Patent Application
20050279139
The present invention relates generally to glassware forming machines, and more particularly to a baffle used to selectively close a portion of a mold cavity in a glassware forming machine.
Some glassware forming machines include a blank mold defining a mold cavity in which a molten gob of glass is received and initially formed into a glass parison, or preform. The glass parison is transferred from the blank mold to a blow mold wherein the glass parison is blown into its final shape. In a so-called blow-and-blow process, settle air is provided into the blank mold cavity to form the finish of the containers. The settle blow air may be provided into the blank mold cavity through a baffle that selectively closes one end of the blank mold cavity. In a so-called press-and-blow process, settle blow air is not provided into the blank mold cavity through a baffle, with the baffle merely closing one end of the blank mold cavity to facilitate forming the parisons.
A press-and-blow glassware forming machine includes a blank mold having an internal cavity, a narrowing internal surface at an upper end of the cavity, an alignment surface externally surrounding the narrowing internal surface, and a baffle assembly. The baffle assembly includes a baffle cup having a rim for engaging the alignment surface on the blank mold to initially align the baffle assembly with the blank mold, a baffle post movably mounted within the baffle cup and having a narrowing external surface for engagement with the narrowing internal surface of the blank mold cavity, and a spring between the baffle cup and baffle post for biasing the baffle post into the baffle cup. To close the upper end of the blank mold cavity, the baffle assembly is moved against the blank mold to first bring the rim of the baffle cup into engagement with the alignment surface of the blank mold, and then to bring the baffle post into engagement with the narrowing internal surface of the blank mold.
Preferably, the baffle post includes at least two sections. A first section may be communicated with an actuator to permit and facilitate movement of the baffle assembly relative to the blank mold. A second section may be connected to the first section and preferably includes the narrowing external surface engageable with the narrowing internal surface of the blank mold cavity. Preferably, the second section is removably connected to the first section to, for example, permit a worn or damaged second section to be removed for maintenance or repair and a new one connected to the first section as desired. The second section is also preferably constructed and arranged so that when worn or damaged, it may be machined to provide fresh material at the narrowing external surface suitable to engage the narrowing internal surface of the blank mold. Desirably, this facilitates and reduces the expense of repairing the baffle assembly, and increases its useful life.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which:
Referring in more detail to the drawings,
The blank mold 12 preferably includes two mold halves 18, 20 that when mated together define the mold cavity 14 between them. At a lower end of the mold cavity 14, one or more recesses 22 in the mold halves may be provided to receive at least a portion of a neck ring assembly (not shown). The neck ring assembly receives a portion of the glass gob therein to form a finish area of a glass parison about which the glass parison may be handled by the neck ring assembly for transfer to a blow mold. At the other end of the mold cavity 14, an alignment surface 24 is provided to facilitate aligning the baffle assembly 10 with the blank mold 12. The alignment surface 24 is preferably circumferentially continuous and is tapered so that it narrows from an upper end 16 of the blank mold 12 toward the mold cavity 14. In relation to a vertical axis 25 of the blank mold cavity 14, the alignment surface 24 extends axially from an upper surface 26 of the blank mold 12 and is radially tapered. The alignment surface 24 preferably terminates at a stop surface or shoulder 28 that may extend generally radially inwardly from the alignment surface 24. The blank mold 12 preferably further includes a narrowing internal surface 30 extending axially from the stop surface 28 and leading to the blank mold cavity 14. The narrowing internal surface 30 is preferably circumferentially continuous, extends axially a desired distance and is radially tapered such that it narrows along its axial extent leading toward the blank mold cavity 14.
The baffle assembly 10 includes a baffle cup 32, a baffle post 34 and a spring 36 disposed between the baffle cup 32 and baffle post 34. The baffle cup 32 preferably includes a radially outwardly extending wall 38 and a peripheral axially extending rim 40 depending from the wall 38. The rim 40 is preferably circumferentially continuous and includes a radially tapered outer surface 42 for engaging the alignment surface 24 of the blank mold 12. The baffle cup 32 preferably also includes an axially extending and annular wall 44 that defines at least in part a bore 46 through the baffle cup 32. At its lower end, the baffle cup 32 preferably includes a generally planar annular face 48 adapted to engage the shoulder 28 of the blank mold 12 when the baffle cup 32 is fully seated on the blank mold 12.
The baffle post 34 preferably includes a baffle body 50 and a baffle post element 52 connected to the baffle body 50. The baffle body 50 of the baffle post 34 preferably includes a generally cylindrical central portion 54 with a through bore 56 and first and second counter bores 58, 60 formed therein. The second counter bore 60 is preferably disposed axially spaced from and facing in the opposite direction of the first counter bore 58. Extending radially outwardly from the central portion 54 is a circumferentially continuous and generally annular flange 62 including a preferably circumferentially continuous groove 64 in which the upstanding wall 44 of the baffle cup 32 is slidably received to permit movement of the baffle post 34 relative to the baffle cup 32. The groove 64 may include a spring retaining portion 66 in which the spring 36 is received between the baffle body 50 of the baffle post 34 and the baffle cup 32. The spring retaining portion 66 may have a reduced radial dimension or extent to more closely receive and position the spring 36 therein. Of course, other constructions and arrangement may be used, for example, without limitation, a plurality of pockets could be provided in the first section with a separate spring received in each of the plurality of pockets so that each spring is trapped between the baffle post and baffle cup. The spring 36 is preferably captured in compression between the baffle post 34 and baffle cup 32. In the presently preferred embodiment, the cylindrical central portion 54 of the baffle body 50 is slidably received within the annular wall 44 of the baffle cup 32 and may guide the movement of the baffle post 34 relative to the baffle cup 32. In this manner, an inner surface 68 of the annular wall 44 of the baffle cup 32 may provide a bearing surface for the movement of the baffle post 34 relative to the baffle cup 32.
The baffle post element 52 of the baffle post 34 preferably includes a generally planar and annular upper surface 70 adapted to be received in the baffle cup 32 adjacent to a lower surface 72 of its wall 38 and generally within the depending rim 40. The baffle post element 52 preferably includes a radially outwardly extending flange 74 providing an axially extending bearing surface 76 slidably engaged with and guided by the inner surface of the depending rim 40 of the baffle cup 32. A lower surface 78 of the flange 74 may engage the shoulder 28 on the blank mold 12 when the baffle post 34 is fully advanced relative to the blank mold 12 as shown in
The external surface 80 may include a radially outwardly extending section 82 that is preferably circumferentially continuous and adapted to engage the narrowing internal surface 30 of the blank mold 12. Should this radially outwardly extending section 82 of the external surface 80 become damaged or worn in use, it can be machined in part or in whole to provide a fresh layer or surface of material still having the complementary angle to that of the internal surface 30 of the blank mold 12 to enable continued service of the baffle post 34 with limited maintenance or repair. Since machining the external surface 80 will reduce its diameter, the baffle post element 52 will have to be axially adjusted to ensure it engages to the correct depth into the blank mold 12. This can be done by providing a shim that initially advances the baffle post element 52 a certain distance to maintain the same length in use before the machining or maintenance of the baffle post element 52. An annular groove 84 or passages may be formed in the baffle post element 52 to provide a void, the purpose of which is to increase its operating temperature. The baffle post element 52 is preferably through hardened or hardened to a desired depth from its surface 80 such that after machining a hardened external surface 80 is presented for engagement with the internal surface 30 of the blank mold 12.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the baffle post element 52 of the baffle post 34 includes an upstanding annular wall 86 that is constructed and arranged to be disposed at least partially within the first counter bore 58 of the baffle body 50. The upstanding wall 86 preferably includes internal threads 88 to receive a coupler such as a fastener 90 disposed through the bore 56 in the baffle body 50 and threadably received in the baffle post element 52. The fastener preferably has an enlarged head 92 seated on a shoulder 94 provided by the second counter bore 60 of the baffle body 50 and a threaded shank 96 received in the baffle post element 52. In this manner, the baffle post element 52 is removably connected to the baffle body 50 so that the baffle post element 52 can be removed for repair or maintenance as needed and a new baffle post element 52 can be attached to the baffle body 50 to reduce the down time and increase the efficiency of the glassware forming machine.
In use, the baffle assembly 10 is advanced toward and into engagement with the blank mold 12. The spring 36 yieldably biases the baffle cup 32 into engagement with the baffle post element 52, and more specifically, the lower surface 72 of the baffle cup 32 engages the upper surface 70 of the baffle post element 52. As best shown in
A second presently preferred embodiment of a baffle assembly 100 is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In assembly, as shown in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the preceding disclosure has been provided in terms of description rather than limitation. Certain relative terms like above, below, upper, lower, vertical and the like are used to describe the apparatus in the orientation(s) shown in the drawings and do not limit the possible orientations of the apparatus generally or any part thereof. While presently preferred embodiments or forms of the invention have been disclosed herein, modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, without limitation, while threaded fasteners have been disclosed as connecting together the baffle body and baffle post element of the baffle post, mating portions of the baffle body and baffle post element may have complementary threads so that they are connected together without any additional fasteners. Alternatively, the baffle body and baffle post element can be connected together by substantially any suitable means including various friction fit arrangements, clamps, among others. Still other modifications and substitutions will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure and the appended claims.
