Importance

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Abstract

Automatic heating controls for heating of glass sheets and methods utilizing such controls are provided so that area temperatures approach plus or minus 1 degree Fahrenheit of area desired temperatures, in a steady state operation through a furnace having heaters. Area temperatures and area desired temperatures are combined to obtain area temperature errors. The area temperature errors, area setpoint temperatures, and a comparison of adjacent area temperatures and/or area setpoint temperatures are then applied to integral-only feedback control so as to provide area furnace system demand. For thick glass (i.e., greater than approximately 3 mm thickness) core temperatures are included to obtain temperature errors. Then, area furnace system demand is utilized to adjust the heat output of the heaters, the speed of the transport system, or both. Following a gap in the flow of glass sheets, the area temperatures are returned to steady state operation within 10 minutes.

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First Claim