Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material. A reformable area and a non-reformable area of the sheet of material are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area of the sheet of material and applying a force to the sheet of material outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area.

Abstract: A method of bending a glass sheet includes placing the glass sheet on a support and heating the entire glass sheet to a first viscosity. A band of heat is applied and translated along the selected region of the glass sheet in which a predetermined is to be formed over a time period to form the predetermined in the selected region. The band of heat sectionally heats the selected region to a second viscosity that is lower than the first viscosity. An actuated force is applied to the glass sheet to incrementally form the predetermined bend in the selected region according to the location of the band of heat in the selected region.

Abstract: A method of bending a glass sheet includes placing the glass sheet on a support and heating the entire glass sheet to a first viscosity. A band of heat is applied and translated along the selected region of the glass sheet in which a predetermined is to be formed over a time period to form the predetermined in the selected region. The band of heat sectionally heats the selected region to a second viscosity that is lower than the first viscosity. An actuated force is applied to the glass sheet to incrementally form the predetermined bend in the selected region according to the location of the band of heat in the selected region.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material. A reformable area and a non-reformable area of the sheet of material are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area of the sheet of material and applying a force to the sheet of material outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material. A reformable area and a non-reformable area of the sheet of material are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area of the sheet of material and applying a force to the sheet of material outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area.

Abstract: A method of bending a glass sheet includes placing the glass sheet on a support and heating the entire glass sheet to a first viscosity. A band of heat is applied and translated along the selected region of the glass sheet in which a predetermined is to be formed over a time period to form the predetermined in the selected region. The band of heat sectionally heats the selected region to a second viscosity that is lower than the first viscosity. An actuated force is applied to the glass sheet to incrementally form the predetermined bend in the selected region according to the location of the band of heat in the selected region.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass production of 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets includes a heating section having a heating station that includes a heating chamber adapted to receive a 2D glass-containing sheet, a pneumatic bearing system proximate to the heating chamber for suspending the 2D glass-containing sheet inside the heating chamber, and a heater system proximate to the heating chamber for supplying heat to the heating chamber. A forming section downstream of the heating section has a forming station that includes a mold system adapted to shape a heated 2D glass-containing sheet into a 3D article. A cooling section downstream of the forming section has a cooling chamber adapted to controllably cool off one or more 3D articles. A method of mass producing 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets involves use of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass production of 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets includes a heating section having a heating station that includes a heating chamber adapted to receive a 2D glass-containing sheet, a pneumatic bearing system proximate to the heating chamber for suspending the 2D glass-containing sheet inside the heating chamber, and a heater system proximate to the heating chamber for supplying heat to the heating chamber. A forming section downstream of the heating section has a forming station that includes a mold system adapted to shape a heated 2D glass-containing sheet into a 3D article. A cooling section downstream of the forming section has a cooling chamber adapted to controllably cool off one or more 3D articles. A method of mass producing 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets involves use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material. A reformable area and a non-reformable area of the sheet of material are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area of the sheet of material and applying a force to the sheet of material outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area.

Abstract: An apparatus for making shaped articles includes a container having at least one vacuum port and a surface for receiving a sheet of glass-based material. At least one positive mold is supported in the container, where the at least one positive mold has an exterior surface including a profile defining an interior of a shaped article. An open volume is defined between the container and the at least one positive mold and is in communication with the vacuum port.

Abstract: A conformable nosing device is described herein which conforms to have a bowed shape that substantially matches a bowed shape of a glass sheet and which engages the glass sheet to help minimize the motion of the glass sheet and to help reduce the stress within the glass sheet while the glass sheet is being scored and separated into individual glass sheets. In addition, the conformable nosing device can include a passive nosing device which can be controlled to further help minimize the motion of the glass sheet while the glass sheet is being scored and separated into individual glass sheets.

Abstract: A conformable nosing device is described herein which conforms to have a bowed shape that substantially matches a bowed shape of a glass sheet and which engages the glass sheet to help minimize the motion of the glass sheet and to help reduce the stress within the glass sheet while the glass sheet is being scored and separated into individual glass sheets. In addition, the conformable nosing device can include a passive nosing device which can be controlled to further help minimize the motion of the glass sheet while the glass sheet is being scored and separated into individual glass sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for scoring a glass ribbon moving along a longitudinal axis of a channel includes a linear slide adapted for mounting across the channel at an angle relative to a transverse axis of the channel, a traveling carriage coupled to the linear slide for travel along the linear slide, and a light-emitting device coupled to the traveling carriage and operable to emit a light beam at a wavelength that is absorbable at a surface of the glass ribbon.

Abstract: A method of precision machining at least one cut into an article having a non-uniform surface, wherein the cut is of substantially constant depth relative to the non-uniform surface. One aspect of the invention is a machined optical wafer having two adjacent notches, to serve as a platform for a fiber optic pigtail, machined into the edge of the wafer. Another aspect of the invention is a method of automatically machining a plurality of notches into an optical wafer. For optical wafers having embedded light paths, light detected from these light paths may be used to compensate for the variation in embedded depth of the light paths.