Patents by Inventor Ian David Tracy

Ian David Tracy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200062634
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: conveying a glass web from a source toward a destination in a transport direction; scoring the glass web in a width direction thereof to product a score line having a plurality of separated score segments, thereby defining a section of the glass web between the score line and leading edge of the glass web; supporting the glass web such that an increasing portion of the section of the glass web becomes cantilevered as the glass web is conveyed such that the portion of the section of the glass web is sufficiently large to generate stress in the respective score segments and drive respective cracks through the thickness of the glass web; and permitting the section of the glass web to separate from the glass web along the score line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Robertson Dewhurst BOOTH, Douglas Edward BRACKLEY, Michael Vincent FICARRA, Andrew Peter KITTLESON, Gautam Narendra KUDVA, Eric Lee MILLER, Ian David Tracy
  • Patent number: 10570047
    Abstract: A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness ?0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aburada, Jeffrey Robert Amadon, Douglas Edward Brackley, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Gary Edward Merz, Eric Lee Miller, Michael Yoshiya Nishimoto, Ian David Tracy, Matthew Daniel Trosa, Rui Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190389759
    Abstract: A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness?0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aburada, Jeffrey Robert Amadon, Douglas Edward Brackley, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Gary Edward Merz, Eric Lee Miller, Michael Yoshiya Nishimoto, Ian David Tracy, Matthew Daniel Trosa, Rui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10494289
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: conveying a glass web from a source toward a destination in a transport direction; scoring the glass web in a width direction thereof to produce a score line having a plurality of separated score segments, thereby defining a section of the glass web between the score line and a leading edge of the glass web; supporting the glass web such that an increasing portion of the section of the glass web becomes cantilevered as the glass web is conveyed such that the portion of the section of the glass web is sufficiently large to generate stress in the respective score segments and drive respective cracks through the thickness of the glass web; and permitting the section of the glass web to separate from the glass web along the score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Robertson Dewhurst Booth, Douglas Edward Brackley, Michael Vincent Ficarra, Andrew Peter Kittleson, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Eric Lee Miller, Ian David Tracy
  • Publication number: 20180141847
    Abstract: A method of continuous processing of flexible glass ribbon having a thickness of no more than 0.35 mm using a glass processing apparatus is provided. The method includes providing the glass processing apparatus having at least three processing zones including a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The flexible glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. Rate of the flexible glass ribbon is controlled through each of the first processing zone, second processing zone and third processing zone using a global control device. The second processing zone has a conveyance path for the flexible glass ribbon through a cutting zone having a radius of curvature of from about 100 inches to about 400 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Robertson Dewhurst Booth, Douglas Edward Brackley, Scott Winfield Deming, Andrew Peter Kittleson, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Dale Charles Marshall, Gary Edward Merz, Eric Lee Miller, Kathleen Elizabeth Morse, Ian David Tracy
  • Patent number: 9919381
    Abstract: A method for cutting a flexible glass ribbon includes directing the flexible glass ribbon to a flexible glass cutting apparatus including a laser. The flexible glass ribbon includes a first broad surface and a second broad surface that extend between a first edge and a second edge of the flexible glass ribbon. A laser beam is directed from the laser onto a region of the flexible glass ribbon. A crack is formed through the flexible glass ribbon using the laser beam. The crack is propagated along the flexible glass ribbon using the laser beam and a local mechanical deformation in the flexible glass ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Anatoli Anatolyevich Abramov, Chester Hann Huei Chang, Todd Benson Fleming, Eric Lee Miller, Ian David Tracy
  • Publication number: 20170369356
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: conveying a glass web from a source toward a destination in a transport direction; scoring the glass web in a width direction thereof to produce a score line having a plurality of separated score segments, thereby defining a section of the glass web between the score line and a leading edge of the glass web; supporting the glass web such that an increasing portion of the section of the glass web becomes cantilevered as the glass web is conveyed such that the portion of the section of the glass web is sufficiently large to generate stress in the respective score segments and drive respective cracks through the thickness of the glass web; and permitting the section of the glass web to separate from the glass web along the score line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Robertson Dewhurst Booth, Douglas Edward Brackley, Michael Vincent Ficarra, Andrew Peter Kittleson, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Eric Lee Miller, Ian David Tracy
  • Publication number: 20170197864
    Abstract: A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness<0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aburada, Jeffrey Robert Amadon, Douglas Edward Brackley, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Gary Edward Merz, Eric Lee Miller, Michael Yoshiya Nishimoto, Ian David Tracy, Matthew Daniel Trosa, Rui Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150345996
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an angle measurement device for measuring an angle between a web of material and a conveyance direction includes a mounting bracket, a shaft rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket such that the shaft is rotatable with respect to the mounting bracket, a caster portion coupled to a first end of the shaft and positioned to contact a surface of the web of material being drawn over a web conveyance pathway, where the caster portion is spaced apart from an axis of rotation of the shaft, and an angular displacement sensor coupled to the mounting bracket and positioned to detect an angular orientation of the shaft with respect to the mounting bracket, where the angular displacement sensor outputs a signal indicative of the angular orientation of the shaft with respect to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Brackley, Chester Hann Huei Chang, Todd Benson Fleming, Terrence Richard Horsfall, David Joseph Kuhn, Gary Edward Merz, Eric Lee Miller, Ian David Tracy
  • Publication number: 20150344347
    Abstract: In one embodiment a method of steering a glass web includes directing the glass web in a conveyance direction on a web conveyance pathway, contacting at least one surface of the glass web with at least one wheel of at least one idler roller, the at least one wheel of the at least one idler roller having an axis of rotation parallel to a surface of the glass web, detecting an angle between a centerline of the glass web and the conveyance direction with an angle measurement device, and modifying an orientation of the at least one idler roller and the at least one wheel about an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the web conveyance pathway to shift the glass web based on a detected angle between the centerline of the glass web and the conveyance direction of the web conveyance pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Todd Benson Fleming, David Joseph Kuhn, Dale Charles Marshall, Gary Edward Merz, John Earl Tosch, Ian David Tracy, Matthew Daniel Trosa
  • Publication number: 20150321948
    Abstract: A process and system for applying coating materials to glass edges of various profiles. The glass edge is coated by picking up the coating material from an applicator such as, for example, a roller, through precise independent or relative control of the spatial relationship between the edge of the glass article and the applicator to achieve desirable product attributes such as coating thickness, profile, coverage areas and consistency. Such spatial relationships include the gap distance between the roller and applicator, coating thickness on the applicator, applicator and/or glass speed, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Donald Orrin Bigelow, Thomas Charles Coller, Scott Winfield Deming, Curtis Robert Fekety, Mark Stephen Friske, Gregory William Keyes, Hongkyu Kim, Hideki Masaki, Michael George Schultz, Ian David Tracy
  • Patent number: 8895362
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for a structure, including: a first glass material layer; and a second material layer bonded to the first glass material layer via bonding material, where the bonding material is formed from one of glass frit material, ceramic frit material, glass ceramic frit material, and metal paste, which has been melted and cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James Gregory Couillard, Christopher Paul Daigler, Jiangwei Feng, Yawei Sun, Lili Tian, Ian David Tracy