Transport guide for molten glass for a transport cup

Abstract

Transport cup (14) for molten glass, comprising: a conduit (16) forming an inlet (24), an outlet (26) and a passage (28) between the inlet and the outlet, the conduit comprising a glass transport material (18) having a permeability between 1 md and 250 md and a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C.

Description

Technical area

[0001] This patent application discloses apparatus and methods for manufacturing glass containers and, in particular, apparatus and methods for transporting molten glass from a glass feeder to a forming line. background

[0002] Methods for manufacturing glass containers typically involve the following general process steps: (a) melting raw materials in a glass furnace or melting tank to produce molten glass; (b) producing a single portion or batch of molten glass, e.g., a "gob," by flowing a stream of molten glass from a glass feeder and shearing the stream with a shearing mechanism to produce the molten glass gob; (c) delivering the molten glass gob to a blank mold of a glass container forming machine, which forms the molten glass gob into a "parison," or partially formed container; (d) opening the blank mold and transferring the parison to a blow mold of the glass container forming machine; and (e) blowing the parison against the interior walls of the blow mold to form a glass container.In conventional processes, the molten glass gobs are delivered from the glass feeder to the respective blank molds through a gob feeder, which includes a long and intricate series of distribution funnels, scoops, chutes, and deflectors that rely on gravity to convey the gobs through the system.

[0003] A conventional gob feeder is quite useful and reliable in many cases. However, this standard equipment makes it difficult to precisely form minimal-weight glass containers because each glass gob passing through the interconnected system of hoppers, scoops, chutes, and deflectors on its way to the blank mold is cooled unevenly. Specifically, as the glass gob passes through the lubricated feeder, the portion of the gob's longitudinal surface that is in sliding contact with the feeder components loses heat to the feeder components, thereby becoming cooler than the rest of the gob's surface.Therefore, when delivered to the preform mold, the glass gob typically has an inhomogeneous temperature profile around its circumference and may also have a varying shape due to uneven expansion along the components of the feeder. For these reasons, the molten glass gob typically deforms and flows irregularly in the preform mold when formed into a preform, which can result in glass containers with uneven wall thickness. The amount of glass contained in each molten glass gob is designed to compensate for these differences in wall thickness; that is, additional glass is added to the glass gob so that even the thinnest part of the glass container wall meets or exceeds a minimum wall thickness, even if other parts of the container wall are much thicker than necessary.

[0004] The present disclosure describes a transfer device used to transfer a batch of molten glass, e.g., from the glass feeder to a glass container forming machine. The transfer device, and particularly the portion of the transfer device immediately surrounding the batch of molten glass, is designed to assist in delivering the batch of molten glass to the forming machine with improved thermal homogeneity. By using the transfer device to transfer the batch of molten glass, much, if not all, of the conventional gob feeding equipment can be eliminated, and feeding a more thermally homogeneous batch of molten glass to the blank mold contributes to producing a glass container with a more uniform wall thickness.A more uniform container wall thickness, in turn, allows a larger portion of the glass container wall to be formed to a thickness closer to the minimum wall thickness. This provides an opportunity to minimize excess glass weight within the glass container. For example, a significant portion of the extra glass normally contained in a glass container formed from glass delivered to a blank mold by a conventional gob feeder can be removed from a glass container formed from glass delivered by the transfer device. Summary of Revelation

[0005] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a molten glass transport cup includes a conduit forming an inlet, an outlet, and a passage between the inlet and the outlet. The conduit comprises a glass transport material having a permeability between 1 md and 250 md and a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a molten glass transport cup includes a conduit forming an inlet, an outlet, and a passage between the inlet and the outlet. Here, the conduit comprises a glass transport material and has a permeable air flow rate of at least 100 g / s / m 2at a pressure differential across the glass transport material of 30 psig or less. The glass transport material also has a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C.

[0006] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for handling a charge of molten glass includes receiving a charge of molten glass into a receiving cavity of a molten glass transfer cup. The receiving cavity is provided by a conduit defining a passage extending between an inlet and an outlet of the conduit, and an end cap movable to cover and uncover the outlet of the conduit. The method also includes supplying a cooling gas to an outer surface of the conduit such that the cooling gas permeably diffuses through the conduit and forces the charge of molten glass radially inward away from an inner surface of the conduit to create a thermal separation between the charge of molten glass and the conduit.

[0007] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for transporting a batch of molten glass includes providing a transport device including a transport cup having a conduit. The conduit has an inner surface forming a passage extending from an inlet of the conduit to an outlet of the conduit. The conduit additionally has a permeable air flow rate of at least 100 g / s / m 2at a pressure differential across the conduit of 30 psig or less. The method further includes closing the conduit by positioning an end cap below the outlet of the conduit to cover and block the outlet and thereby provide a receiving cavity, and receiving a charge of molten glass into the receiving cavity through the inlet of the conduit at a loading station. The method further includes supplying a cooling gas to an outer surface of the conduit such that the cooling gas permeably diffuses through the conduit and displaces the charge of molten glass radially inward away from the inner surface of the conduit to create a thermal break between the charge of molten glass and the inner surface of the conduit.The method further includes transporting the transport device from the loading station to an unloading station and then opening the line by moving the end cap away from the outlet of the line so that the charge of molten glass is discharged from the outlet of the line. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the molten glass transporting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a transport cup including a transport guide formed at least partially from a glass transport material; Fig. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the transport cup of the Fig. 1 illustrated transport device for molten glass; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a line of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 when a charge of molten glass is initially received in the conduit, and further shows an enlarged schematic representation of the inner surface of the conduit; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the line of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 after the batch of molten glass has been received in the conduit, and further shows an enlarged schematic representation of the inner surface of the conduit; Fig. 5 is a table with various material properties of possible glass transport materials for use with the Fig. 1-4 shown transport guide; and Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a general method for transporting a batch of molten glass in the transport device from one location, e.g., from a loading station under a glass feeder, to another location, e.g., to a discharge station above a glass container forming machine. Detailed description

[0008] The present disclosure relates to several embodiments of a transport guide for use in a molten glass transport device that transports a batch of molten glass G from one location, e.g., from below a glass feeder, to another location, e.g., above a blank mold of a glass container forming machine, and then releases the batch G. In the Fig. 1-2, a transport device 10 is shown that includes a transport guide 12 as part of a transport cup 14 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The transport guide 16 may take the form of a conduit 16 (best shown in Fig. 2-4) having an outer surface 36 exposed to a cooling gas in a cooling chamber 50, and an inner surface 38 defining a passage 28. The transfer cup 14 holds the charge of molten glass G within the passage 28 of the conduit 16; however, the charge G must not flow indiscriminately into the conduit 16 to occupy and fill the volume of the passage 28 it occupies and to press itself against the inner surface 38.Rather, prolonged direct contact between the charge of molten glass G and the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 is avoided by fluidly displacing the charge G radially inward around the periphery of the charge G to resist the flow of glass toward the inner surface 38, although the charge G may occasionally come into contact with the inner surface 38 when it is loaded into the conduit 16, when it is discharged from the conduit 16, or when it is temporarily held in the conduit 16.

[0009] The conduit 16 of the transfer cup 14 comprises glass transfer material, and in addition to generally being capable of handling glass and being used at elevated temperatures, the material properties of the glass transfer material directly impact the performance of the conduit 16 in directing the charge of molten glass G away from the inner surface 38 to prevent heat flow from the charge G. Selecting the glass transfer material, particularly based on gas permeability, with thermal conductivity also being important, can result in the conduit 16 being better able to keep the charge of molten glass G away from the inner surface 38 and to control the positioning of the charge G during loading and unloading.In this regard, there is a correlation between the identified material property(ies) of the glass transport material, as discussed below, and the ability of conduit 16, during operation, to minimize heat loss from the batch of molten glass G and to help maintain the initial heat content of the glass. This heat retention capability of the glass transport material, in turn, minimizes the formation of temperature fluctuations within and on the surface of the batch of molten glass G during transport, particularly the formation of surface temperature fluctuations circumferentially around the batch G.

[0010] The design and development of the transport guide 12 and the glass transport material from which the guide 12 (e.g., the line 16 as one embodiment of the guide 12) is formed originally focused on an interplay of various factors. For example, when receiving and transporting the charge of molten glass G within the transport cup 14, controlled heat regulation between the inner surface 38 of the line 16 and the glass charge G proved to be a challenge. Excessive and prolonged contact between the inner surface 38 of the line 16 and the charge of molten glass G can cause surface temperature fluctuations to develop in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction around the surface of the glass charge G, resulting in thermal inhomogeneity of the glass charge G and increasing the likelihood of the glass charge G adhering to the inner surface 38 of the line 16.The material selection of the glass transport material that provides the inner surface 38 of the line 16 of the transport cup 14 therefore took on additional importance in the development of the line 16 and the entire cup 14.

[0011] At the outset of the development of the transport cup 14, it was assumed that the most important material property to consider when designing and selecting the glass transport material for the conduit 16 was the operating temperature of the glass transport material. This assumption led to the belief that identifying a glass transport material that could operate as close as possible to the expected temperature of the glass batch (~1200°C) would be of utmost importance so that heat transfer between the glass batch G and the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 would be minimized as much as possible. However, the problem of glass adhesion was difficult to avoid with materials that could operate at higher operating temperatures close to the temperature of the glass batch G.As it turned out, the temperature at which the glass adhered to the glass transport material of conduit 16 did not depend so much on the chemical or physical properties of the glass transport material, but rather on the viscosity of the glass, which, when in contact with and conforming to the inner surface 38 of conduit 16, penetrates the porosity of all known materials above a certain temperature. In other words, the higher the temperature of the glass transport material of conduit 16, the more likely the molten glass was to adhere to the inner surface 38 of conduit 16. In fact, a material temperature of approximately 625°C and above appears to induce glass adhesion regardless of the material chosen as the glass transport material.

[0012] It was eventually recognized that the diffusion of cooling gas—circulated around the outside of conduit 16 to regulate the temperature of conduit 16—through the intrinsic microstructure of the glass transport material forming conduit 16 and into passage 28 had an effect on the skin temperature of the charge of molten glass G. The diffusing cooling gas, when flowing through the glass transport material at a sufficiently high rate, appeared to counteract the natural tendency of the charge of molten glass G to conform to the inner surface 38 of conduit 16 by fluidly displacing the charge G circumferentially inward away from the inner surface 38. This shearing effect of the diffusing cooling gas is believed to positively influence the functionality of conduit 16 in a variety of ways.First, the diffusing cooling gas contributes to the self-centering of the charge of molten glass G and to minimizing frictional contact between the charge G and the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 as the charge G falls into the passage 28 during loading, thereby reducing the process's sensitivity to variations in gob position and shape as the glass charge G is loaded into the conduit. Second, the diffusing cooling gas forms a thermal break between the charge of molten glass G and the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 after the charge G enters the passage 28. The thermal break interrupts the flow of heat from the glass charge G into the surrounding glass transport material of the conduit 16, thus helping to thermally insulate the gob G from heat loss along its entire length and circumference.When the charge of molten glass G is stationary in the passage 28, the diffusing cooling gas can continue to fill the surface asperities of the inner surface 38 and circumferentially push the charge G inward away from the porosity of the inner surface 38 to such an extent that the charge G is physically separated from the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 by a gas barrier. Third, the diffusing cooling gas helps minimize friction with the inner surface 38 of the conduit as the charge G falls from the passage 28 during discharge of the charge G, reducing wear on the glass transport material.

[0013] The ability of the glass transport material of conduit 16 to permit diffusive flow of the cooling gas can be quantified by determining the permeable air flow rate through conduit 16. Since diffusive flow refers to gas flow through the interconnected porosity of the glass transport material's microstructure, as opposed to flow through holes or other openings formed directly through the material, the permeable air flow rate is a measure of how much air flows through the microstructure of the glass transport material over a given period of time per unit area of ​​the inner surface 38 at a given pressure differential across the material. The higher the permeable air flow rate, the more air flows diffusively through the glass transport material of conduit 16, and vice versa.And just because air is the medium used to determine the permeable flow through the glass transport material of line 16 as an indication of how a material allows diffusive flow, this does not mean that the cooling gas used to regulate the temperature of line 16 must also be air; rather, any suitable cooling gas may be used.

[0014] When using the conduit 16 as part of the transport cup 14, it was found that a glass transport material having a permeable air flow rate of at least 100 g / s / m 2 or preferably at least 150 g / s / m 2at a pressure differential across the material of 30 psig or less, has sufficient diffusive flow so that good, repeatable performance can be achieved in reducing heat loss of the charge of molten glass G and glass sticking within the conduit 16. The permeable air flow rate through a particular glass transport material, when constructed as conduit 16, can be determined by measuring the permeability of the glass transport material, k, in accordance with ASTM D4525-13, as specified below. For a conduit 16 comprising a glass transport material of a particular thickness and a particular pressure differential across the conduit 16, the permeability can be used to calculate the permeable air flow rate through the glass transport material of the conduit 16.

[0015] By constructing the conduit 16 to achieve the permeable air flow rate described above, the diffusive flow of the cooling gas through the conduit 16 and into the passage 28 through the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 can be adjusted in coordination with various operating phases of the transport device 10 by regulating the pressure of the cooling gas in the cooling chamber 50. For example, when air is used as the cooling gas, the permeable flow rate of the cooling gas through the conduit 16 can be regulated as follows: (1) During a loading phase, when the charge of molten glass G is received into the passage 28 of the conduit 16, the permeable flow rate is adjusted to a loading range of 20 g / s / m 2 up to 150 g / s / m 2adjusted to circumferentially constrict or squeeze the charge G inwardly and to assist the self-centering of the charge G when the charge G falls into the passage 28; (2) during a transport phase, when the charge of molten glass G is received in the passage 28 and moved by the transport device 10, the permeable flow rate is adjusted to a transport range of 20 g / s / m 2 up to 150 g / s / m 2 adjusted to achieve a minimum heat transfer rate from the charge of molten glass G to the surrounding line 16; and (3) during a discharge phase, when the charge of molten glass G falls from the line 16, the permeable flow rate of the cooling gas is adjusted to a discharge range of 0.03 g / s / m 2 up to 20 g / s / m 2 or preferably between 4 g / s / m 2 up to 20 g / s / m 2adjusted to allow charge G to expand circumferentially outward, allowing charge G to fall more precisely and accurately from line 16. In addition, during a return phase after the discharge of the charge of molten glass G, but before the loading of the next charge, the cooling gas flow around line 16 in cooling chamber 50 is adjusted to remove excess heat from the previous glass charge G from line 16 in order to maintain the temperature of the glass transport material of line 16 at a target operating temperature (e.g., 100°C to 400°C) within acceptable tolerances. Adjusting the flow rate of the cooling gas in cooling chamber 50 may affect the permeable flow rate of the cooling gas through line 16, although such variations in the permeable flow rate during the return phase are not expected to affect the functionality of line 16.

[0016] The permeable flow rate through the glass transport material of conduit 16 is primarily determined by (i) the pressure differential across the glass transport material achieved in the transport device 10 by controlling the cooling gas pressure in the cooling chamber 50 surrounding the conduit 16, (ii) the thickness of the glass transport material, and (ii) various material properties of the glass transport material, including the porosity of its microstructure, the average particle size and particle size distribution of the material, the interconnectivity of the internal voids through the microstructure of the material, and the manner in which the material is manufactured, all of which together can be described by the permeability of the material.To achieve the desired permeable air flow rate, which indicates that sufficient diffusive flow of the cooling gas through the conduit 16 is possible, particularly at cooling gas pressures within the cooling chamber 50 that may range from 1 psig to 100 psig, the glass transport material used to construct the conduit 16 preferably has a permeability (k) in the range of 1 millidarcy (md) to 250 md, or more narrowly, from 10 md to 150 md, or from 50 md to 135 md, as measured according to ASTM D4525-13. The term "permeability" as used herein is a constant of proportionality and is often used synonymously with the term "coefficient of permeability," as in ASTM D4525-13, or "permeability coefficient."

[0017] In addition to, and secondarily to, permeability, the thermal conductivity of the glass transport material is another material property of the glass transport material that is believed to be relevant. Indeed, it is assumed, relatively counterintuitively, that higher thermal conductivity is more likely to assist the formation of the thermal separation between the charge of molten glass G and the inner surface 38 of the conduit than lower thermal conductivity, and that it also helps minimize the tendency of the glass to adhere to the inner surface 38 by reducing localized hot spots along the inner surface 38. In particular, when the thermal conductivity of the glass transport material is greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K, or more specifically, greater than or equal to 60 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C, the glass transport material can better resist glass adhesion at the operating temperature of the conduit 16.In certain embodiments, the thermal conductivity of the glass transport material is preferably between 100 W / m-°K and 200 W / m-°K, or more narrowly between 130 W / m-°K and 180 W / m-°K over the same temperature range (i.e., 300°C-400°C) as just mentioned. Since the thermal conductivity of a material typically decreases with increasing temperature, which is the case for carbon-based materials, including graphite-based materials, the thermal conductivity of a potential glass contact material at 400°C can be determined to determine whether the material meets the above-mentioned thermal conductivity constraints.

[0018] In the Fig. An exemplary embodiment of the transport device 10 is shown with the line 16 as part of the transport cup 14. The transport device 10 is used to transport a single portion or batch of molten glass, which is referred to here as a batch of molten glass G ( Fig. 3-4), from a glass feeder (not shown) to, for example, one or more blank molds (not shown) located at any suitable location relative to the glass feeder, including above, below, or level with the feeder. Although not shown, as will be known to those skilled in the art, the glass feeder may include one or more feeder ports that deliver streams of molten glass, and one or more shearing devices, lasers, or the like that separate the streams of molten glass into the individual batches of molten glass G. The transfer device 10 may be translated, rotated, pivoted, articulated, and / or moved in any other manner suitable for transporting a batch of molten glass between its loading and unloading destinations.In a particular embodiment, the transport device 10 is reciprocated along a linear path between the loading and unloading destinations without being rotated upside down. Additionally, and although not shown, a robot, gantry, rodless cylinder, or other suitable transport device movement device may be used to move the transport device 10 between its loading and unloading destinations.

[0019] The transport device 10 includes the transport cup 14, which in turn includes the line 16 for receiving the charge of molten glass G, as shown in the Fig. 3-4. The conduit 16 is constructed from the glass transport material designated by the reference numeral 18, already discussed above. The glass transport material 18 is particularly useful in cup-based applications for the transport guide 12, such as the conduit 16, which has a circumferentially continuous surface area surrounding the charge of molten glass G when the charge G is received in the conduit 16. In this way, the charge of molten glass G can be displaced radially inwardly away from the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 around its entire circumference by a permeable cooling gas flow to avoid, as much as possible, uneven thermal treatment of the charge G.

[0020] With reference to the Fig. 2 to 4, the conduit 16 forms an inlet 24 and an outlet 26 and further the passage 28 extending between the inlet 24 and the outlet 26 along a conduit passage axis Ac. The conduit passage axis Ac may extend vertically. As used herein, the term "vertical" does not necessarily mean perfectly or absolutely parallel to gravity (i.e., absolutely vertical), but also includes angular deviations of ± 2 degrees from absolute vertical. The conduit 16 includes an inlet end face 30 defining the inlet 24, an outlet end face 32 defining the outlet 26, and a sidewall 34 extending between the inlet and outlet end faces 30, 32 and circumferentially about the conduit passage axis A. Cextends. The sidewall 34 includes the outer surface 36 and the inner surface 38, which define a thickness of the conduit 16. As previously mentioned, the inner surface 38 forms the passage 28 and is the surface of the conduit 16 that circumferentially surrounds the charge of molten glass G and through which cooling gas permeably flows into the passage 28 to create the thermal break around the charge G. The inlet 24 and the outlet 26 may be coaxial with the conduit passage axis Ac and lie in a plane perpendicular to that axis, as shown in the illustrated embodiment.

[0021] The passage 28 defined by the conduit 16 includes a lower portion 44 and an upper portion 46. The lower portion 44 may be cylindrical and have a constant diameter or constant flow cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the conduit passage axis Ac, and the upper portion 46 may be tapered to have a variable diameter or flow cross-sectional area that narrows along the conduit passage axis Ac from the inlet 24 to the outlet 26. The taper of the upper portion 46 serves as a funnel to assist, when necessary, in directing a falling charge of molten glass G from the inlet 24 downward into the lower portion 44 of the passage 28. Of course, if the upper portion 46 were tapered, it would provide the inlet 24 with a larger flow cross-sectional area than the outlet 26.The side wall 34 of the conduit may have a circular cylindrical shape along its outer surface 36, as shown in the figure, or it may have an oval cylindrical shape or any other shape suitable for receiving, holding, and transporting the charge of molten glass G. The conduit 16 may be made in one piece, as shown in the figure, or it may be assembled from several parts.

[0022] The outlet end surface 32 of the conduit 16 may be perpendicular to the conduit passage axis Ac, and accordingly, the outlet end surface 32 may be a flat surface extending radially inward in a plane perpendicular to the conduit passage axis Ac from the outer surface 36 of the conduit sidewall 34 to the inner surface 38. While the outlet end surface 32 may be a flat surface as shown, in other embodiments the outlet end surface 32 may be curved or slightly rounded. The inlet end surface 30 of the conduit 16 may, but need not, be perpendicular to the conduit passage axis Ac in a similar manner to the outlet end surface 32 (see figure). As used herein, the term "perpendicular" does not necessarily mean perfectly or absolutely perpendicular (at right angles) to the conduit passage axis Ac, but includes deviations of ± 2 degrees from absolute perpendicularity.

[0023] The transport cup 14 additionally includes an end cap 20 that is movable relative to the conduit 16 to selectively open and close the conduit 16. To close the conduit 16, the end cap 20 is moved toward and below the conduit 16 and is located in close proximity to the conduit 16—this position of the end cap 20 is the closed or transport position. In this position, the end cap 20 covers or blocks the outlet 26 of the conduit 16 to axially close the passage 28 of the conduit 16 and create a receiving cavity 22 into which the charge of molten glass G can be received and held through the inlet 24.To open the conduit 16, the end cap 20 is moved away from the conduit 16—this position of the end cap 20 is the open or dispensing position—so that the end cap 20 is spaced from the outlet 26 of the conduit 16 and does not block or cover it, meaning that the receiving cavity 22 is no longer present and the passage 28 at the outlet 26 is once again axially clear. In this way, once the charge of molten glass G has entered the receiving cavity 22, it can be transported by the conveyor 10 to another location, for example, above a blank mold of a glass container forming machine, and the end cap 20 can be used to selectively open the conduit 16 to allow the charge of molten glass to fall through and exit the conduit 16. The dispensed charge of molten glass G would then be received in the blank mold for forming.

[0024] The conduit 16 is made from the glass transport material 18, as described above, and the end cap 20 may optionally be made from the same glass transport material 18 or a different material. In a preferred embodiment, both the conduit 16 and the end cap 20 are made entirely from the glass transport material 18. The glass transport material 18 has certain material properties that enable the charge of molten glass G to be displaced from the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 to retain heat in the charge G while minimizing the occurrence of local hot spots. This is best described with reference to the Fig. 3 to 4. If in Fig. 3 When the charge of molten glass G is initially received in the receiving cavity 22, which is partially formed by the passage 28, the outer surface of the glass charge G may initially contact the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, but in some cases the glass charge G may not contact the inner surface 38, depending on various factors, such as the size of the glass charge G, the speed of the glass charge G during filling, and the rate of permeable flow of the cooling gas through the conduit 16. In particular, the charge G may contact the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 over at least a portion of the length and circumference of the charge G, with in some cases continuous contact between the glass charge G and the inner surface 38 over the entire length of the charge G being possible. However, after a short period of contact, as in Fig. 4, the charge of molten glass G is displaced from the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 over its entire length and circumference by cooling gas flowing permeably through the conduit 16 from the cooling chamber 50. This pressure on the charge of molten glass G creates a thermal separation in the form of a gas barrier 40 that separates the glass charge G from the glass transport material 18. In Fig. 3-4, the schematic and not to scale representation of the thermal separation and a microstructure 42 of the inner surface 38 provided by the glass transport material 18 is shown.

[0025] The end cap 20 can be constructed in numerous ways. In the version shown here in the Fig. 1-4, for example, the end cap 20 includes two cooperating end cap halves 20a, 20b that slide toward and away from each other transversely to the conduit passage axis Ac to selectively close and open the conduit 16, respectively. The end cap halves 20a, 20b, when brought together to close the conduit 16, form a central end surface 52 facing the outlet end surface 32 of the conduit 16 and the outlet 26 of the passage 28, and a terminal end surface 54 axially opposite the central end surface 52. One or more fluid supply channels may be formed in the end cap 20, and in this particular embodiment, one or more fluid supply channels 56 may be formed in one of the end cap halves 20a and one or more fluid supply channels 58 may be formed in the other end cap half 20b.The fluid supply channels 56, 58 are open at the central end face 52 so that a fluid regulated separately from the cooling gas flowing permeably through the conduit 16 can be supplied to the receiving cavity 22. When the end cap cover 20 is positioned in the closed or transport position to block the outlet 26 of the conduit 16, the end cap 20 can also be axially spaced from the conduit 16 to provide an outlet gap 60 between the outlet end face 32 of the conduit 16 and the central end face 52 of the end cap 20. This gap 60 provides a fluid flow path from the passage 28 of the conduit 16 to the external environment outside the conduit 16 when the conduit 16 is closed by the end cap 20, thus acting as a fluid outlet. One or both end surfaces 52, 54 of the end cap 20 may, as shown, comprise straight surfaces or may include curved or slightly rounded surfaces.

[0026] As in Fig. 3-4, the charge of molten glass G can be held above the central end face 52 of the end cap 20 when it is received in the receiving cavity 22 (i.e., the passage 28 of the conduit 16 when the conduit 16 is closed). More specifically, the charge G can be levited by a fluid cushion over the entire diameter of the charge G above the central end face 52 of the end cap 20. To displace the charge G from the central end face 52 of the end cap 20, the fluid supply channels 56, 58 extending between the central end face 52 and the end face 54 of their respective end cap halves 20a, 20b can be configured as shown in Fig. 1, in a first circular array 62 and a second circular array 64 outside the first circular array. In other embodiments, the fluid supply channel(s) 56, 58 may be arranged in one or more oval arrays, linear arrays, rectangular arrays, or any other arrangement suitable for displacing the charge of molten glass G from the central end surface 52 of the end cap 20. The plurality of fluid supply channels 56, 58 may extend through the end cap 20 at one or more oblique angles with respect to the conduit passage axis Ac. As shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the fluid supply channels 56, 58 may be oriented to converge with respect to the conduit passage axis Ac, although it is also possible for the fluid supply channels 56, 58 to diverge with respect to the conduit passage axis Ac, or for some fluid supply channels 56, 58 to converge and others to diverge. In still other embodiments, one or more of the fluid supply channels 56, 58 may extend through the end cap 20 parallel to the axis Ac.

[0027] The size, quantity, orientation, and / or configuration of the fluid delivery channels 56, 58 may vary depending on the desired specifications of the glass manufacturing system. These variations may be amplified by the machinability of the glass transport material 18, as a more machinable material 18 may allow for more precise and / or intricately shaped fluid delivery channels 56, 58. Furthermore, the type, flow rate, pressure, and other characteristics of the fluid delivered through the fluid delivery channels 56, 58 may be selected to ensure that, when the conduit 16 is closed by the end cap 20, the fluid delivered into the receiving cavity 22 is sufficient to displace the charge of molten glass G from the central end surface 52 of the end cap 20, but does not push the glass charge G back out of the conduit 16 through the inlet 24. For example, fluid may be flowed through the fluid supply channels 56, 58 at a total flow rate (i.e.In a particular example, and within the foregoing ranges, the fluid may be supplied through the fluid supply channels 56, 58 at a first flow rate when the charge of molten glass G is loaded into the conduit 16 and moves toward the outlet 26. The fluid may then be supplied through the fluid supply channels 56, 58 at a second flow rate, lower than the first flow rate, after the charge G has been loaded into the conduit 16 and has stopped moving toward the outlet 26.The first higher flow rate can prevent the charge of molten glass G from impacting the end cap 20 during the filling of the glass charge G into the line 16 of the transfer cup 14, or at least slow down the rate at which the charge of molten glass G falls, and the second lower flow rate can maintain the fluid cushion under the glass charge G.

[0028] The fluid supplied through the fluid supply channels 56, 58 may be a pressurized gas, such as air, oxygen, nitrogen, or any other gas suitable for contact with molten glass. Although not shown, the pressurized glass may be provided from a pressurized gas container, from a gas line pressurized by a pump, or from any other suitable pressurized gas source, and the flow rate of the pressurized gas may be controlled by one or more proportional valves or in any other suitable manner. Without the supply of fluid through the fluid supply channels 56, 58 of the end cap 20, the charge of molten glass G would impact the central end surface 52 of the end cap 20 with full speed and force as it enters the line 16 and would lose significant heat to the end cap 20 due to the impact.The batch of molten glass G would also encounter a junction between the end cap 20 and the conduit 16 and / or a junction between the end cap halves 20a, 20b, which could create one or more parting lines in the batch of molten glass G, which could ultimately transfer to a glass article, particularly a glass container, that would subsequently be formed from the glass batch G.

[0029] The flow of fluid into the receiving cavity 22 through the fluid supply channel(s) 56, 58, together with the thermal separation created circumferentially around the glass charge G, helps maintain the integrity of the charge of molten glass G received in the conduit 16. The continuous flow of fluid into the receiving cavity 22 slows the charge of molten glass G as it enters the conduit 16 so that the charge G either impacts the central end face 52 of the end cap 20 with less than full force and is then displaced from the central end face 52, or does not impact the central end face 52 at all.After the charge of molten glass G is received in the conduit 16, the fluid is supplied into the receiving cavity 22 to suspend the charge of molten glass from the central end face 52 of the end cap 20 and create the fluid cushion that occupies a space between the central end face 52 and a lower end of the charge of molten glass G. A stable fluid cushion is maintained by means of the exhaust gap 60, which provides a pressure relief port that prevents the pressurized supplied fluid from building up a pressure high enough to expel the charge of molten glass G from the conduit 16, while also preventing the fluid from interfering with the thermal break along the glass charge G.Because the batch of molten glass G is not in constant contact with the central end surface 52 of the end cap 20, the formation of cold spots, particularly at the lower axial end of the glass gob G, and of parting lines is mitigated or avoided. In this regard, the transfer of the cold spots and / or parting lines to a finished glass container formed from the batch of molten glass G can also be mitigated or avoided.

[0030] Back to Fig. 1: The transport device 10 may also include a conduit carrier 68 that supports the conduit 16, an end cap carrier 70 on which the end cap 20 is held, an end cap actuator 72, and an end cap guide 74 connected to the end cap carrier 70. The conduit carrier 68 may include an outer sleeve 76 surrounding and radially spaced from the conduit 16. The conduit carrier 68 may also include upper and lower mounting rings 78, 80 connected to the outer sleeve 76 and in contact with the corresponding portions of the conduit 16. The outer sleeve 76 may include a tubular body 82 and upper and lower caps 84, 86 that may be attached, welded, screwed, or otherwise connected to the respective ends of the tubular body 82 to form the cooling chamber 50 between the outer sleeve 76 and the conduit 16 in which the cooling gas may flow.The cooling gas can be supplied to the cooling chamber 50 through an inlet 48 formed in the tubular body 82 of the outer sleeve 76. The inlet 48, not shown here, is in fluid communication with a cooling gas supply. The cooling gas supplied to the cooling chamber 50 is preferably air, but other gases can also be used as the cooling gas, e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, or any other gas suitable for contact with molten glass. The pressure of the cooling gas in the cooling chamber 50 is preferably between 1 psig and 100 psig.

[0031] The upper mounting ring 78 may be attached, welded, bolted, or otherwise connected to the upper cap 84 of the outer sleeve 76 and may have one or more radially inwardly extending keys 164 that fit into one or more corresponding grooves 166 in the conduit 16. To facilitate assembly of such a tongue-and-groove connection, the upper mounting ring 78 may be split and consist of semicircular halves. The lower mounting ring 80 and the mounting arrangement on the conduit 16 may be similar to that of the upper mounting ring 78. When the conduit support 68 is mounted around the conduit 16, the cooling chamber 50 formed between the outer sleeve 76 and the conduit 16 is exposed and covers at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, or even at least 95%, of the outer surface 36 of the conduit 16.This ensures that a sufficient portion of the outer surface 36 of the conduit 16 is accessible to pressurized cooling gas in the cooling chamber 50 to support the diffusive flow of cooling glass through the conduit 16 and into the passage 28 for the reasons described herein.

[0032] The conduit support 68 may also include a baffle 168 disposed radially between the outer sleeve 76 and the conduit 16 to direct the cooling gas supplied through the conduit support 68 to the conduit 16. The baffle 168 may form a circular path for the flow of the cooling gas within the cooling chamber 50. More specifically, in one possible embodiment, the cooling gas enters the cooling chamber 50 through the cooling gas inlet 48 defined in the tubular body 82 of the outer sleeve 76, flows circumferentially around the baffle 168, and downwardly to a lower end of the baffle 168, which may have gas passages (not shown) in the form of holes, recesses, or axially extending gaps, near the end cap 20.The cooling gas flows through the gas channels or around the lower end of the baffle 168, radially inward toward the conduit 16 and circumferentially around the conduit 16 between the conduit 16 and the baffle 168, and upward and out of the cooling chamber 50 through one or more cooling gas outlets (not shown). The baffle 168 promotes a more uniform circumferential impingement of the cooling gas over the entire outer surface 36 of the conduit 104 and allows a more uniform pressure differential across the conduit 16 between the outer surface 36 and the inner surface 38, thereby creating a more uniform permeable cooling gas flow through the conduit 16 along the length of the conduit 16. Portions of the baffle 168 may be welded, fastened, press-fitted, or otherwise connected to corresponding portions of the outer sleeve 76.

[0033] The end cap actuator 72 can be activated to move and guide the end cap 20 to open and close the conduit 16 in the manner described above. The end cap actuator 72 can be or include a linear, rodless cylinder and can be pneumatic or hydraulic, or can include an electrical device such as a linear motor, a rotary motor with a drive screw, a solenoid, or other arrangement capable of causing linear movement. To open the conduit 16, the end cap actuator 72 can be activated to split the end cap 20 and linearly translate the end cap halves 20a, 20b laterally along the end cap guide 74 and out of the way of the outlet 26 of the conduit 16.Conversely, to close the conduit 16, the end cap actuator 72 can be activated in the reverse direction to push the end cap halves 20a, 20b of the end cap 20 laterally toward each other along the end cap guide 74 and bring the halves 20a, 20b together directly below the outlet 26 of the conduit 16 as the end cap 20 to block or cover the outlet 26.

[0034] The transport device 10 may also include an adjustable end cap mounting frame 88 that adjustably secures the end cap carrier 70 to the conduit carrier 68. The mounting frame 88 may include opposing adapter plates 90 connected to opposite sides of the outer sleeve 76 of the conduit carrier 68. The conduit carrier 68 includes opposing mounting bosses 92 that may be elongated, fit into corresponding elongated recesses in the inner surfaces of the plates 90, and may be secured to the plates 90 by fasteners (not shown) extending through the plates 90 and into threaded channels in the elongated bosses 92. The conduit carrier 68 may, of course, be connected to the adapter plates 90 by dovetail joints or other mechanical fastening devices, or by welding, or by any other suitable means.To facilitate transport of the transport device 10, the lead frame 68 may also be secured to a mounting plate 170 via a mounting boss 92 between the opposing mounting bosses 92 secured to the adapter plates 90 and fasteners, with the mounting plate 170 also being connected to a robotic end effector or other drive capable of moving the transport device 10. The mounting frame 88 may also include end cap support extensions 94—one on each side of the transport cup 14—with lower ends coupled to the end cap actuator 72 on one side and to the end cap guide 74 via an adapter block 96 on the other side, as well as corresponding support extensions 98 coupled to and extending outwardly from the adapter plates 90.

[0035] The illustrated end cap support extension 94, coupled to the end cap guide 74, includes a plate 100 supporting the end cap guide adapter block 96 at a lower end via cap screws that are secured through the plate 100 and into the block 96, and a guide block 102 secured to an upper end of the plate 100 via cap screws that extend through the plate 100 and into the guide block 102. The wire support extension 98 may be secured to the adapter plate 90 with cap screws or in any other suitable manner and may be secured to the end cap support extension 94, for example, with one or more fasteners 104 that extend through slots in side walls 106 of the wire support extension 98 and into one or more corresponding threaded holes in the guide block 102 of the end cap support extension 94.One or more set screws 108 may additionally extend through an end wall 110 of the conduit support extension 98 and into corresponding threaded passages in the guide block 102 of the end cap support extension 94. In this manner, the fasteners 104 may be loosened, the set screw(s) 108 rotated to move the remainder of the end cap support extension 94 to a desired position, and the fasteners 104 tightened to lock the end cap support extension 94 in the desired position relative to the conduit support extension 98 to adjust the positioning of the end cap 20 relative to the conduit 16, if necessary. The other end cap support extension 94, coupled to the end cap actuator 72, may be configured in the same manner, except that the plate 100 is attached directly to the end cap actuator 72 via cap screws.

[0036] The transport device 10 can be adapted for use with any suitable electrical, hydraulic, and / or pneumatic fittings, lines, adapters, valves, and the like, and can be connected to any suitable electrical, hydraulic, and / or pneumatic power source to drive the end cap actuator 72, supply fluid into the conduit 16 of the transport cup 14 through the fluid supply channel(s) 56, 58 of the end cap 20, and supply cooling gas into the cooling chamber 50 of the conduit support 68. Likewise, any suitable regulators and controls can be employed to control the operation of the transport device 10. Furthermore, the designs and various subcomponents of the transport device 10, the transport cup 14, and / or the conduit 16 can vary depending on the desired implementation and need not take the exact form shown herein. Rather, the Fig. 1-4 provide an example configuration that is particularly useful with the glass transport material 18 described below. Additional construction details and corresponding descriptions of the Fig. 1-4, as well as variations thereof, are disclosed in U.S. Application No. 18 / 113,925, filed February 24, 2023, assigned to the assignee of this application, and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0037] As previously mentioned, the glass transport material 18 from which the conduit 16 is formed promotes the diffusive flow of the cooling gas from the cooling chamber 50 through the intrinsic microstructure of the glass transport material 18 of the conduit 16 and into the passage 28. The microstructure 42 of the glass transport material 18 has a surface roughness 112, particularly along the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, which has a distribution of contact points 114. The permeability of the glass transport material 18 is directly related to the material's ability to achieve diffusive flow of the cooling gas through the conduit 16 at a rate sufficient to displace the charge of molten glass G radially inward away from the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, thus creating the thermal separation, which also helps to minimize friction between the glass charge G and the inner surface 38.The thermal separation between the charge of molten glass G and the inner surface 38 of the line 16 contributes to the thermal insulation of the glass charge G and thus limits the heat transfer from the glass charge G in all directions over the entire period in which the glass charge G is in the line 16.

[0038] The glass transport material 18 also preferably has a relatively high thermal conductivity to prevent the formation of localized hot spots on the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16. To minimize heat transfer between the charge of molten glass G and the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, and thus maintain the heat content and thermal homogeneity of the charge G, it is conventionally believed that the glass transport material 18 should have the lowest possible thermal conductivity to prevent heat flow into the conduit 16. However, conversely and unexpectedly, it is believed that a high thermal conductivity of the glass transport material 18 promotes a more uniform thermal distribution of the charge of molten glass G.In fact, the ability of the glass transport material 18 to rapidly conduct heat away from the inner surface 38 limits any momentary local temperature increase that may occur along the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 when the charge of molten glass G is initially received in the conduit 16 - at which time the glass charge G will most likely come into contact with the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 via the contact points 114 of the surface 38. This reduction in the rate of surface temperature increase is understood to prevent the glass transport material 18 from becoming too hot at certain local locations and to prevent glass from penetrating the surface pores of the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, which could potentially lead to sticking, which in turn would allow more heat transfer from the glass over the transport time and result in the delivery of a cooler charge.

[0039] A schematic representation of the charge of molten glass G being displaced radially inward over its entire circumference by the permeable flow of cooling gas from the cooling chamber 50 into the conduit 16 is shown in the Fig. 3-4 can be seen. In Fig. 3, the charge of molten glass G is shown at the moment it first enters the receiving cavity 22 through the inlet 24 of the conduit 16. As shown, the charge of molten glass G may initially contact the inner surface 38 via the contact points 114 of the surface 38, and these interfacial contact points, if present, may allow heat to flow radially out of the charge G. As the charge of molten glass G enters the receiving cavity 22, cooling gas, which diffuses permeably from the cooling chamber 50 through the conduit 16, exerts a compressive force on the glass gob G, as shown in Fig. 4, to create the thermal separation in the form of a gas barrier 40 between the glass transport material 18 of the line 16 and the glass charge G. The gas barrier 40 typically measures between 20 µm and 200 µm, or more narrowly between 30 µm and 100 µm. By forming the thermal separation, heat transfer between the line 16 and the charge of molten glass G is minimized, and the thermal conductivity of the glass very quickly eliminates any induced thermal inhomogeneity within the glass charge G once the thermal separation is formed.

[0040] The glass transport material 18 is preferably non-metal-based, such as a carbon-based material, and more preferably a graphite-based material. As used herein, "-based" refers to materials that comprise more than or equal to 50% by weight of the designated material. For example, a graphite-based material may be pure graphite (100% by weight) or a mixture having other materials in addition to graphite as a primary component (50% by weight or more). A graphite-based material is a particularly good candidate for the glass transport material 18 because graphite can achieve different levels of permeability and thermal conductivity depending on various factors, including how the graphite is shaped and processed. Another property of graphite-based materials that may be useful in the construction of the conduit 16 is that graphite-based materials are self-lubricating.When the glass transport material 18 is self-lubricating, the charge of molten glass G moves with less frictional resistance against the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 when received in the receiving cavity 22. By reducing friction along the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, the molten glass is less likely to adhere to the inner surface 38 and / or damage the contact points 114 of the inner surface 38. When the glass transport material 18 is made of a graphite-based material, the target operating temperature of the glass transport material 18 may, in one example, be between 100°C and 400°C, and preferably between 350°C and 400°C, depending on thermal conductivity, since graphite-based materials may tend to undesirably oxidize when temperatures rise significantly above 400°C.Another self-lubricating, non-metallic material that can be used as glass transport material 18 is boron nitride-based (BN-based) materials and in particular hexagonal boron nitride.

[0041] In a specific embodiment, the glass transport material 18 is made of extruded graphite. Extruded graphite may have a relatively high permeability, even within the ranges specified above, and may also be more thermally conductive than other types of graphite, such as isostatically formed graphite, although isostatically formed graphite may certainly be used as the glass transport material 18 along with other types of graphite, including other forms of cold-formed graphite and vibration-formed graphite. As described in the Fig. 3-4, the grains or particles 118 (for reasons of clarity, only a few are labeled) of an extruded graphite glass transport material 18 have an extrusion axis A E , which is generally parallel to the line passage axis Ac. The extrusion axis A Eis measured with respect to the longest dimension of the respective particle 118. In this embodiment, the entire conduit 16, i.e., the entire sidewall 34 between the inlet and outlet end faces 30, from the inlet 24 to the outlet 26, is formed from extruded graphite, and the conduit 16 is formed by machining the passage 28 with the desired microstructure 42 into a solid body of extruded graphite having the general dimensions of the conduit 16. Fabricating the conduit 16 from extruded graphite may also allow some control over the porosity of the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, which may help achieve the desired surface roughness 112 and permeability.

[0042] Fig. Figure 5 is a graph showing various material properties, including permeability and thermal conductivity, of various graphites identified as possible candidates for the glass transport material 18. Of these material candidates, Example 4 performed best in limiting heat loss from the molten glass and preventing glass adhesion. In particular, Example 4 has a permeability that is at least an order of magnitude greater than that of the other examples. The graphite designated Example 4 is an extruded graphite designated DT-585, available from DuraTemp Corporation (Holland, Ohio). Although the graphite from Example 4 performed best of the four graphites, any of the graphites in Fig. 5 may still be used as the glass transport material 18 for the construction of the conduit 16. The graphite designated as Example 1 is an isostatically formed graphite designated GLASSMATE-LT, available from Entegris, Inc. (Billerica, Maryland). The graphites designated as Examples 2 and 3 are isostatically formed graphites designated GLASSMATE-SR, available from Entegris, Inc. (Billerica, Maryland), and GR001-CC, available from Graphtek LLC (Northbrook, Illinois), respectively.

[0043] The above-described transfer device 10 and transfer cup 14 can be used to receive and transport a charge of molten glass G for subsequent glass forming operations. For example, one method of transporting a charge of molten glass G with the transfer guide 16 as described above includes receiving the charge of molten glass G within the molten glass transfer guide 12. The method further includes displacing the charge of molten glass G radially inwardly away from the inner surface 38 of the glass transfer guide 12 to create a thermal break between the charge of molten glass G and the glass transfer material 18. In a more specific embodiment, the molten glass transfer guide 12 is the conduit 16 defining the inlet 24 and outlet 26 as described above, and the conduit 16 includes the glass transfer material 18 described herein.Additionally, the method may include closing the conduit 16 with the end cap 20 before the charge of molten glass G is received in the conduit 16, and displacing the charge of molten glass G from the end cap 20 such that, in conjunction with the thermal separation circumferentially surrounding the glass charge G, the glass charge G is levitated away from the end cap 20 by means of the fluid cushion and circumferentially separated from the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16. The charge of molten glass G is thus suspended in the receiving cavity 22 of the conduit 16 and is not in direct contact with the conduit 16 or the end cap 20. Besides transporting the charge of molten glass G, there may be other reasons for keeping the glass charge G suspended in the receiving cavity 22 of the conduit 16 of the transfer cup 14. In these cases, the transfer cup 14 may remain stationary.

[0044] Another method for transporting a charge of molten glass G includes receiving the charge of molten glass G in conduit 16. Conduit 16 is formed from glass transport material 18 having a permeability in the range of 1 md to 250 md, or 10 md to 150 md, or 50 md to 135 md, and a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K. The method further includes displacing the charge of molten glass G radially inward away from the inner surface 38 of conduit 16 around the entire circumference of the glass charge G. In a more specific embodiment, the method may also include creating a thermal separation in the form of a gas barrier 40 between the charge of molten glass G and the inner surface 38 of conduit 16, separating the glass charge G from the inner surface 38.Additionally, the method may include closing the conduit 16 with the end cap 20 before receiving the charge of molten glass G into the conduit 16, and moving the charge of molten glass G away from the end cap 20 such that, in conjunction with the gas barrier 40 circumferentially surrounding the glass charge G, the glass charge G is suspended away from the end cap 20 by the fluid cushion and circumferentially separated from the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16 by the gas barrier 40. The charge of molten glass G is thus suspended within the receiving cavity 22 of the conduit 16 and is not in direct contact with the conduit 16 or the end cap 20.

[0045] Referring to Fig.6, a method for transporting a batch of molten glass from one location (e.g., a loading location) to another location (e.g., an unloading location) is schematically illustrated. Initially, the transport device 10 is positioned at a loading station 150, for example, below a glass feeder 152 configured to deliver the batch of molten glass G. At the loading station, the end cap 20 is in the closed position covering or blocking the outlet 26 of the conduit 16 to axially close the passage 28 of the conduit 16 and form the receiving cavity 22. The end cap 20 may be placed in the closed position at the loading station 150 or prior to arrival at the loading station 150. When the transport device 10 is located at the loading station 150, the glass feeder 152 provides the charge of molten glass G, and the charge G falls freely through the inlet 24 of the line 16 into the receiving cavity 22.Fluid is supplied through the end cap 20 to the receiving cavity 22 to assist in receiving the charge of molten glass G into the conduit 16, and a thermal barrier is formed between the glass charge G and the inner surface 38 of the conduit 16, as described above. More specifically, the cooling gas supplied to the cooling chamber 50 of the transfer cup 14 flows diffusively through the conduit 16 and into the receiving cavity 22 at a permeable flow rate controlled according to the loading phase of the permeable cooling gas flow cycle to form the thermal barrier. The end cap 20 is shown here as a block that moves laterally between the closed and open positions. This illustration is schematic and is intended to illustrate various possible movements, including a swinging end cap and the opening and closing of the end cap halves 20a, 20b described above.

[0046] After the batch of molten glass G has been loaded into the transfer cup 14, the transfer device 10 is moved to an unloading station 154, where the transfer device 10 is positioned over a glass container forming machine 156, which here includes a blank mold 158 and a blow mold 160, although other types of manufacturing machines are also possible. The permeable flow rate of the cooling gas through the conduit 16 and into the receiving cavity 22 is controlled during the movement of the transfer device 10 according to the transport phase of the permeable cooling gas flow cycle. The transfer cup 14 is not inverted during the movement of the transfer device 10 from the loading station 150 to the unloading station 154.When the conveyor 10 is at the discharge station 154, the permeable flow rate of the cooling gas through the conduit 16 and into the receiving cavity 22 is regulated according to the discharge phase of the permeable cooling gas flow cycle, and the end cap 20 is moved to its open position, in which the receiving cavity 22 is no longer formed and the passage 28 at the outlet 26 is axially unobstructed. By opening the conduit 16, the charge of molten glass G is discharged through the outlet 26 of the conduit 16, allowing the glass charge G to fall freely from the conduit 16. The falling charge of molten glass G is received in the underlying blank mold 158. The charge of molten glass G is then formed into a glass container 162 after passing through the blank mold 158 and the blow mold 160.Specifically, the batch of molten glass G is formed into a preform 162' or a partially formed container in the blank mold 158, and the preform 162' is then transferred to the blow mold 160. In the blow mold 160, the preform 162' is formed into the finished glass container 162.

[0047] The positioning of the transport device 10 at the loading station 150 and the unloading station 154 and the movement of the transport device 10 between the stations 150, 154 can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, the transport device 10 can be moved linearly between the loading and unloading stations 150, 154 by a linear drive motor along a rail or gantry bridge, and the timing of the movements of the transport device 10 with the timing of the glass feeder 152 and the glass forming machine 156 can be coordinated by a closed-loop control strategy using control hardware and associated software. As another example, an automated and programmable robot capable of movement in three or more axes can be used to position the transport device 10 and move it between the loading and unloading stations 150, 154.Other options are also possible, and of course, several transport devices 10 can be used together and even accommodated on the same transport platform to ensure the continuous supply of batches of molten glass G from the glass feeder 152 to the blank mold 158 of a molding machine 156 or even several molding machines 156.

[0048] The subject matter of this application is disclosed herein in connection with several explicit, illustrative embodiments and modifications of those embodiments using various terms. All terms used herein are intended to be descriptive and not necessarily limiting, and are to be interpreted and construed in accordance with their ordinary and customary meaning in the art, unless used in a context that requires a different interpretation. For convenience, each explicit, illustrative embodiment and modification is incorporated by reference into one or more other explicit, illustrative embodiments and modifications.Many other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents already exist or have yet to be discovered, so it is neither intended nor possible to describe all such subject matter that would readily suggest to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure. Rather, the present disclosure is intended to encompass all such embodiments and modifications of the subject matter of this application and their equivalents that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 18 / 113,925

[0036]

Claims

[1] Transport cup (14) for molten glass, comprising: a conduit (16) forming an inlet (24), an outlet (26) and a passage (28) between the inlet and the outlet, the conduit comprising a glass transport material (18) having a permeability between 1 md and 250 md and a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. [2] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 1, wherein the glass transport material has a permeability between 10 md and 150 md and a thermal conductivity between 100 W / m-°K and 200 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. [3] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the glass transport material is a non-metal-based material. [4] A molten glass transport cup according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the glass transport material is a graphite-based material. [5] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 4, wherein the conduit is formed entirely of graphite. [6] A molten glass transport guide according to claim 4, wherein the graphite-based material is extruded graphite. [7] A molten glass transport cup according to any one of claims 1-6, further comprising: a conduit support (68) supporting the conduit, the conduit support including an outer sleeve (76) surrounding the conduit and radially spaced therefrom to form a cooling chamber (50) between the conduit and the outer sleeve; and an end cap (20) movable to selectively cover and uncover the outlet of the conduit. [8] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 7, wherein one or more fluid supply channels (56, 58) are formed in the end cap. [9] Transport cup (14) for molten glass, comprising: a conduit (16) forming an inlet (24), an outlet (26) and a passage (28) between the inlet and the outlet, the conduit comprising a glass transport material (18) and having a permeable air flow rate of at least 100 g / s / m 2 at a pressure differential across the glass transport material of 30 psig or less, wherein the glass transport material further has a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. [10] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 9, wherein the glass transport material has a permeability between 1 md and 250 md. [11] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 10, wherein the glass transport material has a permeability between 10 md and 150 md and a thermal conductivity between 100 W / m-°K and 200 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. [12] A molten glass transport cup according to any one of claims 9-11, wherein the glass transport material is a non-metal-based material. [13] A molten glass transport cup according to any one of claims 9-12, wherein the glass transport material is a graphite-based material. [14] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 13, wherein the conduit is formed entirely of graphite. [15] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 13, wherein the graphite-based material is extruded graphite. [16] A molten glass transport cup according to any one of claims 9-15, further comprising: a conduit support (68) supporting the conduit, the conduit support having an outer sleeve (76) surrounding the conduit and radially spaced therefrom to form a cooling chamber (50) between the conduit and the outer sleeve; and an end cap (20) movable to selectively cover and uncover the outlet of the conduit. [17] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 16, wherein one or more fluid supply channels (56, 58) are formed in the end cap. [18] Transport cup for molten glass, comprising: a receiving cavity (22) for receiving a charge of molten glass (G), the receiving cavity being provided by a conduit (16) forming a passage (28) extending between an inlet (24) and an outlet (26) of the conduit, and an end cap (20) movable to cover and uncover the outlet of the conduit; and Means for supplying a cooling gas to an outer surface (36) of the conduit such that the cooling gas permeably diffuses through the conduit and urges the charge of molten glass radially inwardly away from an inner surface (38) of the conduit to create a thermal separation between the charge of molten glass and the conduit. [19] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 18, wherein the conduit comprises a glass transport material (18) having a permeability between 1 md and 250 md and a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. [20] A molten glass transport cup according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the conduit has a permeable air flow rate of at least 100 g / s / m 2at a pressure differential across the glass transport material of 30 psig or less, and wherein the glass transport material further has a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. [21] A molten glass transport cup according to any one of claims 18-20, wherein the glass transport material is a graphite-based material. [22] A transport cup for molten glass according to any one of claims 18-21, wherein the thermal separation is in the form of a gas barrier (40). [23] A molten glass transport cup according to any one of claims 18-22, further comprising: Means for supplying a fluid into the receiving cavity through the end cap to displace the charge of molten glass from the end cap. [24] A molten glass transport device for transporting a batch of molten glass (G), comprising: a transport cup (14) having a conduit (16), the conduit having an inner surface (38) forming a passage (28) extending from an inlet (24) of the conduit to an outlet (26) of the conduit, and the conduit having a permeable air flow rate of at least 100 g / s / m 2 at a pressure differential across the line of 30 psig or less; an end cap (20) for closing the conduit by positioning the end cap below the outlet of the conduit to cover and block the outlet and thereby provide a receiving cavity (22); Means for receiving a charge of molten glass (G) into the receiving cavity through the inlet of the conduit at a loading station (150); Means for supplying a cooling gas to an outer surface (36) of the conduit such that the cooling gas permeably diffuses through the conduit and displaces the charge of molten glass radially inwardly away from the inner surface of the conduit to create a thermal separation between the charge of molten glass and the inner surface of the conduit; Means for transporting the transport device from the loading station to an unloading station (154); and Means for opening the conduit by moving the end cap away from the outlet of the conduit so that the charge of molten glass is discharged from the outlet of the conduit. [25] A molten glass transport device according to claim 24, wherein the conduit comprises a glass transport material (18) having a permeability between 1 md and 250 md and a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 40 W / m-°K over the temperature range of 300°C-400°C. [26] A molten glass transporting apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the cooling gas supplied to the outer surface of the conduit is air. [27] A molten glass transport device according to any one of claims 24-26, wherein the transport cup comprises a cooling chamber (50) and the means for supplying the cooling gas is arranged to supply the cooling gas to the cooling chamber (50) surrounding the conduit, and wherein a pressure of the cooling gas in the cooling chamber promotes a permeable flow of the cooling gas through the conduit. [28] A molten glass transport device according to claim 27, further comprising: Means for controlling the permeable flow of the cooling gas through the conduit by controlling a pressure of the cooling gas in the cooling chamber. [29] A molten glass transport device according to any one of claims 24-28, further comprising: Means for supplying a fluid into the receiving cavity through the end cap to displace the charge of molten glass from the end cap. [30] A molten glass transport device for transporting a batch of molten glass (G), comprising: the transport cup (14) according to any one of claims 1-23; an end cap (20) for closing the conduit by positioning the end cap below the outlet of the conduit to cover and block the outlet and thereby provide a receiving cavity (22); Means for receiving a charge of molten glass (G) into the receiving cavity through the inlet of the conduit at a loading station (150); Means for supplying a cooling gas to an outer surface (36) of the conduit such that the cooling gas permeably diffuses through the conduit and displaces the charge of molten glass radially inwardly away from the inner surface of the conduit to create a thermal separation between the charge of molten glass and the inner surface of the conduit; Means for transporting the transport device from the loading station to an unloading station (154); and Means for opening the conduit by moving the end cap away from the outlet of the conduit so that the charge of molten glass is discharged from the outlet of the conduit. [31] Glass container forming machine, comprising: a glass melting furnace to produce molten glass; a glass feeder; the molten glass transport device according to any one of claims 24-30; a preform mold for receiving the batch of molten glass from the molten glass transport device and for forming the batch of molten glass into a preform; and a blow mold for blowing the preform against the inner walls of the mold to form a glass container. [32] Glass container manufactured or manufacturable with the glass container forming machine according to claim 31.

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