Abstract: Processes for producing shaped glass articles with a defined geometry are provided. In some embodiment, the process includes arranging a glass pane on a mould, heating the glass pane by infrared radiation, deforming the heated glass pane over the mould by gravity, negative pressure, and/or positive pressure, and cooling the shaped glass pane to obtain the shaped glass article with a defined geometry.

Abstract: A method for heating glass sheets includes alternately loading on a conveyor system two different sets of glass sheets with the glass sheets of each set having different properties than those of the other set so as to require different heating than each other; conveying the alternately loaded sets of glass sheets on the conveyor system along a plane of conveyance through a heating chamber having a heating system; and controlling operation of the heating system to provide two different sets of heating zones alternating along the direction of conveyance and respectively moving with the two sets of glass sheets so as to provide heating in the heating chamber of each set of glass sheets as required and in a different way than the heating of the other set of glass sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass production of 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets includes a heating section having a heating station that includes a heating chamber adapted to receive a 2D glass-containing sheet, a pneumatic bearing system proximate to the heating chamber for suspending the 2D glass-containing sheet inside the heating chamber, and a heater system proximate to the heating chamber for supplying heat to the heating chamber. A forming section downstream of the heating section has a forming station that includes a mold system adapted to shape a heated 2D glass-containing sheet into a 3D article. A cooling section downstream of the forming section has a cooling chamber adapted to controllably cool off one or more 3D articles. A method of mass producing 3D articles from 2D glass-containing sheets involves use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transparent pane, in particular a glass pane, which includes on at least one of its main surfaces a surface structure including an assembly of specified individual motifs in relief, in particular pyramids, cones, or truncated cones, created by embossing or by rolling. A structure is created on the surface of the pane constituted by individual motifs, based on one or more basic motifs but which are distinguished from each other by their depth, their height, and/or the perimeter of their base area, and/or by the position of their peak with respect to their base. With this variation, formation of intensity peaks of the reflected light is prevented and at the same time a high quality of light trapping is obtained by panes suitable, for example, for solar applications.

Abstract: An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in a rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes first and second substrates having an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal. A perimeter coating is disposed at a second surface of the first substrate proximate at least a perimeter portion of the first substrate. The perimeter coating generally conceals the perimeter seal from view by a person viewing a first surface of the first substrate and through the first substrate. An at least partially reflective stack of thin films is disposed at least a portion of a third surface of the second substrate. The perimeter seal is at least partially visible to a person viewing a fourth surface of the second substrate and through the second substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.

Abstract: A source material, which is based on a glass, is arranged on a working surface of a mold substrate. The mold substrate is made of a single-crystalline material. A cavity is formed in the working surface. The source material is pressed against the mold substrate. During pressing a temperature of the source material and a force exerted on the source material are controlled to fluidify source material. The fluidified source material flows into the cavity. Re-solidified source material forms a glass piece with a protrusion extending into the cavity. After re-solidifying, the glass piece may be bonded to the mold substrate. On the glass piece, protrusions and cavities can be formed with slope angles less than 80 degrees, with different slope angles, with different depths and widths of 10 micrometers and more.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending station includes a framework, lower and upper deformable molds for receiving therebetween a glass sheet to be bent, and lower and upper linkages that respectively support the lower and upper molds on the framework. Each linkage includes connector links that are fixedly connected to the associated mold and that have pivotal connections to each other, wherein the pivotal connections define pivot axes that are parallel to a shape defined by the connector links between the lower and upper linkages throughout the bending. Each linkage also has control links connected to the connector links thereof such that the control links are pivotable about axes that extend perpendicular to the shape defined between the lower and upper. Furthermore, at least one of the control links of each linkage is configured to permit glass sheet bending by linkage movement on one side thereof independently of the other side thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of forming small, thin glass articles having a thickness of less than 5 mm by the use of a plunger and a die, the die having walls, a terminal area and a transition area in contact with both the walls and the transition area is such that the interior distance dimensions of the die gradually decrease as one progresses from the terminal area through the transition area to the walls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glass sheet bending system including a press bending station for bending a glass sheet into a desired shape. The press bending station includes a glass mounting bed on which the glass sheet is to be temporarily put until the glass sheet is pressed on the glass forming surface of a mold. This system is characterized in that the glass mounting bed includes a slat conveyer whose crawler is driven in the conveyance direction of the glass sheet or a belt conveyer whose belt is driven in the conveyance direction of the glass sheet. By this system, the glass sheet having no distortion can be produced.

Abstract: A bent glass sheet shaping method which is capable of reducing occurrence of visibility distortions and a bent glass sheet with reduced visibility distortions. A glass sheet is heated to a shapeable temperature, a cover material is mounted onto a press die such that a direction of waves in the cover material is diagonal to a direction of distortions in the glass sheet, and the heated glass sheet with the press die is pressed.

Abstract: Apparatus (36, 36?) and a method for forming glass sheets utilizes a press ring assembly (50) adjacent a heating furnace to receive a heated class sheet therefrom for press forming. The press ring assembly (50) includes a press ring (52) for mounting on a support (48), with the press ring having an open interior and peripheral shape including an upwardly oriented forming face (74) for contacting the heated glass sheet periphery. A heater (75) extends along the peripheral shape of the press ring (52) to provide heating under the control of at least one thermocouple (110), and insulation (78) extends along the periphery of the press ring within the interior, around the exterior and below the press ring to reduce heat loss, with the heater located between the insulation and the press ring. An upper press mold (58) cooperates with the press ring assembly (50) to provide press forming.

Abstract: A glass article includes a main body made from glass and at least one decorative member. The main body has a three-dimensional shape and has an outer surface which has at least one curved surface portion. The at least one curved surface portion defines at least one recess. The at least one decorative member are received in the corresponding at least one recess to form a desired symbol, logo, or pattern on the glass article. A method for making the glass article is also provided.

Abstract: In a preliminary forming step, positioning of a glass sheet is facilitated, and generation of a hinge mark by a flapping mechanism and generation of excessively bent portions, are prevented at the same time.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending method for glass sheet bending utilizes a primary actuating mechanism (154) for moving lower and upper mold support linkages (26, 48) from a flat shape to a curved shape of a constant radius provided by connection links (28) and control links (34) of the linkages. The lower and upper linkages (26, 48) having one pair of connector links (28) with control links (34) configured to allow a secondary actuating mechanism (155) to provide linkage movement on one lateral side thereof independently of on their other lateral side.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing curved glass sheet includes the following steps: providing a mold which includes a first mold core and a second mold core corresponding to the first mold core; providing a raw glass sheet and placing the raw glass sheet on the second mold core; heating the first mold core to a first temperature, and heating the second mold core and the raw glass sheet to a second temperature which is equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature of the glass sheet but higher than the first temperature; closing the mold and hot pressing the first mold core on the glass sheet; opening the mold, and cooling the glass sheet to obtain the curved glass sheet. An annealing step can also be provided to the curved glass sheet. A mold for manufacturing the curved glass sheet is also provided.

Abstract: The glass sheets (2) of an asymmetric glass-sheet pair, which is intended for the production of laminated glass, are preheated in a preheating furnace (1) and then undergo a press-bending process in a press-bending station (4). By means of a temperature measuring point (11) arranged at the exit of the press-bending station, it is ensured that the glass sheets exhibit a uniform bending behavior, in order to guarantee identical restoring forces during cooling. The temperature measuring point (11) is connected to a control device (16), which causes an intermediate cooling of the glass sheet heating more rapidly by means of an intermediate cooling installation (12, 13) in the pre-heating furnace and/or lengthens its dwell time in the press-bending station (4) by means of a timing control element (15).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.

Abstract: A glass sheet is placed on a mold and heated to a first temperature. The glass sheet is then formed into a glass article having a three-dimensional shape using the mold. An isothermal heat transfer device comprising at least one heat pipe is provided in thermal contact with the mold. With the glass article on the mold and the isothermal heat transfer device in thermal contact with the mold, the glass article, mold, and isothermal heat transfer device are transported along a thermally-graded channel to cool the glass article to a second temperature. During the transporting, the isothermal heat transfer device transfers heat from a relatively hot region of the mold to a relatively cold region of the mold.

Abstract: Methods for producing crucibles for holding molten material that contain a reduced amount of gas pockets are disclosed. The methods may involve use of molten silica that may be outgassed prior to or during formation of the crucible. Crucibles produced from such methods and ingots and wafers that are produced from crucibles with a reduced amount of gas pockets are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an ultra-thin glass substrate, the method including: a feeding step of feeding a preform for a glass substrate to a production line while being held; a heating step of heating the preform fed from the feeding step to a temperature around a softening point thereof; and a drawing step of drawing the preform that has softened in the heating step to form an ultra-thin glass substrate, in which the preform has been wound on a cylindrical first winding roll.

Abstract: A flat glass sheet and a mold having a mold cavity defined by a shaping surface are provided. The shaping surface has a surface profile of a shaped glass article. At least one edge alignment pin is provided on the mold at an edge of the shaping surface. The glass sheet is leaned against the edge of the shaping surface such that an edge of the glass sheet abuts the edge alignment pin. The glass sheet is then heated. The glass sheet is sagged onto the shaping surface of the mold so that the glass assumes the surface profile of the shaped glass article and thereby form the shaped glass article. The edge alignment pin aligns the edge of the glass sheet with the mold cavity as the glass sheet sags onto the shaping of the mold. The shaped glass article is removed from the mold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (54) for positioning glass sheets for forming includes positioners (55) that are moved slower than the speed of glass sheet conveyance to provide rotational adjustment of a glass sheet into alignment above a forming mold (52). The forming mold (52) is moved upwardly for the forming in a pressing manner against a downwardly facing upper mold (58). Both preformed and flat glass sheets can be positioned by different embodiments of the apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet glass that has a side surface with an average surface roughness equal to or less than 0.2 ?m is provided. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a sheet glass is provided that includes processing a base-material glass sheet to obtain a sheet glass that has a side surface with an average surface roughness equal to or less than 0.2 ?m. Moreover, a method of manufacturing a sheet glass is provided that includes processing a base-material glass sheet so that an average surface roughness of a side surface becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value according to a section modulus of the sheet glass that is to be manufactured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating apparatus for glass-sheet-forming, which prevents formation of a heater distortion in a portion of a glass sheet facing to a temperature-distributing heat shield.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for bending sheet glass are disclosed. The present invention improves on the state-of-the-art by providing apparatus and methods that prevent unwanted distortion of the glass sheet. The apparatus and methods utilize localized heating at the bend to allow for overall glass sheet temperatures to be reduced, along with optional mechanical devices for improved bend quality.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cambering a glass sheet, said device comprising a pressing station provided with a male press and a female press which are arranged opposite each other in a complementary manner. The male press is formed from at least two distinct resilient parts, a base and at least one forming complement, which are adapted in such a way as to be fixed to each other. Said forming complement is detachable and interchangeable according to the form to be applied to the glass sheet, and comprises a fixing surface which is adapted in such a way as to be fixed to a fixing surface of the base, and a forming surface which is adapted in such a way as to be pressed against the glass sheet in order to apply the desired form thereto. The invention also relates to an industrial installation comprising one such device, and to a method for implementing said device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing curved glass sheet includes the following: an equipment, including a matching first mold core and a second mold core, is provided; a raw glass sheet is provided and placed on the second mold core covering second mold cavity; a pressure is controlled in the first and second mold cavities to a first pressure; the mold cores are closed and heated, to raise the raw glass sheet to a temperature of about glass transition temperature of raw glass sheet; a gas is supplied into the first mold cavity to raise the pressure in the first mold cavity to a second pressure which is greater than first pressure, in which the raw glass sheet is bent to the second forming surface of second mold core under pressure; mold cores are opened and cooled down to obtain the curved glass sheet.

Abstract: A deformation apparatus for reforming a glass sheet comprises a central portion, a first edge mold movably coupled to a first end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along a linear mold axis in a first direction toward the central portion. The deformation apparatus further includes a second edge mold movably coupled to the second end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along the linear mold axis in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward the central portion. Methods are also provided including the step of cooling a reformed glass sheet, wherein a greater shrinkage of the reformed glass sheet relative to a shrinkage of the deformation apparatus is accommodated by a movement of at least the first edge mold in a first direction toward the central portion of the deformation apparatus.

Abstract: A method of forming, on the surface of a glass material, a raised feature having a height within a target range, comprising (1) providing a glass material having a surface, (2) providing the glass material locally, at a location at or below the surface, with an amount of energy causing local expansion of the glass material so as to raise a feature on the surface at the location, (3) detecting the height of the raised feature or the height over time of the raised feature, (4) (a) if the height is below or approaching a value below the target range, providing the glass material at the location with energy in a greater amount, or (b) if the height is above or approaching a value above the target range, providing the glass material at the location with energy in a lesser amount, and (5) repeating steps (3) and (4) as needed to bring the height within the target range. Methods and devices for automating this process are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of longitudinally deflecting conveyor rolls intended for bending glass panels. The method includes deflecting the conveyor rolls during a glass-panel bending process by turning link member on which the ends of the conveyor rolls are mounted with bearings. In order to turn the link members of each conveyor roll, at least one link member is subjected to a force sufficient for its turning by a position-identifying electric drive. At least the other link member is subjected to a force sufficient for its turning by a second electric drive, which is controlled on the basis of position data provided by the position-identifying electric drive. The present invention relates also to an assembly applying the method for bending glass panels.

Abstract: A mold for bending glass, including a cellular solid material including cells that form cavities in the molding area, the cells representing more than 40% of the volume of the material. A low-heat-capacity tool bends glass panes in the context of processing tempered or laminated glass. A process for manufacturing the bending mold includes assembly of metal sheets of different shapes placed parallel to one another so as to form a cellular unit, then machining of the molding area of the unit, the area being placed substantially perpendicular to the metal sheets.

Abstract: A formed glass shelf is provided having a central region with an upper planar surface and a curved perimeter region surrounding the central region, which has an edge. The curved perimeter region is non-coplanar with the central region, and the edge is offset in a range of about 2 mm to 6 mm from the upper planar surface of the central region to contain spills on the shelf. A method is provided for slump-forming the shelf, including slump-forming an oversized blank and removing an outermost portion to achieve the finished size.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device includes arranging a plate-shaped glass on a light-emitting element mounting surface of a substrate having a light-emitting element mounted thereon, arranging a metal thin plate on the plate-shaped glass so as to sandwich the plate-shaped glass between the substrate and the metal thin plate, placing the substrate, the plate-shaped glass and the metal thin plate between a first mold on a side of the substrate and a second mold on a side of the metal thin plate, hot-pressing the substrate, the plate-shaped glass and the metal thin plate by using the first mold and the second mold to seal the light-emitting element with the plate-shaped glass, and after cooling the plate-shaped glass, removing the thin plate adhered to the plate-shaped glass from the plate-shaped glass.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes stacked first and second diffraction gratings made of different materials. The materials of the first and second diffraction gratings are glass. The first and second diffraction gratings have grating surfaces contacted to each other. The materials satisfy a predetermined condition when Tg2 and At2 are a transformation point temperature and a yield point temperature of the material of the first diffraction grating, and Tg3 and At3 are a transformation point temperature and a yield point temperature of the material of the second diffraction grating.

Abstract: A device and method for bending a glazing unit or plural glazing units positioned one on top of the other, with a first train of carriages, bearing transport supports and running between a loading zone in which at least one glazing unit is deposited on a transport support of a carriage and a transfer zone, a furnace section heating the glazing units to their bending temperature in their path towards the transfer zone, and a second train of carriages running between the transfer zone and a final cooling section with an unloading station, which is equipped with transport supports that differ from the transport supports of the first train of carriages.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping at least one glass sheet. The apparatus includes a lower press ring and an upper press ring configured to clamp a perimeter section of the glass sheet between the lower press ring and the upper press ring. The apparatus also includes an upper press at least partially disposed within the upper press ring, the upper press configured to shape at least a section of the glass sheet inside the perimeter section of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A deformation apparatus for reforming a glass sheet comprises a central portion, a first edge mold movably coupled to a first end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along a linear mold axis in a first direction toward the central portion. The deformation apparatus further includes a second edge mold movably coupled to the second end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along the linear mold axis in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward the central portion. Methods are also provided including the step of cooling a reformed glass sheet, wherein a greater shrinkage of the reformed glass sheet relative to a shrinkage of the deformation apparatus is accommodated by a movement of at least the first edge mold in a first direction toward the central portion of the deformation apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for bending a glass sheet, and has an object of achieving high forming accuracy of a glass sheet along a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the glass sheet, in particular, to obtain high forming accuracy both along the conveying direction and the perpendicular direction.

Abstract: A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) and/or heat bent in certain example instances. In certain example embodiments, a zinc stannate based layer is provided between a tin oxide based layer and a silicon nitride based layer, and this has been found to significantly reduce undesirable mottling damage upon heat treatment/bending. This results in significantly improved bendability of the coated article in applications such as vehicle windshields and the like.

Abstract: A method for forming shaped articles (28?) includes preparing a stack (26) having at least an adjacent set (27) of preformed material (28) and forming mold (30), where the preformed material (28) has an edge portion (34) that extends beyond a periphery of the forming mold (30), and the forming mold (30) has an external surface (32) with a desired surface profile of a shaped article. The stack (28) is heated. The stack (28) is advanced through a constriction (56) that has an internal surface configured to fold the edge portion (34) of the preformed material (28) into contact with the external surface (32) of the forming mold (30) as the edge portion (34) passes through the constriction (56), thereby forming a shaped article (28?) from the preformed material (28). The shaped article (28?) is then separated from the forming mold (30).

Abstract: Provided is a glass roll (1) formed by rolling a glass film (2) around a roll core (4) under a state in which a resin film (3) is superposed on an outer peripheral surface side of the glass film (2). The resin film (3) is superposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the glass film (2) under a state in which tension of from 100 kPa to 1 GPa is applied to the resin film (3). The following relationships hold true: {(tg×Eg)/(tp×Ep)}×(tg/R)?0.1, and 1×10?5?tg/R?1×10?3, where tg [m] represents a thickness of the glass film (2), Eg [Pa] represents a tensile modulus of elasticity of the glass film (2), tp [m] represents a thickness of the resin film (3), Ep [Pa] represents a tensile modulus of elasticity of the resin film (3), and R [m] represents an outer diameter of the roll core (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method or an apparatus for bending a plate-like material such as a glass sheet for a side window having a double-curved surface for automobiles wherein the positioning of support frame and forming mold is performed with high precision.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making infrared transmitting graded index optical elements by selecting at least two different infrared-transmitting materials, each with a different refractive index, having similar thermo-viscous behavior; assembling the infrared-transmitting materials into a stack comprising one or more layers of each infrared-transmitting material resulting in the stack having a graded index profile; and forming the stack into a desired shape. Also disclosed is the related optical element made by this method.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a glass strip, the method including a heating and drawing process of heating and softening a glass plate preform, drawing the glass plate preform to have a desired thickness, and forming a glass strip, wherein at the heating and drawing process, the glass plate preform is drawn so that an internal pressure of a heating furnace is kept positive relative to an atmospheric pressure and so that gas flows introduced to both surfaces of the glass plate preform, respectively are equal to each other within the heating furnace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of shaping a glass sheet in one dimension, by roll forming in a manner to selectively minimize/eliminate undesired curvature from the glass sheet. Such shaping is achieved by the selective location in first and second, shaping zones, of shaping rolls having first and second shaping configurations and , optionally, by varying the velocity of the glass sheet as it moves through the shaping zones, thus varying the time portions of the glass sheet are in contact with certain shaping rolls.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a press-molding glass material, which comprises a core part comprised of optical glass and a silicon oxide film of less than 15 nm in thickness covering at least a portion of the core part, the portion being to be an optically functional surface, as well as has a surface free energy as measured by a three-liquid method of equal to or lower than 75 mJ/m2. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a press-molding glass material comprising a core part comprised of optical glass and a silicon oxide film covering at least a portion of the core part to be an optically functional surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing curved glass sheet includes the following steps: providing a mold which includes a first mold core and a second mold core corresponding to the first mold core; providing a raw glass sheet and placing the raw glass sheet on the second mold core; heating the first mold core to a first temperature, and heating the second mold core and the raw glass sheet to a second temperature which is equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature of the glass sheet but higher than the first temperature; closing the mold and hot pressing the first mold core on the glass sheet; opening the mold, and cooling the glass sheet to obtain the curved glass sheet. An annealing step can also be provided to the curved glass sheet. A mold for manufacturing the curved glass sheet is also provided.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material. A reformable area and a non-reformable area of the sheet of material are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area of the sheet of material and applying a force to the sheet of material outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glass material for press forming providing an optical element having a sufficient optical performance without surface cracks, cloudiness, scratches, and the like even when the glass material contains an easily reducible component. Also disclosed are an optical element having a sufficient optical performance without surface cracks, cloudiness, scratches, and the like and a method for manufacturing the same. Specifically disclosed are a glass material for press forming and a glass optical element each of which comprises a core portion composed of multiple component optical glass and a composite surface layer covering at least a region serving as an optical functional surface of the core portion. The core portion is composed of optical glass that contains an easily reducible component and does not contain Pb. The composite surface layer includes a first surface layer that covers the core portion and a second surface layer that covers the first surface layer.