Apparatus and method for handling heated glass sheets
US4364765A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1981 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B2225/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Sheet glass is heated during conveyance within a furnace housing having a fixed roof and vertically movable side doors that define side slots through which ends of conveyor rolls project outwardly to be supported and frictionally driven by continuous drive loops slidably driven over external support surfaces that extend alongside the side slots. A vacuum holder of the apparatus is positioned within the furnace housing above the conveyor and has a downwardly facing surface with spaced openings in which a vacuum is drawn to receive a glass sheet from the conveyor and support the sheet above the conveyor. The holder surface is disclosed as being both planar and curved and as having a porous cover of ceramic fibers so as to distribute the vacuum and prevent marring of the glass as it is supported. A greater vacuum is drawn to initially support the glass and a lesser vacuum is subsequently drawn to prevent glass deformation at the spaced openings. Vertically movable auxiliary lifters positioned between the rolls or vertical movement of the vacuum holder facilitates glass pickup. Sensing of the glass position along the conveyor and operation of a locator cooperatively provide accurate po…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.