Apparatus and method for moulding glass objects

摘要

A method of shaping glass to a desired form comprises delivering molten glass on to a porous support member while feeding a gas under pressure through the porous support member from the reverse side thereof, so as to support the molten glass out of contact with the support member on a cushion of gas, allowing the glass to assume a shape approximating to that of the support member under the forces of surface tension, gravity and gas cushion pressure, cooling the glass while thus supported on the gas cushion to a temperature at which it is so conditioned that it can be shaped by contact with a solid surface without any substantial surface damage, and shaping the conditioned glass by a shaping process which involves contact with a solid surface.