Low friction edge roll to minimize force cycling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for drawing a glass ribbon comprising:
- a forming body for supplying a glass ribbon;
a shroud disposed about the ribbon defining a draw chamber, the shroud comprising a first seal plate and wherein an atmosphere in the draw chamber has a first pressure Ps;
an edge roll assembly comprising;
a rotatable shaft extending through the shroud into the draw chamber;
a contact surface disposed on the shaft that contacts an edge of the glass ribbon in the draw chamber; and
a second seal plate coupled to the shaft, there being a gap between the first and second seal plates, wherein passages are formed in the first seal plate into which a gas is injected to maintain an atmosphere in the gap at a second pressure Pg equal to or less than the first pressure Ps, and wherein the first seal plate includes a slot through which the shaft extends into the draw chamber that allows movement of the shaft transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for drawing a glass ribbon including a shroud surrounding the glass ribbon and an edge roll that penetrates the shroud to contact the glass ribbon. The apparatus includes regulating a pressure within the seal assembly to be equal to or less than a pressure within the shroud and prevent ingress of relatively cooler outside gas into the hot interior of the shroud. The edge roll utilizes an air bearing to minimize friction that can produce periodic fluctuation of the ribbon as the edge roll is displaces in response to variations in the ribbon thickness or equipment dimensions.
28 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for drawing a glass ribbon comprising:
-
a forming body for supplying a glass ribbon; a shroud disposed about the ribbon defining a draw chamber, the shroud comprising a first seal plate and wherein an atmosphere in the draw chamber has a first pressure Ps; an edge roll assembly comprising; a rotatable shaft extending through the shroud into the draw chamber; a contact surface disposed on the shaft that contacts an edge of the glass ribbon in the draw chamber; and a second seal plate coupled to the shaft, there being a gap between the first and second seal plates, wherein passages are formed in the first seal plate into which a gas is injected to maintain an atmosphere in the gap at a second pressure Pg equal to or less than the first pressure Ps, and wherein the first seal plate includes a slot through which the shaft extends into the draw chamber that allows movement of the shaft transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An apparatus for drawing a glass ribbon comprising:
-
a forming body for supplying a glass ribbon; a shroud disposed about the ribbon defining a draw chamber, wherein an atmosphere in the draw chamber has a first pressure Ps; an edge roll assembly comprising; a rotatable shaft extending through the shroud into the draw chamber; a contact surface disposed on the shaft that contacts an edge of the glass ribbon in the draw chamber; an air bearing coupled to the shaft that allows displacement of the shaft in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft; and a seal assembly comprising a first seal plate affixed to the shroud and a second seal plate coupled to the shaft, there being a gap between the first and second seal plates, wherein passages are formed in the first seal plate into which a gas is injected to maintain an atmosphere in the gap at a second pressure Pg equal to or less than the first pressure Ps, and wherein the first seal plate includes a slot through which the shaft extends into the draw chamber and wherein the slot accommodates movement of the shaft transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
Specification