NECK RING SYSTEM AND GLASSWARE FORMING PROCESS

A glassware-forming neck ring system (10, 110, 210) includes a carrier assembly (14, 114, 214) carrying a neck ring assembly (12, 112). The neck ring assembly includes a neck ring guide (18) having a first forming aperture (39) therethrough around a vertical axis (A), and a neck ring (20, 220) divided along a longitudinal axis (C) into neck ring sections (20a,b, 220a,b) carried by the neck ring guide and movable toward and away from one another along the neck ring guide along a lateral axis (B). The carrier assembly includes a carrier (46, 246) having a body (48, 148, 248) with a second forming aperture (50) therethrough, longitudinally opposite ends (52, 53, 152, 153, 252, 253), laterally opposite sides (54, 55, 254, 255) between the ends, and a channel extending between the sides, restricting movement of the neck ring assembly along the vertical and longitudinal axes, and permitting movement of the neck ring assembly along the lateral axis. A process of forming glassware includes carrying the glassware by a neck ring system through an entire glassware forming process from a blank molding station to a ware handler.