Lift device for a glass processing system
AssigneeGlasstech, Inc.
InventorsDean M. Nitschke, Stephen D. Snyder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift device for lifting a glass sheet in a glass processing system includes a lift jet array having peripheral lift jet outlets and inner lift jet outlets disposed inwardly of the peripheral lift jet outlets. Furthermore, each lift jet outlet is operable to allow gas to flow toward the glass sheet. The lift device also includes a control unit for controlling operation of the lift jet outlets, and the control unit is configured to commence operation of at least one of the inner lift jet outlets prior to commencing operation of at least one of the peripheral lift jet outlets.
Claims24
A lift device for lifting a glass sheet in a glass processing system that includes a conveyor system having a plurality of rollers for conveying the glass sheet, the lift device comprising:
- a lift jet array including peripheral lift jet outlets and inner lift jet outlets disposed inwardly of the peripheral lift jet outlets, the peripheral lift jet outlets and the inner lift jet outlets being disposed below the rollers when the lift device is used with the glass processing system, and each lift jet outlet being operable to allow gas to flow toward the glass sheet;
- and
- a control unit for controlling operation of the lift jet outlets, the control unit being configured to commence operation of at least one of the inner lift jet outlets prior to commencing operation of at least one of the peripheral lift jet outlets.
A lift device for lifting a glass sheet in a glass processing system that includes a conveyor system having a plurality of rollers for conveying the glass sheet, the lifting device comprising:
- a lift jet array including multiple peripheral lift jet outlets and multiple inner lift jet outlets disposed inwardly of the peripheral lift jet outlets, wherein at least one peripheral lift jet outlet is angled toward a central plane of the lift jet array, and at least one inner lift jet outlet proximate the at least one peripheral lift jet outlet is angled away from the central plane, and wherein the peripheral lift jet outlets and the inner lift jet outlets are disposed below the rollers when the lift device is used with the glass processing system.
A method of lifting a glass sheet off of conveyor rollers in a glass processing system, the method comprising:
- positioning the glass sheet above a lift jet array including multiple peripheral lift jet outlets and multiple inner lift jet outlets disposed inwardly of the peripheral lift jet outlets, wherein the peripheral lift jet outlets and the inner lift jet outlets are disposed below the conveyor rollers;
- commencing operation of at least one of the inner lift jet outlets such that gas flows from the at least one inner lift jet outlet toward the glass sheet;
- and
- commencing operation of at least one of the peripheral lift jet outlets such that gas flows from the at least one peripheral lift jet outlet toward a peripheral portion of the glass sheet;
- wherein the lift jet outlets are operable to facilitate lifting of the glass sheet toward a tool, and wherein commencing operation of the at least one peripheral lift jet outlet is performed subsequent to commencing operation of the at least one inner lift jet outlet to inhibit gas from flowing between the glass sheet and the tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.