A method for handling and forming may include: arranging glass tubes horizontally in a glass tube magazine; gripping and picking up a tube using a first manipulator from the magazine; rotating the tube gripped by the first manipulator from a horizontal position to a vertical position and inserting the tube into a revolver magazine; picking up the tube from the revolver magazine using a second manipulator; inserting the tube vertically from above into a single chuck of a first vertical rotating crown of rotating chucks; treating the tube at work stations to provide a tip-shaped end; transferring the tube to an intermediate rotating turret; releasing the single glass tube to a transfer-overturning assembly, rotating the tube to a horizontal position; inserting the tip-shaped end of the tube into a horizontal rotating chuck; and treating the tube at subsequent work stations to provide a flange-shaped end.

A method for handling and forming may include: arranging glass tubes horizontally in a glass tube magazine; gripping and picking up a tube using a first manipulator from the magazine; rotating the tube gripped by the first manipulator from a horizontal position to a vertical position and inserting the tube into a revolver magazine; picking up the tube from the revolver magazine using a second manipulator; inserting the tube vertically from above into a single chuck of a first vertical rotating crown of rotating chucks; treating the tube at work stations to provide a tip-shaped end; transferring the tube to an intermediate rotating turret; releasing the single glass tube to a transfer-overturning assembly, rotating the tube to a horizontal position; inserting the tip-shaped end of the tube into a horizontal rotating chuck; and treating the tube at subsequent work stations to provide a flange-shaped end.

Methods for producing articles from a glass tube include securing a working end of the glass tube in a glass tube holder of a converter having a plurality of processing stations including a heating station and a forming station. An initial length of the glass tube includes a plurality of serial segments, each of the plurality of serial segments corresponding to one article and having an article number. The methods include heating the working end of the glass tube in the heating station, adjusting an amount of heating of the glass tube in the heating station based on the article number at the working end of the glass tube, and forming a feature of the article in the forming station. Adjusting the amount of heating based on the article number reduces variation in tube temperature, article dimensions, or both, from one article number to the next article number.

Methods for producing articles from a glass tube include securing a working end of the glass tube in a glass tube holder of a converter having a plurality of processing stations including a heating station and a forming station. An initial length of the glass tube includes a plurality of serial segments, each of the plurality of serial segments corresponding to one article and having an article number. The methods include heating the working end of the glass tube in the heating station, adjusting an amount of heating of the glass tube in the heating station based on the article number at the working end of the glass tube, and forming a feature of the article in the forming station. Adjusting the amount of heating based on the article number reduces variation in tube temperature, article dimensions, or both, from one article number to the next article number.

Forming tool for glass forming in particular for forming bottle necks, with an axial central mounting section, provided with a flange, with forming surfaces on the flange where the forming surfaces are at an angle with a surface perpendicular to the axial axis of the mounting section, wherein the angle (X) is between 5-15 degrees, and with a second forming surface and two cutouts, wherein the forming surface and the cutout are at an angle (Y) when seen in the axial direction of 60-85 degrees.

A process for the preparation of a glass container from a glass tube in a glass processing machine includes the steps of: I) heating the glass tube at a defined position between a first portion and a second portion to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the glass tube while the glass tube is rotating around its longitudinal axis L.sub.tube and pulling apart the first portion and the second portion thereby separating the first portion from the second portion and forming a closed bottom at one end of the first portion; and II) moving a mold matrix of the glass processing machine towards the closed bottom and bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom. While bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom, a distance Y.sub.m between the mold matrix and a first clamping chuck of the glass processing machine is decreased stepwise.

A process for the preparation of a glass container from a glass tube in a glass processing machine includes the steps of: I) heating the glass tube at a defined position between a first portion and a second portion to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the glass tube while the glass tube is rotating around its longitudinal axis L.sub.tube and pulling apart the first portion and the second portion thereby separating the first portion from the second portion and forming a closed bottom at one end of the first portion; and II) moving a mold matrix of the glass processing machine towards the closed bottom and bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom. While bringing the mold matrix into contact with the closed bottom, a distance Y.sub.m between the mold matrix and a first clamping chuck of the glass processing machine is decreased stepwise.