Abstract: A method for forming a hole in a glass or glass-ceramic sheets includes scoring a major surface of a glass or glass-ceramic sheet to define the hole, placing the sheet on receiving surface of a mount where a cavity is formed in the receiving surface such that a peripheral edge of the cavity is positioned external to the area bounded by the first score, and fracturing the sheet along the first score to break away the portion of the sheet defined by the first score, wherein the broken away portion of the sheet is contained within the cavity.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for forming a hole in a glass or glass-ceramic sheets. The method includes scoring a major surface of a glass or glass-ceramic sheet to define the hole, placing the sheet on a cavity-containing receiving surface such that a peripheral edge of the cavity is positioned external to the area bounded by the first score, and fracturing the sheet along the score to break away the portion of the sheet defined by the first score. The method allows for the formation of large openings in thin glass sheets where the mother sheet is not broken or damaged by the formation of the opening.

Abstract: A method for forming a hole in a glass or glass-ceramic sheets includes scoring a major surface of a glass or glass-ceramic sheet to define the hole, placing the sheet on receiving surface of a mount where a cavity is formed in the receiving surface such that a peripheral edge of the cavity is positioned external to the area bounded by the first score, and fracturing the sheet along the first score to break away the portion of the sheet defined by the first score, wherein the broken away portion of the sheet is contained within the cavity.

Abstract: Both a system and method for marking honeycomb structures is provided. The system includes a printing station having a print head moveable relative to a log that prints an identification mark for each structure to be cut from the log; an elevation mechanism that positions the log relative to the printing station, sensors for determining a distance between the print head and log; and a length measuring sensor. A processor is connected to the printing station, elevation mechanism, and length measuring sensor which (a) associates an identification code with the log, (b) generates a separate identification mark for each honeycomb structure to be cut from the log, (c) controls the elevation mechanism to place the log at a desired location relative to the print head of the printing station, and (d) receives length data from the length sensor.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for tracking unfinished ceramic structures moved by a conveyor system through manufacturing loops which preserves both identification and manufacturing information during manufacture, and in particular during mark-obliterating steps. The method includes loading the marked, unfinished ceramic structure at a selected position on the conveyor system; relaying the identification mark and the selected position of the unfinished ceramic structure on the conveyor system; conveying the unfinished ceramic structure through a mark-obliterating manufacturing step, and then identifying the ceramic structure relaying and processing information relating to its position on the conveyor system. The ceramic structure is then re-marked with a second mark after completing all mark-obliterating steps of manufacturing, such as firing and contouring.

Abstract: A system, method, and ink for printing a data carrying mark on a green ceramic honeycomb structure is provided. The system includes a printer having an ink jet print head that prints a mark, preferably in the form of a two-dimensional data matrix barcode, on a side wall of the green ceramic honeycomb structure. The ink may be a heat resistant ink that comprises a mixture of a glass or glass ceramic frit and a metal oxide colorant. An optical reader is provided for determining if the data is accurately reproduced in the printed mark, as well as any noise factor which may be present due to defective printing. The system includes a turntable that positions the green body for the printing operation, and then rotates the green body to position the printed mark first in front of a dryer, and then in front of the optical reader to determine the quality of the mark. Marked green and ceramic honeycombs are also provided as well as a method for repairing a defective applied bar code on a honeycomb structure.

Abstract: A method is provided for marking a structure containing an ceramic-forming component by applying onto a green body a high temperature ink that has a metal-containing species and a metal complexing agent, wherein the metal in the metal-containing species reacts with the ceramic-forming component during firing of the green body to produce a compound that forms a contrasting mark on the resulting ceramic structure. A method is also provided for marking a ceramic-forming green body by applying a two-dimensional dot matrix mark formed of a high temperature ink onto a surface of the ceramic-forming green body, wherein each dot of the two-dimensional dot matrix is formed of a single drop of the high temperature ink.

Abstract: Both a system and method for marking honeycomb structures is provided. The system includes a printing station having a print head moveable relative to a log that prints an identification mark for each structure to be cut from the log; an elevation mechanism that positions the log relative to the printing station, sensors for determining a distance between the print head and log; and a length measuring sensor. A processor is connected to the printing station, elevation mechanism, and length measuring sensor which (a) associates an identification code with the log, (b) generates a separate identification mark for each honeycomb structure to be cut from the log, (c) controls the elevation mechanism to place the log at a desired location relative to the print head of the printing station, and (d) receives length data from the length sensor.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for virtually tracking unfinished ceramic structures moved by a conveyor system through a plurality of manufacturing loops which reliably and accurately preserves both identification and manufacturing information during all steps of manufacture, and in particular during mark-obliterating steps such as firing or contouring. The method includes the steps of loading the marked, unfinished ceramic structure at a selected position on the conveyor system; relaying both the information in the identification mark and the selected position of the unfinished ceramic structure on the conveyor system; conveying the unfinished ceramic structure through at least one mark-obliterating manufacturing step, and identifying the ceramic structure after completion of the mark-obliterating step by relaying and processing information relating to its position on the conveyor system.

Abstract: A method for printing a data-carrying mark on a portion of an unfinished ceramic structure, such as the green body Of a ceramic honeycomb structure; is disclosed that is capable of producing a mark that maintains legibility even after being fired to temperatures above 1100° C. or higher, or even 1300° C. or higher. The data-carrying mark is formed from a deposit of colorant solids overlying a portion of the unfinished ceramic structure. The volume of colorant solids per unit area of marked wall portion that is at least twice as much as that required to obtain maximum pre-fired visual contrast between marked and unmarked portions of the structure (i.e., prior to firing). The colorant solids may include one or more of cobalt, nickel, iron, chromium, copper, manganese and titanium, either in metallic or oxide form, and are preferably deposited in particulate form via a high temperature ink composition that prints the data-carrying mark by way of an ink jet print head.

Abstract: A system, method, and ink for printing a data carrying mark on a green ceramic honeycomb structure is provided. The system includes a printer having an ink jet print head that prints a mark, preferably in the form of a two-dimensional data matrix barcode, on a side wall of the green ceramic honeycomb structure. The ink may be a heat resistant ink that comprises a mixture of a glass or glass ceramic frit and a metal oxide colorant. An optical reader is provided for determining if the data is accurately reproduced in the printed mark, as well as any noise factor which may be present due to defective printing. The system includes a turntable that positions the green body for the printing operation, and then rotates the green body to position the printed mark first in front of a dryer, and then in front of the optical reader to determine the quality of the mark. Marked green and ceramic honeycombs are also provided as well as a method for repairing a defective applied bar code on a honeycomb structure.

Abstract: A system, method, and ink for printing a data carrying mark on a green ceramic honeycomb structure is provided. The system includes a printer having an ink jet print head that prints a mark, preferably in the form of a two-dimensional data matrix barcode, on a side wall of the green ceramic honeycomb structure. The ink may be a heat resistant ink that comprises a mixture of a glass or glass ceramic frit and a metal oxide colorant. An optical reader is provided for determining if the data is accurately reproduced in the printed mark, as well as any noise factor which may be present due to defective printing. The system includes a turntable that positions the green body for the printing operation, and then rotates the green body to position the printed mark first in front of a dryer, and then in front of the optical reader to determine the quality of the mark. Marked green and ceramic honeycombs are also provided as well as a method for repairing a defective applied bar code on a honeycomb structure.

Abstract: A system, method, and ink for printing a data carrying mark on a green ceramic honeycomb structure is provided. The system includes a printer having an ink jet print head that prints a mark, preferably in the form of a two-dimensional data matrix barcode, on a side wall of the green ceramic honeycomb structure. The ink may be a heat resistant ink that comprises a mixture of a glass or glass ceramic frit and a metal oxide colorant. An optical reader is provided for determining if the data is accurately reproduced in the printed mark, as well as any noise factor which may be present due to defective printing. The system includes a turntable that positions the green body for the printing operation, and then rotates the green body to position the printed mark first in front of a dryer, and then in front of the optical reader to determine the quality of the mark. Marked green and ceramic honeycombs are also provided as well as a method for repairing a defective applied bar code on a honeycomb structure.