Abstract: Glass sheets to be bent are conveyed continuously into a tunnel kiln in which the temperature is adjusted progressively to glass-softening temperature. At least one part of the kiln comprises distributed heating means opposite at least one part of the surface of the sheets, such as to provide a temperature distribution that is selected according to the desired curvature. The heating is distributed using heating elements that are positioned opposite the sheets and the power delivered by each element is selected in order to provide the desired temperature distribution, the movement of the sheet being accompanied by the successive synchronized operation of the heating elements that are disposed along the path thereof.

Abstract: A three step method and apparatus for quenching a formed glass sheet in a manner that reduces cycle time without excessive temporary surface tension that can cause excessive breakage.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for molding a press-molded product by heating and softening a material and press-molding the material into a predetermined shape by the use of a mold, includes a pair of dies which form the mold, each of which comprises a molding surface facing with the other, and one of which is fixed to a structure member of the molding apparatus, driving means for moving the other die towards and away from the one die, heating means for heating the dies, detecting means for detecting the displacement of a part displaced by thermal deformation of the structure member, and a control section for calculating a correction value for a moving distance of the other die with reference to the result of detection by the detecting means and delivering an instruction to the driving means so as to move the other die in accordance with the moving distance corrected by the correction value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a float bath comprising a transport assembly and/or an adaptor for producing glass by a float-forming process.

Abstract: An I.S. Machine is disclosed which includes a structure displaceable from a start location to an end location and a motor for displacing that structure. A control controls the operation of the motor to displace the structure and the speed of displacement can be varied by changing inputs to the control. A fixed period of time from a datum to the ideal time when the structure will be displaced to its end location is set and compared with an actual period and a selected input to the control is provided for changing the speed of the structure to reduce the difference.

Abstract: Using sol-gel techniques, an optical gain medium has been fabricated comprising a glass ceramic host material that includes clusters of crystalline oxide material, especially tin oxide, and that is doped with active ions concentrated at the clusters. The active ions are preferentially located at the nanoclusters so that they experience the relatively low phonon energy of the oxide and are insensitive to the phonon energy of the host. A host with a high phonon energy, such as silica, can therefore be used without the usual drawback of reduced carrier lifetimes through enhanced nonradiative decay rates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for large scale synthesis of germanium selenide glass and germanium selenide glass compounds are provided. Up to about 750 grams of a germanium selenide glass or a glass compound can be synthesized at a time in about eight hours or less. Stoichiometrically proportional amounts of germanium and selenium are placed in an ampoule. A variable may also be placed in the ampoule. The ampoule is heated to above the softening temperature of the glass or glass compound being synthesized. The ampoule is then rocked for a period of time while the temperature is held constant. The temperature of the ampoule is then brought down to above the softening temperature of the glass or glass compound being synthesized and then quenched.

Abstract: For heat conditioning flat panel glass substrates the substrates are directly exposed in vacuum to the radiation of lamps, the lamps being selected so that their spectral radiation characteristics (b, c) fit with the absorption characteristics (a) of the glass of the substrate.

Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle.

Abstract: A control for a glass forming machine. Each machine mechanism, etc., is turned “on” and “off” at selected angles around a wrapped 360° machine cycle. The control unwraps the “on” and “off” angles around the wrapped 360° machine cycle to “on” and “off” times along an unwrapped bottle forming process which takes more than two machine cycles to complete and the unwrapped schedule is analyzed to determine whether an optimized schedule is possible and once a schedule is optimized, the analysis is done again with all the optimized values locked except one or more of the motion durations which are targeted at their maximum duration. This second optimization defines the motion durations at their longest possible setting so that the associated motor(s) can be concomitantly slowed down to minimize wear.

Abstract: A control for defining data for setting the times for controlled events in a glass forming machine which is controlled by a programmable sequencer which defines the time of a machine cycle.

Abstract: A furnace particularly for heat treatments of glass sheets, comprising a longitudinally-elongated chamber which contains roller conveyor elements for the glass sheets. The furnace comprises irradiation-heating elements combined with first and second elements for heating by forced air convection in which the air temperature is controlled by adjusting its circulation rate, the elements being located respectively above and below the conveyor elements and therefore above and below the sheets being treated.

Abstract: A blank mold valving system for supplying vacuum/counter blow air to a blank mold of an I.S. The system includes an exhaust valve displaceable between open to exhaust and closed positions, a vacuum valve displaceable between open to vacuum and open to counter blow positions, and a counter blow valve displaceable between closed and open to counter blow air positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating glass sheets to be tempered or heat-strengthened, in which method glass sheets are heated in a preheating furnace (1) by applying a hot-air blast and convection heating produced thereby to the opposite sides of a glass sheet and the preheated glass sheet is transferred from the preheating furnace (1) into a radiation heating furnace (2) for heating the glass sheet to a tempering temperature. During the convection heating of a glass sheet, the rotating speed of a hot-air fan (5) is increased while adjusting the heating effect of heating resistances (6) so as to maintain the temperature of blasted air substantially constant. Thus, the diminishing temperature difference between glass and air is compensated for by controlling the coefficient of heat transfer.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring application of air through a dual-stage blowhead to blow mold a container includes a first solenoid valve for applying final blow air through the blowhead to a container in a mold and a second solenoid valve for applying finish cooling air through the blowhead around the finish of the container in the mold. Electronic circuitry is coupled to the first and second solenoid valves for detecting timing of application of first and second electrical valve control signals to the valves. Air pressure sensors are operatively coupled to the first and second solenoid valves for generating associated electrical signals indicative of timing of application of air by the first and second solenoid valves to the blowhead.

Abstract: The method of the invention provides that a predetermined quantity of molten glass necessary for producing molded glass bodies according to the press-molding method is poured into a press mold prior to the insertion of the molding plug while the press mold is located in the press station, and that the molded glass body is removed after the molding plug is withdrawn from the press mold, with this mold likewise being located in the pressing station. This method renders a mold transport superfluous. The invention also relates to an apparatus suitable for executing the method, in which the molding plug can be pivoted laterally from its initial position located outside of the press mold about an axis extending transversely to the center axis of the molding plug.