Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to apparatuses for sealing the tips of pump-out tubes of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, and/or associated methods. In certain example embodiments, a laser source used in sealing the pump-out tube is thermally insulated from the VIG unit and emits a laser beam through one or more windows in an oven towards a mirror located therein. The mirror is located so as to redirect the laser beam onto the pump-out tube to thereby seal it. For instance, a substantially horizontal laser beam emitted from a laser source located outside the oven enters into the oven through one or more windows and is reflected by a mirror towards the pump-out tube to be sealed. The repositioning of the laser source advantageously can change its effective focal length and/or the location of the laser beam, e.g., because of the fixed location of the mirror.

Abstract: A method for preparing pre-reacted synthetic batches, with a low content of carbon dioxide, for the production of glass formulas, which comprises mixing stoichiometric amounts of substances, containing molecular systems of silica-sodium, silica-sodium-calcium, silica-sodium-magnesium, silica-calcium-magnesium, silica-sodium-calcium-magnesium and mixtures thereof, having reaction temperatures which do not form a liquid phase, that are selected from invariant points or from points on a line connecting invariant points of phase diagrams of said molecular systems, to complete a desired molecular formula; adding cullet to the mixture; and calcining the mixture to a reaction temperature which do not form a liquid phase and wherein the CO2 is liberated.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a glass package by applying a force to a glass assembly while simultaneously irradiating a sealing material disposed between the two glass substrates with a beam of radiation. The applied force is translated in unison with the radiation beam. The radiation cures and/or melts the sealing material, depending upon the sealing material. The applied force beneficially improves contact between the glass substrates and the sealing material during the sealing process, therefore assisting in achieving a hermetic seal between the substrates.

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.

Abstract: A method for fusing an optical fiber preform comprises fusing the preform while blowing an oxidative gas against the preform to be fused from upper and lower directions of a fusing burner unit. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a plurality of nozzles for preventing deposition of silica cloud, which are each set at an angle, &thgr;, of blowing the oxidative gas relative to the preform being drawn such 20°≦&thgr;≦60°.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A pipette puller has a heater coil X-Y position controlled by two knobs. The coil can be vertically positioned along a pipette by moving a third knob for the Z positioning. A dual-heat heat control provides two pre-set temperatures. A movable shield covers the coils when they are heated, eliminating accidental burnings. Sensors run the status panel. The panel tells when to start a pull, the position of the movable chuck, the position of the shield, and when to reposition the coil and indicates a primary stop between two burns of a patch electrode pull. A vertical rail supports all of the major mechanical moving parts, with the exception of the adjustable stop which swings in and out of operative position.

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.

Abstract: For filling the inner space of an insulating glass panel (1) with argon, one glass pane is maintained at a distance from the spacer frame in the region of one corner (2) during pressing of the insulating glass panel (1), by holding this glass pane at a spacing from the spacer frame by pivoting of a portion (12) of the press plate (11), with the aid of suction cups (19, 20) provided at this portion (12). Through the thus-formed gap, a probe (4) for feeding argon and a probe (5) for exhausting air from the inner space of the insulating glass panel are introduced. The probe (4) blowing argon into the inner space is oriented in parallel to the lower horizontal leg of the insulating glass panel (1), and the other probe (5), exhausting air and/or air-argon mixture, exhibits an orifice pointing obliquely upwardly, i.e. away from the other probe (4).

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.

Abstract: A 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 zoom lens, or a selected one of a series of lenses, so that a beam of selected length and configuration is refracted against the glass tubing between the gripping jaws.

Abstract: A novel method for fabricating glass micropipettes comprises assembling glass tubes side-by-side in a bundle, softening an axially central region of the bundle by heating, axially elongating the softened central region to create two opposing tapers, and then dividing the bundle in two at the axial midpoint of the central region to thereby create two micropipettes. The distal tip end of each micropipette at which it was separated from the other is then relatively advanced toward a hot flame to create a spherical enlargement at the tip end. This spherical enlargement facilitates subsequent gripping of this end when the micropipette is subsequently finished to produce desired orifice sizes for the barrels at the distal tip end. It is also desirable to perform a twisting step after the softening step and before the elongating step.

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.

Abstract: For sure sealing of the evacuation tips of vacuum tubes, the electric power supplied to the heating resistor of the sealing furnace is regulated for each treatment stage, the set value is pre-selected and laid down by a computer for the corresponding power generator.

Abstract: A machine for making and painting test tubes by painting open-ended tubes and then fusing and severing them to form individual test tubes.Substitutable paint applicators varying in width, adjustable in location relative to the open-ended tubes, apply paint thereto by means of wiping action caused by rotating said open-ended tubes while in engagement with said paint applicators. The open-ended tubes are then individually fused and severed intermediate their open ends to form, from each open-ended tube, two separate test tubes having painted bands of the desired width and at the desired location, including painted bands which are contiguous with the open ends of the test tubes.

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 machine for trimming hollow glass articles includes a support in which a semi-finished article is held stationary and immovable, and a pair of split oscillatory burners for flame cutting at least one excess end of the semi-finished article, the burners being oscillatable relative to the stationary article in order to effect the required flame cutting operation.

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: A pipette puller is provided for drawing glass or quartz tubing into micropipettes. A fixed clamp and movable clamp are utilized and between the clamps a furnace is provided which has an opposing pair of elongated heating elements. The heating elements are supported by binding posts of high thermal conductivity and relatively large mass, which provides relatively low thermal inertia of the heating elements.

Abstract: According to the method of aseptic and antiparticulate opening of a sealed glass ampul, one end of the ampul is submitted to a powerful thermal flux produced by flame tongue generating sources on a very localized zone for a time period sufficient to obtain melting of the glass while maintaining the adjacent portion thereof at lower temperature for preserving its rigidity, such time period being the shorter the smaller that volume of gas contained in the ampul which is quickly brought to an increased temperature and pressure to cause the ampul to be opened up in the considered molten zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing bulbs comprises a mount holder having a hole through which an exhaust tube is passed loosely and holding a mount, a sealing burner arranged around the holder for fusing the contact portions of a stem and the opening edge of a bulb body, a butting plate arranged around the holder so as to be able to reciprocate along the axis of the holder, and capable of pressing on the fused contact portions, and two tipping-off burners for sealing off the exhaust tube. The holder includes two flame inlet ports opening in the outer surface of the holer and communicating with the hole. The burners are located outside the holder, and can move between a position where it can inject flames into the ports and a position where it does not prevent the movement of the abutting plate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making capillary glass liners for use in ink jet writing devices. The capillary glass blanks are suspended within a heating coil which melts the glass locally so that the blank stretches to form two well defined jet liner nozzles. Liners with inlet and outlet orifices and with bent or angled outlet nozzles are also made.

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: A unique method and apparatus for manufacturing gas-filled tubes utilizes an optically-spread beam of light to seal and cut short segments of tubing from a long tube containing the gas. Neither the laser beam nor the tubing is moved during the cutting and sealing operation. The gas being supplied to the length of tubing during the cutting and sealing operation is maintained at constant pressure so that each cut segment has the same resultant internal gas pressure. In one embodiment, radioactive light sources for illuminating displays and the like are manufactured by indexing a long phosphor-coated glass tube containing radioactive gas maintained at constant pressure, past a laser which generates an optically-spread light beam. The laser is activated in each index position of the tube to seal and cut short segments of the tubing with each segment having the same quantity of radioactive gas to provide the same desired quantity of illumination.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated container is constituted by a double-walled receptacle wherein the space between the walls is substantially evacuated to provide vacuum insulation. The outer wall is provided with an opening therein which is used during manufacture to provide access to the space between the walls so that the space may be evacuated. A stopper- or plug-like portion fills the opening after the container has been evacuated and is permanently joined or bonded to the surfaces of the opening thereby providing a sealing to maintain the vacuum in the space between the walls.

Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus including two pairs of metal gripping blocks held together by a spring and mounted adjacent to wedge blocks carrying wedges for opening each pair. An operating plate is provided which drives the apparatus to cause the wedge blocks to open the gripping blocks to permit a length of capillary tubing filled with mercury to be inserted between the pairs of gripping blocks. The apparatus is then driven to cause the tubing to pass through a flame positioned to melt the tubing at a desired location and to form two separate seal portions at this location which are gripped by the two gripping blocks; and, on the next cycle, when the gripping blocks are opened, the portion of the tubing which is the desired capsule is released from its pair of gripping blocks and fed to a suitable receiver.

Abstract: A focused laser beam is directed at the wide side surface of a long, sealed, gas-filled, glass tube having a longitudinal axis and an elongated cross section. Repeated relative back and forth movement is introduced between the laser beam and the wide surface of the tube transverse to its longitudinal axis to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends. Preferably, the tube is held in fixed position, while the laser beam is scanned across both of its wide side surfaces. The intensity and/or the velocity of the laser beam are modulated. After the tube divides along the cut line, the divided ends are annealed while still in the tube holder by defocusing the laser beam. In one embodiment, plural simultaneous cuts are made by directing a plurality of focused laser beams onto the tube at spaced intervals along its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An ampoule filling and sealing machine with feeding, filling, sealing and loading stations. A horizontally oriented endless chain drive moves the ampoules through the filling and sealing stations. Belts or a reciprocating agitator are provided in the feeding station. A plurality of spring-loaded movable rails and a final stationary rail guide the line of ampoules in the filling station. The filled ampoules in the sealing station are spun by rotating pinions of cylindrical rollers on the endless chain drive in cooperation with inclined discs. In the loading station a channel receives a line of sealed ampoules. One side of the middle portion of the channel is a horizontal flat spring backed up by a spring-loaded bar. A fixed stop is spaced from the backing bar. A spring-loaded gate is at the inlet to each loading tray.

Abstract: An elongated glass tube light source containing a luminophor and a radioactive gas is subdivided into a plurality of light sources by a plurality of laser beams directed at the tube at spaced points along the length of the tube. The laser beams are scanned back and forth transversely of the length of the tube to heat the tube and fuse the glass at each of the spaced points. The tube is rigidly supported on either side of each of the points to hold the tube stationary during the cutting operation. A single source of a continuous laser beam is divided into a plurality of beams by beam splitters. Mirrors direct the beams to the spaced points along the length of the tube and mirrors are oscillated to provide the desired scanning motion of the beams across the width of the tube.