Abstract: A process and apparatus for precision glass roll forming a supply of molten glass at a glass temperature of 1000° C. or higher. A pair of hot forming rolls having a surface temperature of about 500° C. or higher, vertically below the glass feed, that thin the supplied stream of molten glass to produce a formed glass ribbon. A pair of cold sizing rolls maintained at a surface temperature of about 400° C. or lower, vertically below the forming rolls, that thin the formed glass ribbon glass to produce a sized glass ribbon having a desired thickness and a desired thickness uniformity. The sized glass ribbon may have a thickness of 1 mm or less that varies in thickness by no more than +/?0.025 mm.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for precision glass roll forming a supply of molten glass at a glass temperature of 1000° C. or higher. A pair of hot forming rolls having a surface temperature of about 500° C. or higher, vertically below the glass feed, that thin the supplied stream of molten glass to produce a formed glass ribbon. A pair of cold sizing rolls maintained at a surface temperature of about 400° C. or lower, vertically below the forming rolls, that thin the formed glass ribbon glass to produce a sized glass ribbon having a desired thickness and a desired thickness uniformity. The sized glass ribbon may have a thickness of 1 mm or less that varies in thickness by no more than +/?0.025 mm.

Abstract: A laser system for directing an output laser beam onto a work piece is provided. The laser system includes a main housing. A laser source is provided for generating an input laser beam. A cylindrical housing is supported for angular rotation within the main housing. The cylindrical housing includes an input aperture at a first end for receiving the input laser beam and a reflecting mirror at a second end for directing the input laser beam through an exit aperture. An annular mirror is supported within the main housing. The annular mirror receives the input laser beam directed through the exit aperture for generating the output laser beam. The output laser beam has an annular cross section.

Abstract: Passive temperature compensated packages for short-period fiber gratings and other optical components and techniques for forming the packages are described. In one aspect, a hollow tube having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) encased in a cylindrical body is employed to form an athermalized cylindrical package. The hollow tube may also include slots for writing a grating onto an optical fiber disposed within the tube. In another aspect, end caps may be disposed on opposite ends of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus useful for making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A multicolored ink pattern is deposited to a substrate while in a deformable state, flattened during the deposition process, and the deformed, more uniform shape of the printed dot is thereafter retained, preferably by curing during deposition. The transfer layer is preferably formed on a collector roll. A plurality of colored ink patterns is then transferred to the collector roll, preferably from a single pattern roll having multiple patterns thereon, to form the multicolor image that will become the color filter. This multicolored image is then transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus useful for making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A multicolored ink pattern is deposited to a substrate while in a deformable state, flattened during the deposition process, and the deformed, more uniform shape of the printed dot is thereafter retained, preferably by curing during deposition. The transfer layer is preferably formed on a collector roll. A plurality of colored ink patterns is then transferred to the collector roll, preferably from a single pattern roll having multiple patterns thereon, to form the multicolor image that will become the color filter. This multicolored image is then transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a multi-color ink pattern on a substrate surface which comprises arranging a series of patterned surfaces with each patterned surface having a pattern that is unique to one of the colors and that corresponds to the pattern of that color in the multi-color pattern, supplying to each patterned surface a radiation-curable ink formulation, having an appropriate colorant to form an ink pattern thereon, transferring individually the color pattern from each patterned surface to a collector roll, increasing the cohesiveness of the ink sufficiently to permit complete transfer of the pattern, forming a composite of the color patterns on a collector roll, and transferring the composite pattern in its entirety to the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a glass ware, such as a bowl or plate, via vacuum forming. A deformable glass ribbon is passed through a pair of parallel rolls or rollers, one of the rollers having a recessed cavity thereon for forming a thicker product zone and a thinner cullet zone on the glass ribbon. The product zone may be specifically configured to compensate for process stretching of the glass ribbon during the vacuum forming process. The product zone is registered over a vacuum mold, and a vacuum is applied to the mold to thereby deform the glass to a concave shape and thus form the dish. The dish is separated from the glass ribbon by trimming at the periphery of the dish.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotatably driven transfer apparatus is adapted to receive a design configuration and a follower synchronously driven therewith for carrying and orienting an article to receive the design from the transfer apparatus into alignment therewith in nonslip rolling contact. The respective transfer apparatus and article share a respective center and apex as established by the follower. In another embodiment the transfer apparatus and article are forced into engagement via an elastic interface.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a rotatably driven turret carrying one or more collector means at selected radial and angular positions, and transfer means synchronously driven with said turret for depositing on each of said collector means a design configuration. The turret and each of the transfer means share a common point of rotation along respective central axes thereof.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a self aligning applicator/doctor blade assembly having at least two working surfaces adapted to engage an ink carrying conical roll wherein the working surfaces lie along the roll surface. A geometric apex for the cone and the working surfaces are coincident. An inking device circulates ink along a path including a zone adjacent to at least one working surface and the roll.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a rotatably driven transfer means adapted to receive a design configuration and follower means synchronously driven therewith for carrying and orienting an article to receive the design from the transfer means into alignment therewith in nonslip rolling contact. The respective transfer means and article share a respective center and apex as established by the follower means. In another embodiment the transfer means and article are forced into engagement via an elastic interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for aligning, cutting, wrapping and securing a flat sheet of film material to form a precision conical wrapping that will fit over a conical surface to a precise location and orientation. The film carries color separated portions of a design which may be registerably etched into the conical surface.

Abstract: First and second tractor assemblies apply a preset tension to incremental lengths of fiber which moves continuously through the apparatus. The apparatus performs the functions of fiber pulling and non-destructive testing of all of the fiber. Each tractor assembly includes a tractor wheel and belt wheels. A belt extends around the belt wheels and engages the tractor wheel in an arc. The fiber passes between the belt and the tractor wheel in this arc. The second tractor assembly has a constant torque drive with an unloaded speed which is faster than that of the first tractor assembly. The second tractor assembly pulls the fiber thereby reducing the speed by causing the constant torque device to overload and slip.

Abstract: A system for delivering separator material to a drum upon which optical waveguides are wound. The sheet material is delivered to the vicinity of the drum through a partially-enclosed guide and cut to length. Air jets are provided for urging the severed sheet material against the drum so that a succeeding layer of waveguides can be wound upon it.

Abstract: A system which automatically: removes rounds of ammunition from their presently-existing standardized ammunition shipping/storage container; transfers the removed rounds and loads them into an aircraft system for use; separates the returning downloaded spent cases from the returning unfired rounds; and, repackages the unfired rounds back into shipping/storage containers. The system includes: an ammunition trailer on which are carried the filled shipping/storage containers of unfired rounds of ammunition; a loader assembly which is the major component of the system and onto which the containers of ammunition are loaded; flexible chuting that houses ammunition round-conveyor elements and that is attached at one and to the loader assembly; and, a loader/aircraft interface unit which is attached at one end to the other end of the flexible chuting, and is attached at the other end to the aircraft and the aircraft gun system for use of the rounds of ammunition.

Abstract: An intermittent motion device which converts input continuous motion into precisely timed output interrupted intermittent motion. In a generic preferred embodiment the device comprises a primary driver and a secondary driver that are attached to an input shaft, and a two-sided indexing driven wheel attached to an output shaft. The primary driver engages one of four drive slots on the primary side of the driven wheel, and rotates the driven wheel 72.degree. each time the input shaft makes one revolution. The secondary driver engages the one slot on the secondary side of the driven wheel, and rotates the driven wheel 72.degree. every fourth revolution of the input shaft. The indexing driven wheel is locked in a stationary dwell position between indexes by locking rollers on the driven wheel that engage in locking grooves in the primary and secondary driver wheels.

Abstract: An assembly adapted to perform sequentially the following: to extract horizontally rounds of ammunition from containers that are being indexed downwardly by a vertical conveyor; to position the extracted rounds of ammunition over a horizontal conveyor; and, to insert these rounds vertically downward into individual round-carrier elements of the horizontal conveyor. The preferred embodiment of the extraction assembly includes nine identical ammunition round extractor-release mechanisms (i.e., extractors), an extractor bar in which the nine extractors are mounted side-by-side, an extractor bar drive mechanism operatively connected to the extractor bar, an extractor roller element, and a horizontal extractor table with a drop-off section.

Abstract: The mechanism accurately removes rounds of ammunition from a moving horizontal conveyor and places them into a stationary partitioned tray which is disposed below both the inventive mechanism and the conveyor. The mechanism comprises two counter-rotating dump bars driven by an indexing drive assembly which, in turn, comprises a combination of geneva-type indexing drive units and conventional gearing. The indexing drive assembly provides the dump bars with a 16-to-1 dwell-to-drive ratio, and rotates the bars 90.degree. each actuation. The dump bars have guiding surfaces across which the rounds of ammunition are moved by elements of the horizontal conveyor, while the dump bars are in the locked dwell position. When the dump bars are full of rounds, the bars index and transfer the rounds out of the conveyor elements and into the tray for subsequent operations, without interaction with, or interference by, the conveyor.