A method for making a heat-resistant roll includes pre-selecting a plurality of heat-resistant disks and pressing at least a selected portion of the pre-selected disks together such that a total axial thickness of the pressed disks relative to a total axial thickness of the selected disks prior to pressing is within a predetermined range.

Systems and methods for generation of porous silicate aggregates are disclosed. For example, the manufacturing systems may include a conveyor element, multiple hoppers positioned over a first section of the conveyor element, one or more derricks and/or holding elements to move and/or hold the hoppers, a kiln positioned with respect to a second portion of the conveyor element, and/or computing components to allow for control of the components of the system. The system may produce single-layer products in a continuous fashion, multi-layered products having multiple physical and/or chemical properties, and/or more than one product at a time.

Systems and methods for generation of porous silicate aggregates are disclosed. For example, the manufacturing systems may include a conveyor element, multiple hoppers positioned over a first section of the conveyor element, one or more derricks and/or holding elements to move and/or hold the hoppers, a kiln positioned with respect to a second portion of the conveyor element, and/or computing components to allow for control of the components of the system. The system may produce single-layer products in a continuous fashion, multi-layered products having multiple physical and/or chemical properties, and/or more than one product at a time.

An end cap assembly for a conveyor roll includes an end cap configured to fit over an end of the conveyor roll, and the end cap has an opening. The end cap assembly further includes a spring member configured to be positioned between the end of the conveyor roll and the end cap, and a fastener that is insertable into the opening of the end cap. The fastener is configured to cooperate with the spring member to apply a retention force to assist in retaining the end cap on the conveyor roll.

A base material for a disk roll containing a layered silicate, in which the layered silicate is constituted to contain two or more kinds of minerals having an interlayer distance exceeding 10 angstroms. A base material for a disk roll is excellent in the compressive strength and wear resistance thereby.

Embodiments of a method of forming a glass article are disclosed. The methods include supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction different from the first direction without contacting the glass ribbon with a solid material. The glass ribbon may exhibit a viscosity of less than about 10.sup.8 Poise and a thickness of about 1 mm or less. Embodiments of a glass or glass-ceramic forming apparatus are also disclosed. The apparatus may include a glass feed device for supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and a redirection system disposed underneath the glass feed device for redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction. In one or more embodiments, the redirection system comprising at least one gas bearing system for supplying a gas film to support the glass ribbon.

A method of manufacturing a glass film includes a forming step of forming a band-shaped glass film by pulling down a glass ribbon flowing down from a forming trough while sandwiching the glass ribbon from both front and back sides through use of roller pairs and a conveyance direction changing step of changing a conveyance direction of the glass film from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction by conveying the glass film along a conveyance path having an arc shape while supporting the glass film from a back surface side with a roller conveyor so that a front surface of the glass film after having passed through the conveyance path faces upward. A first roller to be brought into abutment against the glass film from the front surface side is arranged between a roller pair arranged in a lowermost stage and the roller conveyor.

A method of manufacturing a glass film includes a forming step of forming a band-shaped glass film by pulling down a glass ribbon flowing down from a forming trough while sandwiching the glass ribbon from both front and back sides through use of roller pairs and a conveyance direction changing step of changing a conveyance direction of the glass film from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction by conveying the glass film along a conveyance path having an arc shape while supporting the glass film from a back surface side with a roller conveyor so that a front surface of the glass film after having passed through the conveyance path faces upward. A first roller to be brought into abutment against the glass film from the front surface side is arranged between a roller pair arranged in a lowermost stage and the roller conveyor.

Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for non-contact processing a substrate, for example a glass substrate, overtop a gas layer. The support apparatus includes a plurality of gas bearings positioned on a pressure box supplied with a pressurized gas. Some embodiments are directed to a method of supporting and transporting softened glass. The method includes placing the glass in proximity to a gas bearing device having a support surface with a plurality of outlet ports disposed therein. Some embodiments are in directed to a glass processing apparatus comprising an air table configured to continuously transport and support a stream of glass and a plurality of modular devices supported by a support structure and disposed above the air table. Some embodiments are directed to a method for flattening viscous glass using a two-sided gas bearing device or a one-sided gas bearing device.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a glass film, including: a forming step of forming a band-shaped glass film (1); a conveyance direction changing step of changing a conveyance direction of the band-shaped glass film (1) from a vertically downward direction to a horizontal direction by conveying the band-shaped glass film (1) along a curved conveyance path (R1); and a horizontal conveyance step of conveying the band-shaped glass film (1) in the horizontal direction along a horizontal conveyance path (R2), wherein, when some sections of the band-shaped glass film (1) are to be discarded, the method involves: a separating step of separating a discard glass part (1x) from the band-shaped glass film (1) on the horizontal conveyance path (R2); and a discarding step of discarding the separated discard glass part (1x) by causing the discard glass part (1x) to leave the horizontal conveyance path (R2) downward.