# US 8,540,551 B2 · Glass edge finish system, belt assembly, and method for using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,551 B2 - Document ID: US8540551B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/968,586 - Filed: 2010-12-15 - Published: 2012-06-21 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-15 - Assignees: Corning Incorporated - Applicants: James W. Brown; Jerome T. Firlik; Siva Venkatachalam; Liming Wang; Naiyue Zhou - Inventors: James W. Brown; Jerome T. Firlik; Siva Venkatachalam; Liming Wang; Naiyue Zhou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540551B2 ## CPC - B24B 9/102: {for travelling sheets} - B24B 21/002: {for grinding edges or bevels} - B24B 21/008: {Machines comprising two or more tools or having several working posts (B24B21/006 takes precedence)} - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS ## Abstract A glass edge finishing system, a belt assembly and a method are described herein for finishing an edge of a glass sheet. The glass edge finishing system comprises: (a) a base; and (b) one or more belt assemblies located on the base, where each belt assembly includes: (i) a support frame; (ii) a motor; (iii) a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the support frame and driven by the motor; (iv) a belt engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys, where the belt contacts and finishes the edge of the glass sheet; (v) a belt cleaning device that removes glass debris from the belt as the belt moves past the belt cleaning device; and (vi) 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A glass edge finishing system for finishing an edge of a glass sheet, the glass edge finishing system comprising: a base; one or more belt assemblies located on the base, 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, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, further comprising: a vacuum table on which the glass sheet is placed; and a motion system that moves the vacuum table and the glass sheet past the one or more belt assemblies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, further comprising a coolant delivery system that delivers a coolant to an edging zone where the belt contacts and finishes the edge of the glass sheet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The glass edge finishing system of claim 2, further comprising a controller that controls at least the one or more belt assemblies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, wherein the formed backer has a flat end, a round end, or a shaped end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, wherein the belt cleaning device is a brush or a spray nozzle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, wherein the belt is a composite belt which includes multiple meshes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, wherein each belt assembly includes multiple belts that are engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, wherein the belt is tilted at an angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet to achieve a condition where a horizontal component (Vh) of a velocity of the rotating belt is equal to a velocity (Vg) of the glass sheet to create a grinding pattern that is substantially perpendicular to the edge of the glass sheet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, wherein the belt is tilted at an angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet to create a grinding pattern that is not substantially perpendicular to the edge of the glass sheet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The glass edge finishing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more belt assemblies comprise: a first belt assembly positioned to shape one side of the edge of the glass sheet; and a second belt assembly positioned to shape another side of the edge of the glass sheet. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The belt assembly of claim 12, further comprising a controller that controls at least the motor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The belt assembly of claim 12, wherein the formed backer has a flat end, a round end, or a shaped end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The belt assembly of claim 12, wherein the belt cleaning device is a brush or a spray nozzle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The belt assembly of claim 12, wherein the belt is a composite belt which includes multiple meshes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The belt assembly of claim 12, further comprising multiple belts that are engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The belt assembly of claim 12, wherein the belt is tilted at an angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet to achieve a condition where a horizontal component (Vh) of a velocity of the rotating belt is equal to a velocity (Vg) of the glass sheet to create a grinding pattern that is substantially perpendicular to the edge of the glass sheet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The belt assembly of claim 12, wherein the belt is tilted at an angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet to create a grinding pattern that is not substantially perpendicular to the edge of the glass sheet. ### Claim 20 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising step of tilting the belt of each belt assembly at an angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet to achieve a condition where a horizontal component (Vh) of a velocity of the rotating belt is equal to a velocity (Vg) of the glass sheet to create a grinding pattern that is substantially perpendicular to the edge of the glass sheet. ### Claim 22 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.