Glass edge finish system, belt assembly, and method for using same

A belt assembly for finishing an edge of a glass sheet, the belt assembly comprising:

• a support frame;
• a motor;
• a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the support frame and driven by the motor;
• a belt engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys, where the belt contacts and finishes the edge of the glass sheet;
• a pair of tension rollers positioned between the pair of pulleys so as to contact and press against an inner side of the belt to apply a predetermined tension to the abrasive belt;
• a combined pusher and formed backer located between the pair of tension rollers, wherein the pusher moves the formed backer against the inner side of the belt such that an opposite outer side of the belt is pushed outward so as to contact the edge of the glass sheet;
• a belt cleaning device that removes glass debris from the belt as the belt moves past the belt cleaning device;
• and
• a cleaning containment enclosure within which there is located the belt cleaning device, where the cleaning containment enclosure contains the glass debris removed from the belt by the belt cleaning device.

A method for finishing an edge of a glass sheet, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the glass sheet past one or more belt assemblies, where each belt assembly includes:
• a support frame;
• a motor;
• a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the support frame and driven by the motor;
• a belt engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys;
• a pair of tension rollers positioned between the pair of pulleys so as to contact and press against an inner side of the belt to apply a predetermined tension to the abrasive belt;
• a combined pusher and formed backer located between the pair of tension rollers, wherein the pusher moves the formed backer against the inner side of the belt such that an opposite outer side of the belt is pushed outward so as to contact the edge of the glass sheet;
• a belt cleaning device;
• and
• a cleaning containment enclosure within which there is located the belt cleaning device;
• and
• operating the one or more belt assemblies, wherein each belt assembly rotates the belt such that the belt contacts and finishes the edge of the glass sheet, the belt cleaning device removes glass debris from the belt as the belt moves past the belt cleaning device, and the cleaning containment enclosure contains the glass debris removed from the belt by the belt cleaning device.

A belt assembly for finishing an edge of a glass sheet, the belt assembly comprising:

• a support frame;
• a motor;
• a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the support frame and driven by the motor;
• a belt engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys, where the belt contacts and finishes the edge of the glass sheet;
• a pair of tension rollers positioned between the pair of pulleys so as to contact and press against an inner side of the belt to apply a predetermined tension to the abrasive belt;
• a combined pusher and back-up roller located between the pair of tension rollers, wherein the pusher moves the back-up roller against the inner side of the belt such that an opposite outer side of the belt is pushed outward so as to contact the edge of the glass sheet;
• a belt cleaning device that removes glass debris from the belt as the belt moves past the belt cleaning device;
• and
• a cleaning containment enclosure within which there is located the belt cleaning device, where the cleaning containment enclosure contains the glass debris removed from the belt by the belt cleaning device.