The invention refers to a glass forming machine which includes a blank station for forming a parison (14) from a gob of molten glass (9) and a blow station for forming the parison (14) into a container (26) and an invert mechanism (16) which can move a neck ring (5) from the blank station to the blow station by a rotary motion and which further includes a swab robot and a control device for the swab robot, wherein the control device is set up so that the swab robot can swab and thus swab the neck ring (5) when the neck ring (5) is in an intermediate position between the blank station and the blow station. Defects in the production of bottles can thus be avoided.

The invention refers to a glass forming machine which includes a blank station for forming a parison (14) from a gob of molten glass (9) and a blow station for forming the parison (14) into a container (26) and an invert mechanism (16) which can move a neck ring (5) from the blank station to the blow station by a rotary motion and which further includes a swab robot and a control device for the swab robot, wherein the control device is set up so that the swab robot can swab and thus swab the neck ring (5) when the neck ring (5) is in an intermediate position between the blank station and the blow station. Defects in the production of bottles can thus be avoided.

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.

An inverter unit for a hollow glassware forming machine comprises a supporting structure; a first and a second pick-and-place arm having one or more recesses for picking up glassware and coupled to such supporting structure so as to rotate about a first axis and so as to translate along such first axis between an open position and a closed position; and a centering device having a head, which can rotate about a second axis. The centering device also has a transmission mechanism, which converts the rotary motion of the head into a translational motion of the supporting structure along the first axis with respect to a fixed base.

An inverter unit for a hollow glassware forming machine comprises a supporting structure; a first and a second pick-and-place arm having one or more recesses for picking up glassware and coupled to such supporting structure so as to rotate about a first axis and so as to translate along such first axis between an open position and a closed position; and a centering device having a head, which can rotate about a second axis. The centering device also has a transmission mechanism, which converts the rotary motion of the head into a translational motion of the supporting structure along the first axis with respect to a fixed base.

A takeout mechanism for glassware forming machines includes: a supporting structure; an oscillating arm connected by a first end, in pivot form, to a movement transmission system to move the oscillating arm with an angular movement; and, a takeout tong head coupled at a second end of the oscillating arm. The oscillating arm comprises a hollow housing, a first fixed shaft coupled at the first end of the housing; first cam means coupled to the first fixed axis; a second rotating shaft coupled at the second end of the housing, spaced parallel to the first shaft, one end being coupled to the takeout tong head; second cam means coupled to the second rotating axis; and linkage means pivotally connecting the first cam means of said first fixed axis and said second cam means of said second rotating axis.

A takeout mechanism for glassware forming machines includes: a supporting structure; an oscillating arm connected by a first end, in pivot form, to a movement transmission system to move the oscillating arm with an angular movement; and, a takeout tong head coupled at a second end of the oscillating arm. The oscillating arm comprises a hollow housing, a first fixed shaft coupled at the first end of the housing; first cam means coupled to the first fixed axis; a second rotating shaft coupled at the second end of the housing, spaced parallel to the first shaft, one end being coupled to the takeout tong head; second cam means coupled to the second rotating axis; and linkage means pivotally connecting the first cam means of said first fixed axis and said second cam means of said second rotating axis.

Methods and systems for controlling vertical glass distribution are provided. A traversing pyrometer periodically measures a parison actual temperature after the parisons exit a blank mold. The thermal camera takes a thermal image of each glass container after the glass container exits the blow mold. A vertical glass signature extraction module extracts a vertical glass distribution signature. A parison temperature estimator determines a parison estimated temperature for each vertical glass distribution signature obtained based on the vertical glass distribution signature, a most recently measured parison actual temperature and a parison stretch time. A parison temperature summer compares the parison estimated temperature to a parison set point temperature to determine a parison temperature error. A parison temperature control controls a blank mold contact time based on the parison temperature error.

Methods and systems for controlling vertical glass distribution are provided. A traversing pyrometer periodically measures a parison actual temperature after the parisons exit a blank mold. The thermal camera takes a thermal image of each glass container after the glass container exits the blow mold. A vertical glass signature extraction module extracts a vertical glass distribution signature. A parison temperature estimator determines a parison estimated temperature for each vertical glass distribution signature obtained based on the vertical glass distribution signature, a most recently measured parison actual temperature and a parison stretch time. A parison temperature summer compares the parison estimated temperature to a parison set point temperature to determine a parison temperature error. A parison temperature control controls a blank mold contact time based on the parison temperature error.

The present invention relates to a particle filter (F) for a glass forming machine operating according to a blow-and-blow process or according to a press-and-blow process, said particle filter (F) is adapted for placing in at least an air channel (14a) serving pressurized air for counter blow (5) of a parison (P) in a blank mold (2) forming station of said glass forming machine, and/or an air channel (14b, 20) serving pressurized air for final blow (11) and/or for finish cooling (21) of a glass container (12) made of said parison (P) in a finish mold (8) station of said glass forming machine, said particle filter (F) comprising a surface filter as a main filter media (MF) and said particle filter (F), if placed in at least said air channel (14a) serving pressurized air for counter blow (5) of said parison (P) in said blank mold (2) forming station of said glass forming machine, and/or said air channel (14b, 20) serving pressurized air for final blow (11) and/or for finish cooling (21) of said glass container made of said parison (P) in said finish mold (8) station of said glass forming machine, avoiding passage of particles above a certain size from a dirty side of said main filter media (MF) to a clean side of said main filter media (MF) and thus, also avoiding final passage of said particles above said certain size into said parison (P) or said glass container (12) blown by said glass forming machine and a plunger unit (PU), a blow head (BH), a blow head support and a glass forming machine adapted for a particle filter (F) according to the present invention.