Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a glass ribbon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12441647-B2
Application number	US-202118251643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2021
Priority date	Nov 24, 2020
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

Methods for manufacturing a glass ribbon include moving the glass ribbon along a travel path in a travel direction. Methods include directing a first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon to a winding apparatus to wind the first ribbon portion into a roll. Methods include detaching the first ribbon portion from a second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon. Methods include separating the second ribbon portion into a plurality of separated ribbon portions. Methods include directing a first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions toward a disposal apparatus to crush the first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions. Methods include forming a stack with a second set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions. A glass manufacturing apparatus is provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for manufacturing a glass ribbon comprising:
moving the glass ribbon along a travel path in a travel direction;
directing a first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon to a winding apparatus to wind the first ribbon portion into a roll;
detaching the first ribbon portion from a second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon;
separating the second ribbon portion into a plurality of separated ribbon portions;
directing a first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions toward a disposal apparatus to crush the first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions;
forming a stack with a second set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions;
moving a conveyor between a first position outside the travel path of the glass ribbon and a second position intersecting the travel path,
wherein the first ribbon portion is directed to the winding apparatus when the conveyor is in the first position, wherein a segment of the first ribbon portion upstream from the winding apparatus is unsupported and spaced a distance from the disposal apparatus when the conveyor is in the first position;
measuring a distance between the segment of the first ribbon portion and a location within a clean room environment within which the first ribbon portion is located; and
adjusting a rotational speed of the winding apparatus when the distance is outside of a predetermined range.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering the plurality of separated ribbon portions to the conveyor when the conveyor is in the second position and moving the plurality of separated ribbon portions toward an end of the conveyor.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the disposal apparatus is positioned adjacent to the end of the conveyor such that the first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions are directed from the end into the disposal apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the first ribbon portion comprises supporting the first ribbon portion with a curved surface of a catenary apparatus, and the first ribbon portion having a thickness from greater than or equal to 30 micrometers to less than or equal to 100 micrometers.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the directing the first ribbon comprises engaging a first major surface of the first ribbon with a support roller and engaging a second major surface of the first ribbon opposite the first major surface with a catenary apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second catenary apparatus engages the second major surface a location downstream from where the support roller engages the first major surface.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the support roller engages the first major surface by emitting air towards the first major surface of the glass ribbon.

8. A method for manufacturing a glass ribbon comprising:
moving the glass ribbon along a travel path in a travel direction;
directing a first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon to a winding apparatus to wind the first ribbon portion into a roll;
detaching the first ribbon portion from a second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon;
separating the second ribbon portion into a plurality of separated ribbon portions;
directing a first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions toward a disposal apparatus to crush the first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions; and
forming a stack with a second set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions,
wherein the directing the first ribbon comprises engaging a first major surface of the first ribbon with a support roller and engaging a second major surface of the first ribbon opposite the first major surface with a catenary apparatus
wherein the catenary apparatus engages the second major surface through a plurality of support rings extending circumferentially around an outer surface of a plurality of rollers of the catenary apparatus, a first support ring and a second support ring of the plurality of support rings extend circumferentially around a roller of the plurality of rollers where the first support ring is spaced apart from the second support ring along the roller.

9. A method for manufacturing a glass ribbon comprising:
moving the glass ribbon along a travel path in a travel direction;
directing a first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon along a first path portion of the travel path to a winding apparatus to wind the first ribbon portion into a roll;
detaching the first ribbon portion from a second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon;
moving a conveyor from a first position outside the first path portion to a second position intersecting the first path portion, to receive the second ribbon portion;
separating the second ribbon portion into a plurality of separated ribbon portions;
delivering the plurality of separated ribbon portions to the conveyor, and
directing a first set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions from the conveyor toward a disposal apparatus,
wherein the first ribbon portion is directed to the winding apparatus when the conveyor is in the first position,
wherein a segment of the first ribbon portion upstream from the winding apparatus is unsupported and spaced a distance from the disposal apparatus when the conveyor is in the first position, and
wherein a glass manufacturing apparatus comprises:
a forming apparatus configured to form the glass ribbon;
a catenary apparatus positioned downstream from the forming apparatus and comprising a curved surface, the curved surface comprising the travel path along which the glass ribbon is conveyed in the travel direction;
the winding apparatus positioned downstream from the catenary apparatus and configured to wind the first ribbon portion of the glass ribbon into the roll; and
the conveyor positioned downstream from the catenary apparatus and configured to receive the plurality of separated ribbon portions of the second ribbon portion of the glass ribbon from the catenary apparatus and move the plurality of separated ribbon portions along a portion of the travel path.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising forming a stack with a second set of the plurality of separated ribbon portions.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Brown James William
• Brunello Pierre Georges
• Fornell Nils Paul
• Gerschel Misha Andre
• Hill Keith Mitchell
• Massaro Mark Thomas
• Merz Gary Edward
• Poissy Stephane

Classifications

• C03B35/188

  Rollers specially adapted for supplying a gas, e.g. porous or foraminous rollers with internal air supply · CPC title

• C03B33/037

  Controlling or regulating · CPC title

• C03B33/033

  Apparatus for opening score lines in glass sheets · CPC title

• C03B33/0235 Primary

  Ribbons · CPC title