Patent · US Expired

Conveyor drive mechanism for a glass sheet manufacturing system

US4133667A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
6References
33Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 20, 1978
Grant dateJan 9, 1979
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 20, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B35/164
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A conveyor drive mechanism for a glass manufacturing apparatus transports a glass sheet through a glass processing station. The conveyor drive mechanism includes first and second conveyor drives disposed on opposed lateral sides of the station. Each of the conveyor drives includes first and second pulleys and a continuous drive loop trained thereover. The glass plate is supported on a plurality of elongate rollers that extend between the conveyor drives and have their opposed ends supported on and in frictional engagement with the continuous drive loops. A first torque source applies drive torque to the first pulleys, and a second counter-torque source applies a counter-torque to the second pulleys. The cooperative effect of the first and second sources provides at least a minimum, predetermined level of tension in the active areas of the continuous drive loops at all times. A control circuit for controlling the energization of the first torque source and second counter-torque source is disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.