# US 2016/0257598 A1 · Glass sheet acquisition and positioning system and associated method for an inline system for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet

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- Number: US 2016/0257598 A1
- Document ID: US20160257598A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/639,655
- Filed: 2015-03-05
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-05
- Assignees: Glasstech, Inc.
- Applicants: Glasstech, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael VILD; Jason ADDINGTON; Benjamin MORAN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160257598A1

## CPC

- C03B 35/14: Transporting hot glass sheets {or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands}
- B65G 47/902: {provided with drive systems incorporating rotary and rectilinear movements}
- B65G 49/068: {Stacking or destacking devices; Means for preventing damage to stacked sheets, e.g. spaces (stacking in general B65G57/00; destacking in general B65G59/00; spacer sheets in general B65H)}
- G01M 11/0207: {Details of measuring devices}
- G01M 11/0214: {Details of devices holding the object to be tested}
- G01M 11/0264: {by using targets or reference patterns}
- G01N 21/8914: {characterised by the material examined}
- G01N 21/896: Optical defects in or on transparent materials, e.g. distortion, surface flaws {in conveyed flat sheet or rod (for other objects G01N21/958)}
- G01N 21/958: Inspecting transparent materials {or objects, e.g. windscreens (for conveyed flat sheet or rod G01N21/896)}
- B65G 49/064: {in a horizontal position (B65G49/066 takes precedence)}
- C03B 2225/02: Means for positioning, aligning or orientating the sheets during their travel, e.g. stops
- G01N 2021/845: {Objects on a conveyor}
- G01N 2021/9586: {Windscreens}
- G01N 2201/12: Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A glass sheet acquisition and positioning system and associated method are utilized in a glass sheet optical inspection system installed in-line in a glass sheet processing system. The acquisition and positioning system include an exterior support frame and a moveable glass sheet support frame connected to the exterior support frame such that the glass sheet support frame may be selectively positioned from first orientation whereby a glass sheet is removed from a conveyor and retained on the support frame, to a second orientation whereby the glass sheet is positioned for processing by the optical inspection system. The system may also include a glass sheet part identifier and a programmable control including logic for analyzing acquired image data and identifying the glass sheet as one of a set of known part types and thereafter securing and positioning the glass sheet on the glass sheet support frame based upon the part-shape analysis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A glass sheet acquisition and positioning system for an inline system for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet, which inline system includes a background screen including contrasting elements arranged in a pre-defined pattern, a digital camera for acquiring an image of the background screen with the glass sheet positioned between the camera and the screen at a preselected position, and which inline system is installed in a system for fabricating glass sheets including one or more processing stations and one or more conveyors for conveying the glass sheet from station to station during processing, the acquisition and positioning system comprising:
an exterior support frame mounted in proximity to the conveyor between the camera and the background screen;
a moveable glass sheet support frame operably connected to the exterior support frame such that the glass sheet support frame may be selectively positioned from a first generally horizontal orientation in the plane of the glass sheet on the conveyor to a second, upwardly-tilted orientation whereby the glass sheet support frame is elevated from the plane of the conveyor with a glass sheet retained thereon to thereby position the glass sheet between the camera and the screen at the preselected position, and thereafter re-positioned for releasing the glass sheet from the glass sheet support frame for continued movement on the conveyor;
a positioning mechanism actuable for orienting the glass sheet relative to the glass sheet support frame;
a retaining mechanism for securing the glass sheet to the glass sheet support frame; and
a programmable control including at least one processor programmed to execute logic for controlling the transport mechanism, the positioning mechanism and the retaining mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The glass sheet acquisition and positioning system of claim 1 further including a glass sheet part identifier including a sensor for acquiring data associated with the shape of a glass sheet travelling on a conveyor upstream from the inline system, wherein the programmable control includes logic for analyzing the acquired data and identifying the glass sheet as one of a set of known part shapes, and wherein the positioning mechanism and the retaining mechanism are controlled based in part upon the identified part shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The glass sheet acquisition and positioning system of claim 1 further including a transport mechanism actuable for lifting the glass sheet off of the conveyor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The glass sheet acquisition and positioning system of claim 3 wherein the transport mechanism includes a support stand including a plurality of glass sheet supports each moveable from a first position below the plane of a glass sheet located on the conveyor to a second position in contact with the surface of a glass sheet being conveyed on the conveyor, whereby the supports lift the glass sheet upwardly off the conveyor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The glass sheet acquisition and positioning system of claim 1 wherein the positioning mechanism includes one or more moveable positioners mounted in proximity to the conveyor such that, when the glass sheet support frame is positioned in its first orientation, the positioners are moved to contact and move a glass sheet to a position for securing the glass sheet on the glass sheet support frame.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The glass sheet acquisition and positioning system of claim 1 wherein the retaining mechanism includes one or more positionable clamps mounted on the glass sheet support frame in proximity to the glass sheet such that, when the glass sheet support frame is positioned in its first orientation, the clamps are positioned to contact and secure glass sheet on the glass sheet support frame, and when the glass sheet support frame is re-positioned for releasing the glass sheet from the glass sheet support frame for continued movement on the conveyor, the clamps are positioned to release the glass sheet from the glass sheet support frame onto the conveyor.

### Claim 7

An inline apparatus for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet in a system for fabricating glass sheets including one or more processing stations and one or more conveyors for conveying the glass sheet from station to station during processing, the apparatus comprising:
a background screen including contrasting elements arranged in a pre-defined pattern,
a digital camera for acquiring an image of the background screen,
a glass sheet acquisition and positioning mechanism for receiving a glass sheet as it is conveyed on one of the conveyors, momentarily removing the glass sheet from the conveyor, and positioning the glass sheet in the path between the camera and the background screen so that the camera may capture an image of the pattern transmitted through the glass sheet, the acquisition and positioning mechanism including:
an exterior support frame mounted in proximity to the conveyor between the camera and the background screen; and
a moveable glass sheet support frame operably connected to the exterior support frame such that the glass sheet support frame may be selectively positioned from a first generally horizontal orientation in the plane of the glass sheet on the conveyor to a second, upwardly-tilted orientation whereby the glass sheet support frame is elevated from the plane of the conveyor with a glass sheet retained thereon to thereby position the glass sheet between the camera and the screen at the preselected position, and thereafter re-positioned for releasing the glass sheet from the glass sheet support frame for continued movement on the conveyor; and
a computer including at least one processor programmed to execute logic for receiving the captured image data associated with a selected glass sheet and performing one or more processing operations using the captured image data to analyze the optical characteristics of the glass sheet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The inline apparatus for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet glass sheet of claim 7 further including,
a glass sheet part identifier including a sensor for acquiring data associated with the shape of a glass sheet travelling on a conveyor upstream from the inline apparatus;
a transport mechanism for lifting the glass sheet off of the conveyor;
a positioning mechanism for orienting the glass sheet after it has been lifted off the conveyor;
a retaining mechanism for securing the glass sheet to the glass sheet support frame; and
a programmable control including at least one processor programmed to execute logic for controlling one or more of the transport mechanism, the positioning mechanism and the retaining mechanism, and logic for analyzing the acquired data and identifying the glass sheet as one of a set of known part shapes, and wherein one or both of the positioning mechanism and the retaining mechanism are controlled based in part upon the identified part shape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The inline apparatus for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet glass sheet of claim 8 wherein the transport mechanism includes a support stand including a plurality of glass sheet supports each moveable from a first position below the plane of a glass sheet located on the conveyor to a second position in contact with the surface of a glass sheet being conveyed on the conveyor, whereby the supports lift the glass sheet upwardly off the conveyor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The inline apparatus for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet glass sheet of claim 8 wherein the positioning mechanism includes one or more moveable positioners mounted in proximity to the conveyor such that, when the glass sheet support frame is positioned in its first orientation, the positioners are moved to contact and move a glass sheet to a position for securing the glass sheet on the glass sheet support frame.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The inline apparatus for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet glass sheet of claim 8 wherein the retaining mechanism includes one or more positionable clamps mounted on the glass sheet support frame in proximity to the glass sheet such that, when the glass sheet support frame is positioned in its first orientation, the clamps are positioned to contact and secure glass sheet on the glass sheet support frame, and when the glass sheet support frame is re-positioned for releasing the glass sheet from the glass sheet support frame for continued movement on the conveyor, the clamps are positioned to release the glass sheet from the glass sheet support frame onto the conveyor.

### Claim 12

An inline apparatus for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet in a system for fabricating glass sheets including a heating station for heating the glass sheet to a temperature adequate to soften the glass for forming into a desired shape, a bending station wherein the softened sheet is formed to the desired shape, a cooling station wherein the formed glass sheet is cooled in a controlled manner, and one or more conveyors for conveying the glass sheet from station to station during processing, the apparatus including:
a background screen including contrasting elements arranged in a pre-defined pattern;
a camera for acquiring an image of the background screen;
a glass sheet part identifier including a sensor for acquiring data associated with the shape of a glass sheet travelling on a conveyor upstream from the background screen;
a glass sheet acquisition and positioning mechanism including a programmable control including logic for controlling the mechanism based upon the shape data acquired by the part identifier to receive the glass sheet as it is conveyed on one of the conveyors, momentarily remove the glass sheet from the conveyor, and position the glass sheet in the path between the camera and the background screen so that the camera may capture an image of the pattern transmitted through the glass sheet; and
a computer including logic for receiving the captured image data associated with a selected glass sheet and performing one or more processing operations using the captured image data to analyze the optical characteristics of the glass sheet.

### Claim 13

A method for measuring the optical characteristics of a glass sheet as the glass sheet is conveyed in a system for fabricating glass sheets including one or more processing stations and one or more conveyors for conveying the glass sheet from station to station during processing, the method including at least the steps of
providing a background screen including contrasting elements arranged in a pre-defined pattern and a camera for acquiring an image of the background screen;
acquiring data associated with the shape of a glass sheet travelling on a conveyor upstream from the background screen;
capturing a glass sheet at a preselected location as it is transported on the conveyor;
removing the glass sheet from the conveyor; and
positioning the glass sheet between the camera and the screen in a preselected orientation and thereafter acquiring an image of the background screen;
re-positioning the glass sheet for continued movement of the glass sheet on the conveyor; and
performing one or more processing operations using the acquired image data to analyze the optical characteristics of the glass sheet.