A method for producing glass vials, in particular pharmaceutical vials or pharmaceutical ampoules, from a glass tube is provided, the method including the following steps: (a) rotating the glass tube about a longitudinal axis thereof; (b) locally heating the glass tube from one side by means of at least one burner to at least the softening temperature of the glass; (c) reducing the diameter by pressing at least one forming body laterally against the heated region; and (d) separating the glass tube by means of a burner. A glass vial produced in such a way releases a reduced amount of alkali in accordance with ISO 4802 and has a decreased delamination tendency. Furthermore, in the hot-formed peripheral region, the alkali content is only slightly reduced when compared with the alkali content in the glass interior.

A method for producing glass vials, in particular pharmaceutical vials or pharmaceutical ampoules, from a glass tube is provided, the method including the following steps: (a) rotating the glass tube about a longitudinal axis thereof; (b) locally heating the glass tube from one side by means of at least one burner to at least the softening temperature of the glass; (c) reducing the diameter by pressing at least one forming body laterally against the heated region; and (d) separating the glass tube by means of a burner. A glass vial produced in such a way releases a reduced amount of alkali in accordance with ISO 4802 and has a decreased delamination tendency. Furthermore, in the hot-formed peripheral region, the alkali content is only slightly reduced when compared with the alkali content in the glass interior.

An improved method and an improved apparatus are provided for producing a thin glass ribbon, which provide borders at the edges of the ribbon. The edges formed are of high mechanical quality and a formation of new secondary borders after the severing or at least the thickness of such secondary borders is reduced compared to the original borders. The method includes drawing the thin glass ribbon from a molten glass or from a preform, severing the borders, and cooling the resulting glass ribbon. The severing is effected at a location along the moving direction of the thin glass ribbon and at a time at which during the cooling of the thin glass ribbon the viscosity of the glass is in a range from 10.sup.7 dPa.Math.s to 10.sup.11 dPa.Math.s, so that the edges of the thin glass ribbon newly produced by the severing of the borders are rounded off.

An improved method and an improved apparatus are provided for producing a thin glass ribbon, which provide borders at the edges of the ribbon. The edges formed are of high mechanical quality and a formation of new secondary borders after the severing or at least the thickness of such secondary borders is reduced compared to the original borders. The method includes drawing the thin glass ribbon from a molten glass or from a preform, severing the borders, and cooling the resulting glass ribbon. The severing is effected at a location along the moving direction of the thin glass ribbon and at a time at which during the cooling of the thin glass ribbon the viscosity of the glass is in a range from 10.sup.7 dPa.Math.s to 10.sup.11 dPa.Math.s, so that the edges of the thin glass ribbon newly produced by the severing of the borders are rounded off.

A method for producing glass vials, in particular pharmaceutical vials or pharmaceutical ampoules, from a glass tube is provided, the method including the following steps: (a) rotating the glass tube about a longitudinal axis thereof; (b) locally heating the glass tube from one side by means of at least one burner to at least the softening temperature of the glass; (c) reducing the diameter by pressing at least one forming body laterally against the heated region; and (d) separating the glass tube by means of a burner. A glass vial produced in such a way releases a reduced amount of alkali in accordance with ISO 4802 and has a decreased delamination tendency. Furthermore, in the hot-formed peripheral region, the alkali content is only slightly reduced when compared with the alkali content in the glass interior.

A method for producing glass vials, in particular pharmaceutical vials or pharmaceutical ampoules, from a glass tube is provided, the method including the following steps: (a) rotating the glass tube about a longitudinal axis thereof; (b) locally heating the glass tube from one side by means of at least one burner to at least the softening temperature of the glass; (c) reducing the diameter by pressing at least one forming body laterally against the heated region; and (d) separating the glass tube by means of a burner. A glass vial produced in such a way releases a reduced amount of alkali in accordance with ISO 4802 and has a decreased delamination tendency. Furthermore, in the hot-formed peripheral region, the alkali content is only slightly reduced when compared with the alkali content in the glass interior.

A process for preparing a glass container that includes: providing a glass tube with a first portion, a second portion, and a longitudinal axis (L.sub.tube); holding the first portion in a first clamping chuck and the second portion in a second clamping chuck; rotating the glass tube around the longitudinal axis (L.sub.tube); heating, via a heater, the glass tube above a glass transition temperature; separating the first and second portions from one another by pulling apart along the longitudinal axis (L.sub.tube) while the heated glass tube is still rotating by moving the first and the second chucks away from each other; and moving the heater, while moving the first and second chucks away from each other, so that the heater follows a mass that remains at a circular end region of the first and/or second portion.

A method for severing a glass sheet includes preferentially heating a region of the glass sheet to form a softened region. A slit is formed in the softened region of the glass sheet to form a slit region. The slit extends at least partially into a thickness of the glass sheet. Heat is preferentially applied to the slit region of the glass sheet.

A method for severing a glass sheet includes preferentially heating a region of the glass sheet to form a softened region. A slit is formed in the softened region of the glass sheet to form a slit region. The slit extends at least partially into a thickness of the glass sheet. Heat is preferentially applied to the slit region of the glass sheet.

A method for severing a glass sheet includes preferentially heating a region of the glass sheet to form a softened region. A slit is formed in the softened region of the glass sheet to form a slit region. The slit extends at least partially into a thickness of the glass sheet. Heat is preferentially applied to the slit region of the glass sheet.