Molten glass gob distribution system

Abstract

A system for distributing successively formed groups of glass gobs from a feeder bowl to the several individual sections of a Hartford I.S. type glassware forming machine includes a single scoop for each gob in the group, and mechanism for rotating the scoops between successive positions wherein each is aligned with a chute associated with a particular mold cavity in each machine section. A "double-gob" installation is described and the two scoops have associated annular spur gears which are driven in unison by a reciprocable rack gear through a predetermined schedule of angular displacements to successively align the two scoops with several sets of paired chutes according to a particular order and to then repeat this schedule. A cam follower connected to the rack gear causes programmed movement thereof in response to rotation of a cam having lobes of predetermined height to produce the predetermined schedule of angular displacements of the scoops.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a molten glass distribution system for conveying successively formed groups of glass gobs from the outlet of a feeder bowl to each of several groups of fixed chutes, said chute groups being arranged in a circular pattern around said feeder bowl for conveying the groups of glass gobs to the several individual sections of a multi-gob glassware forming machine, the improvement comprising an arcuate scoop for each gob in the group being formed at said feeder bowl outlet, a mechanism for supporting said scoops in depending relationship for rotation on individual vertically oriented scoop axes, said mechanism including means for rotating all of said scoops simultaneously and through mutually related angular displacements, mechanical control means for said scoop rotating means for successively varying these angular displacements whereby said scoops are cyclically aligned with each of said chute groups to provide groups of glass gobs to all of the individual machine sections, a housing for said mechanism, said housing supporting said scoops so that their respective axes of rotation are arranged in side-by-side relationship, said means for rotating said scoops including an annular spur gear circumscribing the upper end of each scoop, a horizontally extending member slidably supported in said housing and having a portion which defines a rack gear for meshing with said spur gears on said scoops to rotate the scoops, and said mechanical control means including means for reciprocating said member from and to successive linear positions. 
     
     
       2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical control means comprises a rotary cam with several lobes, each of which has a predetermined rise, and a cam follower connected to said reciprocating member. 
     
     
       3. The combination defined in claim 2 further characterized by means connecting said cam follower to said reciprocating member, said means comprising a lever mounted on a fixed axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam and said cam follower carried by said lever, a ramp surface on said lever including an active portion against which one end of said reciprocating member is normally adapted to abut, and means for pivotally supporting said housing for limited movement on an axis parallel said cam axis of rotation to permit said housing to be swung out of its active position wherein said scoops are adapted to receive glass gobs from said feeder bowl outlet into an inactive position wherein said housing is not located below the feeder bowl outlet, said ramp surface on said lever including an inactive portion which abuts said one end of said reciprocating member to cause linear movement of said reciprocating member and hence angular displacement of said scoops to inactive positions as said housing is so moved. 
     
     
       4. The combination defined in claim 2 further characterized by a glass cullet chute mounted on said housing for carrying away molten glass gobs not dropped into the upper ends of said scoops, and glass gob deflecting means mounted on said housing for selectively deflecting groups of the newly formed gobs of glass into said cullet chute. 
     
     
       5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said glass gob deflecting means comprises a fluid motor with a reciprocable part and a fixed part on said housing, a deflector for each gob in said group connected to said reciprocable motor part. 
     
     
       6. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein each scoop includes an upper .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.funnel portion .[.which carries said annular spur gear and which is of generally tubular shape with a lower end which communicates with the arcuate portion of said scoop and supports said arcuate portion in depending relationship.]. .Iadd.and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, .Iaddend.and said tubular funnel portion defining a passageway in and around the sidewall thereof, through which passageway a liquid coolant can be circulated to prevent excessive heat build-up in said scoop funnel portions. 
     
     
       7. The combination defined in claim 3 and further characterized by a fluid motor with a fixed part and a reciprocable part connected to said housing for swinging said housing from and to said active position. 
     
     
       8. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein each scoop includes an upper .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.funnel portion .[.which carries said annular spur gear and which is of generally tubular shape with a lower end which communicates with the arcuate portion of said scoop to support the latter in depending relationship.]. .Iadd.and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, .Iaddend.bearings in said housing for rotatably supporting said tubular funnel portions, and said housing defining internal passageways through which a liquid lubricant can be circulated to provide lubrication and cooling to said bearings and also to said annular gears and said rack gear portion of said reciprocating member. 
     
     
       9. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein a compression spring is provided in said housing adjacent said reciprcating member to bias said member in one direction to urge said cam follower into engagement with said rotary cam. 
     
     
       10. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein the arcuate portions of said scoops also define liquid coolant passageways, said passageways in each of said scoops communicating with said liquid coolant passageway in said funnel portion so that liquid coolant can be circulated through said arcuate scoop portions as well as said funnel scoop portions. 
     
     
       11. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said housing includes an enclosed portion for a portion of said reciprocating member adjacent its rack defining portion, biasing means in said enclosed housing portion for urging said member in one direction to maintain said cam follower in contact with said rotary cam. 
     
     
       12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein said housing defines liquid lubricant passageways through which said lubricant circulates to and from said enclosed housing portion, said biasing means comprises a coiled compression spring surrounding said reciprocating member in said enclosed housing portion. 
     
     
       13. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said scoop includes an upper .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.funnel portion .[.which carries said spur gear and which is of generally tubular shape with a lower end which communicates with the arcuate portion of said scoops and supports said arcuate portion in depending relationship.]. .Iadd.and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, .Iaddend.and jacket means defining at least one liquid coolant passageway outside said tubular funnel portion, said jacket means including an inner portion which defines a bushing for rotatably receiving said tubular funnel portion. 
     
     
       14. The combination defined in claim 13 wherein two such jacket means are provided one above and one below said gear defining portion of said tubular funnel portion, both said jacket means including inner bushing portions for rotatably receiving said funnel portion. 
     
     
       15. The combination defined in claim 14 wherein said arcuate portions of said scoops also define liquid coolant passageways, said liquid coolant being circulated through all of said passageways through external piping. 
     
     
       16. In a molten glass distribution system for conveying successively formed glass gobs from the outlet of a feeder bowl to fixed chutes, said chutes being arranged in a circular pattern around said feeder bowl for conveying the glass gobs to the several individual sections of a glassware forming machine, the improvements comprising at least one arcuate scoop for receiving the gobs being formed at said feeder bowl outlet, a mechanism for supporting said scoop in depending relationship for rotation on a vertically oriented scoop axis, said mechanism including means for rotating said scoop through a range of angular displacements, mechanical control means for said scoop rotating means for successively varying said angular displacement whereby said scoop is cyclically aligned with each of said chutes to provide glass gobs to all of the individual machine sections, a housing for said mechanism, said housing supporting said scoop so that its axis of rotation is arranged vertically, said means for rotating said scoop including an annular spur gear circumscribing the upper end of said scoop, a horizontally extending member slidably supported in said housing and having a portion which defines a rack gear for meshing with said spur gear on said scoop to rotate the scoop, and mechanical control means including means for reciprocating said member from and to successive linear positions. 
     
     
       17. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein said mechanical control means comprises a rotary cam with several lobes, each of which has a predetermined rise, and a cam follower connected to said reciprocating member. 
     
     
       18. The combination defined in claim 17 further characterized by means connecting said cam follower to said reciprocating member, said means comprising a lever mounted on a fixed axis parallel the axis of rotation of said cam and said cam follower carried by said lever, a ramp surface on said lever including an active portion against which one end of said reciprocating member is normally adapted to abut, and means for pivotally supporting said housing for limited movement on an axis parallel said cam axis of rotation to permit said housing to be swung out of its active position wherein said scoop is adapted to receive glass gobs from said feeder bowl outlet into an inactive position wherein said housing is not located below the feeder bowl outlet, said ramp surface on said lever including an inactive portion which abuts said one end of said reciprocating member to cause linear movement of said reciprocating member and hence angular displacement of said scoop to inactive position as said housing is so moved. 
     
     
       19. The combination defined in claim 17 further characterized by a glass cullet chute mounted on said housing for carrying away molten glass gobs not dropped into the upper ends of said scoops, and glass gob deflecting means mounted on said housing for selectively deflecting certain of the newly formed gobs of glass into said cullet chute. 
     
     
       20. The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said glass gob deflecting means comprises a fluid motor with a reciprocable part and a fixed part on said housing a deflector connected to said reciprocable motor part. 
     
     
       21. The combination defined in claim 17 wherein each scoop includes an upper .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.funnel portion .[.which carries said annular spur gear and which is of generally tubular shape with a lower end which communicates with the arcuate portion of said scoop and supports said arcuate portion in depending relationship.]. .Iadd.and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, .Iaddend.and said tubular funnel portion defining a passageway in and around the sidewall thereof, through which passageway a liquid coolant can be circulated to prevent excessive heat build-up in said scoop funnel portion. 
     
     
       22. The combination defined in claim 18 and further characterized by a fluid motor with a fixed part and a reciprocable part connected to said housing for swinging said housing from and to said active position. 
     
     
       23. The combination defined in claim 17 wherein said scoop includes an upper .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.funnel portion .[.which carries said annular spur gear and which is of generally tubular shape with a lower end which communicates with the arcuate portion of said scoop to support the latter in depending relationship.]. .Iadd.and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, .Iaddend.bearings in said housing for rotatably supporting said tubular funnel portions, and said housing defining internal passageways through which a liquid lubricant can be circulated to provide lubrication and cooling to said bearings and also to said annular gears and said rack gear portion of said reciprocating member. 
     
     
       24. The combination defined in claim 17 wherein a compression spring is provided in said housing adjacent said reciprocating member to bias said member in one direction to urge said cam follower into engagement with said rotary cam. 
     
     
       25. The combination defined in claim .[.6.]. .Iadd.21 .Iaddend.wherein the arcuate portion of said scoop also defines liquid .[.collant.]. .Iadd.coolant .Iaddend.passageways, said passageways in said scoop communicating with said coolant passageway in said funnel portion so that liquid coolant can be circulated through said arcuate scoop .[.portions.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.as well as said funnel scoop .[.portions.]. .Iadd.portion.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       26. The combination defined in claim 23 wherein said housing includes an enclosed portion for a portion of said reciprocating member adjacent its rack defining portion, biasing means in said enclosed housing portion for urging said member in one direction to maintain said cam follower in contact with said rotary cam. 
     
     
       27. The combination defined in claim 26 wherein said housing defines liquid lubricant passageways through which said lubricant circulates to and from said enclosed housing portion, said biasing means comprises a coiled compression spring surrounding said reciprocating member in said enclosed housing portion. 
     
     
       28. The combination defined in claim 17 wherein each scoop includes an upper .Iadd.tubular .Iaddend.funnel portion .[.which carries said spur gear and which is of generally tubular shape with a lower end which communicates with the arcuate portion of said scoop and supports said arcuate portion in depending relationship.]. .Iadd.and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, .Iaddend.and jacket means defining at least one liquid coolant passageway outside said tubular funnel portion, said jacket means including an inner portion which defines a bushing for rotatably receiving said tubular funnel portion. 
     
     
       29. The combination defined in claim 28 wherein two such jacket means are provided one above and one below said gear defining portion of said tubular funnel portion, both said jacket means including inner bushing portions for rotatably receiving said funnel portion. 
     
     
       30. The combination defined in claim 29 wherein said arcuate portions of said scoop also defines liquid coolant passageways, said liquid coolant being circulated through all of said passageways through external piping. .Iadd. 31. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein each scoop includes an upper tubular funnel portion and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, and said tubular funnel portion defining a passageway in and around the sidewall thereof, through which passageway a liquid coolant can be circulated to prevent excessive heat build-up in said scoop funnel portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein each scoop includes an upper tubular funnel portion and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, bearings in said housing for rotatably supporting said tubular funnel portions, and said housing defining internal passageways through which a liquid lubricant can be circulated to provide lubrication and cooling to said bearings and also to said annular gears and said rack gear portion of said reciprocating member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 33. The combination defined in claim 31 wherein the arcuate portions of said scoops also define liquid coolant passageways, said passageways in each of said scoops communicating with said coolant passageway in said funnel portion so that liquid coolant can be circulated through said arcuate scoop portions as well as said funnel scoop portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 34. The combination defined in claim 32 wherein said housing includes an enclosed portion for a portion of said reciprocating member adjacent its rack defining portion and said housing defines liquid lubricant passageways through which said lubricant circulates to and from said enclosed housing portion. .Iadd. 35. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein each scoop includes an upper tubular funnel portion and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, and jacket means defining at least one liquid coolant passageway outside said tubular funnel portion, said jacket means including an inner portion which defines a bushing for rotatably receiving said tubular funnel portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 36. The combination defined in claim 35 wherein two such jacket means are provided one above and one below said gear defining portion of said tubular funnel portion, both said jacket means including inner bushing portions for rotatably receiving said funnel portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 37. The combination defined in claim 36 wherein said arcuate portions of said scoops also define liquid coolant passageways, said liquid coolant being circulated through all of said passageways through external piping. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 38. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein each scoop includes an upper tubular funnel portion and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, and said tubular funnel portion defining a passageway in and around the sidewall thereof, through which passageway a liquid coolant can be circulated to prevent excessive heat build-up in said scoop funnel portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 39. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein each scoop includes an upper tubular funnel portion and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, bearings in said housing for rotatably supporting said tubular funnel portions, and said housing defining internal passageways through which a liquid lubricant can be circulated to provide lubrication and cooling to said bearings and also to said annular gears and said rack gear portion of said reciprocating 
     
     
        member. .Iadd.40.  The combination defined in claim 38 wherein the arcuate portion of said scoop also defines liquid coolant passageways, said passageways in said scoop communicating with said coolant passageway in said funnel portion so that liquid coolant can be circulated through said arcuate scoop portions as well as said funnel scoop portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 41. The combination defined in claim 39 wherein said housing includes an enclosed portion for a portion of said reciprocating member adjacent its rack defining portion and said housing defines liquid lubricant passageways through which said lubricant circulates to and from said enclosed housing portion. .Iadd. 42. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein each scoop includes an upper tubular funnel portion and a lower arcuate portion communicating therewith and supported thereby, and jacket means defining at least one liquid coolant passageway outside said tubular funnel portion, said jacket means including an inner portion which defines a bushing for rotatably receiving said tubular funnel portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 43. The combination defined in claim 42 wherein two such jacket means are provided one above and one below said gear defining portion of said tubular funnel portion, both said jacket means including inner bushing portions for rotatably receiving said funnel portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 44. The combination defined in claim 43 wherein said arcuate portions of said scoop also defines liquid coolant passageways, said liquid coolant being circulated through all of said passageways through external piping.