Discrete glass cutting and edge shaping
AssigneePPG Industries, Inc.
InventorRaymond J. Mouly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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. The cut glass edge is shaped after cutting while the edge is still at the softening temperature. Duuring the line heating and cutting operation, the overall glass temperature is maintained above the strain point of the glass.
Claims36
A method of severing glass along a selected line of cut while maintaining its optical properties comprising:
- heating a zone of said glass to or above its softening temperature, wherein said line of cut is within said said zone;
- maintaining glass portions outside of said zone at a temperature at which said glass portions are sufficiently rigid to be handled without marking or otherwise adversely affecting its optical properties;
- dividing said glass along said heated line of cut to provide a glass edge;
- and
- shaping said glass edge to a predetermined configuration during said dividing step.
An apparatus for shearing glass along a selected line of cut while maintaining the optical properties of said glass comprising:
- means to support said glass;
- means to heat a zone of said glass to or above its softening temperature wherein said line of cut is within said zone;
- means to maintain glass portions outside of said zone at a temeprature at which said glass portions are sufficiently rigid to be handled without marking or otherwise affecting its optical properties;
- means to divide said glass along said line of cut to provide a glass edge;
- and
- means associated with said dividing means to shape said glass edge to a predetermined configuration while said edge is at or above said softening point temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.