Patent ID: 8316669

Claim:
A device for opening/closing a mold of a glassware forming machine, the mold having a longitudinal plane of symmetry, and comprising two movable half-molds, the device comprising: a supporting structure; for each of two said half-molds, a respective mold-holder, and a respective supporting and actuating arm hinged to the respective mold-holder to rotate about a respective movable hinge axis, and to a supporting structure to rotate about a respective fixed hinge axis; and actuating means for rotating the supporting and actuating arms in opposite directions with respect to said supporting structure, and for moving the half-molds between a closed position and an open position; wherein said fixed hinge axes are located on opposite sides of said plane of symmetry, and at such a distance from the plane of symmetry that, when the half-molds are in the closed position, a line intersecting said respective fixed axis and said respective movable hinge axis of each respective supporting and actuating arm extends substantially parallel to said plane of symmetry; wherein each of two said half-molds surround a corresponding movable gripping member for retaining semifinished articles formed in said respective mold, said corresponding movable gripping members being maintained connected to said respective half-molds and in a plane substantially perpendicular to said plane of symmetry; wherein said corresponding movable gripping members are in a plane substantially perpendicular to said respective fixed and movable hinge axes, and wherein said actuating means comprise at least a linear actuator intersected by said plane; wherein said linear actuator comprises an output rod movable back and forth in a direction perpendicular to said fixed and movable axes and parallel to said plane of symmetry; wherein said supporting structure supports all actuating means, all mold-holders, and all supporting and actuating arms, and is connected releasably to a section frame of the machine.