A gob trough for guiding a gob of molten glass is provided. The trough may be formed from trough segments that have a stepped configuration that reduces the amount of contact time between the gob and the trough. The trough may include surface formations that additionally reduce the contact time between the gob and the trough.

A gob trough for guiding a gob of molten glass is provided. The trough may be formed from trough segments that have a stepped configuration that reduces the amount of contact time between the gob and the trough. The trough may include surface formations that additionally reduce the contact time between the gob and the trough.

A gob distributor for a glassware forming machine includes a housing; an arcuate or straight scoop located above the housing, having an upper end aligned at all times with an orifice of a feeder, and which radially moves so that its lower end coincides with the upper ends of straight fixed channels of a forming machine; an independent support structure connected by each scoop; at least one first shaft vertically placed within the housing to rotate on its own axis; at least one second shaft horizontally or vertically placed within the housing to rotate on its own axis, including a second gear section, each first gear section and each second gear section are coupled together to form a housing gear; and drive means coupled at each end of each second shaft to simultaneously move the supporting structures and scoops, radially.

In a section for forming glass articles, provided with a forming mould, the glass gobs are fed into the cavities of the forming mould via a configurable gob guiding unit. The gob guiding unit has a support structure designed for a maximum number of cavities that can be used on the section. For each cavity of the forming mould, there is a respective deflector that has a curved portion delimiting a curved channel for guiding the gobs into the cavities and two arms. The two arms extend in a cantilevered manner from the curved portion. The two arms have respective attachment portions for connecting to the support structure and each has a respective adaptation portion designed on the basis on the position of the cavity.

In a section for forming glass articles, provided with a forming mould, the glass gobs are fed into the cavities of the forming mould via a configurable gob guiding unit. The gob guiding unit has a support structure designed for a maximum number of cavities that can be used on the section. For each cavity of the forming mould, there is a respective deflector that has a curved portion delimiting a curved channel for guiding the gobs into the cavities and two arms. The two arms extend in a cantilevered manner from the curved portion. The two arms have respective attachment portions for connecting to the support structure and each has a respective adaptation portion designed on the basis on the position of the cavity.

Method of filling a mold with a glass gob through an opening of the mold, for forming a glass product in the mold, by using a delivery system for delivering the glass gob to the opening of the mold. The delivery system has an inlet, an outlet, and guiding means for guiding the glass gob through the delivery system. The method includes observing the glass gob, at at least one moment and/or during at least one period after the glass gob has passed the inlet of the delivery system, by using an optical imaging device. The method includes determining a glass gob observation result that includes a glass gob velocity, for predicting a glass distribution of the glass product formed in the mold and/or for controlling a next glass gob.

Method of filling a mold with a glass gob through an opening of the mold, for forming a glass product in the mold, by using a delivery system for delivering the glass gob to the opening of the mold. The delivery system has an inlet, an outlet, and guiding means for guiding the glass gob through the delivery system. The method includes observing the glass gob, at at least one moment and/or during at least one period after the glass gob has passed the inlet of the delivery system, by using an optical imaging device. The method includes determining a glass gob observation result that includes a glass gob velocity, for predicting a glass distribution of the glass product formed in the mold and/or for controlling a next glass gob.

An apparatus and process for making glass and glass gobs on demand. A sheet of molten glass is provided in a staging section. The sheet of molten glass is held within the staging section when there is no demand for glass articles. When there is a demand for production of glass articles, a portion of the sheet of molten glass is flowed into a gob forming section.

Method of filling a mould with a glass gob through an opening of the mould, for forming a glass product in the mould, by using a delivery system for delivering the glass gob to the opening of the mould. The delivery system has an inlet, an outlet, and guiding means for guiding the glass gob through the delivery system. The method includes observing the glass gob, at at least one moment and/or during at least one period after the glass gob has passed the inlet of the delivery system, by using an optical imaging device. The method includes determining a glass gob observation result that includes a glass gob velocity, for predicting a glass distribution of the glass product formed in the mould and/or for controlling a next glass gob.

Method of filling a mould with a glass gob through an opening of the mould, for forming a glass product in the mould, by using a delivery system for delivering the glass gob to the opening of the mould. The delivery system has an inlet, an outlet, and guiding means for guiding the glass gob through the delivery system. The method includes observing the glass gob, at at least one moment and/or during at least one period after the glass gob has passed the inlet of the delivery system, by using an optical imaging device. The method includes determining a glass gob observation result that includes a glass gob velocity, for predicting a glass distribution of the glass product formed in the mould and/or for controlling a next glass gob.