Apparatuses for holding and conveying glass articles
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorThierry Luc Alain Dannoux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.
Claims22
An ion exchange system comprising a conveyor apparatus for holding and conveying articles comprising:
- a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon, the plurality of receiving apertures configured to receive and hold a plurality of articles;
- a predefined conveyor path comprising an immersion section and a drain section, the immersion section oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station, the conveyor ribbon being rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion section;
- and
- a conveyor ribbon drive and guidance system for directing the conveyor ribbon along the predefined conveyor path, wherein:
- the immersion station is an ion-exchange tank containing molten salt and the conveyor apparatus further comprises a drum within the ion-exchange tank, the conveyor ribbon wrapped around and along a length of the drum;
- and
- the drain section is a loop to facilitate rotating the conveyor ribbon about the horizontal axis.
An ion-exchange system comprising:
- a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon;
- a predefined conveyor path comprising an ion-exchange tank section and a drain section, the ion-exchange tank section including an ion-exchange tank for containing molten salt and a first drum within the ion-exchange tank, the conveyor ribbon extending through at least a portion of the ion-exchange tank in the ion-exchange tank section and wrapping around and along a length of the first drum, the conveyor ribbon being rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section;
- a conveyor drive and guidance system engaged with the conveyor ribbon and directing the conveyor ribbon along the predefined conveyor path, wherein:
- the drain section is a loop to facilitate rotating the conveyor ribbon about the horizontal axis.
An ion exchange system comprising a conveyor apparatus for holding and conveying articles comprising:
- a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon, the plurality of receiving apertures configured to receive and hold a plurality of articles;
- a predefined conveyor path comprising an immersion section and a drain section, the immersion section oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station, the conveyor ribbon being rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion section;
- and
- a conveyor ribbon drive and guidance system for directing the conveyor ribbon along the predefined conveyor path, wherein:
- the immersion station is an ion-exchange tank containing molten salt and the conveyor apparatus further comprises a drum within the ion-exchange tank, the conveyor ribbon wrapped around and along a length of the drum;
- and
- the immersion section includes one or more loops through which the conveyor ribbon is driven and guided.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.