Patent Description:
In the manufacture of glassware or other materials, it is necessary to dose or deliver gobs or portions of molten glass for the manufacture of glassware.

These portions of glass are obtained from a glass melting source that provides a continuous flow of glass, which is continuously cut, by means of a suitable cutting mechanism, into portions called "gobs", which are distributed by means of a gob distributor in one or more cavities of a plurality of glassware forming stations, generally six, eight, ten or twelve, which constitute the machine, with the advantage that the distribution can be reprogrammed in the event of malfunction, maintenance of any section or by under stretching of glass.

The known gob distributors of the prior art usually contain one or more movable chutes, each supported with an axis shaft. These chutes are aligned in manner that they move through suitable gear-based mechanisms, these mechanisms are controlled by a moving cam that causes chutes to move together between one glassware forming station and the next, in a predetermined glass gob delivery chsections of the machine.

As an example of distributors of the prior art, we can cite the one illustrated in <CIT>. This distributor consists of a pair of curved deflector scoops supported by vertical shafts that, through suitable gears, are radially moved by means of a crown supported on a vertical axis sequentially moved through a predetermined rotation angle, by means of a transverse piston rod containing a cam follower. This stem is supported by a control cam that, according to its profile, makes curved deflector scoops move radially between one molding station and the next, to deliver the gobs through a series of fixed channels that guide them towards the molds of each forming stations of the machine. The control cam is turned at the same time by means of a crown and a screw, which is coupled to a shaft. The shaft is rotated by a synchronous motor that rotates the cam at a constant speed, synchronized with operating controls, for example, a timing drum controlling several operations on each station of the forming machine.

Another type of gob distributor is illustrated in <CIT>, and assigned to Emhart Corporation. This patent also describes a distributor of molten glass gobs which comprises a pair of curved scoops, each of which is coupled to a sprocket, and to a rack, allowing them to move angularly and in unison between one position and another to several stations of a glassware forming machine. The rack is also coupled to a shaft, which at its free end is equipped with a cam follower, which is also moved by another cam follower that rests on a suitable cam, that in this particular case the cam is horizontal. The cam is driven by transmission means connected to a synchronous motor rotating the cam in synchrony with the operating controls of several forming sections of the forming machine.

The gob distributors known in the prior art already eliminate the use of a drive cam to control the movement of the mobile channels of a glass gob distributor and, instead, use electronic or stepping motors, as well as an electronic control system, as illustrated in <CIT>, and assigned to Investigación FIC Fideicomiso. In this case, the distributor includes a pair of curved distribution scoops, arranged one behind the other, the front scoop is provided with a ring support resting on a shaft, while the rear scoop passes through said ring and resting on a second shaft, to achieve the rotation movement at predetermined angles. The distribution scoop shafts pass through a common support and coupled by means of appropriate couplings to stepping motors, which run completely independently by providing motions perfectly measured by the number of steps fed to each motor. In this case, stepper motors are operated by an electronic control system synchronizing the delivery movement of the scoops with respect to each section of the forming machine.

Another gob distributor of the type using programmable means is described in the <CIT>, and assigned to Emhart Industries. This distributor includes a modification to the distribution system described in <CIT>, assigned to such company. In accordance with the invention, the main features of said gob distributor include the use of a servomotor, which is a direct current reversible motor, to position a rack and control the angular movement of the curved gob delivery scoops. A servo motor is controlled by a servo position control mechanism, which is also controlled by the motion profile through a computer that can be manually adjusted. This gob distributor can be considered to be manufactured in two sections, a replaceable section that includes a housing with a pair of toothed sprockets respectively coupled to a pair of feed chutes. These pinions are also coupled with a rack, which makes the scoops move angularly between one position and another; and a fixed section containing a servo motor and a rotary linear motion impeller, which can be coupled to the main structure of the glassware forming machine.

<CIT> is related to an electronic glass gob distributor, for glassware article forming machines, or machines for forming thermoplastic article or the like, as well as to an electronic control system to readily and efficiently regulate the movement of the glass gob distributing channels in a programmed sequence and with an exact movement between the several forming stations of the machine.

Finally, in <CIT>, assigned to Vidriera Monterrey, refers to a gob distributor for glassware forming machines or other materials, which includes: at least one curved distribution scoop mounted on a vertical rotary axis for each gob simultaneously supplied by a distributor, each scoop has its upper end aligned at all times with each respective hole of the glass molten gob feeder and moves radially so its end matches in a predetermined order with the upper ends of the fixed channels of a forming machine which carry the gobs to the respective molds of the sections of such machine; a housing is composed of at least one gear which rotates on its axial axis, in conjunction with a central shaft coupled to the housing which are joined together with the vertical axis of each distribution scoop; a rack coupled to match the gears of each distribution scoop to move these gears with a rotational movement and thus provide a simultaneous and synchronized rotation to each scoop; and, a rotary driving member coupled to said rack, allowing a forward and backward movement to said rack and thereby carry out a rotational movement of said gears; drive media coupled to the drive member to impart rotational motion to the drive member to move the rack and consequently simultaneously and angularly move the curved scoops to selective delivery positions in a scheduled sequence with accurate movements between different sections of the glassware forming machine.

With the arrival of the electronic controls, the motion control of the curved scoops can be handled with great security, and the angular position programming (adjustment) can be easily controlled.

However, one of the problems that still persist with known gob distributors is their mechanical structure, since they are manufactured with a large number of mechanical parts such as connecting plates, guiding rods and other additional parts that significantly increase their size and weight.

In addition to the above, and due to the large number of parts comprising the prior art gob distributors, has a disadvantage of increased wear on all parts. This causes backlash problems, which cause sudden moves at the time of delivery, which cannot be easily corrected by electrical or electronic controls.

It is first objective of the present invention to provide a gob distributor for glassware forming machines, which has a compact construction and improves the motion control and the position of distribution scoops.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gob distributor for glassware forming machines, which accepts different motion orders for the distribution scoops without having the need to disassemble the mechanism.

An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a gob distributor for glassware forming machines which, since it is built in a more compact form (reducing its length and size to almost half of the known distributors), reduces the problem of wear mechanisms, thus avoiding problems of sudden motions during the distribution of the gobs to the different sections of the glassware forming machine.

An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a gob distributor for glassware forming machines, which can be easily modified to convert it for use in double, triple or quadruple cavity.

An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a gob distributor for glassware forming machines that, since each shaft and their respective motor are independent allowing to perfectly align each scoop from double cavity with each parison mold, maintaining a perfect alignment for a perfectly centered load.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gob distributor for glassware forming machines where the scoop holders or arms of each scoop move completely independently, each scoop holder being inserted in the opposite direction to the other at <NUM>° and in a relation one to the other, allowing a greater fan angle equal to or greater than <NUM>°, which is superior to those made by the distributors of the previous art.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a gob distributor for glassware forming machines, which provides a motion of the distribution scoops with no sudden changes of acceleration.

The novel aspects considered characteristic of the present invention are established in particular in the annexed claims. Nevertheless, the invention itself, due to its organization or the operational method, in conjunction with other objects and advantages of the same, will be better understood through the following description, when read in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Referring to the <FIG>, the gob distributor <NUM> of the present invention is shown, which includes: a housing <NUM> which is protected by a cover CA. In this embodiment, the gob distributor <NUM> is shown to retain three delivery scoops <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, in an arcuate shape, these being positioned one above the other. Each scoop <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, having its upper end to match with each of the feeding orifices of a glass feeder (not shown) and its lower ends directed towards molds for forming glassware. Each scoop <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, being supported by independent holders <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, to radially move to the left or to the right.

As shown in <FIG>, a first scoop holder <NUM> is located at the back, to retain scoop <NUM>; and, scoop holders <NUM> and <NUM>, are aligned to the front of the first scoop holder <NUM>, one behind the other.

Each set of scoop holder <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and scoops <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, move independently, one from the other. At least two scoop holders <NUM>, <NUM>, being interspersed in an opposite position (in a direction opposite to the other at <NUM>°) and in a relationship one below the other, in a staggered form, allowing a greater fan angle equal to or greater than <NUM>°, which is higher than those made by the distributors of the prior art.

These scoop holders <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, will be coupled to shafts F1, F2, F3 (illustrated in <FIG>), which will be described in more detail below, to radially move scoops <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, so they distribute glass gobs to each section of a glassware forming machine (not shown).

In particular reference to each scoop holder <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the scoop holder <NUM> located in the center includes: a support base 22A and an arm 22B, which is projected inclined upwards and forwards to engage the lower middle part of scoop <NUM>. The scoop holder <NUM> includes: a support base 20A; a first arm 20B connected to the support base 20A that projects horizontally from the center outward; a second arm 20C is connected outside end of the first arm 20B, which is projected vertically upwards and continues inclined forward, until a higher level above the middle part of the scoop <NUM> is reached; and finally, a third arm 20D connected to the upper end of the second arm 20C, which is projected horizontally inward to engage the lower part of scoop <NUM>. Finally, scoop holder <NUM> includes: a support base 24A, a first arm 24B connected to the support base 24A that projects horizontally from the center outward, in opposite relation to arm 20B; a second arm 24C is connected outside end of the first arm 24B, which is projected vertically upwards and continues inclined forward, until a higher level above the middle part of the scoop <NUM> is reached. It is important to clarify that even when scoops holders <NUM>, <NUM>, show a semi-rectangular structure, these can be in the shape of "C" or other similar shapes.

Continuing with the description of each part of the gob distributor <NUM> of the present invention, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, show the housing <NUM>, similar to a quadrangular prism, which has housed at least one shaft <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, in horizontal position, which have a built-in worm screw <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Such shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, are equidistantly distributed in housing <NUM>, two lower in parallel position, for example, shaft <NUM> and <NUM> and one located in the upper part, for example, shaft <NUM>. Both ends of shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are connected by means of ball bearings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, between front face 12A and rear face 12B of housing <NUM> (<FIG>), to freely rotate. Bearings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, including projections increasing rigidity of shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Caps T1, T2, T3, located on front face 12A of housing <NUM>, cover bearings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. It should be noted that housing <NUM> includes a cap T4, to fit a fourth shaft (not shown) in case of a gob distributor <NUM>, for enlargement to four scoops.

The shaft ends <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> located on back face 12B of housing <NUM> are connected to servomotors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> by means of flexible or bellows couplings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, to rotate shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> on their own axis with a rotating movement to the left or right.

In the <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, shafts F1, F2 and F3, are located in housing <NUM>, in a perpendicular position with respect to shafts <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, located and aligned equidistantly, one after the other, along housing <NUM>. These shafts F1, F2, F3, are located in the central part of the parallelism formed by shafts <NUM> and <NUM> and aligned in the upper part with shaft <NUM>. Each F1, F2 and F3 shafts, including a <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> segmented fan-shaped crown. Segmented crowns <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are assembled with a built-in worm screws <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, forming a worm gear (or a double-wrapping transmission) for that, by means of a rotating movement of the servo motors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, transmit their movement to shafts F1, F2 and F3, and move scoops <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> radially with a movement to the left or right. Each shaft F1, F2 and F3 and <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, are coupled in pairs, in a perpendicular position with each other, to independently move each scoop <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The shafts F1, F2, F3, include in their upper end and scoop support <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> on which each independent scoop holder <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are coupled.

The upper end of each shaft F1, F2, F3, through the scoop support <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, is assembled to housing <NUM>, through axial needle roller bearings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, located in the upper part of housing <NUM>.

Axial needle roller bearings (not shown) located at the bottom of housing <NUM> are also used to assemble the lower end of each shafts F1, F2, F3. The latter covered by a cylindrical housing <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Finally, housing <NUM> includes cooling fins <NUM>, <NUM>, on their side faces <NUM>, <NUM>, which are protected by a cover CA. These cooling fins <NUM>, <NUM>, are formed along housing <NUM> to increase heat transfer and cool surface of housing <NUM>.

Referring now to a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, four shafts F1, F2, F3, F4, are shown in vertical position, which are located in housing <NUM>, in perpendicular position with respect to shaft <NUM> and shaft <NUM>. These shafts F1, F2, F3, F4 are located in the central part of parallelism formed by shafts <NUM> and <NUM>. Shaft <NUM> is placed on the first side of shafts F1, F2, F3 and F4, and aligned at the bottom of shafts F1, F2, F3 and F4. Shaft <NUM> is placed on the opposite side of shafts F1, F2, F3 and F4, and aligned at the top.

Shafts F1 and F3, including a segmented fan-shaped crown <NUM>, 68A. The segmented crowns <NUM>, 68A, being assembled with each enveloping worm screws <NUM>, 32A, forming a worm gear (or a double enveloping transmission) so that, by means of the rotational movement of servomotor <NUM>, transmit their movement to shafts F1 and F2, and move a pair of scoops, for example, first scoop <NUM> and third scoop <NUM>, radially with a movement towards left or right.

Shafts F2 and F4, including a segmented fan-shaped crown <NUM>, <NUM>. Segmented crowns <NUM>, 100A, are assembled with each enveloping worm screws <NUM>, <NUM>, forming a worm gear (or a double enveloping transmission) so that, by means of the rotational movement of servomotor <NUM>, transmit their movement to shafts F2 and F4, and move a pair of scoops, for example, second scoop <NUM> and fourth scoop (not shown), radially with a movement towards left or right.

From the second embodiment, can be seen the motor <NUM> moves with shaft <NUM>, two enveloping worms screws <NUM>, 32A, to simultaneously move two shafts F1 and F3. Motor <NUM> moves with shaft <NUM>, two enveloping worms screws <NUM>, <NUM>, to simultaneously move two shafts F1 and F3. In this schematic and in an embodiment on this case, for a triple cavity system, a motor <NUM> can be connected by means of shaft <NUM> with shafts F1 y F3, and motor <NUM> can be connected to shaft <NUM> to move shaft F2. For a double cavity system, for example, a motor <NUM> connected to shaft <NUM> can be used to move shafts F1 and F2. In this last version shafts F1 and F2 would each comprise a gear segment (not shown) to simultaneously move two scoops (not shown).

Finally, referring to a third embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, a motor <NUM> coupled to the rear 12B of housing <NUM> is shown. Motor <NUM> has a horizontal shaft <NUM> which in this particular embodiment includes four surrounding worms screws <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The four shafts F1, F2, F3 and F4, including each one of the gear segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which are respectively couples with each enveloping worms screws <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. By means of this arrangement shaft <NUM> simultaneously moves four enveloping worms screws <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, to move in synchrony four scoops (shown). In this arrangement, scoops two, three or four can be moved in synchrony.

As can be observed from the different embodiments of the gob distributor <NUM> of the present invention, by means the independent motorization of each scoop <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, the rotation movement of each one of them, can be programmed in independent form, correcting any displacement or desynchronization of scoops <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Servomotors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, are connected through their respective connections to an electronic control system (not shown). This way, servomotors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> will receive the motion signal from the control system, in order to operate in a pre-established sequence the delivery motion of each <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> scoopers to each article forming sections of a forming machine (not shown).

So when the control system is started to move each scoop <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, each servomotors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, receives a sequence of movement according to a pre-established programming in this control system. Therefore, each servomotor <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, depending on the movement profile stored in that control system will rotate on its own axis each shaft <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and their enveloping worms screws <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, with a rotational motion to the left and to the right. The shafts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> motion are transmitted to shafts F1, F2, F3, by coupling each worm screws <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, with each segmented crowns <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, of each shaft F1, F2 and F3. Then shafts F1, F2 and F3, move with a movement to the left or to the right, creating a radial movement of scoops <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, to the left or to the right, in a determined and synchronized sequence to deliver gobs to each forming sections of a glass article forming machine (not shown).

Finally, as shown in <FIG>, the gob distributor <NUM> of the present invention can be placed on a movable platform <NUM>, which is placed on top of a support structure <NUM> of the glassware forming machine.

This movable platform <NUM> is coupled by one end to a pivot element <NUM>, which is fixed to the support structure <NUM>. A cylinder-piston mechanism <NUM> is connected between one side of the movable platform <NUM> and the support structure <NUM> to move the movable platform <NUM> with a lateral movement outwards or inwards. This movement is important because in case of maintenance of the machine, the gob distributor is out of contact with the flow of molten glass from a glass feeder and this is directed to a direct discharge tank (not shown).

Claim 1:
A gob distributor (<NUM>) for glassware forming machine, comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
at least an arcuate or straight scoop (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) located above the housing (<NUM>), each of these scoops (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having an upper end aligned at all times with at least one orifice of a feeder, said scoops (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) move radially so that its lower end coincides, in a predetermined order, with the upper ends of straight or curved fixed channels of the forming machine, to conduct gobs towards each of the article forming molds;
an independent supporting structure (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connected by each of the scoops (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
at least one first shaft (F1, F2, F3) vertically placed within the housing (<NUM>) to rotate on its own axis, one upper end of each first shaft (F1, F2, F3) extends outside the housing (<NUM>) to connect each independent supporting structure (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); each first shaft (F1, F2, F3) including a first gear section (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for motion transmission;
at least one second shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) placed horizontally within the housing (<NUM>) to rotate on its own axis, one end of each second shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending out of the housing (<NUM>); each second shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) including a second gear section (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for motion transmission; where each first gear section (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of each first shafts (F1, F2, F3) and, each second gear section (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of each second shafts (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are coupled together to form a coupling gear; and,
drive means coupled at each end of each second shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) outside the housing (<NUM>) so that, by means of a rotational movement of the drive means to the left or to the right, transmit a movement to each first shaft (F1, F2, F3), to simultaneously move the support structures (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and scoops (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), radially, with a movement to the left or right to selective delivery positions, with a programmed sequence to each section and molds of the forming machine in an exact and precise position.