Glass Article Heating Apparatus with Matrix Heat Supply for Damage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass articles used in portable electronic devices are prone to damage such as dents or cracks during heat treatment, which reduces their compressive stress and strength, necessitating a solution for rapid heat treatment without compromising the glass's physical properties.
Innovation Solution
A glass article manufacturing apparatus with thermally conductive side portions and heat supply portions arranged in a matrix form, allowing for rapid heating rates of 10 Kelvin per minute or greater, which minimizes damage and maintains high compressive stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat treatment is performed on strengthened glass article, then damage such as dents or cracks is reduced, but compressive stress is degraded and strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the heating rate and temperature profile during heat treatment. Specifically, the heating rate is maintained at 10 K/min or greater, and the glass transition temperature is elevated through compositional adjustments (such as adding ZrO2, TiO2, or Nb2O5). These parameter changes enable rapid heat treatment that reduces damage while preserving compressive stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by implementing a time-dependent heating process with controlled rates. The heat treatment process dynamically adjusts temperature over time, using rapid heating followed by controlled cooling to achieve damage reduction while maintaining the strength characteristics of the strengthened glass article.
2Reliability
If conventional heat treatment is performed, then damage is reduced, but treatment time is long causing productivity loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the heating rate parameter to 10 K/min or greater, which is significantly faster than conventional heat treatment rates. This parameter change reduces the total heat treatment time while still achieving damage reduction, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the 'rushing through' principle by implementing rapid heating that quickly passes through the critical temperature range where damage could occur. This allows the heat treatment to be completed in a short time frame, reducing productivity loss while still achieving the desired damage reduction effect.
3Length of moving object
If glass article is made thinner for portability, then device size is reduced, but resistance to external impacts decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the glass by incorporating specific oxides (ZrO2: 0.1-10 wt%, TiO2: 0.1-5 wt%, Nb2O5: 0.1-5 wt%) that elevate the glass transition temperature and enhance mechanical strength. This allows thin glass articles to maintain high impact resistance despite reduced thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite glass material system by combining base glass components with strengthening oxides. This composite structure provides both the thinness required for portability and the enhanced strength needed for impact resistance, resolving the contradiction between thickness and strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively prevents damage to strengthened glass articles during heat treatment, ensuring high compressive stress and sufficient strength without cracks or dents, enabling rapid production of durable glass articles.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heat supply portions disposed on each of the side portions; where adjacent side portions adjacent to each other are disposed to face each other
Implementation Method 2
each of the heat supply portions may have a size of about 2 square centimeters (cm2) or greater and may include a halogen lamp
Implementation Method 3
the side portions may include a thermally conductive material. In an embodiment, the thermally conductive material has a thermal conductivity of about 200 Watts per meter-Kelvin (W/mk) or greater
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for manufacturing a glass article includes a plurality of side portions spaced apart from each other; and a plurality of heat supply portions disposed on each of the side portions; where the side portions adjacent to each other are disposed to face each other, and a glass is allowed to be disposed between the adjacent side portions.