Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming an initiation flaw (111) in the surface (114) of a glass sheet or glass ribbon (13). The initiation flaw (111) is used in connection with a laser light beam (121) and a cooling area produced by a cooling nozzle (119) to from a score line (115) in the surface (114) of the sheet or ribbon (13). The initiation flaw (111) is formed by a mechanical scoring head (20) which is carried by moving carriage (14) and which undergoes retrograde motion (19) relative to the carriage (14) so as to increase the time available for forming the initiation flaw (111).

Abstract: A method for producing a thin-plate-shaped substrate blank that is an intermediate for a glass substrate, in which the occurrence of undulation is prevented and the substrate blank is produced with high accuracy, the method comprising press-molding a glass in a softened state with a mold having an upper mold member and a lower mold member to produce the thin-plate-shaped substrate blank, wherein the glass in a softened state is press-molded without causing any surrounding edge portion of the substrate blank under the production to come into contact with the mold, to produce the substrate blank at least having no notch portion.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for generating optically perceptible laser-induced cracks in brittle material, wherein a laser beam, followed by a coolant jet, is guided relative to the surface of the brittle material in order to advance a crack trail into the material starting from an initial crack, and wherein a marking agent which penetrates into the crack during the formation of the crack so as to make the latter visible is mixed with the coolant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for severing a marked region of a glass strip (1) produced continuously on a conveyor belt (11), having the following characteristics: a) a line (12) highlighting the severing of the marked region is scored on the continuous glass strip (1), b) once the scored line (12) reaches the crusher roll (6), the two lock rolls (7, 8) following the crusher roll (6) are folded away downward, c) once the scored line (12) is located in the region of the highest area of the crusher roll (6), means for shearing off (5) push onto the glass strip (1) and break it off, d) after the broken-off glass piece (10) has dropped, the lock rolls (7, 8, 9) are folded back in the conveyor belt (11), and to a computer program and a machine-readable carrier with the program code thereof.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve a known quartz glass cylinder for the production of an optical component, comprising an inner drilling, which is mechanically machined to size and provided with an etched structure by means of an etching treatment, subsequent to the mechanical machining, such that in the application thereof for production of pre-forms and optical fibers, few bubbles arise along the boundary surface between core and sleeve. Said aim is achieved, whereby the etched structure comprises striations with a maximum depth of 2.0 mm and a maximum width of 100 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for separating a sheet of glass by directing a microwave beam and a laser beam at a sheet of glass to propagate a crack across the sheet. A laser beam spot formed on the glass sheet by the laser at least partially overlaps a microwave beam spot produced on the sheet by the microwave beam and can be used to generate an increased power density in the overlap region, thereby forming a preferential direction for crack propagation.

Abstract: A method of making decorative glass objects of any of a wide variety of appearances, structures and functions teaches that recycled glass bottles may be cut into disks, rings and other shapes using a diamond dust blade on a bandsaw, then firing the glass objects in a glass kiln to the point of slumping but not to melting, and finally by grinding the objects with a diamond head glass grinder. Glass objects made by the method of the invention betray their recycled origins with an eye-pleasing organic quality to finish and shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of cutting a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit cell from an LCD assembly panel. The method includes applying a coolant onto heated cutting path formed on the LCD assembly panel. A rapidly heated portion of the substrate is rapidly cooled using water having a high specific heat or a mixed coolant in which a material for improving characteristics of surface tension, viscosity and thermal conductivity is dissolved in water. Therefore, the cutting quality of the substrate is improved, and a cutting speed is also enhanced.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for cutting float glass is disclosed. A burner and water spray are arranged to cause thermal stress cracking along a cutting line extending along a continuous glass ribbon, parallel with the edge of the ribbon. The thermal stress cracking is initiated without the use of mechanical force. Preferably, the burner is used to initiate the thermal stress crack, by increasing the power supplied to the glass.

Abstract: A scribing apparatus simultaneously performs scribing processes for a TFT substrate and a C/F substrate in the same location, thereby efficiently utilizing equipment spaced and achieving enhanced productivity. A substrate cutting apparatus is equipped with the scribing apparatus, and a substrate cutting method uses the substrate cutting apparatus.

Abstract: The method includes continuously detecting glass faults in the glass sheet. Based on the results of the detecting of the glass faults an optimized cutting pattern for cutting crosscut pieces from a predetermined sheet section and for cutting glass panes from the crosscut pieces is determined. In order to reduce waste, the cutting lines for the glass panes are placed sufficiently close to fault-containing glass sheet regions, so that the glass sheet regions to be discarded are minimized, while producing a largest possible number of usable glass panes. The crosscut pieces are then cut out according to the optimized cutting pattern and then the glass panes are cut from the crosscut pieces. An appropriate apparatus for performing the method is described.

Abstract: A window including deliberate rupture zones. The window is obtained by a method whereby the glass is subjected to local overheating of the structure using a high-energy beam penetrating the glass, deliberate rupture zones are produced by sequentially guiding the beam in a predetermined path along the preferred path for the window to break along, and by sequentially focusing the beam both along the predetermined path and at various depths relative to the surface of the window. The sequential focusing at various penetration depths follows a line that is inclined and/or curved relative to the normal to the surface of the glass so that a weakened structure is created in the window to obtain rupture behavior of the window that differs according to the direction in which the influence leading to rupture acts.

Abstract: Molten glass is press-molded by a metallic die in which a cylindrical body is provided in a vertically standing manner at a central part of a bottom surface of a bottomed hole and a molding surface corresponding to a chamfering shape of an outer peripheral edge surface of a glass substrate is consecutively formed in an inner peripheral wall, and a glass substrate precursor provided with the chamfering shape axially consecutive on an outer peripheral surface thereof and a through hole formed at a central part thereof is thereby formed. The glass substrate precursor is cut perpendicular to an axial direction to be separated into respective glass substrates. Next, the respective glass substrates are subjected to a lapping process and a polishing process, if necessary, to produce a glass substrate as a final product. According to the manufacturing method, a glass substrate for information recording medium whose inner and outer peripheral edge surfaces are chamfered can be manufactured with an improved efficiency.

Abstract: A bottle is separated along at least one or two severance planes and the base of the bottle is discarded leaving the body portion behind. The body portion having a rim (10) is inverted to form the bowl of the goblet. Under heat and rotation, the original mouth (20) is flared to form a foot and the neck portion (30) is twisted or otherwise closed to seal the goblet from leakage.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin-plate-shaped substrate blank that is an intermediate for a glass substrate, in which the occurrence of undulation is prevented and the substrate blank is produced with high accuracy, the method comprising press-molding a glass in a softened state with a mold having an upper mold member and a lower mold member to produce the thin-plate-shaped substrate blank, wherein the glass in a softened state is press-molded without causing any surrounding edge portion of the substrate blank under the production to come into contact with the mold, to produce the substrate blank at least having no notch portion.

Abstract: A field-installable connector includes a connector housing and a ferrule having front and rear opposed faces and at least one fiber bore defined longitudinally therethrough. A laser processed stub optical fiber is disposed within the one fiber bore of the ferrule and extends a predetermined distance beyond the rear face of the ferrule. An alignment feature is operable for self-centering the stub optical fiber and a field optical fiber to perform a mechanical splice using a camming means. A method of laser processing a stub optical fiber includes rotating the stub optical fiber and sweeping a laser beam directed at a desired angle back and forth across a surface of the optical fiber. An oscillating motion of the laser is driven by an intermittent sinusoidal signal that results in two deposits of energy onto the stub optical fiber followed by a cooling period before subsequent deposits of energy occur.

Abstract: In the method for loading a glass processing installation (5) with loading portions (10a), glass plates (10, 10b) are extracted repeatedly from a storage unit (20) in a predetermined sequence and divided into a residual portion (10b), which is stored in the storage unit, and a loading portion (10a), which is delivered to the glass processing installation. It is thereby possible to selectively load the glass processing unit with portions of glass plates of certain dimensions and of a determined sort. The device for loading a glass processing installation comprises a storage unit (20) with at least two compartments (21), each compartment being capable of receiving at least one glass plate (10, 10b), and displacing means for displacing a glass plate in a compartment at least partially out of the compartment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a float process for manufacturing glass sheets, in which molten glass is poured onto a liquid support denser than the glass and then the continuous ribbon which forms is advanced toward the downstream end, this process being characterized in that the thickened edges of the ribbon are trimmed continuously in the forming zone. This process makes it possible to obtain thin glass sheets, such as sheets of film glass, with good flatness, particularly in small plants. The invention also relates to a plant for implementing the process and to the products obtained. FIG. 1.

Abstract: To provide a method and apparatus for parting a glass rod without causing a crack or rupture at a grasped root portion of the glass rod in parting the glass rod for producing a glass preform. The apparatus for parting the glass rod in a predetermined length by grasping both ends of the glass rod 11 is characterized by comprising a supporting unit 18 of Y-character shape for supporting an intermediate position between both ends of the glass rod 11 from the lower part, the supporting unit 18 having a carbon sleeve composed of a cylindrical body that is rotatable around each of two leg portions making up a forked leg portion as an axis, the carbon sleeve being rotatable along with an axial movement of the glass rod.

Abstract: A method for forming a magnetic disk comprises the following steps. First, an inner and outer cut is provided in a work piece. The waste piece thus comprises an outer waste piece, an inner waste piece, and a region between the inner and outer waste pieces that is to be used as a substrate for manufacturing a magnetic disk. The outer waste piece is separated from the substrate by applying a hot plate against the outer waste piece, thereby causing it to thermally expand and separate from the substrate. The substrate is then placed over (but not in contact with) a hot plate, while a cooling element is placed on the inner waste piece. This causes the substrate to thermally expand while the inner waste piece thermally contracts. Thus, a gap forms between the substrate and inner waste piece, thereby permitting the separation of the inner waste piece from the substrate.

Abstract: A method that accurately cuts mother rod lenses and increases production yield. The method includes arranging the mother rod lenses such that the optical axes of the mother rod lenses are parallel to one another, forming a lens block having perpendicular first and second side surfaces to integrally hold the predetermined mother rod lenses, arranging the lens block at a predetermined position, emitting laser beams respectively toward the first and second side surfaces, receiving reflection lights of the laser beams with first and second screens, respectively, adjusting the perpendicularity of the side surfaces relative to a cutting surface of the cutter such that the reflection lights of the side surfaces hit base positions on the first and second screen, and cutting the lens block and the mother rod lenses with the cutter to produce a plurality of rod lenses.

Abstract: A method for producing lenses includes assembling a plurality of glass rods having a desired length into a single unit and cutting the single unit into multiple slices, each slice having a plurality of individual lenses. The method further includes finishing the slices to a desired thickness and surface finish and extracting the individual lenses from the slices.

Abstract: To provide a method and apparatus for parting a glass rod without causing a crack or rupture at a grasped root portion of the glass rod in parting the glass rod for producing a glass preform.

Abstract: In the case of a method for producing an optical element with at least one curved surface by spherical separation, a spherical-cap-like separating body with cutting elements is used. The separating body is in this case moved in a pivoting movement through a basic body or the basic body is moved through the separating body, a relative rotational movement taking place between the basic body and the separating body with a rotating axis which passes through the center point (M) of the pivoting movement.

Abstract: Methods for producing glass substrates having scribed edges with straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions, and microarray glass substrates produced thereby, are provided. In certain embodiments, at least one scribe line is scribed in glass using reduced laser power at the beginning and end of each scribe line relative to the laser power used to scribe the remaining portions of each respective scribe line. In other embodiments, a heat absorbing laser element is positioned adjacent the beginning and end of each scribe line. In all embodiments, the scribed glass is singulated to produce a plurality of scribed glass pieces, each having straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions. The scribed glass can be used as substrates for biopolymeric microarrays. Also provided are biopolymeric microarrays produced from the subject methods and kits which include the subject microarrays, as well as methods for using the same.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cutting a laminate made of a brittle material and a plastic with a cutting tool is described. The plastic is heated up, thereby lowering its viscosity, at least in the region of a predetermined cutting line. A cutting tool is placed onto the plastic side of the laminate, the loading pressure being adjustable. By moving cutting tool relative to the laminate along the predetermined cutting line, the plastic is severed; at the same time the brittle material is scored, thereby inducing a mechanical stress. If appropriate, the mechanical stress along the cutting line is subsequently increased to exceed the rupture strength of the scored brittle material. A preferred application is the cutting of thin glass or glass-ceramic/plastic laminates.

Abstract: The apparatus for cutting a laminate, which is made of a brittle material and a plastic, has a cutting tool for severing the plastic along a predetermined cutting line and simultaneously scoring the brittle material; a heating device for heating the plastic along the cutting line; a device for pressing the cutting tool with an adjustable pressure on the laminate; a device for moving the engaged cutting tool along the cutting line to simultaneously sever the plastic and score the brittle material and a controller for controlling the heating device so that during the severing and scoring a temperature of the cutting tool is maintained constant and the heating is sufficient to lower viscosity of the plastic along the cutting line so that a predetermined loading pressure of the cutting tool on the laminate necessary for simultaneously scoring the brittle material and severing the plastic is not exceeded, whereby uncontrollable fracture of the brittle material does not occur.

Abstract: A sheet of glass having impressed therein a grid pattern which simulates a stacked series of glass blocks joined by mortar at their joints, in which the grid pattern is confined to certain tolerances so that the sheet is temperable and at the same time creates the desired glass block appearance.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluorescent lamp that can achieve stable luminous characteristics and discharge characteristics and also does not suffer from cracks in the interconnected portion of the glass tubes while handling or lighting the fluorescent lamp is provided. Interconnecting portions located in the vicinity of open end portions of glass tubes that are positioned adjacent to each other are heated respectively from inside to form a welding portion, and then, the glass tubes are thrust against each other and thinned by conducting a preliminary tapping of the welding portion from inside using hammers. Next, the welding portion is opened by conducting a main tapping to form an interconnected portion, and end portions in the vicinity of the interconnected portion are closed by heating and melting, and then the end portions are molded.

Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure to mark groove traces of laser-induced grooves of glass components by optical visualization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described, with which individual rectangular glass panes of thickness between 0.03 mm and 2 mm can be cut from a glass band (2) drawn vertically from a hot forming device (1) in an in-line process with reduced rejects and reduced waste. The method provides that the glass band (2) drawn vertically downward through a vertical zone is cooled below a lower cooling point of the glass and subsequently is deflected through a bending zone (3b) with a bending radius between 0.1 m and 4 m into a horizontal zone (3c) in which it is horizontally oriented. The vertical alignment of the glass band (2) in the vertical zone (3a) is continuously monitored. At least one cutting process is performed on the horizontally oriented glass band (2) in the horizontal zone (3c). The device (20) for monitoring the vertical alignment of the glass band (2) includes at least three sensors (22a, 22b, 22c; 22a′, 22b′, 22c′) that detect the glass edges These sensors can be mechanical rollers.

Abstract: A method and plant for treating laminated glass having at least two glass sheets between which is arranged at least on intermediate sheet of non-glass material. The glass is attacked in a basic solution of fragmented laminated glass, so as to obtain an attack medium, wherein the fragments are disintegrated into non-laminated glass fragments and non-glass material, separating in a) the basic solution, b) the disintegrated non-laminated fragments and c) the disintegrated fragments of the non-glass material, and neutralizing the disintegrated fragments “b) and c)” before their subsequent recycling or upgrading.

Abstract: A method of producing ornamental glass strips and similar, and which includes the steps of shaping, by removing material, at least one surface portion of a glass bar, so as to impart to the glass bar the profile of the ornamental glass strip to be produced; and baking the glass bar at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: A tube-shaped, GeO2-doped silica glass pipe having a high refractive index is prepared (step S2), a cylindrical silica glass rod doped with F element is inserted inside the GeO2-doped silica glass pipe (step S3), and the GeO2-doped silica glass pipe and silica glass rod in thus inserted state are heated so as to be unified (step S4). Further, thus formed assembly is inserted inside the a pure silica glass pipe (step S5), and they are heated so as to be unified (step S6), whereby an optical fiber preform is manufactured.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin-plate-shaped substrate blank that is an intermediate for a glass substrate, in which the occurrence of undulation is prevented and the substrate blank is produced with high accuracy, the method comprising press-molding a glass in a softened state with a mold having an upper mold member and a lower mold member to produce the thin-plate-shaped substrate blank, wherein the glass in a softened state is press-molded without causing any surrounding edge portion of the substrate blank under the production to come into contact with the mold, to produce the substrate blank at least having no notch portion.

Abstract: A method for cracking off glassware (1), whereby glass pieces (1) are subjected to a laser radiation treatment (F). In a first step, the part of the glassware to be cracked off (3) is subjected in a region thereof to the action of a continuous laser radiation beam (F) or to continuous laser radiation beams (F) such that the beams touch the part (4) in the region with a power density per unit area less than 30 W/mm2. In a second step, successive points along a line in the part to be cracked off, which has been subjected in the first step to the action of a continuous laser radiation beam (F), are subjected to the action of a focused pulsating laser beam (F) with power less than 250 W, such that, during this second step, the successive points, in the line of the focused laser beam's successive impact points on the part to be cracked off (3), are spaced from each other.

Abstract: When lines of vertical cracks due to thermal strain are formed for a plate made of a brittle material with a laser, the plate is irradiated with a laser beam along first lines in a first direction, and thereafter along second lines in a second direction crossing the first direction. When the second lines are scribed, depths of the generated vertical cracks are controlled to be shallower than those of the vertical cracks generated along the first lines in the first direction. The scribing is controlled by setting irradiation energy of the laser beam per unit area and per unit time in the second direction to be lower than that in the first direction. For example, moving speed of the laser spot relative to the plate is varied or output power of the laser beam is controlled on the irradiation energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for making an article such as the body of a needleless injector capsule, from a formable material, such as glass, the article having a cavity communicating with the exterior via an orifice. A blank having an open end is mounted on a first forming tool, and the open end is engaged by a second forming tool while an end region of the blank adjacent the open end is in a condition to permit it to be formed. One of the tools has a pin extending therefrom, and when the tools are brought together to form the end region into the desired shape the pin defines the orifice.

Abstract: A U-shaped groove is formed in a glass sheet along a cutting line and the sheet is cut by breaking along the groove. The groove is formed by heating a sheet portion including the cutting line by a laser beam, cooling it to lower its density, and etching that portion to dissolve it. Every surface exposed by cutting the sheet has a pair of edges which are properly beveled and rounded.

Abstract: A glass tube is positioned over a heater and stretched until drawn apart into two drawn portions. A controlled pulling force is applied to the tube by a powered driver such as a linear motor. After separation, one of the drawn glass portions is repositioned over the heater and reciprocated in a controlled fashion by the driver to refine the geometry of the fine tip formed on the resulting pipette.

Abstract: A glass sheet is separated by propagating a crack in the glass sheet by moving a laser beam across the surface of the glass sheet along a desired line of separation and then streaming coolant at the glass sheet at a predetermined distance behind the laser beam. By altering the profile of a laser beam used to score glass, and by changing the distance between the spot where the laser beam impinges on the glass and the spot struck by the stream of coolant, the penetration depth of the resultant median crack can be controlled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of prestressed and/or bent glass elements.

Abstract: A sheet of silicate glass having a thickness of 2 mm and composed mainly of SiO2, and containing Al2O3, B2O3, Na2O, F, etc., is immersed in a molten salt comprising a mixture of 50 mol % of silver nitrate and 50 mol % of sodium nitrate. Na ions in the surface of the glass are eluted, diffusing Ag ions in the molten salt into the glass. When a laser beam is applied to the glass substrate thus formed, the glass substrate is evaporated or ablated progressively from its surface. The glass substrate is processed to a smooth finish without causing cracking or breakage.

Abstract: A glass slumping process includes the steps of supporting a thin sheet of glass upon a convex mold at a single, minimum area of contact of the glass sheet with the mold, the single area of contact being disposed inwardly of a perimeter of the glass sheet, heating the glass sheet to soften the glass sheet, slumping the glass sheet downwardly over a convex outer surface of the mold in response to the heating, while the glass sheet remains supported by the mold at the single area of contact, cooling the glass sheet and removing the glass sheet from the mold for use as a lamp shade.

Abstract: A process for the formation of a container of glass, includes a first molding step performed in a preforming mold having pins projecting into the mold over a length less than the thickness of the walls of the preform of the article, the external walls of the preform presenting after removal from the mold recessed portions corresponding to the presence of the projecting pins. A second step is performed in a smooth-walled finishing mold having the shape and the dimensions of the container to be made, the blowing pressure in the interior of the finishing mold being controlled so as to permit a smoothness of the external wall of the container and the formation of air inclusions in the wall of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for making an article such as the body of a needleless injector capsule, from a formable material, such as glass, the article having a cavity communicating with the exterior via an orifice. A blank (1a) having an open end is mounted on a first forming tool, and the open end is engaged by a second forming tool (22) while an end region of the blank (1a) adjacent the open end is in a condition to permit it to be formed. One of the tools (7a) has a pin (21) extending therefrom, and when the tools are brought together to form the end region into the desired shape of the pin (21) defines the orifice.

Abstract: The present invention provides a connecting member for facilitating connecting of optical fibers, and a connecting method in which the loss due to connecting is small. An optical fiber connecting member is composed of: a retaining portion having through-holes each of which has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of optical fibers to be connected; and introduction portions which are integrally formed with and on the opposite end sides of the retaining portion and each of which has introduction grooves communicated with the through-holes to thereby make it easy to insert ends of the optical fibers into the through-holes. Further, the inner diameter of each of the through-holes is reduced by heating the connecting member to thereby make axis alignment of the optical fibers automatically to obtain connecting in which the connecting loss is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for forming glass article from sheet glass. More specifically the apparatus comprises a mold, a plunger being cooperative alignment with the mold, wherein the mold and the plunger form a cavity exhibiting the shaped of the glass article, an outer trimmer for separating the glass article from the surrounding excess sheet glass, and an inner trimmer for forming the aperture in the glass article, and the method involves forming the aperture during the hot-forming process, therefore eliminating a post-formation step.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for cutting through flat workpieces made of glass can cut through workpieces with greater thickness, e.g. glass panes with a thickness greater than 0.2 mm, than possible up to now with a comparable known method, without micro-fractures, glass fragments or splitter. In the method of the invention a heat radiation spot symmetric to the cutting line is produced on the workpiece. This heat radiation spot has edge portions with elevated radiation intensity and is moved along the cutting line on the workpiece and the heated section of the cutting line is subsequently cooled. A scanner motion produces the heat radiation spot so that edge portions of elevated radiation intensity coincide with a V- or U-shaped curve, which is open at the leading end of the heat radiation spot. The peak portion of the V- or U-shaped curve on the cutting line is at a temperature maximum that is under the melting point of the workpiece material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for forming glass article from sheet glass. More specifically the apparatus comprises a mold, a plunger being cooperative alignment with the mold, wherein the mold and the plunger form a cavity exhibiting the shaped of the glass article, an outer trimmer for separating the glass article from the surrounding excess sheet glass, and an inner trimmer for forming the aperture in the glass article, and the method involves forming the aperture during the hot-forming process, therefore eliminating a post-formation step.