Control Responsive To Condition Sensing Means Patents (Class 65/160)
  • Patent number: 10551059
    Abstract: A furnace, and a method of firing it, wherein part of the fuel supplied to the furnace is produced from waste plastics by a depolymerisation process, waste heat from the furnace being used to promote the depolymerisation process. The furnace is equipped with regenerators for waste heat recovery and is fired alternately in first and second opposed directions, with the direction of firing periodically reversing between the first direction and the second direction. The supply of fuel to the furnace is temporarily interrupted while the direction of firing is reversing, means being provided to accommodate the fuel produced during the temporary interruption. The furnace may be used for producing glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
    Inventor: Julian Inskip
  • Patent number: 9315409
    Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James Gary Anderson, Steven Roy Burdette, Liam Ruan de Paor, L. Kirk Klingensmith, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Gary Graham Squier, David John Ulrich
  • Patent number: 9038420
    Abstract: A dwell time control system and method for automatically adjusting the selection and timing of a sequence of pressures used to drive the plunger in a parison mold during the parison forming process. The timing of characteristics of the observed press curve from one or more previous parison forming cycles are ascertained and used to control the timing of the changes in pressure during a subsequent parison forming cycle. The timings of these changes of pressure are determined as predetermined percentages of the timings of the characteristics in order to prevent the blow mold from being forced open and in order to prevent the occurrence of an overpressed finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Andreas Helfenstein, Hartmut Geisel, Christian Fröba
  • Patent number: 9038414
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for steering flexible glass webs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a steering device for non-contact steering of a glass web having a conveyance direction and a cross direction normal to the conveyance direction includes a fluid injection bar having an elongate axis oriented in a cross direction of the glass web. The steering device also includes a pivot bearing assembly coupled to the fluid injection bar such that the fluid injection bar is pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the glass web, an actuator coupled to the fluid injection bar for adjusting the orientation of the fluid injection bar with respect to the glass web, and an edge detection device positioned proximate to an edge of the glass web for evaluating a position of an edge of the glass web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Todd Benson Fleming, Richard Jonathan Kohler, Dale Charles Marshall, Robert L Walton
  • Publication number: 20150013392
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat treating a plurality of glass substrates. The glass substrates are supported on support platform and housed in a heat treating furnace. The substrates are supported in a substantially vertical orientation by restraining pins extending through walls of the furnace, and are separated from each other by frame-shaped spacing members. The spacing members reduce convection currents between the substrates and reduce or eliminate the post-heat treating distortion of each glass substrate to less than 100 ?m over the entire surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Coppola, Monica Jo Mashewske
  • Publication number: 20140373574
    Abstract: A bottom machine is provided for a glass processing device to manufacture glass containers from glass tubes. The bottom machine includes one or a plurality of holding units for holding the glass container or glass tube, with the holding units being mounted so as to rotate around an axis of rotation of the bottom machine in order to convey the glass container or glass tube to various processing positions, a pressure source for supplying a gas flow, a duct system communicating with the pressure source for directing the gas flow to the holding units and for feeding the gas flow into the glass tube or into the glass container, with the duct system being designed to be free of gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Doris Moseler, Robert Frost, Ulrich Lange, Boban Markovic, Volker Rupertus, Bernhard Hladik
  • Publication number: 20140352357
    Abstract: A furnace for shaping glass sheets for aircraft transparencies using the cut-to-size method includes a preheat and cooling furnace defined as a first furnace, and a shaping furnace. A conveyor geared for reciprocating movement moves a bending iron supporting a glass sheet through the first furnace set to a preheat temperature. The glass sheet supported on the bending iron is heated in the shaping furnace by microwave beams from a gyrotron to heat portions of the glass sheet to be shaped to a complex shape. After the sheet is shaped, the conveyor moves the bending iron supporting the shaped glass sheet from the shaping furnace through the first furnace set to a cooling cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yu Jiao, Robert M. Bonaddio, Joseph G. Koepfinger, Joseph Medzius, James Franklin Priddy, Russell Willis Schrier, Dennis D. Warren, Chao Yu
  • Publication number: 20140260430
    Abstract: A laser beam annealing apparatus includes a substrate support configured to support a substrate on which a silicon layer is formed, a laser beam irradiator configured to irradiate a laser beam onto the silicon layer, a photographic unit configured to obtain data with respect to at least a part of the substrate, and a position adjuster configured to adjust a position of at least one of the substrate support or the laser beam irradiator based on the data obtained by the photographic unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung-Kwon Choo, Cheol-Ho Park, Hee-Geun Son, Do-Yeob Kim
  • Publication number: 20140260428
    Abstract: A system and method for coating glass gobs with a liquid-based lubricating dispersion during their drop to blank glass container molds which provides sufficient lubrication to the glass container molds without requiring swabbing of the glass container molds. The lubricating dispersion is sprayed onto hot glass gobs as they fall from the gob supply system prior to their distribution by the gob distribution system into blank molds. The lubricating dispersion coats the falling glass gobs to lubricate the glass gobs as well as the molds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Timcal Ltd., Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Leo Diehm, Thomas L. Sidler, Michal T. Judge, Braden A. McDermott, Robert D. Ginsberg
  • Patent number: 8742287
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to apparatuses for sealing the tips of pump-out tubes of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, and/or associated methods. In certain example embodiments, a laser source used in sealing the pump-out tube is thermally insulated from the VIG unit and emits a laser beam through one or more windows in an oven towards a mirror located therein. The mirror is located so as to redirect the laser beam onto the pump-out tube to thereby seal it. For instance, a substantially horizontal laser beam emitted from a laser source located outside the oven enters into the oven through one or more windows and is reflected by a mirror towards the pump-out tube to be sealed. The repositioning of the laser source advantageously can change its effective focal length and/or the location of the laser beam, e.g., because of the fixed location of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Ryan L. Dear
  • Patent number: 8726693
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for supplying a hydrogen gas to a quartz glass manufacturing apparatus including a burner that generates an oxyhydrogen flame when supplied with the hydrogen gas, where the apparatus includes: a first hydrogen supply system that supplies a hydrogen gas in which isomers are in equilibrium; a second hydrogen supply system that supplies a hydrogen gas in which isomers are out of equilibrium; a flow rate control section that includes: a valve that changes a flow rate of the hydrogen gas to be supplied to the burner; a first flow rate measuring section that measures the flow rate of the hydrogen gas to be supplied to the burner by measuring a heat capacity; and a control section that controls the valve in such a manner that a measured value obtained by the first flow rate measuring section approaches a set value input from outside; a second flow rate measuring section that measures the flow rate of the hydrogen gas to be supplied to the burner by measuring a different factor than the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai Inoue, Takaaki Nagao, Hiroyuki Koide
  • Publication number: 20140130553
    Abstract: Methods of creating a batch of recycled glass from mixed color glass cullet. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at a glass plant a weight and color composition percentage of a first batch of mixed color cullet. The glass plant also receives a weight and color composition percentage of a second batch of mixed color cullet. The weight and color composition percentage of the first batch and the second batch are combined to generate a combined weight and composition percentage. The combined weight and composition are percentage are used to generate, automatically at a glass plant, a formulation to produce glass of a desired color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: RE Community Holdings II, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Duffy, Warren Blasland, Rick Lehman
  • Publication number: 20140123703
    Abstract: A thickness of at least one preselected portion of a substrate, such as glass substrate for example, is controlled. A laser beam is directed to the at least one preselected portion of the substrate in a viscous state, thereby increasing a temperature and reducing a viscosity of the at least one preselected portion of the substrate in a viscous state sufficiently to cause the at least one preselected portion of the glass substrate to attain a desired thickness. The laser beam after it is generated can be directed to a reflecting surface from which the laser beam is reflected to the at least one preselected portion of the substrate in the viscous state. The substrate can comprise a glass ribbon produced in a downdraw glass forming process for example, and the laser beam can be directed onto a plurality of preselected portions of the glass ribbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Philip Robert LeBlanc, Correy Robert Ustanik
  • Publication number: 20140093693
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating substrates are disclosed, as are articles formed from the separated substrates. A method of separating a substrate having first and second surfaces includes directing a beam of laser light to pass through the first surface and, thereafter, to pass through the second surface. The beam of laser light has a beam waist located at a surface of the substrate or outside the substrate. Relative motion between the beam of laser light and the substrate is caused to scan a spot on a surface of the substrate to be scanned along a guide path. Portions of the substrate illuminated within the spot absorb light within the beam of laser light so that the substrate can be separated along the guide path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Haibin ZHANG, Qian XU
  • Publication number: 20140083138
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for managing pulling forces applied to a glass ribbon in a draw apparatus are disclosed. The method includes applying a front-side and a rear-side drive torque to a glass. The method further includes calculating automatically with the at least one electronic controller a front-side and a rear-side average pulling force applied to the glass ribbon and corresponding to a first time period of at least one rotation of the front-side or rear-side stub roller, respectively. The front-side average pulling force and the rear-side average pulling force are compared to establish a pulling force differential between the front-side average pulling force and the rear-side average pulling force. One or more of the front-side drive torque or the rear-side drive torque are modified to decrease the pulling force differential between the front-side average pulling force and the rear-side average pulling force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Chris Scott Kogge, Gautam Narendra Kudva, Michael Yoshiya Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20140041413
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for shaping an elongated glass body 81, which is a glass tube or glass rod and has an initial profile, to an elongated glass body having a different profile. In order to be properly shaped, an elongated glass body 81 passes through, in a hot malleable state, a nip, which is formed by squeezing rollers 1 and which has a nip width which is less than an outer dimension of the initial profile. In order to accomplish an enhanced precision of the shaping process, according to the invention the position of at least one of the squeezing rollers is varied continuously so that a contact area between the respective squeezing roller and the hot glass body is varied cyclic reciprocating movement. Disturbing effects such as local overheating of the squeezing rollers or an accumulation of dirt or glass particles on the surface of the squeezing rollers can thus be effectively prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Reiner BARTSCH, Ralf BIERSACK, Wolfgang PULZ, Csaba DEBRECZENY
  • Publication number: 20130340481
    Abstract: An apparatus for drawing a glass ribbon including an edge roll assembly that contacts the glass ribbon with a force that is dynamically altered by an actuator electrically coupled to a sensor that measures the force applied against the ribbon. Dynamic, or real-time, variation of the edge roll force minimizes stress variability in the glass ribbon and improves ribbon shape control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James Gary Anderson, Lewis Kirk Klingensmith, James Paul Peris, David John Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8607591
    Abstract: The device for manufacturing glass, in which bubble formation on precious metal components is prevented, has a precious or refractory metal wall (12, 43) at least partially surrounding a glass melt from which the glass is made, a first electrode pair (20, 21) for measuring oxygen partial pressure at an interface between the glass melt and the wall to obtain an actual value, a second electrode pair (12, 43, 20) for measuring an oxygen partial pressure in the glass melt to obtain a set point value and a regulating system (39, 45) for adjusting the oxygen partial pressure at the interface according to a comparison between the actual value and the set point value, so that the oxygen partial pressure at the interface is within a safe range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Lautenschlaeger, Thomas Pfeiffer, Andreas Roters, Gernot Roeth
  • Publication number: 20130199240
    Abstract: A method and a system for thermal dewatering and preheating aqueous mixtures for feeding glass melting plants when passing through a shaft-like container provided with heating elements disposed one above another in tiers. To avoid the feed material from becoming glued together or agglomerating in the preheaters while the feed material is heated by exhaust gases with separately guided exhaust gases and feed material, a) the uppermost tier heating elements are closed relative to the mixture and are kept above 100 C, b) the interface between the mixture and the atmosphere above the mixture is shaped and heated by the uppermost tier heating elements so that part of the thermal output is emitted to the atmosphere via the mixture, and c) as the mixture proceeds through the container it is heated by further heating elements to temperatures close to the glass melting plant feeding temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: BETEILIGUNGEN SORG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Lindig, Lothar Rott, Karl Bonfig, Volker Mûller
  • Publication number: 20130180287
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for feeding preheaters having heating elements for the feedstock of glass melting installations. In order to distribute the feedstock in an extremely thin, but uniform layer thickness on and between the upper heating elements, thereby effectively suppressing or avoiding agglutination of particles and accumulation of the feedstock, a distributor device is arranged above the topmost heating elements including at least three pivotable distributor plates, the pivoting axes of which run in the horizontal edges of a virtual prism. The topmost distributor plate throws the feedstock alternately onto one of the distributor plates arranged underneath, which throws the caught feedstock to one of its sides sternwards. The movements of the distributor plates are controlled by sensors with an evaluation and control circuit and actuators assigned to the distributor plates with the aim of a uniform area distribution of the feedstock over the cross section of the preheater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: BETEILIGUNGEN SORG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Jens Rosenthal
  • Publication number: 20130180286
    Abstract: There is provided a system of an individual section machine (IS) having a blow side with a mold and a blow head, and a blank side, the system includes a P-Switch valve in fluid communication with an EPVB of the IS machine and with the P-Switch valve configured to control a valve pilot air supply to a predetermined pilot valve. When the P-Switch valve is activated, the blow side mold is set to an OPEN position and the associated blow head is set to an UP position. With the P-Switch valve of the system activated, the blow side machinery cannot be overridden from the blank side of the IS machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Lance Hudson Miller, Sten Bergsten, Ame Stenholm, Eliseo Angelo Di Nitto, Nils-Goran Akerberg
  • Publication number: 20130167587
    Abstract: A feeding device for introducing particulate feedstock into glass melting installations, comprising pushing conveyors supplied by storage containers via guiding channels and directed onto the melt surface, and comprising a slide for advancing the feedstock on the melt surface. To largely avoid asymmetric material and temperature distribution and movements transverse to a feedstock transporting direction, and exposure of the installation mineral construction materials to changing thermal loads, a) at least three pushing conveyors are arranged alongside one another and, in the region of the guiding channels, are arranged so closely alongside one another that they can be supplied by a common distributing device, and are separated from one another in the intermediate region between two guiding channels by a dividing edge, and b) a linkage for the drive of a slide that can be introduced into the glass melt is led through the spacing between each two guiding channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Matthais Lindig, Erich Waltert
  • Publication number: 20120304695
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for precision glass roll forming a supply of molten glass at a glass temperature of 1000° C. or higher. A pair of hot forming rolls having a surface temperature of about 500° C. or higher, vertically below the glass feed, that thin the supplied stream of molten glass to produce a formed glass ribbon. A pair of cold sizing rolls maintained at a surface temperature of about 400° C. or lower, vertically below the forming rolls, that thin the formed glass ribbon glass to produce a sized glass ribbon having a desired thickness and a desired thickness uniformity. The sized glass ribbon may have a thickness of 1 mm or less that varies in thickness by no more than +/?0.025 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Lakota, William E. Lock, Joel A. Schultes, John C. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120291489
    Abstract: Method for monitoring molten state of a glass batch charged into a melting bath of a glass melting furnace, and a method and control device for controlling an amount of a glass batch to be so charged. Regions to be measured are set in regions corresponding to particular partial regions on an image obtained by capturing an image of a liquid surface of the bath to be monitored using a camera. The occupying ratio of an area occupied by image portions representing unmolten glass batches in each region, and a distribution state of the batches in the partial region is recognized from the measured value of the occupying ratios so as to determine whether the molten state quality of the batch is favorable. When the determined quality is not favorable, the amounts thereof to be charged by batch chargers are controlled so that appropriate distribution states can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Nihon Yamamura Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Andoh, Shuichi Yadori
  • Publication number: 20120216567
    Abstract: A method of applying ultrasonic acoustic energy to a glass melt by monitoring a glass melt temperature TY and transferring ultrasonic acoustic energy from an ultrasonic transducer to the glass melt at a controller power PC and a controller frequency vC through an ultrasonic probe positioned in the glass melt is provided. According to the method, the controller power PC is controlled in response to at least (i) the monitored glass melt temperature TY and (ii) a reference glass melt temperature TR. The controller frequency vC is controlled in response to at least (i) one or more input parameters from a temperature-viscosity curve characterizing the glass melt, (ii) one or more input parameters from one or more temperature dependent impedance response models of the glass melt, and (iii) ?Z, where ?Z represents a degree to which an impedance condition ZY of the ultrasonic probe differs from a reference impedance ZR when the ultrasonic probe is positioned in the glass melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Boughton, Scott Michael Jarvis, Jonghak Kim, Zhiqiang Shi
  • Publication number: 20120216576
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly is provided comprising an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic booster, an ultrasonic probe, and a booster cooling unit. The ultrasonic booster is connected to the ultrasonic transducer to amplify acoustic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer and transfer the amplified acoustic energy to the ultrasonic probe. A seated end of the ultrasonic probe is positioned in a probe seat of the ultrasonic booster. The booster cooling unit is positioned to regulate the temperature of the probe seat of the ultrasonic booster such that the assembly supports a temperature dependent press-fit engagement of the seated end of the ultrasonic probe and the probe seat of the ultrasonic booster. The temperature dependent press-fit engagement is such that the seated end of the ultrasonic probe can be reversibly moved in and out of the probe seat at an elevated temperature THOT and is fixed in the probe seat at room temperature TCOLD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Boughton, Scott Michael Jarvis, Jonghak Kim, Zhiqiang Shi
  • Publication number: 20120174628
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting I.S. machine timing to maintain desired vertical glass distribution to improve process yield and quality while reducing dependence on operator skill. Deficiencies in the vertical glass distribution are rapidly addressed by automatically varying the start of final blow to allow more or less stretching of the parison, and more fundamentally addressed by adjusting the cooling of the parison mold. The cooling time of the parison mold may be adjusted by using final blow timing error correction or by also using parison mold temperature error correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Jonathan Seth Simon
  • Publication number: 20120131766
    Abstract: A method of forming a sheet wafer melts feedstock material in a crucible that is part of a crystal growth furnace, and passes a plurality of filaments through the crucible to form a (un-separated) sheet wafers. A plurality of sheet wafers may be formed in different lanes in the crucible. One or more vision systems is used, during growth, to determine if a sheet wafer has a defective condition. If a defect is detected, then any of a variety of corrective actions may be taken, such as activating a cutting device to remove at least a portion of the sheet wafer, assessing the defect and grading a portion of the sheet wafer (e.g., for sorting based on grade), and/or producing an indicia. In a multiple-lane embodiment, a defect may be attended to in one lane while sheet growth continues in one or more other lanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Max Era, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo van Glabbeek, Gerald A. Simpson, JR., Soumana Hamma, Stephen Yamartino
  • Patent number: 8171752
    Abstract: The float glass apparatus has a glass melt producing unit including a melting tank and a refining tank for the glass melt, a float tank including a metallic basin and metal bath contained in the basin, conducting devices for conducting the glass melt from the glass melt producing unit to the metal bath and auxiliary devices as needed. In order to minimize bubble defects and extend service life of apparatus parts made from platinum or a platinum alloy, the apparatus includes a device for minimizing direct current flowing between the glass melt producing unit and the float tank, which includes an auxiliary electrode connected with ground and located in the glass melt producing unit in electrical contact with the glass melt and a direct electrical connection between the metallic basin of the float tank and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Thomas Pfeiffer, Gernot Roeth, Olaf Claussen, Knut Jakobi, Andreas Roters, Klaus-Dieter Duch, Ottmar Schuessler
  • Patent number: 8127569
    Abstract: An I.S. machine has a blow station where a parison is blown into a bottle. The parison is blown with a blow head at the “on” position on the blow mold and following the blowing of the parison, the blow head is lifted away from the blow mold. The spacing between the blow head and the mold is defined by a Pressure Profile which is responsive to the sensed pressure within the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Anheyer
  • Publication number: 20110167873
    Abstract: An apparatus for drawing a glass ribbon including an edge roll assembly that contacts the glass ribbon with a force that is dynamically altered by an actuator electrically coupled to a sensor that measures the force applied against the ribbon. Dynamic, or real-time, variation of the edge roll force minimizes stress variability in the glass ribbon and improves ribbon shape control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: James G. Anderson, L. Kirk Klingensmith, James P. Peris, David J. Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20110079047
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible, which enable accurate measurement of a fume generation amount, prevention of deterioration of an inner surface property, and real-time control of a raw material melting state. Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible 50 by supplying silica powder into a mold 10 to form a silica powder layer 11, and heating and melting the silica powder layer 11 by arc discharge. The apparatus includes the mold 10 for defining an outer shape of a vitreous silica crucible, an arc discharge unit having a plurality of carbon electrodes 13 and a power-supply unit 40, and a fume-amount measurement unit 30 for detecting an amount of fumes 80 generated in the mold 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: JAPAN SUPER QUARTZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eriko SUZUKI, Hiroshi KISHI
  • Patent number: 7905113
    Abstract: An I.S. machine has a blow station where a parison is blown into a bottle. The parison is blown with a blow head at the “on” position on the blow mold and following the blowing of the parison, the blow head is lifted away from the blow mold. The spacing between the blow head and the mold is defined by a Pressure Profile which is responsive to the sensed pressure within the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Anheyer
  • Patent number: 7900475
    Abstract: Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a system for and method of analyzing and cleaning a cullet stream prior to bottle manufacturing. In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, the system includes a raw materials feeder, a mixing stage, a melting stage, a bottle-forming stage, a cooling/annealing stage, an inspection stage, and a batch controller. The raw materials feeder further includes a cullet bin within which is cullet supply, a feeder, an analysis device, and removal assembly. Certain preferred embodiments of the method include the steps of feeding cullet onto the conveyor, performing real-time composition analysis of the cullet, removing contaminants from the cullet, determining whether the cullet batch is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold, adjusting the glass batch formulation, sending the batch ingredients to the mixing stage, and then completing the overall glass manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Culchrome, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Lehman, Warren Blasland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7900476
    Abstract: A system for and method of analyzing a cullet stream prior to batch formulation in glass manufacturing. Cullet is fed onto a conveyor where a real-time composition analysis is performed. Contaminants are optionally removed, and a determination is made as to whether the cullet batch color is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold. If necessary, the glass batch formulation is modified in view of the cullet analysis. Virgin raw materials requirements of the modified glass batch formulation may then be communicated to the batch controller before sending batch ingredients to the mixing stage and completing the overall glass manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Culchrome, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Lehman, Warren Blasland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7827825
    Abstract: A tool holder device supporting at least one tool configured to collaborate with at least one substrate positioned on edge. The tool holder device makes the tool move translationally and rotationally relative to the substrate, it being possible for the substrate to be moved translationally relative to the tool as the tool is operating. Collaboration between the tool and the substrate occurs with or without contact relative to the edge face of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Yves Demars, Jean-Pierre Douche
  • Publication number: 20100180638
    Abstract: A forming system (10) having particular utility for making outer and inner formed windshield glass sheets provides 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Terry A. Bennett, Steven M. Connell
  • Publication number: 20100162758
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Edwin Lang
  • Patent number: 7716949
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry A. Bennett, Steven M. Connell
  • Patent number: 7712334
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Ryo Kanno, Toshimitsu Sato, Takashi Hirotsu, Tomohiro Suwa, Isao Saito
  • Publication number: 20100107848
    Abstract: A scoreless separation device and method are described herein for separating a glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the device shears a stationary glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In another embodiment, the device shears a moving glass sheet to remove outer edges from the moving glass sheet without needing to score the moving glass sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Albert Joseph, II, Steven Edward DeMartino
  • Patent number: 7681414
    Abstract: The present invention discloses improved methods and apparatus for forming sheet glass. In one embodiment, the invention introduces a counteracting force to the stresses on the forming structure in a manner such that the thermal creep which inevitably occurs has a minimum impact on the glass flow characteristics of the forming structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard B. Pitbladdo
  • Publication number: 20100018251
    Abstract: The device for manufacturing glass, in which bubble formation on precious metal components is prevented, has a precious or refractory metal wall (12, 43) at least partially surrounding a glass melt from which the glass is made, a first electrode pair (20, 21) for measuring oxygen partial pressure at an interface between the glass melt and the wall to obtain an actual value, a second electrode pair (12, 43, 20) for measuring an oxygen partial pressure in the glass melt to obtain a set point value and a regulating system (39, 45) for adjusting the oxygen partial pressure at the interface according to a comparison between the actual value and the set point value, so that the oxygen partial pressure at the interface is within a safe range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Gerhard Lautenschlaeger, Thomas Pfeiffer, Andreas Roters, Gernot Roeth
  • Publication number: 20100011813
    Abstract: Provided is a quartz glass manufacturing method that involves using one or more burners, supplying hydrogen and oxygen to the one or more burners to generate an oxyhydrogen flame, introducing a silicide into the oxyhydrogen flame, forming a porous base material by depositing silicon dioxide generated from a flame hydrolysis reaction with the silicide, and heating and sintering the porous base material to form transparent glass, the method comprising supplying hydrogen that is stored or made at a normal temperature to the one or more burners; controlling a hydrogen flow rate using a measurement apparatus or control apparatus that performs measurement based on heat capacity of a gas; vaporizing liquid hydrogen stored in a low-temperature storage chamber, and supplying the vaporized liquid hydrogen to the one or more burners as backup hydrogen; switching from the hydrogen to the backup hydrogen; and when switching, adjusting the hydrogen flow rate to a value obtained by multiplying the hydrogen flow rate immedia
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai INOUE, Takaaki Nagao, Hiroyuki KOIDE
  • Publication number: 20090260399
    Abstract: The float glass apparatus has a glass melt producing unit including a melting tank and a refining tank for the glass melt, a float tank including a metallic basin and metal bath contained in the basin, conducting devices for conducting the glass melt from the glass melt producing unit to the metal bath and auxiliary devices as needed. In order to minimize bubble defects and extend service life of apparatus parts made from platinum or a platinum alloy, the apparatus includes a device for minimizing direct current flowing between the glass melt producing unit and the float tank, which includes an auxiliary electrode connected with ground and located in the glass melt producing unit in electrical contact with the glass melt and a direct electrical connection between the metallic basin of the float tank and ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Pfeiffer, Gernot Roeth, Olaf Claussen, Knut Jakobi, Andreas Roters, Klaus-Dieter Duch, Ottmar Schuessler
  • Patent number: 7600399
    Abstract: In a known method for producing a cylindrical glass body in a vertical drawing process, a glass blank is softened in a heating zone and drawn off as a glass strand by means of a draw-off device at a controlled drawing speed, the draw-off device comprising a first draw-off unit with rolling bodies rolling on the glass strand and being distributed around the circumference thereof, the rolling bodies being formed by a reference rolling body and at least one auxiliary rolling body, the drawing speed being controlled via the speed of the reference rolling body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Bogdahn, Oliver Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090217707
    Abstract: The method for polishing glass products, comprises the following steps: specifying a contour or form or shape of the glass product; detecting the location or position of the glass product; calculating a path for a laser beam on the basis of the contour of the glass product and the location of the glass product; and scanning the path with the laser beam for polishing the glass product in order to fuse mould joints together or smoothen/polish them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Zwiesel Kristallglas AG
    Inventor: Klaus Lesche
  • Patent number: 7565816
    Abstract: A system for and method of analyzing a cullet stream prior to batch formulation in glass manufacturing. Cullet is fed onto a conveyor where a real-time composition analysis is performed. Contaminants are optionally removed, and a determination is made as to whether the cullet batch color is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold. If necessary, the glass batch formulation is modified in view of the cullet analysis. Virgin raw materials requirements of the modified glass batch formulation may then be communicated to the batch controller before sending batch ingredients to the mixing stage and completing the overall glass manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Culchrome, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Lehman, Warren Blasland, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090120134
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a shape profile of a surface of a sheet of material includes a light source for providing a light beam to be directed at the surface of the sheet of material, a linear translation stage coupled to the light source for translating the light source over the surface of the sheet of material such that the light beam, when directed at the surface, is incident on the surface at multiple positions and produces a reflected light beam at each of the multiple positions, a plurality of light receivers located at predetermined positions for selectively intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, a data acquisition device configured to receive information related to position difference between the light source and a selected one of the plurality of light receivers intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, and a data analysis device configured to correlate the position difference information to a shape profile of the su
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Xin Chen, Anping Liu, Naiyue Zhou
  • Patent number: 7516628
    Abstract: An on-line thickness gauge (OLTG) and method are described herein that are capable of measuring a thickness of a moving glass substrate. In the preferred embodiment, the OLTG includes a Y-guide and a stabilizing unit that respectively captures and stabilizes the moving glass substrate. The OLTG also includes a laser instrument which contains a laser source and a detector. The laser source emits a beam at the front surface of the moving glass substrate. And, the detector receives two beams one of which was reflected by the front surface of the moving glass substrate and the other beam which was reflected by the back surface of the moving glass substrate. The OLTG further includes a processor that analyzes the two beams received by the detector to determine a distance between the two beams which is then used to determine the thickness of the moving glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Chen, Edward J. Lenhardt, Daniel Y. K. Ma, Jeffrey C. McCreary, James P. Terrell, Jr.