Molten glass transport system
AssigneeOwens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
InventorsRobin L. Flynn, Stephen Graff, Jason Pickles, Thomas Kirkman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A glass manufacturing system for charging a glass blank mold is disclosed. The glass manufacturing system, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, comprises a glass forming sub-system, including a blank mold having a blank mold loading axis; and a molten glass handling sub-system. The molten glass handling sub-system includes a glass feeder to feed molten glass along a feeder axis, a transport cup to receive molten glass along the feeder axis, and a movable carrier to support the transport cup and carry the transport cup away from the glass feeder and to the blank mold.
Claims17
A glass manufacturing system, comprising:
- a glass forming sub-system, including:
- a plurality of forming machines, each including a blank mold having a blank mold loading axis;
- and
- a molten glass handling sub-system including:
- a glass feeder to feed molten glass along a feeder axis;
- a transport cup to receive molten glass along the feeder axis;
- a movable carrier to support the transport cup and carry the transport cup away from the feeder axis to the blank mold loading axis;
- and
- a plurality of adjacent gantries, each carrying at least two movable carriers and being configured to move the at least two movable carriers back and forth from the glass feeder to the plurality of forming machines of the glass forming sub-system.
A method for transporting molten glass, comprising:
- receiving molten glass from a glass feeder along a feeder axis into a first transport cup, wherein the first transport cup is supported by a first movable carrier, and the first movable carrier is supported by a first gantry that is configured to move the first movable carrier back and forth from the glass feeder to a plurality of forming machines;
- transporting the first movable carrier to bring the first transport cup over a first blank mold having a first blank mold loading axis;
- receiving molten glass from a glass feeder along a feeder axis into a second transport cup, wherein the second transport cup is supported by a second movable carrier, and the second movable carrier is supported by a second gantry that is adjacent to the first gantry and is configured to move the second movable carrier back and forth from the glass feeder to the plurality of forming machines;
- dispensing the molten glass from the first transport cup into the first blank mold along the first blank mold loading axis;
- transporting the second movable carrier to bring the second transport cup over a second blank mold having a second blank mold loading axis;
- returning the first movable carrier to the glass feeder for reloading the first transport cup;
- dispensing the molten glass from the second transport cup into the second blank mold along the second blank mold loading axis;
- and
- returning the second movable carrier to the glass feeder for reloading the second transport cup.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.