Liquid-ejecting bearings for transport of glass sheets
US9708136B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2249/04
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Non-contact, liquid-ejecting bearings (3) are provided for conveying flexible glass sheets (13), such as LCD substrates, at high conveyance speeds, e.g., speeds of 15 meters/minute and above. The operating parameters and physical properties of the bearings satisfy at least one of the following conditions: (a) the average flow rate from the bearing's orifices (22) is in the range of 100-800 milliliters/minute/orifice; (b) the orifices' average horizontal pitch (P) is in the range of 20-55 millimeters; and/or (c) the orifices' average size (e.g., D0) is in the range of 1.0-4.5 millimeters. The bearings (3) can reduce the time-averaged, peak-to-peak variation in the spacing between a LCD substrate (13) traveling at 15 meters/minute and the face (20) of the bearing (3) to less than 100 microns, thus reducing the chances that the bearing (3) will lose control of the substrate (13) or that the substrate (13) will hit the bearing (3).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.