METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING STRESS VARIATIONS IN GLASS SHEETS PRODUCED FROM A GLASS RIBBON

• Main Authors: MARKHAM SHAWN R, KIRBY THOMAS E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.06.2012
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GLASS; MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES; METALLURGY; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and method for reducing the variability of stress levels in glass sheets (11) cut from a moving glass ribbon (13).SOLUTION: The reductions in variability are achieved by constraining the edge regions (53, 55) of the ribbon (13) from movement in a horizontal plane at least at one location below the location where a separating assembly (20) forms a separation line (47) in the ribbon (13). Sets of vertically arranged wheels (35) which engage with the edge regions (53, 55) of the ribbon (13) can be used to constrain the horizontal movement of a high-quality area at the center of the glass ribbon (13) without compromising the quality.