Apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets are described. The methods and apparatus described include positioning an auxiliary heater between a furnace and an entrance to glass bending station and/or positioning a downstream auxiliary heater between a glass bending station and a quench station. Also described are apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets by compensating for heat loss and maintaining the glass viscosity within a workable range for the bending or forming operation. Auxiliary heating elements can be placed in locations that would otherwise provide for excessive heat loss.

Disclosed is a laminated glass structure with one or more inner glass layers with at least one in tension and two outer glass layers in compression wherein one or both of the outer layers at least partially wrap around the one or more inner layers at one or more of the edges of the laminated glass structure. Also disclosed is a process for forming a laminated glass structure, comprising providing a laminated glass structure, removing at least some glass from at least one the edges of the structure to produce a concavity in at the at least one edge and applying heat to the at least one edge.

Disclosed is a laminated glass structure with one or more inner glass layers with at least one in tension and two outer glass layers in compression wherein one or both of the outer layers at least partially wrap around the one or more inner layers at one or more of the edges of the laminated glass structure. Also disclosed is a process for forming a laminated glass structure, comprising providing a laminated glass structure, removing at least some glass from at least one the edges of the structure to produce a concavity in at the at least one edge and applying heat to the at least one edge.

Methods and systems are provided for automated shaping of a glass sheet. The methods comprise preheating the glass, bending the glass through selective, and focused beam heating through the use of an ultra-high frequency, high-power electromagnetic wave, and computer implemented processes utilizing thermal and shape (positional) data obtained in real-time, and cooling the glass sheet to produce a glass sheet suitable for use in air and space vehicles.

To improve the production yield rate of a synthesis corundum cell superior in translucency, chemical resistance or an optical component comprising calcium fluoride. On the other end side of synthetic corundum piece, spacer intervenes between the surfaces which will be bonded. The spacer is crushed flat by pressure force which effects the other end side of synthetic corundum piece in the case of heat-treatment after the temporary bonding. Thereby, the spacer does not disturb the synthetic optical contacting or chemical pressurized fusion bonding state of corundum piece.

A glass forming furnace includes a forming zone, a cleaning zone, a plurality of sealing doors, and a conveying channel. The forming zone includes a pressure device. The pressure device includes a servo motor, a push rod, and a mold pressurizing mechanism. The push rod is connected with the servo motor. The push rod includes an end notch and an embedded structure. The mold pressurizing mechanism includes an inlet notch. The inlet notch is connected with the embedded structure. Wherein, the end notch is in contact with the inlet notch. The cleaning zone includes an active brush mechanism. The sealing doors are disposed at an inlet and an outlet of the forming zone, respectively. The sealing doors each include a valve. The valve has a cross-sectional thickness that is gradually decreased from top to bottom. The conveying channel passes through the forming zone and the cleaning zone. The conveying channel is configured to convey a plurality of glass forming molds. The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the heating zone can be sealed and the molds can be cleaned more effectively.

A method for manufacturing a glass plate includes processing for irradiating an inner circumferential edge surface extending along an inner hole in an annular glass plate with a laser beam along the inner circumferential edge surface. When the inner circumferential edge surface is irradiated with the laser beam, the laser beam is concentrated by a condenser lens and formed into diffused light, and the inner circumferential edge surface is irradiated with the diffused light from a direction inclined with respect to a main surface of the glass plate.

A method for controlling the thickness of a glass ribbon and an article produced thereby are provided. The method includes: providing a glass ribbon by drawing from a melt or redrawing from a preform; predefining a nominal thickness of the glass ribbon; determining the thickness of the glass ribbon over its entire net width; determining at least one deviation of the thickness of the glass ribbon from the predefined nominal thickness; identifying the area of the thickness deviation in the glass ribbon; and heating the area of the at least one thickness deviation in the glass ribbon using a laser, so that the glass ribbon attains the predefined thickness.

A method for controlling the thickness of a glass ribbon and an article produced thereby are provided. The method includes: providing a glass ribbon by drawing from a melt or redrawing from a preform; predefining a nominal thickness of the glass ribbon; determining the thickness of the glass ribbon over its entire net width; determining at least one deviation of the thickness of the glass ribbon from the predefined nominal thickness; identifying the area of the thickness deviation in the glass ribbon; and heating the area of the at least one thickness deviation in the glass ribbon using a laser, so that the glass ribbon attains the predefined thickness.

A high frequency heating apparatus which heats a substrate by applying high frequency waves thereto. The high frequency heating apparatus includes a high frequency generator which generates high frequency to heat the substrate. The distance from the substrate to the high frequency generator is n/2*, where n is a natural number ranging from 1 to 6, and is the wavelength of the high frequency that is generated by the high frequency generator.