Methods and apparatuses for steering flexible glass webs

摘要

Methods and apparatuses for steering flexible glass webs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a steering device for non-contact steering of a glass web having a conveyance direction and a cross direction normal to the conveyance direction includes a fluid injection bar having an elongate axis oriented in a cross direction of the glass web. The steering device also includes a pivot bearing assembly coupled to the fluid injection bar such that the fluid injection bar is pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the glass web, an actuator coupled to the fluid injection bar for adjusting the orientation of the fluid injection bar with respect to the glass web, and an edge detection device positioned proximate to an edge of the glass web for evaluating a position of an edge of the glass web.

主权项

1. A method of steering a glass web comprising:
directing the glass web along a glass manufacturing apparatus in a conveyance direction, the glass web having a cross direction normal to the conveyance direction; conveying the glass web over a steering device, the steering device comprising a pivotable fluid injection bar and an edge detection device positioned proximate to an edge of the glass web; sensing a lateral position of a first edge of the glass web with the edge detection device and providing a position signal indicative of the position the first edge; calculating automatically with at least one processor the lateral position of the glass web based on the signal received from the edge detection device; and pivoting the fluid injection bar of the steering device to shift the glass web in an inward direction when the edge detection device senses that the edge of the glass web is positioned outwardly offset from a pre-determined set point, or pivoting the fluid injection bar of the steering device to shift the glass web in an outward direction when the edge detection device senses that the edge of the glass web is positioned inwardly offset from the pre-determined set point.