Apparatus and method for characterizing glass sheets

摘要

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for characterizing attributes of a moving glass sheet comprising complementary mechanical material handling technologies that progressively stabilize, position, capture, flatten, and release the lower portion of glass sheets traveling past the apparatus while posing minimal constraint on the top section of the sheet. The apparatus includes a pressure-vacuum (PV)-type device comprising distinct regions such that the glass sheets experience a non-contact but gradual increase in constraining force until the point where measurements can be performed, then a gradual decrease in constraining force until the glass sheets are released from the inspection station. This graduated force technique is applied along the direction of travel of the sheets and may also be applied vertically upwards along the height of the sheet to restrict the motion of the sheet without constraining it at pinch points near the conveyor.

主权项

1. A method of characterizing moving glass sheets comprising:
moving a glass sheet in a first direction along a predetermined path past a circular air bearing, the glass sheet comprising a pair of opposing major surfaces and a bottom edge; dampening movement of the glass sheet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction by passing the glass sheet between at least two stabilizing air knives positioned adjacent the opposing major surfaces of the glass sheet as the glass sheet is moving past the circular air bearing; engaging the glass sheet with the circular air bearing, the circular air bearing comprising an inner porous body portion and an outer porous body portion disposed about the inner porous body portion, the inner porous body portion and the outer porous body portion positioned adjacent at least a portion of one of the pair of opposing major surfaces as the glass sheet is moving past the circular air bearing, the inner porous body portion defining a central passage therethrough; and measuring at least one attribute of the glass sheet through the central passage as the glass sheet is moving past the circular air bearing.