CZ358198A3 - Mechanism for opening and closing moulds in is machine - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, there is disclosed a mold opening and closing mechanism for an I.S. machine having a plurality of individual sections (11) each having a pair of opposed mold support mechanisms (16) displaceable between a separated retracted position whereat each mold support mechanism (16) is located at a start position and an advanced position whereat molds carried by the mold support mechanisms (16) will forcefully engage wherein each mold support mechanisms (16) comprises a drive system (19) including an electronhe form of a spindle (67), which is connected to a lead screw (70) via a coupling ic servo motor (66, 108, 188, 457, 458) having a rotary output in t(68). Said electronic servo motor (66, 108, 188, 457, 458) assigned to each mold support mechanism (16) for holding the molds in both open and closed positions is provided with a command position sequencer (150) for moving the mold support mechanism (16) into the center of a distance between the initial and starting positions wherein said command position sequencer (150) forms a part of a motion controller (155) adapted for electronic verification of the mold support mechanism (16) position in case of its location in the exact center between the initial positions and for controlling each electronic servo motor (66, 108, 188, 457, 458) according to a predetermined torque for a predetermined period of time.

Description

Mechanism for opening and closing molds in an IS machine

Technical area

The present invention relates to IS (Individual Sectional) machines that transform batches of molten glass into bottles in a two-step production process, and in particular to mechanisms for opening and closing molds in such machines.

State of the art

The first IS machine was patented in U.S. Patents 1,843,159, issued February 2, 1932, and 1,911,119, issued May 23, 1933. There are currently over 4,000 IS machines in use worldwide from various manufacturers, producing over a million bottles per day per year. Such an IS (individual sectional) machine has a number of identical sections (a sectional frame in which and on which a number of sectional mechanisms are mounted), each of which has a front molding station that transforms one or more batches of molten glass into flasks having a threaded opening (bottle mouth) at the bottom, and a blowing station into which the flasks enter and are formed into bottles standing upright with the mouth facing upwards. A mechanism for inverting and holding circular mouths comprising a pair of opposing arms which rotate about an inverting axis, move the bottles from the front molding station to the blowing station and invert these bottles from a position in which the bottle mouths are facing down to a position in which the bottle mouths are facing up during the production process. The bottle produced in the blowing station is removed from the section by a take-off mechanism.

The front mold station contains opposing pairs of front molds and the final blow station contains opposing pairs of final molds. These molds are movable between open (separated) and closed positions. Opposite pairs of mouthed circular molds, which are moved (carried near their tops) by a mechanism for turning and holding the circular mouths, define the mouth of the bottle and maintain the formed flask during movement from the front mold station to the blow station.

The front molds and the final molds of the aforementioned '159 patent are supported on inserts displaced by opposing carriers which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation in front of the molds • · • · · · · · · · · · fl

-2 (front-to-back movement is determined by the movement of the flask from the front molding stations to the blowing stations). A linear motor (fluid-operated motor) controls the operation of both the front mold carrying mechanism and the final mold carrying mechanism. The linear motor for controlling the operation of the front mold carrying mechanism is mounted on the front of the rotation axis of the front mold carrying mechanism and projects horizontally outward from the front of the section frame, and a pair of link chains connect the output of the motor on the front mold side to the final mold carrying mechanism. The linear motor for controlling the operation of the final mold carrying mechanism is mounted vertically on the rotation axis side (these mechanisms at each station are generally referred to as mold opening and closing mechanisms). This original IS machine evolved into a machine in which motors (fluid-actuated cylinders or rotary output motors) are located under the molds and each motor is connected to an associated pair of mold carriers by transmissions that extend vertically from the bottom of the section at the front or rear of the pair of mold carrier mechanisms (see U.S. Patents 4,362,544 and 4,427,431). The drive link connections generate torsional forces that are undesirable for the carriers. In addition, the drive link connections must be designed to accommodate the specific shapes of the molds, and therefore both the entire link connection and the mold carrier mechanism require related changes when switching from processing one batch of molten glass to processing another batch of molten glass.

In such machines, the front mold closing head mechanism and the funnel mechanism must be located on the side of the section near the tool, which makes maintenance and repair of these mechanisms difficult and forces the removal of adjacent sections from service. In these mold opening and closing mechanisms, there is nothing to lock the molds in the necessary mold closing positions during the formation of the flask, as a result of which the mold halves can be pushed apart and cause an increase in the vertical seam on the flask and thus on the finished bottle. To prevent this from happening, the link connections must be designed to prevent the molds from opening in the closed position (see U.S. Patent No. 5,019,147).

The embodiment of the IS machine described in U.S. Patent No. 4,070,174 is called the AIS machine.

In this machine, which is still sold today, the pairs of mold-holding mechanisms are mounted to perform axial ("A") motion instead of rotary motion, with their respective motors controlling their operation in the usual manner. The machine, which is derived from the IS machine, is called the ITF machine and is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,443,241. This machine, which has three ...

• · · • · · · • · · · · · · • · · ·

-3-forming station [front, reheat and blow or triple forming (English triple forming) "TF" ], was not successful. In this machine, the motor for the pairs of front and blow mold carriers was a vertically oriented linear motor, which was located immediately below the center of the molds. This machine also moved the front and blow mold halves axially.

The essence of the invention

In connection with the above facts, the aim of the present invention is to develop a mechanism for opening and closing molds in which each of the oppositely positioned mold holders is driven by a separate motor.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to develop a mold opening and closing mechanism in which each of the oppositely positioned mold holders is driven by a separate motor controlled by a motor control algorithm that will control the movement of each mold half from a clamped position at the ideal mold center to the mold release.

Overview of images on the drawing

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a study of the following portion of this patent specification and the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a presently preferred embodiment incorporating the principles of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of an IS machine having a number of identical sections, each section having a front station and a rear station;

Fig. 2 is an oblique view showing a mechanism for opening and closing the molds of one of the stations of the section;

Fig. 3 is an oblique view showing the connection of one of the mold holding mechanisms to the lead screw drive assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the lead screw drive assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the lead screw drive assembly shown in FIG. 3;

• · • · • ·

-4 Fig. 6 is an oblique view of the design of the transmission housing separated from its holder;

Fig. 7 is an oblique view showing how the arrangement of the mold holding mechanism allowing rectilinear displacement in a direction perpendicular to the clamping plane is solved;

Fig. 8 is an oblique view of the mechanism for inverting and holding the circular mouth, which performs the transfer of the flasks from the preliminary molds to the final molds;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 and showing a second embodiment of a mold holding mechanism, the location of which allows for linear displacement;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a structural design of a transmission housing corresponding to the embodiment shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the mold holding mechanism shown in Fig. 9, illustrating how one of the circular shafts can compensate for heat build-up;

Fig. 12 is an oblique view showing the lead screw cover and transmission;

Fig. 13 is an oblique view showing the machine bed which supports the individual sections of the IS machine;

Fig. 14 is an oblique view of a part of the machine bed;

Fig. 15 is a first embodiment of an electronic block diagram illustrating the control of a mold opening and closing mechanism;

FIG. 15A is an alternative embodiment of an electronic block diagram illustrating control of a mold opening and closing mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a first flow chart showing a control algorithm of a mold opening and closing mechanism;

Fig. 16A is a second flow chart illustrating the control mechanism for opening and closing the molds; Fig. 17 is an oblique view of the front mold station of the section showing the closing head mechanism which is mounted in a corner of the top wall of the section frame;

Fig. 18 is a side cross-section of the operating portion of the breech mechanism shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional elevational view showing the breech head above the front mold of the IS machine;

• · • · • · · • « · · • ·

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 showing the situation where the breech head engages the front mold in a first position;

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 19 showing the situation where the breech head engages the front mold in a second position;

Fig. 22 is an oblique view of the breech head; and Fig. 23 is a flow chart showing the operation of the breech head mechanism actuator.

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the funnel arm mechanism mounted on the section frame;

Fig. 25 is an oblique view of an alternative embodiment of a mouth turning and holding mechanism used in conjunction with the mold opening and closing mechanism shown in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 26 is a view taken along line 26-26 in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is an axial view of the connection of the worm gear housing and the motor housing;

Fig. 28 is a flow chart illustrating a flip algorithm;

Fig. 29 is a flow chart illustrating an algorithm for opening the oral circle;

Fig. 30 is a flow chart illustrating a recursive algorithm;

Fig. 31 is an oblique view of the front mold station mouth mechanism, which is partially shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 32 is an oblique view of a single mouthpiece canister; Fig. 33 is an oblique view of a mouthpiece mounting plate;

Fig. 34 is an oblique, separated view showing the interconnection of the first four service pipes led to the bottom of the distribution base of the mouthpiece;

Fig. 35 is an oblique view of the front face of the junction box; Fig. 36 is an oblique half-view of the upper surface of the junction box;

Fig. 37 is an oblique view of the top and front face of the mouthpiece distribution base; Fig. 38 is an oblique view of the mouthpiece transition plate;

FIG. 38A is a view similar to FIG. 38 showing an alternative mouthpiece transition plate;

Fig. 39 is a view similar to Fig. 31 showing an alternative mounting plate;

• · · A • · · · • · · · « A A A A A

A A · • · · A

A AAA « · · · · · ·

AAA • •A ·

Fig. 40 is an oblique view of a portion of a round neck holder having an alternative shape; Fig. 41 is a side cross-sectional view of a first mounting assembly showing a first mold half being supported by a mold support intermediate member;

Fig. 42 is a side cross-sectional view of a second mounting assembly showing a second mold half supported by a mold support intermediate member;

Fig. 43 is a side sectional view of a third fixture assembly showing a third mold half supported by an intermediate mold support member; and Fig. 44 is a schematic side sectional view showing a front mold supported in a front mold station and a blow mold supported in a respective end station;

Fig. 45 is an oblique view of a take-up mechanism that has been assembled in accordance with the resulting findings of the present invention;

Fig. 46 schematically illustrates the separation of the picker arm from the picker mechanism shown in Fig. 45; and Fig. 47 is a flow chart illustrating the "Z" shifted picker mechanism control algorithm.

Examples of embodiments of the invention

The IS machine comprises a number (usually 6, 8, 10 or 12) of sections 11. A conventional section is in the form of a box frame or section box 11A (Fig. 2) which contains or supports the section mechanism. Each section comprises a front mold station having an opening and closing mechanism 12 for carrying the front molds in which the supplied batches of molten glass are transformed into flasks, and a final station having an opening and closing mechanism 13 for controlling the final molds into which the flasks enter, which are subsequently transformed into bottles. In one cycle of each section one, two, three or four batches of molten glass can be processed, and therefore, depending on the number of batches of molten glass processed simultaneously in said one cycle, each machine will be referred to as a single batch machine, a two batch machine, a three batch machine (demonstrated embodiment) or a four batch machine. The take-off mechanism (Fig. 40) removes the finished bottles from the final station and transfers them to the stop 14. The push-off mechanism (not shown) subsequently moves the finished bottles • ·

-7from the stop 14 to the conveyor 15. which takes them away from the machine. The front of the machine (or section) is the end which is further from the conveyor, the rear of the machine is the end which is near the conveyor, and the sides of the machine or section are perpendicular to said conveyor. Movement from side to side is movement which is parallel to the direction of the conveyor.

Fig. 2 shows a portion of section 11 of a three-batch molten glass machine manufactured in accordance with the present invention and is a schematic illustration of the design of the front mold station. Section 11 includes a box-shaped sectional frame HA having a top wall 134 with an upper surface and side walls 132. Each mold opening and closing mechanism includes a pair of opposed mold holding mechanisms 16. Each mold holding mechanism is connected to a control assembly means comprising a linear transmission rotary positioner 18 which is mounted on top of the sectional frame 11A and is driven by a control system 19 having a rotary output for moving the associated mold holding mechanism 16 linearly in a lateral direction between a retracted, separated position and a retracted position in which the halves of the opposite pair of mold holding mechanisms are tightly pressed together. The mold holding mechanisms of the front mold stations are the same, but the mold holding mechanism of one station may differ in dimensions from the mold holding mechanism of another station as a result of differences in the manufacturing process, which will be well known to those skilled in the art. Since the machine shown is a three-batch molten glass machine, each front or end station mold holding mechanism will carry three halves of 17 molds (front molds or end molds).

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the connection of the mold holding mechanism to the associated drive system and the means for moving the mold holding mechanism between the retracted position and the retracted position will now be described. Figures 4 and 5 show only the mold holding mechanism carrying the mechanism associated with a single section, while Figure 6 shows an alternative housing which will carry two mold holding mechanisms when two sections are connected and which will carry only one mold holding mechanism when no sections are connected. The control system 19 includes a servomotor 66 (with some gearbox and/or gearing for changing direction) having a rotary output in the form of a spindle 67 (Fig. 4) which is connected to a lead screw 70 (e.g. ball or trapezoidal) having an upper part with a right-hand thread and a lower part with a left-hand thread, via a connecting member 68. A housing 90 carries the lead screw 70.

• · • · • · · ♦ fr fr frfrfr · • ······ · • frfr · •fr ♦ ··· • ♦ · · · ♦ • · · · · • · ·· · · · • · · · ··· ·♦ ··

Both ends of this lead screw are mounted in a housing 90 in a vertical position in suitable single radial or double ball bearing assemblies 99. The housing has a base portion 93 which is bolted to the upper surfaces 94A, 94B (Fig. 6) of two adjacent sectional frames (if no adjacent section is attached, the top wall of the section will be extended outwardly to provide a more complete base for the housing) by suitable bolts 95, opposite side walls 96 which include stiffening ribs 97, and removable upper portions 98. The lead screw is connected to a rotary positioner or linear transmission comprising nut means having a lower nut 72 with a left-hand thread and an upper nut 74 with a right-hand thread and which are mounted on said lead screw. The rotary linear transmission positioner further comprises means for connecting the nuts 72, 74 to the mold holding mechanism, with a pair of lifting members 76 being connected at one end to the upper nut 74, a second pair of lifting members 78 being connected at one end to the lower nut 72, and the yoke 82 having a horizontal bore 91 carrying a transverse, horizontal rotary shaft 80 to which the second ends of the lifting members 76, 78 are rotatably connected (in order to extend the service life of said members, sleeve or flanged bushings are used). The yoke 82 also has a vertical bore 92 into which the vertical rotary shaft 27 of the mold holding mechanism rotatably enters. As a result, rotation of the lead screw 70 in one direction will subsequently move the mold holding mechanism towards the opposite mold holding mechanism and vice versa. It can be seen that the lifting members 76, 78 form articulated joints which can move between retracted and retracted positions and which act horizontally between the housing 90 and the mold holding mechanism.

Each mold holding mechanism has a carrier 30 and lower and upper intermediate members 24 that hold the mold halves and that are carried on the carrier 30 on a shaft 27 that passes through vertical holes in the carrier 30, the intermediate members 24 and in the yoke 82. The yoke 82 enters a pocket 101 in the carrier 30. In the figures, it can be seen that the lead screw is vertical and is guided near the mold holding mechanism, while the linear transmission positioner that connects the rotary output of the servo motor (lead screw) and the mold holding mechanism is compactly located between the lead screw and the mold holding mechanism on the upper surface of the top wall 134 of the section. The rotary linear transmission positioner is completely located above the top of the sectional frame and creates a load acting near the center (vertically and horizontally) of the mold holding mechanism [vertically because the axis of the horizontal shaft 80 lies midway between the upper intermediate link 24 and the lower • 4» ··

-9intermediate member 24, and horizontally because the axis of the vertical shaft 27 passes through the center of the carrier body 30 (and the intermediate members 24)1. The load, which is transmitted directly from the vertical shaft 27 to the upper intermediate member 24 and the lower intermediate member 24, acts in a plane which is perpendicular to the contact plane of the molds and which intersects the center of the molds (the center of the middle mold or, if there is an even number of molds, the average distance between the centers of the molds). The direction of action of this load is perpendicular to the contact plane (clamping plane) located between the opposite mold halves and, since the vertical rotary shaft 27 rotatably supports both the intermediate links 24 and the yoke 82 and this yoke additionally rotatably supports the horizontal rotary shaft 80 which is connected to the lifting links, the intermediate links 24 are not subjected to any torsional forces during the application of the clamping load. Accordingly, the force exerted by the rotary positioner of the linear transmission will be transmitted directly to the intermediate links 24 - the carrier 30 is not located in the path of the clamping load.

Both nuts 72, 74 have a flat, rear support surface 84 which is associated with a flat, machined, vertical support surface 86 which is defined on the rear wall 88 of the transmission housing (casting) 90. When the mold holding mechanism is withdrawn, the rear support surface of the nuts 72, 74 is separated by a predetermined distance (clearance) from the vertical support surface 86 which is defined on the wall. The lead screw 70 meets the requirement of such strength that during the advancement of the mold holding mechanisms until the clamping contact of the opposite mold halves, when the desired load is applied thereto, it brings the nut support surfaces 84 in the required manner until they contact the support surface 86 of the rear wall. The lead screw housing 90 has the necessary strength to ensure that this load can be applied and that the removable top 98 can be adjusted before being secured in place to provide the desired clearance between the nut support surfaces and the wall support surface. Accordingly, the mold halves, mold holding mechanisms, opposed transmissions, and housing 90 define a truss (made of triangular structures) that is supported above the upper surface of the sectional frame to prevent both vertical deflection (the truss will thus protect the support shafts from downward loads) and lateral separation (horizontally) of the mold halves due to vertical loads applied during the molding process. To provide lubrication of the bearing surfaces 84, 86, an oil groove 100 may be formed in the surface 86 of the rear wall, and oil may be supplied to this groove through suitable passages provided in the lead screw housing 90. To minimize friction, the machined surface may be impregnated with a solid lubricant. To provide greater strength, the « · · • · · · · · · · · ·

-10the lead screw housing 90 (Fig. 6) may be doubled so that it can carry additional lead screws that will be connected to the rotary positioners of the linear transmissions of adjacent sections.

Each intermediate member 24 (Fig. 7) comprises a first part 26 which rotates about a vertical pivot shaft 27 and which carries one of the mold halves, and a second part 28 which carries the other two mold halves and which is connected by means of a pivot pin 29 to the first part 26 in such a position as to ensure that the effect of the forces acting on each mold is distributed evenly. The rotary shaft 27 slidably passes downwardly through the first portion 26 of the upper intermediate member 24, through the upper wall 30A of the carrier 30, through the transmission yoke 82, through the lower wall 30B of the carrier 30, and finally through the first portion 26 of the lower intermediate member 24. The pairs of pins 31, which are guided downwardly through the upper intermediate member 24, through the carrier 30, and through the lower intermediate member 24, have a predetermined clearance relative to said intermediate member portions to define the desired movement of their first portion 26 and second portion 28.

The mold holding mechanisms are, as will now be explained, designed to slide on two parallel shafts 40, 50. The carrier 30, whose position is parallel in relation to the clamping plane, has at one end an external (at a certain distance from the mechanisms for turning and holding the circular mouths - Fig. 8) mounting flange 32. This mounting flange is attached by suitable fastening means 34 to a block 35, which has a corresponding cutout 38 for placing said flange and which has a flat, horizontal, support surface 36 for running on a flat, horizontal, support surface (track) 41 defined on the shaft 40, which is a square and which is part of a bracket 42 attached to the sectional frame near its end (the bracket 42 could optionally be formed as part of the housing of some other mechanism). Wipers (not shown) will keep the raceway surface clean and lubricant can be supplied to the block so that the bearing surfaces can be continuously lubricated. The inner (located near the mechanism for reversing and holding the necks) end of the carrier 30 is attached by suitable fasteners 34 to an "L" shaped block 46 which is integral with the support block 48 and has a cylindrical bearing surface which slides on a corresponding cylindrical bearing surface of the shaft 50.

A mechanism 110 for turning and holding the circular mouths (Fig. 8) is mounted on the upper surface of the sectional box between the front station and the end station. This mechanism has a pair of opposing holders 112 which can be moved from the separated position to the shown closed position by the operation of respective horizontally positioned pneumatic cylinders 114. These • · » <

• · • ····

-11 circular mouth holders carry oppositely the mouth ring halves 115 which close the bottom of the front molds when the mold halves are clamped and which, when the mouth rings are closed, determine the shape of the mouths (threads) 116 of the individual flasks and finally of the bottles. After said mouth shape is formed, the circular mouth holders 120 are rotated 180° by the action of a circular mouth turning and holding mechanism controlled by a servomotor 108 so as to cause a worm drive shaft (not shown) to rotate in a worm block 118 which houses a worm gear which is housed in a suitable worm gear housing 120. The cylinders 11_4 of the circular mouth turning and holding mechanism are suitably mounted between oppositely positioned vertical supports or brackets 122 and said worm gear housing. The vertical worm block 118 and the turning brackets 122 are secured to the upper surface of the sectional frame.

In Fig. 8 it can be seen that the circular shaft 50 of the front mold opening and closing mechanism, which is located near the mechanism for inverting and holding the circular mouths, is mounted at each end in opposite inverting brackets 122. The circular shaft of the final mold opening and closing mechanism is in the form of a two-piece circular shaft 50A, 50B. These shafts are mounted coaxially and are each mounted at one end in the inverting bracket 122 and at the other end in the vertical screw block 118. Regardless of whether it is a front mold station or a final mold station, the square shaft 40 allows the carrier to expand due to the rising temperature in the same direction away from the inverting axis (center of the section).

As can be seen in Figs. 9 to 11, two circular shafts 50C may alternatively be mounted directly on the carrier 30. The free end of these shafts slidably enter suitable bearings 170 (Fig. 10) in respective holes 171 formed in a pair of mounting blocks 172, which are designed to form a single unit with the lead screw housing 90. Each of these mounting blocks has a pair of vertically spaced bearings 170 into which the circular shafts 50C from the mold holding mechanisms of adjacent sections enter. Each pair of circular shafts belonging to a certain section (one above and one below) is placed vertically one above the other at an equal distance above and below the axis of the horizontal, yoke-shaped rotary shaft 80. Since the expansion of the drive block due to an increase in temperature is not as great as the thermal expansion of the carrier 30, an equalizing mechanism is built into the carrier so that regardless of whether it is a front mold station or a rear mold station, the carrier will • 0 »•00

-12expand due to the increase in temperature in the same direction away from the center (axis of rotation) of the section. In Fig. 11 it can be seen that the screw 174 connects the pin 176 on one side of the carrier 30, which can slide horizontally in a longitudinal pin track 177, with the outer circular shaft 50C on the other side of the carrier. The holes 178 and 179 in the carrier, into which the respective shaft and screw enter, have the necessary clearance to facilitate the sliding of the pin in the horizontal direction in its track (relatively) and thus allow this circular shaft to maintain parallelism with another circular shaft within the temperature range of the given environment.

In both the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 and the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10, each carrier is mounted on a circular shaft guided between the turning axis and the center of the mold opening and closing mechanism, and is located on the other side of the center of the mold opening and closing mechanism on an axis that can transmit the effect of the expansion of the material due to the increase in heat away from the axis of the turning and holding mechanism of the circular mouths. This means that the expansion due to the heat of both the final mold station and the front mold station will proceed in the same direction (away from the axis of the turning and holding mechanism of the circular mouths). This has never been achieved before. In all previously known IS machines, the effect of thermal expansion in the case of the front mold station side was directed towards the turning and holding mechanism of the circular mouths, while in the case of the final mold station side it was expressed away from the turning and holding mechanism of the circular mouths. In this regard, the thermal expansion of the front station and the rear station is directed in the same direction as the circular orifice holder, which allows for better alignment of the machine's working direction.

Fig. 12 shows the structure of the cover of one of the lead screw housings. It can be seen that the carrier is fully retracted. The cover has a front, sloping wall 52, which coincides with the top of the carrier 30 and which is connected to the rear top edge by a hinge 53. The cover also has sides 54, which form a single unit with the wall 52 along both edges 56 in the upper part. Each side has a vertical part 57, which covers the corresponding part of the carrier in its retracted position. The cover actuator in the form of a flap 58, which is connected to the front edge of the upper part 98 by a hinge 60, rests on opposite, inwardly guided brackets 61, which are attached to the sloping front wall 52 of the kit. In the ^retracted position, the top edge of the cover is adjacent to the hinge 60. As the carrier is retracted, the top of the cover (and flap) moves to a more gently sloping position and the flap and top move appropriately to accommodate the displacement.

• fl fl* flfl • · · · « · • · · flfl • · ·· 9 · * > · · · ·*·· fl* ·♦ ·

· · · • · · · • flfl··· • · · • · ·

-13 Based on the actions of the transmissions of the mechanisms for opening and closing the molds located above the upper wall of the sectional frame and on the actions of the transmissions driven by electronic motors, which are mounted so as to, as shown, point downwards from the upper wall of the sectional frame, the opening of the floor part of the sectional frame is carried out, which is filled in a known manner with these motors (pneumatic cylinders) and transmissions (connecting links). The sectional frames 11A of the machine (there may be 6, 8, 10, etc.) are placed on a base which is defined by a certain number of two-part beds 130 which are connected to each other. Each two-piece bed has passage means extending from one side of the bed to the other side of the bed in connection with rectangular openings 136 in the sides 132 of the bed separated by side wall ribs 137 for the sliding entry of a number (eight in the preferred embodiment) of seamless, square fluid conduits 138 extending across the width of the machine. These conduits serve the purposes of pneumatic control, air cooling, lubrication and vacuum generation, etc. as required. The top wall 134 has openings 140 for the front mold station and openings 142 for the end mold station, through which openings 140, 142 the said conduits 138 for supplying fluid to each section box pass. Sectional cables and wiring are routed beneath said conduits and pass upwardly through the space between the conduit groups and through wiring passages 145 formed in the top wall 134 so that they can be connected to individual mechanisms.

The pipes £38, which extend from one end of the machine to the other and which are connected to the respective sources, are releasably secured to each of the two sectional beds by a clamping structure (Fig. 14) which includes an I-beam 147 which carries all the pipes and clamping devices 148 at the front and rear of the bed, the clamping devices being secured between the I-beam and the top wall of the bed. Each clamping device has a control screw 149 which has a tightening head 151 and which secures the pipes 138 through the respective holes 153 of the insert. Rotation of the control screw in one direction will press the pipes against the ribs 137 of the side wall and lift them upwardly into firm contact with the rib 143 which projects downwardly from the top wall 134 of the two-piece base. If it is necessary to remove one of these pipes and replace it with, for example, two pipes, the clamping mechanism is released by turning the tightening head in the opposite direction, which releases the pipe to be removed and can then be slid out and replaced by several other pipes running side by side (pipes can be added or removed in a predetermined number depending on the requirements of the production process).

ftft ftft • ftft « » ftftft ftft· ft · ftft ft ftft ·· • ft · « ftft • · · ft «I · ···· • ftft ftft · • ftft • ft ft · • · • ftft • · ftftft ftftft*

-14With reference to Figs. 15 and 16, it will be explained that each motor of the mold opening and closing mechanism operates in a known manner, with feedback signals being sent to a motion controller which controls the servo amplifiers which control the motors (servomotors). As can be seen, the motors are electronically coupled to each other. Motor/encoder number 1 (control) M1/154 monitors the request signal from the position sequence control device 150 of the motion controller 155. The motion control position feedback processor 152, which receives the digital signal with feedback from the encoder part of motor/encoder number 1, sends a signal to the summing circuit 156. The summing circuit sends a digital signal to the control signal processor 158, which proceeds to the amplifier 160, which controls the motor/encoder number 1. The motion controller position sequence control device receives the signal from the summing circuit 156, processes it into a request signal and then sends it to a second summing circuit 161, which also receives a signal from the position feedback processor 162, which receives the digital signal with feedback from the encoder part of motor/encoder number 2 (M2/168), and outputs a digital signal. This signal is converted by the second amplifier control signal processor 159, which outputs a signal to the second amplifier 162, which controls the operation of the motor/encoder number 2 (slave) 168.

The separation of the mold halves when the mold carriers are fully retracted (each in its initial position) can be predetermined and the ideal center point of the mold movement is half the distance between them. The initial step of the feed program consists in the position sequence controller 150 establishing a displacement profile that will control the operation of the motors (M1, M2), which are electronically coupled to each other, so as to move the molds associated with these motors to said ideal center point. In order to actually confirm the completion of the movement of both mold carriers, a speed test of each motor is performed and, if the speed of one motor (VM1) and the speed of the other motor (VM2) are equal to zero, the next step in the feed program begins with the position sequence controller establishing a speed profile that will control the operation of the motors at a very low speed (Vs) - (this can be any command that will put the motors into operation). When the actual speed of each motor is zero again, a determination is made as to whether the actual end position of the extended mold carrier is within an acceptable error range (-I-/-..X" from the ideal center point). The encoder associated with each motor provides data from which the actual end position can be determined. If the mold carriers are in an acceptable position, the third step of the feed can be performed.

• » · · · · · · · · 0 • 0 0 0 · · · 0 ···· · 0 0 0 000 0 0 • · · · · · · ·

0 000 0000 0« 00

-15program, where the operation of each motor develops a selected torque during a specified time period ("TI"). which can be set via the computer. This time period is the time during which the mold halves are clamped together. After this time period has elapsed, each mold carrier returns to its "0" position, or initial position. In order to return each mold carrier mechanism, as shown, to its initial position, each motor is operated at a low speed - VS, where the minus sign means rotation in reverse (which can be set - the arrow represents the computer input) during a limited time period T2 (which can also be set - the arrow represents the computer input) to "tear" the molds before the mold carriers are retracted to the "0" position at a high speed - VR (opening profile - for example a constant acceleration section followed by a constant deceleration section ending in the initial position).

A second algorithm for controlling two servomotors is shown in Fig. 15A. In this embodiment, the motion controller has a sequence control device for each motor. Therefore, the motors are not electronically coupled to each other. As can be seen in Fig. 16A, each motor is controlled to simultaneously move the respective mold holder according to a predetermined feed profile (displacement/velocity/acceleration profile) to an ideal center position (one half of the total distance plus a selected distance that should result in the clamping of the opposing mold holders and subsequent stop). The fact that both mold holders have stopped is verified (an error signal can be monitored) and the actual position of each mold holder is determined and compared to the ideal center point position. If the actual position of each mold holder is within +/-X of the ideal center point position, the feed is acceptable. If this is not the case, an error signal will be generated. The actual center point is determined (the total distance traveled by both mold holders divided by two) and a new ideal center point is determined. If one mold holder has traveled a longer distance than the other mold holder (a distance greater than the acceptable difference), the controller determines the amount of feed profile adjustment for one of the motors, which will either speed up the movement or slow down the movement to reduce the difference in distance traveled by the two mold holders. The controller then provides the desired torque to the motors and continues with the program shown in Figure 16.

Fig. 17 shows a breech mechanism 180 mounted on the top wall 134 of the sectional frame 11A. A support arm 182 carrying three breech heads 184 (the breech head mechanism is shown schematically because there is a wide variety of • ♦ • · ··· · • · • · «

-16 specific design solutions), is connected to a vertical control rod 186. This rotary rod will be raised and will rotate during the time in which it is in the section of the highest lift, so that the breech heads can be moved between a raised, retracted position and a lower, retracted position in which they will be on top of the front molds. This associative movement is controlled by the action of a servomotor 188 (Fig. 18), which has a rotary output 190, which is connected by means of a coupling device 192 to a screw 194. The thread of this screw corresponds to the thread of a nut 196, which rotates freely in a hole 198 formed in the cam housing 199. The roller-shaped cam follower 202 rides on a drum cam 204 formed on the wall 206 of the cam housing. The vertical control rod 186 is mounted on top of the nut. In Fig. 17 it can be seen that the cam housing has a base 208 which is attached by bolts 209 to the top wall 134 of the sectional frame 11A with the axes of the closing heads coinciding with the axes of the closed front molds and continuing to these axes at the top of said front molds. When the cam is actuated, the closing heads are first partially raised above the front molds and then, as they move upward the remainder of their travel, the closing heads are moved further away from the centers of the front molds so that the mechanism for turning and holding the circular mouths can move the formed flasks into the final molds. The breech mechanism can be located at the front of the sectional frame at each corner and, unlike the previously known breech mechanism, the fully raised and retracted breech arm can be located entirely within the section space, as shown in Fig. 17, and does not have to extend into the space of the adjacent section.

The closure head (Fig. 19) has a body 248 which includes a cup-shaped portion 250 having a circular, inwardly tapered sealing surface 252 which is guided around its open bottom to contact and seal a corresponding surface 254 on the top of the open front mold. The body 248 also includes a vertical, tubular housing portion 256 which defines a cylindrical guide and support surface 258 for the sliding entry of a rod 260 of a piston member 262. The cylindrical head 264 of the piston member 262 has a circular sealing surface 265 which is slidably movable within a bore 266 of the cup-shaped portion 250. A spring 268 positioned around the vertical, tubular housing portion 256 is compressed between a flange 270, which is releasably attached to the carrier arm and which is also attached to the piston rod 260, and the top of the cup-shaped portion 250 to maintain the upper surface of the cylindrical head 264 in contact with the adjacent surface of the cup-shaped portion when the breech head is separated from the front mold.

' · · • · · · · · • · · · · · • · · · · · · flflfl • · ···· · · · · ··· · fl • flfl flfl flflfl • fl · flflfl flflflfl flfl flfl

-17When the breech head is moved down onto the front mold as seen in Fig. 20, the control device (Fig. 23) moves the flange 270 downwardly to such an extent that the flange tip is at a first distance D1 from the top surface 272 of the front mold to which the cylindrical head will be lowered relative to the cup-shaped portion so as to define the required clearance "X" between the lower circular surface 274 of the cylindrical piston head and the top surface of the front mold (the cylindrical head has moved relative to the cup-shaped portion a vertical distance "y"). The loto develops the required compression force between the piston member and the front mold creating the necessary seal between the contacting, inwardly tapered surfaces 252, 254. In this situation, the settling air introduced into the front mold through the central hole 276 in the piston rod will pass through a number of radially guided holes 278 in the cylindrical head into a corresponding number of vertical holes 280 and through the annular gap between the circular lower surface 280 of the cylindrical head and the upper surface 272 of the front mold into the final mold (suitable holes that connect the interior of the body with the surrounding atmosphere ensure that the cylindrical head can move smoothly relative to the body). After the settling blowing is completed and the molten glass batch has been shaped into a flask, the flange is displaced so that its top is at a second distance D2 from the upper surface of the front mold. As a result, the lower circular surface 281 of the cylindrical head comes into firm contact with the upper surface 272 of the front mold and closes the front mold. As the flask is formed (by filling the internal cavity defined by the inner surface of the front mold and the lower surface of the cylindrical head), air can escape through a number (four in the preferred embodiment) of small notches 286 formed in the lower circular surface 281 of the cylindrical head (Fig. 22) into the vertical holes 280, then through the radial sections 278 into the hole 276 of the piston rod and out through the now released holes 290 into the space between the top of the piston and the cup-shaped portion 250 and out of the relief holes 282.

If the use of a funnel mechanism 210 is required, then this device can be mounted in the other front corner. In Fig. 24 it can be seen that the construction of the breech mechanism and the funnel mechanism are the same except for the direction of the drum cam and except that the funnel carrier 212 carrying the three funnels 214 is located on the other control rod. Like the breech mechanism, the funnel mechanism can always be located in the space of its own section.

Fig. 25 shows an alternative mechanism 110 for turning and holding circular mouths. .As can be seen, this mechanism for turning and holding circular mouths can be used • · • 0 0 0 0 0 *

0 0

0 0

0 0000 4

0 0 4

00000 00 00

-18 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 10. The end of each circular orifice holder located near the worm gear housing 120 is in the form of a slotted mounting bracket 113 having its bayonet end 109 slidably mounted on a support bracket 117 which is attached to the inversion-executing cylinder 114. The circular outer end 119 of the cylinder 114 (Fig. 26) slidably enters a corresponding circular groove 121 in the top of the respective outer side bracket 122A. The threaded end of a proximity switch or sensor 124 is screwed into a corresponding portion 125 in the side bracket and is secured by a nut 126 in such a position that it will detect the cylinder in its fully inverted position (the circular orifice holder is retracted). The proximity switch cable 128 is routed downwardly in a through hole (not shown) in the side bracket and the proximity switch itself is protected by a cover 129. A further pair of proximity switches 124A are located on a bracket 131 which is attached to the worm block 118 (Fig. 27). These proximity switches are located below the worm gear cover 120 and are each directed to a respective cylinder of the cylinder pair. At the end of each cylinder, which is located in the vicinity of the worm gear housing, a semicircular target 133 is attached which will signal to the respective proximity switch the displacement of that cylinder to the worm gear housing from a position which was the first position of the ring mouth holder in which the ring mouth halves were carried by the ring mouth holder on top of the mouth mechanism (180° reversed initial position), to a second position (180° back from the beer position) in which the mouth book halves hold the flasks in the final blowing station (0° reversed final position). In this context, the terms "ring mouth open" and "ring mouth closed" will be used when describing the position of the ring mouth holder/bracket/cylinder, the functions of the controls being described with reference to one ring mouth holder, since the other ring mouth holder is controlled in the same manner. Because the servomotor 108 has an encoder that generates position feedback, the angular position of the bookend holder is known throughout its range of angular displacement.

The algorithm shown in Fig. 28 will identify control problems during the turning process. The "mouth circle closed" sensor 124A will be continuously monitored throughout the time during which the servomotor 108 moves the worm, worm gear, and mouth circle from the initial turning position (180°) to the final turning position (0°). If the mouth circle does not maintain its closed position throughout the entire 180° movement, a warning signal will be sent. This signal will either stop the operating cycle or initiate the necessary minor intervention.

• · · 0 0 0 0 · ·· 0 • 0 0 0 · · · 0 00

0 0000 00 00 000 0 0

000 00 000

0 0000 000 00 00

-19The algorithm shown in Fig. 29 will determine whether the time of arrival of the mouth ring in the open position is constant. The mouth ring control cylinder will be activated according to the set cycle timing (time "T") so as to move the mouth ring from the closed position detected by the sensor 124A on the screw block to the open position detected by the sensor 124 on the side console. The time between these two signals is measured as "AT" and compared with the ideal time difference (original time difference) and the time ("T") of deviation, which is the difference between the actual and ideal time period, is sent to the control device that controls the operation of the mouth ring control cylinder. In the event that the "T" deviation is greater or even incorrect, a signal will be sent to ensure the necessary interventions, ranging from stopping the cycle to sending a warning message to the operator indicating the need for maintenance intervention.

Fig. 30 shows the reciprocating algorithm. The mouth rings will be opened at the final station to release the finished bottles, and before the arm can rotate 180° to the front station, the control device must verify that the mouth rings are in the open position. In connection with this verification, the reciprocating servomotor will be controlled to provide the necessary angular displacement. At the selected angle of rotation (Ql ideal), the control device will control the action of the mouth ring control cylinder to move this cylinder (mouth ring) from the open position to the closed position. Such action will be determined by certain limits which stipulate that Ql must be greater than X° and that the movement of the mouth ring must be completed after reaching Y°. The values of X, Y and Ql are independently adjustable. The control device determines the actual angle (Ql actual) when the "mouth circle open" state detection sensor 124 is in the "mouth circle open" state, and determines the 01 deviation #1 by subtracting Ql actual from Ql ideal. This deviation is sent to the control device, where a correction is made to the position in which the mouth circle control cylinder is in operation. When this deviation is excessive or even erroneous, a warning signal is sent.

In addition, the control device monitors the situation when the mouth ring assumes a closed position defining the angle 02 real and the sensor detects the state of "mouth ring closed". The cylinders are conventionally controlled by air and the time that the pneumatic cylinder needs to move from the position "mouth ring open" to the position "mouth ring closed" depends on the specific technical conditions of the cylinder operation. As the cylinder power decreases, the time of the required movement increases and such a delay can cause the moving structure (mouth ring structure) to hit front molds that would normally be out of its reach. Control φφφ φ φφ φφφφ • φ φ · φ φ φ ' φ · · · • · · φ φ φ φφφ • φ φ φ · φ · · · φφ · φφφφ φφφφ φφ

-20the device determines the second Θ1 deviation (Θ2 ideal minus Θ2 actual) and makes a second correction of the angle of action of the mouth ring. When this decrease reaches a predetermined angle, which is the limit for the necessary triggering of an intervention, the control device sends the appropriate signal indicating the need for repair and/or maintenance. Since each angular displacement is a function of time for the encoder, these deviations will be related to the observed differences in times. These deviations ensure that the cycles will have constant times.

The nozzle mechanism, which is part of the front station of the section, is shown in Figs. 31 and 32 and comprises, as can be seen, three nozzle canisters in the case of the three-batch machine. Each nozzle canister has an upper cylindrical portion 63 and a lower cylindrical portion 64 with pin projections 65 carrying O-ring seals 71 and an exhaust pipe 73 which extends axially downward from the lower surface 75 of the lower cylinder so as to connect the nozzle canister to the necessary operating services [nozzle cooling, gas removal, nozzle descent, nozzle rise, pre-lubricant/vacuum (in machines carrying out the double blowing process) or truss cooling (in press-blow machines), lubrication, support rise]. The canister may vent gases through the upper cylinder, in which case the exhaust pipe and associated exhaust manifold shown will not be necessary. For the sake of clarity, the nozzle mechanism will be described in the context of a machine performing a double blow process, but in those passages where pre-blow/vacuum is mentioned it should be understood that this refers to the cooling of the punch in a blow molding machine. Mounted on top of each upper cylinder is a mounting plate or flange 77 and tooling 79 which has opposing lugs 81 for engagement with opposing halves of the nozzle ring when the nozzle ring holders are in the closed position. These mounting plates 77 are secured by suitable fastening means to the upper surface of a mounting block or plate 85 which has openings 87 (Fig. 33) through which the upper/lower rollers can pass and this mounting block is secured to the upper surface 94 of the sectional frame 11 by suitable bolts 89. A locating bore 69 is provided on the top of the upper roller. The upper surface of the sectional frame has a large opening (not shown) into which the nozzle inserts can be placed depending on whether one, two or three batches of molten glass are involved. In this connection the upper surface 94 of the sectional frame is a control surface. It is suitably machined at those points where the mounting block is secured to provide an accurate horizontal base. The upper surface (or flange mounting area or base) and the lower surface of the mounting block are suitably machined to be parallel, and the height of the mounting block corresponds to the location of said tooling • · • · 999· 9 · ♦ · ··· · · · • · · « 9 · · · • · · ······ · · · ·

-21 equipment at the desired height. By defining the position of the cylindrical holes 87 in the mounting block so precisely that the locating diameters of the mouthpiece canisters fit therein, the axes of these mouthpiece canisters will occupy the required position after their insertion. By placing diamond and circular pins (not shown) on the top wall of the sectional frame and defining suitable holes in the lower surface of the mounting plate, the mounting plate will automatically be accommodated. Since the top of the mouthpiece canister is attached to the top wall of the sectional frame, the effect of thermal expansion will not significantly affect the position of said tooling.

The four fluid lines running under the front mold side of the section (Fig. 34) are pneumatic actuators for the mouthpiece descent (line 300 - approximately 3.1 bar), pre-blow (line 302 - approximately 2 to 3 bar), vacuum (line 404) and mouthpiece rise (line 306 approximately 1.5 to 2.5 bar). These actuators are connected through openings in the upper walls of the lines to vertical inlets 308 in the lower side 310 of the mouthpiece distribution base 312 via corresponding passages 314 in the connecting plate 316. These four pneumatic actuators are discharged through the mouthpiece distribution base to outlet openings 320 in the front face of the mouthpiece distribution base. A fifth fluid line 301 is routed under the lower wall of the front section feed station (Fig. 34) and supplies lubricating fluid. The lubricant passes through an opening 303 in the upper wall of the lubrication line, continues through a passage 311 in the connecting plate to a lubrication inlet 305 in the lower surface of the nozzle distribution base, which provides lubrication through an outlet opening 309 in the front face. O-rings 318, which are pressed between each surface of the connecting plate 316 and the outer surfaces of the line and the lower surface 310 of the nozzle distribution base, provide an effective seal after the said nozzle distribution base is bolted to the lower wall of the section frame. A stem opening 322 is formed in the mouthpiece distribution base, into which a closing cylinder (valve) 324, operated by a crank 323, enters, which can rotate from an open position in which pneumatic services and lubrication can pass through holes 325 to the outlet openings, to a closed position in which the passage of pneumatic services and lubrication is closed.

Attached to the front face 321 of the mouthpiece distribution base is a junction box 330 (Fig. 35), which contains five service inlet ports (320A, 306A) on the rear face, which are connected to the service outlet ports 320 and 309 of the mouthpiece distribution base (O-rings 326 provide sealing). The described embodiment is a three-dose machine • · • · · • ··· ·· ··

I · · 1 » · · · • · · · 4 • · « • · ··

-22 molten glass, which means that the front station of each section contains three nozzle canisters, which were shown in Fig. 32, which are the inner nozzle canister (located closest to the axis of the mechanism for turning and holding the circular nozzles), the middle nozzle canister and the outer nozzle canister. Each individual pneumatic service input (nozzle rise, vacuum, pre-blow, nozzle fall) and lubricant line is divided into tn outputs in the junction box, one to each nozzle canister. On the left side of the front face 332 of the junction box, for the purposes of the inner canister, the middle canister and the outer canister (the vertical arrows "inner canister", etc. indicate vertically arranged groups of holes in the front face that belong to a particular canister, and the horizontal arrows "to canister", etc. indicate horizontal groups of holes that belong to a particular service function) are located three outlet openings 334 for operating the mouthpiece riser function, which are associated with a single inlet opening for the mouthpiece riser, three exhaust openings 336 that are connected to the exhaust, and three "to canister" inlet openings 338 that communicate with three corresponding outlet openings defined in the rear face of the junction box (not shown) and communicating with corresponding "mouthpiece riser" inlet openings 360 that are defined in the front face 321 of the mouthpiece manifold. base (Fig. 37). The flow within each vertically arranged group of holes on this left section may be controlled by a pressure adjustment device such as a regulator/valve and a holding tank (not shown for clarity) which will be connected either to the “to canister” line of the mouthpiece riser or to the shutoff. On the right side of the front face of the junction box (Fig. 35), for the purposes of the inner, middle and outer nozzle canisters, there are three service outlets 340 for vacuum, which are associated with a single vacuum inlet, three outlet outlets 342 for pre-blow, which are associated with a single inlet for servicing pre-blow, three inlet outlets 344 “to the canister” which communicate with three corresponding outlet outlets located in the rear face of the junction box and communicating with corresponding inlet outlets 364 for “pre-blow/vacuum” which are defined in the front face 321 of the nozzle distribution base (Fig. 37), and three exhaust outlets 346 which are connected to the exhaust. In this case, a regulator and valve (not shown) work in combination with a valve controlled by an actuator (not shown) to provide connection of the "canister" inlets to either vacuum or pre-flow or exhaust. On the right side of the top face 348 of the junction box (Fig. 36) are located three service outlet ports 352 for the inner, middle and outer canisters, which are associated with a single • ·

9 9

9,999

999 9 9

9 9

99

-23a mouthpiece lowering service inlet port, three inlet ports 350 communicating with three corresponding outlet ports defined in the rear face of the junction box, which communicate with corresponding mouthpiece lowering service inlet ports 362 defined in the front face 321 of the mouthpiece distribution base (Fig. 37), and three shut-off ports 354 which communicate with the exhaust. The flow in each vertical group of ports is controlled by a separate regulator and valve (not shown for clarity) which will connect the "to canister" line to either the mouthpiece lowering service or the exhaust. On the left side of the top face 348 of the junction box, for the inner, middle and outer canisters, there are three service outlet ports 351 for the "support rise" service, which communicate by guiding the service down the mouthpiece, three "to canister" inlet ports 353 communicating with three corresponding outlet ports defined in the rear face of the junction box, which communicate with the respective "support rise" inlet ports 363 defined in the front face 321 of the mouthpiece manifold (Fig. 37), and three exhaust ports 355, which communicate with the exhaust. The flow in each vertical group of ports is controlled by a separate regulator and valve (not shown for clarity) which will connect the "to canister" line to either the support rise service or the exhaust. The junction box also divides the lubrication line into three lines, which are connected to three lubrication inlet ports 313 (Fig. 37) on the front face of the orifice distribution base.

Referring to Fig. 37, it will be noted that the front face of the mouthpiece manifold also includes a number of additional inlet ports 365 for additional fluid functions such as mouthpiece ring cooling, sampler tong closing, air cooling, mouthpiece ring opening/closing, etc., which are connected to corresponding conduits in the junction box. These conduits may lead to outlets in the upper surface of the junction box (not shown) which are connected to respective outlet ports of a corresponding number of individual regulators and valves (not shown for clarity) which distribute air from the service line to the mouthpiece riser and regulate the required pressures.

The top surface 315 of the mouthpiece distribution plate has three sets of outlet ports, each set having a mouthpiece rise outlet port 366, a mouthpiece fall outlet port 386, a pre-blow/vacuum outlet port 370, a support rise outlet port 372, and a lubrication outlet port 374. These outlet ports are universal (permanent), meaning that • 9 9 9 9 » 9 · 4 ► 9 99

9 9 4 • 9 4

99

-24that the number of sets of outlet openings corresponds to the maximum number of batches of molten glass that are processed in the section during one cycle.

In order to create a specific configuration of nozzles (for one, two or three batches of molten glass) and to define the spacing of the nozzles at a certain distance from each other (for example 5.5", i.e. 14 cm or 6", i.e. 15.24 cm) in the case of multiple nozzles, a transition plate 376 (Fig. 38) is attached to the upper surface 315 of the universal nozzle distribution plate by means of suitable screws 377. The transition plate has, for each canister, a nozzle riser service outlet 380, a nozzle descent service outlet 384, a pre-flow/vacuum service outlet 384, a support riser service outlet 386 and a lubrication service outlet 388 in the upper surface 390 for the entry of the downwardly projecting connecting lugs 65 on the nozzle canisters (an O-ring 71 forms a seal between the down protruding projection and the corresponding inlet opening - any movement of the mouthpiece canister either in the corresponding opening of the mounting plate or as part of the mounting plate will not cause the canisters to tilt, as the necessary stability is provided by the O-ring seals in the inlet openings in the transition plate) and the mouthpiece exhaust opening 392 is shaped so that the corresponding mouthpiece exhaust tube 73 of the mouthpiece canister can enter it. The mouthpiece exhaust openings communicate with the discharge opening 378.

Changing one section configuration to another, i.e., for example, changing from the described three-batch molten glass production process to a two-batch molten glass production process, is accomplished by removing the aforementioned three-batch molten glass transition plate and subsequently replacing it with a two-batch molten glass transition plate (Fig. 38A) that will seal one of the three sets of nozzle outlet openings on the upper surface of the nozzle distribution base, with the established connection to the third set of openings (the nozzle mechanism control being modified to control only the operation of the valves, etc., associated with the two sets of openings in the transition plate.

In order to be able to produce bottles having significant differences in height, it is possible to raise the mouth rings/mouth canisters by approximately 70 mm. The original transition plate having a height HJ and the mounting plate having a thickness Dl can be replaced by a transition plate and a mounting plate so as to achieve an increase in their height up to 70 mm (H2 - Fig. 38 and 1)2 - Fig. 39 as appropriate) and the mouth ring holder can be replaced by an alternative arm whose mounting bracket 113A will raise the mouth ring holder 112 from the P1 position.

-25(Fig. 25) to position P2 (Fig. 39). The fixed stop 111, which defines the position of the mounting brackets, is shown in Fig. 40.

It can be seen from Figs. 41 to 43 that a machine with a given pair of mouth ring holders can utilize molds having a wide range of heights to produce bottles having different heights. While the front mold halves 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D (Figs. 41 to 43) and the intermediate member can have different shapes, the connection of the front mold halves and the intermediate member is defined to create a fixed vertical dimension "H" between the center 434 of the inversion and the upper surface 438 of the mouth ring groove 436 of the front mold half (the upper surface of the mouth ring). In the case of the mouth ring holder located at P1 (Fig. 25), this dimension could be, for example, 100 mm, while this dimension could be, for example, 30 mm in the case where the mouth ring is located at P2 (Fig. 40). Each front mold half has a downwardly extending, circularly guided hook-shaped edge 440 near the lower surface, which may have a number of circular portions or sections, and which engages a corresponding upwardly directed, circularly guided hook-shaped edge 442 on the outer wall of the intermediate member which vertically defines the position of the front mold halves (the front mold is vertically positioned in a horizontal plane of the connection of the downwardly extending edge of the front mold and the upwardly directed edge of the intermediate member of the front mold support). The front mold half may be of a size sufficient to allow a stabilizing button 442 to extend vertically above the lower edge, which cooperates with the upper edge 440 of the mold half in stabilizing the mold during its movement (as shown, the stabilizing button 442 does not support the weight of the mold half). Because the mold halves are supported near the mouth ring groove at the point where the mold edge is supported by the edge on the mold support, substantially all of the thermal expansion effect will be upward from that point and any thermal expansion effect downward will be insignificant (without the need for any adjustment of the mouth mechanism or mouth ring that is typically required in prior art structures in which the front molds are supported near the tops of the molds). Additionally, by using conventional front molds 380 (FIG. 4) which are suspended at the top by a downwardly depending, circularly guided edge 382 having a number of sections supported by a corresponding upwardly directed, circularly guided edge of a final mold support intermediate member (not shown), which may also have a number of sections (located near the mouth circular groove), the expansion of the halves »· • ·

P « ·· · frfrfrfr

-26forms the effect of heat also manifests itself towards the mouth of the bottle (threaded part), so it is consistent in both stations.

It may be recalled that in the prior art λ' of this field of technology, the purchase of a new IS machine or the conversion of an existing machine was often required in connection with the conversion of one configuration (for one, two, three batches of molten glass) with a certain center distance to the same or different configuration with a different center distance. The main reason is the complicated connections for opening and closing the molds, which define different geometric arrangements. The invented IS machine is a machine with a universal center distance. The original configuration/center distance can be changed to another configuration/center distance required by the production circumstances by simply replacing certain parts that ensure the creation of the required configuration/center distance; This means that by replacing the mold carrier assembly of the mold opening and closing mechanism, the mounting plate, the transition plate, and perhaps the nozzle canisters of the nozzle mechanism, the parameters of the nozzle ring holders and the mold cooling mechanism (in the case of the final station) would be quickly changed and, as is usual, the machine configuration would be changed.

The take-up mechanism, shown in Figs. 45 to 47, is mounted on the upper surface 94 of the top wall 134 of the sectional frame and has a take-up gripper head 450 which can releasably grip the bottle(s) at the end station and which is carried on a sliding beam 452 guided in the X-axis direction and slidably suspended from a block 454 which moves in the Z-axis direction on a stand 456. The movement along the X-axis and the Y-axis is controlled by suitable servomotors 457, 458. The bottles produced at the end station will, regardless of their height, always be aligned so that the mouths of their necks are aligned in a predetermined vertical position (Z-reference plane), the bottoms of these bottles being able to be in different vertical positions (ZB 1, ZB2) in relation to said Z-reference plane. plane) within a specified range of vertical bottle heights. The pick-up tong head grips the bottles, followed by their removal from the final station and placement on the stop 460, which can be located in different positions in relation to the Z positions (ZDI, ZD2). Short bottles will travel a different distance (Zf) than tall bottles (distance Z2). The pick-up control device (Fig. 47) determines the X-Z profile of the pick-up tong head movement for any “Z” deviation (ZB - ZD) and performs the required movement.

• · · • · · t • · · ·

LIST OF REFERENCE MARKINGS IN PV IS MACHINE

- section 11

- sectional cabinet or sectional frame 11A

- opening and closing mechanism 12 for carrying front forms

- opening and closing mechanism 13 for controlling the final forms

- shutdown 14

- conveyor 15

- top wall 134 of the sectional frame

- side walls of 132 sectional frame

- mechanism 16 for holding molds

- rotary positioner linear transmission 18

- control system 19

- halves of 17 forms

- servo motor 60

- spindle 67

- lead screw 70

- connecting part 68

- cabinet 90

- ball bearing assemblies 99

- base part 93 of the cabinet

- upper surfaces 94A, 94B of sectional frames

- screws 95

- side walls 96. stiffening ribs 97, removable upper parts 98 of the cabinet

- lower left-hand nut 72, upper right-hand nut 74

- lifting links 76, 78

- the yoke 82 has a horizontal hole 91 and a vertical hole 92

- horizontal rotating shaft 80

- vertical rotating shaft 27

- nose and no. 30

- upper intermediate links 24

- pocket 101 in carrier 30

- rear support surface 84 nut

- vertical support surface 86 of the rear wall 80 of the housing 90 of the transmission

- removable top part 98 of the case • ·

- oil groove 100

- first part 26 and second part 28 of the intermediate link

- lower wall 30B of carrier 30

- pivot pin 29

- pins 31

- parallel shafts 40 and 50

- mounting flange 32

- fastening means 34 to a block 35 having a cutout 38

- flat, supporting surface 36

- support surface (track) 41 on shaft 40

- console 42

- L-shaped block 46 forms a unit with support block 48 -- mechanism 110 for turning and holding round mouths

- pair of opposite holders 112

- pneumatic cylinders 114

- opposite halves of 115 mouth rings

- mouth (threads) of 116 flasks

- 120 round mouth holders

- servo motor 108

- worm block 118

- worm gear cover 120

- opposite supports or brackets 122

- two-piece round shafts 50A and 50B. alternatively 50C

- bearings 170 in holes 171 in mounting blocks 172

- screw 174 connects pin 176 in longitudinal pin track 177

- holes 178 and 179 in carrier 30

- wall 52. hinge 53. sides 54 and edges 56 of the carrier cover

- flap 58 with hinge 60 and top part 98 of the cover actuator

- inwardly guided consoles 61

- wall 52 of the cover

- two-piece bed 130

- rectangular holes 136 in the sides 132 of the bed

- ribs 137 side walls

- square pipes 138

- top wall 134

- 140 holes for the front station

- 142 holes for the terminal station

- distribution passages 145 • · · · frfr • · · · · · • · · ·

I-beam 147 clamping device 148 control screw 149 with tightening head 151 holes 153 in the bed rib 143 protruding dofl from the top wall 134 of the two-part base motor/encoder number 1 (control) M1/154 position sequence device 150 motion controller 152

motion control positional processor 152 summation circuit 156 control signal processor 158 amplifier 160 position processor 162 motor/encoder number 2 M2/168 command signal processor 159

motors Ml. M2 speed of one motor VM1, speed of another motor VM2 very low speed Vs acceptable error ±X initial position 0 position time period Tl. T2 high speed VR mechanism 180 breech block support arm 182 carries three breech blocks 184 vertical control rod 186 servomotor 188 with rotating outlet 190 coupling device 192 screw 194 with nut 196 in hole 198 in cam housing 199 roller cam follower 202 drum cam 204 on wall 206 of cam housing base 208 of cam housing screws 209 body 248 breech block containing part 250 with sealing surface 252 for sealing corresponding surface 254 vertical, tubular housing part 256 guide and support surface 258 for rod entry 260 piston components 262 • 0 • 0 0 0

0 0 4

0 0 0 • 0000

cylindrical head 264 piston parts 262 with sealing surface 265 hole 266 in cup-shaped part 250 spring 268 flange 270 upper surface 272 front forms clearance X lower circular surface 274 central hole 276 in piston rod radially guided holes 278 in cylindrical head vertical holes 280 lower circular surface 281 cylindrical heads with small notches 286 holes 290 funnel mechanism 210 with funnel carrier 212 nozzles 214 mounting bracket 113 with bayonet end 109 support bracket 117 circular outer end 119 cylinder 114 enters circular groove 122 in top of side bracket 122¾ proximity switch or sensor 124 with nut 126 in hole 125 cable 128 proximity switch cover 129 proximity switch bracket 131 proximity switches 124¾ semicircular target 133 upper 63 and lower cylindrical part 64 of canister with pin protrusions 65 carrying O-ring seals 71 and exhaust pipe 73 lower surface 75 of lower cylinder flange 77 tooling 79 opposite ears 81 mounting block or plate 85 with holes 87 establishing diameter 69 pipe 300, 302, 404, 306 vertical inlets 308 in lower surface 310 of orifice distribution base 312 passages 314 in connecting plate 316 • ·· 00 ·· • · 0 · · 0 · * • 0 0000

0 0 0000 0 0 0 0 0 0

000 0000 00 «0

- outlet holes 320

- fifth liquid pipe 301

- hole 303 in the top wall of the lubrication pipe

- passage 311 to lubrication inlet 305

- outlet hole 309

- O-rings 318 and 326

- connecting plate 316

- hole 322 for the handle 323 of the locking cylinder (valve) 324

- holes 325 for the outlet openings

- front panel 321 of the mouthpiece distribution base

- junction box 330

- service inlets 320A, 306fl, 320 and 309

- front panel 332 of the junction box

- three outlet holes 334

- three exhaust ports 336

- three inlet holes 338 into the canister

- 360 inlet holes for mouthpiece rise

- outlet holes 340 piO vacuum

- three outlet holes 342 for pre-flow

- three inlet holes 344 to the canister

- inlet holes 364 for pre-blow/vacuum

- three exhaust ports 346

- top cell 348 junction box

- three service outlet holes 352 for lowering the mouthpiece

- three inlets 350

- three inlet holes 362 for the descent of the mouthpiece

- three exhaust ports 354

- three service exit holes 351_ for support rise

- three inlet holes 353 to the canister

- 363 inlet holes for support risers

- three exhaust ports 355

- three lubrication inlet holes 313

- additional inlets 365

- upper surface of 315 orifice plate

- outlet hole 366 for the rise of the mouthpiece

- outlet hole 386 for the descent of the mouthpiece

- outlet opening 370 for pre-blow/vacuum

- outlet hole 372 for support rise ·· 9

9 9 · 9 ·

9 9999 9

9 9

9 years ·· ·· 99

9 9 9 9 9 fl • · · fl flfl • · · ··· · >

• · fl · · ··· ·*·· flfl *fl

- lubrication outlet hole 374

- transition plate 376 with screws 377

- outlet opening 384 for mouthpiece descent control

- outlet hole 386 support pitch

- lubrication service outlet 388 in the upper surface 390

- connecting lugs 65 on the mouthpiece canisters

- mouthpiece exhaust port 392

- mouthpiece exhaust pipe 73 mouthpiece canister

- mounting bracket 113R

- oral circular holder 112

- fixed stop 111

- halves of front molds 17R, 17B, 17C. 17D

- dimension H between the center 434 of the turning and the upper surface 438 of the mouth circular groove 436 of the front mold half

- circularly guided edge 440 in the shape of a hook

- circularly guided edge 442 in the form of a hook

-- conventional front mold 380

- overhanging, circular edge 382

- removal pliers head 450

-- sliding beam 452 on block 454

-- stand 456

- servomotors 457, 458

- shutdown 460

Claims (9)

PATENT CLAIMS A mechanism for opening and closing molds in an IS machine having a plurality of individual sections, characterized in that it always comprises a pair of oppositely positioned mold holding mechanisms which can be moved between a separate, withdrawn position in which each mechanism for the mold holding is in an initial position, and an enclosed, retracted position in which the molds carried by said mold holding mechanism are firmly in contact with an electronic motor operatively associated with each mold holding mechanism so as to displace the respective mold holding mechanism between said retracted position and said retracted position, and means for controlling the operation of said electronic motors, which are means for controlling each of the electronic motors when the respective mold holding mechanism is moved to a central position within the range of one half the distance between said starting positions, means for confirming that each of the displaced mold holding mechanisms is at a selected distance from said center position, and means for controlling each of said elongated electronic motors to generate a predetermined torque over a selected period of time. 2. The mold opening and closing mechanism of an IS machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling each of said electronic motors to move the respective mold holding mechanism to a central half within one half of the distance between said starting positions is means. for determining whether the moving of each of said mold holding mechanisms to said center position has ended, means for controlling each of said electronic motors to operate at a selected slow speed after said determining means detects that each of said holding mechanisms and means for determining whether the relocation of each of said mold holding mechanisms became known following the controlled deceleration of each of said electronic motors to the selected slow speed. • · · · · -283. A mechanism for opening and closing molds in an IS machine having a plurality of individual sections, characterized in that it always comprises a pair of oppositely positioned mold-holding mechanisms which can be moved between a separate, withdrawn position in which each mold-holding mechanism is located in a mold. an initial motor, and a clamped, retracted position in which the molds carried by said mold-holding mechanism will firmly touch, an electronic motor operatively associated with each mold-holding mechanism to move said mold-holding mechanism between said withdrawal position; and said retracted position, and means for controlling the operation of said electronic motors, which are means for controlling the operation of each of the electronic motors while moving the respective mold-holding mechanism in accordance with the selected feed profile to a central position up to an ideal center point within one-half of the distance between said starting positions, means for determining whether the displacement of each of said mold holding mechanisms into said center position has stopped, the means for determining the difference in distance each and said means for measuring the feed profile of one of said electronic motors in order to reduce the difference in the distances traveled by the mold holding mechanisms. 4. A mold opening and closing mechanism in an individual section of an IS machine having a pair of oppositely positioned mold holding mechanisms that can be moved between a separate, retracted position in which each mold holding mechanism is in an initial position and a clamped, retracted position in which the molds carried by said mold-holding mechanism are firmly in contact, comprising an electronic motor operatively associated with each mold-holding mechanism so as to displace the respective mold-holding mechanism between said retracted position and said retracted position and means for controlling the operation of said electronic motors, which are means for controlling each of the electronic motors when the respective mold holding mechanism is moved to a central position in contact with another mechanism for d. stamping • ···· 00 00 0 0 0 0 29, and means for controlling at least one of said electronic motors to generate a predetermined torque during a selected period of time when the mechanisms for holding the molds in contact are in the central position. 5. A mechanism for opening and closing molds in an individual section of an IS machine according to claim 4, wherein said means for controlling at least one of said electric motors generating a predetermined torque during a selected period of time, wherein the mold holding mechanisms interact with each other. are in a central position, means for controlling each of said electronic motors to generate a predetermined torque during a selected period of time as the mold holding mechanisms contact each other in a central position. 6. A mechanism for opening and closing molds in an individual section of an IS machine having a pair of oppositely positioned mold-holding mechanisms that can be moved between a separate, retracted position in which each mold-holding mechanism is in the initial position and a clamped, retracted position in which the molds carried by said mold-holding mechanism are firmly in contact, comprising an electronic motor operatively associated with each mold-holding mechanism so as to displace the respective mold-holding mechanism between said retracted position, and said stroke position, and means for controlling the operation of said electronic motors, which are means for controlling each of the electronic motors as the respective mold holding mechanism is moved to a central position, means for determining the difference in distance. i, each of said stopped mold holding mechanisms, and means for reducing the difference in distance that the mold holding mechanisms undergo. 7. A mechanism for opening and closing molds in an IS machine having a plurality of individual sections, characterized in that it always comprises a pair of oppositely positioned mold-holding mechanisms which can be moved between a separate, withdrawn position in which each mold-holding mechanism finds flfl flfl flfl fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll fll At a starting position, and a clamped, retracted position in which the molds carried by said mold-holding mechanism will firmly touch, drive means operatively associated with each mold-holding mechanism so as to displace the respective mold-holding mechanism between said withdrawn molds; a position and said retracted position, including the electronic motor, means for controlling the electronic motor to generate a predetermined torque during a selected period of time, said oppositely positioned pair of mold holding mechanisms in said retracted position, and means for returning said a mold holding mechanism to said initial position after said selected period of time being means for controlling said electronic motor to move said mold holding mechanism a selected ratio at a predetermined period of time and means for controlling said electronic motor to rapidly move said mold holding mechanism to said initial position after said predetermined period of time. The mechanism for opening and closing molds in an IS machine according to claim 7, further comprising means for adjusting said predetermined period of time. 9. The mold opening and closing mechanism of an IS machine according to claim 8, further comprising means for adjusting said predetermined slow speed. 10. The mold opening and closing mechanism of an IS machine according to claim 7, wherein said means for controlling said electronic motor to rapidly move said mold holding mechanism to said initial position after said predetermined period of time has elapsed a sequence of positions device that delimits the opening profile. • · · · · · · ·