Method and apparatus for conveying curved glass sheets

摘要

A roll conveyor system for conveying glass sheets having a reverse bend curvature. The bent sheets are advanced along a horizontal path with the reverse bend portion at the trailing end. The sheets are initially positioned on the novel conveyor system with the major portion of the sheet supported on the rolls and the downwardly extending edge of the reverse bend portion disposed between a pair of adjacent rolls and below the supporting surface thereof. The opposite ends of each roll are operably connected to fluid actuators for raising and lowering the roll between an upper sheet supporting attitude and a lower non-supporting attitude. As the sheet is advanced along the conveyor system each roll is lowered in succession as the downwardly extending edge of the reverse bend portion approaches to avoid contact therewith. The lowered rolls are returned to the upper sheet supporting attitude after the sheet has past.