Abstract: A fuzzy controller is provided which enables even an unskilled operator to easily adjust various conditions in a glass pipe sealing process. The fuzzy controller has a fuzzy control processor including an image processing unit for processing and calculating image information as a softened state change value of the glass pipe and a combustion state value of burner flame, and a fuzzy control processing unit for calculating and outputting, by receiving a result of this calculation, a suitable control value for controlling parameters relating to the burner flame by fuzzy inference. The fuzzy controller may further has a fuzzy diagnosis support processor which, if there is an abnormality in the sealed portion of the glass pipe and if the state of the glass pipe after sealing is input to the manipulation instruction data input support processor by the operator, automatically ascertains the cause of the abnormality by using fuzzy inference and displays it on a CRT.

Abstract: A metal vapor discharge lamp has a luminous tube constituted by a translucent ceramic tube member, end caps hermetically fixed to both ends of the translucent ceramic tube member, and electric supporting tubes hermetically inserted into respective end caps. One of the electrode supporting tubes serves also as an exhaust tube for evacuation and also as a reservoir for a metal charged in the luminous tube. The outer end extremity of this electrode supporting tube is hermetically sealed through fusion by application of heat. This hermetic seal is formed by fusing the end of the electrode supporting tube by application of heat thereto, while keeping a heat-shielding/absorbing plate held in close contact with the electrode supporting tube.

Abstract: A metal vapor discharge lamp has a luminous tube constituted by a translucent ceramic tube member, end caps hermetically fixed to both ends of the translucent ceramic tube member, and electrode supporting tubes hermetically inserted into respective end caps. One of the electrode supporting tubes serves also as an exhaust tube for evacuation and also as a reservoir for a metal charged in the luminous tube. The outer end extremity of this electrode supporting tube is hermetically sealed through fusion by application of heat. This hermetic seal is formed by fusing the end of the electrode supporting tube by application of heat thereto, while keeping a heat-shielding/absorbing plate held in close contact with the electrode supporting tube.