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: Methods and apparatus for guiding flexible glass ribbons (13) without mechanically contacting the central portion (4) of the ribbon are provided in which two curved sections are formed in the ribbon which stiffen the ribbon so that lateral forces can be applied to the ribbon without causing it to buckle. The curvatures of the curved sections are along the direction of motion (15) of the ribbon and can be produced using curved air-bars (12,14) and/or pairs of cylindrical rollers (5a,5b,16a,16b). The lateral forces can be applied by pairs of guide rollers (7a,7b,9a,9b) which can be mounted on spring-loaded pivot arms (6,19,29) and can have a complaint outer coating or sleeve (35). The guiding system can be used in the winding of the glass ribbon onto a cylindrical core (11).

Abstract: A method of forming a mirrored bent cut glass shape includes bending a flat sheet of glass to establish a curved sheet of glass. A machine vision system determines a surface profile of the curved sheet of glass, and a computer numerical controlled cutting tool is positioned at the curved sheet of glass and its cutting wheel is maintained at or close to 90 degrees to the tangential plane of the curved sheet of glass. At least one of (a) the cutting wheel and (b) the curved sheet of glass is controlled in three dimensions to cut a bent cut glass shape from the curved sheet of glass, and such controlling is, at least in part, responsive to the surface profile of the curved sheet of glass. A mirror reflector is established at a surface of the bent cut glass shape to form a mirrored bent cut glass shape.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for making microfluidic devices comprising glass or glass-containing materials, wherein the methods have decreased cost and/or improved dimensional properties over similar formed glass articles produced using current techniques.

Abstract: A method for glass-blowing on a microscopic level includes the steps of defining a plurality of microholes in a wafer, disposing a sheet of thermally formable material onto the wafer covering the microholes, heating the sheet of thermally formable material until a predetermined degree of plasticity is achieved, applying self-induced fluidic pressure by expansion of the heated trapped gas in the microholes to the sheet of thermally formable material, while the sheet is still plastic, and simultaneously forming a plurality of blown micro-objects in the sheet on the wafer by means of continued application of pressure for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A process and system for bending glass sheets heated to their softening point. The glass sheets are laid on a concave bending frame and prebent by gravity. The prebent glass sheets are transferred to a transfer former with a concave forming surface, the transfer former being moved up through the concave bending frame, the perimeter of which is larger, and thus picking up the glass sheets. The transfer former is positioned so that in vertical projection it overlies a final bending former in the form of a frame with a concave forming surface. The transfer former is moved up through the larger-diameter final bending former, the glass sheets being laid on the final bending former. The glass sheets are bent into their final shape, and at the end of the bending operation, the glass sheets in their final shape are transferred from the final bending former to a transport system and cooled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a curved glass pane, made of float glass, the area of a main face of which is greater than 1.5 m2 and the product of its two depths of bending is greater than 3000 mm2, and such that its point located on the normal to its surface passing through its center of gravity has a radius of curvature of less than 3 m in any direction, the variation in its thickness in the longitudinal float direction being less than 10 ?m over 500 mm. This pane may be assembled into laminated glazing of the automobile windshield type. Such a windshield has a very small amount of double imaging even when it is fitted into the vehicle so as to be close to the horizontal.

Abstract: A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a forming station (14) having lower and upper molds (28, 30) between which glass sheets G are cyclically received from a furnace (12) on a vacuum transfer platen (34), formed between the lower and upper molds (28, 30), and transferred to a delivery mold (42) for delivery such as to a quench station (16). The vacuum transfer platen (34) and the delivery mold (42) are moved at different elevations into the forming station (14) in respective underlapping and overlapping relationships to each other so each glass sheet forming cycle can begin within the forming station before the prior forming cycle is completed in a time overlapping manner that reduces the cycle time.

Abstract: A method and device for bending superposed sheets of glass. The sheets are picked up by a top form furnished with a suction creating an upward airflow blowing over the rim of the sheets, the suction being sufficient to lift and hold the superposed sheets against the top form, then the sheets are pressed between the top form and a full surface solid concave bottom form furnished with openings, the pressing beginning conducted while the suction is not yet finished or is finishing, then the superposed sheets are formed, by suction of the main face of the bottom sheet through the openings of the bottom concave mold, the forming by suction beginning while the pressing is not yet finished, and then the sheets are cooled. Windshields free of optical defects may thus be produced.

Abstract: A method and device for bending superposed sheets of glass. The sheets are picked up by a top form furnished with a suction creating an upward airflow blowing over the rim of the sheets, the suction being sufficient to lift and hold the superposed sheets against the top form, then the sheets are pressed between the top form and a full surface solid concave bottom form furnished with openings, the pressing beginning conducted while the suction is not yet finished or is finishing, then the superposed sheets are formed, by suction of the main face of the bottom sheet through the openings of the bottom concave mold, the forming by suction beginning while the pressing is not yet finished, and then the sheets are cooled. Windshields free of optical defects may thus be produced.

Abstract: Laminated, transparent set of panes made of brittle materials and interleaved laminated films, wherein the brittle materials are various glasses, special glasses, glass-ceramics, transparent ceramics and crystalline materials, process for producing and bending the set of panes and films, and its use thereof, as a bulletproof, unbreakable and shockproof glazing with a low weight per unit area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a sheet of curved glass comprising an opening involving bending followed by cooling, the periphery of the sheet and the periphery of the opening being supported, at least at the start of cooling, by a skeleton.

Abstract: Molten glass (G) is set and press-molded in a molding die (60) having dies (621A1, 621A2) corresponding to a lens array. After the molding, the molded article is removed from the molding die (60) and separated by bending at a bend-separation face (121C), which is a boundary part of adjacent lens arrays, so that two lens arrays are produced.

Abstract: A method, press station (12), and system (10) for forming glass sheets that are initially formed with an upwardly concave curved shape with end portions (86) and an intermediate portion (88) having straight line elements that are subsequently formed with curved shapes to provide curvature along transverse directions. The forming is performed by initially providing curvature to the straight line elements of the glass sheet end portions while the intermediate portion (88) still has the straight line elements. The glass sheet intermediate portion is subsequently formed to provide curvature to its straight line elements so the glass sheet has curvature in transverse directions.

Abstract: A method is provided for shaping a glass sheet in more than one dimension, and within the one or more dimensions forming non-uniform shapes between, for example, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the same 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 by varying the speed of the glass sheet as it moves through the shaping zones, thus varying the length of time that selected portions of the glass sheet are in contact with certain shaping rolls.

Abstract: The present invention is related a method and a system for bending glass sheets with complex curvatures comprising: heating at least a pre-selected area of at least a glass sheet using microwave energy and then superficially forming the sheet against a die.

Abstract: A method of making a 3D glass article includes forming at least one marker on an edge of a 2D glass piece. The 2D glass piece is thermally reformed into a 3D glass article, where the at least one marker formed on the edge of the 2D glass piece is carried over to an edge of the 3D glass article. The 3D glass article is aligned on a support using the at least one marker on the edge of the 3D glass article. Then, the edge of the 3D glass article is finished to a final shape and dimension.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for bending a glass sheet which can appropriately prevent cloth mark due to suctioning.

Abstract: Provided is a glass roll (1), which is formed by winding a long glass film (2) into a roll, in which the long glass film (2) includes both end edges (2a) in a width direction larger in thickness relative to a center portion (2b) in the width direction, and the long glass film (2) is wound into a roll so that the both end edges (2a) overlap one another while interposing a protective sheet (10) therebetween. Specifically, the long glass film (2) is formed by a downdraw method with selvage portions (2a) left in the both end edges in the width direction, and the long glass film (2) is wound into a roll so that the selvage portions (2a) overlap one another.

Abstract: A glass bending line for quickly shaping a complex bent glass sheet is provided that includes moving a ring-type female mold, which has a heated glass sheet placed on it, and a full face heated male mold, toward one another. Upon making shaping contact between the glass sheet and the male mold, a vacuum is applied through holes extending through the male mold, for a time sufficient to form the glass sheet to a desired shape. When the glass sheet has been shaped, the vacuum is terminated and pressurized air is connected to the holes to release the bent glass sheet from the male mold. The bent glass sheet is then quickly transported to a quenching station or an annealing station on a continuous conveying device. Hence, the complex bent glass sheet is achieved without the use of a shuttle ring.

Abstract: A method and machine for obtaining bent glass sheets. Glass sheets are brought to their softening temperature, then they are caused to travel over a shaping bed of advancing elements for advancing them which are arranged along a path having a circular arc-shaped profile, the sheets progressively assuming their shape on entering the bed and over a first shaping zone, then being hardened by tempering or cooling in a second zone of the bed until they leave, and then the bent glass sheets thus obtained are recovered. The shaping bed is produced with a profile extending in a circular arc of more than 90°, and, on leaving the shaping bed, the hardened glass sheets are moved in a direction opposite that in which they were fed in.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glass substrate (10) having a main face that exhibits a texture in relief having a depth of at least 1 mm, characterized in that said main face (11) is provided with a thin-film stack (100) having reflection properties in the infrared and/or in solar radiation.

Abstract: A glass sheet article includes a glass sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface terminates in a tapered upper end, and the lower surface terminates in a tapered lower edge. The taper profile of the tapered upper edge is different from the taper profile of the tapered lower edge. The tapered upper edge and the tapered lower edge intersect to form a double-tapered asymmetric edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article comprising forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring an entire surface of a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface.

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: Thin substrates, such as flat glass panels, are levitated on a porous media air bearing creating a pressurized film of air and preloaded against the air film by negative pressure areas. The pressure can be distributed most uniformly across the pressure areas by defusing the pressure through a porous medium. Such a bearing can be used for glass flattening by holding the glass such that the unevenness is migrated to the side opposite the side to be worked on.

Abstract: There are the steps of conveying a glass plate by a roller conveyor including a plurality of rollers; and moving a roller in contact with the glass plate in conveyance to position the glass plate so as to conform a posture of the glass plate to a reference posture.

Abstract: A glass ribbon coated with a flexible material, the flexible coating forming a flexible web portion that extends from an edge of the glass ribbon at least one millimeter. The flexible web portion can be used to facilitate handling of the glass ribbon in a manufacturing process, and may include registration markings, or perforations, that further facilitate precise positioning of the ribbon.

Abstract: A concave lens as an optical component is made of glass containing 20 to 22% of B2O3, 30 to 40% of La2O3, and 19 to 25% of ZnO, expressed as wt %. The concave lens has a thickness t1 in its center portion of 0.5 mm or less, and a ratio (W/t1) of a diameter W with respect to the thickness t1 of 24 or more. The concave lens can be produced suitably by press forming.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a single-curved glass sheet with little difference between the radius of curvature of a front end portion and the radius of curvature of a rear end portion of the glass sheet. The apparatus includes a heating furnace and a cooling device. The cooling device is provided with a plurality of upper nozzles for spraying cooling air onto an upper surface of heated/molded curved glass sheet. The upper nozzles are moved by movement means parallel to a path of travel of the glass sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a plate member including preparing a base plate member having main faces, and performing etching by immersing at least part of the base plate member in an etching liquid while controlling a lowering speed of a liquid surface of the etching liquid on the main faces of the base plate member to a desired lowering speed.

Abstract: A press bending station includes an annular mold (5) and a full-face mold (6). Holes (10), selectively connected to a negative pressure source, are placed in portions of the full-face mold (6) that are determined by the configuration of the annular mold when the annular mold comes into contact with a heated glass sheet (2) during the press bending process. The sheet (2) is drawn by negative pressure through the holes (10) towards the full-face mold (6) and thus acquires its shape. Positive pressure may be selectively applied to the holes (10) to release the sheet (2). According to the invention, at least some of the holes (10) are arranged in at least one groove (11) formed in the mold face of the full-face mold. The grooves (11) according to the invention accelerate considerably the removal by negative pressure of the air between the molding face of the full-face mold (6) and the glass sheet (2) to be bent and thus improve the press bending process.

Abstract: The cover according to the invention serves to encapsulate microsystems, wherein the cover comprises or is made of one or more cover units, and at least one cover unit comprises at least one first recess caused by deformation and bounded at least partially by at least one optical window, the quadratic surface roughness thereof being less than or equal to 25 nm. The invention further relates to a method for producing optical components, wherein the method is particularly also suitable for producing a cover according to the invention allowing encapsulation at the wafer level.

Abstract: A glazing element-bending process including first to fourth stages. The first stage bends the glazing element through gravitational depression on a first support providing it with a first central depression. The second stage continues the bending of the glazing element through gravitational depression on a second support, providing it with a second central depression more pronounced than the first and until such time as the whole periphery of the glazing element enters into contact with the second support, the glazing element being at a sufficiently high temperature to enable its central part to continue to sag following contact of the whole of the periphery. The third stage continues the bending of the glazing element through gravitational depression, providing it with a third central depression more pronounced than the second, the periphery being always in contact with the second support. The fourth stage halts the depression of the glazing element by cooling and gives it the desired final shape.

Abstract: An ultra-thin glass sheet is formed using a roll-to-roll glass soot deposition and sintering process. The sintering involves initially heating and sintering one or more central segments of a glass soot sheet, and progressively heating and sintering glass soot sheet segments that are located laterally or axially adjacent to previously-sintered segments such that, along respective width directions of the glass soot sheet, only a portion of the width is sintered at a given time interval during the heating.

Abstract: An optical glass comprising, by mass %, 12 to 40% of SiO2, 15% or more but less than 42% of Nb2O5, 2% or more but less than 18% of TiO2, (provided that Nb2O5/TiO2 is over 0.6), 0.1 to 20% of Li2O, 0.1 to 15% of Na2O, and 0.1 to 25% of K2O, and having an Abbe's number ?d of 20 to 30, a ?Pg,F of 0.016 or less and a liquidus temperature of 1,200° C. or lower.

Abstract: A method for bending radiation shielding glass which has a heavy metal oxide content of at least 50% by weight is provided, wherein first a mold is provided, a glass plate comprising a radiation shielding glass is then provided, the mold is preheated to a temperature of 300 to 400° C., the glass plate is placed on the mold, the glass plate and the mold are heated in a furnace to a temperature of 370 to 430° C., then heated together to a temperature of 400° C. to 500° C., preferably to 440 to 500° C., the total heating time being at least 30 minutes, preferably at least 60 minutes, the glass plate is then molded and finally the molded glass is cooled by means of a cooling program over a period of at least 60 minutes. For thermal prestressing, the glass body is supported at least at its outer periphery at a number of support points, introduced into a preheated furnace, heated to 400 to 500° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a shaped body (10) made of glass or glass ceramics comprises the steps of: (a) placing at least two glass blanks (12a, 12b) side by side on a shaped surface (14) of a temperature-resistant sagging mold (13); (b) sagging the glass blanks (12a, 12b) onto the shaped surface (14) by heating the sagging mold (13) and the glass blanks (12a, 12b); (c) attaching the sagged glass blanks (10a, 10b) to each other in order to form the shaped body (10); and (d) lifting the shaped body (10) from the sagging mold (13). A shaped body (10) comprises at least two glass blanks (10a, 10b) attached side by side and formed by sagging.

Abstract: A glass material for mold pressing, comprised of a core portion comprised of a multicomponent optical glass containing at least one readily reducible component selected from among W, Ti, Bi, and Nb, and a covering portion covering the surface of said core portion, comprised of a multicomponent glass containing none or a lower quantity of said readily reducible component than is contained in said core portion. A glass material for mold pressing comprising a core portion comprised of a fluorine-containing multicomponent optical glass and a covering portion covering the surface of said core portion, comprised of a multicomponent glass containing none or a lower quantity of fluorine than is contained in said core portion. A method for manufacturing an optical glass element comprising heat softening a glass material that has been preformed into a prescribed shape, and conducting press molding with a pressing mold, employing the above glass material of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a decorated multilayer glass structure using a single firing step that includes that use of a crystallizing glass enamel composition that contains ingredients to ensure the complete burnout of the organic portion of the composition upon firing and bending of a mated pair of glass sheets. A benefit of the composition is that when applied to one sheet of a mated pair of glass sheets, it burns out completely during firing and bending of the pair. The presence of high levels of oxidizers in the composition ensures a supply of oxygen to enable combustion of the organic vehicle while firing the glass sheets and prior to the sintering of the enamel composition to only one glass sheet in a mated pair of decorated or colored glass sheets.

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: A method of constructing a curved optical device includes assembling of at least one cell having opposed flexible substrates with a controlled distance therebetween to form a gap adapted to receive a fluid. The process continues by holding only a portion of the cell in a fixture, positioning a curved mold surface proximal the cell and heating at least one of the curved mold surface and cell. Next, the cell is conformed to the mold surface so that the cell substantially retains the curved shape when the heat and the mold surface are removed.

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: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing flat sheets of a glass-based material and to an apparatus therefor. The process comprises providing a glass preform, heating the glass preform in a furnace, forming a gob and a pre-sheet, removing the gob and drawing the glass pre-sheet into a flat glass sheet. Also provided is an apparatus for drawing a glass preform into a glass sheet, the apparatus comprising a draw furnace, stretching arms for stretching and drawing the pre-sheet into a glass sheet, and opposing edge rollers for applying a downward force on the glass sheet. The draw furnace may include a plurality of individual heating elements, the temperature of each heating element capable of being separately controlled. The apparatus may further include an annealing furnace for annealing the glass sheet.

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 method for forming a double-curved panel from a flat panel, which comprises processing a plastically deformable flat panel or rendering the flat panel plastically deformable to enable it to mould itself to a predetermined shape, wherein the shape is obtained by a primary supporting construction cooperating with a secondary supporting construction, wherein the primary supporting construction may or may not be adjustable to an invariant position that determines the shape, and the secondary supporting construction is adjustable between a starting position in which it supports the flat panel, and a finishing position in which the secondary supporting construction supports the double-curved panel, while said supporting construction rests on and is shaped in accordance with the shape of the primary supporting construction, wherein the adjustment from the starting position to the finishing position occurs at least subject to the distribution of the gravitational force exerted on the secondary supporting constructi

Abstract: An apparatus for working a glass plate includes: a transporting device for bending a glass plate in a concave shape in a cross-sectional view in a transporting direction and transporting the glass plate from a cutting section to a bend-breaking section; a cutting device for forming cut lines on the glass plate in the cutting section; and a bend-breaking device for bend-breaking the glass plate in the bend-breaking section.

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: The apparatus performs a forced reshaping of a flat green glass part during a ceramicizing process in which the viscosity of the glass is temporarily lowered due to crystallization heat. The apparatus includes a continuous furnace (3) for the ceramicizing process: a reshaping device (2?) provided with activating openings (6); and vertically movable pressure-operated reshaping tools (9) arranged in the reshaping device (2?). The furnace (3) is provided with lateral openings (4) for temporarily connecting activating lines (8) to the activating openings (6) of the reshaping device (2?) in a sealed manner in order to operate the reshaping tools (9) by supplying pressurized air to the reshaping device or by producing a low pressure in the reshaping device (2?).

Abstract: A method having particular utility for making outer and inner formed windshield glass sheets is performed by glass sheet positioning centrally on a forming face (34) of a forming mold (32) to form each glass sheet to a design shape regardless of any size difference between the glass sheets from one cycle to the next.