Schott Ag

Hans-Walter Abraham

Bernd Hoppe

Gerhard Hahn

Roland Hochhaus

Friedrich-Georg Schroeder

Hermann Lemm

Bernd Weitzel

Ulrich Zirfas

Thomas Niklos

Willi Mattheis

Armin Zehner

Gernot Frei

Hans-Juergen Klein

The invention provides a method of producing reflectors from glass or glass ceramics comprising the steps of: molding a reflector being open to the outside and having a closed bottom in a mold at a temperature above the transformation temperature; placing the reflector in a recess of a holder; heating up the reflector in the area of its bottom; lifting the bottom of the reflector from below using a die; punching out at least one opening from the bottom by moving at least one plunger into at least one matching opening in the die.

Method of producing reflectors from glass or glass ceramics

In the process for partially shaping, a glass/glass ceramic article () is held on a planar support plate () by suction. The glass/glass ceramic article is heated to soften it, so that it has a viscosity below 10dPa&#xb7;s. After the softening one or more shaping dies () is or are moved upward through an opening or respective openings () in the support plate to form raised regions in the softened glass/glass ceramic article (). The suction force is produced by a low pressure in a hollow compartment () below the support plate () and acts on the glass/glass ceramic article () by means of a gap (G) formed between each shaping die () and the support plate. Additional openings can be provided in the support plate and/or in one or more of the shaping dies to assist in applying the suction force to the glass/glass ceramic article. After solidification of the softened glass/glass-ceramic article the shaping die or dies () is or are withdrawn. Then the partially shaped glass/glass ceramic product is removed by compressed air and/or mechanically with lifting members (). An apparatus for performing this process is also described.

Process for partial shaping of flat glass or glass-ceramic articles and apparatus for performing same

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Darmstadt, Germany

Hans-Walter Abraham