Glass sheet positioning apparatus and method

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.

A method for adjusting position of a heated glass sheet on a conveyor of a glass sheet processing system that includes a forming station for molding the glass sheet, the method comprising:

• moving a carriage including first and second carriage bodies along the glass sheet processing system, using a first motor associated with the first carriage body, to achieve a desired speed of the carriage;
• moving the second carriage body with respect to the first carriage body using a second motor associated with the second carriage body;
• contacting the glass sheet with a positioner member connected to the second carriage body to adjust the position of the glass sheet with respect to the conveyor;
• and
• moving the positioner member between a raised position and a lowered use position, in which the positioner member contacts the conveyor, before contacting the glass sheet with the positioner member.

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;
• 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
• a support structure including first and second longitudinally extending guides that are vertically spaced apart from each other, and wherein the first carriage body is engageable with the first and second guides as the first carriage body translates.