A workpiece conveyance apparatus having: a conveyance path on which the workpiece moves; a gas flotation section that gas-floats the workpiece over the conveyance path; a movable holding section that holds the workpiece to move on the conveyance path along with the workpiece; and a treatment region conveyance path that is located on the conveyance path, and has a treatment region where predetermined treatment for the workpiece is performed, wherein the movable holding section has at least two or more holding sections along a movement direction of the conveyance path, each of the holding sections is capable of switching between release of holding and holding for the workpiece during movement of the workpiece, operation for releasing holding of the workpiece by the holding section on the treatment region conveyance path, and holding the workpiece on the conveyance path other than the treatment region conveyance path.

The invention relates to a device for supportingly holding, and moving, a glass preform, such as a gob, wherein the device has a carrier device, at least one rod-shaped support element, which during operation is substantially vertically aligned, wherein, at its upper end, the rod-shaped support element opens into at least one point-shaped upwardly directed support surface; and/or the device has at least one support element which during operation is substantially vertically aligned, has a substantially inverted U-shape, and has a support surface which is upwardly directed and connects the substantially vertically extending vertical portions of the support element.

A tempering furnace for tempering a glass object may include a housing, a heating device for heating the glass object, and a cooling device for cooling the glass object. Additionally, the tempering furnace may further include a turning device provided for turning the glass object inside the housing. The turning device is configured to counteract an effect of gravitational forces on the glass object when the glass object is heated to its softening phase.

Test dummy for detecting at least one process variable in the manufacture of glassware of identical or similar design along a production line, comprising a base body which is adapted to the shape and/or dimension of the glassware in such a manner that it can pass through the production line instead of a glassware, at least one sensor system mounted on the base body for detecting the at least one process variable on the base body, and at least one transmission apparatus mounted on the base body for transmitting the at least one detected process variable to a digital receiving unit.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing an optical element, for example an (optical) lens, for example a headlight lens, for example a vehicle headlight lens, from inorganic glass, wherein a blank of the inorganic glass is heated in a first heating step, for example in such a way that the blank is cooler on the inside than on its outer region, wherein, after heating, the blank is press-molded, for example on both sides, in a first pressing step between an upper mold and a lower mold to form an intermediate molded part, wherein the intermediate molded part is removed from the lower mold after the first pressing step, wherein a surface or the surface of the intermediate molded part formed by the lower mold and/or the surface of the intermediate molded part facing the lower mold is heated in a second heating step after the first pressing step, wherein the intermediate molded part is press-molded, for example on both sides, to the optical element or the (optical) lens, in a second pressing step after the second heating step, and wherein the optical element or the (optical) lens is cooled in a cooling path after the second pressing step.

An apparatus for holding glassware during processing includes a plurality of ware keepers, each ware keeper configured to receive a piece of glassware during the processing. Each ware keeper comprises a glass contact surface comprising a silicate material having a Knoop hardness less than or equal to 400 HK.sub.200 and a specific gravity greater than or equal to 1.5 and less than or equal to 6.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus to levitate an optical fiber having a tubular block defined by a central cavity and a plurality of slit walls. In particular, the tubular block has a reservoir that is adapted to store a fluid at a positive pressure. Each slit wall of the plurality of slit walls comprises one or more side slits and the plurality of slit walls defines a bottom slit such that the one or more side slits and the bottom slit provide one or more paths between the reservoir and the central cavity.

A tempering furnace for tempering a glass object may include a housing, a heating device for heating the glass object, and a cooling device for cooling the glass object. Additionally, the tempering furnace may further include a turning device provided for turning the glass object inside the housing. The turning device is configured to counteract an effect of gravitational forces on the glass object when the glass object is heated to its softening phase.

The invention relates to a method for producing an optical element from glass, wherein a portion of glass or a glass blank is blank-pressed, in particular on both sides, to form the optical element, wherein the optical element is then placed on a transport element and passes through a cooling path with the transport element, without the optical surface of the optical element being touched.

A product conveyance apparatus includes an actuator, a movement portion, a first position detection portion, a second position detection portion, and a controller. The controller performs a process of causing the actuator not holding a product to move to a predetermined position, detecting the position of the actuator and storing the position as a first position, a process of causing the actuator to move on a basis of a movement instruction value and hold the product, causing the actuator holding the product to move to the predetermined position, detecting the position of the product held by the actuator, and storing the position as a second position, and a process of correcting and updating the movement instruction value on a basis of difference between the first position and the second position.