Method of and apparatus for molding glass articles

An apparatus for molding glass articles, comprising:

• transport means for transporting a mold having accommodated therein a glass preform, along a predetermined transport path;
• first temperature regulating chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said first temperature regulating chamber means regulating temperature of the glass preform within said mold so as to bring viscosity of the glass preform to a value within a range of from 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.9.5 poises;
• first press chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said first press chamber means being arranged downstream of said first temperature regulating chamber means with reference to a transport direction of said mold, said first press chamber means defining a first pressing position on said predetermined transport path, said first press chamber means having pressing means for pressing the glass preform within said mold transported from said first temperature regulating chamber means to said first pressing position by said transport means;
• wherein said mold includes a sleeve, and a pair of cope and drag fitted in said sleeve, wherein said pressing means of said first press chamber means can be abutted against an end face of said sleeve so as to restrict a pressing stroke of said pressing means of said first press chamber means;
• second temperature regulating chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said second temperature regulating chamber means being arranged downstream of said first press chamber means with reference to the transport direction of said mold, said second temperature regulating chamber means regulating the temperature of the pressed glass within said mold so as to bring the viscosity of the pressed glass to a value within a range of from 10.sup.10.5 to 10.sup.12 poises;
• second press chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said second press chamber means being arranged downstream of said second temperature regulating chamber means defining a second pressing position on said predetermined transport path, said second press chamber means having pressing means for pressing the pressed glass within said mold transported from said second temperature regulating chamber means to said second pressing position by said transport means;
• and
• third temperature regulating chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said third temperature regulating chamber means being arranged downstream of said second press chamber means with reference to the transport direction of said mold, said third temperature regulating chamber means cooling the pressed glass within said mold transported from said second press chamber means to said third temperature regulating chamber means by said transport means.

An apparatus for molding glass articles, comprising:

• transport means for transporting a mold having accommodated therein a glass preform, along a predetermined transport path wherein said transport means includes a sample mount on which said mold can rest, said mold having a lower face formed therein with one of a recess and a projection , said sample mount having an upper face formed therein with the other of said recess and said projection capable of being fitted on said recess, said recess and said projection having their respective configurations common to various types of molds;
• first temperature regulating chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said first temperature regulating chamber means regulating temperature of the glass preform within said mold so as to bring viscosity of the glass preform to a value within a range of from 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.9.5 poises;
• first press chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said first press chamber means being arranged downstream of said first temperature regulating chamber means with reference to a transport direction of said mold, said first press chamber means defining a first pressing position on said predetermined transport path, said first press chamber means having pressing means for pressing the glass preform within said mold transported from said first temperature regulating chamber means to said first pressing position by said transport means;
• second temperature regulating chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said second temperature regulating chamber means being arranged downstream of said first press chamber means with reference to the transport direction of said mold, said second temperature regulating chamber means regulating the temperature of the pressed glass within said mold so as to bring the viscosity of the pressed glass to a value within a range of from 10.sup.10.5 to 10.sup.12 poises;
• second press chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said second press chamber means being arranged downstream of said second temperature regulating chamber means defining a second pressing position on said predetermined transport path, said second press chamber means having pressing means for pressing the pressed glass within said mold transported from said second temperature regulating chamber means to said second pressing position by said transport means;
• and
• third temperature regulating chamber means through which said predetermined transport path extends, said third temperature regulating chamber means being arranged downstream of said second press chamber means with reference to the transport direction of said mold, said third temperature regulating chamber means cooling the pressed glass within said mold transported from said second press chamber means to said third temperature regulating chamber means by said transport means.