Abstract: A method for forming an optical fiber preform and fibers drawn from the preform. The method includes forming a soot cladding monolith, inserting a consolidated core cane into the internal cavity, and processing the resulting core-cladding assembly to form a preform. Processing may include exposing the core-cladding assembly to a drying agent and/or dopant precursor, and sintering the core-cladding assembly in the presence of a reducing agent to densify the soot cladding monolith onto the core cane to form a preform. The preform features low hydroxyl content and low sensitivity to hydrogen. Fibers drawn from the preform exhibit low attenuation losses from absorption by the broad band centered near 1380 nm.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical fiber preform and fibers drawn from the preform. The method includes forming a soot cladding monolith, inserting a consolidated core cane into the internal cavity, and processing the resulting core-cladding assembly to form a preform. Processing may include exposing the core-cladding assembly to a drying agent and/or dopant precursor, and sintering the core-cladding assembly in the presence of a reducing agent to densify the soot cladding monolith onto the core cane to form a preform. The preform features low hydroxyl content and low sensitivity to hydrogen. Fibers drawn from the preform exhibit low attenuation losses from absorption by the broad band centered near 1380 nm.

Abstract: A method for forming a porous soot body that includes depositing soot on a release coating supported by a bait substrate. Characteristics of the release coating control the strength of attachment of the porous soot body to the bait substrate. Weak attachment of the porous soot body to the bait substrate facilitates separation of the porous soot body from the bait substrate without damaging the porous soot body. The release coating may be formed from a brittle material or a material that oxidizes or otherwise depletes during deposition of the soot that forms the porous soot body. The release coating may include carbon. The separated porous soot body may be consolidated to form a core cane or may function as a sleeve (porous cladding) in a cane-in-soot fiber preform manufacturing process.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical fiber preform and fibers drawn from the preform. The method includes forming a soot cladding monolith, inserting a consolidated core cane into the internal cavity, and processing the resulting core-cladding assembly to form a preform. Processing may include exposing the core-cladding assembly to a drying agent and/or dopant precursor, and sintering the core-cladding assembly in the presence of a reducing agent to densify the soot cladding monolith onto the core cane to form a preform. The preform features low hydroxyl content and low sensitivity to hydrogen. Fibers drawn from the preform exhibit low attenuation losses from absorption by the broad band centered near 1380 nm.

Abstract: In a vertical glass drawing process, an edge guiding assembly (33) located between a glass forming apparatus (41) and a glass sheet separating apparatus (20) reduces horizontal motion of the glass ribbon (13) from which the glass sheets (11) are removed and results in the reduction of the difference in stress levels between the top and bottom edges of a glass sheet (11) made by the process. The edge guiding assembly also provides a reduction of the variation of stress levels between successive sheets of glass made by the vertical drawing process.

Abstract: A pull roll apparatus and method are described herein that can control a cross-draw tension and a down-draw tension of a glass sheet while manufacturing the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the pull roll apparatus includes a first driven stub roll pair, a second driven stub roll pair and a control device (e.g., PLC) that controls the first and second driven stub roll pairs while a first edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the first driven stub roll pair and while an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the second driven stub roll pair. If desired, the pull roll apparatus may include a pulling roll assembly (located below the first and second driven stub rolls) or another set of driven stub roll pairs (located below the first and second driven stub roll pairs).

Abstract: Methods for forming optical fiber preforms are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for forming an optical fiber preform includes forming a preform core portion from silica-based glass soot. The silica-based glass soot may include at least one dopant species for altering an index of refraction of the preform core portion. A selective diffusion layer of silica-based glass soot may be formed around the preform core portion to form a soot preform. The selective diffusion layer may have an as-formed density greater than the density of the preform core portion. A diffusing species may be diffused through the selective diffusion layer into the preform core portion. The soot preform may be sintered such that the selective diffusion layer has a barrier density which is greater than the as-formed density and the selective diffusion layer prevents diffusion of the at least one dopant species through the selective diffusion layer.

Abstract: A pull roll apparatus and method are described herein that can control a cross-draw tension and a down-draw tension of a glass sheet while manufacturing the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the pull roll apparatus includes a first driven stub roll pair, a second driven stub roll pair and a control device (e.g., PLC) that controls the first and second driven stub roll pairs while a first edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the first driven stub roll pair and while an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the second driven stub roll pair. If desired, the pull roll apparatus may include a pulling roll assembly (located below the first and second driven stub rolls) or another set of driven stub roll pairs (located below the first and second driven stub roll pairs).

Abstract: A pull roll apparatus and method are described herein that can control a cross-draw tension and a down-draw tension of a glass sheet while manufacturing the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the pull roll apparatus includes a first driven stub roll pair, a second driven stub roll pair and a control device (e.g., PLC) that controls the first and second driven stub roll pairs while a first edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the first driven stub roll pair and while an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the second driven stub roll pair. If desired, the pull roll apparatus may include a pulling roll assembly (located below the first and second driven stub rolls) or another set of driven stub roll pairs (located below the first and second driven stub roll pairs).

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: An endless electrophotographic member, such as a developer roller, which indicates an improved resistance to nip banding. The improvement to nip banding may be provided by the use of an organic salt within a roller surface region. The roller may provide, at a nip location, a resistive surface layer having an electrical resistance that avoids the development of nip banding and relatively dark regions on printed media.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the stress in, and the shape of, the glass ribbon (15) formed in a downdraw glass manufacturing process (e.g., the fusion downdraw process) are provided. In certain embodiments, the control is achieved by cooling the bead portions (21a, 21b) of the ribbon (15) at a rate which provides a heat flux Q?b at the thickest part of the bead (23a, 23b) which is given by Q?b=Q?q+?Q?, where (i) Q?q is the heat flux at a transverse position adjacent to the bead portion (21a, 21b) at which the ribbon's thickness equals 1.05*tcenter, where tcenter is the final thickness at the ribbon's center line (17), and (ii) ?Q??(tb/tq?1)Q?q+10 kilowatts/meter2, where tb is the thickness of the thickest part of the bead portion. The cooling can take place along the entire length of the ribbon (15) or at selected locations, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the stress in, and the shape of, the glass ribbon (15) formed in a downdraw glass manufacturing process (e.g., the fusion downdraw process) are provided. In certain embodiments, the control is achieved by cooling the bead portions (21a, 21b) of the ribbon (15) at a rate which provides a heat flux Q?b at the thickest part of the bead (23a, 23b) which is given by Q?b=Q?q+?Q?, where (i) Q?q is the heat flux at a transverse position adjacent to the bead portion (21a, 21b) at which the ribbon's thickness equals 1.05*tcenter, where tcenter is the final thickness at the ribbon's center line (17), and (ii) ?Q??(tb/tq?1)Q?q+10 kilowatts/meter2, where tb is the thickness of the thickest part of the bead portion. The cooling can take place along the entire length of the ribbon (15) or at selected locations, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the stress in, and the shape of, the glass ribbon (15) formed in a downdraw glass manufacturing process (e.g., the fusion downdraw process) are provided. In certain embodiments, the control is achieved by cooling the bead portions (21a, 21b) of the ribbon (15) at a rate which provides a heat flux Q?b at the thickest part of the bead (23a, 23b) which is given by Q?b=Q?q+?Q?, where (i) Q?q is the heat flux at a transverse position adjacent to the bead portion (21a, 21b) at which the ribbon's thickness equals 1.05*tcenter, where tcenter is the final thickness at the ribbon's center line (17), and (ii) ?Q??(tb/tq?1)Q?q+10 kilowatts/meter2, where tb is the thickness of the thickest part of the bead portion. The cooling can take place along the entire length of the ribbon (15) or at selected locations, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the stress in, and the shape of, the glass ribbon (15) formed in a downdraw glass manufacturing process (e.g., the fusion downdraw process) are provided. In certain embodiments, the control is achieved by cooling the bead portions (21a, 21b) of the ribbon (15) at a rate which provides a heat flux Q?b at the thickest part of the bead (23a, 23b) which is given by Q?b=Q?q+?Q?, where (i) Q?q is the heat flux at a transverse position adjacent to the bead portion (21a, 21b) at which the ribbon's thickness equals 1.05*tcenter, where tcenter is the final thickness at the ribbon's center line (17), and (ii) ?Q??(tb/tq?1)Q?q+10 kilowatts/meter2, where tb is the thickness of the thickest part of the bead portion. The cooling can take place along the entire length of the ribbon (15) or at selected locations, e.g.

Abstract: In a vertical glass drawing process, an edge guiding assembly (33) located between a glass forming apparatus (41) and a glass sheet separating apparatus (20) reduces horizontal motion of the glass ribbon (13) from which the glass sheets (11) are removed and results in the reduction of the difference in stress levels between the top and bottom edges of a glass sheet (11) made by the process. The edge guiding assembly also provides a reduction of the variation of stress levels between successive sheets of glass made by the vertical drawing process.

Abstract: An endless electrophotographic member, such as a developer roller, which indicates an improved resistance to nip banding. The improvement to nip banding may be provided by the use of an organic salt within a roller surface region. The roller may provide, at a nip location, a resistive surface layer having an electrical resistance that avoids the development of nip banding and relatively dark regions on printed media.