Heater, manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing glass article, and manufacturing method for manufacturing glass article

A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a glass product, comprising:

• a melting unit configured to melt a glass material to form molten glass;
• and
• a forming unit configured to make formed glass from the molten glass,
• wherein a heater is provided in any given unit disposed between the melting unit and the forming unit, the any given unit not including the forming unit,
• wherein the heater includes:
• a heat generating member being conductive and configured to radiate heat rays by being fed with electric power;
• a tubular member constituted by a metal and accommodating the heat generating member;
• and
• an intermediate member provided between the heat generating member and the tubular member and constituted by an electrically insulating material,
• wherein the intermediate member is arranged and/or configured to allow a portion of the heat rays radiated from the heat generating member to pass through the intermediate member to reach the tubular member, the portion of the heat rays including at least light having a wavelength of from 1 μm to 2 μm,
• wherein the tubular member has an inner diameter of D1, the intermediate member has an outer diameter of D2 and an inner diameter of D3, the heat generating member has an outer diameter of D4, and
• (D1−D4) is three times or less of (D2−D3), or (D2−D3)/2 is in a range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

A manufacturing method for manufacturing a glass product, comprising:

• a melting step for melting a glass material to form a molten glass;
• and
• a forming step for forming the molten glass to make a glass product,
• wherein the molten glass comes into contact with a heater in any given step between the melting step and the forming step, the any given step not including the forming step,
• wherein the heater includes:
• a heat generating member being conductive and configured to radiate heat rays by being fed with electric power;
• a tubular member constituted by a metal and accommodating the heat generating member;
• and
• an intermediate member provided between the heat generating member and the tubular member and constituted by an electrically insulating material, and
• wherein the intermediate member is arranged and/or configured to allow a portion of the heat rays radiated from the heat generating member to pass through the intermediate member to reach the tubular member, the portion of the heat rays including at least light having a wavelength of from 1 μm to 2 μm,
• wherein the tubular member has an inner diameter of D1, the intermediate member has an outer diameter of D2 and an inner diameter of D3, the heat generating member has an outer diameter of D4, and
• (D1−D4) is three times or less of (D2−D3), or (D2−D3)/2 is in a range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm.