The “cylinder” method of glass production, with all its advantages, had one big drawback: it
was difficult to mechanize, and the need for window glass grew rapidly.
Therefore, the search for new ways continued, and as a result, at the beginning
of the 20th century, a mechanized process was introduced into the industry. It
was based on the observation of American Clark, made in the first half of the
XIX century. It consisted in the fact that if you put an iron rod
("bait") on the surface of liquid glass, and then lift it, the glass
mass will weld (stick) to the rod and stretch behind it in the form of a
canvas. When cooled in air, a glass sheet is obtained. However, it turned out
not with parallel edges, but in the form of a wedge-shaped width.
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| Modern Glass Factory |
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| Modern Window Glass |
Currently,
window glass is produced by this method. There is also a slightly different
version of the technological design of the sheet glass production process,
which is used in the USA. Instead of a boat, a pair of rollers is located on
each side of the canvas, between which the canvas passes. The rollers prevent
the narrowing of the canvas and therefore there is no need for a boat.