EP-4741354-A1 - SERVO MOTOR DRIVEN PLUNGER MECHANISM

EP4741354A1EP 4741354 A1EP4741354 A1EP 4741354A1EP-4741354-A1

Abstract

A plunger actuation arrangement, parison forming arrangement, a forming machine and methods are provided. Improved fluid flow paths are provided. Cooling arrangements for cooling a linear actuator are provided. Attachment and alignment features are provided for attaching and allowing alignment of a plunger relative to the actuator. Simplified mounting arrangements for mounting the actuation arrangement relative to a machine frame are provided.

Inventors

RINGUETTE, TIMOTHY A.
Duner, Daniel A.

Assignees

Emhart Glass S.A.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251020

Claims (19)

A parison plunger actuation arrangement comprising: a carriage configured to carry a plunger for use in forming a parison from a gob, the carriage having a first fluid flow port; and a first guide connected to the carriage for guiding motion of the carriage parallel to a plunger actuation axis, the first guide defining a fluid flow path, the fluid flow path fluidly coupled to the first fluid flow port; a linear actuator coupled to the carriage configured to drive the carriage parallel to the plunger actuation axis.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first guide has a first tubular member and a second tubular member operably slidable relative to the first tubular member parallel to the plunger actuation axis to adjust an axial length of the first guide, the first and second tubular members forming at least part of the fluid flow path of the first guide, optionally wherein the first or second tubular member is telescopically received in the second or first tubular member, respectively.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first tubular member is operably sealingly connected to the second tubular member.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 1-3, wherein: the linear actuator includes a mounting block, the carriage movable relative to the mounting block, the mounting block having a mounting block plunger fluid flow path; and the fluid flow path of the first guide operably fluidly coupled to the mounting block plunger fluid flow path optionally by a connecting tube connected to the mounting block and fluidly connected to and interposed between the mounting block plunger fluid flow path and the fluid flow path of the first guide.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of claim 4 when appended to claims 2 or 3, wherein the carriage is on a first side of the mounting block; the connecting tube is on a second side of the mounting block; the first tubular member is operably connected to the carriage and travels with the carriage when the carriage moves along the plunger actuation axis; the second tubular member extends, at least in part, on the second side of the mounting block and connects to the connecting tube on the second side of the mounting block to operably fluidly connect the mounting block plunger fluid flow path to the fluid flow path of the guide.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 4-5, wherein the guide is mounted to the mounting block such that a least a portion extends through the mounting block such that at least a portion of the fluid flow path of the first guide extends through the mounting block.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the first guide includes a third tubular member slidable relative to the first and second tubular members, the third tubular member forming at least part of the fluid flow path of the first guide and operably fluidly connecting the portion of the first fluid flow path provided by the first tubular member with the portion of the first fluid flow path provided by the second tubular member, optionally wherein the first, second and third tubular members are telescopically interconnected.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 1-7, further comprising a second guide connected to the carriage for guiding motion of the carriage parallel to the plunger actuation axis, the second guide defining a second flow path, the carriage having a second fluid flow port, the second flow path fluidly coupled to the second fluid flow port.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of claim 8, further comprising a plunger operably attached to the carriage, the plunger having an internal plunger fluid flow path operably connected to the first and second fluid flow ports, the plunger fluid flow path fluidly connecting the first fluid flow port to the second fluid flow port such that a continuous fluid flow path is formed by the first guide, second guide and the plunger.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 1-9, comprising a plunger operably attached to the carriage, the plunger having an internal fluid flow path extending between a first port and a second port, the first port connecting to the first fluid flow port of the carriage, the internal fluid flow path connecting the second port of the plunger with the first port and the first fluid flow port of the carriage.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of claim 10, wherein the plunger is a plunger for use in forming a parison using a blowing technique rather than the pressing technique, the fluid used for forming the parison during the blowing technique exiting the plunger through the second port.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of claim 9, wherein the plunger is a plunger for use in forming a parison using a pressing technique and fluid flow through the internal plunger fluid flow path is used to cool the plunger.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 1-12, further comprising a source of air, the source of air operably coupled to the first fluid flow path formed by the first guide, when in operation, fluid from the source of air flows through the first fluid flow path from the source of air to the first fluid port.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the first guide provides lateral support of the carriage in a plane perpendicular to the plunger actuation axis.
The parison plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the first guide is not a electro mechanical actuator, pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.
The plunger actuation arrangement of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the linear actuator is a linear motor having a stator and a slider movable relative to the stator, the slider being free of any fluid flow therethrough for cooling of a plunger or for providing fluid pressure for a blow technique for forming a parison.
A parison formation system comprising: a machine frame including a mounting base, the mounting base including a first mounting base plunger fluid flow path; a first plunger actuation arrangement of claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon; an adaptor bar mechanically interposed between the mounting block of the linear actuator and the mounting base of the machine frame for operably fixedly mounting the mounting block in a fixed position to the machine frame, the adaptor bar having a first adaptor bar plunger fluid flow path therethrough, the first adaptor bar plunger fluid flow path fluidly connecting the first mounting base plunger fluid flow path with the mounting block plunger fluid flow path.
The parison formation system of claim 17, further comprising a source of air, the source of air operably coupled to the mounting base plunger fluid flow path, when in operation, fluid from the source of air flows through the mounting base plunger fluid flow path, the adaptor bar plunger fluid flow path, the mounting block plunger fluid flow path, and fluid flow path of the first guide when flowing to the carriage.
A method of assembling a parison formation system of claim 17 or 18, the method comprising: mounting adaptor bar to the mounting base such that the first mounting base plunger fluid flow path is fluidly connected to the first adaptor bar plunger fluid flow path; and mounting the mounting block to the adaptor bar such that the first mounting block plunger fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the first adaptor bar plunger fluid flow path.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/709,803, filed October 21, 2024, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to mechanisms for forming glass parisons from a gob of glass and particularly to plunger mechanisms for forming parisons. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One way to form glass containers is to convert a gob of molten glass into a parison using a first mold, known as a blank mold, which is then transferred to a second mold, known as a blow mold, into the final form of the container. The formation of the parison may be done either by pressing the gob into contact with the blank mold or operably blowing fluid into the gob, typically air, to press the material of the gob outward and into contact with the blank mold. A plunger is used in either of these operations, but the plunger has different functions depending on the operation. In the pressing operation, the plunger is pressed into the gob after insertion of the gob into the blank mold to distribute the glass within the blank mold to form the parison. In the blowing operation, the plunger closes off an end of the blank mold and forms an initial cavity in the gob. Thereafter, the fluid is dispensed from the plunger to distribute the glass within the blank mold. After formation of the parison, the parison is transitioned from the blank mold to the blow mold using an invert. The invert typically pivots about an invert axis between the two molds. Typically, the invert is fixed relative to a frame of the forming machine. The invert carries an arm that carries a neck ring and guide ring used to guide the plunger and to form various features of the neck of the container. The vertical position of the neck ring arm and the required displacement of the plunger relative to the neck ring arm to fully form the parison assists in establishing the overall stroke required for a given parison formation process. However, different neck ring arms or different neck ring arm configurations are used with the invert which can further affect the requisite positioning of a plunger along the plunger actuation axis. In addition, the system operates in a high temperature environment. As such, cooling of various components is beneficial. In particular, cooling of the plunger and linear actuator, particularly if an electric actuator is used, is beneficial. Even when cooling of the plunger is not required, such as in the blow technique, pressurized fluid is often required to be supplied to the plunger. Also, the plunger may need to be replaced for maintenance purposes or swapped when a different parison configuration is being produced. This replacement or swapping of plungers does not typically entirely preplace the plunger actuation arrangement. Removal of the plunger and attachment of another plunger can be time consuming resulting in downtime for the entire forming machine. In the past, pneumatic actuators were used to drive the plunger. Unfortunately, due to inaccuracies in intermediate positions within the stroke of a plunger, complex spring actuated components were included between the actuator and the plunger to more accurately drive the plunger to intermediate positions. However, this increased the complexity, number of components susceptible to wear, as well as introduced inaccuracies and feedback noise due to the inclusion of components such as springs. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION New and improved plunger actuation arrangements for forming parisons, components thereof, and systems incorporating plunger actuation arrangements are provided. In an example, a parison plunger actuation arrangement including a carriage, a first guide and a linear actuator is provided. The carriage is configured to carry a plunger for use in forming a parison from a gob. The carriage has a first fluid flow port. The first guide is connected to the carriage for guiding motion of the carriage parallel to a plunger actuation axis. The first guide defines a fluid flow path. The fluid flow path is operably fluidly coupled to the first fluid flow port. The linear actuator is coupled to the carriage and is configured to drive the carriage parallel to the plunger actuation axis. In one example, the first guide has a first tubular member and a second tubular member operably slidable relative to the first tubular member parallel to the plunger actuation axis to adjust an axial length of the first guide. The first and second tubular members form at least part of the fluid flow path of the first guide. In one example, the first or second tubular member is telescopically received in the second or first tubular member. In one example, the first tubular member is operably sealingly connected to the second tubular member. In one example, the linear actuator includes a mounting block. The carriage is movable r