Formation of elongated glass components with low bow using a gripper device

A method of producing an elongated component of glass with low bow, the method comprising:

• heating a bulk glass component to form a strand;
• determining the center of the strand;
• aligning a clamping element of a gripper device with the center of the strand, wherein the gripper device further comprises a low-friction mounting element attached to the clamping element which allows translational movement of the clamping element in an x-y plane, wherein the z direction is defined by the direction in which the strand is drawn;
• bringing the clamping element into contact with the strand, whereby the position of the strand is not disturbed by the clamping element clamping to the strand in the event of misalignment;
• and
• moving the gripper device in a linear downward direction away from the bulk glass component to lengthen the strand.

A method of correcting bow in an elongated component of glass being drawn from a bulk glass component in a heating element, the method comprising:

• attaching a gripper device to a strand, the gripper device including a clamping element, and a mounting element attached to the clamping element which allows translational movement of the clamping device in an x-y plane, wherein the z direction is defined by the direction in which the strand is drawn;
• measuring an amount of transverse acceleration in the strand;
• and
• moving the clamping element attached to the strand on the mounting element in the opposite direction of the transverse acceleration to reduce the amount of bow in the strand.