The present invention discloses glass ceramics, and a production method and a dedicated device therefor. Glass ceramics are prepared by using tantalum-niobium tailings, blind mining of natural stone material is greatly reduced, and comprehensive utilization efficiency of tantalum-niobium tailings is improved. The glass ceramics obtained by the production method and the dedicated device has few bubbles and high strength, and the yield and the quality of the finished product are both improved. Moreover, the idle tantalum-niobium tailings are utilized in the production, so that resources are saved.

A float glass system includes a float bath having an entrance end and an exit end. At least one machine vision camera is located to view an interior of the float bath. At least one sensor is connected to the float bath to measure an operating parameter of the float bath. At least one operating device is connected to the float bath. The at least one machine vision camera, the at least one sensor, and the at least one operating device are connected to a control system configured to control the operating device based on input from the at least one machine vision camera and/or the at least one sensor.

A float glass system includes a float bath having an entrance end and an exit end. At least one machine vision camera is located to view an interior of the float bath. At least one sensor is connected to the float bath to measure an operating parameter of the float bath. At least one operating device is connected to the float bath. The at least one machine vision camera, the at least one sensor, and the at least one operating device are connected to a control system configured to control the operating device based on input from the at least one machine vision camera and/or the at least one sensor.

The present invention provides a tin alloy bath for a float bath, an apparatus for manufacturing a float glass, a method for manufacturing a float glass that can provide a high quality float glass in which defects due to coagulation and falling of a volatile tin component have been suppressed, and a float glass manufactured using those. The above-mentioned tin alloy bath for a float bath is a molten metal bath to be placed in the float bath for supplying molten glass to a liquid surface of the molten metal bath, thereby forming into a glass ribbon, and includes 1 mass % or more of copper with the remainder being unavoidable impurities and tin.

The present invention discloses glass ceramics, and a production method and a dedicated device therefor. Glass ceramics are prepared by using tantalum-niobium tailings, blind mining of natural stone material is greatly reduced, and comprehensive utilization efficiency of tantalum-niobium tailings is improved. The glass ceramics obtained by the production method and the dedicated device has few bubbles and high strength, and the yield and the quality of the finished product are both improved. Moreover, the idle tantalum-niobium tailings are utilized in the production, so that resources are saved.

The invention relates to a method for forming a glass item, in particular a three-dimensionally formed flat glass item, wherein the following steps are carried out: arranging a flat formation of glass, for example a flat glass pane of homogeneous thickness or a flat glass pane of inhomogeneous thickness or a preformed flat glass pane blank or liquid two-dimensionally spread glass, between a mould plunger and a melt of liquid metal, in particular tin; tempering of at least one part to be formed of the flat formation of glass to a forming temperature of the glass at which the glass has a viscosity in the range from 10 Pas to 106.5 Pas, preferably in the range from 10 Pas to 104 Pas and particularly preferably in the range from 10 Pas to 103 Pas; forming the flat formation of glass by moving the mould plunger and a surface of the molten metal towards each other, preferably by means of at least one linear movement, for example by means of a linear motor or servomotor, so that the flat formation of glass is pressurised either by the mould plunger on the one hand and by the molten metal on the other hand and is formed by the pressurisation on both sides and/or by suctioning and conforming the flat formation of glass onto the mould plunger; cooling the formed flat formation of glass to a handling temperature below the forming temperature at which the glass has a viscosity of ?107 Pas; and demoulding the cooled flat formation; as well as a device for carrying out the method and a use of a molten metal for carrying out the method.

A hybrid glass manufacturing furnace for supplying a unit for floating the glass on a molten metal bath, includes, from upstream to downstream: an electric melting zone with a cold-top including electrodes for melting a vitrifiable mixture in order to obtain a bath of glass; a refining and homogenizing zone with a hot-top, including a first convection loop and a second convection loop; and a zone for cooling the glass formed by a conditioning tank which, being passed through by the second convection loop, is connected to at least one flow channel, wherein the hybrid furnace includes at least one tank neck that includes a floor and connects the electric melting zone to the refining and homogenizing zone of the glass and the hybrid furnace includes a non-return separation device to prevent the molten glass in the refining and homogenizing zone from returning to the melting zone.

A hybrid glass manufacturing furnace for supplying a unit for floating the glass on a molten metal bath, includes, from upstream to downstream: an electric melting zone with a cold-top including electrodes for melting a vitrifiable mixture in order to obtain a bath of glass; a refining and homogenizing zone with a hot-top, including a first convection loop and a second convection loop; and a zone for cooling the glass formed by a conditioning tank which, being passed through by the second convection loop, is connected to at least one flow channel, wherein the hybrid furnace includes at least one tank neck that includes a floor and connects the electric melting zone to the refining and homogenizing zone of the glass and the hybrid furnace includes a non-return separation device to prevent the molten glass in the refining and homogenizing zone from returning to the melting zone.