Abstract: An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.

Abstract: A burner module comprising a burner gas inlet block, a lower flow plate, an upper flow plate, a burner gas flow disperser, and a burner gas discharge block. The burner gas inlet block, the burner gas flow disperser, and the burner gas discharge block each comprising a plurality of channels separated by partitions. The partitions of the burner gas flow disperser and the burner gas discharge block comprising a knife edge. The upper flow plate and the lower flow plate each comprising a plurality of pressure holes in fluid communication with the plurality of channels. Additionally, the method of forming a glass sheet or ribbon using the disclosed burner module and a glass sheet or ribbon formed using the method.

Abstract: A reformable area and a non-reformable area of a sheet of glass material are heated to a first temperature corresponding to a first viscosity. The reformable area is subsequently locally heated to a second temperature corresponding to a second viscosity, where the second viscosity is lower than the first viscosity. A bend is formed in the reformable area during the local heating of the reformable area by contacting a first pusher with the non-reformable area and translating the first pusher along a linear path to apply a pushing force to the non-reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area or by contacting a second pusher with an edge area of the reformable area and rotating the pusher along a circular path to apply a pushing force to the edge area of the reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing glass ribbon includes a control device configured at least periodic thermal stress compensation of the glass ribbon by independently adjusting operation of a plurality of temperature adjustment elements based on stress characteristic information at least periodically obtained from a stress sensor apparatus. In further examples, methods of producing glass include at least periodically sensing a stress characteristic of a glass ribbon and at least periodically changing a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon based stress characteristic information. In further examples, methods include the step of changing a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon only if a measured parameter is within an operating range associated with the parameter.

Abstract: A titania-doped quartz glass suited as an EUV lithographic member is prepared by feeding a silicon-providing reactant gas and a titanium-providing reactant gas through a burner along with hydrogen and oxygen, subjecting the reactant gases to oxidation or flame hydrolysis to form synthetic silica-titania fine particles, depositing the particles on a rotating target, and concurrently melting and vitrifying the deposited particles to grow an ingot of titania-doped quartz glass. The target is retracted such that the growth front of the ingot may be spaced a distance of at least 250 mm from the burner tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing glass ribbon comprises edge directors, wherein an outer portion defining a first pair of surfaces and a second pair of surfaces. In one example, the first and second pair of surfaces of each edge director includes a glass wettability with a static contact angle within a range of from about 30° to about 60°. In another example, the outer portion comprises a platinum alloy including from about 0.05 weight % tin to about 5 weight % tin. Methods for forming glass include the step of providing the edge director with a desired glass wettability and/or a desired platinum alloy.

Abstract: A coolant box for a glass batch charger that includes a base, a front wall, a rear wall, a coolant labyrinth extending from the base between the front and rear walls, and including a plurality of curvate baffle walls establishing a plurality of curvate coolant channels.

Abstract: A glass panel is partially printed with a plurality of layers in the form of a print pattern which subdivides the panel into a plurality of discrete printed areas and/or a plurality of discrete unprinted areas, the layers being in substantially exact registration. Exact registration is achieved by the application of a plurality of superimposed layers to a sheet of glass. One layer contains-ceramic ink comprising glass frit. The glass sheet and layers are subjected to a heat treatment process which causes the glass frit to fuse to the glass and bind at least one other layer of ink within the print pattern. Ink outside the print pattern is burnt off and/or vaporised during the heat treatment process and/or removed by a subsequent finishing process, to leave the desired layers in substantially exact registration within the print pattern.

Abstract: A glass molding system and a method of making glass articles using the glass molding system are disclosed. The glass molding system includes an indexing table, a plurality of enclosures arranged along the indexing table, and a plurality of stations defined on the indexing table such that each of the stations is selectively indexable with any one of the enclosures. At least one radiant heater is arranged in at least one of the enclosures. A radiation reflector surface and a radiation emitter body are arranged in the at least one of the enclosures. The radiation emitter body is between the at least one radiant heater and the radiation reflector surface and has a first surface in opposing relation to the at least one radiant heater and a second surface in opposing relation to the radiation reflector surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for characterizing attributes of a moving glass sheet comprising complementary mechanical material handling technologies that progressively stabilize, position, capture, flatten, and release the lower portion of glass sheets traveling past the apparatus while posing minimal constraint on the top section of the sheet. The apparatus includes a pressure-vacuum (PV)-type device comprising distinct regions such that the glass sheets experience a non-contact but gradual increase in constraining force until the point where measurements can be performed, then a gradual decrease in constraining force until the glass sheets are released from the inspection station. This graduated force technique is applied along the direction of travel of the sheets and may also be applied vertically upwards along the height of the sheet to restrict the motion of the sheet without constraining it at pinch points near the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention significantly modifies “The Overflow Process”. It includes a method and apparatus for measuring glass flow rate and maintaining a constant glass flow rate. It also embodies design features and methods that support and stress the forming apparatus in a manner such that the deformation that results from thermal creep is corrected, thus minimizing the effect of the thermal creep on the thickness variation of the glass sheet. The present invention also embodies design features that change the process from a single step (combined flow distribution and cooling) to a two step process; step one being flow distribution and step two being cooling.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided for predicting/estimating chemical depth of layer (DOL) and maximum surface compressive stress (CS) of glass articles after ion-exchange. The methods and apparatus can, for example, be used to select glass compositions, salt bath temperatures, and/or ion-exchange times which provide desired DOL and/or CS values. One or more manufacturing constraints, e.g., constraints on liquidus viscosity, zircon breakdown viscosity, and the like, can be applied to the process of predicting/estimating DOL and/or CS values so that glass compositions selected based on DOL and/or CS values can, for example, be manufactured commercially by a fusion or float process.

Abstract: A current conducting melting vessel within which glass can be melted is provided. At least two induction heating coils are provided at selected locations proximate to the melting vessel. Power is selectively supplied to the coils to thereby selectively energize the coils so that the mutual induction of current in a non-energized heating coil adjacent to an energized heating coil is prevented via a switching element in power supply circuitry associated with the non-energized coil.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for precision glass roll forming a supply of molten glass at a glass temperature of 1000° C. or higher. A pair of hot forming rolls having a surface temperature of about 500° C. or higher, vertically below the glass feed, that thin the supplied stream of molten glass to produce a formed glass ribbon. A pair of cold sizing rolls maintained at a surface temperature of about 400° C. or lower, vertically below the forming rolls, that thin the formed glass ribbon glass to produce a sized glass ribbon having a desired thickness and a desired thickness uniformity. The sized glass ribbon may have a thickness of 1 mm or less that varies in thickness by no more than +/?0.025 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to production of a fluoride gas and equivalents thereof, and fluorine-doped sodium silicate glass, glass ceramics, vitro ceramics and equivalents thereof. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a salt and an oxide in a reactor, heating the reactor to produce a vapor and the vitro ceramic and removing the vapor.

Abstract: Channel apparatus for use with submerged combustion systems and methods of use to produce glass. One channel apparatus includes a flow channel defined by a floor, a roof, and a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, the flow channel divided into sections by a series of skimmers. Channel apparatus include both high and low momentum combustion burners, with one or more high momentum combustion burners positioned immediately upstream of each skimmer in either the roof or sidewall structure, or both, and one or more low momentum combustion burners positioned immediately downstream of each skimmer in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and positioned to transfer heat to the molten mass of glass without substantial interference from foamed material. Certain embodiments include increased height of glass-contact refractory, in particular immediately upstream of the skimmers.

Abstract: A glass molding system and a method of making glass articles using the glass molding system are disclosed. The glass molding system includes an indexing table, a plurality of enclosures arranged along the indexing table, and a plurality of stations defined on the indexing table such that each of the stations is selectively indexable with any one of the enclosures. At least one radiant heater is arranged in at least one of the enclosures. A radiation reflector surface and a radiation emitter body are arranged in the at least one of the enclosures. The radiation emitter body is between the at least one radiant heater and the radiation reflector surface and has a first surface in opposing relation to the at least one radiant heater and a second surface in opposing relation to the radiation reflector surface.

Abstract: A parison mold assembly for a press-and-blow glassware forming machine includes a neck ring for molding a finish portion of a parison, a parison mold for molding a body portion of the parison, and a plunger for insertion through the neck ring into the parison mold for pressing a hot glass gob against inner surfaces of the neck ring and the parison mold. The plunger has an outer surface of revolution around a central axis, including a first portion disposed within the neck ring when the plunger is fully inserted through the neck ring into the parison mold, a second portion spaced from the first portion, and a transition third portion extending between the first and second portions.

Abstract: Process for producing a structure on one of the faces of a glass ribbon, carried out continuously using a printing device, in which: the printing device (8) is placed in a zone (A) in which the ribbon (B) is at an average temperature T1 insufficient for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be printed, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device; that face to be etched, upstream of the printing device (8), is heated so as to bring a limited and sufficient thickness of the ribbon to a temperature T2>T1 necessary for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be etched, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device, while still keeping the rest of the ribbon at a temperature close to T1; the heat flux tra

Abstract: A rough mold of a machine for forming glass items is provided with a multifunctional group, which has a common support head; a handling device for moving the common head along a first handling axis; and a further handling device for rotating the common head about a second handling axis; the common head being fitted with a mold closing member for sealing the top opening of the rough mold, and at least one further operating member selectable from a funnel-shaped member for guiding at least one glass gob into the rough mold, a blowing member for blowing pressurized air into the rough mold, and one or more members for treating the inner surface of the rough mold.