APPARATUSES FOR STEERING FLEXIBLE GLASS WEBS AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME

摘要

In one embodiment a method of steering a glass web includes directing the glass web in a conveyance direction on a web conveyance pathway, contacting at least one surface of the glass web with at least one wheel of at least one idler roller, the at least one wheel of the at least one idler roller having an axis of rotation parallel to a surface of the glass web, detecting an angle between a centerline of the glass web and the conveyance direction with an angle measurement device, and modifying an orientation of the at least one idler roller and the at least one wheel about an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the web conveyance pathway to shift the glass web based on a detected angle between the centerline of the glass web and the conveyance direction of the web conveyance pathway.

主权项

1. A steering device for steering a glass web, the steering device comprising:
at least one idler roller positioned adjacent a web conveyance pathway extending through the steering device, the at least one idler roller comprising at least one wheel positioned to engage a surface of the glass web drawn over the web conveyance pathway, the at least one wheel having an axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to the web conveyance pathway, wherein the at least one idler roller is rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the web conveyance pathway; an actuator coupled to the at least one idler roller to rotate the at least one idler roller about the axis of rotation of the at least one idler roller; an angle measurement device positioned proximate to the web conveyance pathway, the angle measurement device detecting an angle between a centerline of the glass web conveyed on the web conveyance pathway and a conveyance direction of the web conveyance pathway; and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the actuator and the angle measurement device, the electronic controller comprising a processor and a memory storing a computer readable instruction set, wherein, when the electronic controller executes the computer readable instruction set, the electronic controller:
detects the angle between the centerline of the glass web and the conveyance direction with the angle measurement device; andcommands the actuator to modify an orientation of the at least one idler roller about the axis of rotation of the at least one idler roller based on a detected angle between the centerline of the glass web and the conveyance direction.