Adjustment device for a roughing base support on a roughing device of a section of a machine for forming hollow glass articles.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (40) for adjusting the tension of a roughing base support (32), comprising a cam mechanism having a cam on which the roughing base support (32) is able to bear during its assembly, and an actuation mechanism configured to move the cam to at least two positions, the cam mechanism being configured to position the roughing base support (32) bearing on said cam at two different heights, depending on the position of said cam. The invention also relates to an intermediate support (35) having such an adjustment device (40). (See Figure 10 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Adjustment device for a roughing base support on a roughing device of a section of a machine for forming hollow glass articles. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing hollow glass articles, such as bottles or flasks, and more specifically to the adjustment of the roughing base supports, also called compression head supports, present on the roughing devices of the sections of a machine for forming hollow glass articles, called IS machine.

[0002] The present invention aims to facilitate the replacement and adjustment of the roughing bottom supports on the sections of the IS machine, by optimizing the precision, repeatability and adjustment time and by reducing the risks of degradation of these roughing bottom supports.

[0003] For certain IS machine designs, the present invention will also allow the adjustment of the blow head supports present on the finishing devices of the sections of an IS machine, optimizing the precision, repeatability and adjustment time and reducing the risks of degradation of these blow head supports. State of the art

[0004] A machine for forming hollow glass articles, referred to as an IS machine, is composed of several sections, generally between six and twelve. Parisons (or glass droplets) are conveyed to the sections of the IS machine, notably via channels. Each section includes a roughing device and a finishing device. The roughing device enables the formation of one or more blanks of hollow glass articles, which are then transferred to the finishing device to definitively form one or more hollow glass articles. The roughing device comprises two parts forming one or more roughing molds, and an actuation mechanism for closing the two parts to form the article blank(s) and opening them to release the article blank(s).Similarly, the finishing device comprises two parts forming one or more finishing molds, an actuation mechanism allowing the two parts to be closed to form the finished article(s) and opened to release the finished article(s). The number of roughing molds on the roughing device and the number of finishing molds on the finishing device are identical and can reach four for certain products, particularly small hollow glass articles. The transfer. The transfer of a rough article from the roughing device to the finishing device is carried out by an articulated transfer arm which grasps the rough article(s) once the two parts of the roughing device are open and moves it / them between the open parts of the finishing device, before closing said parts for the finishing of the hollow glass article(s).

[0005] The roughing device on a section comprises a roughing base support, also called a compression head support, which allows the parison(s) introduced into the roughing mold(s) of the roughing device in the closed position to be blown under high pressure in order to form the hollow glass article(s). In one embodiment, each roughing base support is mounted vertically on a slide on an intermediate support and fixed to said intermediate support by means of a first clamping system. The intermediate support is itself mounted vertically on a slide on a column and fixed to said column by means of a second clamping system.The column extends vertically along its longitudinal axis and is mobile in translation and rotation along this longitudinal axis in order to be able to release the roughing base support from the roughing mold(s) and, conversely, reposition it on said roughing mold(s) in order to carry out the compression.

[0006] It is important that the blanking block supports are properly supported against the blanking mold(s) during compression to prevent air leakage that could lead to defective part formation. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for the expansion of the blanking block supports due to temperature variations in the blanking mold(s). To achieve this, the blanking block supports are positioned and clamped against the blanking mold(s). The height of a blanking block support is adjusted when the block is cold, during its mounting on the intermediate support, which is itself mounted on the column. Two height adjustment methods are currently used.

[0007] According to a first method, an operator mounts and clamps the blank support onto the intermediate support, then positions the blank support onto the blank mold(s) and proceeds to clamp the intermediate support onto the column. Next, the operator unclamps the blank support from the intermediate support and applies force by hand or with a hammer to the blank support before clamping it back onto the intermediate support. This first method is empirical and therefore not very repeatable. Furthermore, when a hammer is used, the blank support can be damaged or even broken.

[0008] According to a second method, an operator mounts the roughing base support onto the intermediate support by raising it with a wedge and clamps it to the intermediate support, then positions the roughing base support onto the mold(s) The operator then clamps the roughing block and the intermediate support onto the column. Next, the operator detaches the roughing block support from the intermediate support and removes the shim, which compresses the block support under its own weight, before re-clamping it onto the support. A drawback of this second method is that the shim is frequently lost by the operator.

[0009] According to another embodiment, the roughing mold support is mounted vertically on a slide directly onto the column and secured to said column by means of a clamping system. The operator then mounts the roughing mold support onto the column, positions it on the roughing mold(s), and applies force by hand or with a hammer before clamping it onto the column. As with the first method mentioned above, this one is empirical and therefore not very repeatable. Furthermore, when a hammer is used, the roughing mold support can be damaged or even broken.

[0010] On certain IS machines, the blow heads on the finishing devices of the sections are designed to continue blowing the bottles during the opening of the finishing mold(s) on these devices, before the finished bottles are ejected, in order to cool the bottles for as long as possible and thus minimize the risk of manufacturing defects. This can lead to a risk of friction and damage to the blow head during the opening of the two parts of the finishing device that form the finishing mold(s). Summary of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. To this end, the invention relates to a device for adjusting the height of a roughing base support on a roughing device of a machine section Is or, alternatively, of a blow head support on a finishing device of a machine section IS. The height adjustment device comprises a cam mechanism equipped with a cam on which the roughing base support, or the blow head support, is adapted to bear directly or indirectly during its mounting. The height adjustment device includes an actuation mechanism configured to move the cam to at least two positions, the cam mechanism being configured to position the roughing base support, or the blow head support, at at least two heights, bearing directly or indirectly on said cam, depending on the position of said cam.

[0012] The term "directly" means that the roughing base support bears directly on the cam, the adjustment device being able to be mounted on a column of the roughing device or on an intermediate support that receives the base support The roughing head support is mounted on the column. "Indirectly" means that either the roughing head support rests on the cam via a shim on the cam mechanism, with the adjustment device mounted on a column of the roughing head unit or on an intermediate support that receives the roughing head support and is mounted on the column; or the roughing head support is fixed to an intermediate support that rests directly on the cam or rests on the cam via a shim on the cam mechanism, with the adjustment device mounted on the column of the roughing head unit. This applies mutatis mutandis to the blow head support mounted on a column of a finishing head unit.

[0013] Thus, according to the invention, the adjustment device allows the height of the blank support on a blanking device to be easily adjusted by actuating a cam in a first position in which the cam mechanism places the blank support in a raised position, whereby said blank support is simply placed on at least one blanking mold, and then by actuating the cam in a second position in which the cam mechanism places the blank support in a lowered position, whereby said blank support is placed under tension during its positioning on at least one blanking mold. The blank support is finally clamped onto the column of the blanking device for use in this position, ensuring that it is placed under tension on at least one blanking mold.

[0014] Similarly, the adjustment device allows for easy adjustment of the height of the blow head support on a finishing device by actuating a cam in a first position in which the cam mechanism places the blow head support in a lowered position, whereby the blank support is simply placed on at least one finishing mold, and then by actuating the cam in a second position in which the cam mechanism places the blow head support in a raised position, whereby the pressure on the blow head support is relieved when it is positioned on at least one finishing mold. The blow head support is then clamped onto the column of the finishing device for use in this position, ensuring that the pressure on the at least one finishing mold is relieved.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the adjustment device of the invention, the cam is configured to have at least two support points on which the roughing base support, or the blowing head support, is able to bear directly or indirectly. Furthermore, the actuation mechanism is configured to change the cam's support point corresponding to a positioning height of the roughing base support, or the blowing head support, taking directly or indirectly bearing on said fulcrum point. In other words, the cam has a shape that defines at least two fulcrum points. The cam's movement, thanks to the actuation mechanism, allows the fulcrum point on which the roughing base support, or the blow head support, directly or indirectly bears during adjustment, thus changing the height position of the roughing base support or the blow head support, respectively. In other words, there are at least two contact positions on the cam on which the roughing base support or the blow head support can directly or indirectly bear, depending on the chosen contact position. The actuation mechanism allows the cam to be moved to change the contact position.

[0016] Preferably, according to this embodiment of the adjustment device, the cam has an eccentric shape and is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation. The actuation mechanism comprises a manual control member with at least two positions and a transmission system arranged between the manual control member and the cam and configured to rotate the cam around the axis of rotation according to the position of the manual control member. This eccentric shape allows for two contact positions on the cam, thanks to a 180° rotation of the cam.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the adjustment device of the invention, the cam mechanism comprises a shim on an upper face of which the roughing base support, or the blow head support, is adapted to bear directly or indirectly during its assembly. The shim is vertically movable and comprises a lower face that bears against the cam. Furthermore, the actuation mechanism is configured to move the cam to at least two positions corresponding to at least two bearing positions between the cam and the lower face of the shim, the cam and the lower face being configured to vary the positioning height of said shim according to the bearing position.

[0018] According to this embodiment of the adjustment device, the shim comprises a lower face having at least one cavity, and the cam is mounted in horizontal translation and comprises an upper face having at least one protrusion configured to fit into at least one cavity in a first position of the cam when the shim is in a lower position, and to bear against the lower face in a second position of the cam when the shim is in a higher position. Preferably, only one cavity and one protrusion are provided, although variants with several cavities and several protrusions are possible. According to one possible variant, at least one cavity could be implemented on the upper face of the cam and at least one protrusion could be implemented on the lower face of the shim.

[0019] Two variants are possible according to this embodiment. According to the first variant, the protrusion and the cavity are configured so that said protrusion bears against a bottom of said cavity in the first position of the cam, the depth of said cavity defining the height of displacement of the shim when moving the cam from the first position to the second position. According to the second variant, the protrusion and the cavity are configured so that said protrusion is housed in said cavity and that the lower face of the shim is in contact with the upper face of the cam in the first position of said cam, the height of the protrusion defining the height of displacement of the shim when moving the cam from the first position to the second position.

[0020] According to the adjustment device of the invention, the cam mechanism is configured to move the cam to two positions, resulting in a difference in the positioning height of the roughing mold support, acting directly or indirectly on said cam, of between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm, and preferably equal to 0.8 mm. These ranges of values ​​make it possible to obtain suitable stress on the roughing mold support on at least one mold during its use. Of course, variations of the adjustment device with other ranges of values ​​remain conceivable, while remaining within the scope of the invention.

[0021] According to the adjustment device of the invention, the actuation mechanism includes a system for indicating the position of the cam mechanism, which represents the positioning height of the roughing base support, or the blowing head support, respectively. This ensures proper adjustment of the tension on the roughing base support, or the relief on the blowing head support, as the operator can easily detect the cam position corresponding to the raised or lowered position of the roughing base support, or the blowing head support, respectively. Preferably, this indication system is visual, but an audible indication system, such as a click, remains possible.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the adjustment device of the invention, it comprises a clamping mechanism configured to fix said adjustment device to a column of a roughing device, or of a finishing device. This column is present on a machine for forming hollow glass articles, more commonly called an IS machine, on both the roughing device and the finishing device of a section of the IS machine. On the roughing device, this column allows the roughing base support to be moved from a compression position of one or more articles in the roughing state, the roughing base support being placed on one or more roughing molds, to a position clear of the roughing mold(s) allowing the movement of said article(s) in the roughing state. Furthermore, according to this In implementation, the cam mechanism is configured to receive as a support a clamping element of the roughing base support, respectively of the blowing head support, or a clamping element of an intermediate support on which the roughing base support, respectively the blowing head support, is clamped.

[0023] The invention also relates to an intermediate support for a roughing base support or a blowing head support, comprising a first clamping member configured for fixing said intermediate support to a column of a roughing device, or a finishing device respectively, a guide member configured for receiving, in vertical translation, one end of the roughing base support, or the blowing head support respectively, and a second clamping member configured for fixing said end of the roughing base support, or the blowing head support respectively, when mounted on the guide member. Furthermore, the intermediate support comprises a height adjustment device having the aforementioned characteristics, except that said height adjustment device does not include a clamping mechanism, given its arrangement directly on said intermediate support.Furthermore, the height adjustment device is arranged so that the cam mechanism receives support from the end of the roughing base support, or from the blowing head support, positioned on the guide element.

[0024] The invention also relates to a first variant of a machine for forming hollow glass articles, called machine IS, which includes at least one section comprising a roughing device equipped with a roughing base support mounted directly or indirectly on a column by means of an adjustment device which includes a clamping mechanism configured to fix said adjustment device on the column, the cam mechanism being configured to receive as support a clamping member of the roughing base support or a clamping member of an intermediate support on which the roughing base support is clamped.

[0025] The invention also relates to a second variant of a machine for forming hollow glass articles, called the IS machine, which comprises at least one section including a roughing device comprising a column, a roughing base support, and an intermediate support. The intermediate support includes a first clamping member configured to fix said intermediate support to the column, a guide member configured to receive, in vertical translation, one end of the roughing base support, a second clamping member configured to fix said end of the roughing base support when mounted on the guide member, and a height adjustment device comprising the aforementioned characteristics. The height adjustment device is arranged so that the cam mechanism bears against the end of the roughing base support. Preferably, the IS machine comprises between one and sixteen sections and as many intermediate supports arranged on said sections.

[0026] The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the tension of a blanking mold support on a machine for forming hollow glass articles, comprising at least one blanking device forming at least one blanking mold and comprising a blanking mold support, a column, an intermediate support comprising a first clamping member configured for fixing said intermediate support to the column, a guide member configured for receiving one end of the blanking mold support in vertical translation, a second clamping member configured for fixing said end of the blanking mold support when mounted on the guide member, and a height adjustment device comprising the aforementioned characteristics, said height adjustment device being arranged so that the cam mechanism receives the end of the blanking mold support positioned on the guide member as a support. Said method consists of the following steps: a) actuate the cam mechanism to position it in a high support position whereby the roughing base support will be placed in a high position on the intermediate support, b) mount the end of the roughing base support onto the guide member of the intermediate support and place said end against the cam mechanism in the raised position, then clamp the roughing base support onto the intermediate support using the second clamping member, c) simply place the roughing base support on at least one roughing mold and clamp the intermediate support on the column using the first clamping member, d) release the roughing base support from at least one roughing mold, e) actuate the cam mechanism to position it in a low support position in which the roughing base support will be placed in the low position, f) unclamp the roughing base support from the intermediate support using the second clamping member to allow the roughing base support to descend by gravity into the guide member of the intermediate support and come to rest on the cam mechanism, in a position in which said roughing base support will be under stress on at least one roughing mold when it is placed on it, g) re-clamp the roughing base support onto the intermediate support using the second clamping member while keeping the cam mechanism in the low support position.

[0027] The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the constraint of a blanking base support on a machine for forming hollow glass articles comprising at least one blanking device forming at least one blanking mold and comprising a blanking base support, a column and a height adjustment device according to The invention, comprising a clamping mechanism configured to fix said adjustment device to the column. Said method consists of the following steps: a) positioning the height adjustment device on the column and actuating its cam mechanism to place it in a high support position such that the roughing mold support is placed in the high position, b) mounting the roughing mold support directly or indirectly, i.e., by means of an intermediate support, onto the column, above the adjustment device, c) simply placing the roughing mold support on at least one roughing mold and clamping the adjustment device to the column with the cam mechanism pressing directly or indirectly against the roughing mold support, d) removing the roughing mold support from at least one roughing mold, e) actuating the cam mechanism to place it in a low support position such that the roughing mold support moves into the low position.f) to clamp, directly or indirectly, i.e. by means of an intermediate support, the blank support on the column, in a position whereby said blank support will be subjected to stress on at least one blank mold when it is placed on the latter, g) And, preferably, to unclamp the clamping mechanism of the adjustment device for its removal, although the latter may remain present on the column.

[0028] Thus, according to the invention, whatever the variant implemented, the adjustment device makes it easy to adjust the constraint of the roughing base support, by activating a cam mechanism defining two positions of the roughing base support, a raised position and a lowered position, thus making it possible to clamp the roughing base support vis-à-vis the IS machine column in a working position by following a simple process and guaranteeing a precise adjustment of the height under constraint of the roughing base support.

[0029] Similarly, the adjustment device can be used to easily adjust the blow head support to relieve its bearing on the finishing mold(s) of the finishing device on each section of the IS machine. In this case, the adjustment methods described above for adjusting the stress on a roughing base support apply, mutatis mutandis, to adjusting the relief of a blow head support, but moving from a low bearing position to a high bearing position during the adjustment in order to slightly raise the blow head support, in contrast to the roughing base support which moves from a high bearing position to a low bearing position during the adjustment. Brief description of the figures

[0030] The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is supported by figures, including: - Fig. 1 schematically represents a manufacturing installation for hollow glass articles; - [Fig.2] illustrates a machine for manufacturing hollow glass articles, called the IS machine, present on such an installation schematically shown in [Fig.1]; - Fig. 3 partially illustrates a first view of a section on the IS machine of the [Fig.2]; - [Fig.4] partially illustrates a second view of a section on the IS machine from [Fig.2]; - [Fig.5] partially illustrates a roughing device showing the roughing molds; - [Fig.6] partially illustrates a finishing device showing the finishing molds; - Fig. 7 illustrates three successive stages of manufacturing a rough article on the roughing device; - [Fig.8] illustrates the transfer of a draft article from the roughing device to the finishing device; - Fig. 9 illustrates three successive stages of manufacturing the article on the finishing device; - [Fig. 10] illustrates an overview of a roughing base support mounted on a column via an intermediate support of the roughing base support, said intermediate support comprising a device for adjusting the height of the roughing base support, the object of the invention; - [Fig. 11] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the height adjustment device on the intermediate support of the roughing base support, in a first position; - [Fig. 12] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the height adjustment device on the intermediate support of the roughing base support, in a second position; - the [Fig. 13] illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first variant of the height adjustment device on the intermediate support of the roughing base support, in a second position; - [Fig. 14] schematically shows part of the height adjustment device of figures 11 and 12 in the first position and in the second position; - the [Fig. 15] schematically illustrates part of a second variant of the height adjustment device in the first position and in the second position; - [Fig. 16] schematically illustrates part of a third variant of the height adjustment device in the first position and in the second position; - Figure 17 illustrates a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the height adjustment device and a roughing base support in contact with a cam of the adjustment device, the adjustment device and the roughing base support being mounted directly on a column of a roughing device; - [Fig. 18] illustrates a side view of [Fig. 17], with the roughing base support in contact with the cam of the adjustment device, in a raised position; - [Fig. 19] illustrates a side view of [Fig. 17], with the roughing base support in contact with the cam of the adjustment device, in a lowered position ensuring the constraint of the roughing base support when it is placed above the roughing molds; - [Fig.20] illustrates, according to a first cross-section, the cam actuation mechanism on the height adjustment device of figures 17 to 19; - [Fig.21] illustrates, according to a second section plane, the cam actuation mechanism on the height adjustment device of figures 17 to 19; - [Fig.22] partially illustrates, in section, a variant of a height adjustment device implemented on an intermediate support of a roughing base support, in a raised position; - [Fig.23] corresponds to [Fig.22], however the height adjustment device is in a lowered position. Detailed description

[0031] In the rest of the description, unless otherwise indicated: the same references are used to designate the same characteristics in the figures and according to the various variants illustrated.

[0032] The term adjustment device refers to the height adjustment device of a roughing base support, the subject of the invention, unless otherwise indicated in the description.

[0033] Figure 1 shows an installation for manufacturing hollow glass articles, which is hereinafter referred to as Installation 1. A hollow glass article is hereinafter referred to as an article. Installation 1 comprises a mixing station 2 where the raw materials (sand, limestone, sodium carbonate, cullet, recycled glass, etc.) that make up the glass are mixed, a furnace 3 for melting the mixture of raw materials, the molten glass obtained then being conveyed by means of a channel 4 which terminates in a mechanism 5 for forming and distributing parisons 6 into lanes 7 which feed respectively sections 8 of a machine for forming hollow glass articles, which is hereinafter referred to as machine IS 9. The number of lanes 7 is proportional to the number of sections 8 on machine IS 9 and to the number of articles 10 manufactured simultaneously on a section 8.The articles 10 are then transferred from sections 8 onto a conveyor 11 which transports said articles 10 to an annealing arch 12 for controlled cooling. The number. The number of sections 8 on the IS 9 machine can vary. For example, [Fig. 2] shows an IS 9 machine comprising twelve sections 8 (S1 to S12). The number of sections 8 on the IS 9 machine could be between one and sixteen, or even more than sixteen, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0034] With particular reference to Figures 2 to 4, each section 8 comprises a roughing device 13 for forming two blanks of article 10' and a finishing device 14 for forming two articles 10 with their final shape. The blank of article 10' is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9. Each section 8 also comprises a ring mold 15 which forms the ring 10a of article 10 and also holds the two blanks of article 10' during their transfer from the roughing device 13 to the finishing device 14.

[0035] With reference to [Fig. 5], the roughing device 13 comprises two parts 16, 17 (also partially illustrated in Figures 3 and 4), each of which has an impression on its inner faces 18, 19. Each of the two impressions comprises two negatives 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B forming two roughing molds. When the roughing device 13 is in the closed position, the two parts 16, 17 are joined, which allows the two negatives 18A, 19A and the two negatives 18B, 19B to be joined to form the negatives of two roughing molds enabling the production of two blanks of article 10'. Conversely, when the roughing device 13 is in the open position, the two parts 16, 17 are separated from each other to open the two roughing molds and release the negatives 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B of the two article 10' roughs held by the ring mold 15, thus allowing the said article 10' roughs to be transferred to the finishing device 14.

[0036] Similarly, with regard to [Fig.6], the finishing device 14 comprises two parts 20, 21 (also illustrated in Figures 3 and 4) which each include an impression on their inner faces 22, 23. Each of the two impressions comprises two negatives 22A, 22B, 23A, 23B forming two finishing molds. When the finishing device 14 is in the closed position, the two parts 20, 21 are joined, which allows the two negatives 22A, 23A and the two negatives 22B, 23B to be joined to form the negatives of two finishing molds allowing the production of two articles 10. Conversely, when the finishing device 14 is in the open position, the two parts 20, 21 are separated from each other to open the two finishing molds and release the negatives 22A, 22B, 23A, 23B in order to allow either the placement of the article 10 blanks in the finishing device 14 or the removal of the articles 10 from said finishing device 14.

[0037] The roughing device 13 and the finishing device 14 of each section 8 allow, in the example described here, the simultaneous production of two articles 10; the impressions of the roughing device 13 and the impressions of the finishing device 14 could however include a different number of negatives in order to allow the formation of a different number of roughing molds and finishing molds, for example to form one to four roughings of article 10' on said roughing device 13 and one to four articles 10 on said finishing device 14.

[0038] In [Fig. 5], the roughing device 13 also includes two punches 24, 25 placed respectively in the center, i.e. on the parting plane between the two parts 16, 17 of said roughing device 13 when it is in the closed position, in correspondence with the negatives 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B on the cavities 18, 19. The number of punches depends on the number of roughing negatives of article 10' on the roughing device 13 and together with these form the roughing molds on said roughing device 13.

[0039] Figures 7 to 9 explain the forming steps of an article 10 from the insertion of the parison 6 into a roughing mold of the roughing device 13 to its exit from a finishing mold of the finishing device 14. [Fig. 7] shows the successive steps E1, E2, E3 of loading the parison 6, compression, and drilling carried out in one of the negatives (combination of negative parts 18A-19A or 18B-19B) of the article 10' rough. During these successive steps of [Fig. 7], the ring mold 15 and the punch 24, 25 allow the ring 26 of the article 10' rough to be completely formed. Figure 8 shows step E4 of transfer of the article blank 10' to the finishing device 14, carried out by means of the ring mold 15 which holds the article blank 10' by the ring 26 and moves towards the finishing device 14 by means of a transfer arm 27. Figure 8 shows the step E4 of transfer of the article blank 10' to the finishing device 14 by means of a transfer arm 27.[9] shows the successive steps E5, E6, E7 of elongation, blowing and extraction of article 10 which is then transferred onto conveyor 11.

[0040] With regard to figures 3 and 4, the roughing device 13 comprises an arm 28 equipped with two funnels 29, this arm 28 being fixed on a first column 30 by means of a first flange 31, said first column 30 extending vertically along a first axis XI and being mounted in translation and rotation along this first axis XI so as to allow the movement of the funnels 29 from a position of use where said funnels 29 are placed above and against the roughing molds to allow the introduction of the parisons into said roughing molds, as illustrated in step El of [Fig.7], to a clear position illustrated in figures 3 and 4.The roughing device 13 includes a roughing base support 32 which includes two first blowing outlets 33, the roughing base support 32 being fixed on a second column 34 by means of an intermediate support 35 of the roughing base support 32, said second column 34 extending vertically along a second axis X2 and being mounted in translation and rotation along this second axis X2 so as to allow the movement of the first blowing outlets 33 into a working position where said blowing outlets 33 are placed first above and against the funnels 29 in order to. The compression of the blanks of article 10' is performed, as illustrated in step E2 of [Fig. 7], then above and against the blanking molds once the funnels 29 have been removed in order to perform the drilling of the blanks of article 10', as illustrated in step E3 of [Fig. 7], or in a clear position illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 to allow the movement of the blanks of article 10' towards the finishing device 14 by means of the ring mold 15 and the transfer arm 27 (step E4 of [Fig. 8]). Naturally, the number of first blow holes 33 on the blanking base support 32 depends on the number of blanking molds on the blanking device 13.

[0041] With regard to Figures 3 and 4, the finishing device 14 includes a blow head support 36 which includes two second blow nozzles 37, the blow head support 36 being fixed on a third column 38 by means of a support 39 of the blow head support 36, hereafter referred to as the second support 39, said third column 38 extending vertically along a third axis X3 and being mounted in translation and rotation about this third vertical axis X3 so as to allow the movement of the second blow nozzles 37 into a working position where said second blow nozzles 37 are placed above and against the finishing molds once the elongation of the blank of article 10' has been carried out (step E5 of [Fig. 3].9]) and the ring mold 15 removed from the finishing molds by the transfer arm 27 which repositions it above the punches 24, 25 on the roughing device 13, said second blowing mouths 37 placed above and against the finishing molds then carrying out the blowing of the article 10 (step E6 of [Fig.9]), or in a clear position illustrated in figures 3 and 4 in order to allow the movement of the article roughs 10' towards the finishing device 14 by means of the ring 26 and the transfer arm 27 and the movement of the articles 10 towards the conveyor 11. Of course, the number of second blowing mouths 37 on the blowing head support 36 depends on the number of finishing molds on the finishing device 14.

[0042] The initial placement of the blow nozzles 33 on the roughing molds must be precise to prevent leaks during the compression and drilling stages on the roughing device 13. The main reason for such leaks stems from the expansion of the blow nozzles 33, 37 of the roughing mold supports 32, this expansion being due to the temperatures on the roughing molds. To compensate for this expansion, the roughing mold supports 32 are constrained on the roughing molds. The constraint adjustment of a roughing mold support 32 is carried out cold, during its mounting on the column 34. This mounting of the roughing mold support 32 on the column 34 can be achieved directly or indirectly, by means of an intermediate support 35, which has the advantage of allowing for a quick change of the roughing mold support 32.

[0043] The following description, with reference to Figures 10 to 16, applies to the roughing base support 32 fixed to the second column 34 by means of the intermediate support 35; this assembly is therefore carried out on the roughing device 13 of each of the sections 8 of the IS 9 machine. [Fig. 10] shows the roughing base support 32 mounted on an intermediate support 35, this intermediate support 35 being itself intended to be mounted on the column 34 which extends along the axis X2, said column 34 being movable in translation and rotation about this axis X2. The column 34 is not shown in [Fig. 10], but appears in [Fig. 4]. The intermediate support 35 includes an adjustment device 40 which makes it possible to apply the aforementioned constraint to the roughing base support 32 when it is mounted on the column 34.The change of the roughing bottom supports 32 on the roughing devices 13 occurs in accordance with the change of the roughing molds on the roughing devices 13, during a change in the manufacture of articles 10 on the IS 9 machine. This adjustment device 40 is mounted on a body 41 of the intermediate support 35, said body 41 being fixed on the column 34 by means of a first clamping member 42 arranged on a rear face 43 of said body 4L. The body 41 includes on its front face 44 a groove 45 extending vertically and forming a mortise, said groove 45 receiving by sliding in the vertical direction, along a fourth axis X4, a base 46 of the roughing bottom support 32, said base 46 forming a tenon. A second clamping element 47 allows the base 46 to be locked in the groove 45 to fix the roughing base support 32 on the intermediate support 35.The final fixing of the roughing base support 32 onto the intermediate support 35 takes place once the constraint adjustment has been made using the adjustment device 40.

[0044] Figures 11 and 12 show in cross-section a first embodiment of the adjustment device 40 on the intermediate support 35. This adjustment device 40 comprises a cam 48, a shim 49, and a receiving piece 50 in which the cam 48 and the shim 49 are mounted. The receiving piece 50 is fixed to the lower part of the body 41, below the groove 45, such that an upper face 51 of the shim 49 communicates with the groove 45 and bears against a lower face 52 (illustrated [Fig. 10]) of the base 46 of the roughing base support 32. The shim 49 is guided in vertical translation along the fourth X4 relative to the body 41 by means of two pins 59 mounted to slide in two holes 60, at the bottom of which are housed two springs 61 mounted in compression so as to push the shim 49 downwards. and thus maintain it in support against cam 48.The cam 48 is guided in horizontal translation along a fifth axis X5 perpendicular to the axis X4, inside the receiving piece 50. The shim 49 comprises a lower face 53 which has a cavity 54 and the cam 48 comprises an upper face 55 which has a protrusion 56 which remains in contact with the lower face 53 and with the cavity 54 during the movement of the cam 48 along the . fifth axis X5 between an adjustment position and a constraint position. In the adjustment position of the cam 48, illustrated in [Fig. 11], the protrusion 56 rests on the lower face 53 of the shim 49, which is then placed in a raised position (high position). Conversely, in the constraint position of the cam 48, illustrated in [Fig. 12], the protrusion 56 rests in the bottom of the cavity 54 of the shim 53, which descends along the axis X4 and is placed in a lowered position (low position). The vertical displacement stroke of the shim 49 during the movement of the cam 48 from the adjustment position to the constraint position is defined by the depth El of the cavity 54, which is greater than the height H1 of the protrusion 56, as shown in [Fig. 11]. 14] illustrating the two positions of said protuberance 56 and of said cam 54, for this first realization of figures 11 and 12.Thus, the wedge 49 moves a height corresponding to the depth El when it moves from the raised position to the lowered position. Preferably, this depth El is between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm, preferably equal to 0.8 mm.

[0045] As illustrated in [Fig. 10], the intermediate support 35 also includes a rule 62 arranged parallel to the axis X2 and comprising at its two ends two flanges 63, 64 allowing its attachment to the column 34. This rule 62 makes it possible to ensure an identical angular repositioning of the intermediate support 35 on the column 34.

[0046] The adjustment of the constraint of the roughing base support 32 is implemented as follows, during the installation of a roughing base support 32 by means of an intermediate support 35, on a section 8 of the IS 9 machine: Step a): The installer positions the cam 48 of the adjustment device 40 in the adjustment position according to which the wedge 49 moves into a raised position (high position) because the protrusion 56 is in contact with the lower face 53 of said wedge 49. Step b): The installer mounts the base 46 to the end of the roughing base support 32 in the groove 45 - constituting a guide element - and places the lower face 52 of said base 46 against the upper face 51 of the wedge 49 arranged in the raised position, then said installer clamps the roughing base support 32 with the intermediate support 35 by means of the second clamping element 47. Step c): The installer places the roughing base support 32 in the position of use, i.e. with the blowing mouths 33 in contact with the roughing molds, then said installer clamps the intermediate support 35 on the column 34 by means of the first clamping device 42. Step d): The installer removes the roughing base support 32 from the roughing mold. Step e): The installer moves the cam 48 into the constraint position allowing the wedge 49 to move into the lowered position (low position) under the constraint of the springs 61, because the protrusion 56 can engage in the cavity 54. Step f): The installer unbridles the roughing base support 32 from the intermediate support 35 by loosening the second clamping member 47, which allows the base 46 of the roughing base support 32 to descend by gravity into the groove 45 (guide member) of the intermediate support 35 until the lower face 52 of the base 46 comes to rest against the upper face 51 of the cam 49, the roughing base support 32 then being in a position of constraint according to which the blowing mouths 33 will be in constraint on the roughing molds when they are placed on them. Step g): The installer re-flanges the roughing base support 32 onto the intermediate support 35 using the second clamping device 47, keeping the wedge 49 in the lowered position.

[0047] In order to allow the installer to easily detect the movement of the cam 48 in the adjustment position and in the constraint position, the adjustment device 40 includes indicators implemented preferably by two parts 57, 58 at the two respective ends of the cam 48, these two parts 57, 58 being visually different, for example by having different markings or different colors, or even other visual indicators allowing the two positions of the cam 48 to be differentiated. An audible indicator could also be provided, for example a clicking noise depending on the position reached by the cam 48.

[0048] The embodiment illustrated with reference to Figures 11, 12, and 14 is not limiting, as other variations are conceivable within the scope of the invention. By way of example, in [Fig. 13], two protrusions 56a, 56b are implemented on the upper face 55 of the cam 48, and two cavities 54a, 54b are implemented on the lower face 53 of the shim 49, the two protrusions 56a, 56b engaging respectively in the two cavities 54a, 54b in the constrained position of the cam 48. The depth of the cavities 54a, 54b also defines the displacement height of the shim 49, as in the embodiment of Figures 11, 12, and 14.

[0049] This displacement height of the shim 49, during the movement of the cam 48 from the adjustment position to the constraint position, can be implemented differently than in the embodiments of Figures 11, 12, and 14 and [Fig. 13]. In [Fig. 15], this displacement height of the shim 49 is defined by the height H2 of the protrusion 56 on the upper face 55 of the cam 48, which is greater than the depth E2 of the cavity 4 on the lower face 53 of the shim 49. In this case, the height H2 is preferably between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm, and preferably equal to 0.8 mm. In the cam's adjustment position 48, the protuberance 56 is resting on the lower face 53 of the wedge 49 and in the constraint position of the cam 48, the protuberance 56 is placed in the cavity 54, the wedge 49 descending until its lower face 53 comes into contact with the upper face 55 of the cam 48.

[0050] Figure 16 shows another variant in which the protrusion 56' is implemented on the lower face 53 of the shim 49 and the cavity 54' is implemented on the upper face 55 of the cam 48. In the adjustment position of the cam 48, the protrusion 56' of the shim 49 rests on the upper face 55 of the cam 48, and in the constraint position of the cam 48, the protrusion 56' rests in the bottom of the cavity 54' on the upper face 55 of the cam 58. In this case, the depth E3 of the cavity 54' also defines the height of displacement of the shim 49 when moving the cam 48 from the adjustment position to the constraint position, said depth E3 of the cavity 54' being greater than the height H3 of the protrusion 56'.

[0051] The preceding description is not limiting, other variants of the adjustment device 40 may be envisaged within the scope of the invention, in particular by modifying the shape of the cam 48, the shape of the shim 49 and the means of transmission between the cam 48 and the shim 49 allowing the shim 49 to be moved vertically when the cam 48 is moved from an adjustment position to a constraint position, the shim 49 receiving support from the base 46 of the roughing base support 32. It is also possible to provide versions of the adjustment device 40 with a cam only, i.e. without the presence of a shim, the base 46 of the roughing base support 32 coming into contact with the cam, in this case.

[0052] By way of example, in Figures 22 and 23, the adjustment device 40 arranged on the intermediate support 35 comprises a cam 65 which is rotatably mounted about an axis X6 and which is actuated by a handle 66 that can be moved to two positions shown in Figures 22 and 23. The cam 65 is secured to the handle 66 by means of a rod 67 mounted in a sliding pivot joint on the axis X6 opposite the receiving piece 50 of the adjustment device 40. Pulling the handle followed by a 180-degree rotation unlocks the mechanism and changes the contact position of the cam 65 with respect to the lower face 53 of the shim 49. A spring 67 acts in compression between the cam 65 and a wall 50a of the receiving piece 50 and returns the handle 66 to a locking position on the piece. reception 50.The cam 65 has an eccentric shape in a transverse cutting plane (not illustrated), allowing the wedge 49 to be moved vertically along the axis X4, from a raised position illustrated in [Fig.22] to a lowered position illustrated in [Fig.23], when the handle 66 is rotated 180 degrees around the axis X6. The roughing base support 32, the lower face 52 of the base 46 of which rests on. the upper face 51 of the wedge 49, can therefore also move from a raised position to a lowered position, for adjusting the constraint of the blower outlets 33.

[0053] On the variant of figures 17 to 21, the adjustment device 40' is independent and is mounted directly on the column 34 of axis X2 by means of a third clamping member 68. On [Fig. 17], the roughing base support 32' is designed to be mounted directly on the column 34 of axis X2 by means of a fourth clamping member 69 arranged at an end opposite to that receiving the blowing outlets 33'. However, one could foresee the presence of an intermediate support which would have characteristics comparable to those of the intermediate support 35 described previously, except that it would not include the adjustment device 40, in which case the clamping element of the intermediate support would be placed above the adjustment device 40' on the column 34, in place of the fourth clamping element 69, and said intermediate support would receive a roughing base support similar to the roughing base support 32 described previously.

[0054] With reference to Figures 18 and 19, the adjustment device 40' comprises a handle 70 which includes two marks 71, 72 indicating two values ​​"0" and "-X", X being a value between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm, preferably equal to 0.8 mm. These two marks 71, 72 represent two positions of the handle 70. In a first position illustrated in [Fig. 18], the handle 70 is on the first mark 71 indicating "0", corresponding to a raised position of the roughing base support 32' whose fourth clamping member 69 bears against a cam 73 of the adjustment device 40', disposed in a first contact position, and thus maintains a space El with respect to an upper face 74 of a body 75 of the adjustment device 40'. In a second position illustrated in [Fig.

[19] , the handle 70 being pivoted 180 degrees so as to be positioned on the second mark 72 indicating "-X" corresponding to a lowered position of the roughing base support 32' whose fourth clamping member 69 comes to rest against a cam 73 of the adjustment device 40', disposed in a second contact position, and thus maintains a space E2 with respect to an upper face 74 of a body 75 of the adjustment device 40'. The difference between the spaces E1 and E2 corresponds to the said value X.

[0055] Figures 20 and 21 show the mechanism 76 implemented between the handle 70 and the cam 73, allowing, when the handle 70 is rotated 180 degrees, the cam 73 to rotate, preferably also 180 degrees, the cam 73 having an eccentric shape in a transverse plane (not shown). The cam mechanism 76 comprises a rod 77 attached to the handle 70 and including a toothed portion 78 meshing with a pinion 79 which is attached to a shaft 80 fixed to the cam 73. Of course, other cam mechanisms could be considered between the handle 70 and the cam 73. The handle 70 could be replaced by another, similar to the handle 66 in figures 22 and 23. Such a design of the cam mechanism 76 could be envisaged on the adjusting device 40 described opposite figures 10 to 16 and, conversely, the adjusting device 40' could include one of the cam mechanism designs of the adjusting device 40, described in figures 10 to 16 or in figures 22 and 23.

[0056] When the adjustment device 40' is mounted directly on the column 34, the stress adjustment process is carried out as follows: - Step a): Position the adjustment device 40' on the column 34 and actuate the cam mechanism 76 so that the cam 73 is in a high support position in which the roughing base support 32' will be placed in the high position (raised position), - Step b): Mount the roughing base support 32' on the column 34, above the adjustment device 40', a variant with an intermediate support being possible, as described previously, Step c): place the roughing base support 32' in the operating position on at least one roughing mold, in this case on both roughing molds, by placing the blowing mouths 33' on the roughing molds, then clamp the third clamping member 68 of the adjustment device 40' on the column 34 with the cam 73 pressing against the lower face 81 of the fourth clamping member 69 of the roughing base support 32', Step d): Remove the roughing base support 32' from the roughing molds, Step e): Operate the cam mechanism 76 with the handle 70 to position the cam 73 in a low support position, the roughing base support 32' moving into the low position (lowered position), Step f): clamp the fourth clamping element 69 of the roughing mold support 32' onto the column 34, the roughing mold support 32' being in a constrained position such that the blowing outlets 33' will be constrained on the roughing molds when they are placed on them, Step g): unblock the 40' adjustment device for its removal from column 34.

[0057] The design of this adjustment device 40' advantageously allows its reuse for adjusting the constraint of the roughing base support 32' on all sections 8 of the IS 9 machine.

[0058] The preceding description highlights various possible design variants of the adjustment device 40, 40', given by way of non-limiting examples. This description also highlights the advantages offered by such an adjustment device, ensuring precise and easy adjustment of the tension without risk of damage to the roughing base support 32, 32' during the adjustment process.

[0059] The preceding description describes the application of the adjustment device 40, 40' for adjusting the roughing bottom supports 32, 32' on the roughing devices 13 of the sections 8 of the IS 9 machine. Its application is, however, also conceivable for adjusting the blowing head supports 36 on the finishing devices 14 of the sections 8 of the IS 9 machine, not to adjust the stress on the roughing bottom supports 32, 32' bearing on the roughing molds formed by the two parts 16, 17 joined together of each roughing device 13, but to adjust the relief on the blowing head supports 36 bearing on the finishing molds formed by the two parts 20, 21 joined together on each finishing device 14.In this case, the adjustment device 40, 40' is first placed in the lowered position (low support position) and then in the raised position (high support position) during the relief adjustment, unlike the constraint adjustment for the roughing base support 32, 32'. Similarly, an intermediate support, comparable to the intermediate support 35, can be provided for mounting the blower head support 36 on the column 38 of the finishing device 14.

Claims

Demands

1. A height adjustment device (40, 40') for a roughing base support (32, 32'), or a blowing head support (36), characterized in that it comprises a cam mechanism having a cam (48, 65, 73) on which the roughing base support (32, 32'), respectively the blowing head support (36), is able to bear directly or indirectly during its assembly and an actuation mechanism configured to move the cam (48, 65, 73) according to at least two positions, the cam mechanism being configured to place the roughing base support (32, 32'), respectively the blowing head support (36), bearing directly or indirectly on said cam (48, 65, 73), according to the position of said cam.

2. Adjustment device (40, 40') according to claim 1, wherein the cam (48, 65, 73) is configured to have at least two support points on which the roughing base support (32, 32'), respectively the blowing head support (36), is able to take direct or indirect support, the actuation mechanism being configured to change the support point of the cam (48, 65, 73) which corresponds to a positioning height of the roughing base support (32, 32'), respectively of the blowing head support (36), taking direct or indirect support on said support point.

3. Adjustment device (40, 40') according to claim 2, wherein the cam (65, 73) has an eccentric shape and is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, the actuation mechanism comprising a manual control member (66, 70) in at least two positions and a transmission system arranged between the manual control member (66, 70) and the cam (65, 73) and configured to rotate the cam around the axis of rotation according to the position of the manual control member.

4. Adjustment device (40) according to claim 1, wherein the cam mechanism comprises a shim (49) on an upper face of which the roughing base support (32), or the blow head support (36), is adapted to bear directly or indirectly during its assembly, the shim (49) being vertically movable and comprising a lower face bearing on the cam (48, 65), the actuation mechanism being configured to move the cam (48, 65) into at least two positions which correspond to at least two support positions between the cam (48, 65) and the lower face of the wedge (49), the cam and the lower face being configured to vary the positioning height of said wedge according to the support position.

5. Adjustment device (40) according to claim 4, in which the shim (49) comprises a lower face (53) provided with at least one cavity (54, 54a, 54b) and the cam (48) is mounted in horizontal translation and comprises an upper face (55) provided with at least one protrusion (56, 56a, 56b) configured to fit into at least one cavity (54, 54a, 54b) in a first position of the cam (48) according to which the shim (49) is in a lower position and to bear against the lower face (53) in a second position of the cam (48) according to which the shim (49) is in a high position.

6. Adjustment device (40, 40') according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cam mechanism is configured to move the cam (48, 65, 73) into two positions generating a difference in the positioning height of the roughing base support (32, 32') taking directly or indirectly on said cam (48, 65, 73), of between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm, preferably equal to 0.8 mm.

7. Adjustment device (40, 40') according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the actuation mechanism includes a cam mechanism position indication system, representative of the positioning height of the roughing base support (32, 32'), respectively of the blowing head support (36).

8. Adjustment device (40') according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which includes a clamping mechanism (68) configured to fix said adjustment device on a column (34) of a roughing device (13), respectively of a finishing device (14), the cam mechanism being configured to receive as support a clamping member (69) of the roughing base support (32'), respectively of the blowing head support (36), or a clamping member of an intermediate support on which the roughing base support, respectively the blowing head support, is clamped.

9. An intermediate support (35) for a roughing base support (32) or a blowing head support (36), comprising a first clamping member (42) configured to fix said intermediate support (35) to a column (34) of a roughing device (13) or a finishing device (14), respectively, a guide member (45) configured to receive, in vertical translation, one end of the roughing base support (32) or the blowing head support (36), respectively, and a second clamping member (47) configured to fix said end of the roughing base support (32) or the blowing head support (36), respectively, when mounted on the guide member (45), the intermediate support (35) comprising an adjustment device (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 arranged so that the cam mechanism receives the end of the roughing base support (32) or the blowing head support (36), respectively, in support of the blower head support (36).

10. A machine for forming hollow glass articles, referred to as machine IS (9), which includes at least one section (8) comprising a roughing device (13) equipped with a roughing base support (32) mounted directly or indirectly on a column (34) by means of an adjustment device (40') according to claim 8, which is clamped on the column (34).

11. A machine for forming hollow glass articles, called machine IS (9), which includes at least one section (8) comprising a roughing device (13) equipped with a roughing base support (32) mounted on an intermediate support (35) according to claim 9, itself mounted on a column (34).

12. IS machine (9) according to claim 11, which comprises between one and sixteen sections (8) and as many intermediate supports (35) arranged on said sections.

13. A method for adjusting the constraint of a roughing base support (32) on a machine (9) for forming hollow glass articles comprising at least one roughing device (13) forming at least one roughing mold, at least one column (34), at least one intermediate support (35) having the characteristics of claim 9, and at least one roughing base support (32), said method consisting of the following steps: a) actuate the cam mechanism to position it in a high support position such that the roughing mold support is placed in a high position on the intermediate support (35), b) mount one end of the roughing mold support (32) onto the guide member (45) of the intermediate support (35) and place said end against the cam mechanism in the high position, then clamp the roughing mold support (32) onto the intermediate support (35) by means of the second clamping member (47), c) place the roughing mold support (32) in the operating position on at least one roughing mold and clamp the intermediate support (35) onto the column (34) by means of the first clamping member (42), d) remove the roughing mold support (32) from at least one roughing mold, e) actuate the cam mechanism to position it in a low support position such that the roughing mold support is placed in low positionf) release the roughing mold base support (32) from the intermediate support (35) by means of the second clamping member (47) to allow the roughing mold base support to descend by gravity into the guide member (45) of the intermediate support (35) and come to rest on the cam mechanism, in a constrained position such that said roughing mold base support (32) will be subjected to constraint on at least one roughing mold when it is placed on it, g) re-clamp the roughing mold base support (32) onto the intermediate support (35) by means of the second clamping member (47) while keeping the cam mechanism in the lowered support position.

14. A method for adjusting the constraint of a blanking base support (32') on a machine (9) for forming hollow glass articles comprising at least one blanking device (13) forming at least one blanking mold, at least one column (34), at least one adjustment device having the characteristics of claim 8, and at least one blanking base support (32'), said method consisting of the following steps: a) positioning the adjustment device 40' on the column and actuating it to position it in a high support position such that the blanking base support (32') will be placed in the high position, b) mounting the blanking base support (32') directly or indirectly on the column (34), above the adjustment device (40'), c) place the roughing base support (32') in the operating position on at least one roughing mold and clamp the adjustment device (40') on the column with the cam mechanism pressing directly or indirectly against the roughing base support (32'), d) remove the roughing base support (32') from at least one roughing mold, e) actuate the cam mechanism to position it in a low support position whereby the roughing base support (32') moves into the low position, f) directly or indirectly clamp the roughing base support (32') on the column (34), in a stress position according to which said roughing base support (32') will be put under stress on at least one roughing mold when it is placed on it.