Apparatus and method for positioning glass sheets
US5403369A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B2225/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus (10) for positioning a heated glass sheet G includes a longitudinally extending air flotation conveyor (12) for receiving and floating the heated glass sheet, a glass sheet vacuum mold (14) movably mounted above the air floatation conveyor for receiving the heated glass sheet, a glass sheet positioner (16) mounted relative to the mold for peripherally engaging and laterally and longitudinally positioning the glass sheet with respect to the mold and an array of lift jets (18) interspersed amongst the air flotation conveyor and located beneath the mold for lifting the glass sheet onto the vacuum mold through the application of lifting air on the bottom surface of the glass sheet. A glass sheet processing ring (26) transversely movable relative to the air flotation conveyor (12) subsequently receives the glass sheet from the mold (14). A method for positioning the heated glass sheet includes the steps of conveying the glass sheet on a cushion of air, peripherally engaging the floating glass sheet, locating the engaged floating glass sheet beneath a vacuum mold, applying jets of lifting air to lift the floating glass sheet upwardly to the vacuum mold, and applying vacuum to e…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.