Abstract: Dual strand packaging apparatus including an indexible turret having two winding collets rotatably mounted thereon, an elongated bushing above the collets with a longer dimension extending transversely of the collets, the bushing supplying molten glass streams for attenuation into glass filaments, gathering shoes disposed in a manner enabling filaments at the bushing to be divided equally into front and rear groups and the groups gathered respectively into front and rear strands for winding into front and rear packages on front and rear winding sleeves on a collet in operating position, a strand push-off blade advanceable and retractable along a collet in the operating position and constructed to trap the front and rear strands while in advanced position upon indexing of the turret and while retracting to pull both strands to the rear of a collet moved to operating position upon indexing of the turret, and a strand release blade for moving the front and rear strands out of the push-off blade as the push-off b

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the average diameter of a plurality of glass fibers, comprising illuminating the fibers with electromagnetic radiation, sensing radiation scattered by the fibers and generating a signal responsive to the amount of radiation sensed as an indication of the average diameter of the fibers; such signal can be used for measurement and/or control of the fiber producing process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting strand are provided comprising: supplying a first strand segment; rotating a member to collect the first strand on the member; varying the speed of the rotatable member according to a predetermined pattern; sensing the absence of the first strand being wound around the member to identify a reference point in the pattern at the incidence of sensing the absence of the first strand; supplying a second strand segment to the member; initiating collection of the second strand upon the member having the first strand segment thereon substantially at a speed substantially corresponding to the reference point in the pattern; and continuing to rotate the member according to the pattern subsequent to the reference point to wind the second strand segment therearound.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for automatically and remotely detecting and indicating when any filament breaks out or other discontinuity occurs in the process of attenuating streams of filament-forming material, such as glass, into filaments and wherein a break-out or discontinuity results in an accumulation or collection of the material or glass at the region of the break-out.

Abstract: A reciprocating traversing apparatus discharges material onto, inspects marks, or cleans a device that it is traversing is provided that has reduced requirements for a driving motor, and has smoother traversing motion. A traversing mechanism has a driving motor with horsepower and torque requirements to maintain operational speed of the reversible traversing mechanism. The driving force to overcome inertia of the traversing mechanism when it reverses to traverse in the opposite direction is provided by a gas cylinder with extending arm. The traversing mechanism moving in a track has a gas cylinder at each end of the track. The extended arm of the cylinder engages the mechanism as it approaches one end of its traverse. The arm is depressed, and when the motor reverses the arm is extended by gas pressure to its original position. By the extension the arm accelerates the mechanism up to is operational speed.

Abstract: The bushing (10) has a plurality of hollow bushing branches (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) open to and extending radially from a central supply space (10e), resulting in better temperature control compared to a rectangular bushing with the same number of holes.

Abstract: An oval cooling tube for the central portion of a fiberizing bushing having a plurality of parallel cooling fins attached to the sides thereof.

Abstract: A rotary forehearth for use particularly in formation of glass fiber filaments through bushings is disclosed. A stator portion of the forehearth carries the bushings and a rotor portion of the forehearth receives molten glass from a suitable supply source, mixing the glass to homogenize it and distribute it at a uniform temperature, and disperses the uniform temperature molten glass to the bushings. The rotary forehearth is heated by suitable assemblies which maintain all portions of the forehearth at a uniform teperature. A uniform heating of the rotary forehearth and a uniform mixing and temperature of the molten glass is provided with a single controller. The bushings are uniformly heated and are supplied with molten glass at a nearly constant viscosity to facilitate the formation of glass fiber filaments having substantially less variation in diameter than heretofore possible.

Abstract: A self-centering device supports a generally cylindrically shaped workpiece. A pair of parallel, substantially horizontal shares are mounted within a mounting frame and traverse an opening therewithin. A pair of rolling bearings are adapted for reciprocating movement axially along the two shafts, respectively, with a first connecting rod coupled to the two bearings, so that the resulting rod and bearings can be reciprocated in the direction parallel to the axes of the shafts. In similar fashion, two other rolling bearings are adapted for reciprocating movement axially along the shafts, respectively, with a second connecting rod coupled to the latter bearings so that the resulting rod and latter bearing combinations can be reciprocated in the direction parallel to the axes of the shafts. A first connecting rod bearing is adapted for reciprocating movement axially along the first connecting rod. A second connecting rod bearing is adapted for reciprocating movement axially along the second connecting rod.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming glass fibers. The invention comprises flowing streams of molten glass from a stream feeder through orificed projections depending from the feeder floor, directing gas upwardly into contact with the streams of molten glass at a velocity and in an amount effective to convey away from the streams sufficient heat to render the glass of the streams attenuable to fibers without appreciably disturbing the ambient gas above the streams in the region between the orificed projections and attenuating fibers from the streams of molten glass.

Abstract: Highly accurate centering of an optical fiber within a primary cladding deposited by a coating device is carried out by automatic regulation during the fiber-drawing process in order to optimize the mechanical properties of the fiber. The position of the coating device is controlled in dependence on the position of the fiber with respect to an origin of coordinates (O) determined by optoelectronic means. The frusto-conical lower end of the coating die is maintained at each instant by electronic and electromechanical means at the point (O') located at this level on the straight-line segment (OR) which joins the origin to the first point of contact of the fiber with the pulley used for guiding the fiber towards a storage drum.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for monitoring the method comprising the steps of: generating electromagnetic radiation; using a first lens to form the electromagnetic radiation into a beam; directing the beam through a sampling volume for impingement upon the fibers; positioning a second lens in the same horizontal plane as the first lens such that the angle, whose tangent is D/d, is greater than or equal to five degrees, where D is the diameter of the second lens and d is the distance from a plane through the center of the second lens to the center of the sampling volume; collecting electromagnetic radiation backscattered from the fibers by means of the second lens; and generating a signal responsive to the amount of radiation collected as an indication of the average diameter of the fibers.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for processing fibers or filaments of glass or other fiber-forming material into a roving and packaging the roving, the fibers or filaments during advancement being initially separated or segregated into strands or linear groups of fibers or filaments by fine streams or jets of air or other gas, maintaining the strands in separated condition by a guide, converging the separated strands into a roving and winding the roving into a package.

Abstract: An glass manufacturing process and apparatus having a vertical air-cooled electric furnace and a transverse air-cooled refiner section. The furnace and the refiner are provided with a plurality of molybdenum plate electrode cartridge assemblies. Molten glass is removed from the furnace refiner section by means of a plurality of basin cylinders symmetrically disposed within the transverse refiner. An extruder mechanism accepts molten glass from each basin cylinder and applies the molten glass to a pair of extrusion rolls and onto a molten tin bath. The extrusion rolls are eccentrically pivoted off-center such that the separation distance between them can be varied. A cutting frame is then lowered over the tin bath such that the molten glass sheet is held firmly while it is cut into lite sizes by a cutting mechanism. After cutting, a transfer unit having suction orifices is lowered over the glass sheet and lifts the newly cut glass sheet either to an annealing stage or to a tempering stage.

Abstract: At least two differently colored components of glass are heated to a molten, viscous state and then combined in a channel shaped forehearth to form a confluent of molten glass in which the starting components remain in discrete domains, delineated by abrupt color transitions at the interfaces between such domains. The confluent flows by gravity to a discharge end of the forehearth, at which the molten glass is fed between a pair of forming rollers which press it into a continuous, elongate sheet of variegated glass. While flowing toward the discharge end of the forehearth, the molten glass is subjected to controlled, limited stirring to break up relatively large domains of homogeneous color into a multitude of smaller randomly dispersed domains characterized by streaks, swirls and waves of individually identifiable colors.

Abstract: Molten silicon is controllably fed into a nip between spaced-apart rollers, converted into a wide ribbon of a desired thickness by passing through such nip and then solidified. The solidified silicon ribbon is then severed into plate-shaped bodies of desired dimension for use in the manufacture of solar cells.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and reducing bowing of a rotating roll used with hot material comprises a proximity sensor mounted adjacent the surface of a roll or of a member attached thereto, and arranged to generate an electric signal which varies between maximum and minimum limit values during each revolution of the roll in dependence on any bowing of the roll, cooling means for selectively cooling parts of the roll and a bowing detection circuit arranged to receive the electric signal and provide an operating signal when the electric signal varies by more than a predetermined amount from one of the said limit values, and actuating means arranged to respond to the operating signal and operate the cooling means to cool a required part of the roll to reduce bowing.