PREFORMING STATION FOR AN IS (INDIVIDUAL-SECTION) GLASS PRODUCTION MACHINE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a preforming station of an IS (Individual-Section) glass production machine with at least one preform, which includes a preform base and a mouth part, and a preform holder with preform holder arms.

[0002] In known corresponding preforming stations, the interior of the preform is formed by the preform base and the mouth part as well as preform halves arranged in between, which are mounted on the preform holder arms and are movable by means of the preform holder arms.

[0003] During the operation of such preforming stations, it has been found that, particularly in the production of comparatively low and compact glass articles, where a level of the preforming station is moved with a comparatively high pressure, the produced glass articles exhibited irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc., especially at the transition points between the components forming the interior of the preform.

[0004] WO 2015118663 A1 and JPS 5428319 A each disclose preforming stations of glass production machines in which the inner contour of the preform is formed by means of a mold upper and a mold lower. These known preforming stations do not include preform halves arranged between the mold upper and lower parts, nor do they include preform holder arms of a preform holder associated with such preform halves.

[0005] Based on the prior art described above, the invention aims to further develop the generic preforming station for an IS glass production machine in such a way that even comparatively low and compact glass articles can be produced with high quality and without irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by the fact that the preform base and the mouth part can be brought into contact with each other at their mutually facing edges, so that they form the inner contour of the preform without preform halves, and that the preform base and the mouth part are fixed to each other during a pressing process by means of the preform holder arms.

[0007] In the case of the preforming station designed according to the invention, the preform halves conventionally used in the prior art are dispensed with. The preform holder arms of the preforming station are used to create a stable and rigid structure between the preform base on the one hand and the mouth section on the other. This ensures that the opposing edges of the preform base and the mouth section fit together so tightly and firmly that no irregularities of the aforementioned type occur on the outer surface of the glass article to be produced, corresponding to the transition point between the preform base and the mouth section. The glass articles produced with the preforming station designed according to the invention on the IS glass production machine thus exhibit high quality even when they are comparatively short and compact.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the preforming station according to the invention, the preform base has a forming section projecting towards the mouth part, by means of which a body section of the glass article extending between a base and a mouth of a glass article can be formed.

[0009] Alternatively, it is possible that the mouth part has a mold section projecting towards the preform base, by means of which a body section extending between a base and a mouth of a glass article can be formed.

[0010] According to a further alternative embodiment of the preforming station according to the invention, the preform base and the mouth part can each have a forming section projecting towards the mouth part or the preform base, by means of which forming sections a body section of the glass article extending between a base and a mouth of the glass article can be formed.

[0011] In a simple way, the preform holder arms can be used to produce a solid structure between the preform base and the mouth part if each preform holder arm has an upper support which, when closing the preform holder with a lower pressure contact surface, can be brought into contact with an outer pressure contact surface of the preform base.

[0012] A gradual increase in the pressure exerted on the preform base by each preform holder arm is achieved when the top carrier-side pressure contact surfaces and the preform base-side pressure contact surfaces are chamfered.

[0013] Fixing the mouth part of the preforming station according to the invention can be achieved in a simple manner if each preform holder arm has a lower support which, when closing the preform holder, can be brought into engagement with a recess of a sleeve cylinder assembly serving to guide a level of the preforming station.

[0014] It is also advantageous when fixing the muzzle part if a guide surface of the sleeve cylinder-side recess and a corresponding lower support-side contact surface are chamfered.

[0015] A reliable fixation and a correspondingly firm and stable structure between the preform base and the mouth part can also be achieved if each preform holder arm is assigned a clamping lever device by means of which the preform base and the mouth part can be clamped together, wherein a guide is formed on each preform holder arm by means of which two clamping levers of the clamping lever device assigned to it can be moved towards each other to clamp the structure of the preform base and mouth part.

[0016] Advantageously, each clamping lever device has a spring mechanism by means of which the two clamping levers of the clamping lever device can be removed from each other.

[0017] A mounting of the clamping lever device can be implemented with comparatively little technical and design effort if the clamping lever device extends through the preform holder arm assigned to it in the area of ​​the guide and is mounted outside the preform holder arm on a cooling air structure of the preforming station.

[0018] A further simplification and a particularly compact design of the preforming station according to the invention can be achieved if the mouth part is formed by an end face facing the preform base of a level of the preforming station associated with the preform.

[0019] Fixing the preform base to the end face of the level facing the preform base can be achieved with comparatively little effort if a preferably pneumatic pressure cylinder device is mounted on the preform holder arms, by means of which the preform base and the mouth part formed by the level can be pressed together.

[0020] For the design of glass articles equipped with compartments or sections, it is advantageous if the level has at least one rib recess on its free end face.

[0021] For the same purposes, the preform base can have at least one web on its inner surface, to which a web recess surrounding this web at a distance is assigned to the front face of the level of the preform station associated with the preform.

[0022] A flush finish of such a glass article with compartments in the mouth area of ​​the glass article can be achieved if the base surface of the web recess assigned to the web, opposite a free end edge of the web, is aligned with the parts of the preform forming an upper edge of the glass article rim.

[0023] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments and the drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of essential components in section for a first embodiment of a preforming station according to the invention for an IS glass production machine; Figure 2 shows a Figure 1 corresponding schematic representation of essential components in section for a second embodiment of the preforming station according to the invention for an IS glass production machine; and Figure 3 a. Figure 1 and 2 approximately a corresponding schematic representation of the essential components in section for a third embodiment of the preforming station according to the invention for an IS glass production machine.

[0024] During a Figure 1With regard to the preform station shown as being essential for the present invention for an IS (Individual-Section) glass production machine, which is not shown in the drawings, a preform 1 is provided whose inner contour corresponds to the outer contour of a glass article 10 to be produced by means of the preform 1.

[0025] The preform 1 includes a preform base 2 and a mouth part 3. The preform base 2 and the mouth part 3 of the preform 1 form the inner contour of the preform 1 without the preform halves that are otherwise usual in IS glass production machines.

[0026] Accordingly, in the case of the Figure 1 In the illustrated preform 1, it is provided that when the preform 1 is closed, a lower edge 5 of the preform base 2 rests against an upper edge 6 of the opening part 3.

[0027] For the design of a body section 11 of the glass article 10 located between a base 8 and an opening 9, the following applies: Figure 1 In the embodiment shown of the preforming station according to the invention, the preform base 2 has a forming section 7 which projects from the actual base section of the preform base 2 in the direction of the opening part 3 of the preform 1 and at whose free end the lower edge 5 of the preform base 2 is formed.

[0028] The preforming station described above is used in particular when relatively compact glass articles 10 with a relatively small longitudinal extent running in the longitudinal direction of the preform 1 are to be produced.

[0029] To ensure that a solid structure is formed from the preform base 2 and the mouth part 3 of the preform 1, so that no irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc., arise on those sections of the glass article 10 to be produced that are located at the adjacent edges 5, 6 of the preform base 2 and the mouth part 3, preform holder arms 4a, 4b of a preform holder 4 of the preform 1, which serve to hold preform halves of a preform of an IS glass production machine, are usually designed as follows: Both preform holder arms 4a, 4b have a top support 17 on which a lower pressure contact surface 18 is formed. This lower pressure contact surface is chamfered, as shown in Figure 1 can be removed.

[0030] Accordingly, an outer pressure contact surface 19 is formed on the upper outer surface of the preform base 2, which is chamfered in the same way as the lower pressure contact surface 18 of the top carrier. The further the two preform holder arms 4a, 4b of the preform holder 4 are moved towards the central longitudinal axis of the preform 1, the further the preform base 2 of the preform 1 is pressed downwards towards the mouth part 3 of the preform 1.

[0031] To prevent the mouth section 3 of the preform from deflecting when the preform base 2 is pressed against the mouth section 3, the two preform holder arms 4a, 4b have support beams 20. The support beams 20 have a contact surface 24 on projections extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the preform 1. The contact surface 24 is chamfered.

[0032] In a sleeve-cylinder assembly 23, which is assigned to a level 22 of the preform 1, recesses 21 are formed at the positions corresponding to the projections of the sub-supports 20. The recesses 21 have guide surfaces 36 on their surfaces corresponding to the sub-support contact surfaces 24, which are also arranged at an angle corresponding to the chamfer of the sub-support contact surfaces 24.

[0033] When the lower supports 20 with their projections engage in the recesses 21 on the sleeve cylinder side, the mouth section 3 of the preform 1 is fixed. A solid structure is created between the mouth section 3 and the preform base 2 of the preform 1, so that the preform base edge 5 and the mouth section edge 6 lie tightly against each other. This prevents irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc., on the glass article 10 to be produced.

[0034] During a Figure 2With regard to the preforming station shown as being essential for the present invention for an IS glass production machine, the preform 1 is provided, the inner contour of which corresponds to the outer contour of a glass article 15 to be produced by means of the preform 1.

[0035] The preform 1 includes the preform base 2 and the mouth part 3. The preform base 2 and the mouth part 3 of the preform 1 form the inner contour of the preform 1 without the preform halves otherwise usual in IS glass production machines.

[0036] Accordingly, in the case of the Figure 2 In the illustrated preform 1, it is provided that when the preform 1 is closed, the lower edge 5 of the preform base 2 rests against the upper edge 6 of the opening part 3.

[0037] For the design of the body section 11 of the glass article 15 located between a base 13 and an opening 14, the following applies in Figure 2In the embodiment of the preforming station according to the invention shown, the opening part 3 has a forming section 12 which projects from the section of the opening part 3 forming the actual opening 14 in the direction of the preform base 2 of the preform 1 and at whose free end the upper edge 6 of the opening part 3 is formed.

[0038] The preforming station described above is similar to the one based on... Figure 1 The described preforming station is used in particular when comparatively compact glass articles 15 with a comparatively small longitudinal extent running in the longitudinal direction of the preform 1 are to be produced.

[0039] To ensure that a solid structure is formed from the preform base 2 and the mouth section 3 of the preform, so that no irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc., arise on those sections of the glass article 15 to be produced that are located at the adjacent edges 5, 6 of the preform base 2 and the mouth section 3, the preform holder arms 4a, 4b of the preform 1, which are typically used to hold preform halves of a preform of an IS glass production machine, are designed as follows: Both preform holder arms 4a, 4b have a gap by means of which a guide 26 is formed. The guide 26 is formed by two inclined surfaces in each preform holder arm 4a, 4b to define the gap. A clamping lever device 25 is arranged in the guide 26 of each of the two preform holder arms 4a, 4b.

[0040] The clamping lever device 25 includes two clamping levers 27, 28, whose outer surfaces bear against the aforementioned inclined surfaces of the guide 26. The two clamping levers 27, 28 are pre-tensioned away from each other by means of a spring device 29.

[0041] Viewed in the radial direction of the preform 1 outside the preform holder arms 4a, 4b, the clamping lever device 25 is held on a cooling air structure 30 of the preform station of the IS glass production machine.

[0042] With its free end, the in Figure 2 The upper clamping lever 27 rests against an upper outer surface of the preform base 2. Similarly, the clamping lever 28 rests with its free end against a lower outer surface of the mouth part 3.

[0043] When the two preform holder arms 4a, 4b are moved towards the longitudinal axis of the preform 1, the two clamping levers 27, 28 of the two clamping lever devices 25 are moved towards each other against the force of the spring device 29. This presses the preform base 2 and the mouth part 3 of the preform 1 together.

[0044] A solid structure is created between the mouth section 3 and the base 2 of the preform, so that the edge 5 on the base of the preform and the edge 6 on the mouth section are in close contact. This prevents irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc., on the glass article 15 to be produced.

[0045] At the in Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment, a web recess 32 is formed on an end face 35 of the level 22 associated with the preform 1 in the free end face 31 provided there. A web 33 on the base of the preform is associated with the web recess 32 and projects into the web recess 32 on the level side. Through the interaction between the web recess 32 on the level side and the web 33 on the base of the preform, a projection 37 is created approximately in the middle of the glass article 15 to be produced, projecting upwards from its base 13. This projection is open towards the base 13 of the glass article 15 and is therefore hollow.

[0046] At the in Figure 3 With regard to the preforming station shown as being essential for the present invention for an IS glass production machine, the preform 1 is provided, the inner contour of which corresponds to the outer contour of a glass article 10 to be produced by means of the preform 1.

[0047] The preform 1 includes the preform base 2 forming the mouth 9 of the glass article 10 and the mouth part 3 forming the bottom 8 of the glass article 10, which is formed by means of an end face 35 of the level 22 of the preform station assigned to the preform 1, which faces the preform base 2.

[0048] The preform base 2 and the opening part 3 of the preform 1 formed on the front face 35 of the level 22 form, without the otherwise present IS

[0049] Glass production machines, usual preform halves, the inner contour of the preform 1.

[0050] Accordingly, in the case of the Figure 3 The preform shown is designed so that, when the preform is closed, the lower edge 5 of the preform base 2 rests against the upper edge 6 of the opening part 3 formed on the front face 35 of the level 22.

[0051] For the design of the body section 11 of the glass article 10 located between the base 8 and the opening 9, the following applies: Figure 3 In the embodiment of the preforming station shown, the opening part formed on the front face 35 of the level 22 opens the forming section 7, which projects from the opening part 3 towards the preform base 2 of the preform 1 and at whose free end the upper edge 6 of the opening part 3 is formed.

[0052] The preforming station described above, like the two others, is based on the Figure 1 and 2 The preforming stations described are used in particular when comparatively compact glass articles 10 with a comparatively small longitudinal extent running in the longitudinal direction of the preform 1 are to be produced.

[0053] To ensure that a solid structure is formed from the preform base 2 and the mouth section 3 of the preform, so that no irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc., arise on those sections of the glass article 10 to be produced that are located at the adjacent edges 5, 6 of the preform base 2 and the mouth section 3, pressure cylinder devices 36a, 36b are mounted in or on the preform holder arms 4a, 4b of the preform holder 4 of the preform 1, which are normally used to hold preform halves of a preform of an IS glass production machine. By means of these pressure cylinder devices 36a, 36b, the preform base 2 and the mouth section 3 of the preform 1, which is provided on the end face 35 of the level 22, can be compressed together.

[0054] Accordingly, a solid structure is created between the mouth section 3 and the base 2 of the preform, so that the edge 5 on the base of the preform and the edge 6 on the mouth section are in close contact. Irregularities such as ridges, burrs, protruding edges, etc. on the glass article 10 to be produced are thus avoided.

Claims

1. A preforming station of an IS (individual-section) glass production machine, comprising at least one preform (1), which includes a preform base (2) and a mouth part (3), and a preform holder (4) with preform holder arms (4a, 4b), characterised in that the preform base (2) and the mouth part (3) can be brought into contact with one another at their mutually facing edges (5, 6) so that they form the inner contour of the preform (1) without preform halves, and in that the preform base (2) and the mouth part (3) are fixed to one another during a pressing process by means of the preform holder arms (4a, 4b).

2. The preforming station according to claim 1, wherein the preform base (2) has a forming section (7) projecting in the direction of the mouth part (3), by means of which a body section (11) of a glass article (10) extending between a base (8) and a mouth (9) thereof can be formed.

3. The preforming station according to claim 1, wherein the mouth part (3) has a forming section (12) projecting in the direction of the preform base (2), by means of which a body section of a glass article (15) extending between a base (13) and a mouth (14) thereof can be formed.

4. The preforming station according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the preform base (2) and the mouth part (3) each have a forming section projecting in the direction of the mouth part (3) or the preform base (2), by means of which forming sections a body section of the glass article extending between a base and a mouth of said glass article can be formed.

5. The preforming station according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein each preform holder arm (4a, 4b) has an upper carrier (17), a lower pressing contact surface (18) of which, when the preform holder (4) is closed, can be brought into pressing contact with an outer pressing contact surface (19) of the preform base (2).

6. The preforming station according to claim 5, wherein the upper-carrier-side pressing contact surface (18) and the preform-base-side pressing contact surface (19) are bevelled.

7. The preforming station according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein each preform holder arm (4a, 4b) has a lower carrier (20) which, when the preform holder (4) is closed, can be brought into engagement with a recess (21) of a sleeve cylinder structure (23) serving to guide a plunger (22) of the preforming station.

8. The preforming station according to claim 7, wherein a guide surface (36) of the sleeve-cylinder-assembly-side recess (21) and a lower-carrier-side contact surface (24) associated therewith are bevelled.

9. The preforming station according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein each preform holder arm (4a, 4b) is assigned a clamping lever device (25) by means of which the preform base (2) and the mouth part (3) can be clamped together, a guide (26) being formed on each preform holder arm (4a, 4b), by means of which two clamping levers (27, 28) of the clamping lever device (25) assigned thereto can be moved towards one another for clamping the structure consisting of the preform base (2) and the mouth part (3).

10. The preforming station according to claim 9, wherein each clamping lever device (25) has a spring device (29) by means of which the two clamping levers (27, 28) of the clamping lever device (25) can be removed from one another.

11. The preforming station according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the clamping lever device (25) extends through the preform holder arm (4a, 4b) assigned thereto in the region of the guide (26) and is held outside the preform holder arm (4a, 4b) on a cooling air structure (30) of the preforming station.

12. The preforming station according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mouth part (3) is formed by an end face (35) of a plunger (22) of the preforming station assigned to the preform (1) and facing the preform base (2).

13. The preforming station according to claim 12, wherein a preferably pneumatic pressure cylinder device (36a, 36b) is mounted on the preform holder arms (4a, 4b), by means of which the preform base (2) and the mouth part (3) formed by the plunger (22) can be pressed together.

14. The preforming station according to any of claims 7, 8, 12 or 13, the plunger (22) of which has at least one extension recess (32) on its free end face (31).

15. The preforming station according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the preform base (2) has at least one extension (33) on its inside base, to which an extension recess (32) surrounding this extension (33) at a distance from the end face (35) of the plunger (22) of the preforming station assigned to the preform is assigned.

16. The preforming station according to claim 15, wherein the base surface of the extension recess (32) assigned to the extension (33) opposite a free end edge of the extension (33) is aligned with the parts of the preform (1) forming an upper edge of the glass article edge.