Abstract: A system for and a method of processing a transparent material, such as glass, using an adjustable laser beam line focus are disclosed. The system for processing a transparent material includes a laser source operable to emit a pulsed laser beam, and an optical assembly (6?) disposed within an optical path of the pulsed laser beam. The optical assembly (6?) is configured to transform the pulsed laser beam into a laser beam focal line having an adjustable length and an adjustable diameter. At least a portion of the laser beam focal line is operable to be positioned within a bulk of the transparent material such that the laser beam focal line produces a material modification along the laser beam focal line. Method of laser processing a transparent material by adjusting at least one of the length of the laser beam focal line and the diameter of the laser beam focal line is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating formed glass articles are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a formed glass article may include forming a glass ribbon, forming a parison, and shaping the parison to form a glass article. The glass article may be attached to the glass ribbon at an attachment region defining an edge of the glass article. The process may also include contacting the attachment region with a focal line of a laser beam and separating the glass article from the glass ribbon at the attachment region. The attachment region may be perforated by the laser beam and the focal line may be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the glass ribbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar concentrator comprising a solid body consisting of a transparent material that has a light coupling surface and a light decoupling surface, the solid body having a light guide part that tapers towards the light decoupling surface, being located between the light coupling surface and the light decoupling surface and being delimited by a light guide surface between the light coupling surface and the light decoupling surface, the light guide surface merging into the light decoupling surface with a constant first derivation. The invention also relates to a method for the production of a solar concentrator, wherein the transparent material is precision-molded between the molds.

Abstract: A method for forming a continuous glass sheet from a tube of glass includes expanding and thinning the tube of glass by drawing the tube of glass over susceptor bearing comprising a porous sidewall defining an internal chamber. The diameter of the susceptor bearing may increase between a top portion and a bottom portion. The tube of glass may be maintained at a temperature above a softening point of the glass as the tube of glass is drawn over the susceptor bearing. The tube of glass is suspended over the susceptor bearing by blowing the tube of glass away from the susceptor bearing in a radial direction with a pressurized fluid supplied to the internal chamber and emitted from the porous sidewall as the tube of glass is drawn over the susceptor bearing. Thereafter, the tube of glass is cooled and sectioned to form a continuous glass sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed are synthetic silica glass body with a birefringence pattern having low fast axis direction randomness factor and glass reflow process. The glass reflow process comprises steps of: providing a glass tube having a notch; and thermally reflowing the glass tube to form a glass plate. The process can be advantageously used to produce fused silica glass plate without observable striae when viewed in the direction of optical axis. Also disclosed are optical members comprising the fused silica glass body and a process for reflowing glass cylinders.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a lithography photomask and photomask blank. The method of making the lithography photomask and photomask blank includes providing a silicon oxyfluoride glass tube having an OH content less than 50 ppm. The method further includes cutting the silicon oxyfluoride glass tube, flattening the silicon oxyfluoride glass tube, and forming the flattened cut silicon oxyfluoride glass tube into a photomask blank having a planar surface. The present invention includes a glass lithography mask preform. The glass lithography mask preform is a longitudinal silicon oxyfluoride glass tube that has an OH content ?10 ppm, a F wt. % concentration ?0.5 wt. %.

Abstract: The invention involves providing a plane sheet of glass with recesses by bringing an initially plane sheet of glass, heated to a temperature sufficient for transformation and in partial areas in contact on one side with a negative mould, into engagement on one side with at least one mould cavity of the negative mould whose dimensions correspond to the desired sheet deformation by means of a pressure differential acting upon the sheet, generated by applying a low pressure or partial vacuum and/or gaseous pressure media, such that the respective deformed area/recess of the sheet is surrounded by non-deformed partial areas of the sheet.

Abstract: A method produces homogenous quartz glass plates without streaks. The method is applied to starting quartz glass body which has an X—X geometrical axis and good refractive index homogeneity in its central area, and a refractive index homogeneity decreasing as the axis lies further from a central area. The body is divided into at least two concave parts by longitudinal cuts parallel to the axis once the central area has been processed out of the body. The parts are placed separately in corresponding molds and heated therein such that they are molded to form quartz glass plates having a desired thickness.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming glass articles containing enclosed channels. The method comprises the following steps: a) delivering and depositing a first length of a molten glass ribbon (18) to a surface of a mold (20) having a mold cavity (22) possessing at least one channel-forming groove (22) and a peripheral surface, wherein the first length (18) overlies the mold cavity (22) and the peripheral surface; b) allowing the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18) to substantially conform to the contour of the mold cavity (22) resulting in the formation of at least one channel in the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18); c) delivering and depositing a second length of the molten glass ribbon (26) to the exposed surface of the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18).

Abstract: A method of making a glass multiwell plate for use in biological or chemical laboratory applications whereby the plate is formed by a single ribbon of molten glass passing twice over a mold such that the first section of glass takes the form of the mold and thereby forms the wells of the plate while the second section of glass covers the wells and forms a top surface of the plate. Holes are cut through the top surface, above each well to enable access.

Abstract: A method of making a glass multiwell plate for use in biological or chemical laboratory applications whereby the plate is formed by a single ribbon of molten glass passing twice over a mold such that the first section of glass takes the form of the mold and thereby forms the wells of the plate while the second section of glass covers the wells and forms a top surface of the plate. Holes are cut through the top surface, above each well to enable access.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a synthetic silica glass optical material which exhibits excellent transmittance as well as durability for high output power vacuum ultraviolet rays, being emitted from, for example, ArF excimer lasers and Xe.sub.2 excimer lamps, and to provide a method for producing the same. A synthetic silica glass optical material for high output power vacuum ultraviolet rays made from ultra high purity synthetic silica glass for use in the wavelength region of from 165 to 195 nm, containing OH groups at a concentration of from 5 to 300 wtppm with a fluctuation width in OH group concentration (.DELTA.OH/cm) of 10 wtppm or less, containing hydrogen molecules at a concentration of from 1.times.10.sup.17 to 1.times.10.sup.19 molecule/cm.sup.3 with a fluctuation width in hydrogen molecule concentration (.DELTA.H.sub.2 /cm) of 1.times.10.sup.17 molecule/cm.sup.3 or lower, and containing chlorine at a concentration of 50 wtppm or lower.

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

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass container and an apparatus therefor capable of providing the container by pressing of a glass substrate using a die while keeping the glass substrate uniformly heated and softened. The glass substrate is heated while being kept lifted from a lower mold of a forming die and then subject to integral forming by the forming die. This permits the glass substrate to be integrally formed into the glass container in the form of a finished product, resulting in the number of steps and time required for processing being reduced.

Abstract: Glass sheets are bent in stages into the final shape in a horizontal position in two successive bending stations. The glass sheets heated to bending temperature are laid on a fabric carrier arranged resiliently on a rigid support frame. The glass sheets are conveyed stepwise with the fabric carrier and the support frame through the bending system, and are bent together with the fabric carrier which adapts to the shape of the glass sheets.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming glass articles containing internal enclosed channels.

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 method and apparatus for producing a glass ware, such as a bowl or plate, via vacuum forming. A deformable glass ribbon is passed through a pair of parallel rolls or rollers, one of the rollers having a recessed cavity thereon for forming a thicker product zone and a thinner cullet zone on the glass ribbon. The product zone may be specifically configured to compensate for process stretching of the glass ribbon during the vacuum forming process. The product zone is registered over a vacuum mold, and a vacuum is applied to the mold to thereby deform the glass to a concave shape and thus form the dish. The dish is separated from the glass ribbon by trimming at the periphery of the dish.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to produce a blown glass article on a ribbon machine having a self supporting closed end. Said ribbon formed glass envelope has a cylindrical neck portion terminating at one end in a bulb portion of larger cross sectional dimensions and which includes the self supporting base end. The sides of said glass envelope can be curved or flat and with said self supporting base also being of a curved or planar contour. A novel mold construction permitting said glass envelope to be blown on a ribbon machine comprises a pair of cooperative halves forming the sides of the blown glass envelope in a central cavity in which further includes a separate base part located at the lower end of said cavity to shape the self supporting base, said base part of the mold being provided with reciprocal motion in a vertical direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are set forth for forming articles from molten sheet glass wherein the molten sheet glass initially substantially conforms to a mold cavity by a combination of vacuum and/or gravity, and then while still in a semi-molten condition the sheet is pressed into a finished ware article.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing glass foil is disclosed in which a thin glass foil is produced by conveying a glass melt from a rotatable crucible of a smelting furnace through an annular distribution reservoir and a distributing disk having flow-through slots. Jets of glass emerge from the flow-through slots and are combined at a funnel-shaped wall into a hollow, cylindrical glass mass. Due to its weight and to heating by pressurized, gas-heated heating and cooling zones, the cylindrical glass mass flows downward, and is stretched until it reaches a pre-determined wall thickness by auxiliary conveyor belts. The hollow cylinder of glass is then split on one side by a separating device, flattened, conveyed to a bath of liquids, and then drawn-off at full width in the form of a glass foil by a draw-off guide roller. After the glass foil is drawn-off, the auxiliary conveyor belts are moved laterally so that they are no longer in physical contact with the glass cylinder.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing dielectric diffraction gratings. This method comprises (a) preparing a preform by forming one upon another layers of two or more glasses having different refractive indices at a given period, and (b) cutting the preform into flat pieces.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vacuum envelope comprises heating a glass plate clamped at at least several points around its periphery and, when the glass begins to soften, pressing a stamp against the glass to deform it, the deformed glass then having its rim, formed by the clamping, removed.