# US 7,743,628 B2 · Method and device for non-contact moulding of fused glass gobs

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- Number: US 7,743,628 B2
- Document ID: US7743628B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/491,351
- Filed: 2002-10-02
- Published: 2005-05-05
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2001-10-06
- Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
- Inventors: Andreas Langsdorf; Norbert Greulich-Hickmann; Jörg Adler; Michael Piwonski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743628B2

## CPC

- C03B 40/04: using gas
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for non-contact molding of fused glass or glass ceramic gobs by means of gas levitation, comprising the following method steps: a pre-form is generated, the pre-form is brought close to a molding tool, which may be connected to a compressed gas source on the open-pored region thereof facing the pre-form in order to generate a gas cushion between the molding tool and the pre-form and the molding tool is directly heated at least during a part of the molding phase.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for contactless shaping of gobs made of glass or glass ceramics by means of gas levitation, comprising the following method steps:
a preform is produced;
the preform is moved towards a shaping tool constructed of a mold material which is open-pored in its region facing the preform and is connected to a gas pressure source for producing a gas cushion between the shaping tool and the preform;
the mold material itself constitutes a resistive element and the shaping tool mold material is directly heated electrically and non-inductively at least during a part of the shaping process via its own electric resistance by connection in an electric circuit having a power source and conductors connected to the shaping tool mold material while current within the circuit is caused to flow through the shaping tool mold material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating intensity and thus the temperature achievable in the shaping tool is controlled.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said power source is a variable power source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shaping tool mold material is sectioned with respect to its transmittable heating output, so that individual volume regions can be heated to a differently strong extent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaping tool mold material is sectioned with respect to its transmittable heating output, so that individual volume regions can be heated to a differently strong extent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein said power source is a variable power source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said power source is a variable power source.

### Claim 8

A method for contactless shaping of gobs made of glass or glass ceramics by means of gas levitation, comprising the following method steps:
a preform is produced;
the preform is moved towards a shaping tool constructed of a mold material which is open-pored in its region facing the preform and which is connected to a gas pressure source for producing a gas cushion between the shaping tool and the preform;
the shaping tool mold material itself is directly heated electrically and non-inductively at least during a part of the shaping process by connecting the shaping tool mold material to an electric circuit, wherein the open-pored material itself is a heating resistor for the shaping tool and is heated through its own inherent electrical resistance.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the heating intensity and thus the temperature achievable in the shaping tool is controlled.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shaping tool mold material is sectioned with respect to its transmittable heating output, so that individual volume regions can be heated to a differently strong extent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the shaping tool mold material is sectioned with respect to its transmittable heating output, so that individual volume regions can be heated to a differently strong extent.