An apparatus for translating along at least one plane, the apparatus a first support system and a second support system supporting the weight of a stage and the stage's load, the first support system providing for movement in a first axis and the second support system providing for movement in a second axis. The apparatus further having a first rotary motor engaged with a first timing belt. The first timing belt engaged with a first bearing car. The first bearing car engaged with a first linear rail. The first linear rail fixed to a frame. A second bearing car attached to the first bearing car, the second bearing car engaged to a second linear rail. The second linear rail at an incline with respect to the first linear rail, the second linear rail fixed to a stage. The apparatus further comprising a second rotary motor engaged with a second timing belt. The second timing belt engaged with a third bearing car, the third bearing car engaged with the first linear rail. A fourth bearing car attached to the third bearing car, the fourth bearing car engaged to a third linear rail. The third linear rail at an incline with respect to the first linear rail, the third linear rail not parallel to the second linear rail, and the third linear rail fixed to the stage.

A method for thermally treating an annular region of an inner surface of a glass container produced from a borosilicate glass tube is provided. The annular region is disposed at a tubular portion of the glass container and is disposed adjacent to a glass container bottom. The method includes: forming the glass container bottom from the glass tube; heating the annular region of the inner surface of the tubular portion to a treatment temperature T.sub.Beh above the transformation temperature T.sub.G, wherein the annular region is adjacent to the glass container bottom; maintaining the treatment temperature T.sub.Beh for a certain time period; and cooling the glass container to room temperature.

A method for thermally treating an annular region of an inner surface of a glass container produced from a borosilicate glass tube is provided. The annular region is disposed at a tubular portion of the glass container and is disposed adjacent to a glass container bottom. The method includes: forming the glass container bottom from the glass tube; heating the annular region of the inner surface of the tubular portion to a treatment temperature T.sub.Beh above the transformation temperature T.sub.G, wherein the annular region is adjacent to the glass container bottom; maintaining the treatment temperature T.sub.Beh for a certain time period; and cooling the glass container to room temperature.

A system and method for fire-polishing glass containers includes at least one fixed structure positioned on each side of a conveyor belt, in the forward movement direction of the glass containers; a structure that can move via each of the fixed structures, which moves with a forward movement in relation to the forward movement line of the conveyor belt, and with a backward movement in relation to the forward movement of said conveyor belt; a series of burners coupled to each of the moveable structures; sensors positioned on one side of the conveyor belt to determine the speed of the carrier belt and the distance or separation between containers; and a control means connected to the sensor means and moveable structure, for adjusting and synchronising the speed and distance of the containers.

The invention relates to a method for measuring the wall thickness of hollow glass articles (2) in a hollow glass production system, wherein the IR radiation emitted by each hollow glass article (2) exiting the hot end of a glass forming machine is detected at least in areas mapped by a function (10), the same hollow glass article (2), after having passed through an annealing lehr, being measured in the circumferential direction with respect to a wall thickness distribution, and the detected wall thickness distribution being mapped by a function (18). Using correlation methods, it is checked whether the progression of the function (10) is contained in the function (18), wherein if so, measured values of the wall thickness can be associated with the measured values of the IR radiation at the hot end, so that the wall thickness distribution of the hollow glass article is already known at the hot end and implementable for monitoring purposes.

A system and method for fire-polishing glass containers includes at least one fixed structure positioned on each side of a conveyor belt, in the forward movement direction of the glass containers; a structure that can move via each of the fixed structures, which moves with a forward movement in relation to the forward movement line of the conveyor belt, and with a backward movement in relation to the forward movement of the conveyor belt; a series of burners coupled to each of the moveable structures; sensors positioned on one side of the conveyor belt to determine the speed of the carrier belt and the distance or separation between containers; and a controller connected to the sensor and moveable structure, for adjusting and synchronising the speed and distance of the containers.

The invention relates to a transportation system for annealing a glass container having a barrel and two extremities, said transportation system including a lath provided with at least two non-metallic inserts, the at least two non-metallic inserts being positioned such that, when a glass container is seated on said transportation system, said glass container is exclusively held by contact between said at least two non-metallic inserts and said barrel in substantially horizontal position which is fixed relative to the lath. The transportation system further includes securing means configured to reversibly firmly secure a clipping portion of said at least two non-metallic inserts into a respective slot of the lath.

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.

A system and method for fire-polishing glass containers includes at least one fixed structure positioned on each side of a conveyor belt, in the forward movement direction of the glass containers; a structure that can move via each of the fixed structures, which moves with a forward movement in relation to the forward movement line of the conveyor belt, and with a backward movement in relation to the forward movement of said conveyor belt; a series of burners coupled to each of the moveable structures; sensors positioned on one side of the conveyor belt to determine the speed of the carrier belt and the distance or separation between containers; and a control means connected to the sensor means and moveable structure, for adjusting and synchronising the speed and distance of the containers.

A method is provided for measuring the wall thickness of hollow glass articles in a hollow glass production system, wherein the IR radiation emitted by each hollow glass article exiting the hot end of a glass forming machine is detected at least in areas mapped by a function, the same hollow glass article, after having passed through an annealing lehr, being measured in the circumferential direction with respect to a wall thickness distribution, and the detected wall thickness distribution being mapped by a function. Using correlation methods, it is checked whether the progression of the function is contained in the function, wherein if so, measured values of the wall thickness can be associated with the measured values of the IR radiation at the hot end, so that the wall thickness distribution of the hollow glass article is already known at the hot end and implementable for monitoring purposes.