Process for drawing glass fiber using prediction of future geometric parameter of the fiber

US6098428A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• HERAEUS QUARZGLAS GMBH & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

• Thomas Bogdahn · Karlstein, DE
• Harald Hain · Alzenau, DE
• Markoto Sajidman · Karlsruhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 1996
• Grant date: Aug 8, 2000
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C03B2205/72
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A glass blank is sent to a heating zone where it is softened region by region and drawn continuously in a controlled manner as a drawing bulb is formed. Estimates of at least one controlled variable are predicted free of dead time; in addition, at least one geometric variable of the component which can be correlated with the controlled variable is measured continuously, and the measurement values thus obtained are used to adjust the predicted estimates. On the basis of the predicted estimates thus adjusted, the nominal-actual deviation of the controlled variable is determined and converted to a change in a controlling variable. To ensure the production of a component with especially high dimensional accuracy, a geometric variable is measured at a first measurement site in the area of the drawing bulb for the prediction of the estimate, and the temperature of the drawing bulb be measured and used as a controlled variable. A measuring device to which a measurement site in the softened area of the blank is assigned is preferably provided to detect the geometric variable of the component.