US3793167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for manufacturing metal-coated glass
Assignee: Globe-Amerada Glass Co
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Filing: 1972-06-01
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1992-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Glass sheets are conveyed through a vacuum tunnel oven. The glass sheets are heated and outgassed, decontaminated, metal coated, and overcoated to protect the metal finish. The metal and refractory coatings are applied by an electromagnetic sputtering deposition in which the material is deposited at a controlled rate with particle impact upon a glass substrate at a very high velocity and a high voltage. Optical sensors monitor the process and activate the movement of the glass sheets as they reach the desired state of preparation at each station.
Inventors
- 👤 J Glaser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:06
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/56; C23C14/568
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and means for bombarding with electrons said blanks prior to sputtering for cleaning said blanks from ions lodged in the intermolecular interstices of the lattice forming the structure of the blank and reactive oxygen network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and means for detecting the cleaning of said interstices of said blank to a predetermined depth, and means responsive to said detection for moving said blank to said sputtering means where said film is deposited on said blank with molecular bonding into said interstices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 and sputtering means for overcoating said film with a transparent mechanically protecting layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sputtering means for overcoating is suitable for applying a transparent layer of a refractory oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sputtering means for overcoating is suitable for applying a transparent layer taken from the class of materials including aluminum oxide, spinels, silicates, titanium oxides, and magnesium aluminum iron silicate and oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and a vacuum-tight housing having a plurality of stations separated by bulkheads having lower edges under which said blanks move as they are conveyed from station to station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 7 and baffle means in each of said stations, and means for pumping controlled amounts of gas around said baffle to sweep across the surface of said blanks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 7 and light filter means having light transmission characteristics complementary to the desired light transmission characteristics of said blanks, and photoelectric sensors positioned on one side of said filter aligned with said blank to detect when light from the other side of said blank is obscured by the complementary characteristics of said glass and said filter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3294670A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |