Abstract: In order to obtain glass or glass ceramic materials having increased strength, a method is provided for producing glass or glass ceramic articles, which comprises: producing an initial glass body, mounting the initial glass body on a gas cushion between a levitation support and the initial glass body, and at least partially ceramizing the initial glass body on the levitation support. The levitation support comprises at least one continuous surface region having at least one gas feed region where levitation gas for the gas cushion is fed out from the levitation support, and at least one gas discharge region where gas from the gas cushion is at least partially discharged into the levitation support.

Abstract: A method and a device for the continuous production of glass and glass ceramic products from a glass melt is provided, which simplifies the changing between two kinds of glass. The device includes a melting crucible and an induction coil, which preferably extends around the melting crucible in order to heat a glass melt by means of an induction field generated by the induction coil. The wall elements, which form the side wall of the crucible, have cooling channels, through which a cooling fluid can be conducted, so that the glass melt solidifies on the side wall and forms a skull layer. The interior side of the wall elements is formed at least in part by an aluminum nitride-containing ceramic.

Abstract: In order to obtain glass or glass ceramic materials having increased strength, the invention provides a method for producing glass or glass ceramic articles, which comprises the steps: producing an initial glass body (11), mounting the initial glass body (11) on a gas cushion (13) between a levitation support (1) and the initial glass body (11), and at least partially ceramizing the initial glass body (11) on the levitation support (1). The levitation support comprises at least one continuous surface region (3) having at least one gas feed region (151, 152, 153) where levitation gas for the gas cushion (13) is fed out from the levitation support, and at least one gas discharge region (171 172, 173) where gas from the gas cushion (13) is at least partially discharged into the levitation support.

Abstract: In order to provide a particularly homogeneous pressure and temperature profile in a gas cushion for the levitating support of glass or glass ceramic, the invention provides a device (19) for transporting or supporting glass ceramic or glass, which comprises at least one diaphragm (1, 2) that has at least one continuous bearing surface (3) and at least one gas feed chamber (51-55) and at least one gas discharge chamber (71-75), the gas feed chamber (51-55) and the gas discharge chamber (71-75) having a gas-permeable connection to the bearing surface (3).

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of products from a melt is provided. The method includes heating the melt to a predetermined temperature in a skull crucible, the bottom of which is formed from electrically non-conductive, but thermally conductive material.

Abstract: In order to obtain glass or glass ceramic materials having increased strength, the invention provides a method for producing glass or glass ceramic articles, which comprises the steps: producing an initial glass body (11), mounting the initial glass body (11) on a gas cushion (13) between a levitation support (1) and the initial glass body (11), and at least partially ceramizing the initial glass body (11) on the levitation support (1). The levitation support comprises at least one continuous surface region (3) having at least one gas feed region (151, 152, 153) where levitation gas for the gas cushion (13) is fed out from the levitation support, and at least one gas discharge region (171 172, 173) where gas from the gas cushion (13) is at least partially discharged into the levitation support.

Abstract: In order to provide a particularly homogeneous pressure and temperature profile in a gas cushion for the levitating support of glass or glass ceramic, the invention provides a device (19) for transporting or supporting glass ceramic or glass, which comprises at least one diaphragm (1, 2) that has at least one continuous bearing surface (3) and at least one gas feed chamber (51-55) and at least one gas discharge chamber (71-75), the gas feed chamber (51-55) and the gas discharge chamber (71-75) having a gas-permeable connection to the bearing surface (3).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the rapid melting of glasses in a skull crucible is provided. The method and apparatus introduce high-frequency energy into the contents of the crucible by means of a coil arrangement surrounding the skull crucible, in order to heat the melt, and the batch is laid and the molten glass discharged in the upper region of the crucible, and undissolved constituents of the batch are retained by means of a cooled bridge which is immersed in the melt. The glass is taken off above the coil arrangement and is fed for further processing without flowing through the coil region.

Abstract: The method of supporting and transporting hot flat glass on a gas bed for ceramicizing includes arranging a number of spaced-apart porous or perforated planar segments to form a base with a gas-permeable support surface so that slits, which are narrower than the planar segments, are formed between them, forcing gas through the porous or perforated planar segments and conducting the gas away through the slits between them so as to form the gas bed with no static pressure zones and with a parabolic pressure distribution and producing a predetermined temperature profile for ceramicizing through which the hot flat glass is transported on the gas bed without deformation and without any contact between it and the base. The resulting glass ceramic has smoother surfaces without pits or deformations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for changing glass compositions in continuously operated melting installations which has a significantly shortened melt changeover time and therefore lower costs and in which the glass quality is not adversely affected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for ceramising glass ceramics (so-called green glass). The process according to the present invention comprises the following procedural steps: green glass (3) is manufactured; the green glass is placed in a suspended state on a levitation substrate by supply of levitation gas; the green glass is heated in the suspended state by IR radiation until such time as the desired ceramising has set in.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for storing and transporting hot flat glass in a contactless manner during glass production, said storage and transportation being carried out on a gas bed which is constructed over a gas permeable bearing surface pertaining to a base (2). Pressurised gas is supplied to the base via a connection (5), said gas being guided through the gas permeable base and then re-evacuated. The aim of the invention is to obtain an optimum pressure distribution above the bearing surface, without any static pressure. In order to achieve this, the base (2) consists of a plurality of interspaced segments (21, 22 . . . 2n) respectively comprising a porous and/or perforated bearing surface (7a) as a gas outlet surface. Evacuation openings (61, 62 . . . 6n) are formed between said segments for evacuating the gas. The segments are preferably formed by bars (7) having a box profile.