Method and apparatus for lubricating and moulding glass parisons

A method of moulding glass parisons in blank moulds of a glass forming machine of a type comprising closable blank moulds defining at least one mould cavity, and at least one arm system comprising an arm and an operating shaft fast with said arm for moving said arm to an operative position over the closed blank moulds;

• said method comprising fitting said machine with apparatus comprising:
• a carrier structure with inlet means for lubricant, spray outlet means for discharging lubricant spray onto said blank moulds and duct means connecting said inlet means with said spray outlet means;
• supporting means for supporting said carrier structure on said glass forming machine so that said carrier structure is movable between at least one inoperative position and a discharge position over the closed position of said blank moulds for spraying lubricant from said spray outlet means into said at least one mould cavity;
• coupling means selectively operable to couple said carrier structure to said arm system whereby, as said arm system moves said arm to the operative position thereof, said arm system also moves said carrier structure from said inoperative position into said discharge position for spraying lubricant;
• said coupling means alternatively operating to uncouple said carrier structure from said arm system whereby, as said arm system moves said arm to the operative position thereof, said arm system moves without said carrier structure, and leaves said carrier structure in a said inoperative position thereof;
• repeatedly and regularly performing a moulding cycle which includes dropping a gob of molten glass into the cavity, closing the cavity, blowing in air to form the parison, opening the blank moulds and carrying away the parison;
• during which cycles said carrier structure is uncoupled from said arm system, and said arm system moves without said carrier structure, leaving said carrier structure in a said inoperative position thereof;
• periodically performing a lubrication cycle which comprises the steps of operating said coupling means to couple said carrier structure to said arm system, operating said arm system to move said carrier structure and spray outlets with said arm to a position over the closed blank moulds, spraying lubricant into said at least one mould cavity from said spray outlets, and returning said spray outlets and carrier structure to a said inoperative position.

Apparatus for spraying lubricant onto blank moulds of a glass forming machine of a type comprising closable blank moulds defining at least one mould cavity, and at least one arm system comprising an arm and an operating shaft fast with said arm for moving said arm to an operative position over the closed blank moulds;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a carrier structure with inlet means for lubricant, spray outlet means for discharging lubricant spray onto said blank moulds and duct means connecting said inlet means with said spray outlet means;
• support means mounting said carrier structure on said operating shaft to be pivotable relative thereto between an inoperative position and a discharge position over the closed position of said blank moulds for spraying lubricant from said spray outlet means into said at least one mould cavity;
• coupling means selectively operable to engage said carrier structure with said arm system, for coupling said carrier structure to said arm system to be moved pivotally by said arm system from said inoperative position into said discharge position for spraying lubricant;
• said coupling means alternatively disengaging said carrier structure and arm system, thereby allowing said arm system to move without said carrier structure, and to leave said carrier structure in said inoperative position during motion of said arm system.