A system for levitating a softened, viscous or viscoelastic material by near field acoustic levitation. The system includes a support structure having a rigid surface, and a vibration generator operatively connected to the rigid surface. The vibration generator transmits acoustic waves to the rigid surface at a frequency and an amplitude sufficient to vibrate the rigid surface and create a gas squeeze film between the material and the rigid surface. The gas squeeze film has a pressure greater than ambient air pressure and sufficient to levitate the material. The system is particularly suited for transporting, forming, or casting heated glass. Also disclosed are methods for transporting, forming, and casting heated glass using near field acoustic levitation.

A glass container forming apparatus for forming a glass parison is disclosed. The glass container forming apparatus includes a feeder spout having a heated orifice ring, a plunger carried in the feeder spout and having a blow conduit therethrough, and die rollers immediately downstream of the heated orifice ring, with no chutes, scoops, or other gob handling devices therebetween. A glass container forming system that includes a glass feeder and a glass container forming apparatus is also disclosed.

A glass container forming apparatus for forming a glass parison is disclosed. The glass container forming apparatus includes a feeder spout having a heated orifice ring, a plunger carried in the feeder spout and having a blow conduit therethrough, and die rollers immediately downstream of the heated orifice ring, with no chutes, scoops, or other gob handling devices therebetween. A glass container forming system that includes a glass feeder and a glass container forming apparatus is also disclosed.

A method of selecting a radius of curvature for a conveying structure (22) of a continuous glass processing apparatus for processing a flexible glass ribbon (20) having a thickness of no more than about 0.3 mm is provided. The method includes identifying a thickness of the flexible glass ribbon (20). A predetermined bending stress level is selected that is suitable for the flexible glass ribbon (20) during the processing of the flexible glass ribbon. A radius (R) of curvature is selected for a conveying structure that is suitable for conveying the flexible glass ribbon (20) during the processing of the flexible glass ribbon through the glass processing apparatus based on the predetermined bending stress and at least one of web deflection angle and line tension. The glass processing apparatus is provided including the conveying structure.

A method of selecting a radius of curvature for a conveying structure (22) of a continuous glass processing apparatus for processing a flexible glass ribbon (20) having a thickness of no more than about 0.3 mm is provided. The method includes identifying a thickness of the flexible glass ribbon (20). A predetermined bending stress level is selected that is suitable for the flexible glass ribbon (20) during the processing of the flexible glass ribbon. A radius (R) of curvature is selected for a conveying structure that is suitable for conveying the flexible glass ribbon (20) during the processing of the flexible glass ribbon through the glass processing apparatus based on the predetermined bending stress and at least one of web deflection angle and line tension. The glass processing apparatus is provided including the conveying structure.

A roll forming apparatus includes at least one forming roll being spaced from a forming body to define a gap. The forming roll includes a working zone portion having a working zone surface with a length extending along a rotation axis of the forming roll and a thermal resistance boundary extending at an acute angle relative to the rotation axis. In further examples, methods include the step of feeding a stream of molten glass through the gap to form a glass ribbon including a formed thickness. The thermal resistance boundary facilitates substantial uniform radial expansion of the working zone surface relative to the rotation axis across the length of the working zone surface in response to heating of the working zone portion by the molten glass.

A roll forming apparatus includes at least one forming roll being spaced from a forming body to define a gap. The forming roll includes a working zone portion having a working zone surface with a length extending along a rotation axis of the forming roll and a thermal resistance boundary extending at an acute angle relative to the rotation axis. In further examples, methods include the step of feeding a stream of molten glass through the gap to form a glass ribbon including a formed thickness. The thermal resistance boundary facilitates substantial uniform radial expansion of the working zone surface relative to the rotation axis across the length of the working zone surface in response to heating of the working zone portion by the molten glass.

A roll for use in glass manufacture, such as in the production of non-dusting TFT glass, includes a hollow silica cylinder. A rod extends through the interior of the silica cylinder. A cooling volume is contained within the cylinder and extends around the rod. End caps are mechanically fixed to the roll. Pulling flats are fixed in place by inner and outer end plates. A compression fitting secures at least the outer end plate to the roll. The rod may serve to reinforce the roll and may be secured to the shaft by a plurality of supports. The supports accommodate differences in thermal expansion.

Provide is a heat-resistant roll with improved effectively characteristics, a production method thereof, and a method of producing sheet glass using the heat-resistant roll. A method of producing a heat-resistant roll equipped with a roll portion containing 5% by weight or more of clay includes: a grinding step (S101) of grinding a roll surface of the roll portion; and a surface treatment step (S102) of performing surface treatment of smoothening the ground roll surface in a wet state.

Provide is a heat-resistant roll with improved effectively characteristics, a production method thereof, and a method of producing sheet glass using the heat-resistant roll. A method of producing a heat-resistant roll equipped with a roll portion containing 5% by weight or more of clay includes: a grinding step (S101) of grinding a roll surface of the roll portion; and a surface treatment step (S102) of performing surface treatment of smoothening the ground roll surface in a wet state.