Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for separating a glass sheet are described. An apparatus and a method utilize a vent bar having a cushion that exerts a force on the glass sheet adjacent a vent line to break the glass into two pieces at the vent line. The edge of the glass sheet has excellent perpendicularity without subsequent grinding and/or polishing so that the glass sheet can be used as a light guide plate in a display.
Abstract:
A crate assembly includes an external crate assembly (12) having a top (16), a bottom (18), sides (20, 21) and ends (22, 23). An internal spool support assembly (14) is located within the external crate assembly (12). The internal spool support assembly (14) includes a lower spool support structure (54). The lower spool support structure (54) includes a first lower spool support assembly (58) located at one of the ends (22, 23) of the external crate assembly (12). A second lower spool support assembly (60) is located at an opposite one of the ends (22, 23) of the external crate assembly (12). The first lower spool support assembly (58) is separated from the second lower spool support assembly (60) such that the first and second lower spool assemblies (58, 60) may move relative to each other.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for managing pulling forces applied to a glass ribbon in a draw apparatus are disclosed. The method includes applying a front-side and a rear-side drive torque to a glass. The method further includes calculating automatically with the at least one electronic controller a front-side and a rear-side average pulling force applied to the glass ribbon and corresponding to a first time period of at least one rotation of the front-side or rear-side stub roller, respectively. The front-side average pulling force and the rear-side average pulling force are compared to establish a pulling force differential between the front-side average pulling force and the rear-side average pulling force. One or more of the front-side drive torque or the rear-side drive torque are modified to decrease the pulling force differential between the front-side average pulling force and the rear-side average pulling force.
Abstract:
A backlight unit suitable for use as an illuminator for liquid crystal display devices. The backlight unit comprises a glass light guide plate with a glass sheet including a first glass surface comprising a plurality of channels separated by peaks and arranged periodically therein, and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in an array along at least one edge surface of the glass sheet.
Abstract:
Roller pairs and draw apparatus for processing glass ribbons are disclosed. The roller pairs applying force to a glass ribbon moving through the draw apparatus. The roller pairs include a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly positioned along opposite sides of the glass ribbon. A shaft of the second roller assembly is coupled to an actuation system that includes a repositionable support member allowing translation of the shaft of the second roller assembly in a direction transverse to the draw direction of the glass ribbon, a pneumatic actuator controlling a position of the contact wheel of the second roller assembly in the direction transverse to the draw direction of the glass ribbon, and a pneumatic reservoir in fluid communication with the pneumatic actuator delivering fluid at an elevated pressure to the pneumatic actuator.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for fabricating continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. The method includes forming the continuous glass ribbon by drawing the continuous glass ribbon from a draw housing in a drawing direction, heating at least one portion of a central region of the continuous glass ribbon at a heating location downstream of the draw housing, sensing a temperature of the continuous glass ribbon at a sensed temperature location downstream of the draw housing, and automatically controlling the heating of the at least one portion of the central region of the continuous glass ribbon based on the sensed temperature to mitigate distortion of the continuous glass ribbon.
Abstract:
A glass manufacturing apparatus is described herein that comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a pull roll device which draws the glass ribbon downward from the forming device. The pull roll device has a first roll apparatus, a second roll apparatus, and a third roll apparatus. The pull roll device is configured to at least independently operate the first roll apparatus and the second roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.
Abstract:
A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a control device configured to modify a predetermined diameter of at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls in a first downstream equation based on a monitored actual velocity of a first edge portion of a glass ribbon such that a predetermined ribbon velocity of the first edge portion of the glass ribbon in the first downstream equation changes to substantially match the monitored actual velocity without substantially changing a first downstream angular velocity of the at least one of the first downstream pair of draw rolls. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon include the step modifying the predetermined diameter of at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls in the first downstream equation based on the monitored actual velocity of the first edge portion of the glass ribbon.