Glass sheet guidance apparatus and methods of guiding a glass sheet

A method of guiding a glass sheet comprising the steps of:

• supporting a first end portion of a first guidance member with a first holding structure, wherein the first guidance member extends along a conveyance path;
• supporting an opposing second end portion of the first guidance member with an adjustment device of a second holding structure that is spaced apart from the first holding structure;
• adjusting a length of the first guidance member with the adjustment device by changing the length of the first guidance member extending between the first holding structure and second holding structure while maintaining a spaced apart distance between the first holding structure and the second holding structure;
• and
• moving the glass sheet along the conveyance path.

A method of manufacturing a glass sheet including guiding the glass sheet, wherein guiding the glass sheet comprises the steps of:

• providing a guidance member extending adjacent a conveyance path;
• providing a first holding structure supporting a first portion of the guidance member;
• providing a second holding structure supporting a second portion of the guidance member such that a length of the guidance member spans between the first holding structure and the second holding structure adjacent the conveyance path;
• traversing the length of the guidance member and the glass sheet in a common direction of the conveyance path, wherein the length of the guidance member laterally engages a major surface of the glass sheet to guide the glass sheet along the conveyance path without the length of the guidance member substantially supporting a vertical component of a weight of the glass sheet.

A glass sheet guidance apparatus including:

• a first guidance member extending adjacent a conveyance path along which a glass sheet is configured to traverse;
• a first holding structure positioned with respect to the conveyance path, the first holding structure supporting a first end portion of the first guidance member;
• a second holding structure spaced apart from the first holding structure and positioned with respect to the conveyance path, the second holding structure including a first adjustment device supporting an opposing second end portion of the first guidance member, wherein the first adjustment device is configured to selectively adjust a length of the first guidance member extending between the first holding structure and the second holding structure;
• and
• an extension structure that extends adjacent the conveyance path, the extension structure supporting a second guidance member configured to extend beyond the first guidance member along the conveyance path.