GLASS FORMING APPARATUS AND METHODS OF FORMING GLASS RIBBONS

• US 20140352356A1
• Filed: 05/22/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, James Gary, Klingensmith, Lewis Kirk
• Granted Patent: US 9,388,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 65/91
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 17/064 by the overflow downdraw fusion process; Isopipes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 17/068 Means for providing the drawing force, e.g. traction or draw rollers
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 23/037 by drawing

Abstract

Methods of forming a glass ribbon with a glass forming apparatus including a first glass roll device are disclosed. The methods include a step (I) of drawing the glass ribbon along a draw direction with the glass forming apparatus. Also included is a step (II) of adjusting a first roll member relative to a first support structure of the first glass roll device by translating the first roll member in a first linear direction parallel to a linear adjustment axis of the first support structure while the first roll member is adjustably mounted to the first support structure. Also included is a step (III) of contacting a first surface of the glass ribbon with the first roll member at a first adjusted contact location of the glass ribbon. Also disclosed are corresponding glass forming apparatus configured to form glass ribbons and draw the glass ribbons in a draw direction.

Claims

1. A method of forming a glass ribbon with a glass forming apparatus comprising a first glass roll device, the method comprising the steps of:

(I) drawing the glass ribbon along a draw direction with the glass forming apparatus;

(II) adjusting a first roll member relative to a first support structure of the first glass roll device by translating the first roll member in a first linear direction parallel to a linear adjustment axis of the first support structure while the first roll member is adjustably mounted to the first support structure; and

(III) contacting a first surface of the glass ribbon with the first roll member at a first adjusted contact location of the glass ribbon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (III) contacts the first surface comprising a first major surface of the glass ribbon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first linear direction is transverse to the draw direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first linear direction is vertically down-tilted with respect to the draw direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first glass roll device comprises a second roll member, step (II) comprises adjusting the second roll member relative to the first support structure such that the second roll member translates relative to the first support structure in the first linear direction, and step (III) comprises contacting the first surface comprising a first major surface of the glass ribbon with the first roll member and contacting a second major surface of the glass ribbon with the second roll member.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (I) comprises contacting the first surface of the glass ribbon with the first roll member at an initial contact location of the glass ribbon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (II) comprises continuously contacting the first surface of the glass ribbon with the first roll member while translating the first roll member along the first linear direction from a first orientation wherein the first roll member contacts the initial contact location to a second orientation wherein the first roll member contacts the first adjusted contact location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the glass ribbon is being drawn continuously during steps (I), (II), and (III).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first roll member comprises a driven roll member, and step (III) comprises stretching the glass ribbon with the driven roll member to reduce a thickness of the glass ribbon.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first roll member comprises an idle roll member, and step (III) comprises pinching the glass ribbon at an edge bead of the glass ribbon with the idle roll member.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (II) comprises linearly sliding the first roll member relative to the first support structure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the glass forming apparatus comprises a second glass roll device, step (II) comprises adjusting a first cross roll member relative to a first cross support structure by translating the first cross roll member in a first cross linear direction parallel to a linear cross adjustment axis of the first cross support structure while the first cross roll member is adjustably mounted to the first cross support structure;

and step (III) further comprises contacting the first surface of the glass ribbon with the first cross roll member at a first cross adjusted contact location of the glass ribbon.

13. A glass forming apparatus configured to form a glass ribbon and draw the glass ribbon in a draw direction, the glass forming apparatus comprising:

a first glass roll device comprising a first support structure and a first roll member adjustably attached to the first support structure, wherein the first roll member is configured to be adjusted by translating the first roll member relative to the first support structure in a first linear direction parallel to a linear adjustment axis of the first support structure while the first roll member is adjustably mounted to the first support structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first glass roll device comprises a support shaft attached to the first roll member, wherein the support shaft provides a cantilever support for the first roll member.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first glass roll device comprises a motor configured to rotate the first roll member.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an adjustment apparatus adjustably attaching the first roll member to the first support structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the adjustment apparatus comprises an adjustment port configured to be externally interfaced with a tool to provide adjustment of the first roll member relative to the first support structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the adjustment apparatus comprises a tongue slidably received by a groove extending in the first linear direction.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first glass roll device comprises a second roll member configured to translate relative to the first support structure in the first linear direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a second glass roll device comprising a first cross support structure and a first cross roll member adjustably attached to the first cross suppport structure, wherein the first cross roll member is configured to be adjusted by translating the first cross roll member relative to the first cross support structure in a second direction parallel to a linear cross adjustment axis of the first cross support structure while the first cross roll member is adjustably mounted to the first cross support structure.