Glass Furnace

A glass furnace are used for melting glass. Here first the glass is converted into molten form and then solidified. The raw materials are first introduced into the furnace which displaces existing molten glass and forces it out of the furnace and through the fore hearth to the forming process.

Process
The raw materials like crushed glass, sand, soda ash, limestone, and other raw materials are melted in the furnace. The temperature is controlled and monitored by the inhouse computer.

The molten glass is distributed to the fore hearth by the refiner, which brings the temperature of the molten glass to a uniform level. The molten glass is cut from the fore hearth into uniform gobs by a Shearing and Distribution System. These gobs are send to the I.S. (Individual Section) Forming Machine that forces the molten gobs into the mold shape. The temperature of the glass further and the formed glass containers leave the machine and comes in contact with the cooling plate. Now the glass is transformed from the liquid to the solid form.

The containers so formed are loaded into an Annealing Lehr. Here their temperature is brought back up close to the melting point and then reduced below 900° F. Reheating and slow cooling eliminates the stress in the containers which makes them stronger and shock resistant.

The temperature of the containers is further reduced. Cold End Sprays are then applied to an exterior coating of the bottles to increase line mobility, and reduce abrasions to maintain the inherent strength of the container.

The Cooling Section then brings container temperatures down to about 100° F - cool enough to touch by hand. The containers so manufactured then pass through a series of instruments that physically and optically test the containers. The containers that are rejected are recycled back into the furnace.