Abstract: Asymmetric stress in the tip of a polarization-maintaining optical fiber is measured using the photoelastic effect to determine the fiber polarization axes of two fibers appointed to be joined. The fibers are rotated to align their respective polarization axes and are joined together. A single polarization-maintaining optical fiber is thereby produced in an accurate, reliable, and time and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: Optical fibers are fixed to elongating tables by optical fiber fixing jigs. Coatings are removed from portions of the fibers and respective fibers of two different groups are placed into tight contact with one another. Rectifier rods, supported movably by rectifier rod supporting members, are disposed outside the optical fiber strands. The fibers are then heated by a gas burner 4A so as to be welded integrally with each other, and are then elongated. By using rectifier rods, the outside optical fiber strands of the groups being welded are not so strongly heated that uniform welding and elongation can be realized. In one preferred embodiment, the fibers are arranged such that there are gaps therebetween. These gaps are substantially 250 .mu.m. The gaps are sufficiently wide that heating gas flows in a manner such that all the optical fiber strands are heated uniformly to make it possible uniform welding and elongation.

Abstract: A glass compression molding apparatus includes a horizontal upper platen and a lower platen disposed parallel to the upper platen. A top die is mounted for movement along the upper platen between a plurality of stations, and a bottom die is mounted for movement along the lower platen between another plurality of stations. A preform is introduced into the bottom die and then heated and compressed to form a molded product. The molded product is annealed and then removed from the bottom die. A clamping device forces the upper and lower platens together. A compression device compresses the preform. A conveying device moves at least the bottom die while suspended above the lower platen. Thus, wear of the lower platen, which would otherwise result from the sliding of the bottom die on the lower platen or the entry of foreign matter between the bottom die and the lower platen, is avoided. Such a wear or entry of foreign matter would occur while the mold is moved between stations in the conventional apparatus.

Abstract: A deflector plate support includes a support body having an integral frame-like construction and a first end portion and a second end portion each of which are connected to a perpendicularly disposed border that is connected to an inwardly extending wall disposed perpendicular to the border. Each end portion of the support body, each border, and each inwardly extending wall are joined to a base at a common end thereof to thereby define, in association with the support body, a slot for vertically or horizontally receiving, releasably retaining, and orientating the deflector plate such as to expose a front deflection surface or a plurality of front deflection surfaces of the deflection plate.

Abstract: A coating of creamy material, for example chocolate, is applied by spraying by making the chocolate mass flow to a main nozzle surrounded by an auxiliary nozzle to which air is supplied under pressure. During the spraying, the chocolate mass cools and hardens.

Abstract: A glass sheet that has been heated nearly to a softening point thereof is preliminarily bent by a conveyor roll device while being fed along a feed path to a bending press. The conveyor roll device has a succession of first straight rolls spaced along the feed path for supporting a central region of the glass sheet, and a succession of second straight rolls spaced along the feed path for supporting a marginal edge portion of the glass sheet. The second straight rolls are vertically tilted through progressively differing angles, respectively, along the feed path with respect to the first straight rolls. The first and second straight rolls alternate with each other along the feed path.

Abstract: A method for producing an elongated composite glass body by melting at least two starting materials of different material compositions, feeding the starting materials to a drawing die disposed at the bottom of an externally heated melting crucible, and continuously drawing the melts vertically out of the drawing die to form a composite body laminated transverse to the drawing direction. To provide an interface free from impurities between the starting materials in the composite body and to enable the path of the interface to be freely shaped, the starting materials are fed in particle form continuously to a single melting crucible and heaped therein to form a preformed body in which one starting material lies directly next to the other starting material forming an interface line therebetween that extends substantially vertically and parallel to the drawing direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform having the steps of disposing a rod member made of a silica-based material within a cavity of a mold, followed by loading a molding material within the mold cavity, and applying pressure to the mold from the outside to form a porous layer on the surface of the rod member and, thus, to obtain a porous preform, wherein at least one end portion of the rod member extends outside the mold cavity in the step of applying pressure to the mold. The particular method permits manufacturing a high quality porous preform free from splits or cracks, making it possible to obtain a high quality optical fiber preform free from residual bubbles.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the heat treatment of ophthalmic lenses, especially contact lenses, which comprises an approximately cylindrical housing of closed design having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, transport device for transporting the ophthalmic lenses located inside molds along an open transport path, which is arranged inside the housing and connects the inlet and the outlet opening, and heating device arranged inside the housing, the open transport path inside the housing is of an essentially spiral shape, and the heating device are arranged essentially above and below the transport path.

Abstract: This invention is to prevent coloring or clouding of the molded article, and also to prevent fusion between the glass blank and the mold member and crack formation in the molded article.The glass blank is provided with the surface layer containing a lower content in water-soluble components than in the core part of the glass base, and a hydrocarbon coating layer formed on the layer. The blank is then press molded.

Abstract: A fiberglass product usable as an end product or an intermediate product is formed as a pack in a forming station but only 1/7th of the conventional quantity of binder is applied. After curing to a self-sustaining form, additional binder is added at a location remote from the forming station in an amount in excess of the amount required in the final product and then the excess binder and moisture is removed by one or more vacuum stripping steps.

Abstract: A quartz tank member produced by a new method of production having continuous inner corner surfaces formed through bending and welding processes with welded seams being smooth without any hills, valleys, pits, crevasses, or irregularities therein.

Abstract: A parallel movement mould mechanism for use in a glassware forming machine comprises mould mounted for movement on horizontal shafts and means (90, 102) for moving the mould supports comprising a cage assembly in which a piston and cylinder device linked to the mould supports is mounted, the cage assembly being mounted for adjustable pivotal movement with respect to shafts so that adjustment of the position of the cage assembly adjusts the position of the centre line of moulds supported on the mould supports.

Abstract: A method of forming a drape-shaped glass structural element are disclosed. The element may be used as a support for a glass table top. The glass element is formed by a unique method which involves initially supporting a glass sheet on both fixed and movable members within a mold. The movable members are moved after the glass has begun to soften and move to a final shape. This causes the final glass element to have a complicated shape which cannot be formed by conventional glass forming methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heat processing particles of glass. A first current of a mixture of a combustible gas and a gas capable of oxidizing the combustible gas is introduced into a substantially cylindrical chamber from its lower end. The combustible gas is ignited to form a flame in which the gases have a speed of less than 10 m/s. The resulting flame creates a heat processing zone in the chamber. A quenching zone is provided by a second current of gas introduced into the chamber adjacent the chamber side wall such that it swirls around the flame. Particles of glass are then introduced at the lower end of the chamber and these particles contact the flame in the heat processing zone and are then directed to the quenching zone where they are hardened and from which they are collected.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sintering furnace for the production of a quartz preform which can be used for carrying out dehydration, fluorine-addition and/or sintering of a porous quartz soot preform prepared by a flame hydrolysis method such as a VAD method or a OVD method, and in particular, to such a furnace in which joints in a long furnace muffle so long that fabricating it as open body is impossible can be maintained fully gas-tight, so that it is possible to prevent H.sub.2 O, O.sub.2 and other impurities in the air from entering the muffle from outside, and corrosive and poisonous gases in the muffle are prevented from leakage to outside the muffle.

Abstract: An improved method preheating cullet and glass batch together for use as feedstock for a glass furnace. The method uses a preheater including a separator and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is a direct contact raining bed in which large particles in the feedstock are heated by hot gases as the particles flow down by gravity and fine particles become entrained with the hot gas flow. The separator removes the fine particles entrained in the hot gases and remixes preheated the fine particles with the preheated cullet. Preheater systems are described in which the hot gasses are provided by the glass furnace exhaust, by a separately fired heater, by a separately fired heater combined with the glass furnace exhaust and by a separately fired heater with exhaust gas recirculation.

Abstract: A mold for use in producing a lens comprises a pair of first and second mold portions which are arranged in opposed relation to each other. At least one of the first and second mold portions is movable toward and away from the other. Molding surfaces of the respective first and second mold portions have their respective areas which are located radially outwardly of an effective aperture of the lens. A plurality of recesses are formed in the molding surface of at least one of the first and second mold portions and are located in the area of the molding surface of the at least one mold portion. These recesses separate the lens from the molds.

Abstract: A metal powder is added to ceramic paint to prevent scratches on the painted surfaces of glass sheets formed by the gas hearth process.

Abstract: A bottom plate for an H-28 machine is secured to a post which is received within a hollow stud and sits on a ball bearing supported within the stud. The post which has an annular groove cooperates with a plurality of locking pins which can be held in operative relation with the post groove or released by a rotatable collar.