Jet fired zonal lehr for applying treating medium inside and outside of glass containers simultaneously

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for annealing glassware by passing the ware continuously through a tunnel in which the application of heat and recirculation of the gaseous treating medium is regulated to establish and maintain independently controllable heating and cooling zones. An endless perforated conveyor passes from end to end of the tunnel and the ware is placed on the conveyor in alignment with and beneath a jet-like blast of the treating medium internally and externally of the ware simultaneously to subject all of the ware to uniform treatment in minimum time. The treating medium in the heating zones of the tunnel is recirculated and furnace pressure and temperature is regulated by circulating fans and by dampers between the furnace chambers with the outside atmosphere.

I claim: 
     
       1. A glass annealing lehr for treating hollow glassware such as bottles and the like, which consists of a tunnel having undivided separately controllable temperature zones, longitudinally of said tunnel and having superposed treating, recirculating and firing chambers vertically of said tunnel, a conveyor for supporting and passing the products to be annealed through said treating .[.chambers.].  .Iadd.chamber, .Iaddend.and a fan mounted for delivering the convective treating medium to the recirculating chamber under pressure, said recirculating chamber .[.having an opening.]. .Iadd.being formed with a longitudinally extending slot .Iaddend.aligned over the ware supported on said conveyor for jetting the treating medium into the mouth and simultaneously around the outside wall of the ware supported on said conveyor.[...]..Iadd., and return flow passages at the sides of said treating chamber for drawing the treating gases therefrom for return to said fan. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       2. A glass anneaing lehr set forth in claim 1 in which the conveyor is of a construction to allow the treating medium to pass therethrough and the jet opening is a slot in alignment with .[.rows.]. .Iadd.a row .Iaddend.of ware passing therebeneath and extending the length of the treatment chamber. 
     
     
       3. A glass annealing lehr set forth in claim 1 in which the volume of air drawn into the firing chamber and the volume of treating medium delivered to the treatment chamber are separately controlled. 
     
     
       4. A glass annealing lehr for treating hollow glassware such as bottles and the like which consists of a tunnel having a treating chamber, a pressure duct and a heating chamber in superposed relation, a conveyor for supporting and passing the products to be annealed in rows through said treating chamber from the charging to the discharge end thereof and recirculating ducts at the sides of said treating chamber open at the bottom below said conveyor and communicating at the top with said heating chamber, said heating chamber having regulable heating means for producing a convective heating medium of a suitable temperature, said pressure duct having an opening aligned over said products passing on said conveyor, and a fan for mixing said heating medium with the recirculated treating medium drawn through the side ducts and jetting it under pressure through said opening in said pressure duct downward into and around the product on the conveyor passing through the treating chamber. 
     
     
       5. In the method of annealing .Iadd.open top .Iaddend.glassware such as bottles and the like .[.in a tunnel shaped treating chamber having a support for the ware between the top and bottom of the tunnel,.]. .Iadd.in a glass annealing lehr having in superposed relation, a treating chamber, a recirculating chamber and a firing chamber, and return flow passages at opposite sides of said treating chamber, comprising .Iaddend.the steps of withdrawing a heat treating fluid from beneath the ware, recirculating said fluid .[.to a zone over said ware.]. .Iadd.through said return flow passages first to said firing chamber and then to said recirculating chamber, .Iaddend.and .Iadd.continuously .Iaddend.directing said fluid downwardly .Iadd.through a longitudinally extending slot in said recirculating chamber .Iaddend.into the mouth of the ware and around the sides of the ware simultaneously .Iadd.as the ware is moved longitudinally through said treating chamber. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       6. The method of annealing glassware set forth in claim 5 in which the heat treating fluid is under pressure when it passes into the mouth and around the sides of the ware. 
     
     
       7. The method of annealing glassware set forth in claim 5 in which the heat treating fluid is recirculated after passing around the sides of the ware. 
     
     
       8. The method of annealing glassware set forth in claim 5 in which the bottles are supported in .[.rows.]. .Iadd.a row .Iaddend.and the heat treating fluid is directed in alignment with and into and around the ware in said .[.rows.]..Iadd.a row. .Iaddend.