Abstract: Methods for heat treating glass sheets (13) are disclosed in which the sheets (13) are held in a vertical orientation in a treatment container (15) during the heat treatment. The container (15) includes a support system for the glass sheets (13) that comprises a bottom support (17), two side supports (19a, 19b), and a top support (21). The sheets (13) are slid into the container (15) without contact between their side edges (23a, 23b) and the side supports (19a, 19b). The top support (21) is then slid onto the tops of the sheets (13) without contacting the sheets' top edges (25). In certain embodiments, flushing air which has been HEPA filtered and pre-heated is passed through the container (15) during the heat treatment. Apparatus for practicing the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tape dispenser including a cutting mechanism is disclosed that allows for improved access to the mandrel during reloading. The tape dispenser comprises a base, a cover, and a mandrel disposed within the base and cover. The cover is capable of securely engaging with the base. The base, the cover, and the mandrel are connected along a pivot point. The cover actuates the mandrel to an open, loading position.

Abstract: To provide a reliable solid-liquid separating method and apparatus for a slurry, even though the solid component of the slurry is finely divided particles and/or of a shape difficult to entangle, without exudation through gaps in processed portions and, also, with no need to exercise a maintenance work such as replacement of filters, a solid-liquid separating apparatus includes a mold having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, a gate for opening and closing a second open end of the mold, and a pressing rod slidable into the mold to compress the slurry. Sheet-like fibrous filters are placed on a leading end face of the pressing rod and an inner surface of the gate to seal gaps between the mold and the pressing rod and between the gate and mold. With the filters so placed, the slurry within the mold unit is compressed to provide a solidified product, thereby accomplishing solid-liquid separation.

Abstract: Magnesium silicate mineral wools having a relatively high liquidus temperature of at least about 1400° C. and to methods for the production thereof are provided. The methods of the present invention comprise melting a magnesium silicate feedstock (e.g., comprising a serpentine or olivine ore) having a liquidus temperature of at least about 1400° C. to form a molten magnesium silicate, and subsequently fiberizing the molten magnesium silicate to produce a magnesium silicate mineral wool. In one embodiment, the magnesium silicate feedstock contains iron oxide (e.g., up to about 12% by weight). Preferably, the melting is performed in the presence of a reducing agent to produce an iron alloy, which can be separated from the molten ore. Useful magnesium silicate feedstocks include, without limitation, serpentine and olivine ores. Optionally, silicon dioxide can be added to the feedstock to lower the liquidus temperature thereof.

Abstract: A device for extracting heat from gas, particularly combustion gas, containing dust and/or condensable substances, for recovering condensates, and including at least one heat exchanger including a shell having a symmetry of revolution surrounded by a cooling jacket. The device includes an opening for passage of a surfactant for treating the internal surface of the shell, the shell including at least one mechanism creating a substantially helicoid rotating gas stream in at least part of the shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation and a method for producing glass stoppers which are provided with a head portion and are used for sealing wine bottles and sparkling wine bottles. The installation comprises a mold for producing glass stoppers, a feeder system for supplying the mold with molten glass, a multistation press, and a removing and handling system for the finished glass stoppers.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for follow-up treatment of the contour of the surface of at least one optical lens, in particular a microlens which is made of glass or a glass-type material and which has a convex lens surface delimited by a circumferential line abutting on a plane section surrounding the circumferential line and which has a lens underside facing the convex lens surface. Along the circumferential line of the optical lens on the plane section is placed a device perfectly matching the circumferential line and at least laterally bordering the convex lens surface, the optical lens is heated to a temperature of at least the transformation temperature of glass or glass-type material, pressure equalization prevails between the convex lens surface and the lens underside, after a certain period of time, during which the optical lens undergoes the temperature treatment and subsequent cooling below the transformation temperature, the device is removed from the optical lens.

Abstract: A method of creating a functional utility-surface on a thermoset composite component, including the steps of: fixing the position of a cured thermoset polymer composite component, the thermoset polymer composite component having a thermoplastic polymer surface layer attached to at least a portion of one surface thereof, the thermoset polymer composite component being fixed in position to allow access to the thermoplastic polymer surface layer; and shaping the thermoplastic polymer surface to form a functional utility-surface.

Abstract: A process for producing a patterned structure comprises imprinting a first pattern by pressing a stamper having a projection-depression configuration on the surface against an imprint-work layer, and imprinting a second pattern by displacing relatively the stamper from the position of the first pattern to another position on the imprint-work layer and then pressing the stamper against the imprint-work layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink stick for use in a phase change ink jet imaging device comprises heating phase change ink material to an extrusion temperature at which the phase change ink material is in a malleable state. The heated ink material is then extruded through an extrusion orifice to form an extruded element. A forging element is then pressed against the extruded element to form an ink stick.

Abstract: A first sleeve 30 regulates the horizontal relative position between an upper mold 10 and a lower mold 20 that are insertable into the first sleeve 30 from its both end sides. A second sleeve 40 provided inside the first sleeve 30 and surrounding the outer periphery of a molding surface 21 of the lower mold 20 supports at least part of an outer peripheral portion of a molding material 50 placed on the molding surface 21 of the lower mold 20, thereby preventing position offset and slip-off of the molding material 50. In this state, the molding material 50 is press-molded between the upper mold 10 and the lower mold 20.

Abstract: A plunger foot assembly includes a preassembled gearbox for mounting on a section box base plate of a glassware forming machine. The preassembled gearbox has an input and an output gear with an internally threaded central opening. A hollow externally threaded shaft is threadably coupled to and extends from the internally threaded opening of the output gear. A plunger support is mounted on the hollow externally threaded shaft such that rotation of the output gear of the gearbox raises and lowers the plunger support. The plunger support has an upper face for mounting at least one plunger with air ports of the plunger opening at the face of the support. The plunger support also has air passages for feeding plunger up, plunger down and plunger cooling air to the air ports of a plunger mounted on the plunger support, and a cooling air exhaust passage for feeding cooling air exhaust from the plunger mounted on the support to the hollow interior of the externally threaded shaft.

Abstract: A glassware mold bottom plate mounting arrangement in a glassware forming machine includes a floating ring captured by a cap plate on a base for limited lateral movement with respect to the base and the cap plate. A hollow spud is rigidly secured to and extends from the ring. A cooling wind passage in the base opens through the hollow spud, and a vacuum passage in the base opens through the ring at a position spaced from the spud. A glassware mold bottom plate is removably telescopically received over the ring and the spud. The bottom plate has a central air passage received over the spud, an annular recess received over the ring, and a peripheral air passage that opens into the annular recess such that the central and peripheral air passages open to the cooling wind and vacuum passages in the base through the spud and the ring respectively. The spud and the ring preferably have external seals in respective sliding sealing engagement with the central air passage and the annular recess in the bottom plate.

Abstract: The cake (7), fitted with the rough pressing (71) of the stem parison (61) is situated on the ring (8) where by the action of its own gravity, it streams off till the rough pressing (71) fits into the cavity (41) of the bottom mould (4). There the rough pressing (71) is fastened by the underpressure and the air is blasted into the flask (6) and, in the same time, the bottom mould (4) is forced downwards. When the orifice (42) of the cavity (41) comes on the level of the surface (51) of the bottom opening of the glass-blowing mould (5), the glass-blowing mould (5) is closed and the air is blasted into the flask (6) until it obtains the shape of the inner wall (52) of the glass-blowing mould (5).

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for producing glass ceramics which is particularly well suited as light conversion material, especially for down conversion. One initially produces a starting glass, containing (on an oxide basis) 5-50% by weight of SiO2, 5-50% by weight of Al2O3 and 10-80% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the from the group formed by Y2O3, Lu2O3, Sc2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3, as well as 0.1-30% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the group formed by B2O3, Th2O3, and oxides of the lanthanoids, except Lu2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3. Thereafter, the material is heated up for ceramization at a heating rate of at least 100 K/min to a temperature in the range of between 1000° C. to 1400° C. until crystallites are formed that contain a garnet phase. Thereafter, the material is cooled down to room temperature. Alternatively, controlled cooling-down from the molten state is possible.

Abstract: The invention relate to a process for forming a cured, partially cured or uncured thermosetting material, comprising: an irradiation step wherein the thermosetting material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation which to a significant extent is within the neat-infrared range in such a way that the temperature of the irradiated thermosetting material is brought to between 40° C. and 400° C., and a forming step wherein the irradiated thermosetting material is brought into a desired shape, whereby the forming step is executed during and/or subsequent to the irradiation step. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the said process and to a thermosetting material.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the weight of a preform for optical fibers during a chemical deposition process for the formation of a preform is disclosed. The apparatus has at least one elastic constraint associated with at least one end portion of an elongated element made of a chemical deposition substrate for the formation of the preform, a device for inducing an oscillation, for example axial, on said elongated element, a device for detecting the frequency of oscillation of said elongated element, and a device for calculating the weight of the preform according to the detected frequency of oscillation. Advantageously, the device allows the realisation of a method for measuring the weight of the preform wherein the errors in measurement caused by thermal drift effects, by the axial distribution of the masses on the preform and by loads which are different from the mass of the preform in formation are reduced to below the required precision in measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to glass powder, especially a biologically active glass powder, which includes a plurality of glass particles and which is characterized by the following features: the glass particles are made up by >90% of non-spherical particles; the geometry of the individual non-spherical particle is characterized by a ratio of length to diameter of 1.1 to 105.

Abstract: According to one embodiment a method of making optical fibers comprises: (i) manufacturing a core cane; (ii) situating a plurality of microstructures selected from rods, air filled tubes and glass filed tubes and placing said microstructures adjacent to the core cane, said microstructures forming no more than 3 layers; (iii) placing the core cane with said adjacent microstructures inside a holding clad tube; and (iv) placing interstitial cladding rods inside the holding (clad) tube, thereby forming an assembly comprising a tube containing a core cane, a plurality of microstructures and interstitial cladding rods. The assembly is then drawn into a microstructured cane and an optical fiber is drawn from the microstructured cane. According to several embodiments, the method of making an optical fiber includes providing at least one air hole and at least one stress rod adjacent to the core.

Abstract: A method of producing a paperless gypsum/fiber board from a mixture including reinforcing material particles, calcined gypsum and water. A headbox feeds the mixture into a panel forming area (forming pond) over the upper surface of a continuous forming fabric to form a panel mat. Also, a reinforcing mesh is fed over a transverse member, located over a portion of the forming fabric, and into the forming pond to embed the mesh in the mixture. At least a portion of a downstream end of the transverse member is under a downstream portion of the headbox or downstream of the headbox. Then the panel mat is pressed, the calcined gypsum of the pressed panel mat is rehydrated, and the resulting board is dried.