Patent ID: 6098428
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: C03B,G05B,G05D

Abstract:
Method of producing an elongated component of glass, said method comprisingheating a glass blank to form a softened region,drawing said component continuously from the softened region in a drawing direction at a drawing rate to form a drawing bulb,continually measuring a geometric variable at a first measurement site adjacent the drawing bulb and at a second measurement site displaced therefrom by an intersite distance in said drawing direction to obtain measurements as said component is drawn,determining values for a controlled variable, each of said values being based on a respective one of the measurements taken at said first measurement site,adjusting each of the values for the controlled variable based on a respective one of the measurements of the geometric variable measured at said second measurement site and a respective earlier value of the controlled variable determined based on one of the measurements at the first measurement site that precedes said measurement at said second measurement site by a period of dead time related to the drawing rate and the intersite distance,determining deviations between at least one desired value and the adjusted values of the controlled variable, andcontrolling the drawing of said component based on values of a controlling variable determined based on the deviations.