In a glass product forming machine having molds 1A and 1B each composed of a pair of split molds 11 and 12, and a mold cooling device X for cooling the molds 1A and 1B to control the temperatures thereof, in order to prevent the occurrence of a defect such as deformation or cracks in a formed article due to a temperature difference between the split molds 11 and 12, the mold cooling device X is configured to include: cooling mechanisms 3R and 3L provided to the respective split molds, the cooling mechanisms each individually applying cooling air to each of the split molds 11 and 12 of the molds 1A and 1B; valve mechanisms 30R and 30L for individually opening and closing each of paths for introducing cooling air to the respective cooling mechanisms 3R and 3L; temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of at least one of the split molds; and a temperature control device 9 for generating and outputting control signals for controlling the opening and closing operations of the respective valve mechanisms 30R and 30L on the basis of the detected temperature value by the temperature detection means.

A closed loop blank mold temperature control system and method for use in the operation of an I.S. machine is disclosed for automatically adjusting machine timing to maintain desired blank mold temperature/heat extraction. The closed loop blank mold temperature control system uses measured blank mold temperatures to automatically control the supply of coolant air to the blank molds, which may be done independently to each blank mold half as well as independently to the plunger for each blank mold. The closed loop blank mold temperature control system can provide temperature setpoint commands, balance left and right parison temperatures, and maintain parison temperatures as a setpoint, all of which contribute to enhanced final glass container quality.

A glass forming machine includes a blank mold hanger and a blank mold. The blank mold hanger includes a blank mold hanger half that supports a blank mold half and provides cooling fluid to at least one axial cooling channel defined in the blank mold half. The blank mold hanger half defines at least one cooling fluid outlet, which is in fluidic communication with the at least one axial cooling channel of the blank mold half. The blank mold hanger half additionally includes at least one flow control valve that is remotely controllable and configured to selectively adjust a flow of cooling fluid through the at least one axial cooling channel of the blank mold half. A method of cooling a blank mold is also described.

The invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and regulating sections of a for forming hollow glass articles. Each section includes a parison-forming device forming device includes a device for cooling its two parts. The system includes a processing unit configured to deliver corrective data allowing the cooling devices of the parison-forming devices to be controlled. The system further includes the same number of cameras measuring in the near infrared wavelength (e.g., NIR cameras), which deliver shades of grey measured on the parison-forming moulds. The processing unit includes a database of visual hues corresponding to temperatures defined on the parison-forming devices in an open position. The processing unit delivers corrective data as a function of the shades of grey measured in real time by the NIR cameras on the parison-forming devices in the open position and of at least one reference temperature adjusted on said system.

A glass container blank mold includes a mold portion having a neck end, an opposite baffle end, and a molding surface located between the ends that partly defines the shape of an exterior surface of a glass parison formed in the mold. Axial cooling channels formed within the mold portion extend axially alongside the molding surface and radially outboard of the molding surface. Heat block channel locators are formed on one of the ends of the mold portion. Each locator is visibly discernible from the end on which the locator is formed and radially inboard of the cooling channels. Each locator has a thermally insignificant depth and is located such that, when a heat block channel having a thermally significant depth is formed at the locator, heat transfer characteristics of the mold portion are altered between the molding surface and at least one of the cooling channels.

A method includes forming a first parison in a glass blank mold, forming a first glass container from the first parison, altering thermal characteristics of the glass blank mold, and subsequently forming a second parison in the glass blank mold and a second glass container from the second parison. Altering the thermal characteristics of the glass blank mold includes forming a heat block channel at the heat block channel locator on an end of the mold or altering coolant flow characteristics of an axial cooling channel by accessing the cooling channel through a coolant deflector of the mold.