CPC Definition - Subclass C03B

Last Updated Version: 2019.02
MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
Relationships with other classification places

C03B concerns all aspects of glass manufacture processes, apparatus and C03C relates to the glass chemistry, such as composition, additives, chemical treatment.

C04B relates to ceramics having a crystallographic structure different from the glass compounds. For composites containing glass and ceramic, composites comprising more than 50% of glass are classified in C03C.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Preparation of finely divided silica

C01B 33/18

Changing the surface of the glass ribbon by chemical methods

C03C

Chemical aspects of glass

C03C

Refining agents

C03C 1/00

Chemical aspects of hollow, porous, sintered or foamed beads

C03C 11/00

Beads composition

C03C 12/00

Surface treatment of glass by coating with glass

C03C 17/02

Surface treatment of fibres or filaments from glass, minerals or wools, sizing of the fibres

C03C 25/00

Coating of the fibre during the drawing process

C03C 25/10

Optical fibres per se with polarisation maintaining properties in light guides

G02B 6/024

Cutting or severing of light guides

G02B 6/25

Fusion-splicing of light guides

G02B 6/255

Treatment of light guides to shape optical elements

G02B 6/287

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Syringes

A61M 5/178

Devices for reactant delivery in general

B01J 4/00

Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware

B01L 3/00

Nozzles

B05B

Disposal or transformation of solid waste in general

B09B

Machines or processes for grinding or polishing glass

B24B 7/24

Molding plastics around a core using a cross-head annular extrusion nozzle

B29C 48/34

Extrusion presses in general

B30B 11/22

Windows, windscreens for vehicles

B60J 1/00

Windows, doors for airplanes

B64C 1/14

Glass containers, e.g. bottles, ampoules, jars

B65D 1/00

Conveying systems for fragile sheets, e.g. glass

B65G 49/06

Hand tools for cutting ampoules

B67B 7/92

Crucibles for supporting the melt

C30B 15/10

Bi-component fibres

D01F 8/00

Yarns or threads made from glass

D02G 3/18

Woven fabrics

D03D 15/00

Non-woven fabrics

D04H 13/00

Building elements of glass or other transparent material

E04C 1/42

Doors, windows

E06

Thermal insulation arrangements using fillers, e.g. slag wool

F16L 59/04

Globes, bowls, cover glasses

F21V 3/00

Brick shapes in general

F27D 1/04

Optical glass, lens

G02B 1/00

Programme-control system

G05B 19/00

Treatment of radioactive waste

G21F 9/00

Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps

H01J 9/00

Special rules of classification

The IPC group C03B8/00 is not used in CPC. Depending on the process used, production of glass may be classified in the following CPC groups:

C03B8/00 is classified in C03B 19/00, C03B 37/00

C03B8/02 is classified in C03B 19/1065, C03B 19/12, C03B 37/011, C03B 37/016

C03B8/04 is classified in C03B 19/106, C03B 19/14, C03B 37/014

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Annealing

Process of slowly cooling glass to relieve internal stresses after it was formed

Cullet

Scraps of broken or waste glass for remelting

Debiteuse

Clay block floating upon molten glass in a tank furnace and containing a long slot that shapes glass into a sheet as it is drawn through it

Gob

Lump of molten glass used to make a piece of glassware

Mineral wool

Inorganic fibrous material made from molten glass

Slag wool

Mineral wool made from blast-furnace slag

Tempering

Process of heating glass above its annealing point and then rapidly cooling it.

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:

Mineral wool, slag wool

Rock wool

Tempered

Toughened

Preparing the batches (chemical compositions C03C)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Preparation of raw mixtures used in manufacturing glass, mineral or slag wool (batches), e.g. mixing, pelletizing

Relationships with other classification places

The chemical composition of the batch is classed in C03C 1/00.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Chemical compositions

C03C

Charging the melting furnaces
Definition statement

This place covers:

Processes and devices concerning the addition of glass-making ingredients into the melting furnaces

Melting in furnaces; Furnaces so far as specially adapted for glass manufacture
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Melting processes of glass-making ingredients in furnaces
  • Furnaces used for glass manufacture
References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Mixing

B01F

Burners

F23D

Furnaces

F27

Electrical heating

H05B

Special rules of classification

Heating processes to be classified in C03B 2211/00

{of glass-forming waste materials (disposal or transformation of solid waste in general B09B; treatment of radioactive waste G21F 9/00)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Waste materials melted in furnaces to form glass, e.g. recycling of glass to produce new glass

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Disposal of solid waste

B09B

Treatment of radioactive waste

G21F 9/00

Distributors for the molten glass; Means for taking-off charges of molten glass; Producing the gob {, e.g. controlling the gob shape, weight or delivery tact}
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Means for taking off charges of molten glass
  • Forehearths, i.e. feeder channels
  • Feeder spouts, e.g. gob feeders, pneumatic feeders, spout blocks
  • Suction, scoop feeders
Blowing glass; Production of hollow glass articles
Definition statement

This place covers:

Shaping of glass by blowing processes with production of hollow glass articles:

  • with blow pipes, in gob feeder machines, in I.S. machines (individual section machines), past mould machines, moulds, blow heads
References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Valves

F16K

Control systems

G05B or G05D

Pressing {molten} glass {or performed glass reheated to equivalent low viscosity without blowing (shaping molten glass by a press-blow process C03B 9/00, e.g. C03B 9/193; re-forming shaped glass C03B 23/00; re-heating the performed glass C03B 29/00; transporting the performed or pressed glass during its manufacture C03B 35/00)}
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Shaping molten glass by a press-blow process

C03B 9/00

Re-forming shaped glass

C03B 23/00

Re-heating the preformed glass

C03B 29/00

Transporting the preformed or pressed glass during its manufacture

C03B 35/00

Special rules of classification

Material and mould characteristics to be also classed in C03B 2215/00

Rolling {molten} glass {, i.e. where the molten glass is shaped by rolling (re-forming shaped glass by rolling C03B 23/004, C03B 23/033, C03B 23/055)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Rolling of profiled glass articles, patterned and non-patterned sheets, corrugated sheets
  • Construction of glass rollers
  • Auxiliary means for rolling glass, e.g gripping devices, sheet supports, roller beds for the rolled plate glass
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

re-forming shaped glass by rolling

C03B 23/004, C03B 23/033, C03B 23/055

Drawing glass upwardly from the melt
Definition statement

This place covers:

Drawing glass upwardly from the melt processes with production of drawing glass sheets, tubes, cylinders

Forming {molten} glass by flowing-out, pushing-out, {extruding} or drawing downwardly or laterally from forming slits or by overflowing over lips
Definition statement

This place covers:

Forming glass processes by flowing out with formation of glass coated with coloured layers, formation of tubes, glass sheets

Shaping glass in contact with the surface of a liquid
Definition statement

This place covers:

Shaping glass processes in contact with the surface of a liquid, i.e. float bath, with formation of sheets

Other methods of shaping glass (manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres or filaments from softened glass, minerals or slags C03B 37/00)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres or filaments from softened glass, minerals or slags

C03B 37/00

Crucibles for supporting the melt in single-crystal growth by pulling form a melt; crucibles for the production of after treatment of single crystals

C30B 15/10, C30B 35/002

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Mold made of carbon ceramic

C04B 35/52

Carbon electrodes

H05B 7/085

Special rules of classification

Glass characteristics to be also classed in C03B 2201/00

Glass deposition burners to be also classed in C03B 2207/00

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Liquid phase reaction

Sol-gel process

Processes specially adapted for the production of quartz or fused silica articles {, not otherwise provided for (C03B 19/01, C03B 19/066, C03B 19/106, C03B 19/12, C03B 19/14, C03B 37/00 take precedence)}
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Shaping glass by progressive fusion of powdered glass

C03B 19/01

Shaping glass by sintering for the production of quartz or fused silica articles

C03B 19/066

Forming solid beads by chemical vapour deposition

C03B 19/106

Shaping glass by liquid-phase reaction

C03B 19/12

Shaping glass by gas or vapour phase reaction processes

C03B 19/14

Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres or filaments from softened glass, minerals or slags

C03B 37/00

Severing glass sheets, tubes or rods while still plastic
Definition statement

This place covers:

The cutting, the punching out, the burning-off, of glass which is in a plastic state, meaning its temperature is around softening point. There is no material ablation

Re-forming shaped glass (re-forming fibres or filaments C03B 37/14)
Definition statement

This place covers:

The re-forming of shaped glass which has already been formed such as by pressing, centrifuging, rolling, bending, blowing, etc.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Re-forming fibres or filaments

C03B 37/14

Uniting glass pieces with the addition of material

C03C 27/00

Special rules of classification

C03B 23/20 only concerns uniting glass without any material addition and/or reshaping.

Fabrics, felts or loose covers for preventing direct contact between the hot glass and means used to shape it are classed in C03B 40/005

Details of transporting means are also classified in C03B 2225/00

Annealing glass products
Definition statement

This place covers:

The annealing of glass products in discontinuous or continuous way

Tempering {or quenching} glass products
Definition statement

This place covers:

Tempering by using heat of sublimation of solid particles, by heat treatment, by absorbing heat radiated from the glass product, using liquid or gas

by heat treatment, e.g. for crystallisation; Heat treatment of glass products before tempering by cooling (C03B 27/008, C03B 27/016 take precedence)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Tempering by using heat of sublimation of solid particles

C03B 27/008

Tempering by absorbing heat radiated from the glass product

C03B 27/016

Treatment of glass by performing ion exchange between alkali ions (chemical strengthening of glass)

C03C 21/002

Reheating glass products for softening or fusing their surfaces; Fire-polishing; Fusing of margins
Definition statement

This place covers:

Glass heating furnaces for reheating glass products in a discontinuous way or continuous way for softening or fusing their surfaces; for fire-polishing

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Furnaces

F27

Thermal after-treatment of glass products not provided for in groups {C03B 19/00} , C03B 25/00 - C03B 31/00 {or C03B 37/00}, e.g. crystallisation, eliminating gas inclusions or other impurities; {Hot-pressing vitrified, non-porous, shaped glass products}
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Methods of shaping glass

C03B 19/00

Annealing glass products

C03B 25/00

Tempering or quenching glass products

C03B 27/00

Reheating glass products for softening or fusing their surface

C03B 29/00

Manufacture of rippled or crackled glass

C03B 31/00

Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals or slags

C03B 37/00

Severing cooled glass (severing glass fibres C03B 37/16)
Definition statement

This place covers:

The "traditional" cutting of glass, meaning "without ablation of material"

Relationships with other classification places

Making a hole in cold glass sheet with material ablation is classified in B62D

Punching, embossing, making hole while glass is in plastic state ("hot" glass) with no material ablation is classified in C03B 21/00

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Severing glass fibres

C03B 37/16

Boring of glass

B26D

Sawing glass (e.g. cutting glass by ablation)

B26D

{Scoring using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser}
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Severing cooled glass by fusing , using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam

C03B 33/082

Tubes, rod or hollows glass products obtained by fusing cooled glass, using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam

C03B 33/0855

Severing cooled glass by thermal shock using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam

C03B 33/091, C03B 33/093

Tubes, rod or hollows glass products obtained by thermal shock of cooled glass, using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser

C03B 33/0955

{involving a focussed radiation beam, e.g. lasers}
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Severing cooled glass by fusing, using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam

C03B 33/082

Tubes, rod or hollows glass products obtained by fusing cooled glass, using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam

C03B 33/0855

Severing cooled glass by thermal shock using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam

C03B 33/091, C03B 33/093

Tubes, rod or hollows glass products obtained by thermal shock of cooled glass, using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser

C03B 33/0955

Special rules of classification

Lasers beam as such are classified in B23K 26/00.

Transporting of glass products during their manufacture, {e.g. hot glass lenses, prisms} (conveying systems for fragile sheets, e.g. glass B65G 49/06)
Definition statement

This place covers:

The transport of glass during its manufacture (C03B processes), meaning that the glass is hot.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Conveying systems for transport of cold glass sheets e.g. glass

B65G 49/06

Special rules of classification

Details of transporting means are also classified in C03B 2225/00

Manufacture or treatment of flakes, fibres, or filaments from softened glass, minerals, or slags
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Manufacture of flakes
  • Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by e.g. manufacture of preforms for drawing fibres or filaments, by drawing or extruding, by using centrifugal force, by blasting molten glass
Special rules of classification

Material characteristics to be also classed in C03B 2201/00

Fibre characteristics to be also classed in C03B 2203/00

Deposition burners to be also classed in C03B 2207/00

Fibre drawing characteristics to be also classed in C03B 2205/00

Preventing adhesion between glass and glass or between glass and the means used to shape it {, hold it or support it}
Special rules of classification

This group is only used if not already in C03B