Automated flat glass separator

• US 7,234,620 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Andrewlavage, Edward F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ashley; Boyer D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/657,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 225/1, 225/2, 225/4, 225/96, 225/96.5, 225/103, 225/101, 225/100, 225/98, 225/5, 838/80, 83/24, 83/29, 831/00, 831/04, 831/12, 831/52, 651/05, 651/74, 651/822, 29412-417
• US Class Current: 225/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2249/04 Arrangements of vacuum systems or suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/061 Lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction cups, transport frames suction means as load-engaging elements attached to the lifting or lowering gear of cranes B66C1/02; suction cups for attaching purposes F16B47/00; suction cups on gripping heads B25J15/0616; suction cups in general B65G47/91; suction cups combined with cutting means on vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; devices for turning sheets B65G49/067; suspending devices B65G49/066
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 17/06 Forming glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 21/02 by cutting C03B9/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 33/0215 the ribbon being in a substantially vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 35/14 Transporting hot glass sheets or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 35/145 by top-side transfer or supporting devices, e.g. lifting or conveying using suction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/10 Methods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/325 With means to apply moment of force to weakened work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/371 Movable breaking tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/207 By suction means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2081 Gravity type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2185 Suction gripper

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for separating a pane (11) of a brittle material from a moving ribbon (13) of the material without contact between the newly-formed leading edge of the ribbon and the newly-formed trailing edge of the pane. The apparatus includes a pane engaging assembly (15), a transporter (29), and a connector assembly (31) which together ensure that the pane (11) and the sheet (13) do not contact each other once separation occurs. In this way, edge chipping and the resulting occurrence of surface defects on the separated pane are decreased.

Claims

1. A method for separating a pane of a brittle material from a moving sheet of the material along a separation line, said pane and said sheet having a width, said pane when separated having a length, said movement of the sheet being described by a vector, said method comprising:

(a) releasably engaging the moving sheet within an area defined by the length and width of the to-be-separated pane, said area becoming the pane when separated from the sheet;

(b) rotating the to-be-separated pane about an axis which substantially coincides with the separation line, said rotation causing the pane to separate from the sheet; and

(c) moving the separated pane relative to the moving sheet using gravity as the sole motive force so that the pane and the sheet do not contact each other once separation occurs;

wherein the sheet moves continuously during (a), (b), and (c).

2. The method of claim 1 where the vector is characterized by a vertical component and a horizontal component and the vertical component is substantially greater than the horizontal component.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the releasable engagement is a vacuum engagement.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the brittle material is glass.

5. A method for separating a pane of a brittle material from a moving ribbon of the material along a separation line, said pane and said ribbon having a width, said pane when separated having a length, said movement of the ribbon being described by a vector, said method comprising:

(a) releasably engaging the moving ribbon within an area defined by the length and width of the to-be-separated pane, said area becoming the pane when separated from the ribbon;

(b) rotating the to-be-separated pane about an axis which substantially coincides with the separation line, said rotation causing the pane to separate from the ribbon; and

(c) moving the separated pane relative to the moving ribbon so that the pane and the ribbon do not contact each other once separation occurs, said movement employing as a motive force at least one of a hydraulic force, a mechanical spring force, a pneumatic force, and a vacuum

wherein;

(i) the ribbon is continuously produced by a manufacturing line;

(ii) the ribbon moves continually before, during, and after (a), (b), and (c); and

(iii) when releasably engaged in (a), the ribbon extends from and is connected to the manufacturing line.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein a part of the motive force is due to the force of gravity.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the brittle material is glass.

7. A method for separating a pane of a brittle material from a moving ribbon of the material along a separation line, said pane and said ribbon having a width, said pane when separated having a length, said movement of the ribbon being described by a vector, said method comprising:

(a) releasably engaging the moving ribbon within an area defined by the length and width of the to-be-separated pane, said area becoming the pane when separated from the ribbon;

(b) rotating the to-be-separated pane about an axis which substantially coincides with the separation line, said rotation causing the pane to separate from the ribbon; and

(c) moving the separated pane relative to the moving ribbon so that the pane and the ribbon do not contact each other once separation occurs, said movement employing as a motive force at least one of a hydraulic force, a mechanical spring force, a pneumatic force, and a vacuum;

wherein;

(i) the ribbon moves continually before, during, and after (a), (b), and (c);

(ii) a part of the motive force is due to the force of gravity; and

(iii) the vector is characterized by a vertical component and a horizontal component and the vertical component is substantially greater than the horizontal component.

8. A method for separating a pane of a brittle material from a moving sheet of the material along a separation line, said pane and said sheet having a width, said pane when separated having a length, said movement of the sheet being described by a vector, said method comprising:

(a) releasably engaging the moving sheet within an area defined by the length and width of the to-be-separated pane, said area becoming the pane when separated from the sheet;

(b) rotating the to-be-separated pane about an axis which substantially coincides with the separation line, said rotation causing the pane to separate from the sheet; and

(c) moving the separated pane relative to the moving sheet so that the pane and the sheet do not contact each other once separation occurs, said movement employing as a motive force at least one of a hydraulic force, a mechanical spring force, a pneumatic force, and a vacuum;

wherein;

(i) the sheet moves continuously during (a), (b), and (c); and

(ii) the releasable engagement is a vacuum engagement.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein a part of the motive force is due to the force of gravity.

11. The method of claim 10 where the vector is characterized by a vertical component and a horizontal component and the vertical component is substantially greater than the horizontal component.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the brittle material is glass.

13. A method for separating a pane of a brittle material from a moving sheet of the material along a separation line, said pane and said sheet having a width, said pane when separated having a length, said movement of the sheet being described by a vector, said method comprising:

(a) releasably engaging the moving sheet within an area defined by the length and width of the to-be-separated pane, said area becoming the pane when separated from the sheet;

(b) rotating the to-be-separated pane about an axis which substantially coincides with the separation line, said rotation causing the pane to separate from the sheet; and

(c) passively moving the separated pane relative to the moving sheet using gravity as the motive force so that the pane and the sheet do not contact each other once separation occurs;

wherein;

(i) the sheet moves continuously during (a), (b), and (c); and

(ii) the releasable engagement is a vacuum engagement.

14. The method of claim 13 where the vector is characterized by a vertical component and a horizontal component and the vertical component is substantially greater than the horizontal component.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the brittle material is glass.

16. A method for separating a pane of a brittle material from a moving ribbon of the material along a separation line, said pane and said ribbon having a width, said pane when separated having a length, said movement of the ribbon being described by a vector, said method comprising:

(a) releasably engaging the moving ribbon within an area defined by the length and width of the to-be-separated pane, said area becoming the pane when separated from the ribbon;

(b) rotating the to-be-separated pane about an axis which substantially coincides with the separation line, said rotation causing the pane to separate from the ribbon; and

(c) moving the separated pane relative to the moving ribbon so that the pane and the ribbon do not contact each other once separation occurs, said movement employing as a motive force at least one of a hydraulic force, a mechanical spring force, a pneumatic force, and a vacuum;

wherein;

(i) the ribbon moves continually before, during, and after (a), (b), and (c); and

(ii) the releasable engagement is a vacuum engagement.