Systems and methods for processing thin glass ribbons
Systems, apparatuses and methods for processing a glass ribbon. A glass ribbon is supplied to an upstream side of a conveying apparatus comprising a conveyor device and a pulling device. The conveyor device establishes a primary plane of travel from the upstream side to a downstream side. The pulling device is located at the downstream side and applies a pulling force on the glass ribbon to convey the glass ribbon along a travel path that includes first, second and third bends, and into the primary plane of travel from a location downstream of the third bend and to the pulling device. At least one of the first, second, and third bends imparts a stress into a surface of the glass ribbon to flatten the glass ribbon. A viscosity of the glass ribbon at the third bend is greater than a viscosity of the glass ribbon at the first bend.
1 . A system for processing a continuous glass ribbon, the system comprising:
a conveying apparatus comprising:
a conveyor device establishing a primary plane of travel from an upstream side to a downstream side opposite the upstream side,
a pulling device located at the downstream side, the pulling device configured to convey the continuous glass ribbon along a travel path with a first major surface of the continuous glass ribbon facing a downward direction toward the primary plane of travel, and a second major surface of the continuous glass ribbon facing an upward direction away from the primary plane of travel,
a first bending tool proximate the upstream side, the first bending tool configured to establish a first bend of the travel path defining a curve that is convex in the upward direction, wherein the first bending tool is configured to interface with the continuous glass ribbon to cause, at least in part, the first bend at a first location of the travel path between the upstream side and the pulling device where the viscosity of the continuous glass ribbon is not greater than 1×10 8 Poise,
a second bending tool between the first bending tool and the downstream side, wherein a vertical distance between the second bending tool and the primary plane of travel is greater than a vertical distance between the first bending tool and the primary plane of travel, wherein the second bending tool is configured to establish a second bend of the travel path defining a curve that is concave in the upward direction, wherein the second bending tool is configured to interface with the continuous glass ribbon to cause, at least in part, the second bend at a second location between the first location and the pulling device, and
a third bending tool between the second bending tool and the downstream side, wherein a vertical distance between the third bending tool and the primary plane of travel is greater than the vertical distance between the second bending tool and the primary plane of travel, wherein the third bending tool is configured to establish a third bend of the travel path defining a curve that is convex in the upward direction, wherein the third bending tool is configured to interface with the continuous glass ribbon to cause, at least in part, the third bend at a third location between the interface of the second bending tool with the continuous glass ribbon and the interface of the third bending tool with the continuous glass ribbon where the viscosity of the continuous glass ribbon is not less than 1×10 8 Poise, wherein the glass ribbon is configured to not interface with any bending tool along the travel path between the second bending tool and the third bending tool,
wherein the primary plane of travel extends from a location downstream of the third location and to the pulling device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first bending tool, the second bending tool, and the third bending tool are each configured to establish a line of contact with the continuous glass ribbon being conveyed along the travel path.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a horizontal distance between the first bending tool and the second bending tool is greater than a horizontal distance between the second bending tool and the third bending tool.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first bending tool, the second bending tool, and the third bending tool is static.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first bending tool is only configured to interface with first major surface of the continuous glass ribbon that faces the downward direction toward the primary plane of travel.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second bending tool is only configured to interface with first major surface of the continuous glass ribbon that faces the downward direction toward the primary plane of travel.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the third bending tool is only configured to interface with second major surface of the continuous glass ribbon that faces the upward direction away from the primary plane of travel.
8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the third bending tool is only configured to interface with second major surface of the continuous glass ribbon that faces the upward direction away from the primary plane of travel.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second bending tool is only configured to interface with first major surface of the continuous glass ribbon that faces the downward direction toward the primary plane of travel.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the third bending tool is only configured to interface with second major surface of the continuous glass ribbon that faces the upward direction away from the primary plane of travel.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the third bending tool is only configured to interface with second major surface of the continuous glass ribbon that faces the upward direction away from the primary plane of travel.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second bending tool is further configured to interface with the continuous glass ribbon to cause, at least in part, the second bend at the second location further positioned between the interface of the first bending tool with the continuous glass ribbon and the interface of the second bending tool with the continuous glass ribbon.