1. A process for operating an air jet spinning machine having at least one spinning station (2) comprising a vortex chamber (1),
wherein a fibre strand (3) is fed during the spinning process to the vortex chamber (1) in a spinning direction,
wherein the fibre strand (3) receives a twist inside the vortex chamber (1) with the aid of an airstream, so that a yarn (4) possessing the twist is formed from the fibre strand (3),
wherein the yarn (4) having the twist is withdrawn from the vortex chamber (1) with the aid of a withdrawal device (5),
wherein the yarn (4) withdrawn from the vortex chamber (1) is monitored for yarn faults (18) by a yarn monitoring device (6) arranged downstream of the vortex chamber (1)
characterized in that the spinning process is interrupted when a yarn fault (18) is detected in such a way that the yarn (4) detaches itself from the fibre strand (3) and a yarn end forms, and that subsequent to the interruption of the spinning process, a piecing process, partly carried out by the spinning station (2) is initiated, in which the following steps are carried out:
suctioning of the yarn end with the aid of a first suction unit (7) of the spinning station (2) in the area between an outlet opening (8) of the vortex chamber (1) and the withdrawal device (5),
cutting the end section of the yarn (4) containing the yarn fault (18) in the area of the first suction unit (7) with the aid of a yarn cutting unit (9) of the spinning station (2),
returning the yarn end of the remaining yarn (4) opposite to the spinning direction through the vortex chamber (1) with the aid of an air stream generated by at least one air injection nozzle (32), which air stream is directed in the vortex chamber (1), or respectively, a withdrawal channel (14) through which the yarn passes, of a yarn forming element (15) projecting into the vortex chamber (1)
seizing of the yarn end in the area of an inlet opening (16) of the vortex chamber (1)
preparing the yarn end for an attachment of the yarn end to the end section of the fibre strand (3),
putting into operation of the withdrawal device (5)
superimposition of the yarn end still located outside of the vortex chamber (1) to the end section of the fibre strand (3),
joint drawing in of the yarn end and the end section of the fibre strand (3) into the vortex chamber (1),
resumption of the spinning process by continued feed of the fibre strand (3) into the vortex chamber (1) and withdrawal of the yarn (4) formed in the vortex chamber (1).
2-17. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A split loading funnel for guiding a gob of molten glass that includes:
two or more individual funnel segments, each of which includes an interior guide surface, the two or more individual funnel segments being arranged relative to one another so that the interior guide surfaces of the individual funnel segments cooperate to define a guide passage having a longitudinal axis, wherein the guide passage has a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of the gob of molten glass.
2. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 1, wherein the two or more individual funnel segments comprise a first funnel segment with a first concave interior surface and a second funnel segment with a second concave interior surface.
3. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 1, wherein the split loading funnel comprises:
a first funnel segment that includes a lower portion and a lateral flange extending from each side of the lower portion, wherein the lower portion of the first funnel segment has a first concave interior guide surface; and
a second funnel segment that includes a lower portion and a lateral flange extending from each side of the lower portion, wherein the lower portion of the second funnel segment has a second concave interior guide surface;
wherein the lateral flanges of the first funnel segment are secured to the lateral flanges of the second funnel segment by mounting blocks so that the first and second concave interior guide surfaces face each other and define the guide passage.
4. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 3, wherein the first concave interior guide surface has a cross-sectional profile and the second concave interior guide surface has a cross-sectional profile.
5. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 4, wherein the cross-sectional profiles of the first and second concave interior guide surfaces are the same.
6. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 4, wherein the cross-sectional profiles of the first and second concave interior guide surfaces are different.
7. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 3, wherein the guide passage extends to an outlet of the split loading funnel that has an exit.
8. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 7, wherein the first funnel segment further includes a upper portion having a first concave interior surface angled outwardly from the first concave interior guide surface, wherein the second funnel segment further includes a upper portion having a second concave interior surface angled outwardly from the second concave interior guide surface, and wherein the first and second concave interior surfaces of the upper portions face each other to define an inlet, the inlet having an entrance to the split loading funnel and a inlet from which the guide passage extends down to the outlet.
9. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 3, wherein the mounting blocks are tapered to angle the first and second interior guide surfaces towards one another so that the cross-sectional area of the guide passage progressively decreases down the longitudinal axis from the inlet of the inlet to the exit of the outlet.
10. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 8, wherein the mounting blocks are tapered along their lengths to angle the first and second interior guide surfaces towards one another so that the cross-sectional area of the guide passage varies down the longitudinal axis.
11. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 1, wherein the interior guide surfaces of the multiple individual funnel segments are heat-treated or coated to provide wear resistance, limit heat transfer, or lower friction.
12. An apparatus for delivering a gob of molten glass into a blank mold, the apparatus including:
a loading funnel holder that defines at least one opening; and
a split loading funnel carried by the funnel holder, the split loading funnel comprising two or more individual funnel segments, each of which includes an interior guide surface, that are arranged relative to one another so that the interior guide surfaces of the individual funnel segments cooperate to define a guide passage having a longitudinal axis.
13. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, further comprising a funnel mount rotatably received in the at least one opening of the loading funnel holder to rotatably mount the funnel to the funnel holder, wherein the funnel mount includes a circular frame and two opposed, spaced apart legs depending from the circular frame, each of the two opposed legs having a shoulder and a pair of elongated ridges that define a vertical groove extending downward from the shoulder.
14. The apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein the split loading funnel comprises:
a first funnel segment having a lower portion that has a first concave interior guide surface and a lateral flange extending from each side of the lower portion of the first funnel segment; and
a second funnel segment having a lower portion that has a second concave interior guide surface and a lateral flange extending from each side of the lower portion of the second funnel segment;
wherein the lateral flanges of the first funnel segment are secured to the lateral flanges of second funnel segment by a pair of interposed mounting blocks, each of the mounting blocks having a protruding vertical guide and a protruding horizontal stop located above the guide, the protruding vertical guides of the mounting block being received in the vertical grooves of the depending legs of the funnel mount such that the stops of the mounting blocks rest against the shoulders of the depending legs.
15. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 14, wherein the guide passage extends to an outlet of the split loading funnel that has an exit, and wherein the mounting blocks are tapered to angle the first and second interior guide surfaces towards one another so that a cross-sectional area of the guide passage progressively decreases down the longitudinal axis towards the exit.
16. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 14, wherein the first concave interior guide surface has a cross-sectional profile and the second concave interior guide surface has a cross-sectional profile.
17. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 16, wherein the cross-sectional profiles of the first and second concave interior guide surfaces are the same.
18. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 16, wherein the cross-sectional profiles of the first and second concave interior guide surfaces are different.
19. The split loading funnel set forth in claim 12 wherein the split loading funnel comprises:
a first funnel segment having a lower portion that has a first concave interior guide surface and a lateral flange extending from each side of the lower portion of the first funnel segment; and
a second funnel segment having a lower portion that has a second concave interior guide surface and a lateral flange extending from each side of the lower portion of the second funnel segment;
wherein the lateral flanges of the first funnel segment are secured to the lateral flanges of second funnel segment by a pair of interposed mounting blocks, each of the mounting blocks is generally T-shaped with generally rectangular portions positioned between the opposed confronting lateral flanges of the funnel segments, and semi-cylindrical portions extending from radially outward ends of the rectangular portions and having semi-cylindrical radially outwardly-facing mounting surfaces.
20. A process for delivering a gob of molten glass from a gob delivery system to a blank mold, the process comprising:
providing an apparatus that includes a split, rotatable, loading funnel carried by a funnel holder and having two or more individual funnel segments that are arranged relative to one another to cooperatively define a guide passage having a longitudinal axis;
locating the funnel above a mold cavity of a blank mold so that the guide passage is vertically aligned with the mold cavity;
delivering a gob of molten glass from a deflector to the mold cavity through the guide to passage of the funnel, the deflector having a chute that includes a base and two side walls extending outwardly from the base; and
moving the funnel away from the mold cavity after the gob of molten glass has been introduced to the mold cavity.
21. The process set forth in claim 20, further comprising:
rotating the funnel to index the guide passage of the funnel relative to the chute of the deflector.
22. A glassware forming machine that includes:
a blank mold for forming a molten glass gob into a glass parison;
a funnel positioned above said blank mold for guiding molten glass gobs into said blank mold, wherein said funnel is circumferentially split to include segments; and
blocks for adjusting the funnel segments with respect to each other.
23. The machine set forth in claim 22 wherein said split funnel has at least two segments with opposed glass-contacting surfaces that are not mirror images of each other.