Abstract: A process is described for producing a desired breaking point for breaking the glass wall of a glass body, in particular a break-open ampule or a tube, or for separating parts out of a pane of glass by generating microcracks in the breaking zone, in which process the microcracks are generated in the interior of the glass wall or the pane of glass.

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 and/or 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 invention relates to a method of performing surface treatment on a preform manufactured in an installation for manufacturing or building up preforms having supporting cores, the installation including at least rotation means having a horizontal axis of rotation and two mounting points between which the supporting core of the preform to be manufactured or built up is mounted, plasma-torch and material-supply means disposed radially relative to the supporting core and mounted to move in axial translation relative to and parallel to the supporting core so as to make the preform around the supporting core, the preform being manufactured or built up by effecting successive passes with the plasma torch while material is being supplied.

Abstract: For forming bores for insertion of optical fibers, etc., on one side surface of a micro lens with high accuracy and easy work, a laser processing method that includes the steps of: irradiating a laser beam onto the one side surface of the micro lens; then focusing the laser beam in a layer having superiority in absorbency with respect to the laser beam; and forming the bores because the laser beam exceeds the threshold value of causing fusion, evaporation or ablation in the superior laser beam absorption layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the heat-softened severance of thin-walled glass tubes or plates with a wall thickness of no more than 0.2 mm, wherein the glass is softened on a width of no more than 0.4 mm, the softened area is reduced by drawing to a wall thickness of no more than 0.05 mm, and then is separated by additional heating in the drawn-out area.

Abstract: Lines are scribed on glass panes in accordance with the sections to be produced and the glass panes are then broken into sections susbtantially in a vertical position. A device suitable therefor comprises a station (2) for scribing the glass panes (1) with a substantially vertical supporting surface (25) and a conveyor (13) at its lower edge. Adjoining the station (2) is a first breaking station (3) and second one (4) in which the X-notches are opened and frontal edge sections (XR) are separated. The sections (27) of glass panes (1) thus obtained are turned through 90.degree. about the axis perpendicular to the supporting surface (25) in a turning station (5). The Y notches are broken in another breaking station (8). After any edge strips (XR) and residual pieces (R) have been removed, the sections thus obtained are inserted directly into a device (12) for their intermediate storage or fed to a double-glazing line.

Abstract: A method for molding optical glass elements including the steps of injecting molten glass material into a mold cavity through an injection port, runner and gate; cooling molten glass material in the mold cavity to a solidified state; and applying vibrations to solidified glass material in the mold cavity through a gate-forming member inserted into the mold assembly to form a gate to make a gate cut by concentration of stresses at boundary regions between the gate and the mold cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a goblet from a glass bottle of the type having a base, a body portion extending from the base and converging towards a neck which terminates in a lip defining a mouth. The method comprises the steps of severing the base from the body portion along a first severance plane which is proximate the base and normal to a central axis of the bottle, and removing a waste portion of the body along a second severance plane which is parallel to the first severance plane. The mouth of the bottle is then glued or fused to a center portion of an upper surface of the base so as to form the goblet, with the base of the bottle forming a foot of the goblet, the neck of the bottle forming a stem of the goblet and the body portion of the bottle defining a bowl of the goblet. The method may include the step of plugging the neck of the bottle so as to form a solid stem.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a large-sized primary treated quartz glass tube by perforating a cylindrical quartz glass mother material by a hot carbon drill press-in-process followed by etching and washing. The large-sized primary treated quartz glass tube is converted to a large-sized quartz glass preform by combining it with a core glass rod for an optical fiber. Another embodiment is a method for fabricating a large-sized quartz glass tube by heating, hot drawing or hot drawing under pressure using a tool-free drawing method under control of an inside pressure of the large-sized primary treated quartz glass tube at a temperature ranging from 1600.degree. C. to 3000.degree. C. to satisfy a specific equation.

Abstract: A solid workpiece, e.g. a glass tube, is shaped by a focussed beam of visible light or light in an adjacent portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in a material removal, cutting or drilling operation and is heat-treated or remelted or shaped in a plastic state by heating that second beam which is less focussed or even divergent. The beams derive from a common source, a CO.sub.2 laser, and pass through a splitting deflecting system so that the beams can be directed simultaneously either parallel to one another or with an inclination to one another at the same or different regions of the workpiece which is held in a holder capable of both rotating the workpiece and translating same.

Abstract: A glass breaking system is provided for breaking large sheets of glass into small sheets, in which a laser beam having an elongated beam spot shape, with a largest dimension which is at least 20 mm, more preferably at least 30 mm, and most preferably at least 40 mm, is moved across a glass sheet to produce a partial crack score line. The glass sheet is then separated along the score line by applying a bending moment in the area of the partial crack.

Abstract: An optical module includes an optical connector element formed of first and second substrates for carrying optical fibers therebetween, and a device substrate carrying photodiodes on an upper major surface thereof in correspondence to the optical fibers, wherein the optical connector element is mounted upon the device substrate such that end surfaces of the first and second substrates face the principal surface of the device substrate and such that polygonal projections provided on the principal surface of the device substrate for positioning engage with corresponding spaces formed between the first and second substrates at the foregoing end surfaces.

Abstract: A glass-plate working apparatus includes: a glass plate carrying-in section; a main cut-line forming section disposed in proximity to the glass plate carrying-in section; a glass plate bend-breaking section disposed in proximity to the main cut-line forming section; a glass plate peripheral-edge grinding section disposed in proximity to the glass plate bend-breaking section; and a glass plate carrying-out section disposed in proximity to the glass plate peripheral-edge grinding section, wherein each of the main cut-line forming section, the glass plate bend-breaking section, and the glass plate peripheral-edge grinding section is arranged to concurrently process two glass plates.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method for forming a tempered, coated, grooved and/or beveled decorative glass sheet. The decorative glass sheet includes a coating on a surface thereof and a groove or bevel formed in the surface. The coating is substantially registered with at least on peripheral edge of the groove or bevel such that the coating is not disposed within the groove or bevel. The decorative glass sheet is formed by applying a coating, preferably by screen printing, to a surface of the glass panel. The coating is fired so as to set the coating into the glass panel. A groove and/or bevel is formed in the coated surface. The glass panel is then tempered. Preferably, the step of firing the coating is followed by the step of cooling the glass panel at a rate sufficient to temper the glass panel and, more preferably, at a rate sufficient to induce heat strengthening.

Abstract: A machine to automatically cut-off one end of a cylindrical hollow glassware article, comprising: a support structure including a shaft; an intermittent rotary driving mechanism mounted on the shaft, providing a plurality of positions corresponding to article charging, cut-off, fire finishing and discharge positions; a lower intermittent rotary table mounted on said shaft and rotary coupled to the intermittent rotary driving mechanism, including a plurality of burners equally distributed on its periphery, to cut-off a leftover piece at a lower end of the article and fire finishing the cut-off end thereof within a cut-off cycle; an upper intermittent rotary table coupled to said lower table, comprising a plurality of chuck supporting and actuating mechanisms, equally mounted thereon, each including a chuck having fingers to grip an upper end of the article at a charging position, bring down the gripped article at a cut-off position placing its leftover piece in a burner to be cut-off and fire finished and lift

Abstract: Unworked glass panes (9) are definitively positioned in a positioning station (15) by means of positioning stops (18) and transferred in a fixed position first to a grinding station (12) and then to a transfer station (7) by a translating device (20, 21, 22, 23). From the transfer station (7), the ground panes are transferred by means of a feeding device (6) to a drilling station (1) where holes are drilled into the panes. The finished panes are then returned to the transfer station (7) and are removed therefrom. A complete treatment is thus effected in a once determined position without any subsequent positioning. The drilling station is therefore free from any positioning means.

Abstract: A glass breaking system is provided for breaking large sheets of glass into small sheets. A protective coating is applied to the glass sheet. A portion of the protective coating is then selectively removed, preferably by a laser beam, so that a portion of the surface of the coated side of the sheet is exposed. The glass sheet is then broken using laser separation techniques to break the glass sheet in the exposed area.

Abstract: A low-cost, high performance 1.times.N fiber optic coupler where N>16 is presented. The coupler has a GRIN lens having an first optic fiber aligned with the optical axis of the lens at one end of the lens. The first optic fiber ends in a microlens. At the other end of the GRIN lens a bundle of tapered second optic fibers is centered on the optical axis of the lens. The microlens is formed by fusing two fibers together, stretching the fused region, jerking the fibers apart and then heating a fiber end to form the lens.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, in which predetermined portions of two glass plates bonded to each other with a sealing member interposed therebetween and constituting the display device, can be cut without turning over the bonded two glass plates and without breaking necessary portions thereof. In the method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device, first, an upper one of the bonded two glass plates is half cut from its upper surface with a blade, and unnecessary portions of the upper glass plate are removed by the use of a vacuum suction head. Thereafter, predetermined portions of exposed portions of a lower one of the bonded two glass plates are fully cut with the blade. In accordance with it, it is not necessary to turn over the the bonded two glass plates-to cut it into a plurality of units, and, therefore, a cutting process can be performed automatically.

Abstract: A glass article cutting method by which a glass article can be cut not only along a linear line but also along a curved line of a desired profile and can be cut comparatively readily even if the glass article has a concave or convex portion on a face thereof or even if the glass article has a complicated three-dimensional profile. A conductive coating material such as colloidal carbon is applied in a linear line or a curved line on a surface of a glass article to be cut, and a high voltage is applied from a pair of positive and negative electrodes to the line of the conductive coating material to energize the conductive coating material to generate heat thereby to cut the glass article by thermal stress caused by the heat.

Abstract: An outline is cut in a glass sheet to form an inner zone and an outer marginal zone. The glass sheet is positioned on a support which supports the inner zone and marginal zone from below. A carrier is arranged such that suction pads thereof adhere to the inner zone, and such that a beveled bottom surface of a mechanical removing device carried by the carriage contacts an outer edge of the marginal zone. When the carriage is raised, the suction pads move up relative to the mechanical removing device. The inner zone is raised, but the outer edge of the marginal zone is restrained against upward movement by the mechanical removing device so that the marginal zone breaks along the outline.

Abstract: The brittle material cleavage-cutting apparatus of the present invention comprises a placing stand for holding a brittle material and beam scanning device for deflecting a laser beam from a laser source so that a brittle material placed on the placing stand is scanned along a planned cleavage-cutting line. By the beam scanning device, the laser-beam irradiation position on the brittle material is repeatedly moved in short cycles along the planned cleavage-cutting line.

Abstract: A micropipette puller of the type having a laser for heating a length of capillary to be pulled is shown. Before intercepting the capillary, the laser beam is first passed through an aperture to reduce the beam width to a desired size. In one embodiment the aperture is made by a pair of movable shutters allowing the beam width to be adjusted. In this embodiment the spacing between the shutters can be made small in relation to the length of capillary to be heated and the resulting slit scanned back and forth along the capillary. Fixed, removable aperture plates means are also shown.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a road warning device for a divided driveway, expecially a process for manufacturing a warning device in different colors, in order to match the traffic signs, in such a way that one first presses a melting pulp of potash-glass to form a main body, then high pressure spray a tinfoil metal powder on the spherical surface of the warning device, trim the circumferences of the uncooled reflecting spheroid, remove the excess metal alloy powder, and finally spray a metal-oxide or metal-halide (e.g. silver oxide, plumbous oxide or gold sodium chloride etc.) either on the entire spherical or semispherical surface of the reflecting spheroid, in order to show different colors on the reflecting spheroid.

Abstract: A method for producing a glass preform for use in the fabrication of an optical fiber, which comprises adding fluorine to a soot preform in an atmosphere comprising a fluorine-coating compound at a temperature at which the soot preform is in the porous state and then keeping or inserting it in an atmosphere containing a fluorine-containing compound at a higher temperature to vitrify it to form a glass preform, from which glass preform, an optical fiber homogeneously containing fluorine is fabricated.

Abstract: A preform for drawing superconductive wire is prepared by mixing fine particles of a superconducting material, containing barium, potassium, bismuth and oxygen, with a solvent, containing potassium hydroxide, in a tube. When the preform is heated and drawn, the superconductive material dissolves in the solvent. As the fiber cools, the superconducting material deposits from the solution as a solid network of crystals in contact with one another.

Abstract: A method and a device for cleaving a plate of a brittle material, such as, for example, glass, by means of a radiation beam repeatedly moving over the plate. The radiation beam is repeatedly passed over a desired track until the plate has been cleaved along a desired line of rupture of the plate.

Abstract: A metehod of manufacturing planar optical waveguides in which a planar optical preform which is stretched to form a planar optical cane with substantially smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the original preform, and in which the optical circuitry pattern is achieved by lithographic techniques. Optical fiber preforms may be inserted in slots in a substrate to form the planar optical preform.

Abstract: Complex small objects such as ophthalmic lenses are quickly and accurately fabricated from plastic or glass blanks of ablatable material such as plastic or glass by cutting, shaping, and radiusing the blank entirely by laser light, using appropriate masks with focusing and imaging optics.

Abstract: The glass sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet support stand which rotates the glass about a vertical axis and cutting and edging tools that move along linear axes generally perpendicular to the vertical axis. As the glass is rotated, the cutting tool moves towards and away the support stand to score the desired outline configuration of the glass part. The undesired trim portion of the glass is then removed. The glass sheet is then rotated and the edging tool is moved towards and away from the support stand to grind the periphery of the glass part to its final finished edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting glass blanks according to a particular contour, comprises a scoring maching for scoring the contour on the glass blank, a breaking machine for severing the scored contour from the glass blank, and a grinding machine for smoothing the edges of the severed blank. A conveyor conveys the glass blank to each of the above machines for performing their respective operations, and a computerized control system controls the three machines according to digital files prepared for each machine.

Abstract: The method for decorative processing is performed with repetitively pulsed cross discharge at atmospheric pressure by CO.sub.2 -laser with pulse energy 1 to 5J, power density at operation from 1.10.sup.6 W/cm.sup.2 to 6.10.sup.7 W/cm.sup.2, pulse duration from 50 to 100 ns and average power 1 to 1000W whereby the mated area with one shot is from 0.5 to 2 cm.sup.2.The device for laser engraving comprises a base with mounted console, on which are fastened parallel elements and a screw that is seated in its upper end in a thrust and in its lower end it is linked by a hinge to an electric motor. There is a fork which is seated in parallel elements whereby to this fork by means of handle and fixator is fastened a slide with longitudinal channels and a plate for axial inclination per 15.degree.. To this slide is fastened a second electric motor, and on its axis is mounted a bearer on which is fastened a mask in which is fixed the item to be decorated.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a planar glass substrate coated with a dielectric layer system in which the individual layers are formed by a chemical vapor deposition coating process. After the layers have been applied, the glass substrate is either drawn, compressed, or its surface enlarged until the coating layers are reduced in thickness. A planar glass substrate having a multiplicity of extremely thin dielectric layers can be fabricated according to this process.

Abstract: Decorative processing is performed with repetitively pulsed discharge at atmospheric pressure of a (RP TEA) by CO.sub.2 laser with pulse energy 1 to 5J, power density at operation from 1.times.10.sup.6 W/cm.sup.2 to 6.times.10.sup.7 W/cm.sup.2, pulse duration from 50 to 100 ns and average power 1 to 1000W whereby the mated area with one shot is from 0.5 to 2 cm.sup.2. The apparatus has a base with an upright on which are fastened parallel elements and a screw that is seated in its upper end in a thrust element and at its lower end is linked by an articulation to an electric motor. The screw drives a fork guided on the parallel elements. A slide is fastened to the fork and has longitudinal channels and a plate for inclination at increments of 15.degree.. To this slide is fastened a second electric motor and on its axis is mounted a carrier on which is fastened a mask in which is fixed the article to be decorated.

Abstract: The micropipette puller of this invention includes a pair of gripping jaws that pull a length of glass tubing in opposite directions. The source of heat is a laser device and a laser beam is directed against the glass tubing between the gripping jaws and beyond the tubing into a concave mirror, which reflects that portion of the beam that bypassed the tubing, back against the back side of the tubing for uniform heating around the circumference of the tubing.

Abstract: A micropipette puller of this invention includes a pair of gripping jaws that pull a length of glass tubing in opposite directions. The source of heat is a laser and a beam is directed into a zoom lens, or a selected one of a series of lenses, so that a beam of selected length and configuration is refracted against the glass tubing between the gripping jaws.

Abstract: A glass vessel, in particular an ampoule, having a prestress produced at a predetermined spot of the vessel which permits an automatic opening of the vessel at the predetermined spot following scratching by means of a suitable tool. The prestress, which is produced exclusively by means of an earlier thermal treatment without the application of a tool exhibits a stress profile in which an initially produced annular tensile stress ring, is overlapped at a predetermined spot by a point-shaped compressive stress zone that is produced subsequently.

Abstract: A glass sheet is cut while at a temperature at about its annealing point temperature by scoring the glass sheet along a line of cut and imparting a bending moment to the glass along the scored line to open the glass. The glass sheet remains at its elevated temperature throughout the cutting operation to reduce or eliminate additional heating required for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A sectional curved article e.g. an automotive window is made by cutting a piece of glass, shaping the piece of glass, cutting the shaped piece to provide inner and outer segments. The edges of the segments are seamed, and the segments chemically tempered to provide a sectional curved automotive window having an opening in the outer segment to receive the inner segment.

Abstract: Complex small objects such as ophthalmic lenses are quickly and accurately fabricated from plastic or glass blanks of ablatable material such as plastic or glass by cutting, shaping, and radiusing the blank entirely by laser light, using appropriate masks and focusing optics.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with a discharge vessel comprising two or more substantially parallel co-extending glass discharge tube portions (4 and 5) interconnected through a coupling which extend transversely to the wall of said tube portions. First, the inner wall of an elongate tube is provided with a luminescent material. Then, while heating at least a short zone of the wall, the elongate tube is then divided into two portions. End walls are formed during the division on which the luminescent layer extends the thickness of the tube wall and the temperature of the heated zone are chosen so that no particles of the luminescent material are enclosed in the glass of the end wall during said dividing process and fracture is avoided at least after cooling.At least at the area of the transition from the end wall to the tube wall, the ratio AB/CD is 0.4 to 0.8.

Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing ink jet glass tubes includes a vertical mandrel which receives the tubes one at a time from a feeder and rotates them relative to a pair of gas nozzles for their heating. The tube is heated in an axially limited intermediary zone so as to form an hour-glass shaped profile.The profile of the tube is scanned by a television camera which generates two signals indicative of the internal diameter. These are compared electronically with a stored indication of the desired diameter and the two nozzles are rotated into an inactive position when this diameter is reached. The tube is cut along a plane so as to make the profile of the nozzle coincident with a reference profile by a device including an optical device connected to a cutting wheel to permit comparison of the hour-glass profile of the element with the reference profile. The severed end of the tube is then lapped and covered with a non-wettable material.

Abstract: Glass shapes and sheets are cut directly from a heated glass ribbon while maintaining the optical quality of the cut glass. A float glass ribbon is removed from a glass forming chamber and prior to annealing, a line of cut is heated to its softening temperature. A blade arrangement thereafter penetrates the glass along the heated line of cut to sever the glass. The cut glass edge is shaped after cutting while the edge is still at the softening temperature. Duuring the line heating and cutting operation, the overall glass temperature is maintained above the strain point of the glass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for fabricating an expanded beam cylindrical terminated optical fiber taper from a reduced diameter preform rod. The present invention comprises uniformly heating the circumference of a predetermined portion at an intermediate point of the preform rod to a predetermined temperature and then uniformly pulling the preform rod while continuing to heat additional material of the preform rod to produce a pair of expanded beam cylindrically terminated optical fiber tapers connected by a predetermined length cylindrical central section of standard optical fiber having a uniform diameter less than that of the original preform rod.

Abstract: A bevelled glass assembly and method of making is disclosed. A sheet of annealed glass has at least one groove ground on one surface. At least one other groove intersects the first groove. Both grooves define an array of parallel striations. The sheet of glass is then tempered. The sheet of glass is normally surrounded by a frame.

Abstract: A method for heat sealing an electron gun mount, having a glass stem, into a neck of a cathode-ray tube includes a mount socket for supporting the mount within the neck and a plurality of burners for applying heat to the outside of the neck proximate the stem. The neck softens, thins and then seals to the stem, causing excess neck material that is lower than the stem, known as cullet, to be cut off. Prior to applying heat, a sleeve is disposed around the mount socket within the neck adjacent to the cullet, with a clearance between the sleeve and both the socket and the neck. A vibrating coil is attached to the sleeve for vibrating the sleeve while applying heat to the outside of the neck.

Abstract: Glass shapes and sheets are cut directly from a heated glass ribbon while maintaining the optical quality of the cut glass. A float glass ribbon is removed from a glass forming chamber and prior to annealing, a line of cut is heated to its softening temperature. A blade arrangement thereafter penetrates the glass along the heated line of cut to sever the glass. During the line heating and cutting operation, the overall glass temperature is maintained above the strain point of the glass.

Abstract: A sliding support table to support a continuously advancing glass ribbon during severing. The ribbon is supported by and moves over the sliding support table which moves along the direction of the glass ribbon travel between stationary upstream and downstream supports. Top and bottom line heaters supported on the table direct flames towards the major surfaces of the glass ribbon along a line cut. A blade and anvil arrangement supported on the table, sever the glass along the heated line of cut when the line of cut is positioned therebetween. The table advances along with the glass ribbon to support the ribbon during the heating and severing operation. The line heaters and blade and anvil arrangement may provide both a linear or nonlinear line of cut.

Abstract: A glass plate fabrication machine under automatic control comprises a work table moving linearly along the direction of feeding glass plates, a block moving linearly in the direction in perpendicular to the linear moving direction of the work table, a grinding station disposed to the block by means of a rotating device that rotates around an axis, as the center, vertical to each of the linear moving directions of the work table and the block, a cutting station disposed along with the line in parallel with the linear moving direction of the work table passing through the center of the axis for the rotating device on the block, a glass plate fixing block and a glass plate cutting table disposed on the work table at the positions corresponding to the grinding station and the cutting station respectively, and a cracking station supported on a machine base above the linearly moving work table between the grinding station and the cutting station for raising and cracking the glass plate.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of forming cutting blades from solid vitreous material by first placing a mass of molten material into a mold having at least one indentation to cause a ridge to form adjacent to a first surface in the material, cooling the molten material at a rate to preclude internal stresses or other inhomogeneity in the solid material, forming a second substantially flat surface intersecting the ridge area and finally directing fracturing pressure in a controlled direction of force into the material at the second surface in the vicinity of the said ridge in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface whereby a cutting implement is sheared off of the said material.