Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Glass Bottles by Machinery, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Glass Bottles by
Machinery, and Apparatus therefor.
I, LUDWIG GROTE, of 84B, East India Dock Road, Poplar, E, in the County of
London, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved process and appliances for making glass
bottles by machinery, the principal features of which consist in the employment of
an exactly equal quantity of glass for each bottle, in the preliminary blowing of
the lump of glass outside the mould in the open air, and working this lump with
a hallowed shaping-spoon, whereby the bottom of the bottle is formed in a far better
manner, than hitherto attainable; further in applying a bottom mould in such a
manner, that the depression produced is free from fissures and irregularities, the
hot glass from the sides of the bottle subsiding under the influence of the internal
air pressure and gravity, and filling the corners of the bottom mould in a uniform
manner. Further more in the accurate adjustment and regulation of the air blast
from the blowpipe, so that a condition identical with that prevailing when the
mouth blowpipe is used, may be obtained.
In existing methods of making glass bottles by machinery, the operator takes
from the furnace the quantity of glass he considers sufficient for his purpose,
places the same in a measuring mould, which it only partly fills, and turns on a jet
of compressed air, thus effecting the preliminary blowing. The depression in
the bottom of the bottle is formed by the pressure of a rod or by the aid of a
bottom plate.
This method is attended with manifold inconveniences, among which are: the
irregularity and absence of control in the selection of the amount of glass for each
bottle and in the admission of the air blast, further the liability of the bottom of
the bottle to become fissured in the course of its formation and to be defective by
reason of the premature cooling of the glass at the edges; the results of these
inconveniences being the production of a large percentage of outshots.
The improved appliances peculiar to this invention are: a special preliminary
mould for accurately measuring the glass, shaping the neck of the bottle and when
reversed allowing the then projecting bottom of the bottle to be shaped by the
spoon; the shaping spoon for working the bottom into a smooth hemispherical
form; a number of hinged moulds for shaping the bottles and which can be
detached from the blowpipe jet, whilst the glass is still hot, to make room for a
fresh lump of glass; finally an excentric tap for gradually admitting the com-
pressed air to the blowpipe jet.
1000

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Glass Bottles by
Machinery, and Apparatus therefor.
I, LUDWIG GROTE, of S4B, East India Dock Road, Poplar, London, E., Manager
of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of glass bottles by machinery and
apparatus therefor or for use in conjunction therewith.
According to my present invention I employ a glass-measuring mould (or part
mould) in conjunction with another mould or part mould (which I will term the
neck mould") and a plunger for closing the end of this latter mould (which
together form a preliminary mould) and atter inverting and filling the combined
neck mould and measuring mould, completely or to any desired point, with molten
glass the now locked together moulds are then reversed and the lower or measuring
mould opened and removed leaving the mass of molten glass suspended by the
neck (from the top end thereof) i.e. depending from the neck mould.
This solid mass of molten glass-which is thus suspended in the open air and
free from the measuring mould--will extend itself in a downward direction and
I now work or manipulate said mass exteriorly by means of a tool having a con-
cavity therein somewhat spoon-shaped (or other suitable implement) and which
I shall hereinafter refer to as the "spoon" and I also move back the plunger and
gently admit air under pressure through the neck mould into the concavity formed
by the rounded end of said plunger in the top of the neck part of the molten mass
and while the mass of glass is thus descending and while the air is being gently
admitted interiorly I work (i.e. support and shape) the bottom of the molten glass
exteriorly by means of the aforesaid "spoon."
Having thus in the open air partly formed the bottle and manipulated the
bottom end of the latter with the aforesaid spoon and so prepared same for being
enclosed in the final mould (with the objects hereinafter set forth) I then enclose
said partly formed bottle in a final body-mould or part mould (hereinafter referred
to as the body mould) which I firmly attach to the neck mould and close tightly
thereon and then sufficient air under suitable pressure is admitted into the interior
of the bottle to, finally mould i.e. shape and finish said bottle in its final form in
the mould thus formed by the neck mould and body mould in conjunction-where-
upon this mould is opened (i.e. first the body mould and then the neck mould are
opened) and the finished bottle is now removed.
"
spoon
My present invention consists essentially in the method and means employed
for exactly measuring an equal quantity of molten glass for each bottle of a given
size also the method of and means for manipulating and working exteriorly the
bottom of the bottle or mass of depending molten glass in the open air and free
from the measuring or body mould and subjecting the suspended molten. mass to
a preliminary blowing operation, and further consists in the construction and use
of and method of using the aforesaid moulds or part moulds and the
(i.e. first the neck mould and measuring mould in combination, 2nd the use of
the neck mould by itself in conjunction with the aforesaid " spoon," and 3rd the
neck mould and final mould in combination) forming the neck part of the bottle.
at once and in one and the same operation and from the same charge of molten '4
glass as that from which the whole bottle is formed; applying the
final body mould (after preparation of the molten mass and partial
blowing in the open
the mould) in suchwise
and while free from

page_text: that the corners and bottom end of the bottle may be free from defects; and other
details of construction and improvements all as hereinafter fully described and
finally pointed out in the clainis; while at the same time I wish it to be clearly
understood that I make no claim herein to the improved system of admitting the
air in a specially regulated manner, and in the employment of a plunger adapted to
form a special depression of only a limited extent in the molten glass, special
air admitting device and the special air valves or means to repeatedly change the
direction of the flow of the air supply, as these form the subject of another applica-
tion for patent which I have made under date 2nd September 1898 No. 18817.
Referring to the accompanying drawings;
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a glass bottle blowing machine i.e. with the neck
mould clasped onto a moulding on the air admission device and the measuring
mould clasped on to the neck mould-and the preliminary mould thus formed is
shown inverted ready to receive the charge of molten glass.
Fig. 2 is a view of the same machine but with the measuring mould and nec.
mould reversed.
Fig. 3 is a front view in elevation of Fig. 2 showing the measuring mould open
and laid back and the molten mass of glass held by and depending from the still
closed neck mould.
Fig. 4 is a "local" front elevation (i.e. at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2) show-
ing the final body mould placed in position around the partly formed bottle and
clasped on the neck mould."
Fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of the measuring mould (inverted) clasped
to the neck mould.
Fig. 6 is a diagram of the partly formed bottle showing the "spoon" by which
I manipulate or work the bottom of the molten glass.
Fig. 7 is a view of the partly formed bottle after manipulation by the aforesaid
spoon.
Fig. 8 is a view showing the finished bottle having a flat bottom thereto with the
central part of said bottom raised (i.e. concaved) to form the "kick-up."
Fig. 9 is a local vertical cross sectional view of the neck mould and plunger-
the latter in position to form the depression in the upper end of the mass of molten
glass depending from said neck mould.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale-
of the air admission mechanism with the plunger and plunger chamber or device
through which said plunger or regulating rod is adapted to slide showing the
air admission cock wide open.
Fig. 11 shows the air admission valve partly closed.
Fig. 12 shows the air admission valve only very slightly open.
The invention illustrated in Figs. 10 11 and 12 and the description thereof does
not form any part of my present invention but is included and covered in my said
later Patent No. 18817 of 1898. It is here described as giving the best method
known to me of working my invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
a is platform carrying standard or frame b which latter supports or carries
thereon the various parts of the apparatus according to my present invention.
c is vertical turn-table or face plate journalled at c* in the bearing in said
frame band having a stop c¹ which comes against the stop b¹ fixed or formed on
the frame so as to limit the movement of said turn-table c in one direction and
the stop to limit the movement of said turn-table in the other direction, or pro-
vided with other suitable means to hold said plate at the limit of the half turn
thereof.
d is adjusting wheel by which the position of said plate c (carrying the
moulds etc.) can be adjusted with respect to the fixed frame b.
e is air supply pipe which passes through the hollow trunnion or sleeve e on
which the plate c revolves and terminates in the bent pipe E leading to the interior
of the mould.

page_text: 'f is the neck mould made in two parts hinged or pivoted on the hinge pin g
carried on the face plate c, and h is the measuring mould made in two parts also
hinged on the hinge pin g; the two parts of the neck mould f being provided with
suitable means to fasten same together for instance in any well-known or suitable
manner now employed for securing the two parts of a mould together, and the two
parts of the mould are similarly provided or otherwise suitably arranged to be
fastened together.
to be
The exterior of the lower part of the neck mould is of such a form as
adapted to be clasped and locked to the measuring mould which latter is corre-
spondingly formed internally near one end (i.e. the neck end) thereof. For instance
the exterior of the neck mould f may be formed as shown in Figs. 5 and 9 with a
circular tongue f¹ and groove f the interior of the neck end of the measuring
mould being formed as a counterpart thereto i.e. with corresponding groove h¹
and tongue 2 see Fig. 5.
The upper end (i.e. the neck end) of the final body mould (see Fig. 3) is
formed internally corresponding to the measuring mould whereby said body
mould is adapted to be clasped on and locked tightly to the exterior of the neck
mould as shown in Fig. 4.
Furthermore the upper end of the neck mould is formed internally as a counter-
part to fit on and be clasped to the specially-shaped moulding i fixed formed or
carried on the casing 0 of the air-admitting device hereinafter described see
Figs. 9 and 10.
M is mandrel or plunger which has the double purpose of serving, when moved
inwards, to cut off the air supply and at same time to form a slight and specially
shaped depression (of concave form) in the molten glass, and when moved in the
opposite direction to admit an annular jet of air under pressure in a specially
regulated manner for the operation of blowing the bottle.
is handle on the plunger operating lever n pivoted at n² to the turn-table c
this hand lever n being connected to the plunger M in any suitable manner so
that movement of the hand lever is imparted to the plunger M for instance a
pin m on the outer end of the plunger M and extending laterally therefrom may
pass through the slot n³ in the hand lever n with a nut m¹ and washers m² thereon
see Figs. 2 & 10.
The plunger M is advantageously made with 2 diameters viz.: it is of a smaller
diameter at M2 from the point M to the rounded end M³ thereof-its cylinder or
casing being of two diameters internally and finally tapering viz. the upper
part from the stuffing box or screw cap to the point 01 fitting closely the larger
diameter of the plunger M while below the shoulder there is an annular space
or clearance between the smaller part 2 of the plunger M and the interior wall
of the casing O down to the point and then the bore is tapered through the mould-
ing somewhat as shown in Fig. 10 and finally at the lower end of said bore it
fits accurately and closely around the lower end of the plunger M near the specially
shaped (rounded) end M³ thereof see Fig. 9.
With the bore or opening in said casing O the air pipe or passage E P is in com-
munication (see Fig. 10) such passage being controlled by a valve or faucet Q of
special construction as follows:-
The valve plug Q is advantageously of an ordinary taper form fitting accurately
and adapted to revolve in a correspondingly taper socket in the casing P¹ (see
Fig. 10) and provided with means to tighten and secure same thereon and further-
more provided with a handle Q' by which to turn said valve plug O in its casing.
This plug Q has the ordinary passage Q2 therethrough to allow communication
from the passage E to the passage P-but according to my invention I provide
graduated grooves or depressions Q which extend from each end of the passage Q
partly around the circumference of the plug and being deepest next the passage Q
gradually diminish in depth as shown-the course the air supply will be caused
to take when this valve is only partially opened being a very divergent one as

page_text: shown in Figs. 11 and 12 respectively i.e. the direction of the air supply is
repeatedly changed on its way to blow the bottle.
is work table on which the body mould may rest (any suitable number of said
moulds being provided as desired) said table being carried and supported on the
vertical slides s which are guided by and slide vertically on the frame pillar b in
the slots therein after the manner of a lathe slide rest; t being a vertical screw
journalled in the said frame b and adapted to be revolved therein the said screw
passing (screwing) through the internally screw-threaded sleeve or nut fixed on
said table so that by revolving said vertical screw shaft t (for instance by a hand
or spoke wheel t¹) thereby the height of the work-table r can be accurately
adjusted (i.e. lowered or raised) according to whether a longer or shorter type of
bottle is to be made and thus support the rather heavy body mould thereon in
just correct position to enable same to be closed around the partly formed (partly
blown) glass bottle and clasped and secured onto the neck mould f (as shown in
Fig. 4) advantageously without having to lift or raise said body mould off the
work table r,
The final body mould is shown vertically divided in two halves each hinged at
the bottom at ¹ to the bottom 3 the upper face of which latter may be of any
suitable form according to the character or shape which it is desired to impart to
the bottom end of the bottle (flat, convex, concave, etc.) in the case illustrated this
bottom piece has the upper face thereof of a convex form (see Fig. 2) in order
to form a corresponding concavity in the bottom of the finished bottle- -see Fig. 8.
yy (Fig. 3) are set screws by which the whole machine (which may run on
small wheels or rollers ) can be fixed to the floor or ground.
u (Fig. 9) is the mass (measured quantity) of molten glass depending from the
closed neck-mould f after the measuring mould h has been removed and before the
blowing operation or self-extending action or manipulation with the spoon w
(shown in Figs. 3 and 6) has taken place.
z
The body mould is provided with any suitable means to fasten the two halves
firmly together when closed for instance a locking device 2 (on a movable handle z*
on one half of the mould) is adapted to be locked into the other half which latter
is provided with a fixed handle ***.
And similarly with respect to the part-moulds f and h respectively provided with
handles ff and h* h** and any suitable means to fasten together the two parts
of each said mould when closed.
The operation is as follows:-
I commence by filling quite full of molten glass the preliminary mould formed
by the combined neck mould and measuring mould ½ in the inverted position and
locked together as shown in Fig. 1.
By this means an equal quantity of glass can be obtained with certainty in
making each bottle of any given size.
The preliminary mould f h is next reversed into the position shown in Fig. 2
and the measuring mould h (which is now in position underneath the neck mould f
is opened and removed or laid back as shown in Fig. 3 whereby the lump of
molten glass u hangs freely suspended from the still closed neck mould f--the
lump is now worked by means of the shaping spoon or tool w and subjected to
a preliminary and gentle blowing operation (by withdrawing the plunger M and
slightly opening the valve Q of the air supply) while thus suspended from the
neck in the open air with the body part of the said mass unenclosed by the
measuring mould or any mould.
After the mass u (Fig. 9) has been worked with the shaping spoon w and partly
blown as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7 unenclosed (i.e. in the open air-but still sus-
pended in the neck mould Fig. 4) then in order to finish the blowing and finally
and properly shape the bottle (particularly the bottom of the bottle) the body
mould z is now moved into position under the depending partly blown bottle (see
Fig. 3) and is closed and clasped upon or affixed to the neck mould (see Fig. 4)

page_text: and there secured as herein before set forth and the body mould now completely
surrounds the said partly formed bottle.
The full air supply is now admitted to the interior of the bottle and as soon as
the bottle has been thoroughly blown within the finishing mould formed by the
combined neck mould f and body mould z these latter are opened and the now
moulded and finished bottle (still resting on the bottom of the body mould--the
latter now open as in Fig. 3) is detached from the neck mould and set aside to
cool down.
The cooling can be effected apart from the machine and any number of body
moulds z can be employed for the same machine whereby a considerable economy
of time is effected.
With reference to the manipulation of the bottom of the molten mass or inchoate
bottle with the shaping spoon we which has been already mentioned, when the
measuring mould h is opened the mass of molten glass u exhibits the form shown
in Fig. 9. To form the bottom of the bottle its lower portion is then shaped by
working it in the hollow of the hemispherical shaping spoon w the employment
of gentle air pressure coupled with suitable movements of the spoon imparting a
rounded and uniform shape all over the bottom as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
In this manner the formation of lumps or inequalities in the wall of the made
bottle is avoided or reduced and any such that may already exist in the molten glass
are dispersed or distributed.
Fissures and irregularities of surface are also removed by this method and con-
sequently the structure of the bottom is regulated in such a manner that the mass
is not forced out and driven apart laterally as the result of pressure.
This treatment with the shaping spoon is advantageously commenced when the
mass of molten glass u Fig. 9 begins to sink, this procedure affording ample time
for carefully and accurately performing the task in hand during the interval
occupied by the sinking of the glass to the desired extent and during the prelimin-
ary blowing operation; and moreover this special manipulation of or operation on
the bottom ensures the absence of corners and angles in this part of the bottle.
If now the body mould z be put in position underneath the depending and now
partly-formed bottle-the coolest portion of the bottle takes up a position upon and
in direct contact with the bottom of the mould without being able to tear or
fissure. The hot portion however is exposed to the force of tension (extension)
by its own weight so that the formation of the bottom edge consequently proceeds
with ease; and thus the completion of the bottle proceeds very quickly.
This treatment is the reverse to that of existing or former methods, since hereto-
fore the thick inner portion of the mass of molten glass was the hottest and the
edge part the coolest and most brittle so that the formation of the bottom edges
was a difficult matter whereas by means of the present treatment this operation
(the formation of the bottom edges) is facilitated.
The machine may be made single as shown or double (i.e. two apparatus back
to back) or more than two such apparatus may be arranged and mounted in one
machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
:
1. In the manufacture of glass bottles by machinery-the method or process of
producing glass bottles which consists in placing the required quantity of molten
glass in a preliminary mould formed of a neck part and a measuring part,
reversing the mould, removing the measuring part of the mould and leaving the
measured quantity of molten mass of glass depending from the neck mould, work-
ing the bottom of the molten glass with a spoon-like implement as the molten mass
sinks or extends itself downwards, subjecting said mass to a preliminary blowing
operation while thus suspended in the open air, then enclosing the now partly
formed bottle in a finishing mould and subjecting same to a final blowing operation
and finishing the bottle while thus enclosed.

page_text: 2. In the manufacture of glass bottles by machinery--the method of producing
glass bottles of identical weight and thickness of wall which consists in measuring
exactly the same quantity of molten glass for each bottle of a given size in a pre-
liminary mould formed by a neck mould and measuring mould and then removing
the latter, and finishing the bottle in another and larger mould, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
3. In the manufacture of glass bottles by machinery-the method of forming
the bottom edge and bottom of glass bottles, which consists in placing molten
glass in a preliminary mould formed of a neck part and a measuring part, revers-
ing said mould and removing the measuring mould leaving the mass of molten
glass depending from the still closed neck mould, and working the bottom end of
said molten mass-while thus suspended in the open air and unenclosed in a mould
with a spoon-like implement so as to give same a rounded form, subjecting
same to preliminary blowing operation while thus suspended in the open air, and
thereafter enclosing said partly formed bottle in a finishing mould and therein
supporting the bottom end of the glass on an upwardly convex bottom part of said
final mould while blowing and finishing the bottle therein whereby the still molten
glass will run into the bottom corner or edge in said final mould and form a good
bottom edge and bottom of the bottle.
4. In a machine for making glass bottles-a preliminary mould formed of a neck
mould and a measuring mould adapted to fit onto the neck mould and to be released
therefrom without opening said neck mould, in combination and acting in con-
junction with a body mould adapted to fit securely on to (and to be readily released
from) said neck mould to form the finishing mould in which the final blowing and
finishing of the bottle takes place substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
5. In a machine for making glass bottles--a preliminary mould formed of a neek
mould and a measuring mould the latter adapted to fit on to the neck mould and
to be released therefrom without opening said neck mould in combination and act-
ing in conjunction with a hand-operated spoon or implement by which the bottom
end of the molten mass can be worked or manipulated while said mass is suspended
by the neck from the neck mould and a body mould adapted to fit securely on to
(and to be readily released from) said neck mould to thereby form the finishing
inould in which the final blowing and finishing of the bottle takes place substan-
tially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
6. In a machine for making glass bottles-the combination with a revolvable
disc frame or turntable, of a neck mould hinged thereon and a measuring mould
also hinged on said turntable and adapted when combined with said neck mould
to form a preliminary measuring mould substantially as and for the purposes
described.
7. In a machine for making glass bottles in which the molten glass is measured
and moulded as a solid mass in a preliminary mould consisting of a neck part
and a measuring part carried on a revolving disc or frame-the use in combination
therewith of separate body moulds each adapted in conjunction with the aforesaid
neck mould to form a finishing mould substantially as and for the purposes
described.
process
8. In the manufacture of glass bottles by machinery the herein-described
of forming the bottoms of the bottles which consists in working the bottom of
the inchoate bottle into a hemispherical or rounded form-before applying the
final mould-by means of a hand-operated spoon-like implement substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Dated 1
J
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London. W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London. W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant