Abstract: A glass production apparatus producing continuously curved glass for covers and containers includes a crucible, a calender device, a cutting device, a molding device, and a crystallizing device. The crucible melts glass raw material and outputs a glass melt to calender device. The calender device rolls and presses the glass melt to prepare a glass belt with a preset temperature. The cutting device cuts the glass belt with the preset temperature into glass members. The molding device include at least one molding mold and a manipulator. Each of the at least one molding mold curves at least one portion of the glass member with the preset temperature to prepare a curved glass member. The manipulator transfers the curved glass member to the crystallizing device, the crystallizing device crystallizes the curved glass member to prepare a curved crystalline glass member. A method for manufacturing such glass is also provided.

Abstract: The method produces a reshaped glass-ceramic article by forced reshaping of a flat green glass part during a ceramicizing process with temporarily lowered viscosity due to crystallization heat. To perform the forced reshaping economically the forced reshaping takes place in a continuous oven for ceramicizing and in an oven section in which the viscosity of the green glass part is temporarily lowered as a result of crystallization heat. An apparatus for performing the process is provided in the continuous oven including different active reshaping devices and/or a hollow mold. The method produces glass-ceramic articles with undamaged surfaces corresponding to surfaces produced during the making of the green glass part (smooth or structured, e.g. knobbed).

Abstract: The manufacturing device comprises at least one mold and a punch displaceable between a passive position outside said at least one mold and an active position inside said at least one mold. The punch includes at least one marking portion provided with at least one raised and/or recessed pattern and radially displaceable by actuation means into the active position of the punch, between a retracted position and a protruding position applied against the internal face of the side wall for imprinting on this internal face said at least one raised and/or recessed pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making infrared transmitting graded index optical elements by selecting at least two different infrared-transmitting materials, each with a different refractive index, having similar thermo-viscous behavior; assembling the infrared-transmitting materials into a stack comprising one or more layers of each infrared-transmitting material resulting in the stack having a graded index profile; and forming the stack into a desired shape. Also disclosed is the related optical element made by this method.

Abstract: A glass foaming material and method are disclosed for filling void spaces in electrochemical devices. The glass material includes a reagent that foams at a temperature above the softening point of the glass. Expansion of the glass fills void spaces including by-pass and tolerance channels of electrochemical devices. In addition, cassette to cassette seals can also be formed while channels and other void spaces are filled, reducing the number of processing steps needed.

Abstract: An apparatus for making shaped articles includes a container having at least one vacuum port and a surface for receiving a sheet of glass-based material. At least one positive mold is supported in the container, where the at least one positive mold has an exterior surface including a profile defining an interior of a shaped article. An open volume is defined between the container and the at least one positive mold and is in communication with the vacuum port.

Abstract: A vacuum valve for use with a blow mold in an I.S. machine. When the blow molds close around a parison, vacuum is applied to the wall of the blow mold. At some time following the application of the vacuum, final blow will occur blowing the parison into a bottle. This vacuum will be applied until the parison has been blown into a bottle. During the period during which vacuum is applied but final blow has not started, vacuum is reduced by operating a needle valve in the vacuum line.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing single microlenses or an arrays of microlenses composed of a glass-type material, in which method a first substrate is provided with a surface containing impressions over which a second substrate composed of a glass-type material is placed at least partially overlapping it and is joined therewith under vacuum conditions. The substrate composite is tempered in such a manner that the second substrate softens and flows into the impressions of the first substrate, thereby structuring the side of the second substrate facing away from the first substrate in order to form at least one microlens surface.

Abstract: The method produces a reshaped glass-ceramic article by forced reshaping of a flat green glass part during a ceramicizing process with temporarily lowered viscosity due to crystallization heat. To perform the forced reshaping economically the forced reshaping takes place in a continuous oven for ceramicizing and in an oven section in which the viscosity of the green glass part is temporarily lowered as a result of crystallization heat. An apparatus for performing the process is provided in the continuous oven including different active reshaping devices and/or a hollow mold. The method produces glass-ceramic articles with undamaged surfaces corresponding to surfaces produced during the making of the green glass part (smooth or structured, e.g. knobbed).

Abstract: A parison (12) is subjected to final blowing in a blow-mold (2) of a blow-molding station (1) to produce a finished glass container (19). The blow-mold (2) comprises blow-mold halves (3, 4) and a block mold (18) which is not divided longitudinally and which is encompassed by the blow-mold halves (3, 4) when the blow-mold (2) is closed. Compressed air (15) can be introduced by means of a blowing head (13) into the interior of the parison (12), until the finished glass container (19) has achieved its final form. In order to remove the glass container (19) from the blow-mold (2), it is grasped by its mouth (11) by means of a takeout mechanism. The blow-mold halves (3, 4) are then opened and the block mold (18) is moved downwards until it reaches a removal position.

Abstract: A method of fabricating at least one hollow glass article by implementing fabrication cycle consisting, specifically, in stretching the blank prior to inflating it by transferring the blank into a finishing mold that includes a suction cup in its mold cavity, the suction cup being movable in translation parallel to the axis of the mold over a stretching stroke between firstly an extended position inside the mold and secondly a retracted position in which the suction cup is situated at the bottom of the mold. The method includes the step of establishing suction in the suction cup prior to the bottom of the blank coming into contact therewith, thereby uniting the bottom of the blank with the suction cup while it is placed in its extended position, and then displacing the suction cup to its retracted position in order to stretch the blank.

Abstract: A process for forming glass or glass ceramics is disclosed, wherein a glass ceramics form (12) is made from a starting glass by molding, which is transformed by a heat treatment into a keatite glass ceramic comprising predominantly keatite mixed crystals. With such a keatite glass ceramics form (12) formed bodies can be prepared from blank parts by sagging under gravity force at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the blank part (14).

Abstract: A method of floating glass gobs by means of a gas flow. A method of manufacturing glass gobs by floating a molten glass gob and simultaneously cooling it. A method of manufacturing glass spheres by floating a softened glass gob and simultaneously rendering it spherical. These methods employ a device having a depression for floating and holding a glass gob or the like, with a gas flow being supplied along all or part of the inner surface of the depression from the opening side of the depression toward the bottom. A manufacturing method comprising the steps of adjusting a glass gob to a temperature suited to press molding while floating said glass gob by means of a gas flow injected along part or all of the depression-shaped forming surface of a lower mold from the opening side of the lower mold toward the bottom of the lower mold; and a step of press forming the glass gob.

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: A microstructure is formed in a viscous glass or plastic substrate by pressing a structured surface of a forming tool corresponding to a negative of the microstructure to be produced in the viscous glass or plastic substrate. After the microstructure has been formed, the forming tool is removed from the surface. In order to help form the microstructure and remove the forming tool from the substrate the forming tool has an at least partially porous base body (1) and an operative layer (2) structured with a negative structure consisting of grooves (11) extending to the porous base body (1). The forming of the microstructure in the substrate is assisted by applying suction to the porous base body (1) so that the grooves (11) fill more easily and completely with melted glass or plastic material. The removal of the forming tool after forming the microstructure is assisted by applying an overpressure to the porous body to help release the solidified glass or plastic material from the forming tool.

Abstract: A process for the formation of a container of glass, includes a first molding step performed in a preforming mold having pins projecting into the mold over a length less than the thickness of the walls of the preform of the article, the external walls of the preform presenting after removal from the mold recessed portions corresponding to the presence of the projecting pins. A second step is performed in a smooth-walled finishing mold having the shape and the dimensions of the container to be made, the blowing pressure in the interior of the finishing mold being controlled so as to permit a smoothness of the external wall of the container and the formation of air inclusions in the wall of the container.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow cone having an open side and a cone tip. The method utilizing the steps of introducing a viscous material in a first mold portion, introducing a second mold portion and contacting the viscous material therewith, providing a force in an escape space so as to prevent the viscous material from flowing into the escape space, forming the open side of the hollow cone while preventing the viscous material from entering the escape space and causing the viscous material to enter the escape space to form the cone tip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a glass container in a blow-and-blow process. The apparatus includes an air flow controller having a housing defining a chamber, a piston disposed for reciprocal movement from a first position to a second position within the housing for moving a slide block therein, first and second passages extending through the slide block, a first port in the housing in flow communication with the second passage and a transducer when the piston is in its second position to create a negative air flow through the second passage and first port when a pressurized air flow is induced through the transducer to draw a vacuum beneath a gob in a blank mold to form a finish in the gob and sweep debris away from the gob and blank mold, and a second port in communication with the first passage and first port when the piston is in its first position to provide pressurized air to the gob.

Abstract: In a quartz glass crucible obtained by heating and fusing a rotating layer (3) charged with a powder of silicon dioxide, impurity elements are controlled so that copper, chromium, and nickel each amount to 0.5 ppb or less, iron amounts to 120 ppb or less, and sodium amounts to 20 ppb or less. The silicon dioxide powder is supplied to a rotatable mold (1) having an open top, thereby forming a layer (3) charged with silicon dioxide along the inner peripheral wall of the mold. The layer (3) is internally heated and fused while covering the open top with a lid (5) having two or more holes (6,7), and the mold (1) is ventilated to discharge the high temperature gases through the holes (6,7).

Abstract: The method and apparatus for producing a hollow glass article permit removal of a resulting hollow glass article without severing a moll. By this, glass powder which would otherwise be caused and fallen into the hollow glass article during severing the moil may prevented. The invention also permits elimination of a means for positioning a respective blow head and for stopping rotation thereof. A quantity of molten glass of a disk-shaped configuration is supplied onto a support ring. Each blow head is lowered onto a corresponding support ring. The molten glass on the support ring is held by the blow head by its periphery. Then, the support ring is removed or withdrawn. A quantity of air is blown into the molten glass by means of the blow head so as to form a hollow glass article. Subsequently, the holding ability of the blow head is eliminated, so as to remove or unload the resulting hollow glass article. Alternatively, the support rings may be omitted.

Abstract: Hollow blanks of glass are pressed between a hollow mold and a plunger (10). The mold comprises an inner wall complementary to the outer side of a blank. The plunger (10) comprises an open-pore plunger head (11) having a surface (24) complementary to the inner side of the blank and an inner cavity (15) which is filled with a liquid. In each working cycle a partial amount of the liquid evaporates by heat transfer from the glass to the plunger head (11) at the surface (24) of the latter, a separation vapor layer forming between the surface of the plunger head and the glass. The liquid pressure in the cavity (15) of the plunger head (11) is adapted to the pressing pressure obtaining in the glass during the pressing in each case until the glass has reached its dimensional stability necessary for withdrawal of the plunger head (11).

Abstract: A method for forming parisons in the manufacture of hollow articles of glassware. The method comprising forming each parison by introducing a gob of molten glass into a mould cavity (10) having the shape desired for the external surface of the parison, and moving a plunger (14,70) into the mould cavity to cause the molten glass to conform to the shape of the cavity. The method also comprises forming a layer of gas (G.98) between a surface portion of the plunger and the molten glass so that, as the plunger moves into the cavity, the glass is pushed into shape by the layer of gas, and rotating or vibrating the plunger while it is in the mould cavity.

Abstract: According to the invention, a cryogenic liquid as liquid oxygen is vaporized in a heat exchanger by air, which air is thus cooled and further used to blow bottles or the like manufactured at the end of the line where glass is melted and refined by burners using the gaseous oxygen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressing glass TV tube faceplates employing a microprocessor controlled ram and plunger operated with open loop position based speed control at relatively high rates of motion when the plunger is not in critical contact with the glass, at uniform speed as the plunger enters the glass and at closed loop pressure control after the viewing region of the cavity for the faceplate between plunger and mold has been filled out at uniform plunger pressing speed. Pressure control is employed to ramp pressure down to a pressing dwell pressure and maintain that pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for blow molding glass articles uses a mixture of cryogenic fluid and ambient air as a blowing fluid. The apparatus includes gas inlet means positioned to direct a flow of blowing fluid into the center of a blow mold, insulated manifold means to mix ambient air and a cryogenic fluid as the blowing fluid, means to feed the mixture into the gas inlet means, means to pressurize the ambient air, conduit means for directing ambient air into the insulated manifold, and injector means for introducing cryogenic vapor into the conduit means.

Abstract: A method and plunger arrangement for forming parisons in the manufacture of hollow articles of glassware. The method comprising forming each parison by introducing a gob of molten glass into a mould cavity (10) having the shape desired for the external surface of the parison, and moving a plunger (14,70) into the mould cavity to cause the molten glass to conform to the shape of the cavity. The method also comprises forming a layer of gas (G.98) between a surface portion of the plunger and the molten glass so that, as the plunger moves into the cavity, the glass is pushed into shape by the layer of gas, and rotating or vibrating the plunger while it is in the mould cavity. The plunger arrangement provides means for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A molten glass parison is expanded to the shape of a mould cavity (16) to thereby form the parison into an article of glassware (A). Air is supplied under pressure to the interior of the parison so that an elevated pressure is created in the parison causing it to expand. The air under pressure passes through an on/off valve (30) before entering the parison and, during the blowing process, the air supply is interrupted at least twice by turning the valve off. Thus, the pressure is caused to fluctuate, during the blowing process.

Abstract: Methods for forming glass articles such as bottles and the like utilize pressurized flows of a cold blowing gas that is delivered from an insulated manifold into mold cavitites which are being used to mold glass articles. The cold blowing gas is a mixture of compressed cryogen vapor and ambient air that has been dehumidified, with the injection of the cryogen vapor into the ambient air being performed in stages, and utilizing a technique of cyclically operating and defrosting a plurality of cryogen injectors to assure a proper introduction of cryogen vapor and to prevent debilitating accumulations of ice about the cryogen inlets. The use of cryogen vapor in the blowing gas hastens cooling and solidification of newly formed glass articles so that the time during which the articles must be retained in their molds is significantly reduced. Reductions in mold retention times enable the apparatus to be operated at increased speeds, whereby its productivity is significantly increased.

Abstract: A method for producing the type lamp glass envelope used in a reflector lamp is disclosed which employs a ribbon machine. Said ribbon formed lamp glass envelope includes a cylindrical neck portion terminating at one end in a curved reflector portion closed by an integral flattened face portion of lesser curvature with light distributing elements being formed on the exterior surface of said face portion. In its preferred embodiments, the reflector portion of said lamp glass envelope is of the PAR type which can further include truncation of the parabolic shape with opposing substantially flattened parallel surfaces as well as face portions for said lamp glass envelope which can be circular or rectangular in shape.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming glass articles such as bottles and the like utilize flows of pressurized cold cryogen vapor that are introduced into mold cavities which are being used to mold glass articles. The cold cryogen vapor hastens cooling and solidification of the articles so that the time during which the articles must be retained in their molds is significantly reduced. Reductions in mold retention times enable the apparatus to be operated at increased speeds, whereby its productivity is significantly increased. Productivity increases of 15 percent and often more can be achieved at relatively low expense. The use of cold cryogen vapor introduction into mold cavities is applicable to a variety of glass molding techniques including molding and blow molding.

Abstract: A blow-pipe 1 with an upper end 2 shaped to retain a working amount of molten glass is vertically movable from beneath the surface of molten glass 9 in a furnace to an upper position within orifice 10a of cover plate 10 and just below a cylindrical guide tube 11. Upward movement brings the blow-pipe generally into a hotter environment, expands the internal air and thus provides an initial bubble at the blow-pipe end. This is progressively expanded into the guide tube, preferably by two-stage air supply at different pressures, to produce a constrained glass bubble, of a few microns thickness.

Abstract: A parison is molded from a gob of molten glass by first increasing the volume of the interior of a cup-shaped main mold body by an extra volume. Then the molten-glass gob is inserted through an upper opening into the interior of the main mold body. A neck mold comprising a split neck ring is closed on the main mold body so that the neck mold and the main mold body together define a mold cavity partly formed by the interior of the main mold body. A plunger is inserted through the neck mold down into the gob in the mold cavity to displace molten glass and shape the gob into a parison. The extra volume of the interior of the main mold body is then decreased to zero at the latest until the time at which the parison is finished, so that the molten glass rises in the mold cavity up to a level above the top of the main mold body. Finally the parison thus formed is demolded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing glass bottles and more specifically an apparatus and a method for forming parisons is disclosed. At least one blank mold defines a mold cavity having an opening at its upper end for receiving a premeasured gob of molten glass from a loading cavity member. A plunger having a volume of at least 15% of the volume of the mold cavity is completely extended into the mold cavity prior to the reception of the molten glass. The molten glass is moved downwardly from said loading cavity member into the mold cavity. Fluid force presses the molten glass against the walls of the mold cavity and against the extended plunger. The opening in the mold is closed by a baffle and the plunger retracted. Compressed air is applied through the neck of the parison to expand the parison outwardly against the mold cavity and a mold surface defined by the baffle means. The parison is then separated for further processing in the bottle making operation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing glass bottles is disclosed which includes consecutively delivering gobs of molten glass into a blank mold, forming each gob into a parison, transferring the parisons alternately into at least two sets of blow molds, allowing said parisons to reheat, and expanding the parisons in the blow molds. The sets of blow molds reciprocate along a substantially vertical path. A first position where the parisons are alternately received by the blow molds and blown containers removed is located on the vertical path. The parisons are expanded and cooled in the blow molds by blowing them out or by applying a vacuum, or a combination of those means at a second position on the vertical path.

Abstract: A method of forming glass bottles from a short parison is disclosed, which method includes the steps of mechanically elongating the parison in a blow mold to an extent that the exterior bottom of the elongated parison is near, but not at, the bottom of the blow mold cavity and subsequently expanding the elongated parison by vacuum on its exterior and/or by air pressure on its interior, and finally removing the blown bottle from the blow mold.

Abstract: An improved pressing machine for hollow glassware comprising advancing means for advancing molds through a series of advance steps for molding one range of size of articles and for advancing the molds through advance steps of other distances for molding articles of other size ranges. For each size range of articles to be produced, the machine includes a group of glass discharging devices discharging molten glass into each of the molds and a plurality of pressing devices for molding the glass within the molds. These devices are spaced relative to each other by distances equal to the distance of advance of the molds from station to station. The pressing machine further includes a molding plate having an adaptor for mounting molds of different sizes depending on which range of sized articles are to be produced.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the manufacture of large glass containers, comprises preparing a glass gob of a predetermined weight in an automatic mechanical feeder and feeding it to a first preparatory mold at a predetermined frequency. A parison is formed in the preparatory mold, at the same frequency, the parison comprising a finished mouth of the glass container to be formed. The parison is then transferred to a second, prefinishing mold, and, at the same frequency, a prefinished parison is formed. The prefinished parison is transferred to a third, finishing mold, and, at a frequency in a ratio of from 1:1 to 1:4 of the predetermined frequency, the finished glass container is formed. The expansion of the prefinished parison is controlled by the action of compressed air conveyed to the interior of the parison from its mouth.

Abstract: Optical fibers are produced with improved cross sectional circularity. In the course of the fabrication process, the tubular preform from which the fibers are drawn, is collapsed under positive internal pressure. This removes most cross sectional noncircularities that may have developed during fabrication of the preform, and also ensures the collapse of the preform to a structure with circular cross section.

Abstract: Method for forming glass containers by the blow and blow process in which a parison mold having a plurality of cavities is centrally positioned relative to a pair of blow molds having a plurality of cavities. The parisons are formed with their necks down in the parison mold from a charge of glass delivered to each cavity. Vacuum is applied to the neck area of the mold to form the finish portion of the container. A neck pin is pulled and air under pressure is fed to the interior of the area from which the neck pin is drawn to expand the glass within the parison mold at a continuous rate until the glass within the parison mold comes in contact with a baffle which closes the upper end of the parison mold. The parison mold is then opened and the parisons are transferred alternately from the parison mold to the blow molds where they are expanded into final shape. During the transfer of the parisons from the parison mold to the blow mold, air under pressure is maintained within the hollow interior of the parison.

Abstract: Molding of hollow glass articles wherein a gob flows from a feeder into a mold and forms a hollow tube as it enters the mold, and a pressure differential is applied across the tube so that the tube is shaped in the mold to form the hollow article. During application of the pressure differential, deformation of the glass between the feeder and mold, is prevented by proximately positioning of the feeder and mold. This pressure differential is obtained by applying vacuum between the mold and molten tube.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for forming glass bottles by the blow and blow process. A parison mold having a one-piece annular blank mold section and split neck and shoulder mold sections is charged fully with molten glass. Air is subsequently blown through a manifold covering the upper end of the parison mold to force the molten glass into an annular space defined by a cavity in the neck mold section and a neck pin projected into the neck mold cavity. The neck pin is then reciprocated from the neck mold cavity, and air is blown through the molded neck to cause the molten glass to chill its surface by pressure contact with the inside of an upright truncated pyramidal-shaped cavity formed in the blank mold section. The glass which comes into contact with the cavity walls in the blank mold section develops a very uniform enamel due to the uniform cooling achieved with the solid annular blank mold section.

Abstract: Molding of hollow glass articles wherein a gob flows from a feeder into a mold and forms a hollow tube as it enters the mold, and a pressure differential is applied across the tube so that the tube is shaped in the mold to form the hollow article. During application of the pressure differential, deformation of the glass between the feeder and mold, is prevented by proximately positioning of the feeder and mold.

Abstract: A control system for operating the ram vertically movable in and out of a glass mold. The control system for operating the ram includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and a hydraulic cylinder which is interconnected to the pump and to the reservoir. A vertically reciprocal piston is positioned in the cylinder. Valve means control the flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump and reservoir to the chambers defined on opposite sides of the piston. The operating system includes a first control of hydraulic fluid and fluid pressure to the first chamber and from the second chamber for rapidly lowering or permitting free fall of the ram towards the mold by action of gravity and a second control means of the fluid pressure on both sides of the piston to reduce the speed of the ram to pressing speed and finally to a fixed pressing position.

Abstract: In a conjunction with a glassware press-molding machine, an arrangement of Bernoulli nozzles is employed to remove the articles from the mold, complete the forming of the articles, cool them, heat treat them and transfer them to a conveyor. The cooling and heat treating is effected by air from the nozzle combined with an airflow directed onto the underside of the articles while supported by the Bernoulli nozzles.