and finish moulds. The table 190 includes also an annular vacuum chamber 196 which is connected by pipes 666 to a distributer 669 which is rotated on the central column by pins 673. The distributer 669 is connected by a pipe 134 to a vacuum pump, the cooling air being supplied to the sectorial compartments through a conduit 129, surrounding the pipe 134, and through ports 152, 207. The pneumatic cylinders, for actuating the mould-halves, baffle plates and transfer mechanisms, and for presenting the blow and vacuum means to the blank and finish moulds, are controlled by slide valves which are moved by adjustable cams either on the stationary base 125 or on the central column 136. The mould halves of both the blank moulds 253 and finish moulds 966 are mounted on pins 245, 962 and are opened and closed by pistons 260, 977 connected by linkwork to the moulds. When they are closed, they are sealed against heads 395 and the vacuum heads 775, respectively, by engagement with sloping flange surfaces thereon. Gobs are fed in succession to the blank moulds 253, Fig. 33, .by a tube 1201 which swings about its upper end to keep pace with the mould being changed. As the gob falls into the mould, the plunger 381 rises to meet it, so that the mouth-forming projection 402 is positioned in the neckforming mould parts 254, 255 as the gob reaches that position. Vacuum is applied, immediately, to the gob to pull it down satisfactorily, the rise of the plunger and the application of the vacuum being effected by means comprising a slide valve, operated by a cam-roller 355, which admits pressure air to the underside of the piston 343 which rises to bring the ports 460 above the sleeve 336, so that when the valve 478 is opened by the cam 583, 576, the vacuum chamber 196 is connected, via the ports 460 and passages 425, 403 to the neck-forming zone of the mould. The neck is formed very quickly and the cam-operated valves are moved to shut off the vacuum and depress the piston 343 whereby the ports 428 are registered with a pressure air supply port, so that when the blow-air control valve is actuated by its cam the blowing of the parison is effected, this occurring over a relatively long dwell in the blank mould. The baffle plate 540, Fig. 3, is, before the blow, positioned on the top of the mould to form the bottlebottom. The plate 540 is carried on an arm 523, Fig. 5, on a piston rod 521, the air supply to the cylinder 514 being controlled by a valve regulated by a cam which contacts with the roller 556. The plate is applied to the mould during the descent of the piston, the necessary swing of the arm 523 being obtained from the engagement of a roller 544 in the cam slot 545. The blow being completed, the baffle plate leaves the mould, the transfer head 775 starts moving down to the parison and the vacuum comes on to the head. The vacuum head 775 is clipped on to its support 742, Fig. 78, by engaging open-ended slots in the flange 771 with the heads of spring-urged pins 765, and turning the head on its spigot 783. The head is pivoted in a bell-crank lever which is provided with passages whereby the vacuum is applied to the head, the lever being swung under the control of a cam, on the central column, which contacts with a roller 869 on the valve controlling the cylinder 692. A roller 789 engages a slotted link 790 to bring the head into an upstanding position as it is swung from the blank mould to the finish mould. The finish mould halves then close upon the parison and upon the head 775 from which the vacuum is then shut off. The neck of the bottle protrudes from the finish mould 966 and after a period sufficient to allow the parison to reheat, the blow head 1130, Fig. 77, descends and seals on to the mould around the bottle neck. The blow means comprise a piston 1124 under the control of a valve 1150, Fig. 3, regulated by a cam 1180. When the piston has presented the head 1130 to the mould, a port 1145 is aligned with a blow-air supply port 1146 and the final blow is made. The finish mould opens, the bottle is removed by the take-out arm and the transfer head starts down to engage another parison formed in the blank mould. After the transfer of the parison to the finish mould, the blank mould is left open whilst being exposed to air from the supply port 428, Fig. 33, issuing through the inclined nozzles 403. The air is directed against the insides of the mould ports, and as it carries oil, the mould surfaces are lubricated before the mould is closed to receive another gob. The machine is provided with adjustments whereby the moulds may be replaced to make articles of different shapes and sizes, and the timing of the various operations varied accordingly. The cams on the control column and on the stationary base are made in relatively slidable sections so that the effective lengths of the cams and the operational timing thereof may be adjusted. The adjustments are effected by manual means in accessible positions on the machine, the manual means being connected through suitable shafting and gearing to the corresponding cams. The spacers 381, 383 are replaceable by spacers selected, as regards length, to suit the particular blank moulds to be used. The baffle plates 540 are removably clipped in position, and are replaceable by plates of a different size or shape. The baffle-carrying arms 523 are adjustable vertically and angularly on the piston rod 521 and fine vertical adjustments of the baffle may be effected by screw means at the free ends of the arms 523. The transfer mechanisms are detachable as units by removing screws 691. The vacuum heads 775 are removeable by disengagement from the headed pins 765, and adjustments of the swing are effected by turnbuckles 727 and piston stopscrews 723. The heads 775 are also adjustable on their pivots to ensure accurate seating in the moulds. The heights of the finish moulds are determined by collars 970 screwed on the hinge pins, and the blow heads are vertically adjusted by screw means 1104, 1103. The heads 1130 have a quick-coupling attachment with the piston rod 1125. The whole machine is mounted on wheels 126 so that it may be wheeled over a pit which receives the air and vacuum conduits, jack screws 127 supporting the machine when it is properly located.