Vacuum belt conveyor for plates

• US 20050109588A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Forvet SpA Costruzione Macchine Speciali
• Original Assignee: Forvet Srl
• Inventors: Gariglio, Davide
• Granted Patent: US 7,036,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/817
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/58 with means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position, e.g. magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/2036 for retaining the load on the load-carrying surface individual suction grippers B65G17/323
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/022 Flat
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2249/045 Details of suction cups suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/063 Transporting devices for sheet glass
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/064 in a horizontal position B65G49/066 takes precedence

Abstract

A conveyor 1 for holding glass plates 2 in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising one or more than one belt 3, 3′ 3″ having a rotating surface and a suction generator 6 for generating a vacuum on the surface.

Claims

1. A conveyor for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising:

a) one or more than one belt having a rotating surface; and

b) a suction generator for generating a vacuum on the surface.

2. The conveyor of claim 1, where the suction generator comprises a liquid loop pump or a multi-stage ejector pump.

3. The conveyor of claim 1, where the belt comprises one or more than one through-hole.

4. The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a first support connected to the one or more than one belt.

6. The conveyor of claim 4, where the first support comprises one or more than one vacuum chamber.

7. The conveyor of claim 4, further comprising a guide positioned between the belt and the first support.

9. The conveyor of claim 1, where at least one of the one or more than one belt comprises one or more than one suction recess, and where the belt comprises one or more than one through-hole in each suction recess.

10. The conveyor of claim 4, where the first support comprises a plurality of vacuum chambers, and the guide comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to each one of the vacuum chambers.

11. The conveyor of claim 3, further comprising a cleaner for cleaning the one or more than one hole.

12. The conveyor of claim 10, where the cleaner comprises one or more than one wheel comprising a plurality of projecting pins configured to penetrate into the one or more than one hole.

13. The conveyor of claim 1, where the one or more than one belt comprises a plurality of belts attached to a second support comprising a translocator.

14. The conveyor of claim 1, where the one or more than one belt comprises a plurality of belts, and where at least one belt is fixed with respect to movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the glass plate over the belt, and at least one belt that is movable with respect to the fixed belt in a transverse direction to the movement of the glass plate over the belt.

15. The conveyor of claim 11, where the translocator comprises an electro-cylinder or reducers.

16. A conveyor system for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising a plurality of conveyors according to claim 1.

17. The conveyor system of claim 1, where each of the pluralities of conveyors is capable of rotating at a rate that is independent of the rate of rotation of the other conveyors.

18. A method for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising:

a) providing a conveyor according to claim 1;

b) placing a glass plate on the conveyor;

c) enabling the suction generator, thereby, holding the glass plate on the conveyor;

d) operating on the glass plate; and

e) disabling the vacuum, thereby releasing the glass plate from the conveyor.

19. A method for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising:

a) providing a conveyor according to claim 13;

b) moving one non-fixed belt closer to the fixed belt of the conveyor;

c) placing a glass plate on the conveyor;

d) enabling the suction generator, thereby, holding the glass plate on the conveyor;

e) operating on the glass plate; and

f) disabling the vacuum, thereby releasing the glass plate from the conveyor.

8. The conveyor of claim 5, where the guide is integral with the first support.