Versatile glass forming conveyor with 3-d vacuum forming capability
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsDouglas Dale Bressler, David Alan Deneka, William Edward Lock, Phillip Richard MacCormack, Thomas Matthew Sonner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various aspects of methods and systems are provided, which detail: a method, comprising: depositing a hot, flexible glass-containing ribbon along a plurality of sequentially conveyed molds; rolling a pinch roller over the surface of the glass-containing ribbon, such that at least one pinch region is actuated in the glass ribbon as the glass ribbon is pinched between a pinch edge of the pinch roller and the surface of the mold; and cooling the glass ribbon, separating the glass ribbon along the pinch region into discrete glass parts.
Claims10
A method, comprising:
- depositing a hot flexible glass-containing ribbon along a plurality of sequentially conveyed molds;
- rolling a pinch roller over a surface of the glass-containing ribbon, such that at least one pinch region is actuated in the glass ribbon as the glass ribbon is pinched between a pinch edge of the pinch roller and the surface of the mold;
- and
- cooling the glass ribbon, separating the glass ribbon along the pinch region into discrete glass parts.
(canceled)
A method, comprising:
- depositing a hot flexible glass-containing ribbon along a plurality of sequentially conveyed molds, wherein each mold is configured with a three-dimensional part shape in its surface, with vacuum engaging portions;
- negatively pressurizing the cavity defined between the glass ribbon and the mold surface via the vacuum engaging portions, thereby forming the glass ribbon to the surface of the three-dimensional part shape;
- rolling a pressure roller over a surface of the glass-containing ribbon, such that the pressure roller is configured to engage the glass ribbon towards the mold;
- and
- cooling the glass ribbon, to define a three-dimensional glass part having a cross-sectional wall thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.