Apparatus for forming a glass ribbon
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsAntoine Gaston Denis Bisson, Philippe Dardart, Bruno Le Gallic, Xavier Tellier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, apparatus and methods for forming a glass ribbon can comprise a support member to move a draw stack along a support surface. In some embodiments, a housing can define an exterior area positioned outside of the wall of the draw stack and between the downstream portion of the draw stack and the housing. The housing can comprise a vent configured to regulate gas flow through the vent from the exterior area to a location outside of the housing and outside of the draw stack. In some embodiments, the draw stack can comprise first gate and a second gate. Each gate can be provided with a corresponding row of conduits to cool a central edge plate.
Claims19
An apparatus for forming a glass ribbon comprising:
- a draw stack comprising a wall circumscribing an interior area comprising an inlet, and an outlet located downstream from the inlet, the draw stack further comprising at least one pull stage within the interior area, each pull stage of the at least one pull stage comprising a first pair of rollers configured to grip a first outer edge of the glass ribbon and a second pair of pull rollers configured to grip a second outer edge of the glass ribbon, wherein the draw stack comprises a locked orientation configured to inhibit lateral movement of the draw stack and an unlocked orientation configured to enable lateral movement of the draw stack;
- and
- a support member movable from a retracted position to an extended position to increase an elevation of the draw stack to move the draw stack from the locked orientation to the unlocked orientation, the support member movable from the extended position to the retracted position to reduce the elevation of the draw stack to move the support member from the unlocked orientation to the locked orientation, the support member comprising an end portion.
A method comprising:
- moving a glass ribbon in a downward direction through an interior area of a draw stack while the draw stack is supported on a support surface and while an inlet of the interior area of the draw stack is aligned to receive the glass ribbon;
- lifting the draw stack in a vertically upward direction to move the draw stack from a locked orientation to an unlocked orientation to enable movement of the draw stack in a lateral direction;
- and
- moving the draw stack in the lateral direction relative to the support surface when the draw stack is in the unlocked orientation such that the inlet of the interior area is not aligned to receive the glass ribbon.
An apparatus for forming a glass ribbon comprising:
- a draw stack comprising a wall circumscribing an interior area comprising an inlet, and an outlet located downstream from the inlet, the draw stack further comprising at least one pull stage within the interior area, each pull stage of the at least one pull stage comprising a first pair of rollers configured to grip a first outer edge of the glass ribbon and a second pair of pull rollers configured to grip a second outer edge of the glass ribbon;
- a track to define a lateral travel path of the draw stack;
- and
- a support member comprising an end portion received by the track, wherein the track is configured to guide the end portion along the lateral travel path of the draw stack.
A method comprising:
- moving a glass ribbon in a downward direction through an interior area of a draw stack while the draw stack is supported by a support member comprising an end portion received by a track mounted relative to a support surface and while an inlet of the interior area of the draw stack is aligned to receive the glass ribbon;
- and
- moving the draw stack in a lateral direction relative to the support surface by guiding the end portion of the support member by the track to provide movement of the draw stack in the lateral direction such that the inlet of the interior area is not aligned to receive the glass ribbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.