Discrete glass sheet cutting
AssigneePPG Industries, Inc.
InventorsRaymond J. Mouly, Gerald E. Kunkle, Dewitt W. Lampman, Jack A. Bricker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Glass shapes and sheets are cut directly from a heated glass ribbon while maintaining the optical quality of the cut glass. A float glass ribbon is removed from a glass forming chamber and prior to annealing, a line of cut is heated to its softening temperature. A blade arrangement thereafter penetrates the glass along the heated line of cut to sever the glass. During the line heating and cutting operation, the overall glass temperature is maintained above the strain point of the glass.
Claims82
A method of severing glass along a selected line of cut while maintaining its optical properties comprising:
- maintaining said glass at a temperature at which said glass is sufficiently rigid to be handled without marking or otherwise adversely affecting its optical properties;
- establishing a heating pattern to heat said line of cut of glass to or above its softening temperature, and to heat portions of said glass in the vicinity of said line of cut to at least about the strain point of said glass;
- and
- dividing said glass along said heated line of cut.
An apparatus for shearing glass along a selected line of cut while maintaining the optical properties of said glass comprising:
- a supporting surface to support said glass;
- means to maintain said glass at a temperature at which said glass is sufficiently rigid to be handled without marking or otherwise affecting its optical properties;
- means to establish a heating pattern to heat said line of cut of said glass to or above its softening temperature and to heat portions of said glass in the vicinity of said line of cut to at least about the strain point temperature of said glass;
- and
- means to penetrate at least a substantial portion of the thickness of said glass along said heat softened line of cut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.