A mold operating mechanism to open and close molds of a glassware forming machine. The mechanism includes a drivetrain assembly including a frame, a gearset carried by the frame and configured to be driven by a powertrain assembly, at least one operating shaft carried by the frame and driven by the gearset, and at least one linkage operatively coupled to the operating shaft and configured to be operatively coupled to a mold carrier carrying at least a portion of one or more molds. The mechanism includes further a fluid cylinder disposed proximate the linkage and including at least one piston rod operatively coupled to the linkage, wherein as the linkage rotates, the piston rod is pulled outward from the cylinder, and the cylinder is dragged outwardly, and whereafter the cylinder is pressurized with fluid to push the piston rod further outward to apply clamping pressure to the linkage.

A mold operating mechanism to open and close molds of a glassware forming machine. The mechanism includes a drivetrain assembly including a frame, a gearset carried by the frame and configured to be driven by a powertrain assembly, at least one operating shaft carried by the frame and driven by the gearset, and at least one linkage operatively coupled to the operating shaft and configured to be operatively coupled to a mold carrier carrying at least a portion of one or more molds. The mechanism includes further a fluid cylinder disposed proximate the linkage and including at least one piston rod operatively coupled to the linkage, wherein as the linkage rotates, the piston rod is pulled outward from the cylinder, and the cylinder is dragged outwardly, and whereafter the cylinder is pressurized with fluid to push the piston rod further outward to apply clamping pressure to the linkage.

A glassware forming machine includes a blank mold having first and second sections and a hanger assembly configured to support the first section and permit movement of the first section towards and away from the second section. A temperature measurement system for the first section includes a thermocouple configured to be received within a recess in a wall of the first section and to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the first section. The system further includes a transmitter assembly coupled to the thermocouple and comprising a housing supported on the hanger assembly and a wireless transmitter and controller disposed within the housing. The controller is configured to receive the temperature signal and generate an output signal in response for transmission by the wireless transmitter, the output signal including data indicative of the temperature of the first section of the blank mold.

A glassware forming machine includes a blank mold having first and second sections and a hanger assembly configured to support the first section and permit movement of the first section towards and away from the second section. A temperature measurement system for the first section includes a thermocouple configured to be received within a recess in a wall of the first section and to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the first section. The system further includes a transmitter assembly coupled to the thermocouple and comprising a housing supported on the hanger assembly and a wireless transmitter and controller disposed within the housing. The controller is configured to receive the temperature signal and generate an output signal in response for transmission by the wireless transmitter, the output signal including data indicative of the temperature of the first section of the blank mold.

A burner head actuator for lubricating glassware molds of a glassware forming machine includes a base mount and a guide post carried by the mount. A gearbox housing carried on the guide post carries a gear train including drive and driven gears. A servomotor is coupled to the gearbox. A burner head arm is carried by the gearbox housing and coupled to the driven gear for rotation relative to the gearbox housing about an arm axis. The arm includes a burner head leveling gear train including a drive sprocket direct-driven by the driven gear about the arm axis and a driven sprocket driven by the drive sprocket via a chain. The servomotor rotates the gearbox drive gear, thereby rotating the gearbox driven gear and burner head arm, and thereby rotating the leveling gear train so that the burner head remains level as the arm is rotated about the arm axis.

A burner head actuator for lubricating glassware molds of a glassware forming machine includes a base mount and a guide post carried by the mount. A gearbox housing carried on the guide post carries a gear train including drive and driven gears. A servomotor is coupled to the gearbox. A burner head arm is carried by the gearbox housing and coupled to the driven gear for rotation relative to the gearbox housing about an arm axis. The arm includes a burner head leveling gear train including a drive sprocket direct-driven by the driven gear about the arm axis and a driven sprocket driven by the drive sprocket via a chain. The servomotor rotates the gearbox drive gear, thereby rotating the gearbox driven gear and burner head arm, and thereby rotating the leveling gear train so that the burner head remains level as the arm is rotated about the arm axis.

Method and system for inspecting hollow glass products of glass product material, wherein the glass products are manufactured by: a. heating the glass product material; b. forming the heated glass product material into a glass product; c. cooling the formed glass product; wherein inspecting the glass products comprises the following steps: d. making a plurality of images of the glass product under a plurality of mutually different viewing directions relative to the product with the aid of a plurality of infrared light sensitive sensors, wherein step d. is carried out between steps b. and c.; e. processing in combination of the plurality of images for obtaining at least one parameter that depends on a wall thickness of the glass product.

Method and system for inspecting hollow glass products of glass product material, wherein the glass products are manufactured by: a. heating the glass product material; b. forming the heated glass product material into a glass product; c. cooling the formed glass product; wherein inspecting the glass products comprises the following steps: d. making a plurality of images of the glass product under a plurality of mutually different viewing directions relative to the product with the aid of a plurality of infrared light sensitive sensors, wherein step d. is carried out between steps b. and c.; e. processing in combination of the plurality of images for obtaining at least one parameter that depends on a wall thickness of the glass product.

An improved system and method for forming falling hot glass gobs which will be molded into glass containers in an Individual Section (IS) machine is disclosed which controls the weight, length, and shape of such glass gobs as they are produced. The system includes a gob feeder apparatus and a gob shearing mechanism a controller using models being used to correlate the effect of a number of feeder control settings on gob weight, length, and, shape. The controller is configured to adjust various feeder control settings based on a prioritized order of the feeder control settings such that gobs having different physical characteristics for different ones of the individual sections can be produced during a single machine cycle. By implementing the models, a closed loop system has been developed to set up controls to achieve the desired gob forming for each individual section and cavity.

An improved system and method for forming falling hot glass gobs which will be molded into glass containers in an Individual Section (IS) machine is disclosed which controls the weight, length, and shape of such glass gobs as they are produced. The system includes a gob feeder apparatus and a gob shearing mechanism a controller using models being used to correlate the effect of a number of feeder control settings on gob weight, length, and, shape. The controller is configured to adjust various feeder control settings based on a prioritized order of the feeder control settings such that gobs having different physical characteristics for different ones of the individual sections can be produced during a single machine cycle. By implementing the models, a closed loop system has been developed to set up controls to achieve the desired gob forming for each individual section and cavity.