Patent · US Expired

Roll drive mechanism for glass sheet processing equipment

US4341546A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
7References
13Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 1981
Grant dateJul 27, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 25, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B35/186
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A roll drive mechanism (14) for a horizontal roller conveyor (12) of glass sheet processing equipment (10) has particular utility with a heating furnace (18) of a glass sheet tempering system. First and second continuous drive loops (22,24) of the drive mechanism extend along the conveyor and are alternately engageable in a driving relationship with conveyor rolls (16) over associated lengths (26,28,30) of the conveyor that are selectively adjustable to provide a desired transition between adjacent conveyor sections driven by different drive loops. First and second electric motor drives (32,34) respectively drive the loops to provide synchronous or independent glass sheet conveyance over the different lengths of the conveyor. A pair of each of the first and second drive loops (22,24) are preferably utilized with opposite ends of the conveyor rolls supported thereon and having driven and reduced size portions (88,90 and 86,92) that permit end-for-end roll repositioning to adjust the transition between the driving of the loops. The preferred construction utilizes chains as the drive loops (22,24) with the roll ends projecting outwardly through side slots (66) in the furnace (18) for …

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