Abstract:
A method and apparatus for processing glass comprising a forming apparatus in a first processing zone, the forming apparatus configured to form a glass ribbon having a first direction of travel in the first processing zone. The apparatus also includes a first cutting apparatus in a second processing zone, the first cutting apparatus configured to separate one or more portions of the glass ribbon, the glass ribbon having a second direction of travel. The apparatus includes a first buffer zone between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass ribbon is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart payoff positions. The second direction of travel in the second processing zone can be orthogonal to the first direction of travel in the first processing zone.
Abstract:
A glass ribbon engagement system is described herein that includes a robot tooling device with suction cups configured to engage a first side of a glass ribbon, and a guidance device with one or more devices (e.g., air nozzles, cylinder-wheel units) which are configured to apply one or more local forces to a second side of the glass ribbon to shift the glass ribbon towards the suction cups to assist the suction cups in engaging and securing the first side of the glass ribbon.
Abstract:
An apparatus for making a glass ribbon can include a heating plane including a heat footprint facing the surface of an edge director. A projection of the heat footprint in a resultant direction of the heating plane within the heat footprint can intersect the surface of the edge director. In further embodiments, a fusion draw method of making a glass ribbon can include radiating heat within a heat footprint of a heating plane toward a surface of an edge director. At least a portion of the heating plane within the heat footprint can face the surface of the edge director so that the surface of the edge director is intersected with heat radiating from the heat footprint of the heating plane.
Abstract:
An apparatus for making a glass sheet including a forming apparatus, a transition member, and a heat transfer device. The forming apparatus forms a glass ribbon from a supply of molten glass. The transition member encloses the glass ribbon adjacent the forming apparatus, and defines an interior space through which the glass ribbon passes. The heat transfer device is disposed within the interior space, and comprises a tube and a fin. The tube defines an exterior surface and an interior passage. The fin projects from the exterior surface. With this construction, the heat transfer device functions to extract heat radiated by the glass ribbon while minimizing the formation of flow vortices.
Abstract:
A glass forming apparatus and method include a cooling mechanism in a wall of the apparatus that enhances radiation heat transfer between the glass and the wall of the apparatus and is tunable in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus and method also include a heating mechanism that affects radiation heat transfer between the glass and the wall of the apparatus, is tunable in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and is independently operable from the cooling mechanism.
Abstract:
A system and method are described herein for controlling an environment around an inlet tube in the glass manufacturing system. More specifically, the system and method control a level of hydrogen within a humid gas mixture that flows over an exterior of the inlet tube to effectively suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions in molten glass that flows through the inlet tube.
Abstract:
A glass ribbon engagement system is described herein that includes a robot tooling device with suction cups configured to engage a first side of a glass ribbon, and a guidance device with one or more devices (e.g., air nozzles, cylinder-wheel units) which are configured to apply one or more local forces to a second side of the glass ribbon to shift the glass ribbon towards the suction cups to assist the suction cups in engaging and securing the first side of the glass ribbon.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods for compensating the varying weight of a glass ribbon the glass ribbon is drawn from a molten glass forming material, and an apparatus therefore. The weight compensating apparatus is configured to apply a force to the glass ribbon that is inversely proportional to the weight of the glass ribbon such that as the glass ribbon weight increases, the force applied to the glass ribbon by the weight compensating device decreases.
Abstract:
An aluminosilicate glass, including in mole percent on an oxide basis, MgO+CaO+SrO+Li2O+ZnO+Y2O3+ZrO2+La2O3+TiO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5 in a range of from 5 mol % to 25 mol %. The glass is processable by (i) flowing the glass in a molten state over forming surfaces to form a glass ribbon, the forming surfaces converging at a root and (ii) drawing the glass ribbon using pulling rollers to form a glass sheet, wherein the pulling rollers are spaced at a pulling roller distance from the root, and wherein the glass exhibits a viscosity curve slope obtained by plotting a temperature gradient to increase a root viscosity of the glass at the root, to a higher viscosity at one of several positions between the root and the pulling rollers, and a viscosity of the glass at the pulling rollers. The glass comprises a liquidus viscosity, the root viscosity being less than the liquidus viscosity, and the glass comprising a viscosity curve slope that prevents a baggy warp defect. In certain embodiments, when the root viscosity of the glass is in a range of from about 70 kP to about 90 kP, and the viscosity of the glass at the pulling rollers is greater than 90 kP and less than or equal 1×108 kP, the temperature gradient is less than 150° C.