Abstract: The method for polishing glass products, comprises the following steps: specifying a contour or form or shape of the glass product; detecting the location or position of the glass product; calculating a path for a laser beam on the basis of the contour of the glass product and the location of the glass product; and scanning the path with the laser beam for polishing the glass product in order to fuse mold joints together or smoothen/polish them.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to flame polish a thin glass sheet which includes cooling the thin glass sheet followed by heating the thin glass sheet with an intense flame to substantially reduce if not eliminate surface roughness of the glass sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for strengthening glass. A method according to one aspect of the invention strengthens glass by applying potassium ions to the surface of a glass article with the surface being at least the annealing point temperature of the glass and then keeping the temperature of the glass between the strain point temperature of the glass and about 150° C. below the strain point temperature for at least about five minutes to facilitate a more efficient ion-exchange reaction. In one embodiment, the glass articles may be dipped in a salt bath to apply the ions. In an alternative embodiment, the glass articles may be sprayed with molten potassium salt to apply the ions. As a result of the methods of the invention, the treated glass articles may be strengthened by having an increased surface stress or may contain less glass with no change in strength as compared to the same untreated glass article.

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.

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).

Abstract: A solid workpiece, e.g. a glass tube, is shaped by a focussed beam of visible light or light in an adjacent portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in a material removal, cutting or drilling operation and is heat-treated or remelted or shaped in a plastic state by heating that second beam which is less focussed or even divergent. The beams derive from a common source, a CO.sub.2 laser, and pass through a splitting deflecting system so that the beams can be directed simultaneously either parallel to one another or with an inclination to one another at the same or different regions of the workpiece which is held in a holder capable of both rotating the workpiece and translating same.

Abstract: When blank-molded optical glass bodies are manufactured according to known methods based on blank-molding technology, the product exhibits rings in the glass and folds as well as an impression that precisely coincides with the contact surface of the parison inside the pressing die before the pressing operation. These defects are not permissible in blank-molded lenses, however, because they cause an undesirable optical effect such as changing the glare value in automobile headlights. Such defects are process-dependent and are caused by the fact that the transfer of the parison to the pressing die and the pressing itself are two separate operations that are performed with different tools.

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.

Abstract: Converged laser beam are irradiated, at right angles, to the surface of a workpiece which is made of glass and supported in a horizontal posture, so that the surface of the workpiece is locally heated and melted. The surface of the workpiece is formed into a convexly curved surface under the effect of surface tension occurrable to the glass material at the time the surface of the workpiece is melted. By hardening the workpiece, a micro lens having the convexly curved surface is formed.

Abstract: A moil crack-off system for a funnel is provided, wherein a pick-up apparatus is arranged intersectionally above a conveyor that is extended from the shaping process of the funnel, and a pair of ware transfers are arranged in parallel on either side of the conveyor. The funnel that is riding on the conveyor is absorbed at a predetermined position by vacuum pads that are loaded on the carriers of the pick-up apparatus, and is moved in a three-dimensional manner to either of the ware transfers. The ware transfers deliver the three-dimensionally moved funnel to a scoring part and a two-step fire polishing part, which are arranged within the ware transfers, so that the moil of the funnel is cracked off automatically.

Abstract: Flame seaming a glass sheet of irregular outline using a ring-type burner having an apertured inner wall aligned with the central portion of the glass sheet edge develops an edge of more uniform appearance when the application of a fuel mixture to a portion of said apertured wall facing the glass edge is different for curved portions of the wall facing curved portions of the glass sheet outline than to straight line portions of the wall facing straight portions of the glass sheet outline. Further reduction of non-uniformity of glass edge appearance may result from providing orbital motion between said glass sheet outline and an apertured inner wall of said ring-type burner.

Abstract: This invention concerns with a process and apparatus for fabricating microlenses on optical fibers. A pulsed laser beam and an end portion of a fiber are arranged relative to each to another so that the laser beam is incident on the end portion of the fiber at an acute angle .theta. to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. The angle is selected to attain a desired curvature of a lens formed by ablation and heating of the end portion of the fiber by the laser beam. A movement of the fiber and the laser relative each to another results in progressive engagement of the end portion of the fiber with the laser for a preselected distance so as to produce a short taper with a lens at the end thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the fiber rotated about its axis within a passage of the holder which moves the end-portion of the fiber into and through the laser beam resulting in the said lens. The precise repeatability of the lens formation may be controlled by a computer.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating and polishing a micropipette for patch recording comprises an inverse microscope having a stage for supporting a micropipette to be processed, and a pair of objectives of relatively low and relatively high magnification, respectively, which are adapted to be selectively placed into the optical path of the microscope. An air gun is positioned to supply an air jet to a pipette supported on the stage, said gun comprising heating means for selectively producing a hot and a cold air jet. An attchment comprising an electricially heatable filament is associated to the objective of relatively high magnification. The micropipette is positioned and coated under observation with the aid of the objective of low magnification and then the coating is cured by applying the hot air jet. Subsequently, the tip of the pipette is polished by the heated filament under observation with the aid of the objective of high magnification.

Abstract: A system for sealing a mount in a cathode-ray tube using first and second tiers of burners includes a first valve in an oxygen supply line and a third valve in a fuel supply line connected to the first tier, and a second valve in the oxygen supply line and a fourth valve in the fuel supply line connected to the second tier for controlling, respectively, the flow of oxygen and fuel therethrough. The system comprises a preignition timing relay responsive to a start signal and coupled to both the first and the third valves for effecting a preignition gas flow period. An ignition timer is responsive to the preignition timing relay and is coupled to both the first and the third valves and to an igniter for effecting an ignition latchup interval at the end of the preignition gas flow period. A first timing relay is responsive to the ignition timer and is coupled to both the first and the third valves for effecting a first-tier gas flow period following the preignition gas flow period.

Abstract: A method for sealing a mount including a wafer in a neck of a stationary cathode-ray tube comprises positioning a first tier of burner tips completely around the neck such that the burner tips are aimed nonradially along directions tangent to a first circle, the plane of the first circle being aligned along the wafer. The first tier of burner tips is split into at least first and second radial segments, each segment being connected to means for moving the segment toward and away from the neck. The first tier of burner tips, while remaining stationary, provide a vortical pattern of flames around the neck. The radial segments are then removed from around the stationary neck sufficiently to allow the tube to proceed along a conveyor line.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing a mount including a wafer into a neck of a cathode-ray tube oriented along an axis comprises two tiers of burner tips. The first tier is disposed completely around the axis at a first distance therefrom and similarly aimed nonradially along directions tangent to a first circle. The second tier of burner tips is disposed completely around the axis below the first tier at a second distance from the axis and similarly aimed nonradially along directions tangent to a second circle. The first distance and the diameter of the first circle are greater, respectively, than the second distance and the diameter of the second circle.

Abstract: A burner for a machine for the thermomechanical treatment of glass tubes is oriented obliquely with respect to a path of movement followed by the glass tubes in the machine. The burner is connected to a fuel delivery pipe and is provided with nozzles arranged in tiers in the desired direction.

Abstract: An automatic tipping-off apparatus for hermetically sealing the exhaust tubulation of a dosed and otherwise processed arc tube for a high-intensity-dicharge device. The apparatus for use with an arc tube fabricating machine including a rotatable turret having a plurality of arc tube holding members mounted about the peripheral portion thereof. The turret is operational to move the arc tube holding members in a sequential stop-and-go fashion to and from a plurality of operating stations located in close proximity to the turret. The tipping-off apparatus maintains the arc tube in a vertical orientation and utilizes spring-loaded jaws to retain the arc tube while a burner moves into position about the exhaust tubulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fire-finishing machine for glass articles, of the type comprising a frame, a vertical rotary assembly mounted on the frame, drive means for ensuring the rotation of the vertical assembly which further comprises means for supporting article supporting cups intended to move over a circular path and burner holder means provided to follow the cups in their movement, wherein the supply of the burners is subjected to the action of adjustable means for opening and closing the flows of fuel so that the burners are adjusted once and for all in optimum manner and it is possible to vary the portion of path of the cups where fire-finishing takes place. The invention is more particularly applied to the manufacture of glass articles whose shape may or may not be of revolution.

Abstract: An installation for the flame treatment of glass articles comprises a succession of rotatable turntables driven linearly and cyclically by a chain between a loading point, at which a supply means, comprising a moulding press provided with a rotatable plate, the movement of which is synchronized with that of the chain, loads articles onto the turntables and an unloading point, passing through a flame treatment zone; and means to transfer an article from the rotatable plate to the turntables of the chain by means of at least one intermediate point, one article being transported from the transfer point to the chain, while the following article is transported from the plate to the intermediate point.The installation may be used in the flame treatment of all glass articles.