Handling apparatus for hollow glass articles

• US 3,902,727 A
• Filed: 11/28/1973
• Issued: 09/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Owens-Illinois Glass Container, Inc. (O-I Glass, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Ross, John D. Banyas
• Inventors: Banyas, John D., Ross, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidenfeld, Gil
• Application Number:
  US05/419,535
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 279/106,107,108,109 269/238,237,230,233
• US Class Current: 279/106
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/18 pivotally movable in planes containing the axis of the chuck
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/32 Individual load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/16 for conveyors having endless load-carriers movable in curved paths
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/22 Rails or the like engaging sliding elements or rollers attached to load-carriers or traction elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0244 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/36 comprising two or more driving motors each coupled to a separate driving element, e.g. at either end of the conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/08 for chains
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 29/06 with horizontal displacement of the products
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 33/06 Cutting or splitting glass tubes, rods, or hollow products C03B33/09 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 33/085 Tubes, rods or hollow products
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 35/125 Transfer mechanisms of the "rotary" type, e.g. "take-outs", "setting-over" mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 9/40 Gearing or controlling mechanisms specially adapted for glass-blowing machines
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 9/44 Means for discharging combined with glass-blowing machines, e.g. take-outs
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 9/46 Means for cutting the hot glass in glass-blowing machines burning-off C03B9/42
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/18 Pivoted jaw

Abstract

An apparatus for handling a hollow glass article and forming a finish thereon in a production line. Glass articles, such as containers, having an integrally formed moil portion on the upper end of the container body portion are loaded in sequence in an upright position into uniformly spaced chucks on a continuously moving endless conveyor. The containers are carried through a first heating zone while being driven in rotation to achieve even thermal exposure of the containers. During transit of the first heating zone, the containers are passed around a vertical end turn to orient the containers in an inverted position, with the moil portion lowermost, as they pass along a horizontal lower run of the endless conveyor. During their transit of the lower run, the containers pass between a linear row of opposed burners which direct a high intensity row of flame jets against a narrow portion of the container body to first thermally sever the moil portion from the body and to subsequently form a beaded finish on the container. The containers are rotated during their passage through this set of burners at a controlled rate to achieve the desired finish formation. The finish is subsequently inspected and containers with malformed finishes are promptly ejected at the inspection station. Containers not ejected at the inspection station are subsequently lowered partially into the pockets of a synchronized pocket conveyor, the container chucks being opened when the container is partially inserted into the pocket to drop the container the remaining distance into the pocket.

Claims

1. A container chuck comprising a housing, an elongate shaft mounted in said housing for free rotation about its axis, an annular container seat assembly mounted on one end of said shaft for coaxial rotation therewith, a plurality of container gripping fingers mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith at symmetrically disposed locations about the shaft axis, means supporting said fingers on said shaft for concurrent movement between an open container release position and a closed container gripping position wherein said fingers are cooperable with said seat to grip and support a container upon said shaft in coaxial relationship therewith, lever means pivotally mounted on said housing and operable in a first position to locate said fingers in said open position and operable in a second position to locate said fingers in said gripping position, spring means biasing said lever means to said second position, and latch means on said housing for releasably latching said lever means in said first position.

2. A chuck as defined in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said fingers upon said shaft comprises a fulcrum plate detachably clamped to said one end of said shaft by said container seat assembly, said fulcrum plate having a pluraLity of pivot means thereon supporting said fingers for pivotal movement between their open and closed positions, said fingers shifting means in said lever means comprising a sleeve rotatably fixed to said shaft and supported upon said shaft for axial sliding movement upon pivotal movement of said lever means relative to said housing and means on said sleeve for pivoting said fingers concurrently upon said fulcrum plate upon axial movement of said sleeve on said shaft.

3. A chuck as defined in claim 2 wherein said seat assembly includes an annular seat member, a tubular spacer extending axially of said shaft and engaged between said seat and said fulcrum plate, and threaded securing means engaged between said seat and said shaft for axially clamping said seat, spacer and fulcrum plate to said one end of said shaft.

4. A chuck as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever means comprises a pair of interconnected spaced parallel arms pivotally mounted on said housing, coaxially aligned roller means mounted on the inner sides of said pair of arms, a sleeve mounted on said shaft for axial sliding movement and having a circumferentially extending annular groove receiving said roller means at diametrically opposed locations whereby pivotal movement of said arms on said housing is operable to shift said sleeve axially on said shaft, and means coupling said sleeve to said fingers to move said fingers between said open and said gripping position in response to axial movement of said sleeve on said shaft.

5. A chuck as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring means is engaged between said housing and said sleeve to bias said sleeve axially of said shaft.

6. A chuck as defined in claim 4 further comprising a third arm on said lever means rigidly interconnected to and disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said pair of arms, a shaft mounted in and extending between said third arm and the adjacent one of said pair of arms, said latch means having an arm pivotally mounted at one end on said housing and engaged at one side with said shaft, means pivotally biasing said arm against said shaft, and means defining a shaft receiving notch in said one side of said shaft for latchingly receiving said shaft when said lever means is in said first position.