Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filter that includes providing a tube having a cylindrical wall and a hollow interior. The method forms a first indentation within the tube in which a first portion of the of the cylindrical wall concaves into the hollow interior, and forms a second indentation within the tube in which a second portion of the cylindrical wall concaves into the hollow interior. The first and second indentations create 1) a first chamber and a second chamber in the tube that are separated by both indentations and 2) a path within the hollow interior formed between the first and second indentations that fluidly couples both chambers together.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding products from a storage container on to a conveyor belt moving in a conveyor direction is provided wherein a feeding belt at a storage container opening on a lower side of the storage container receives products to be conveyed and transports them to an upper side of the conveyor belt, in order to deliver the products on to the conveyor belt in a feeding region on the upper side of the conveyor belt, the feeding belt has a number of holes, the dimensions of which are adapted to the products to be conveyed such that a respective product can fall through an associated hole.

Abstract: A method of forming fused quartz glass is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a starting body made of fused quartz glass; (b) positioning the fused quartz glass starting body on a base plate; (c) inserting a first insert device into an interior cavity of the starting body to form an assembled structure; (d) heating the assembled structure to a predetermined temperature at which the fused quartz glass has a viscosity in a range of 105 to 1013 poise; and (e) deforming the fused quartz glass of the starting body at the predetermined temperature or in the viscosity range of 105 to 1013 poise around the first insert device to change a shape of the starting body. A method for making a large fused quartz glass vessel and a forming assembly for forming fused quartz glass are also provided.

Abstract: In a glass processing method according to the invention, in the case of performing chemical vapor deposition or diameter shrinkage of a substrate glass tube G by relatively moving a heating furnace 20 comprising a heating element 21 for annularly enclosing the circumference of the substrate glass tube in a longitudinal direction of the substrate glass tube G with respect to the substrate glass tube G in which an outer diameter is 30 mm or more and a wall thickness is 3 mm or more and is less than 15 mm and an ovality of the outer diameter is 1.0% or less using a glass processing apparatus 1, a temperature of at least one of the heating element 21 and the substrate glass tube G is measured and the amount of heat generation of the heating element 21 is adjusted based on the measured temperature.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising a core and a clad characterized in that a desired part is heated and transited to machining strain release state, the part transited to the machining strain release state is curved with a specified bending radius and transited to machining strain state. That part of the optical waveguide is heated to a temperature within a range between the bending point and softening point and transited to machining strain state. The optical waveguide is an optical fiber having the outer diameter not shorter than 50 ?m. The optical waveguide has the outer diameter not shorter than ten times of the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a bending radius of 5.0 mm or less and difference equivalent of refractive index &Dgr;1 between the core and clad falls within a range of 0.8-3.5%.

Abstract: In a glass processing method according to the invention, in the case of performing chemical vapor deposition or diameter shrinkage of a substrate glass tube G by relatively moving a heating furnace 20 comprising a heating element 21 for annularly enclosing the circumference of the substrate glass tube in a longitudinal direction of the substrate glass tube G with respect to the substrate glass tube G in which an outer diameter is 30 mm or more and a wall thickness is 3 mm or more and is less than 15 mm and an ovality of the outer diameter is 1.0% or less using a glass processing apparatus 1, a temperature of at least one of the heating element 21 and the substrate glass tube G is measured and the amount of heat generation of the heating element 21 is adjusted based on the measured temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for shaping a tubular object made of glass or glass ceramics or any other thermoplastic material, comprising the following method steps: the object is heated up to softening; an inner shaping tool and an outer shaping tool are provided for shaping The outside and inside jacket surface of the object, of which at least the inner shaping tool consists at least in the region of its shaping surface of open-pored material with a permeability of between 10?11 and 10?16 m2; a free-flowing pressurized medium is conducted through the open-pored material towards the surface of the object to be shaped; the inner shaping tool is introduced into the object; the outer shaping tool is applied on to the object in order to shape the same

Abstract: An apparatus for forming glass coiled tubes from a source of glass in which a molten glass thread is drawn, and a method for forming glass coiled tubes. The apparatus has a shaping mandrel having a first end and an opposing second end, having a desired shape for receiving around it the molten glass thread such that when the thread is drawn about the desired shape, a formed coil is developed that essentially takes a desired shape from the shaping mandrel; a block simultaneously applies the newly formed coil to the back of the formed tube and moves the formed tube in a direction towards the second end in response to the additional molten glass thread drawn to the coil; a hook engages the molten glass thread and a rotating motor rotates the hook.

Abstract: A method of making glass tubing includes assembling together a first glass rod having at least one bore and a second glass rod having at least one bore to form a single glass unit, shaping an outer surface of the glass unit to a desired cross-section, and drawing the glass unit to form a glass tubing having a predetermined outer and inner dimension.

Abstract: A heat source is formed within one piece of a multi-piece mold designed to shape a glass tube. The one piece of the mold can then be used as a source of intense heat to render the glass malleable and to also contribute to shaping the tube in conformance with the mold. In one embodiment, the heat source includes channels formed throughout the one piece of mold for distributing a gas therethrough with jets of gas emanating from the inner surface of the mold piece for heating the tube to be shaped to a desired temperature. In apparatus embodying the invention, there is no need for a separate torch and for moving the torch during the shaping process. Also, in accordance with the invention, better control of the heat supplied to the tube being shaped is obtained.

Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing a glass part for connecting optical fibers, which allows insertion of optical fibers into the internal hole of the glass part smoothly, and glass parts for connecting optical fibers manufactured using the method. Predetermined parts of a glass tube having an internal hole are heated while pressure is applied into the internal hole, to expand the predetermined parts, thus forming tapered portions. As a result, a continuous curved surface can be achieved at the boundary between each tapered portion of each obtained glass part and the internal hole thereof, and the surface can be made smooth where the tapers are formed.

Abstract: A method for opening or sealing glass ampoules (38) by melting the glass with the help of a jet (36) of a hot medium, characterized in that the medium is an atmospheric plasma, produced by an electric discharge.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a selected end region and the opening at a selected end of a hollow cylindrical glass tube includes a support member for holding and rotating the tube in a controlled manner and a heat source for supplying sufficient heat to the selected end region of the tube to place it in a malleable state. The apparatus also includes an actuatable mechanical holding means for holding a multi piece mold and for selectively applying the mold to the selected end region of the tube, when the tube is rendered malleable, for shaping the selected end region of the tube including its rim and for controlling the inner diameter of the tube throughout its end region. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a temperature sensor for controlling the operation of the mechanical holding means and the action of the heat source and a micro-controller for automatically activating the application and retraction of the mold.

Abstract: A mold for shaping the end region and the opening at a selected end of a first, hollow, generally cylindrical, glass tube to enable a second tube, of smaller diameter than the first tube, to be inserted snuggly a first distance within the selected end of the first tube resulting in the two tubes nesting and being self-centered. The mold includes two complementary elongated side pieces having inner side surfaces for, when joined, encircling the periphery of the first tube along a given portion of its selected end region, and an end cap with a cylindrical stub for insertion within the opening of the first tube at its selected end.

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 known method for producing an object having a flanged tubular portion at the outer periphery, comprises supplying a continuously extended, cylindrical body made of the flange material to a welding zone at the tubular portion of the object and welding the flange material to the welding zone by heating and winding the cylindrical body around the object.

Abstract: Methods of plastically forming an axially extended zone of the interior surface of a hollow glass tube heated to its forming temperature employ a generally cylindrical embossing mandrel connected to a driving shaft. The hollow glass tube and the embossing mandrel are brought together at a predetermined start position for the embossing mandrel inside the glass tube and are brought into contact in an area in which the zone is to be formed on the interior surface of the glass tube. A relative rolling off planetary motion between the embossing mandrel and the glass tube is provided while plastically forming the zone of the glass tube and creating depressions therein.

Abstract: The apparatus for preparing quartz micropipettes includes a pair of carriers mounted on a linear ball bearing guide which grasp opposite ends of a quartz glass capillary tube. A pair of miniature torches fueled by a mixture of oxygen and propane simultaneously heat a portion of the center of the capillary tube and an inverted U-shaped bar disposed between the torches in propinquity to the capillary tube. A cable having one end attached to one of the carriers and the other end attached to the core of a solenoid, the intermediate portion of the cable being wound around a pulley and attached to the second carrier, is used to pull the capillary tube in opposite directions as the tube softens. The cable is also wound around the axle of an optical encoder assembly which sends an electrical signal to a computer based upon either the distance or velocity at which the tubing is pulled apart.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a spiral fluorescent tube is disclosed. The device includes a rod aerially supported in a first predetermined direction; a first clamp supporting a straight fluorescent tube in a second direction which is at right angles to the first predetermined direction; heating device for heating a part of the straight fluorescent tube, which is not facing the rod, to a glass softening temperature; two second clamps disposed in a direction parallel to the rod for clamping ends of the straight fluorescent tube; and device for winding the straight fluorescent tube around the rod by rotating the two second clamps in opposite directions to each other around an axis of the rod while shifting the two second clamps away from each other in a direction parallel to the first predetermined direction.

Abstract: In a device for shaping glass tubes (32), the shaping tools (3, 4), which are designed as shaping rollers, are mounted on a rotary table (2) that encloses the glass tube (32) and that rotates at a speed that is several times higher than the speed of rotation of the glass tube (32). The shaping tools (3,4) are moved in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis (40) of the glass tube (32) in order to shape it. The relatively high speed of rotation of the rotary table (2) allows the advance of the shaping tools per rotation of the rotary table (2) and at the same time the forces that act on the softened part of the glass tube (32) to be kept small.

Abstract: A fluorescent tube which is used for bulb-type fluorescent lamps is spirally wound, so that the effective length of the tube is increased. While a fluorescent tube is kept vertical, it is rotated and heated evenly at the part to be wound to a glass softening temperature or above by a heating device. The rotation of the fluorescent tube is stopped, and the part which is not facing a rod are heated. Then, the tube is clamped from a horizontal direction by a pair of clamps, and is wound around the rod at least 2.5 times by rotating the clamp arms in opposite directions while the arms gradually shift away from each other.

Abstract: In order to shape the necks of glass tubes (1) on glass processing machines, use is made of a device with two shaping tools, one of which takes the form of a ring (3) surrounding the glass tube (1) and the other shaping tool consisting of a roller (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides large, high-purity quartz glass plate with a high degree of smoothness and flatness, its manufacturing method and equipment. The invention is characterized by the procedure in which a quartz glass tube with an opening over a specific width, in the direction of the tube shaft, that is preferably band-shaped, is heated and softened in a band-shaped area over the entire width, in the direction of the tube shaft, progressing sequentially along the direction of tube circumference from a specific position on the glass tube. While softening and heating, the quartz glass tube is pulled in a line approximately tangential to the specific position to flatten the glass tube.

Abstract: A spout forming assembly for glassware and a method therefor in which the assembly includes a spout forming device for forming a pour spout on the edge of a piece of glassware, an actuation device for actuating the forming device, and a control device for controlling the actuation device. The method generally includes the steps of: (a) moving a piece of glassware having an edge along a predetermined path; (b) heating the edge; and (c) engaging the edge with forming means to form a spout on the edge of the glassware.

Abstract: Multiple fold, single tube glass vessels, as well as a process and device for producing multiple fold, single tube glass vessels. An even number of parallel glass tubes open at both ends are assembled under the influence of heat into a multiple fold, single tube glass vessel that is characterized by an essentially constant wall thickness and by an essentially constant inside diameter. The object of the invention is to produce multiple fold, single tube glass vessels suitable in particular as discharge vessels for compact lamps.

Abstract: A pipette puller has a heater coil X-Y position controlled by two knobs. The coil can be vertically positioned along a pipette by moving a third knob for the Z positioning. A dual-heat heat control provides two pre-set temperatures. A movable shield covers the coils when they are heated, eliminating accidental burnings. Sensors run the status panel. The panel tells when to start a pull, the position of the movable chuck, the position of the shield, and when to reposition the coil and indicates a primary stop between two burns of a patch electrode pull. A vertical rail supports all of the major mechanical moving parts, with the exception of the adjustable stop which swings in and out of operative position.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coiling fluorescent tubes, so that the tubes may be placed within a bulb. The apparatus includes a rotatable turntable having a plurality of ovens thereon. Each oven has a lever to enable the oven to be opened for placement of a fluorescent tube therein. A piston/cylinder assembly is mounted in proximity to the rotatable turntable and can selectively engage one of the levers for opening the corresponding oven. A ratchet assembly is provided for selectively rotating the turntable into positions where the piston/cylinder assembly in contact one of the levers and open the respective oven. A tube coiling screw is disposed in proximity to the turntable to enable coiling of a fluorescent tube thereabout after sufficient heating in one of the ovens.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a tube into circle includes a dummy rod to be engaged to a rear end of the tube for constituting an extention of the tube and a support for supporting the combination of the tube and the dummy rod so that the combination is movable toward the front end of the tube. The support initially supports the tube section of the combination and finally supports the dummy rod section of the combination. A heater is located in front of the support for locally softening the tube. A turning arm is coupled at its free end to the front end of the tube for pulling the tube along a circle around the axis of the other end of the turning arm so that the tube is shaped into a circle defined by the turning movement of the turning arm. A motor moves the combination ahead.

Abstract: To prevent weakened corners when forming a U-shaped discharge tube with sharp corners (28, 29) during a bending operation from a straight tube, two glass tubes (1, 3) having a wall dimension suitable for a compact fluorescent tube are fused to a central tubular glass element (2) of thicker wall dimension so that, upon bending into U-shape with sharp corners (28, 29), the thicker wall portion can stretch and form the essentially right-angle corners of requisite wall thickness. Preferably, during the heating steps for forming the glass, the initially straight glass portions (1, 2, 3) are rotated.

Abstract: A preform from which lightguide fiber is drawn is made by depositing optically suitable layers of doped silicon dioxide on an inner wall of a rotating glass substrate tube which is exposed to a moving zone of heat during a deposition mode and during a collapse mode. During at least a first pass following the deposition mode, a contact device is caused to engage each successive increment of length of the tube during exposure to the zone of heat. The contact device causes any sagged or offset portions of the tube to be reconfigured and causes the tube to have a central longitudinal axis which is a straight line which extends between stocks of a lathe by which ends of the tube are supported. The contact device may also be used to cause the tube to have a predetermined configuration along its length.

Abstract: A holder (55) for supporting in alignment a plurality of spaced electrodes (18) and (19) to be sealed into a corresponding plurality of envelopes (14) includes a metal base (82) which supports a stripper plate (87). A plurality of posts (36) extend from the base (82) through a plurality of seats (86) in the stripper plate. In preparation for a mass sealing operation the envelopes (14) are placed onto the seats (86) and a pair of the electrodes (18) and (19) are attached to the end of each of the posts (36). A graphite heater plate (61) having a plurality of apertures (72) is joined with the base plate (82) such that the apertures rest in concentric alignment about upper ends of the envelopes (14). An upper weight plate (92) rests on the heater plate (61) to bring weighted guide caps (46) into contact with the electrodes (18) and (19).

Abstract: The invention provides a precision tooling machine for final finishing of a preliminary formed shoulder on the open end of a heated glass vial blank. The shoulder of the vial is heated and the vial is rotated and horizontally advanced between a pair of co-operating tooling jaws which are respectively mounted on support arms which are in turn rigidly secured to a vertically slidably support plate. The entire weight of the tooling jaws, the support arms and the support plate is effectively counter-balanced so that tooling jaw units may move without restraint to accommodate themselves to the vertical position of the particular vial passing between the tooling jaws. At the same time, one of the jaw units is freely laterally shiftable a slight amount relative to the other jaw unit so as to prevent the possibility of differential heating of the tooling jaws or their respective support arms causing a misalignment of one tooling jaw relative to the other tooling jaw.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for press sealing a tubular quartz arc tube body section about a ribbon-type metallic seal. The method includes applying different intensities of heat to the quartz arc tube body section to be pressed in such a manner that four portions of the quartz arc tube body section which are located within diametrically opposed quadrant sections are heated to a higher softened-state temperature than those portions of the heated quartz arc tube body which are positioned intermediate the higher-heated quartz arc tube body portions, with the higher-heated quartz arc tube body portions collapsing somewhat due to the surface tension of the softened quartz. Utilizing this method results in an improved press seal.

Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus including two pairs of metal gripping blocks held together by a spring and mounted adjacent to wedge blocks carrying wedges for opening each pair. An operating plate is provided which drives the apparatus to cause the wedge blocks to open the gripping blocks to permit a length of capillary tubing filled with mercury to be inserted between the pairs of gripping blocks. The apparatus is then driven to cause the tubing to pass through a flame positioned to melt the tubing at a desired location and to form two separate seal portions at this location which are gripped by the two gripping blocks; and, on the next cycle, when the gripping blocks are opened, the portion of the tubing which is the desired capsule is released from its pair of gripping blocks and fed to a suitable receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for working glass tubes, with several chucks circulating on a common axis and sweeping past several processing stations, there being mounted above each chuck a stepwise rotating magazine storing several glass tubes, each tube resting by its lower end on a non-rotating supporting plate which has a hole for the glass tubes to fall through for engagement by the chuck therebelow, the machine having a switch which causes the magazine to rotate, one step at a time, each step corresponding to the distance between two neighbouring tubes, in order to bring the next glass tube to the hole, and wherein between the hole of the supporting plate and the chuck therebelow there is a mobile arrestor blade which allows the magazine to rotate stepwise without a tube falling through the hole, until the chuck is empty, whereupon the blade can disengage so that it no longer blocks the hole.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a glass tube with a uniform nozzle portion, i.e., one which has a true centerline. The method involves suspending the tube on vertically space suspension points therealong, with the lower of the suspension points being arranged to apply a dead weight to the tube. The tube is rotated at the upper of the suspension points as it is heated above its vertical center to a temperature at which it becomes slightly plastic, but below the temperature at which the dead weight could significantly stretch the tube. This heating to the point of plasticity allows the dead weight to straighten out any axial deviations in the tube. Following the straightening, the tube is heated centrally to a higher drawing temperature sufficient to allow the dead weight to stretch the tube to a predetermined length and thereby provide a uniform necked down portion centrally of the tube. The necked down portion can then be severed at its midpoint to provide two glass electrode tubes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for making containers from glass tubes, with several chucks circulating through a succession of processing stations, each chuck having jaws to grip a glass tube or container, and with the chucks being brought successively to a position in which they are superposed above a stationary supporting plate at at least one processing station, this plate being for limiting downward movement of the length of tube which falls downwards through the chuck, wherein the chucks move up and down on at least one circulating column, the processing station which has the supporting plate being equipped with a senser which triggers a releasing device which releases the chuck which has reached this station, so that it moves downwards, the senser responding to the absence of a tube above the upper surface of the jaws of the chuck by initiating downward movement of the chuck.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for manufacturing phials, ampoules or the like from thermoplastic substances, in particular glass, having a number of holders capable of rotating around their own axes and around a central axis, which are distributed around the circumference of the machine and are supported on a frame in the nature of a turntable, whose axis of rotation constitutes the central axis. The holders are mounted on segment-like carriers which together form a cylinder, and which are fastened to a support ring mounted on part of a ball race.