Glass sheet positioning apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894736-B2
Application number	US-201615772869-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2016
Priority date	Nov 2, 2015
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A glass sheet processing system for processing a glass sheet includes a conveyor for conveying the glass sheet in a direction of conveyance, and a positioning apparatus for adjusting position of the glass sheet on the conveyor. The positioning apparatus includes a movable carriage having first and second carriage bodies. The first carriage body is translatable in the direction of conveyance, and the second carriage body is supported by the first carriage body such that the second carriage body is movable in a direction generally transverse to the direction of conveyance. The positioning apparatus further includes a first drive assembly for moving the first carriage body in the direction of conveyance, a second drive assembly for moving the second carriage body with respect to the first carriage body, and a positioner member connected to the second carriage body for contacting the glass sheet to adjust position of the glass sheet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A positioning apparatus for a glass sheet processing system for adjusting position of a heated glass sheet on a conveyor of the glass sheet processing system, wherein the conveyor is configured to convey the glass sheet in a direction of conveyance and the glass sheet processing system further includes a bending station for molding the glass sheet, the positioning apparatus comprising:
a carriage configured to be attached to the glass sheet processing system and including first and second carriage bodies, the first carriage body being configured to be attached to the glass sheet processing system such that the first carriage body is translatable in the direction of conveyance, and the second carriage body is configured to be supported by the first carriage body such that the second carriage body is movable in a direction generally transverse to the direction of conveyance;
a first motor for moving the first carriage body in the direction of conveyance;
a second motor for moving the second carriage body with respect to the first carriage body; and
a positioner member configured to be connected to the second carriage body and configured to contact the glass sheet to adjust position of the glass sheet with respect to the conveyor, wherein the positioner member is movable between a raised position and a lowered use position when connected to the second carriage body, and wherein the positioner member is configured to contact the conveyor when the positioner member is in the lowered use position.

2. The positioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the positioner member is movable with respect to the second carriage body to compensate for a speed difference between the conveyor and the first carriage body when the first carriage body is being translated in the direction of conveyance and the positioner member is in contact with the conveyor.

3. The positioning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an arm configured to be connected to the positioner member and pivotally associated with the second carriage body such that the arm is pivotable about a vertical axis when the positioner member is in the lowered use position.

4. The positioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the positioner member has a main body and multiple projections extending from the main body, wherein the projections are configured to contact the glass sheet.

5. The positioning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive belt that is connectable to the first motor and the first carriage body for translating the first carriage body.

6. The positioning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising two drive members that are configured to be connected to the second motor and the second carriage body such that the drive members are spaced apart from each other in the direction of conveyance, wherein the drive members are configured for moving the second carriage body with respect to the first carriage body.

7. The positioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the positioning apparatus is configured to enable or allow the positioner member to move with respect to the second carriage body and in a direction parallel to a plane of conveyance of the glass sheet when the positioner member is in the lowered use position to compensate for a speed difference between the conveyor and the first carriage body when the first carriage body is being translated in the direction of conveyance and the positioner member is in contact with the conveyor.

8. The positioning apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a support configured to be rotatably connected to the second carriage body and associated with the positioner member, and a sway drive assembly that is engageable with the support to cause the positioner member to return to a home position, wherein the sway drive assembly is disengageable from the support to allow the positioner member to move away from the home position and with respect to the second carriage body to compensate for the speed difference between the conveyor and the first carriage body when the first carriage body is being translated in the direction of conveyance and the positioner member is in contact with the conveyor.

9. The positioning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the support comprises a main body and a projection on the main body, and the sway drive assembly includes an actuator that is engageable with the projection when the support is connected to the second carriage body to rotate the support and return the positioner member to the home position.

10. A glass sheet processing system for processing a heated glass sheet, the glass sheet processing system including:
a conveyor for conveying the glass sheet in a direction of conveyance;
a forming station for molding the glass sheet; and
a positioning apparatus for adjusting position of the glass sheet on the conveyor upstream of the forming station, the positioning apparatus including a movable carriage having first and second carriage bodies, wherein the first carriage body is translatable in the direction of conveyance, and the second carriage body is supported by the first carriage body such that the second carriage body is movable in a direction generally transverse to the direction of conveyance, the positioning apparatus further including a first drive assembly for moving the first carriage body in the direction of conveyance, a second drive assembly for moving the second carriage body with respect to the first carriage body, and a positioner member connected to the second carriage body and configured to contact the glass sheet to adjust position of the glass sheet with respect to the conveyor, wherein the drive assemblies are configured to be operated independently, and the positioner member is movable between a raised position and a lowered use position, and wherein the positioner member is configured to contact the conveyor when the positioner member is in the lowered use position.

11. The glass processing system of claim 10 wherein the positioner member is movable with respect to the second carriage body to compensate for a speed difference between the conveyor and the first carriage body when the first carriage body is being translated in the direction of conveyance and the positioner member is in contact with the conveyor.

12. The glass processing system of claim 11 wherein the positioning apparatus further comprises a support member connected to the positioner member and pivotally associated with the second carriage body such that the support member is pivotable about a vertical axis when the positioner member is in the lowered use position.

13. The glass processing system of claim 12 wherein the support member is further pivotable about a horizontal axis to move the positioner member between the raised position and the lowered use position.

14. The glass processing system of claim 12 wherein the positioning apparatus further comprises a pivotable joint connected to the support member, a vertically extending support connected to the pivotable joint, and first and second actuators that are engageable with the support to rotate the support and the pivotable joint.

15. The glass processing system of claim 14 wherein the actuators are disengageable from the support to allow pivoting motion of the pivotable joint and the support member when the positioner member is in contact with the conveyor.

16. The glass processing system of claim 10 wherein the first drive assembly includes a first motor, and the second drive assembly includes a second motor.

17. The glass processing system of claim 16 wherein the first drive assembly further comprises a

Assignees

• Glasstech Inc

Inventors

• Nitschke David B
• Cox Chad E

Classifications

• C03B23/023 Primary

  by bending · CPC title

• B65G47/24

  orientating the articles · CPC title

• C03B2225/02

  Means for positioning, aligning or orientating the sheets during their travel, e.g. stops · CPC title

• C03B35/163 Primary

  Drive means, clutches, gearing or drive speed control means · CPC title

• C03B35/16

  by roller conveyors · CPC title