Abstract: An enclosure for providing a controlled environment includes a central plane extending through a top end of the enclosure and a bottom end of the enclosure and bisecting the enclosure along a width of the enclosure, an inlet at the bottom end of the enclosure having an inlet width, Winlet, an enclosure wall extending from the inlet to the top end of the enclosure, an entry port at the top end of the enclosure, and an outlet between the entry port and the chamber region of the enclosure wall. The enclosure wall comprises a chamber region and a transition region between the inlet and the chamber region. The width of the chamber region, Wchamber, is substantially constant through the chamber region. The width of the enclosure in the transition region decreases from Wchamber to Winlet, and a ratio of Winlet to Wchamber is from 1:2 to 1:5.

Abstract: A method of strengthening glass articles includes introducing potassium ions to a surface region of the glass by an initial ion-exchange process, thermally treating the glass at a thermal treatment temperature and time sufficient to diffuse the potassium ions further into the glass to a depth of layer, and introducing a compressive stress of greater than 400 MPa at the surface through a final ion-exchange process. The final ion-exchange process may be conducted at a final ion-exchange temperature of no more than 450° C. The method of strengthening produces a glass article having a compressive stress of at least 400 MPa at the surface, a depth of compression of at least 30 ?m, and a central tension less than a threshold central tension above which flaws penetrating into the central region of the glass exhibit spontaneous self-propagation of the flaw front through and across the glass.

Abstract: A method of strengthening glass articles includes introducing potassium ions to a surface region of the glass by an initial ion-exchange process, thermally treating the glass at a thermal treatment temperature and time sufficient to diffuse the potassium ions further into the glass to a depth of layer, and introducing a compressive stress of greater than 400 MPa at the surface through a final ion-exchange process. The final ion-exchange process may be conducted at a final ion-exchange temperature of no more than 450° C. The method of strengthening produces a glass article having a compressive stress of at least 400 MPa at the surface, a depth of compression of at least 30 ?m, and a central tension less than a threshold central tension above which flaws penetrating into the central region of the glass exhibit spontaneous self-propagation of the flaw front through and across the glass.

Abstract: A spray coating apparatus that applies a coating material onto outer surfaces of glass objects includes a coating material source that includes a coating material. A spray nozzle assembly includes a spray nozzle fluidly connected to the coating material source. The spray nozzle is arranged and configured to direct the coating material in a first direction toward the glass object and provide an overspray amount of the coating material by the glass object such that the overspray amount bypasses a non-line of sight area of the glass object. A turn nozzle assembly includes a turn nozzle fluidly connected to a pressurized gas source. The turn nozzle is arranged and configured to direct pressurized gas in a second direction different than the first direction toward the non-line of sight area of the glass package to redirect the coating material onto the non-line of sight area.

Abstract: An enclosure for providing a controlled environment includes a central plane extending through a top end of the enclosure and a bottom end of the enclosure and bisecting the enclosure along a width of the enclosure, an inlet at the bottom end of the enclosure having an inlet width, Winlet, an enclosure wall extending from the inlet to the top end of the enclosure, an entry port at the top end of the enclosure, and an outlet between the entry port and the chamber region of the enclosure wall. The enclosure wall comprises a chamber region and a transition region between the inlet and the chamber region. The width of the chamber region, Wchamber, is substantially constant through the chamber region. The width of the enclosure in the transition region decreases from Wchamber to Winlet, and a ratio of Winlet to Wchamber is from 1:2 to 1:5.

Abstract: A method of strengthening glass articles includes introducing potassium ions to a surface region of the glass by an initial ion-exchange process, thermally treating the glass at a thermal treatment temperature and time sufficient to diffuse the potassium ions further into the glass to a depth of layer, and introducing a compressive stress of greater than 400 MPa at the surface through a final ion-exchange process. The final ion-exchange process may be conducted at a final ion-exchange temperature of no more than 450° C. The method of strengthening produces a glass article having a compressive stress of at least 400 MPa at the surface, a depth of compression of at least 30 ?m, and a central tension less than a threshold central tension above which flaws penetrating into the central region of the glass exhibit spontaneous self-propagation of the flaw front through and across the glass.

Abstract: A glass body support assembly that supports a glass container body in an upright position includes a collet body and clamping fingers that clamp onto a necked-down portion of the glass container body. The collet body has a gas purge passageway extending therethrough to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the glass container body.

Abstract: A coating carrier for use with a glass coating apparatus includes a coating base comprising a plurality of spindle connector receiving features. Each spindle connector receiving feature includes a cavity that is sized to movably receive a spindle connector of a glass body support assembly that is configured to support a glass container body.