Heating Means Movable Relative To Work During Shaping Operation Patents (Class 65/271)
  • Patent number: 11390553
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass tube is disclosed that includes the step of forming a through hole in a tube wall of a glass tube with two ends including a first end and a second end, each having an opening, near the first end. The method further includes the step of forming a sealed portion by performing thermal processing on a predetermined portion of the glass tube between the first end and the through hole after the formation of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiko Sato
  • Patent number: 9539681
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for laser assisted machining are provided, by utilizing a computer to develop interrelated heating and machining plans, from a variety of input data describing the material to be machined, the properties of lasers and pyrometers used for heating the material, and computer models of the machining arrangement, workpiece and final part to be produced. An iterative process continues until the machining and heating plans result in the cutting zone of the workpiece being maintained at a desired temperature with no obstruction in the line-of-sight of at least one laser and pyrometer throughout the machining process, while also maintaining the cutting tool at or below a desired maximum temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University
    Inventors: Joseph S. Santner, Federico M. Sciammarella, Stefan Kyselica
  • Patent number: 9522838
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for producing a depressed-cladding core rod of an ultra-low water peak optical fiber, the apparatus including a core rod component, an inner cladding casing component, a high temperature heat source, chucks, a rotary joint, an external gas pipe, and a pressure controlling pipe. The core rod component is produced by fusing and splicing a core layer rod and a first hollow shaft together. The inner cladding casing covers the outside of the core layer rod. The inner cladding casing component is produced by fusing and splicing an inner cladding casing and a second hollow shaft together. These two hollow shafts are clamped in two chucks of a glass lathe. A high temperature heat source is arranged outside the inner cladding casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ZHONGTIAN TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinli Jiang, Xikai Xu, Jinwen Chen, Hui Zhou, Benhua Qian
  • Publication number: 20150110991
    Abstract: Provided is a laminate (1) obtained by integrally laminating glass sheets (4) on both surfaces of a resin sheet (2). The glass sheets (4) have a thickness of 300 ?m or less and end surfaces (4a) of the glass sheets (4) are chamfered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Miwa, Yoshinori Hasegawa, Takayuki Noda, Hiroki Mori, Michiharu Eta
  • Publication number: 20150075222
    Abstract: When dividing glass using laser radiation into blanks (5) made of glass, a bundled laser beam (1) is directed onto the glass to be divided, and while forming at least two blanks (5), the glass is divided with sides (15) lying in the area of the cut. After the glass is divided, a laser beam (1) is directed onto at least one edge (16) of a side (15) of the formed blank (5) in order to separate glass from the edge (16) while forming a bevel (17) that lies on the side (15). For forming the bevel (17), at least one laser source (6) and a reflector (19) assigned to the latter are moved along the side (15) so that the laser beam (1)—which with the plane of the blank (5) encompasses an acute angle—is effective for forming the bevel (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: LISEC AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventor: Leopold Mader
  • Publication number: 20130329346
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux, Paul Louis Florent Delautre, Patrick Jean Pierre Herve, Laurent Joubaud, Stephane Poissy
  • Patent number: 8444906
    Abstract: A substrate cutting method includes the steps of aligning a panel including two or more substrates, along a cutting line, forming groove lines in the respective substrates of the panel along the cutting line, by oscillating respective ultraviolet UV laser beams along the cutting line, and cutting the panel along the groove lines, by applying force to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Lee, Jin-Han Park, Joon-Hyung Kim, Won-Kyu Lim, Jae-Seok Park, Cheol-Lae Roh, Yong-Jin Lee
  • Publication number: 20130098114
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element manufacturing method including a first step of fixing an optical material by exerting a first weight different from a self weight of an upper die on the optical material positioned in a cavity between the upper die and a lower die, a second step of thereafter heating and softening the optical material by introducing a heated gas to an inside of the cavity, and a third step of thereafter molding an optical element by exerting a second weight larger than the first weight on the optical material within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Olympus Corporation
  • Publication number: 20120047955
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for pulling tubular glass, such as pipettes, is disclosed. The invention is generally directed apparatus and techniques for precisely scanning a laser beam on the selected surfaces of the glass tube to uniformly, controllably and programmably soften the tube prior to and during pulling. The invention has application to both vertical and horizontal pullers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Sutter Instrument Company
    Inventors: Jack Belgum, Dale Flaming
  • Patent number: 8053704
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems for scoring non-flat materials including non-flat glass sheets (1000). In one embodiment, a laser scoring system is described. The laser scoring system includes a laser (102) and an optical head (106). The optical head (106) is configured to receive output from the laser (102) and focus the output into an elongated laser beam having a beam waist and an extended focal depth of greater than +/?5 mm relative to the center of the beam waist with a power density sufficient for scoring a material having at least a portion within the extended focal depth. In one aspect the system can include a beam expander (104). The beam expander (104) receives the output from the laser (102), expands the output from the laser to an expanded laser beam, and transmits the expanded laser beam to the optical head (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Anatoli Anatolyevich Abramov, Ljerka Ukrainczyk, Qi Wu, Naiyue Zhou
  • Patent number: 8015845
    Abstract: In a glass processing method according to the invention, in the case of performing chemical vapor deposition or diameter shrinkage of a substrate glass tube G by relatively moving a heating furnace 20 comprising a heating element 21 for annularly enclosing the circumference of the substrate glass tube in a longitudinal direction of the substrate glass tube G with respect to the substrate glass tube G in which an outer diameter is 30 mm or more and a wall thickness is 3 mm or more and is less than 15 mm and an ovality of the outer diameter is 1.0% or less using a glass processing apparatus 1, a temperature of at least one of the heating element 21 and the substrate glass tube G is measured and the amount of heat generation of the heating element 21 is adjusted based on the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakanishi, Masashi Onishi, Tomoyuki Yokokawa, Masaaki Hirano, Nobuyuki Taira
  • Publication number: 20090320524
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for separating a sheet of glass by directing a microwave beam and a laser beam at a sheet of glass to propagate a crack across the sheet. A laser beam spot formed on the glass sheet by the laser at least partially overlaps a microwave beam spot produced on the sheet by the microwave beam and can be used to generate an increased power density in the overlap region, thereby forming a preferential direction for crack propagation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Anatoli Anatolyevich Abramov, Yawei Sun
  • Patent number: 7637125
    Abstract: In a glass processing method according to the invention, in the case of performing chemical vapor deposition or diameter shrinkage of a substrate glass tube G by relatively moving a heating furnace 20 comprising a heating element 21 for annularly enclosing the circumference of the substrate glass tube in a longitudinal direction of the substrate glass tube G with respect to the substrate glass tube G in which an outer diameter is 30 mm or more and a wall thickness is 3 mm or more and is less than 15 mm and an ovality of the outer diameter is 1.0% or less using a glass processing apparatus 1, a temperature of at least one of the heating element 21 and the substrate glass tube G is measured and the amount of heat generation of the heating element 21 is adjusted based on the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakanishi, Masashi Onishi, Tomoyuki Yokokawa, Masaaki Hirano, Nobuyuki Taira
  • Patent number: 6978641
    Abstract: To provide a method and apparatus for parting a glass rod without causing a crack or rupture at a grasped root portion of the glass rod in parting the glass rod for producing a glass preform. The apparatus for parting the glass rod in a predetermined length by grasping both ends of the glass rod 11 is characterized by comprising a supporting unit 18 of Y-character shape for supporting an intermediate position between both ends of the glass rod 11 from the lower part, the supporting unit 18 having a carbon sleeve composed of a cylindrical body that is rotatable around each of two leg portions making up a forked leg portion as an axis, the carbon sleeve being rotatable along with an axial movement of the glass rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sugiyama, Toshimi Habasaki
  • Publication number: 20040172976
    Abstract: A method for processing a preform supported with a stationary chuck and a movable chuck of a glass-working lathe comprises providing a burner of a type which is able to create flame-controlled conditions by controlling flow rates of a flammable gas and a supporting gas wherein the supporting gas is discharged from at least one group of discharge pipes co-axially classified into plural groups that are, respectively, controllable with respect to a gas flow rate. The preform is processed under the flame-controlled conditions. A burner system and a preform processing apparatus comprising the burner system, both suited for realizing the method, are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6761047
    Abstract: The apparatus for melting off a glass top part from a hollow glass blank has individual burner sections (3) each containing at least one burner nozzle. The individual burner sections (3) are held in a cutting plane and movably connected with each other. A control device (4a, 4b, 5) controls the respective positions of the burner sections (3) so that they fit any arbitrary outer contour of the hollow glass blank (1). The control device (4a, 4b, 5) holds and maintains the burner sections (3) at a constant distance from the exterior surface of the hollow glass blank (1). The burner device with the burner sections (3) is mounted on two half frames pivotally connected with each other for better access to the glass object (1). This apparatus separates the glass top part from oval or triangular glass objects, which should be cut at an inclined orientation, in a single step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fischer, Alois Christ, Heiner Muehl
  • Publication number: 20040129027
    Abstract: To provide a method and apparatus for parting a glass rod without causing a crack or rupture at a grasped root portion of the glass rod in parting the glass rod for producing a glass preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Sugiyama, Toshimi Habasaki
  • Publication number: 20040118163
    Abstract: A thermal treatment apparatus includes a furnace of a refractory, a stage capable of carrying synthetic silica glass and moving between a first stage position for letting the synthetic silica glass into the furnace and a second stage position for letting the synthetic silica glass out of the furnace, a heat generator for heating the synthetic silica glass, and a driving section connected to the stage, for moving the stage between the first stage position and the second stage position. The thermal treatment apparatus also can include a rotational driving section for rotating the stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shouji Yajima, Hiroyuki Hiraiwa, Yasuji Ishida
  • Publication number: 20040045319
    Abstract: A method for opening or sealing glass ampoules (38) by melting the glass with the help of a jet (36) of a hot medium, characterized in that the medium is an atmospheric plasma, produced by an electric discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Joachim Schussler, Peter Fornsel, Christian Buske
  • Patent number: 6568216
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a discharge tube, including heating a quartz tube by irradiation and closing it shut, is presented, in which variation of the heating temperature of the quartz tube can be reduced. Laser light is irradiated on a portion of the quartz tube, and in the step of sealing the portion of the quartz tube onto which laser light has been irradiated, the laser light is scanned while oscillating back and forth. The intensity of the laser light is controlled such that the intensity of the laser light when the size of a displacement of the laser light is maximal is smaller than the intensity of the laser light when the size of the displacement of the laser light is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Meguro, Masaji Sakamoto, Kenji Hirai, Motomi Sakoda
  • Publication number: 20030037570
    Abstract: A method of thermally treating a glass or glass-like material, preferably a glass sheet, without the use of conventional tunnel-type furnaces, to effect rapid heating of glass and glass-like materials from any initial temperature to any required temperature so that the glass sheet can be processed by shaping, bending, tempering, annealing, coating and floating of the glass sheet without cracking of the glass sheet is described. In the inventive method a microwave radiation with appropriate uniformity, frequency and power density is chosen so as to accomplish glass heating from any initial temperature to any required (e.g., softened) temperature in a selected short time while ensuring that the temperature distribution on the external surfaces and in the interior of the glass sheet that arises from microwave exposure is uniform enough to prevent the exposed glass sheet's internal thermal stress from exceeding its modulus of rupture, thereby avoiding glass breakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Vladislav E. Sklyarevich, Mykhaylo Shevelev
  • Patent number: 6487878
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a discharge tube, including heating a quartz tube by irradiation and closing it shut, is presented, in which variation of the heating temperature of the quartz tube can be reduced. Laser light is irradiated on a portion of the quartz tube, and in the step of sealing the portion of the quartz tube onto which laser light has been irradiated, the laser light is scanned while oscillating back and forth. The intensity of the laser light is controlled such that the intensity of the laser light when the size of a displacement of the laser light is maximal is smaller than the intensity of the laser light when the size of the displacement of the laser light is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Meguro, Masaji Sakamoto, Kenji Hirai, Motomi Sakoda
  • Patent number: 6408649
    Abstract: A method of thermally treating a glass or glass-like material, preferably a glass sheet, without the use of conventional tunnel-type furnaces, to effect rapid heating of glass and glass-like materials from any initial temperature to any required temperature so that the glass sheet can be processed by shaping, bending, tempering, annealing, coating and floating of the glass sheet without cracking of the glass sheet is described. In the inventive method a microwave radiation with appropriate uniformity, frequency and power density is chosen so as to accomplish glass heating from any initial temperature to any required (e.g., softened) temperature in a selected short time while ensuring that the temperature distribution on the external surfaces and in the interior of the glass sheet that arises from microwave exposure is uniform enough to prevent the exposed glass sheet's internal thermal stress from exceeding its modulus of rupture, thereby avoiding glass breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Gyrotron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladislav E. Sklyarevich, Mykhaylo Shevelev
  • Publication number: 20020046578
    Abstract: The apparatus for melting off a glass top part from a hollow glass blank has individual burner sections (3) each containing at least one burner nozzle. The individual burner sections (3) are held in a cutting plane and movably connected with each other. A control device (4a,4b,5) controls the respective positions of the burner sections (3) so that they fit any arbitrary circumference of the hollow glass blank (1). The control device (4a,4b,5) holds and maintains the burner sections (3) at a constant distance from the exterior surface of the hollow glass blank (1). This apparatus separates the glass top part from oval or triangular glass blanks, or also from glass objects with a circular cross-section, but which should be cut at an inclined orientation, in a single step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fischer, Alois Christ, Heiner Muehl
  • Publication number: 20020020192
    Abstract: The method of making a curved glass-ceramic panel by bending a green glass panel to be ceramicized avoids formation of stresses in the bending zone. The method includes performing the bending process in a heated chamber at a temperature of from 10° C. to 50° C. above a transformation temperature of the green glass panel to be bent; providing a forming body acting as a workpiece support (3) with a geometric shape according to a bend geometry of the glass-ceramic panel and tempering the forming body at the temperature of the heated chamber; bringing the forming body into effective mechanical contact with the green glass panel in a bending zone of the green glass panel to form a curved green glass panel and ceramicizing the curved green glass panel to form the curved glass-ceramic panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Hubertus Bader, Markus Vollmer, Roland Hochhaus, Ruediger Mocnik, Hans-Joachim Brenz
  • Patent number: 6341502
    Abstract: A method and an machine for the manufacturing of syringes by vertically feeding long glass tubes to an intermittently rotary forming machine, having two horizontally rotary machine sections each intermittently rotating on a central vertical axis of a stationary machine frame, to a plurality of forming stations, each machine section having a plurality of continuously rotary gripping chucks mounted on the stationary machine frame, a plurality of burner nozzles and a plurality of forming tools, for firstly opening a closed lower end of a glass tube, forming a tip for a needle at the lower end of the glass tube, cutting off a syringe body including the tip at a lower end, and then translating the syringe body to the second machine forming section for opening a closed upper end of the syringe body, forming a finger flange at the upper end of the syringe body and release the finished syringe body at a discharging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Ampolletas, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Jose-De-Jesus Delgado-Carranza, Teodoro Rivas-Guzman, Armando Medina-Garcia
  • Patent number: 6314767
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform from a tube of vitreous material. A holding device holds the tube during manufacture of the preform and a heater supplies the necessary heat energy for preform manufacturing. A diffuser is disposed adjacently to an end of the tube of vitreous material to trap and diffuse light radiation generated in the tube by the heater. The invention can be used in an apparatus for drawing an optical fiber from a preform. The diffuser traps and diffuses light radiation generated in the optical fiber preform by a fiber drawing oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Didier Pezet, Gérard Lavanant
  • Publication number: 20010037660
    Abstract: A method and an machine for the manufacturing of syringes by vertically feeding long glass tubes to an intermittently rotary forming machine, having two horizontally rotary machine sections each intermittently rotating on a central vertical axis of a stationary machine frame, to a plurality of forming stations, each machine section having a plurality of continuously rotary gripping chucks mounted on the stationary machine frame, a plurality of burner nozzles and a plurality of forming tools, for firstly opening a closed lower end of a glass tube, forming a tip for a needle at the lower end of the glass tube, cutting off a syringe body including the tip at a lower end, and then translating the syringe body to the second machine forming section for opening a closed upper end of the syringe body, forming a finger flange at the upper end of the syringe body and release the finished syringe body at a discharging machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: JOSE-DE-JESUS DELGADO-CARRANZA, TEODORO RIVAS-GUZMAN, ARMANDO MEDINA-GARCIA
  • Patent number: 6098429
    Abstract: In the method of drawing fiber continuously from preforms for manufacturing an optical fiber, a first preform is displaced along a fiber-drawing axis and is drawn into an optical fiber through a fiber-drawing furnace disposed on the fiber-drawing axis, and a second preform is displaced along the fiber-drawing axis, which second preform is butt welded to the first preform so as to be drawn into an optical fiber following on from the first fiber. The two preforms are butt welded, i.e. they are welded together end-to-end, by displacing at least one power laser along the fiber-drawing axis, and by servo-controlling the displacement of said laser to the displacement of the two preforms so as to maintain a laser beam emitted by the power laser at the same height as the two ends to be welded together, thereby making it possible to reduce considerably the size of the zone affected by the welding, and to avoid polluting the side surfaces of the two preforms upstream and downstream from the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Pascal Mazabraud, Abderrahman Alami Noureddine
  • Patent number: 6016669
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying heat to a rotatable workpiece is disclosed. A rotating lathe is provided for mounting a workpiece, for example a quartz tube, thereto so as to enable rotation of the workpiece. At least one translatable burner is coupled to a fuel source and an oxygen source for producing a flame. The burner is directed such that flame impinges upon the workpiece mounted on the rotating lathe. A first pulse control valve is coupled to and positioned between the translatable burner and the fuel source. A second pulse control valve is coupled to and positioned between the translatable burners and the oxygen course. The first and second pulse control valves are pulsed at a predetermined frequency to prevent the formation of a steady thermal boundary layer about the workpiece to improve the rate of heat transfer between the flame and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanjay Marc Correa, Alan S. Feitelberg
  • Patent number: 5928399
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a chamber, the chamber including first and second glass substrates and an enclosure arranged between the substrates or an enclosure and at least one spacer arranged between the substrates. The apparatus includes a pair of heating plates, having heaters therein, for holding the glass substrates, a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the heaters, a position alignment device for moving at least one of the pair of heating plates in X-, Y-, and .theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Yakou, Tomoyuki Kubota
  • Patent number: 5917104
    Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and adjusting the position of a plurality of burners with respect to the edge of a continuous glass sheet is provided. The glass sheet is transported by rolls along the length of a thermal treatment lehr. Detecting and adjusting sensors for sensing the edge of the glass sheet are attached conjointly with the burners in order to automatically adjust the position of the burners with regards to the edge of the glass sheet, so, for each variation in the width of the glass sheet, the detecting and adjusting sensors are advanced or retracted over the edge of the glass sheet, in order to adjust the burners in accordance with a new position of the edge of said glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Vidrio Plano de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Manuel Alarcon-Lopez, Lenin Roman-Gomez, Rafael Jorge Rojas-Cortes, Victor Enciso-Aguilar, Severino Islas-Sanchez, Jose Carlos Montes-Juarez
  • Patent number: 5843199
    Abstract: During the fire-polishing of a lengthwise extended glass body (3), for example a preform for drawing optical fibers, the glass body (3) is held by a holding device (5, 7), and is heated by a burner (23) moving at a variable advancing speed parallel to the lengthwise axis (19). The surface temperature of the glass body (3) is determined with a temperature measuring device (25). The mechanical stress condition of the glass body (3) is detected with an optical device (29) and can be controlled by varying the burner temperature and/or the advancing speed of the burner. The invention makes it possible to counteract the occurrence of high mechanical stresses in the glass body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Kabel AG & Co.
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Lysson, Frank Lisse, Robert Fenner
  • Patent number: 5772719
    Abstract: A system for detecting and automatically adjusting the position of a plurality of burners with respect to the edges of a continuous glass sheet is provided. The glass sheet is transported by rolls along the length of a thermal treatment lehr. Sensor elements for sensing the edge of the glass sheet are attached conjointly with the burners in order to adjust the position of the burners. A programmable controller is coupled to the sensor elements in order to adjust the position of the burners in accordance with the position of the sensor elements at the edge of the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Vidrio Plano de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Manuel Alarcon-Lopez, Lenin Roman-Gomez, Rafael Jorge Rojas-Cortes, Victor Enciso-Aguilar, Severino Islas-Sanchez, Jose Carlos Montes-Juarez
  • Patent number: 5711781
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating an elongated glass body, which, for example, may be used as a pre-form for the drawing of glass fibers, includes a rotatable first chuck wherein the first end of the elongated glass body may be rotatably secured. In addition the apparatus includes a second rotatable chuck whereat the second end of the elongated glass body is introduced into a quartz tube and this quartz tube is clamped into the rotatable second chuck. A burner, which is adapted to slide parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated glass tube, heats the elongated glass body in such a manner, that a so called fire polish of the elongated glass body for the improvement of its surface quality occurs. A method for heating the elongated glass body is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Kabel Rheydt Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Lysson, Frank Lisse
  • Patent number: 5683483
    Abstract: The present invention provides large, high-purity quartz glass plate with a high degree of smoothness and flatness, its manufacturing method and equipment. The invention is characterized by the procedure in which a quartz glass tube with an opening over a specific width, in the direction of the tube shaft, that is preferably band-shaped, is heated and softened in a band-shaped area over the entire width, in the direction of the tube shaft, progressing sequentially along the direction of tube circumference from a specific position on the glass tube. While softening and heating, the quartz glass tube is pulled in a line approximately tangential to the specific position to flatten the glass tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Quartz Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ise Yosiaki, Asajima Kazuo, Okosi Shinichi, Kimura Hiroyuki
  • Patent number: 5679123
    Abstract: When heating and bending glass sheets in a furnace, it is desirable to raise the sheets towards the furnace heat sources to increase obtainable temperature differentials and reduce heating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignees: Triplex Safety Glass Limited, Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Limited
    Inventors: Colin Michael Bennett, Masuhide Kajii, Kazuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 5611834
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the free deformation of thermoplastic material in an automated process for processing the material to form articles. These articles are especially ampules, small bottles and the like produced from glass tubes. In this method, in order to obtain a high dimensional accuracy of the article, a corrective action is carried out by applying heat to the starting material in the deformation region in the heating phase. This corrective action takes place in dependence on a desired-value/actual-value comparison of the deformation of a workpiece achieved in a predetermined working step. In order to exclude interference influences in the development of the deformation, the measurement of the deformation achieved, the desired-value/actual-value comparison and the corrective action are carried out in situ on one and the same workpiece during shaping of the deformation in the heating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Schott Rohrglas GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Walter, Paul Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5573566
    Abstract: A method of making a quartz dome for a reactor chamber from a substantially flat quartz disk. The quartz disk is placed on a graphite ring which is rotated. The quartz disk is heated until the disk is softened slightly and it begins to slump. The softened portion of the disk is drawn by a change in pressure to contact a fixed wiper blade. The wiper blade controls the size and shape of the deformation of the quartz disk to form the dome surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Materials America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dane H. Anderberg, Lewis C. Barnett
  • Patent number: 5480467
    Abstract: A device for treating glassware and crystalware articles driven in rotation about an axis of rotation, which includes a mandrel upon which the articles is rotatably mounted. The device includes one of a heating source and a cooling source movable along a direction parallel to the treatment plane, and a data recording system having a control unit for storing and handling the data measured by a sensor relating to the angular position of each glassware or crystalware article. An intersection sensor is included to measure the distance between the external wall of each article and the heating mechanism. Further, a command unit controls the displacement and the location of the one movable heating and cooling source during treatment of the rotating article so as that a substantially constant spacing between the heating mechanism and the rotating articles is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Etablissements Biebuyck S.A.
    Inventor: Leon Biebuyck
  • Patent number: 5203691
    Abstract: A preform tube (31) is caused to be collapsed into a preform rod by causing a heat zone (54) provided by a torch assembly (50) to traverse the tube longitudinally in a plurality of passes. During this so-called collapse mode, a muffle tube (100) encloses that portion of the tube which extends through the torch assembly. Advantageously, the muffle tube projects a predetermined distance beyond one major face of the torch assembly. The torch assembly comprises annular semi-circular end plates and an annular semi-circular center portion having a plurality of exit ports through which gases are directed into engagement with the tube. The center portion is caused to be recessed between the end plates thereby causing the heat zone generated by the gases to be narrowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: William D. OBrien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5181948
    Abstract: A micropipette puller of the type having a laser for heating a length of capillary to be pulled is shown. Before intercepting the capillary, the laser beam is first passed through an aperture to reduce the beam width to a desired size. In one embodiment the aperture is made by a pair of movable shutters allowing the beam width to be adjusted. In this embodiment the spacing between the shutters can be made small in relation to the length of capillary to be heated and the resulting slit scanned back and forth along the capillary. Fixed, removable aperture plates means are also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Sutter Instrument Company
    Inventor: Jack H. Belgum
  • Patent number: 5174803
    Abstract: A preform tube (31) is caused to be collpased into a preform rod by causing a heat zone (54) provided by a torch assembly (50) to traverse the tube longitudinally in a plurality of passes. During this so-called collapse mode, a muffle tube (100) encloses that portion of the tube which extends through the torch assembly. Advantageously, the muffle tube projects a predetermined distance beyond one major face of the torch assembly. The torch assembly comprises annular semi-circular end plates and as annular semi-circular center portion having a plurality of exit ports through which gases are directed into engagement with the tube. The center portion is caused to be recessed between the end plates thereby causing the heat zone generated by the gases to be narrowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: William D. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5127929
    Abstract: An optical waveguide preform is fabricated by inserting a rod inside a tube and collapsing the tube. The inner diameter of the tube is adjusted before inserting the rod to provide a predetermined gap width between the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the rod. The gap width is selected as a function of the cross sectional area of the tube in order to minimize core eccentricity in the finished waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Alcatel N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Gunther, Ulrich Siemers, Manfred Wittmann
  • Patent number: 5118333
    Abstract: In order to provide a substrate such as an optical preform rod (24) which is suitable for insertion into a tube and which has a transverse cross section that is substantially circular and disposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis of the substrate substantially along its entire length, a force-applying means such as a graphite roller (52) is adapted to be moved incrementally toward an axis of rotation (35) about which the preform rod is turned rototably. Movement is discontinued when there is an indication that the force-applying means has been in continuous engagement with the preform rod for at least a predetermined portion of the periphery of the rod. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement of the force-applying means and the preform rod is discontinued after a predetermined time, whereafter the force-applying means again is moved toward the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Gary L. Baltzer, Brian Lynch, William D. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5090978
    Abstract: A preform tube (31) is caused to be collapsed into a preform rod by causing a heat zone (54) provided by a torch assembly (50) to traverse the tube longitudinally in a plurality of passes. During this collapse mode, a muffle tube (100) encloses that portion of the tube which extends through the torch assembly. The muffle tube projects a predetermined distance beyond one major face of the torch assembly. The torch assembly comprises annular semi-circular end plates and an annular semi-circular center portion having a plurality of exit ports through which gases are directed into engagement with the tube. The center portion is caused to be recessed between the end plates thereby causing the heat zone generated by the gases to be narrowed. The narrowing of the heat zone and the substantial confinement of the heat energy within the muffle tube cooperate with increased gas flow rates to cause the tube to be collapsed in a time period which is substantially less than that achieved by prior art methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: William D. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4921522
    Abstract: The micropipette puller of this invention includes a pair of gripping jaws that pull a length of glass tubing in opposite directions. The source of heat is a laser device and a laser beam is directed against the glass tubing between the gripping jaws and beyond the tubing into a concave mirror, which reflects that portion of the beam that bypassed the tubing, back against the back side of the tubing for uniform heating around the circumference of the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Inventor: Dale G. Flaming
  • Patent number: 4875916
    Abstract: In order to provide a substrate such as an optical preform rod (24) which suitable for insertion into a tube and which has a transverse cross section that is substantially circular and disposed concentrically about a longitudinal axis of the substrate substantially along its entire length, a force-applying means such as a graphite roller (52) is adapted to be moved incrementally toward an axis of rotation (35) about which the preform rod is turned rotatably. Movement is discontinued when there is an indication that the force-applying means has been in continuous engagement with the preform rod for at least a predetermined portion of the periphery of the rod. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement of the force-applying means and the preform rod is discontinued after a predetermined time whereafter the force-applying means again is moved toward the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Baltzer, Brian Lynch, William D. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4869745
    Abstract: The micropipette puller of this invention includes a pair of gripping jaws that pull a length of glass tubing in opposite directions. The source of heat is a laser and a beam is directed into a beam directing means, such as a lens or mirror, to refract or reflect the beam against the glass tubing between the gripping jaws. The mirror or lens may be oscillated at various rates and through selected angles in each direction to move the reflected beam a selected amount and at selected rates along a greater length of the glass tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Inventor: Dale G. Flaming
  • Patent number: 4828599
    Abstract: The method of the present invention consists of the steps of heating an area along the length of a small diameter glass tube while the tube is being rotated, pulling the heated tube using an unidirectional force to rapidly extend the heated area while mechanically maintaining the heat source centrally located along the portion of the tubing being extended. The extended tubing is subsequently cooled and separated at the narrowed portion to produce two capillary tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Frederick Sachs, Victor Demjanenko