An apparatus for producing a glass workpiece includes: a device configured to heat a glass until it softens; an inner molding tool configured to mold inner lateral surfaces of the workpiece; an outer molding tool configured to mold outer lateral surfaces of the workpiece, the outer molding tool having a shaping roller with a shaping surface; an accommodating device configured to accommodate the shaping roller, the shaping roller being mounted in a freely rotatable manner in the accommodating device and is fixable during a shaping process by a lockable locking device, the shaping roller being locked with a releasable connection such that the shaping roller can be released and rotated through an angle in the locking device between individual shaping processes; and an apparatus configured to apply a lubricating oil to the shaping surface of the shaping roller and having an outlet opening configured to dispense the lubricating oil.

A glass rod manufacturing device includes: a holding portion configured to hold one end of a starting rod; a heating portion configured to heat a bent portion; and a centering jig configured to apply a force in a first direction intersecting an axis to a part of the starting rod that whirls between the bent portion and another end of the starting rod due to rotation of the starting rod about an axis. The centering jig includes: an abutment portion configured to abut against the part; an elastic displacement portion configured to elastically displace the abutment portion in the first direction according to a run-out deviation of whirl of the part; and a slide portion configured to slide the abutment portion in a second direction intersecting the axis and the first direction according to the run-out deviation of whirl of the part.

A glass rod manufacturing device includes: a holding portion configured to hold one end of a starting rod; a heating portion configured to heat a bent portion; and a centering jig configured to apply a force in a first direction intersecting an axis to a part of the starting rod that whirls between the bent portion and another end of the starting rod due to rotation of the starting rod about an axis. The centering jig includes: an abutment portion configured to abut against the part; an elastic displacement portion configured to elastically displace the abutment portion in the first direction according to a run-out deviation of whirl of the part; and a slide portion configured to slide the abutment portion in a second direction intersecting the axis and the first direction according to the run-out deviation of whirl of the part.

A tapered tip for being attached to a wrapper containing a smokeable substance. The tip is formed by a tube having a conical frustrum shape having two ends forming first and second openings at opposite ends of the tube. The openings are fluidly connected to each other by a chamber disposed between the two ends. The chamber and the two are axially aligned. The tip is formed by rotating a tube while applying heat to a section. The heated section is squeezed and a pivoting rod is inserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is applied. The heated portion is squeezed a second time and the rod is reinserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is applied. The heated portion is again squeezed and the pivoting rod is again reinserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is applied to the end of the tube.

A tapered tip for being attached to a wrapper containing a smokeable substance. The tip is formed by a tube having a conical frustrum shape having two ends forming first and second openings at opposite ends of the tube. The openings are fluidly connected to each other by a chamber disposed between the two ends. The chamber and the two are axially aligned. The tip is formed by rotating a tube while applying heat to a section. The heated section is squeezed and a pivoting rod is inserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is applied. The heated portion is squeezed a second time and the rod is reinserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is applied. The heated portion is again squeezed and the pivoting rod is again reinserted. The rollers and rod are removed and heat is applied to the end of the tube.

An apparatus for the automated production of glass assemblies includes: a turning machine with at least two spindles, which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation and which each have a workpiece holder, wherein the workpiece holders are arranged opposite one another; one or more gas burners or lasers fixed on a first tool carriage which is movable in parallel and/or perpendicularly to the axis of rotation; one or more drives for driving a rotational movement of the spindles and a movement of the first tool carriage; a pressure module including a pump device at least one working cylinder for applying a pressure to an inner tube and/or to a space between the inner tube and an outer tube; and a control unit configured to control the burners or lasers, one or more drives, the first tool carriage and the pressure module.

An apparatus for the automated production of glass assemblies includes: a turning machine with at least two spindles, which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation and which each have a workpiece holder, wherein the workpiece holders are arranged opposite one another; one or more gas burners or lasers fixed on a first tool carriage which is movable in parallel and/or perpendicularly to the axis of rotation; one or more drives for driving a rotational movement of the spindles and a movement of the first tool carriage; a pressure module including a pump device at least one working cylinder for applying a pressure to an inner tube and/or to a space between the inner tube and an outer tube; and a control unit configured to control the burners or lasers, one or more drives, the first tool carriage and the pressure module.

A glass tube element having a hollow cylindrical section with a shell having an outer diameter is provided. A first ratio is a difference value to a mean value. The difference value is a difference of a minimal and maximal value of the outer diameter. The mean value is a mean of the minimal and maximal values. A sub-section having a start, an end, and a distance of 1 meter measured along a straight line from the start to the end and intersecting with a center axis of the sub-section at the start and the end. The sub-section having, for every point of the center axis, a shortest distance to the straight line. A second ratio of a specific distance to 1 meter, the specific distance being defined as a largest of all shortest distances. A product of the first and second ratio is smaller than 4?10.sup.?6.

Disclosed is a method for the production of a tube having, in sections, a non-circular profile by deforming, comprising: a) providing a tube, which has a circular initial profile; b) conveying the tube in a hot, malleable state through a nip, which is formed by squeezing rollers and has a first nip width, which is larger than or equal to an outer dimension of the initial profile; c) adjusting the squeezing rollers for setting a second nip width, which is smaller than the outer dimension of the initial profile, and deforming the initial profile in said hot, malleable state for obtaining said non-circular cross section; and d) adjusting the squeezing rollers for setting a third nip width, which is larger than or equal to the outer dimension of the initial profile, and severing said tube in a region having a circular cross section; so that respective end portions of said tube have a circular cross section According to the invention, the tubes can be connected reliably with connecting-members or other tubes via the end portions having the circular profile using proven tube connection technologies. At the same time there is at least one central section having a non-circular cross section which is of advantage, for example for applications in photobioreactors.

Disclosed is a method for the production of a tube having, in sections, a non-circular profile by deforming, comprising: a) providing a tube, which has a circular initial profile; b) conveying the tube in a hot, malleable state through a nip, which is formed by squeezing rollers and has a first nip width, which is larger than or equal to an outer dimension of the initial profile; c) adjusting the squeezing rollers for setting a second nip width, which is smaller than the outer dimension of the initial profile, and deforming the initial profile in said hot, malleable state for obtaining said non-circular cross section; and d) adjusting the squeezing rollers for setting a third nip width, which is larger than or equal to the outer dimension of the initial profile, and severing said tube in a region having a circular cross section; so that respective end portions of said tube have a circular cross section According to the invention, the tubes can be connected reliably with connecting-members or other tubes via the end portions having the circular profile using proven tube connection technologies. At the same time there is at least one central section having a non-circular cross section which is of advantage, for example for applications in photobioreactors.